What a gem!

The title and cover led me to believe that this was a lighthearted cozy, however, it was so much more. Lenny was a wonderfully thought out character - a very literal creature of habit, someone that was hesitant yet curious about social situations and truly spoke what was on her mind.

The themes in this book were SO heavy and my heart ached for Lenny throughout. Childhood loss, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, foster system, death, bullying, prison. There was so much more to this story than the synopsis provides us with. Lenny was so strong and courageous without even knowing it.

The BEST part of this book for me was the dog. I am a Rottweiler mom and to see the breed presented in such a loving and loyal way made this story an automatic 5 stars for me.

Lenny Marks is a fifth grade teacher, a rule follower, and a bit of a loner who likes to watch episodes of Friends. She likes her life and keeps a bit of distance from others until one day she steps out with fellow educators for a Trivia Night. She enjoys her evening and helps the group knowing so many answers. She even rescues a dog she sees being abused. Life is good for Lenny, until... she finds out her stepfather is being released from prison. Muddled memories start to come back. She begins to question what is real and what isn't. The reader doesn't fully know what is going on but the writing compelled me to keep reading to know what happened in Lenny's past.

As I read this, I thought of fellow Aussie Sally Hepworth's books; and as I read the Author's Note, I learned that Sally encouraged author Kerryn Mayne to write this book! It was a story that kept me turning the pages (and listening to the wonderful Australian narration) to figure out what happened.

I learned about this author from author Emma Grey (The Last Love Note) who shared in an author chat other Australian authors she recommended. A great debut from Kerryn Mayne!

My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillian Audio for advanced copies of the e-book and audiobook.

I loved this book and it was quite unexpected for me simply because I just dove into the story with no clue of what it was about. Lenny Marks is quite a memorable character and it is equal parts so sad and yet so heartwarming. The story started to lose its way toward the end of the book, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this debut.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lenny in this captivating debut. Lenny is unique, compassionate, and struggles to make friends. There is a profound reason for her behavior, and I highly recommend diving into her story and meeting the other remarkable characters that make up this narrative.

For twenty-five years, Lenny has tried her best to forget the day her mother abandoned her when she was just eleven. Her stepfather’s last words, “You did this,” still echo in her mind. Following this traumatic event, Lenny lived with her grandmother for a while before moving in with her foster parents, Fay and Robert, who provided a happy home, although she never spoke of her past.

Now thirty-seven, Lenny teaches fifth grade at Selby South Primary School. She values order and a quiet, predictable life. She doesn’t like change and has amassed thirty-six copies of The Hobbit. She enjoys watching re-runs of Friends, playing scrabble with her imaginary housemate, and loves her teaching job.

Lenny’s world is turned upside down when a letter from the parole board arrives at her school, causing her to confront buried memories while she strives to make Fay, her foster mother, happy by attempting to bring people into her meticulously organized life. She decides to take some time off work to process everything that is happening.

This is a compelling story with a lot going on as Lenny’s life transforms, and she finally unlocks memories from her past. The journey is filled with emotion, showcasing the harrowing experiences she endured and the resilience she exhibited. Watching her interactions with others, coupled with the supportive characters around her, makes this tale engrossing and beautifully narrated. I highly recommend this book, as it is sure to captivate and entertain any reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!

I liked this book and thought that Lenny was a quirky and enjoyable character It's narrated by her and includes a lot of internal dialogue, but that worked in terms of helping the reader understood how she thought. While not specifically mentioned, it appears that Lenny is a neurodiverse character. The book centers on Lenny trying to make her world bigger by befriending 2 girls at work while also dealing with the anxiety around her stepfather getting out of prison. She navigates these things in ways that are funny, heartwarming, and frustrating at times, but always kept me engaged.

Lenny's character reminded me a lot of Fern in Sally Hepworth's "The Good Sister", which was interesting because Mayne mentions that Hepworth was a huge influencer of hers in the acknowledgement section of the book. I felt Lenny did experience incredible growth throughout the book, though there were a few scenes that still seemed out of character. While I can't agree that she did the right thing in some cases, I totally understood why she did the things she did and I could empathize with her. The ending of the book worked, and tied things up nicely.

Overall, I liked immersing myself in Lenny's world for a bit and found this to be an interesting, even if not totally unique, read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the most fun and addictive books i've read in a long time. A fun mystery book with some deep topics, but well woven into the story of Lenny Marks and her quirky personality. If you loved Eleanor Oliphant, you will love this even more. Definitely recommend.

When I started this book, I found Lenny extremely rigid and unlikeable, but BOY was there a character shift. There's a lot of allusion to Lenny's past, questions as to why she ended up in foster care and struggles to make friends, but then all of a sudden BAM, her past is in your face. Lenny really comes into her own in the second half of this book, and it's heartwarming (and murderous...didn't know how those two things could co-exist). This book really started to come together for me when Lenny gets her dog - it seems SO out of character but come to find out it's VERY much in character. As pieces of Lenny are revealed bit by bit, this book becomes an essay on trauma and PTSD, the power of therapy, and what it means to be a real friend. I started off skeptical but really ended up enjoying this ARC, thanks to the publishers for sharing!

The author does a wonderful job with character development. Our heroine shows courage while dealing with her past and is a lesson in living the life you have the best way you can.

Whew, there is a lot going on here. At first I thought this book started out light, another neuro-divergent character finding her way into hearts of those around here, and learning she can count on others. Yes, but about half way through, this book got super serious and turned into so much more. Child abuse, PTSD, and a bit violent. Kind of gave me whiplash with how abruptly things changed. I enjoyed the book, but going into the book blind I did not expect the direction it was heading, and it was a bit unsettling. I liked the characters, found the relationships of those in the town to be endearing and to have heart and kindness. I appreciated the team effort to look after Lenny, but also the motivation to keep her in the dark though understandable seemed a little unrealistic. Things worked out a little bit too conveniently to set up Lenny's life exactly the way the grown ups in her life planned.

Usually I do not go into a book as oblivious to the story as I did this one, but it's good for me to take each page as it comes without expectations. Overall it was a good read and I was interested in seeing where the story went, though some belief had to be suspended as far as realistic situations and convenience. Solid read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the preview of this book heading into summer reading season!

This book is a compelling exploration of trauma and healing. The main character, Lenny, is a schoolteacher whose life takes a dramatic turn when she learns that her stepfather is soon to be released on parole. Lenny is a very quirky character and reminded me a lot of Eleanor Oliphant. Lenny's journey is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming as we delve into her childhood and understand the events that have shaped her into the person she is today. The author does a fantastic job of developing Lenny as an endearing and complex character who learns profound truths about herself and grows stronger through her experiences.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the amazing surrounding characters, especially Fay, Kirra, and Ned. I also particularly love Malcolm, because who can resist an adorable canine sidekick. Each character contributes significantly to Lenny's journey, and I love the relationships that she develops with them. Overall, this book is a touching portrayal of personal growth and resilience, with a memorable cast of characters and an engaging storyline that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories about overcoming past traumas and finding strength in oneself. Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I fear this may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t understand what this book was trying to do. There’s no real plot here - it’s a lot of character exposition. The first 1/3 was painfully slow and I was hoping we would get some action but nothing seemed to come. Lenny grew on me, but I still didn’t really find her heartwarming. This reminded me a bit of The Maid as that had a similar quirky character. I’ve seen this being marketed as a thriller and perhaps that’s the most perplexing part - I didn’t find any real suspense or mystery here, and the resolution felt weirdly unsatisfying. I guess the ending was ok but I still feel odd about this whole experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny is a very ordinary single woman who likes to lead a calm and predictable life. A mundane life suddenly when she gets a letter from the Parole Board. Suddenly, her life will never be the same. She is forced to face memories that she long has buried This is a story about redemption, facing fears, and looking for a life that she deserves. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this book

This book reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine or A man called Ove. Lenny Marks is a great character, someone you can't help but love and root for. The writing was great and this is truly a heartwarming read. If you are a fan of the books I mentioned above, I think you'll love it!

I absolutely adored this book!

I am particularly partial to mysterious novels with eccentric main characters at the forefront (think Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine) so this fantastic story was an easy five star read for me. Quirky, Scrabble-loving, Friends-watching, rule-abiding, dog-snatching Lenny Marks was such a treasure! Her story was delightful but also deep and is probably one of the most memorable books I've read so far this year.

All of the characters were authentic and likable and the story was effortlessly well written.

I highly, highly recommend reading this warm hug of a book! It truly deserves ALL the stars!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave off Eleanor Oliphant vibes to me. Sadly, not as good in my opinion. However, I did enjoy it overall. It was just a very slow paced book - too slow. I put it down a couple of times and wasn’t “dying” to pick it up. But after about 70%, I was more invested in Lenny and what was going to happen! She had a great support team - I loved Fay and Maureen! This was labeled “cozy murder” - maybe? I think it was more a family suspense? I saw a review from Sally Hepworth and I can see some similarities to her books which are usually called “thrillers” but I like thinking them as “family suspense mysteries”! As a debut, I think it was a great start and look forward to seeing more! Thank you Net Galley for letting me read this debut!

Lenny Marks is a quirky individual with a heart of gold. Sure, she takes things too literally, and doesn’t grasp the meaning of sarcasm, but she’s charming and witty in her own deadpan way that had me intrigued by her. This story isn’t quite a mystery. It’s more about a coming of age story about a woman who suffered a traumatic event as a child, feelings and suppressed memories, resurfacing with the receipt of a recent parole hearing letter for the man who destroyed her life.

If you like the quirks of Nita Prose’s THE MAID, Lenny might be up your alley.

Lenny is a quirky character with her routines, stopping at the same grocery store to buy the same food, and owning 36 copies of "The Hobbit." The similarities I share with her made her very relatable. Although, I did not get away with murder, nor will I try! All the references to "Friends," LOTR, Narnia, and Buffy added a layer of peculiarity. While this could be considered a cozy mystery, there is much more depth and character growth within these covers than others labeled the same.

I am still thinking of this story and the characters in it days after finishing. I wonder what happened to them after the story ended and I just really enjoyed getting to read this book.

Fantastic book filled with likable characters and a mystery that is sprinkled throughout. I liked it immensely and it kept my attention through a difficult time. I haven't heard about this book before I saw it recommended by Netgalley and I wish it was talked about more. It is absolutely delightful.

Lenny Marks lives a very vanilla life. She has a routine, a job, a bike and a house. As she thought, “Lenny was a functioning, contributing member of the community who abided by the rules…and was not a burden to anyone.” What she lacks are friends, except for the ones she makes up to appease her foster mother or uses as an excuse on the odd instances she’s asked to go out.
Lenny is also blocking out the memory of what happened to her as an eleven year old. So, when a letter from the Parole Board arrives for her, it makes her regulated world start to crumble.
The book reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant and I was equally enthralled with it. My heart just went out to Lenny and I wanted to see her find her way so badly. This is a woman trying so hard to step out of her comfort zone. And then, to deal with the truth. The secondary characters are well fleshed out. There’s even a lovable dog in the mix.
This was a solid five stars for me. It was the right mix of heartwarming, emotionally rich, smart and dark. There were scenes that actually gave me the shivers. This is a book that even when I knew where it was
going (and what had happened) still gripped me. And there were still twists I didn’t see coming. It doesn’t read like a debut novel. The ending was perfect even as it poses some interesting ethical questions.
The author thanks her book club in the acknowledgments and I could see this story being a perfect book club selection.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.