In the present day, Damien is a carer for Frankie, an elderly woman who has had a fall. She spends her evenings telling her life story, spanning from her childhood in Ireland to the art world of New York in the 1970s and beyond. This was a good story, and I always enjoy Graham Norton's writing, but it left me somewhat unfulfilled in the end. I have enjoyed some of his other books better, though this was not bad by any means. 3.5 stars rounded to 3.

I loved Frankie by Graham Norton. The characters were interesting and loveable and relatable. The plot was well-developed and intriguing. Frankie is a delight and her story kept me guessing and kept me reading.

I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this book. Norton did an excellent job with the characters and story line. It was well written, and I couldn't put it down. I thought this was a beautifully told story, but I don't want to give away too many spoilers. I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this novel to other readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Harper Via, and Graham Norton

"Frankie" by Graham Norton tells the story of a young Irish girl's life, from her adolescence in Ireland to her coming-of-age in London and adult years in New York City. The novel takes place from the post-war period to the present day, with much of the story focused on the 1960s-1980s.

Frankie tells the story of her life to her young aid Damian, and it is one of courage, love, and heartbreak... with a few gentle laughs as well. The historical backdrop is one that is interesting and lively, and Norton does an incredible job of setting the scene and weaving in the cultural references seamlessly, helping those of us who weren't even alive at this time to really get a picture of what life was like.

The book's tagline reads, "You should be the main character in your life, but Frankie never was." Throughout her life, Frankie is surrounded by big personalities and influential people, and and her loneliness and feelings of insignificance are palpable. It's only in the end that we get a glimpse of Frankie's true significance and main character energy through the eyes of those who truly saw her and loved her best. This is so relatable for those of us entering mid-life and wondering what the mark we leave will be and how we will matter to those around us. Norton's portrait of the fictional Frankie is a love letter to those quieter souls who struggle at times to feel their own significance in a big, bustling world, a gentle reminder of what it is to have a life well-lived. Those who enjoyed "Brooklyn" by Colm Toibin or "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus will likely enjoy this book.

I knew of Graham Norton from seeing clips from his show and his celebrity interviews, but I had no idea he was also an author, and I was so impressed by his storytelling and his ability to create unique, endearing characters and settings. His writing is vivid and rich and full of emotion and life. I will definitely be picking up his other books.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced read.

Frankie is a gem of a novel! I absolutely loved the format that Mr. Norton chose to tell this lovely story. We meet Frankie as an octogenarian who has broken her leg and needs a caregiver. Enter Damian a care giver who forms a friendship with Frankie. During their time together we learn about her entire life. And what a life it was!

I can't wait to tell all of my friends about this book, that I just finished. It was so wonderful!

4.5 stars
I love Graham Norton’s writing and narration. It’s always a compelling story, excellently narrated. I think Frankie is my favorite of his characters, and novels. The writing was so accessible that it felt like a biography of an actual person. I enjoyed it from start to finish!
*Thanks to Harpervia and Netgalley

Frankie is delightfully witty, deeply engaging historical fiction from Graham Norton. Released 14th Jan 2025 by HarperCollins on their HarperVia imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Fans of the author's work in video/tv media will likely be surprised by the depth and quality of the writing (since print media is emphatically not the same as TV), but here is a happy surprise: the author is adept, indeed quite talented, at both. This was a fun read from start to finish. It's quite often poignant, and nostalgic, and especially for readers who remember the 90s and AIDS epidemic, and losing our friends way too young, this story will bring back lots of memories.

The language is evocative and well wrought and the characters are distinct and believable. Frankie herself is lovely, and honestly someone readers will wish were part of their own real lives. She's irascible (she's broken an ankle and impatient to be up and about) but irresistible and full of history. The pacing is quite measured, it's 100% character driven and there's not a lot of action.

So intelligent and well written. Highly recommended. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home reading, or a really fine book club selection or buddy read.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

And just like that, in the first couple of weeks of the new year, this is going to be a contender for my favorite book of 2025. It will at least be in my top 10 reads—it has to be.

You know when you're doing your thing, reading a bunch of different books, some really worked for you, others not so much, but even the ones that were enjoyable and 5 stars still felt lacking? Like none of the books you've been reading just haven't made you feel an extra special way? That's how I felt all of 2024. Now having read this book—an ARC that I requested and was actually surprised to have been granted—I no longer feel crazy. I thought that it was all in my head. Surely I am just being silly and expecting too much from the books I read, I would think to myself, I can't find a new favorite every year!
Well, of course you can't find a new favorite every year, that's what makes those all time favorites so special!
BUT! I am not gonna lie, it was bumming me out, so I really, really needed to read this book to kick off 2025. I have to sit with it a bit longer, but Frankie might be a new all time fave.
Graham Norton, you truly are a man of MANY talents!

Please believe me when I say...
If you are for some reason reading this review before reading this book, I would highly recommend you go into this just off the synopsis that is given here on Goodreads. Idk, it might change depending on the edition you are looking at, but I think the description given for the American edition (which is what I had read on NetGalley, as well) is the definition of a PERFECT synopsis. That's all I needed to know, because I truly believe that it was the lack of details given that added to my enjoyment once I dug into this. Therefore, I will not be providing my own version of a summary. 😌

Okay, so why did I love this so much?
This was an insanely powerful novel that succeeded in making me care so deeply for our MC, Frankie. I cannot tell you how invested I was in her life; I was genuinely getting stressed and sick to my stomach because I just LOVE Frankie so much. It also didn't take the whole book for me to feel this way, it was immediate. As we follow Frankie from childhood to old age, her whole life unfolds before us, one filled with strife and injustice, as well as so much love and beauty. Frankie and everyone around her are true human beings—dynamic, messy, lovely, infuriating, deceitful, funny, unfair, free-spirted, in other words: they're REAL.
Character development was executed so well, no notes.

The story. Oh, this story! The plot is simply Frankie's life, and it's a life worth sharing! I did not expect so many things that happened in this book; I was left mouth agape on multiple occasions. I could not believe the insane rollercoaster of a life that Frankie had lived, and this is especially endearing because the whole premise of the novel is that Frankie is telling her story to a young man, Damian, who has been hired as a caregiver after Frankie fell and hurt her foot. Let me tell you, if I was Damian, I too would have been desperate for more each time Frankie revealed more of her past.
Without spoiling anything, I just have to say it, that ending was perfect. A perfect ending? What?!
Plot execution: say it with me, NO NOTES.

Idk what else to say. I am actually considering buying a physical copy ASAP because I definitely see myself rereading this in the future and I need to own it forever.

Read this pls 😭

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!! 🙏🏻✨

I thought it was billed as more humorous than it was. It was a fine read, not exceptionally memorable, but interesting enough to finish. I was disappointed. I had hoped for laugh-out-loud moments which are so hard to find in novels lately. The story was fine.

I really wanted to like this book and I started off doing so. It lost me about halfway through, though.
Frankie is an elderly woman who hires a home health aide to come stay with her at night while she’s recuperating from a broken leg. Damian isn’t sure what to expect when he arrives at this woman’s cramped flat and when he discovers she’d rather he listen to her life story than make her tea and help her get ready for bed, he does so willingly.
This is told via alternating flashback chapters and while they are somewhat interesting, they are quite long and often repetitive. The alternate current day chapters feel like they’re just filler, which this book definitely does not need.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for an advanced copy of this. Frankie hits the shelves on January 14th.

If you have read no books by Graham Norton, I encourage you to do so right now. I read his books as soon as they are published. I am a huge fan! The books he writes are far from his television show host persona.

He is a wonderful writer, crafting emotional, well-written, and gripping stories.

His latest, Frankie, grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the final chapter. I loved reading about Frankie’s life from Ireland to New York City to London, and her best friend throughout her life, Norah.

If you are in the mood for literary fiction that will sweep you away to another time and place, read this one when it comes out. I gave this one five stars on Goodreads!

Synopsis:

Frankie Howe has lived a long life, her small flat is crammed full of art, furniture — and memories. Damian, her young carer, listens as she gradually tells him parts of her story — a story that takes us into a progressive, daring world of New York artists on the brink of fame, aspiring writers and larger-than-life characters.

Always just on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie is never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage. But the outsider holds certain advantages, sees things others don’t, can influence without drawing attention. And when the map has been lost, it’s anyone’s guess where you may end up, or the accidental choices you find you have made. Frankie discovers that life is not always the one we hope for, or the one others expect of us.

Travelling 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.

I was really looking forward to this, but it wasn't as good oas Graham Norton's prevous books. The story sounded like something I would really enjoy, but it felt a little boring. The connection between the two main characters wasn't as strong as I'd hoped. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Frances Howe has live quite a life - from rural Ireland after World War II to the art and restaurant scene in Greenwich Village during the 1960s. She never meant to be the center of attention, but telling the story of her life to a home-care worker lets her relive her life and reflect on the stories she lived. A well told tale of a life well and truly lived, the characters are beautifully written and engaging - a very enjoyable read.

This book was fantastic. The story follows the life of Frankie from her young adulthood. Throughout the book, the pacing and details are perfect - enough to keep one interested in the story, but not overwhelmingly deep in any one area of her life. Frankie has an interesting life as she tries to navigate various challenges thrown her way. I found myself rooting for her success and engaged where she had to make decisions. The best thing about this book, however, is its unique story. So many books end up telling the same stories over and over again with different characters, but this was a fresh set of time points in history.

Another wonderful Graham Norton book. I was drawn in from the first to the last pages.Frankie was a completely engaging character and her relationship with Damien her caretaker was wonderful.I hated for their story to end ,I will be recommending.#netgalley #harpervia

I absolutely loved this book! I generally don’t read historical fiction, but because I am a huge fan of Graham Norton, I excitedly requested it from NetGalley (thank you so much!). I was instantly captivated by Frankie’s story. Norton’s writing is superb, and I was really able to connect with Frankie as she experienced both heartbreaks and triumphs. I highly recommend this novel!

Frankie by Gordon Norton was a beautifully written life story of love, loss and perseverance. Well written, fully developed characters and overall a well told story. The book moves quickly, a fast and easy read. Every part of the story makes sense and there is no lull in the storytelling. Definitely a recommended book. Thank you Netgalley and HarperVia for the advanced reader.

This was a thoroughly engaging read. It has a style that captivated me from the start right through to the end; very hard to put down. I'll be recommending it to everybody. Five stars.

I was familiar with Graham Norton because my husband and teens love watching The Graham Norton Show (I’ll watch whenever Greg Davies is on). When I saw Frankie: A Novel, the premise sounded interesting and I requested it, mainly to score some points with my husband and kids.

But as I got into reading this, I just fell in love with Frankie’s story and Graham Norton’s storytelling talents - very grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy. Both quiet and utterly compelling, this captured my interest and I read it over a weekend with some respiratory illness that has knocked me for a loop, this warmed me and took my mind off feeling like warmed over yuck.

Frankie is a terrifically real character, the writing is wonderful, this story captivating, I adored this novel, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Mr Norton’s Frankie has my full recommendation.

And I’ll be reading more of Graham Norton’s books for sure.




Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the DRC

A completely engaging read! I loved the story from page one until end. I simply couldn't put it down and now I am sad it will no longer a part of my world.