Iona Iverson rides the train every day, with her dog Lola, on her way to work and back home. She sees the same commuters every day and has nicknamed many of the regulars. Then, one day, there is an emergency on her train car and Iona breaks the second rule of commuting--never speak to your fellow passengers. Iona decides that maybe it's not so bad to form some connections with her fellow commuters.

We meet the characters individually and as passengers on Iona's train car. Eventually Iona, Piers, Sanjay, Emmie, Martha, David, and Jake become friends. This book does a lovely job of picking apart stereotypes. The main characters are fully fleshed out and all have intriguing stories. The reader can understand how these seeming disparate strangers can form a friendship and grow to care about each other. The teenage girl who is bullied, the magazine writer who faces ageism in the workplace, the nurse who suffers from acute anxiety attacks at work, the alpha male with a demeaning secret; the beautiful girl who seems to have the perfect life; we learn that appearances are misleading and to never dismiss someone based on your first impressions.

I loved The Authenticity Project and was a little nervous to read this author's next book. No need to worry--I loved this book even more than The Authenticity Project. Both books are feel-good stories about a group of strangers coming together to form a community; a badly needed message in today's world. I will recommend Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting to anyone and everyone. Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Iona Iverson commutes on the train every day and most times brings her little dog along. The other riders have noticed the eccentric, brightly clothed middle-aged woman and they have usually kept their distance. But when a particularly unpleasant rider chokes on a grape and another person saves him, people with nothing in common but the commute find friendship.

This is how we get to know each quirky character - through their relationships to Iona and eventually to one another. It's a wonderful way to be introduced to everyone. It doesn't take long before they are interacting outside of the train and we're getting glimpses of their lives and how they are changing because of knowing Iona.

My issue with this book was Iona's age. I thought she was a kooky old lady, maybe around 70. But then we're told she's like 57 years old. Her behavior and attitude are very old lady-ish, which was constantly clashing with her chronological age. It bothered me throughout the book, and maybe I should have gotten over it.

All in all, a fun story about connections and change.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Iona Iverson takes the train to and from work everyday, where all. the folks on the train mind their own business and don't get involved with one another. That all changes on the day a pompous man starts choking on a grape and Iona tries to save him. A group of train regulars become entwined in each others' lives as a result of the events on the day of the grape choking event. Iona is a fun and unique character and she draws people close to one another.. I loved Iona and all the other characters in this book that made me laugh and feel good.
I was given an ARC of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#ionainversonsrulesforcommuting
#clairepooley
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#commuters

This was a fun and witty read anoit people that meet on their morning commute and form unlikely bonds and friendship. This is the perfect read to take on the train for YOUR daily commute. It will make you view the other passengers with a new level of compassions

This was such a fun story! I had my book club read it and I think they really enjoyed it. It was very fun to listen to.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I adore a book where there is a sort of curmudgeon or busy body that turns it around in the end to become well loved by a fun group of interesting characters. There was a little bit of everything in this book. The story moved at a nice pace. There were a lot of characters, but I found it easy to keep them straight, I highly recommend!!

I read this book on my own, shared a copy with a friend, recommended it to one of the book groups of which I am a member. We all enjoyed reading and discussing this book.

A group of unlikely strangers grow together after an incident with a grape. Clare Pooley does it again with this heartwarming and light-hearted story with multiple POVs and experiences that come together in the loveliest way.

One of my favorite books that I have read this year. I really loved all the intertwinning stories that were brought together by Iona on the tube (english subway).

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley.
A book for fans of Fredrik Backman. A story from multiple points-of-view that shows how lives connect and the impact that one person can have on others.

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley is a fun and uplifting novel that will give you pause. The concept is interesting and the characters are very relatable. This is classic Clare Pooley and fans of her other books will love this new contemporary.

If you have ever commuted, or taken transit for any length of time, this book really makes a connection with you. Far too often we ride the train/subway and don’t really know the people that we typically see on a daily basis all that well. It only takes a few connections to form a community and this book speaks to that.

❀ DEALS WITH MANY SOCIETAL ISSUES

The story is very similar to the Authenticity Project where an unlikely group of eclectic people become friends When one of the commuters on the train almost chokes, a community is formed and they end up helping one another in many ways. It deals with many societal issues, including ageism, bullying, and unemployment.

❀ IONA IS A FIERCE MAIN CHARACTER

Iona is a very fierce main character that is enjoyable to read about. She is quirky and often ready to give her life advice whether you asked for it or not. There are many laugh out load moments Iona creates and she easily worms her way into your heart as you read.

❀ FAST AND EASY READ

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley is a fast and easy read that will tug at your heartstrings. The characters are fantastic and the message is invaluable. I can’t wait to find out what the author has in store for us next.

Iona Iverson is a hoot and just tells it like it is. We should all know someone like her as our life would be changed for the better. This story covers ageism, teen relationships, failed relationships, career changes, budding romances, and more. This was my first Pooley book and I look forward to many more. Next time I ride the train I hope I meet an Iona.

Reminiscent of the Pilgrimage of Harold Fry with it s journey of sorts and the glowing cast of characters. Iona is the star of the story but each character shines on the page. Many of them a bit eccentric and all of them struggling in very relatable ways. I think this is a general fiction any reader, regardless of age , will find quite enjoyable. Add this to your book shelves and to your friends. They will thank you for bringing some of Iona's wisdoms into their lives.

A delightful read with a wonderful cast of characters! I'm a fan of Clare Pooley and I will be recommending this book to my customers.

Iona Iverson doesn’t speak to other people on her train ride into work. But one day a fellow commuter chokes on a grape, bringing together a group who become unlikely friends.This feel-good novel focuses on the different strengths of each person, their small but personal crises, and the heartwarming results of expanding beyond your comfort zone. Suggested for fans of Maria Semple and Fredrik Backman.

Iona is a delight!! I love the way we switched perspectives between commuters and how their relationships wove together throughout the book. A great beach read for a reader looking for something different from a romance!

Iona is eccentric, quirky, loud, but she is caring and her impact on her fellow commuters is heartwarming. At first glance, Iona is annoying and weird, but as you get to know her, she garners love and respect. Iona rides the train to work at the same time every day, meeting a cast of characters including Sanjay, the nurse who is in love with a fellow commuter but Emmie is engaged. Emmie is a marketing professional but yearns to do something more meaningful. Piers looks like a self absorbed wealthy man until the truth comes out. Martha is a student who is bullied until she comes under Iona’s wing. Iona has an agony aunt column called Ask Iona, but is seen as being obsolete and outdated. I loved how these different people all found each other despite the rule of not talking to anyone on the train. I highly recommend this well written, emotional and funny book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Five stars for Iona! This book is the most uplifting book I have read in a long time. Everyone needs an Iona Iverson in their life! Highly, highly recommended.

Iona, a London advice columnist, sees the same people on the train every day but never speaks to anyone – that's one of the unwritten rules of commuting, after all – but everything changes one day when a fellow passenger chokes on a grape. Once the ice has been broken by this incident, the people on the train (beginning with Iona) start to strike up conversations, and through these newfound and unexpected friendships their lives start to change.

I love this kind of book! Positivity ripples outward through a disparate group of people, everyone becomes friends, and everyone’s lives are changed for the better. What’s not to love? I also love a good “eccentric, wise older lady with a colorful past” character like Iona. The other characters on the train are fantastic as well. There are some sad parts, but it’s quite poignant and full of love and ultimately has a happy ending. The last book I read was pretty dark, so it’s just what I needed to read right now.

CW: Homophobia & homophobic violence, abusive relationships

Representation: lesbian main character, POC major character and side characters

I completely loved Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting. It is not often that I feel like a great book should become a great movie, but this time I believe it must become a great movie. Iona is surrounded by an amazing cast of characters. I felt like I was riding on the train with them. I wanted to be at the table! Watching Iona re-invent herself (and help all of her new friends with their own re-inventions) is relatable to anyone wishing to be seen and understood. This one hit all of the right notes!