I previously read Graham Norton’s, Forever Home, and loved it! I had high hopes for his latest, Frankie - and I was not disappointed. The blurb sums it up beautifully: ‘Traveling from post-war Ireland to the dazzling art scene of 1960s New York by way of London, Frankie is an immersive, decade-sweeping novel about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life.‘

‘My point is that there is nothing tragic in me knowing that the best days of my life are behind me, and’- she squeezed the scrapbook to her chest - ‘these were the happiest years of my life. I know that now, and I’m grand with that. I was lucky to have them.’

Graham Norton writes so well - it is such a great story with memorable characters and is beautifully written with not only attention to detail but encapsulates all the themes of love and loss, family and friends. This is one the story of one woman’s journey and Graham draws the reader in until you think he is describing one of your friends.

‘To know that you’ve known happiness, to know that you’ve been loved, there is a great comfort in that.’

Take a trip with older Frankie as she looks back on her life sharing her story with her carer. It sucks you in and you don’t realise how so until you are grieved that it has come to an end. You will laugh, you will cry but you will not soon forget the remarkable story of Frankie.










This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I love Graham Norton’s Irish humour, and his ability to connect with people and explore their stories. It was so satisfying to see this reflected in Frankie, a heartwarming and immersive read.

I loved the simple and warm premise of young Damien connecting with Frankie after her fall. Frankie’s story was equal parts hardship, love and humour, and was elevated by Nortons expressive and empathetic writing.

I found myself completely absorbed in this story, travelling to Ireland, England and New York, with their cast of vibrant characters. I’d strongly recommend d Frankie for anyone looking for an engaging read.

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Frankie is the fifth novel by British entertainer and author, Graham Norton. When eighty-four-year-old Frances Howe trips and breaks an ankle (no, she did NOT “have a fall”!), her best friend since primary school, Norah Forrester engages Damian from Hamilton Home Care to make sure she’s safe at night.

Damian hails from her old neighbourhood in County Cork, and just the mention of his roots is enough to spark Frankie’s memories. Damian may be only a third of her age, but he listens, enthralled, as Frankie shares the tales of the eventful life that came after she was orphaned at nearly eleven years old, the end of her idyllic childhood.

Not every detail of her ordeal at the hands of her rigidly religious aunt and uncle are fit to be shared with the young man: “There was no love to be had in that rectory… I’d say they saw me as God’s way of testing them. And I’m inclined to say they failed.” Nor observes that, in those days, “A good parent was one who managed to keep their child alive. Nobody wondered what their child was feeling. You were told how you felt.”

The more intimate details of her two marriages, one virtually as a child bride, she recalls with Nor. But a fascinating life it is: Ballytoor to Castlekeen to London to New York City; wife to a village canon, then to a struggling artist. Sharing what she experiences as assistant a literary agent, later a restaurant chef, manager and eventually owner of an iconic Manhattan restaurant: Nor watches her coming alive as she relives her past.

Norton easily evokes his setting and era, his characters are richly drawn, and it's impossible not to fall in love with Frankie, to worry for her safety, to be indignant at unfairness meted out to her, to hope for her good fortune, to be sad when things fall apart. To understand how lesbian parties, art smuggling and bigamy fit into her life, the prospective reader should do themselves a favour and read this witty and wonderful novel.

Frankie is lucky to make some good, constant friends, some of whom she loses to the AIDS epidemic, but she tells Damian “To know that you’ve known happiness, to know that you’ve been loved, there is a great comfort in that.” Norton’s latest funny, moving, uplifting and entertaining.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette ANZ.

Sometimes I have my doubts about celebrities writing fiction, but this book is very well written. It tells the story of Frankie, who, at the beginning of the book has a broken ankle and her carer Damien, a man approaching his thirties who is not quite sure what he's doing with his life. It's a beautiful, subtle book, which tells a story starting in the 1950s, but never judges those "different times". It just tells the touching, wholesome story of Frankie, her lives and her loves.
I was so immersed in both the writing and the story that I was sad when it ended. I'll be reading more of Graham Norton.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I read my first novel by Graham Norton I was surprised to find not a trace of the Graham ( the chatty talk show host) in the entire book and it was better for it. The same goes for Frankie, a sort of Catherine Cookson, Lesley Pearse style of story.
Frankie is an elderly lady living in London. When she has a fall and is unable to get around, she is sent a carer, a young man from Ireland, Damian.
Damian’s presence brings back memories of her life as a young girl in Ireland and over the course of his stay tells him the story of her life. From postwar Ireland where she ended up in a loveless marriage, to the glitz and glamour of 1960s New York and the bohemian life style of the art set. It also covers the start of the aids epidemic and the lives loved and lost.
It’s an enjoyable read covering decades of love, life and bravery.

#Frankie. #NetGalley

Damian is a carer who looks after Frankie, an elderly woman. She recounts her life story to him, from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York.

It was an easy read and I especially enjoyed Frankie's time spent in Ireland. I wish the style of writing was less fact listing and more expressive, to evoke more emotion.

Frankie by Graham Norton is a wonderful novel - I thoroughly enjoyed it !

Damian takes on a temporary caring role for elderly Frankie in London . They begin talking and Frankie relays to Damian the stories of her past. Filled with emotion and memorable characters and subtly covering a lot of social issues it is a really delightful novel . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review .

I loved the concept of this book! An older woman sharing her life story with her carer whom she sparks an unlikely friendship with. This book moved me so deeply, I didn’t expect it at all! Following Frankie’s story was so deeply touching and I felt like I truly knew her. I was rooting for her and I cried with her, laughed with her, I felt all the feels alongside her! That ending had me gasping through sobs, it all hits so much harder when you really feel like you know her. What a book! Brilliant.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Heartstrings and Humour
- - -
Okay, how did I not know that Graham Norton wrote novels as well as presenting? Clearly, I’ve been living under a rock! 🪨

I’ve always loved Graham’s dry Irish humor and while Frankie wasn’t a laugh out loud comedy, that signature wit was scattered throughout, adding a lovely touch to a sweet story that’s more about tugging at the heartstrings than cracking jokes.

The story flows beautifully with the main character Frankie reminiscing about her life and all the experiences that shaped her. The characters are so well described it felt like I was catching up with old friends and being wrapped in a big, warm hug.

If you loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid or The One and Only Dolly Jamieson by Lisa Ireland, I have a feeling you’ll fall head over heels for Frankie.

A big thank you to Hatchette Australia and Netgalley for the sneak peek. 📚

I really had a great time reading this book! I haven't read anything by Graham Norton before but i will absolutely be going out of my way to pick up more of his books soon!

This book centres around the titular character, Frankie, who finds herself perpetually on the periphery of her own life. The story unfolds through dual timelines, offering readers a rich tapestry of experiences and settings. In the present day, Frankie, now in her 80s, recounts her life story to her home carer, Damian. These present-day moments are interwoven with flashbacks to Ireland in the 1950s, London in the 1960s, and New York City spanning the 60s through the 80s.
Norton masterfully captures the essence of each era and location. His writing style is both easygoing and immersive, with delightful nods to Irish dialect that lend authenticity and warmth to the narrative. The portrayal of rural Ireland is particularly vivid, transporting readers to a time and place that feels both nostalgic and very real. Similarly, the depiction of life in New York City is vibrant and evocative, offering a stark contrast to the more insular life Frankie once knew.
Frankie herself is a wonderfully crafted character. Throughout her life, she seems to be a spectator rather than the protagonist of her own story. Despite this, she has lived an eventful life, filled with moments of both triumph and heartbreak. As I read, I found myself rooting for Frankie, eager to uncover more about her past and the experiences that shaped her. Norton’s ability to create such a relatable and endearing character is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.

Overall, Frankie is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of life, identity, and the passage of time. I wholeheartedly recommend Frankie and look forward to delving into more of Norton’s literary works in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the advance copy of this book :)

Frankie by Graham Norton is a profoundly moving and heartwarming novel about Frances 'Frankie' Howe, an elderly woman whose London flat is filled with a lifetime of memories. The story, told through her eyes and her young carer Damian, takes readers on a journey through her past, spanning post-war Ireland and 1960s New York, filled with love, courage, and unexpected turns.

Norton crafts Frankie's character with tenderness and depth, making her experiences feel real. Initially resistant to Damian's help, Frankie gradually opens up, sharing her rich tapestry of life. The narrative moves fluidly through vivid settings, immersing the reader in each time and place.

Frankie's oppressive marriage in 1950s Ireland highlights the feminist challenges of the time. Despite societal constraints and personal heartaches, her resilience shines through. Her journey from Ireland to the bohemian chaos of 1960s New York, where she mingles with writers and artists, is inspiring and relatable.

Damian brings warmth and humanity to the story, forming a beautiful, cross-generational friendship with Frankie. Through heartfelt conversations, Damian helps Frankie piece together her past, becoming not just a listener but a friend.

Frankie is not a light read—it delves into trauma and heartache—but it rewards the reader with a beautifully told story. Norton's empathetic writing makes Frankie's story resonate deeply, reminding us that every life is filled with moments of profound significance and beauty.

In conclusion, Frankie celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. Norton's rich characters and immersive settings make this a touching, thought-provoking, and uplifting tale that stays with you long after the final page.

Favourite author feels over this one! Frankie by Graham Norton is everything we've come to expect from one of his novels, brimming with emotion and connection. He writes about life with exceptional clarity. Spanning decades, from post war Ireland to 1960s London, then onto NewYork and back to London again in the late 1980s through to present day, this story unfolds in pieces, from girlhood to old age, we bear witness to Frankie's life, the lows, the highs, the heartaches and the victories. So many heartaches though.

When Frankie requires an in home nurse after a fall, it's a young Irish carer living and working in London who arrives on the scene. Prickly at first, Frankie warms to him rapidly, and they pass the time with Frankie telling a willing Damian her life story. Frankie's life is long and there are many eras she has lived through, but the one that made the most impact in the telling, at least for me, was the Aids epidemic in New York in the 1980s. Norton writes of this period with such finesse, the impact of it upon his characters, and his readers, immeasurable.

This story flows like silk, it's beautifully written with such wonderful characters and such attention to historical detail. Above all, it is a novel of friendship and love. Another five star read by Graham Norton. Just divine.

I enjoyed sections of this but found it hard to get into and just didn’t connect somehow. I’m sure others will enjoy the quality or writing and story, this one just didn’t do it for me at least right now. Thanks to netgalley for letting me read a copy in exchange for a review and i hope this book finds its way into the hands of the right readers.