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Meredith, Alone
Meredith, Alone tells the story of the perfectly ordinary, perfectly extraordinary Meredith Maggs who has not left her house for 1,215 days. Why? And what will it take to get her through her own front door?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2022
About the author
Claire Alexander
25 books254 followersClaire was born in Bath, Wiltshire and moved to Kent when she was six. she has always loved drawing from an early age and remembers being asked by her school mates to draw rabbits for them! After school she studied Fine Art at the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury where she achieved a BA degree in Painting. She moved to London in 1995 and stumbled through many different jobs until she studied children's illustration at Putney School of Art. Here Claire produced her first dummy book for Small Florence, which was then published and started her dream career as an author illustrator.
In 2007 Claire wrote her own course on writing and illustrating picture books which she has been teaching ever since, and now at the House of Illustration. She regularly visits schools and enjoys drawing for children.
Claire's new title 'The Best Bit of Daddy's Day' will be published in June 2016.
'Monkey and the Little One' was shortlisted for the 2015 Junior Design Awards and listed as one of the top ten best new picture books during Independent Book Sellers Week 2015.
'Back to Front and Upside Down' won the 2013 Schneider Family Book Award from the American Libraries Associataion. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
'Lucy and the Bully' won the 2009 Paterson Prize for Young People and 'Small Florence' was short listed for the 2010 Mad About Books Stockport Schools' Book Award.
In 2007 Claire wrote her own course on writing and illustrating picture books which she has been teaching ever since, and now at the House of Illustration. She regularly visits schools and enjoys drawing for children.
Claire's new title 'The Best Bit of Daddy's Day' will be published in June 2016.
'Monkey and the Little One' was shortlisted for the 2015 Junior Design Awards and listed as one of the top ten best new picture books during Independent Book Sellers Week 2015.
'Back to Front and Upside Down' won the 2013 Schneider Family Book Award from the American Libraries Associataion. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
'Lucy and the Bully' won the 2009 Paterson Prize for Young People and 'Small Florence' was short listed for the 2010 Mad About Books Stockport Schools' Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,966 reviews
May 31, 2024
4.75
Będę bardzo, baaardzo długo o niej myśleć
Będę bardzo, baaardzo długo o niej myśleć
June 2, 2024
This book is OUTSTANDING! I would be so sorry if I didn’t have a chance to meet with Meredith who is such a sensitive, unique woman! I’m delightful to explore her sad, moving, realistic journey!
“Meredith alone” may be one of most honest, poignant, genuine, engaging story of a brave, overwhelmed, exhausted woman in 40 who is suffering from depression, years long abuse, unsaid words, restrained resentment, hatred, sadness!
Meredith didn’t take a step out of her house for a long time. It was 1214 days when the book started! In the opening: We are introduced to Meredith, meeting with Tom, a part of befriending charity called Holding Hands: who is stopping by, eating her cookies, borrowing her favorite book, becoming another person to involve in her life just like her longtime friend Sadie.
Instead of Sadie and Tesco delivery man; she doesn’t have many visitors during her volunteered home quarantine.
We understand Meredith has only two family members: her eccentric mother and her sister Fee who is married and 18 months older than her and we realize they had a fallout.
As we move back and forth between past and present time, we understand how so many tragic events in the past shaped Meredith’s present condition and her character. She suffered from a lot traumatic experiences created by her inner circle. Things you’re gonna find out about her past are painful to digest. Some of the chapters affected me so deeply. I had to take some breaks to breath out, gathering my senses.
Mostly I loved complex, honest relationship of sisters and I found them brave for the painful torments they’ve been facing for years.
And I have to say: this book has fascinating supporting characters.
Sadie is my favorite character. When I read her lines, Juno Temple’s face appeared on my mind. If this book will be adapted into the movie, she will be absolutely great Sadie for big screen!
And Tom is such an amazing supportive character! He was caring, patient, giving everything he could even though his plate was also full with lots of dramatic incidents.
And little Jacob who is kindest boy to burn her mother sweetest gifts was also adorable.
Overall: I highly definitely extremely recommend you to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
“Meredith alone” may be one of most honest, poignant, genuine, engaging story of a brave, overwhelmed, exhausted woman in 40 who is suffering from depression, years long abuse, unsaid words, restrained resentment, hatred, sadness!
Meredith didn’t take a step out of her house for a long time. It was 1214 days when the book started! In the opening: We are introduced to Meredith, meeting with Tom, a part of befriending charity called Holding Hands: who is stopping by, eating her cookies, borrowing her favorite book, becoming another person to involve in her life just like her longtime friend Sadie.
Instead of Sadie and Tesco delivery man; she doesn’t have many visitors during her volunteered home quarantine.
We understand Meredith has only two family members: her eccentric mother and her sister Fee who is married and 18 months older than her and we realize they had a fallout.
As we move back and forth between past and present time, we understand how so many tragic events in the past shaped Meredith’s present condition and her character. She suffered from a lot traumatic experiences created by her inner circle. Things you’re gonna find out about her past are painful to digest. Some of the chapters affected me so deeply. I had to take some breaks to breath out, gathering my senses.
Mostly I loved complex, honest relationship of sisters and I found them brave for the painful torments they’ve been facing for years.
And I have to say: this book has fascinating supporting characters.
Sadie is my favorite character. When I read her lines, Juno Temple’s face appeared on my mind. If this book will be adapted into the movie, she will be absolutely great Sadie for big screen!
And Tom is such an amazing supportive character! He was caring, patient, giving everything he could even though his plate was also full with lots of dramatic incidents.
And little Jacob who is kindest boy to burn her mother sweetest gifts was also adorable.
Overall: I highly definitely extremely recommend you to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
July 12, 2024
4,5/5
Edit po miesiącu: zwiększam do 5/5
Edit po miesiącu: zwiększam do 5/5
November 25, 2022
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander
Narrated by Freya Mavor
Meredith, Alone takes place in the present day but goes back into the past often. The past is presented in a nonlinear manner, often triggered by something in the present day. I enjoyed the way the story was told, allowing my mind to prepare itself for the things that happened to Meredith to have her not leaving her home for over three years.
Meredith isn't living a "normal" life now. She'd worked outside of her home once and actually saved enough to buy her own place. She'd dated, had a boyfriend, went to the pub with friends, but all that changed after a terrible thing happened to her. Still, things weren't really okay for Meredith before that terrible thing happened. Her childhood experiences had already taken so much from her. Just wait until you meet her mom, actually you don't want to meet her mom.
But Meredith isn't totally alone. She has her cat Fred and her best friend, Sadie. There is also the guy who delivers her groceries. There is her new friend Tom McDermott from Holding Hands who has started visiting her once a week, just to listen, do jigsaw puzzles, and talk. Plus the online support group where she meets a new member, Celeste. And we can't forget Meredith's online therapist. She really isn't completely alone. But she is trapped in a way that she hasn't been able to escape.
Slowly, as Meredith lends support to others and they lend support to her, she takes the tiniest of steps to open her door and consider venturing outside. There are setbacks and there is progress. But this is very hard work because it requires facing what had happened in the past, putting blame where it belongs, and removing blame from where it doesn't belong. It requires a kind of self care that takes chances but can reap benefits.
This story is hard hitting and difficult to take in at times. But it has hope written all over it and I think the ending is perfect. Meredith gets to go at her own pace and that's the way it should be.
Published November 1, 2022
Narrated by Freya Mavor
Meredith, Alone takes place in the present day but goes back into the past often. The past is presented in a nonlinear manner, often triggered by something in the present day. I enjoyed the way the story was told, allowing my mind to prepare itself for the things that happened to Meredith to have her not leaving her home for over three years.
Meredith isn't living a "normal" life now. She'd worked outside of her home once and actually saved enough to buy her own place. She'd dated, had a boyfriend, went to the pub with friends, but all that changed after a terrible thing happened to her. Still, things weren't really okay for Meredith before that terrible thing happened. Her childhood experiences had already taken so much from her. Just wait until you meet her mom, actually you don't want to meet her mom.
But Meredith isn't totally alone. She has her cat Fred and her best friend, Sadie. There is also the guy who delivers her groceries. There is her new friend Tom McDermott from Holding Hands who has started visiting her once a week, just to listen, do jigsaw puzzles, and talk. Plus the online support group where she meets a new member, Celeste. And we can't forget Meredith's online therapist. She really isn't completely alone. But she is trapped in a way that she hasn't been able to escape.
Slowly, as Meredith lends support to others and they lend support to her, she takes the tiniest of steps to open her door and consider venturing outside. There are setbacks and there is progress. But this is very hard work because it requires facing what had happened in the past, putting blame where it belongs, and removing blame from where it doesn't belong. It requires a kind of self care that takes chances but can reap benefits.
This story is hard hitting and difficult to take in at times. But it has hope written all over it and I think the ending is perfect. Meredith gets to go at her own pace and that's the way it should be.
Published November 1, 2022
November 1, 2022
“FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS…..PEOPLE TAKE THEIR FIRST AND LAST BREATHS. CARS CRASH, PLANES PLUNGE INTO OCEANS. THE HEALING PROCESS CAN BEGIN WITH A SIMPLE GESTURE”
THOSE WORDS are the heart ❤️ of this story!
DAY 1,214
That is how many days it has been since Meredith Maggs has left her house.
The question is WHY?
It isn’t because she is shy or quirky.
There are much darker reasons for her retreat into her own World.
Meredith is able to earn a living working from home, and have her groceries delivered. She has a ginger rescue cat named Fred, and a lifelong best friend in Sadie, who visits at least weekly, often with her two children.
Jigsaw puzzles, reading and baking keep her days full and satisfying. She is happy….enough.
DAY 1,215
The healing process will begin, when Tom McDermott from Holding Hands, the befriending charity, rings the doorbell. He is the first new person she will let into her home, and her life.
DAY 1,219
CATLADY29, Hello?
A new user will sign on to Meredith’s online support group, “StrenghInNumbers” needing someone to talk to.
JIGSAWGIRL: (finger hovering above the keyboard) Hi! I am Meredith….
1993
We will meet Meredith’s sister, Fiona . And, their mother. The two girls were thick as thieves.
Where is she now?
I’m sorry.
“ Two words that that can mean everything. Or Nothing.”
“A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP” Lao Tzu
(and Meredith’s therapist Diane)
Sometimes that step is reaching out for help-and sometimes it is answering someone’s plea…
This book is SO MUCH MORE than what I expected!
I didn’t realize that so many characters in this book have been let down by someone who should have made them feel loved and safe, or have been taken advantage of by a stranger.
And, yet, this story ISN’T about those people….
It’s about the PEOPLE who prop you up when that happens-and all the characters in this book will feel like friends you wish could be in your life too.
For this reason this is ultimately a HEARTWARMING, FEEL GOOD story despite touching on some serious themes, and it resonated deeply with me.
It’s the kind of book that you miss as soon as you reach the last page! (Sigh)
If you enjoy CHARACTER driven stories with ❤️-open up your ❤️ to Meredith!
I will see you in the deep end, Meredith!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my sincere pleasure to offer a candid review!
November 1, 2022
Happy Publication Day(U.S.)! ( November 1, 2022)
4.5⭐
As the story begins we meet our protagonist Meredith Maggs, a resident of Glasgow, who has not ventured outside her home in over 1214 days. Though somewhat a recluse, she does keep busy. She shops online and is employed full-time in a writing job that allows her to work remotely. She socially interacts with an online support group and communicates virtually with her counselor. Pushing 40, she lives with her cat Fred as a constant companion and fills her free time with books, jigsaw puzzles and baking. She has a fixed set of people with whom she interacts in person - her best friend Sadie and her two children and her grocery delivery boy. Added to this mix are the recent additions of Tom McDermott, a “friend” from the Holding Hands Charity organization, Celeste, one of her online friends, who reaches out to her personally and her 10-year-old neighbor Jacob Alistair Montgomery who knocks on her door and introduces himself. She does have immediate family close by but it’s complicated. It’s not that Meredith does not want to leave the house but her efforts to step outside her safe haven seem to exacerbate her anxiety and cause panic attacks – the reasons for which are gradually disclosed. As the narrative progresses and we jump back and forth between past and present, we learn more about Meredith and the traumatic events that led to her self-imposed isolation. We follow Meredith’s journey as she struggles with anxiety and depression, willing herself to resume control of her life.
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander is a beautiful story full of hope and heart. Each of the characters in this novel is well-fleshed out ( even the unlikeable ones). There are dark moments in Meredith's life and her road to recovery is not an easy one – she stumbles and falls but we cheer for her as she does not stop trying to bring about positive change in her life. Everyone in her support system genuinely cares for her and what I liked about each of these characters is that none of them are pushy or overbearing and though they want her to venture out of her home, they give her the space and the time she needs to open herself up to everything life has to offer. The author covers several sensitive topics such as mental health, sexual assault and domestic violence, dysfunctional families and the far-reaching effects of parental neglect on a child’s sense of self-worth with the utmost compassion. The pacing of the novel is on the slower side which suits the central theme and natural progression of the story. I liked the fact that the author did not rush to an impractical, eye-roll-inducing, OTT ending but rather ended the story on a hopeful note – keeping it real and relatable. Meredith is an endearing protagonist. Though her story has its difficult moments it is ultimately one of courage and hope.
Many thanks to Claire Alexander, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this wonderful novel. All expressions expressed in this review are my own. This book is scheduled to be released on November 1, 2022.
4.5⭐
As the story begins we meet our protagonist Meredith Maggs, a resident of Glasgow, who has not ventured outside her home in over 1214 days. Though somewhat a recluse, she does keep busy. She shops online and is employed full-time in a writing job that allows her to work remotely. She socially interacts with an online support group and communicates virtually with her counselor. Pushing 40, she lives with her cat Fred as a constant companion and fills her free time with books, jigsaw puzzles and baking. She has a fixed set of people with whom she interacts in person - her best friend Sadie and her two children and her grocery delivery boy. Added to this mix are the recent additions of Tom McDermott, a “friend” from the Holding Hands Charity organization, Celeste, one of her online friends, who reaches out to her personally and her 10-year-old neighbor Jacob Alistair Montgomery who knocks on her door and introduces himself. She does have immediate family close by but it’s complicated. It’s not that Meredith does not want to leave the house but her efforts to step outside her safe haven seem to exacerbate her anxiety and cause panic attacks – the reasons for which are gradually disclosed. As the narrative progresses and we jump back and forth between past and present, we learn more about Meredith and the traumatic events that led to her self-imposed isolation. We follow Meredith’s journey as she struggles with anxiety and depression, willing herself to resume control of her life.
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander is a beautiful story full of hope and heart. Each of the characters in this novel is well-fleshed out ( even the unlikeable ones). There are dark moments in Meredith's life and her road to recovery is not an easy one – she stumbles and falls but we cheer for her as she does not stop trying to bring about positive change in her life. Everyone in her support system genuinely cares for her and what I liked about each of these characters is that none of them are pushy or overbearing and though they want her to venture out of her home, they give her the space and the time she needs to open herself up to everything life has to offer. The author covers several sensitive topics such as mental health, sexual assault and domestic violence, dysfunctional families and the far-reaching effects of parental neglect on a child’s sense of self-worth with the utmost compassion. The pacing of the novel is on the slower side which suits the central theme and natural progression of the story. I liked the fact that the author did not rush to an impractical, eye-roll-inducing, OTT ending but rather ended the story on a hopeful note – keeping it real and relatable. Meredith is an endearing protagonist. Though her story has its difficult moments it is ultimately one of courage and hope.
Many thanks to Claire Alexander, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this wonderful novel. All expressions expressed in this review are my own. This book is scheduled to be released on November 1, 2022.
August 18, 2023
Oh, this was just perfect. I think it can be classified under uplit literature, where you know there will be a lot of lovely moments ensure to lift your spirits. Meredith did all that. We’ve seen it before, someone struggling after a traumatic event, isolating themselves, not venturing outside. Meredith was such a vulnerable, yet beautiful character, and no wonder so many tried to help her. There is a lot of development inside her, and that made me happy. Although it was no walk in the park, by slowly learning to trust herself she spread her wings slowly. I will remember this book for a long time.
April 2, 2022
4-5 stars
Why hasn’t Meredith Maggs left her Glasgow home for 1,215 days and what will it take for her to be able to leave it?? She spends her days working, reading and completing complex jigsaws, the only visitors are best friend Sadie and the Tesco delivery man although of course, she does have a constant companion in Fred, her cat. The story is told in the present and back to her childhood and the reasons she became reclusive in 2016.
I really enjoy this character driven story of a woman’s battle to overcome deep seated issues and step foot onto the road to recovery. I like the way it’s written and although it covers some dark issues the storytelling is matter of fact and never overblown and has some good touches of humour. I love the portrayal of Meredith, I really like her, she is complex, sometimes her decisions baffle you but then you realise you don’t have her problems. Her condition, her reclusion (in Japanese hikikomori- I enjoy this inclusion!) is done extremely well and you really root for her. There are some very good supporting characters in Sadie, who is the epitome of a loyal and fantastic friend, Tom from the charity Holding Hands who dives happily into Meredith excellent baking and her new friend Celeste. I also love Jacob Alistair Montgomery aged 10. Delightful.The portrayal of her complex family situation is excellent both her sister Fee and her mother who looms very large are done extremely well.
Overall, this is a very accomplished novel that covers a number of issues via the character of Meredith who despite her problems is an absolute pleasure to get to know!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review
Why hasn’t Meredith Maggs left her Glasgow home for 1,215 days and what will it take for her to be able to leave it?? She spends her days working, reading and completing complex jigsaws, the only visitors are best friend Sadie and the Tesco delivery man although of course, she does have a constant companion in Fred, her cat. The story is told in the present and back to her childhood and the reasons she became reclusive in 2016.
I really enjoy this character driven story of a woman’s battle to overcome deep seated issues and step foot onto the road to recovery. I like the way it’s written and although it covers some dark issues the storytelling is matter of fact and never overblown and has some good touches of humour. I love the portrayal of Meredith, I really like her, she is complex, sometimes her decisions baffle you but then you realise you don’t have her problems. Her condition, her reclusion (in Japanese hikikomori- I enjoy this inclusion!) is done extremely well and you really root for her. There are some very good supporting characters in Sadie, who is the epitome of a loyal and fantastic friend, Tom from the charity Holding Hands who dives happily into Meredith excellent baking and her new friend Celeste. I also love Jacob Alistair Montgomery aged 10. Delightful.The portrayal of her complex family situation is excellent both her sister Fee and her mother who looms very large are done extremely well.
Overall, this is a very accomplished novel that covers a number of issues via the character of Meredith who despite her problems is an absolute pleasure to get to know!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review
August 4, 2022
4.5⭐
Meredith hasn’t left her home in over three years. Panic grips her just at the mere thought. She has her therapist (via zoom) and her childhood friend who’ve been her biggest champion throughout.
What Meredith doesn’t have is the love and support of her family. Her mother and sister haven’t spoken to her in years. They turned their backs when she needed them most.
But Meredith’s tiny world is about to get a bit bigger. Tom has started coming by for weekly visits. He works for an agency to make sure Meredith is alive and well in her secluded life. And as icing on the cake, now she also has Celeste, a friend she met in an online forum. She quickly became a true friend and support.
This was a very poignant read. My heart went out to Meredith. I so wanted to be by her side and help her bravely take that step back into the world.
Told in both present and past timelines we see Meredith’s childhood and her relationship with her mother and sister. The direction her life took after a horrible event, leaving her convinced she had nowhere to turn, except to lock her door tightly shut.
Pour yourself a cup of tea and get comfy on your sofa because once you get to know Meredith you won’t want to leave (this read) either!
A buddy read with Susanne that we both enjoyed!💞
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
Meredith hasn’t left her home in over three years. Panic grips her just at the mere thought. She has her therapist (via zoom) and her childhood friend who’ve been her biggest champion throughout.
What Meredith doesn’t have is the love and support of her family. Her mother and sister haven’t spoken to her in years. They turned their backs when she needed them most.
But Meredith’s tiny world is about to get a bit bigger. Tom has started coming by for weekly visits. He works for an agency to make sure Meredith is alive and well in her secluded life. And as icing on the cake, now she also has Celeste, a friend she met in an online forum. She quickly became a true friend and support.
This was a very poignant read. My heart went out to Meredith. I so wanted to be by her side and help her bravely take that step back into the world.
Told in both present and past timelines we see Meredith’s childhood and her relationship with her mother and sister. The direction her life took after a horrible event, leaving her convinced she had nowhere to turn, except to lock her door tightly shut.
Pour yourself a cup of tea and get comfy on your sofa because once you get to know Meredith you won’t want to leave (this read) either!
A buddy read with Susanne that we both enjoyed!💞
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
October 25, 2022
This is a deeply meaningful book with a great deal to say about living life and overcoming trauma.
Meredith has not been outside her home in 1214 days. She is content with her choices and enjoys her life for the most part. She has a remote job, a solid friend named Sadie, and a lovely cat Fred. As the story progresses, we learn more about Meredith's past and why she is at home.
This is a book filled with a wide variety of characters who in turn you will learn to adore, admire, dislike, root for, and root against. The trauma in this book is not handled lightly, but it also isn't something the characters remain stuck in--their forward (and backward) journeys and the way each of them come alongside the others are what make the reading of this book so compelling.
There are triggers here--this novel deals with heavy subjects such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. But it is so hopeful overall and the ending is perfect. Everything is not tied up into a sappy neat bow, there is such a feeling of joy, bravery, and strength in the progress made by the very realistic characters.
This is such a raw, honest look at the effects trauma can have on people and how they can learn, grow, and heal through even the most difficult things. Highly recommended!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Meredith has not been outside her home in 1214 days. She is content with her choices and enjoys her life for the most part. She has a remote job, a solid friend named Sadie, and a lovely cat Fred. As the story progresses, we learn more about Meredith's past and why she is at home.
This is a book filled with a wide variety of characters who in turn you will learn to adore, admire, dislike, root for, and root against. The trauma in this book is not handled lightly, but it also isn't something the characters remain stuck in--their forward (and backward) journeys and the way each of them come alongside the others are what make the reading of this book so compelling.
There are triggers here--this novel deals with heavy subjects such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. But it is so hopeful overall and the ending is perfect. Everything is not tied up into a sappy neat bow, there is such a feeling of joy, bravery, and strength in the progress made by the very realistic characters.
This is such a raw, honest look at the effects trauma can have on people and how they can learn, grow, and heal through even the most difficult things. Highly recommended!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 8, 2022
"Meredith, Alone" by Claire Alexander is a top-notch blend of Friendship & Family Fiction!
Meredith Maggs is a one-of-a-kind character whose current world encompasses the inside walls of her home. She hasn't left her nest in 1,215 days and she's perfectly happy right where she is, doing all the things she normally does every day. There are reasons why Meredith hasn't gone through her front door to the outside world in over three years. Let's call them: 'Meredith Reasons'.
I love the fact that the synopsis of this book on Goodreads is short and sweet. It tells you as much as you need to know and that's the best way to begin reading this story.
It's told in a dual timeline of Meredith's present life and her past. The present is periodic daily-life snapshots covering her relationships with her friends, her family, and her cat, Fred. The past slowly revisits her family life and the occurrences that brought Meredith to her current status.
Meredith's story is heartbreaking. It will make your heart hurt and you'll want to reach out and give her a big hug! As you read, you're sure you've discovered everything there is to know about her, and then the author creates another layer of 'Meredith Reasons". Oh, my heart!
Through all the darkness of Meredith's story, you learn that it is also an inspiring one. She has supportive friends who keep in contact with her, visit her, encourage her, and care about her struggle. Then you learn the most remarkable thing of all about Meredith, that she's also helpful and supportive to each of her friends. She's hopeful, compassionate, welcoming, and steadfast. Yes, Meredith is incredible!
A satisfying read with well-developed characters to either 'love' or 'love to hate', scads of socially relevant topics, and an ending that gives promise to new beginnings and hope for the future, offers forgiveness, understanding, and a deeper meaning of friends and family!
I highly recommend this book to those who love character driven stories like I do! 4.25 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Claire Alexander for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Meredith Maggs is a one-of-a-kind character whose current world encompasses the inside walls of her home. She hasn't left her nest in 1,215 days and she's perfectly happy right where she is, doing all the things she normally does every day. There are reasons why Meredith hasn't gone through her front door to the outside world in over three years. Let's call them: 'Meredith Reasons'.
I love the fact that the synopsis of this book on Goodreads is short and sweet. It tells you as much as you need to know and that's the best way to begin reading this story.
It's told in a dual timeline of Meredith's present life and her past. The present is periodic daily-life snapshots covering her relationships with her friends, her family, and her cat, Fred. The past slowly revisits her family life and the occurrences that brought Meredith to her current status.
Meredith's story is heartbreaking. It will make your heart hurt and you'll want to reach out and give her a big hug! As you read, you're sure you've discovered everything there is to know about her, and then the author creates another layer of 'Meredith Reasons". Oh, my heart!
Through all the darkness of Meredith's story, you learn that it is also an inspiring one. She has supportive friends who keep in contact with her, visit her, encourage her, and care about her struggle. Then you learn the most remarkable thing of all about Meredith, that she's also helpful and supportive to each of her friends. She's hopeful, compassionate, welcoming, and steadfast. Yes, Meredith is incredible!
A satisfying read with well-developed characters to either 'love' or 'love to hate', scads of socially relevant topics, and an ending that gives promise to new beginnings and hope for the future, offers forgiveness, understanding, and a deeper meaning of friends and family!
I highly recommend this book to those who love character driven stories like I do! 4.25 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Claire Alexander for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
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August 8, 2022
I am not inclined to call this a novel, as the cover suggests. But that is just me -- please do not mind me, and consider how many readers were pleasantly surprised by this road-to-recovery story. Did it remind me of Eleanor Oliphant? Certainly: particularly when it comes to the verbally abusive mother figure and forms of trauma. But that did not necessarily help here. I remember rating Honeyman's novel 4 stars, but its lasting impression -- perceived in hindsight, of course -- suggests something more than that, if not all the stars.
Why this preamble? And why did I pick up this book in the first place?
The latter question is simple enough to answer: the 'recluse' premise -- a woman, Meredith Maggs, who has not ventured beyond the walls of her house for over 1214 days -- convinced me to pick this up instantly. The former warrants for some detour observations, because Honeyman's novel and this one differ on one crucial point: in other words, where this one did not entirely succeed, in my books, brings me to comment on what makes Eleanor's story unforgettable. For one thing, it would have been far more interesting to spend quality reading time with the Meredith of those 1214 days prior to the initiation of her recovery. As things stand in this narrative, I could not honestly say that I craved to read on -- no 'hooking' mechanism got triggered here. I intuited that she would in the end overcome some of the weighty hindrances, and I was not particularly compelled to go through the motions of it. The alternating between past (her early days with her sister Fiona and her detestable mother, and the pre-traumatic-Event that led to her isolation) and present seclusion is fairly seamless: bits of life would emerge in the present, perhaps during her chats with Tom -- from the Helping Hands, who has recently taken to visit Meredith on Thursdays -- or with Sadie her all-time closest friend, or perhaps her new friend Celeste, who seems to have gone through a similar 'event', though far less severely so. A flashback would then follow: a vignette to a past that is very much alive in Meredith's present misery. The pacing of the build-up, in this respect, is not unsatisfactory. There is skill in the structuring of this narrative, no doubt...
But is there enough heart? I dare say: no. For such a tragic chain of 'events' as this book undoubtedly puts together, feeling -- the kind that infiltrates the reader's being forevermore -- ought to have found refuge in the words populating its pages. Not that I did not get emotional -- that is not what I am saying. But, as it turns out, what it did lack was that meatier kind of immersion in Meredith's psyche, in the darkness of human psyche. Meredith comes across as aloof most of the time, and therefore my connection with her and her plight could not be complete in any partially complete sense. I cannot get past how little insight into those years of seclusion we get -- mere flashes!-- by the end of the book. On the other hand, Eleanor's story is raw, gut-wrenching in its intensity, emotionally distressing...And so very real -- its darkness accentuated by Eleanor's humour.
I see potential in Meredith, Alone. And I also see how this, to my mind, could have been executed in a far more satisfying manner. Not much else beyond that. Because this book desires to navigate more hopeful waters. And perhaps darkness, for this reader, feels more real.
Why this preamble? And why did I pick up this book in the first place?
The latter question is simple enough to answer: the 'recluse' premise -- a woman, Meredith Maggs, who has not ventured beyond the walls of her house for over 1214 days -- convinced me to pick this up instantly. The former warrants for some detour observations, because Honeyman's novel and this one differ on one crucial point: in other words, where this one did not entirely succeed, in my books, brings me to comment on what makes Eleanor's story unforgettable. For one thing, it would have been far more interesting to spend quality reading time with the Meredith of those 1214 days prior to the initiation of her recovery. As things stand in this narrative, I could not honestly say that I craved to read on -- no 'hooking' mechanism got triggered here. I intuited that she would in the end overcome some of the weighty hindrances, and I was not particularly compelled to go through the motions of it. The alternating between past (her early days with her sister Fiona and her detestable mother, and the pre-traumatic-Event that led to her isolation) and present seclusion is fairly seamless: bits of life would emerge in the present, perhaps during her chats with Tom -- from the Helping Hands, who has recently taken to visit Meredith on Thursdays -- or with Sadie her all-time closest friend, or perhaps her new friend Celeste, who seems to have gone through a similar 'event', though far less severely so. A flashback would then follow: a vignette to a past that is very much alive in Meredith's present misery. The pacing of the build-up, in this respect, is not unsatisfactory. There is skill in the structuring of this narrative, no doubt...
But is there enough heart? I dare say: no. For such a tragic chain of 'events' as this book undoubtedly puts together, feeling -- the kind that infiltrates the reader's being forevermore -- ought to have found refuge in the words populating its pages. Not that I did not get emotional -- that is not what I am saying. But, as it turns out, what it did lack was that meatier kind of immersion in Meredith's psyche, in the darkness of human psyche. Meredith comes across as aloof most of the time, and therefore my connection with her and her plight could not be complete in any partially complete sense. I cannot get past how little insight into those years of seclusion we get -- mere flashes!-- by the end of the book. On the other hand, Eleanor's story is raw, gut-wrenching in its intensity, emotionally distressing...And so very real -- its darkness accentuated by Eleanor's humour.
I see potential in Meredith, Alone. And I also see how this, to my mind, could have been executed in a far more satisfying manner. Not much else beyond that. Because this book desires to navigate more hopeful waters. And perhaps darkness, for this reader, feels more real.
November 21, 2022
Meredith hasn’t left her house in three years. She works from home, spending her free time cooking, baking, and working jigsaw puzzles. For company she has Fred, her cat, an online support group, and a few friends who visit. She is not quirky or neurodivergent (which has been overdone so I was grateful), but she has a traumatic past that keeps her at home, afraid to venture outside.
Gradually, Meredith’s world begins to look a little bigger. I appreciated the focus was on healing from trauma and the people who help Meredith along the way. The story is a hopeful one, and a good reminder of the healing power of a network of friends.
I enjoyed reading about Meredith’s journey even though this book has themes that I normally avoid. What really makes this story lovely is Meredith herself. She is likable and a supportive friend to the people in her life, as they were to her. I was firmly in her corner. Recommended!
• The audiobook narrator, Freya Mavor, did an excellent job bringing Meredith to life.
Gradually, Meredith’s world begins to look a little bigger. I appreciated the focus was on healing from trauma and the people who help Meredith along the way. The story is a hopeful one, and a good reminder of the healing power of a network of friends.
I enjoyed reading about Meredith’s journey even though this book has themes that I normally avoid. What really makes this story lovely is Meredith herself. She is likable and a supportive friend to the people in her life, as they were to her. I was firmly in her corner. Recommended!
• The audiobook narrator, Freya Mavor, did an excellent job bringing Meredith to life.
May 17, 2023
I feel like how well written a book is and how much you like a book are two separate things. When a book's topic is mostly depressing and should come with a lot of trigger warnings, can you enjoy it? For me, at least in this specific case, the answer seems to be no. This does end on a hopeful note with progress towards a happier future, but it just wasn't enough for me.
November 27, 2022
Meredith, Alone was a moving story!
Meredith Maggs is almost 40, she lives in Glasgow but what is shocking is that she has stayed home for almost 3.5 years!
Meredith works from home, gets her food delivered, exercises by running up and down her stairs and she entertains herself by doing jigsaw puzzles. For company, she talks to her therapist online. Her best friend Sadie stops by frequently, alone or with her kids, and of course, she has her house cat, Fred, who is always there for her.
Meredith didn't use to be this way. She used to work outside and go out to bars but something happened that changed her life.
Meredith didn't have a nice childhood. Her mother was abusive. However, she was very close to her sister Fiona. Yet, in the present Fiona is absent. As the story unfolds we learned what happened between the siblings.
Despite her agoraphobia and self-isolation, new people come into her life. There is Tom McDermott from Holding hands, Celeste from a support group website, and Jacob, a kid next door. These new connections will bring change into Meredith's life.
In a way, this is a story of hope, with interesting and well-developed characters and with a realistic ending that had me rooting for Meredith.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Meredith Maggs is almost 40, she lives in Glasgow but what is shocking is that she has stayed home for almost 3.5 years!
Meredith works from home, gets her food delivered, exercises by running up and down her stairs and she entertains herself by doing jigsaw puzzles. For company, she talks to her therapist online. Her best friend Sadie stops by frequently, alone or with her kids, and of course, she has her house cat, Fred, who is always there for her.
Meredith didn't use to be this way. She used to work outside and go out to bars but something happened that changed her life.
Meredith didn't have a nice childhood. Her mother was abusive. However, she was very close to her sister Fiona. Yet, in the present Fiona is absent. As the story unfolds we learned what happened between the siblings.
Despite her agoraphobia and self-isolation, new people come into her life. There is Tom McDermott from Holding hands, Celeste from a support group website, and Jacob, a kid next door. These new connections will bring change into Meredith's life.
In a way, this is a story of hope, with interesting and well-developed characters and with a realistic ending that had me rooting for Meredith.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
September 18, 2022
Simply the best. Heartbreaking, heartwarming and just unforgettable.
Meredith Maggs is homebound. She has not left her home in 1214 days. She has a daily routine and sticks to it. She works out, reads, does jigsaw puzzles, bakes, works from home, talks to a support group online and shops online as well. Every day is the same, day in, day out. Meredith has a cat, Fred who she loves dearly, and she also works with a therapist via Zoom and has a best friend, Sadie, who has been there for her throughout. Some time ago, Meredith had a falling out with her mother and sister Fee, and she is now alone.
One day, however, there's a knock on Meredith's door and it changes everything. It's a man from the Holding Hand's charity agency named Tom McDermott. He's there to provide support to those in need, to be a friend. And that is exactly what he becomes. Every week he comes round to chat, for tea, to do jigsaws. Then there's Celeste, a woman from the online support group, who she becomes friends with. Slowly, Meredith's circle grows and we see her make strides to open up and move on.
Throughout this incredibly heartfelt, vulnerable read, I shed tears, smiled often, and laughed quite a bit. Meredith, Alone is a sweet, sad, and funny novel about the atrocities of life, trauma, recovery, family, and friendship.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. We both loved this novel and talked so much about the character, her experiences, and her triumphs. So glad we read this together Kaceey!
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the arc via NetGalley.
Meredith Maggs is homebound. She has not left her home in 1214 days. She has a daily routine and sticks to it. She works out, reads, does jigsaw puzzles, bakes, works from home, talks to a support group online and shops online as well. Every day is the same, day in, day out. Meredith has a cat, Fred who she loves dearly, and she also works with a therapist via Zoom and has a best friend, Sadie, who has been there for her throughout. Some time ago, Meredith had a falling out with her mother and sister Fee, and she is now alone.
One day, however, there's a knock on Meredith's door and it changes everything. It's a man from the Holding Hand's charity agency named Tom McDermott. He's there to provide support to those in need, to be a friend. And that is exactly what he becomes. Every week he comes round to chat, for tea, to do jigsaws. Then there's Celeste, a woman from the online support group, who she becomes friends with. Slowly, Meredith's circle grows and we see her make strides to open up and move on.
Throughout this incredibly heartfelt, vulnerable read, I shed tears, smiled often, and laughed quite a bit. Meredith, Alone is a sweet, sad, and funny novel about the atrocities of life, trauma, recovery, family, and friendship.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. We both loved this novel and talked so much about the character, her experiences, and her triumphs. So glad we read this together Kaceey!
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the arc via NetGalley.
September 12, 2022
Oh my heart what a phenomenal story this is.
Meredith hasn't left her home in over three years. Over the course of the story we find out why, a narcissistic mother as well as a traumatic experience that left her estranged from her sister, Fee, whom was her closest companion her entire life until that point.
What a brilliant character Meredith is. Claire Alexander took time and consideration in creating this unforgettable character. If you like books where you're cheering and rooting for the main character to succeed then THIS is the book for YOU!!!
Keep in mind that while Meredith doesn't leave her home she isn't lonely. So she insists. She has her sweet kitty cat Fred, an online writing job, her best friend Sadie who is the most amazing best friend a person could ever ask for along with her two adorable children, her online group chats where she befriends Celeste who becomes one of her strongest supporters, she has Tom who initially started visiting her through the Holding Hands charity but who becomes one of her nearest and dearest, her love of complicated jig saw puzzles, as well as a well stocked kitchen in which she whips up delectable treats and desserts - she hardly feels alone at all. The veil is quite thin though and we as readers can see what trouble she's really in. My heart broke fiercely for this kind, caring, and quirky woman and by the end of this novel my heart was full to burst with equal amounts of love and hope. I loved these characters so much that I didn't want this novel to end but Meredith deserves closure so I bid her farewell with a warm heart and a smile on my face. ALL THE STARS!!!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy.
Meredith hasn't left her home in over three years. Over the course of the story we find out why, a narcissistic mother as well as a traumatic experience that left her estranged from her sister, Fee, whom was her closest companion her entire life until that point.
What a brilliant character Meredith is. Claire Alexander took time and consideration in creating this unforgettable character. If you like books where you're cheering and rooting for the main character to succeed then THIS is the book for YOU!!!
Keep in mind that while Meredith doesn't leave her home she isn't lonely. So she insists. She has her sweet kitty cat Fred, an online writing job, her best friend Sadie who is the most amazing best friend a person could ever ask for along with her two adorable children, her online group chats where she befriends Celeste who becomes one of her strongest supporters, she has Tom who initially started visiting her through the Holding Hands charity but who becomes one of her nearest and dearest, her love of complicated jig saw puzzles, as well as a well stocked kitchen in which she whips up delectable treats and desserts - she hardly feels alone at all. The veil is quite thin though and we as readers can see what trouble she's really in. My heart broke fiercely for this kind, caring, and quirky woman and by the end of this novel my heart was full to burst with equal amounts of love and hope. I loved these characters so much that I didn't want this novel to end but Meredith deserves closure so I bid her farewell with a warm heart and a smile on my face. ALL THE STARS!!!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy.
November 1, 2022
FLOAT FOR PUB DAY!
Oh my. I really dug this one. I am 100% all about . . . .
Mini non-spoiler spoiler for anyone looking for a magic peen being the driving force that gets my gal Meredith out of her house – you got the wrong book. And yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to all of the rest of us who dabble in romance, but realize the healing process after a traumatic event REALLY shouldn’t include a weiner.
The story here is about, you guessed it, Meredith. At the start of the book Meredith hasn’t left her house in over 1,200 days. She never had any intention of being a hermit. In fact, she was all dressed and ready to go the office on the first day she realized she was no longer capable of going outside whatsoever. Thanks to the best bestie that ever bestied Sadie, her faithful feline friend Fred, a work-from-home freelance writing career, online therapy and support forums and the bounty of the interwebs that make everything you might ever need get delivered directly to your house with a mere mouseclick, Meredith has been doing okay. But maybe it’s time she takes that first step . . . .
Okay, lovelovelovelovelove. That’s it. Loved it. Thanks to Michelle for putting this one on my radar. I feel like I myself made new best friends in Meredith and her friend group after finishing this one 4.5 Stars and rounding up because I can.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Oh my. I really dug this one. I am 100% all about . . . .
Mini non-spoiler spoiler for anyone looking for a magic peen being the driving force that gets my gal Meredith out of her house – you got the wrong book. And yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to all of the rest of us who dabble in romance, but realize the healing process after a traumatic event REALLY shouldn’t include a weiner.
The story here is about, you guessed it, Meredith. At the start of the book Meredith hasn’t left her house in over 1,200 days. She never had any intention of being a hermit. In fact, she was all dressed and ready to go the office on the first day she realized she was no longer capable of going outside whatsoever. Thanks to the best bestie that ever bestied Sadie, her faithful feline friend Fred, a work-from-home freelance writing career, online therapy and support forums and the bounty of the interwebs that make everything you might ever need get delivered directly to your house with a mere mouseclick, Meredith has been doing okay. But maybe it’s time she takes that first step . . . .
Okay, lovelovelovelovelove. That’s it. Loved it. Thanks to Michelle for putting this one on my radar. I feel like I myself made new best friends in Meredith and her friend group after finishing this one 4.5 Stars and rounding up because I can.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
October 9, 2022
If there was any one character from a book that I’ve read, and could bring this character to life- it would definitely be Meredith Maggs, from Meredith, Alone. Meredith is the type of person that I would love to be best friends with, regardless of the fact that she hasn’t left her house for over three years! Meredith has a heart of gold, and we have so much in common, I could visit her at her house any day!
In this book we meet Meredith Maggs, who after having suffered a traumatic experience (and actually some lifetime traumatic events), hasn’t left her house for 1,214 days. During this time she keeps a work from home job, she has her cat Fred, her books, her jigsaw puzzles, she cooks, she keeps a spotless house, she shops online, and has her groceries delivered. Her best friend Sadie, along with her two small children visit Meredith regularly. Then we have Tom, from a charity organization who becomes Meredith’s new friend, along with Celeste from an online chat group. The support and love she receives from her friends is definitely there. Her family, not so much…
During this time of getting to know Meredith, there are flashbacks to when Meredith was a child and still living at home with her mother and sister. Meredith and her sister Fiona (Fee), used to be super close and the best of friends until the traumatic event happened. Meredith and her mother were never close, so their estrangement after the event was actually a good thing (in my opinion).
There were so many instances that I could relate to in this story, and also so many emotions! I love how everything came together in the end and was wrapped in a nice pretty bow. For some reason, I’m left wanting a little more. While I got all my answers, I feel that the ending was too abrupt for me. Will there be a sequel perhaps? (I know I would love it if there was!)
All in all, I definitely recommend reading about the lovable, Meredith Maggs! This is a book that you will not forget anytime soon!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this wonderful book! Publication date: November 1, 2022
In this book we meet Meredith Maggs, who after having suffered a traumatic experience (and actually some lifetime traumatic events), hasn’t left her house for 1,214 days. During this time she keeps a work from home job, she has her cat Fred, her books, her jigsaw puzzles, she cooks, she keeps a spotless house, she shops online, and has her groceries delivered. Her best friend Sadie, along with her two small children visit Meredith regularly. Then we have Tom, from a charity organization who becomes Meredith’s new friend, along with Celeste from an online chat group. The support and love she receives from her friends is definitely there. Her family, not so much…
During this time of getting to know Meredith, there are flashbacks to when Meredith was a child and still living at home with her mother and sister. Meredith and her sister Fiona (Fee), used to be super close and the best of friends until the traumatic event happened. Meredith and her mother were never close, so their estrangement after the event was actually a good thing (in my opinion).
There were so many instances that I could relate to in this story, and also so many emotions! I love how everything came together in the end and was wrapped in a nice pretty bow. For some reason, I’m left wanting a little more. While I got all my answers, I feel that the ending was too abrupt for me. Will there be a sequel perhaps? (I know I would love it if there was!)
All in all, I definitely recommend reading about the lovable, Meredith Maggs! This is a book that you will not forget anytime soon!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this wonderful book! Publication date: November 1, 2022
January 23, 2023
Meredith hasn't left her home in 1,214 days. She works from home, exercises, has a cat, a few friends visit, but she is bound to the four walls that contain her.
This is the story of a woman, functioning the best way she knows. She's made a full life for herself, by herself.
Her best friend Sadie, comes to visit often as well as Tom, a worker from Helping Hands. She also makes a friend, Celeste, online--and connects with others healing from trauma.
You would think this story would be boring, how much can you write about a woman trapped in her home, but Claire Alexander writes with honesty about a woman's struggle to enter back into the world.
As the story unfolds, we learn Meredith's past has been complicated. Trigger warning for child abuse, sexual violence, and domestic violence.
I loved this book. Simplistic writing, raw, and poignant. Meredith is a kind, soulful woman, struggling with herself and the world, forcing her to step outside, literally.
Her sister and mother hadn't been in touch with during her isolation—we learn the dark, gut-wrenching reason for their abandonment. The story is told between the present and past building into her trauma.
Meredith's courage is inspiring. Luckily, she has people (while few) that have rallied around her, championing her through the struggles.
This is a story of friendship, hope, recovery, and acceptance. An important read, one that draws you to empathize with the protagonist.
I laughed, I cried, and I rejoiced. Meredith draws a line between living alone and being lonely, which is an important idea. It’s ok to live alone, but painful to be lonely.
Interestingly, I had a discussion with a good friend who's sister is struggling with anxiety. I listened as she talked about the frustration she felt. It made me think, sometimes, when a friend/family member suffers with mental illness, our impatience, without realizing, can be hurtful, detrimental to the sufferer.
Helping those with serious trauma, mental illness' requires more than just patience. It requires you to ask yourself, how would you want to be treated? The cast of characters that stand by her are an example of what that would look like--empathetic.
4.5/5 stars
This is the story of a woman, functioning the best way she knows. She's made a full life for herself, by herself.
Her best friend Sadie, comes to visit often as well as Tom, a worker from Helping Hands. She also makes a friend, Celeste, online--and connects with others healing from trauma.
You would think this story would be boring, how much can you write about a woman trapped in her home, but Claire Alexander writes with honesty about a woman's struggle to enter back into the world.
As the story unfolds, we learn Meredith's past has been complicated. Trigger warning for child abuse, sexual violence, and domestic violence.
I loved this book. Simplistic writing, raw, and poignant. Meredith is a kind, soulful woman, struggling with herself and the world, forcing her to step outside, literally.
Her sister and mother hadn't been in touch with during her isolation—we learn the dark, gut-wrenching reason for their abandonment. The story is told between the present and past building into her trauma.
Meredith's courage is inspiring. Luckily, she has people (while few) that have rallied around her, championing her through the struggles.
This is a story of friendship, hope, recovery, and acceptance. An important read, one that draws you to empathize with the protagonist.
I laughed, I cried, and I rejoiced. Meredith draws a line between living alone and being lonely, which is an important idea. It’s ok to live alone, but painful to be lonely.
Interestingly, I had a discussion with a good friend who's sister is struggling with anxiety. I listened as she talked about the frustration she felt. It made me think, sometimes, when a friend/family member suffers with mental illness, our impatience, without realizing, can be hurtful, detrimental to the sufferer.
Helping those with serious trauma, mental illness' requires more than just patience. It requires you to ask yourself, how would you want to be treated? The cast of characters that stand by her are an example of what that would look like--empathetic.
4.5/5 stars
October 17, 2022
In Meredith, Alone, the titular character is a nearly 40-year-old woman who has been living a reclusive lifestyle for over three years. Apart from her online job, one friend, and the delivery man, she has no interaction with the world outside of her home. As the story progresses, we find out the events that have led Meredith to this life, with past timelines interspersed with the present.
From the cover and description, I expected this book to be more light-hearted than it is. It gets heavy at times when traumatic events are discussed. Despite that, it is an uplifting story. I appreciated the evolution of Meredith’s relationships with both her sister, Fiona, and her supportive friend group. Additionally, I liked the mental health representation as far as Meredith’s sessions with her therapist.
Meredith, Alone is a moving story of recovery with relatable characters. Meredith is a memorable protagonist, and many readers will identify with her feelings.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy.
From the cover and description, I expected this book to be more light-hearted than it is. It gets heavy at times when traumatic events are discussed. Despite that, it is an uplifting story. I appreciated the evolution of Meredith’s relationships with both her sister, Fiona, and her supportive friend group. Additionally, I liked the mental health representation as far as Meredith’s sessions with her therapist.
Meredith, Alone is a moving story of recovery with relatable characters. Meredith is a memorable protagonist, and many readers will identify with her feelings.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy.
December 28, 2022
Review to come.
April 1, 2024
Niespodziewanie zachwyciła i co więcej, uderzyła w "odpowiednie"* miejsca.
* Spłakałam się jak bóbr, ostrzegam.
* Spłakałam się jak bóbr, ostrzegam.
September 25, 2024
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
“My name is Meredith Maggs and I haven’t left my home for 1,214 days.”
She works from home as a freelance writer. Gets Tesco deliveries for food. She has no reason to step foot over her door step…
The very next day a stranger appears on her doorstep. A man. She doesn’t often get visitors but on first impression, this one seems okay. His name is Tom, from Holding Hands - a befriending charity. Meredith is more concerned about her jigsaws, books (especially her beloved Emily Dickinson poetry collection) and her cat, Fred. She has one friend, Sadie and one other connection to the outside world in the form of StrengthInNumbers (an anonymous online connection forum).
Tom and Celeste come into Meredith’s life with an unexpected bang…whether she likes it or not, the world is coming for her…
I loved Meredith’s character. She is incredibly kind and thoughtful but also has lots of quirky charms that make her stand out from the crowd. I could totally sympathise with her on many levels, making for a more intimate read. Claire has done a great job at creating a lovely character that will unexpectedly move you to the point of tears.
Throughout the book we are launched back in time, first to when Meredith and her sister Fee were just children. Sisters. Inseparable. But now? It’s them and then there’s Meredith. Over the course of the book, we travel back and forth in time between her past experiences and present day. In this way Claire shows us, and explains, how Meredith has got to the point of not leaving her house. As the storyline develops we are drip fed more and more information ending with a full picture of a very understandable and realistic reason as to why she is the way she is at present.
Another feature that I enjoyed about this book was the short chapters, each progressing a day or two in time…meanwhile, Meredith still stays within the safety of her home. Each chapter building on the next. No wasted space or useless information.
Despite it being a fairly simple concept for a book, it was incredibly intriguing and I truly did not want to put it down. I think I was so invested in Meredith’s character that I was desperate to learn more about her and how her story would end. This book will certainly make you FEEL. A LOT! Every emotion accounted for. It made me laugh, smile, angry and almost shed a tear 🥹
Also side note: it has to be said, I despised Meredith’s mother. She was an awful and cruel human being. I just wanted to reach out to Meredith and give her a big hug.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
“My name is Meredith Maggs and I haven’t left my home for 1,214 days.”
She works from home as a freelance writer. Gets Tesco deliveries for food. She has no reason to step foot over her door step…
The very next day a stranger appears on her doorstep. A man. She doesn’t often get visitors but on first impression, this one seems okay. His name is Tom, from Holding Hands - a befriending charity. Meredith is more concerned about her jigsaws, books (especially her beloved Emily Dickinson poetry collection) and her cat, Fred. She has one friend, Sadie and one other connection to the outside world in the form of StrengthInNumbers (an anonymous online connection forum).
Tom and Celeste come into Meredith’s life with an unexpected bang…whether she likes it or not, the world is coming for her…
I loved Meredith’s character. She is incredibly kind and thoughtful but also has lots of quirky charms that make her stand out from the crowd. I could totally sympathise with her on many levels, making for a more intimate read. Claire has done a great job at creating a lovely character that will unexpectedly move you to the point of tears.
Throughout the book we are launched back in time, first to when Meredith and her sister Fee were just children. Sisters. Inseparable. But now? It’s them and then there’s Meredith. Over the course of the book, we travel back and forth in time between her past experiences and present day. In this way Claire shows us, and explains, how Meredith has got to the point of not leaving her house. As the storyline develops we are drip fed more and more information ending with a full picture of a very understandable and realistic reason as to why she is the way she is at present.
Another feature that I enjoyed about this book was the short chapters, each progressing a day or two in time…meanwhile, Meredith still stays within the safety of her home. Each chapter building on the next. No wasted space or useless information.
Despite it being a fairly simple concept for a book, it was incredibly intriguing and I truly did not want to put it down. I think I was so invested in Meredith’s character that I was desperate to learn more about her and how her story would end. This book will certainly make you FEEL. A LOT! Every emotion accounted for. It made me laugh, smile, angry and almost shed a tear 🥹
Also side note: it has to be said, I despised Meredith’s mother. She was an awful and cruel human being. I just wanted to reach out to Meredith and give her a big hug.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
November 27, 2022
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander was about how one traumatizing occurrence changed a young woman’s life in a matter of minutes. Meredith and her older sister Fiona were brought up primarily by their mother. Their father left when both girls were quite young. Meredith did not have a warm and loving childhood. Her mother often belittled Meredith and made Meredith feel inferior. She criticized Meredith and put her down constantly. Meredith’s relationship with her older sister was complicated as well. Despite all that, Meredith was a sweet and kind person. Meredith looked forward to the day she could move out of her mother’s house.
About three years prior to Meredith Maggs fortieth birthday her life changed drastically. Before the drastic change occurred, Meredith had bought a house, had a handsome boyfriend, worked in an office as a writer, visited friends and went out with them socially and spent time with her mother and sister. Then Meredith experienced a trauma that had made her alter her entire existence.
Meredith had not left her house in 1,214 days. That amounted to a little more than three years. She had not spoken to her mother or sister in all that time either. Even though Meredith no longer left her house, Meredith had established a routine for herself. She now worked remotely from the security and safety of her own home. She had one good friend, Sadie, who she grew up with in Glasgow. Sadie and her two children were still an important presence in Meredith’s life. Sadie visited often and brought Meredith things she was in need of. Meredith chatted with her therapist, Diane, on a weekly basis. Diane was very patient with Meredith but also encouraged her to take baby steps so Meredith could make some progress in altering her present situation. Socially, Meredith looked forward to chatting with her on-line support group. One day, someone named Celeste, joined the on-line support group and she and Meredith connected immediately. Celeste proved to be a good friend and a good influence on Meredith. Then there was Tom who came into Meredith’s life at just the right time. Meredith’s cat, Fred, became her best friend and confidant. She loved to bake and did it quite often. Meredith was content with the life she was living. Leaving her house and facing the outside world brought about extreme anxiety for Meredith. With encouragement from her therapist, an invitation to Celeste’s fortieth birthday party and allowing her sister to enter her life again, Meredith found the courage she needed to move forward and make strides in being able to leave her house finally and join the outside world once again.
Meredith, Alone alternated between present time and the past in a non linear format. As snippets of Meredith’s past were presented, it gave me a better understanding of her situation. Eventually, her trauma was revealed as well. I loved Meredith’s character and wanted to give her a big hug and tell her that everything would turn out alright. Meredith, Alone was Claire Alexander’s debut novel. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I listened to the audiobook of Meredith Alone that was well narrated by Freya Mavor. Meredith, Alone was about having courage and hope. It was about taking the time to heal in one’s own way and time. Meredith, Alone was also about forming friendships, believing in one another and yourself and mother and daughter relationships. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Meredith, Alone and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
About three years prior to Meredith Maggs fortieth birthday her life changed drastically. Before the drastic change occurred, Meredith had bought a house, had a handsome boyfriend, worked in an office as a writer, visited friends and went out with them socially and spent time with her mother and sister. Then Meredith experienced a trauma that had made her alter her entire existence.
Meredith had not left her house in 1,214 days. That amounted to a little more than three years. She had not spoken to her mother or sister in all that time either. Even though Meredith no longer left her house, Meredith had established a routine for herself. She now worked remotely from the security and safety of her own home. She had one good friend, Sadie, who she grew up with in Glasgow. Sadie and her two children were still an important presence in Meredith’s life. Sadie visited often and brought Meredith things she was in need of. Meredith chatted with her therapist, Diane, on a weekly basis. Diane was very patient with Meredith but also encouraged her to take baby steps so Meredith could make some progress in altering her present situation. Socially, Meredith looked forward to chatting with her on-line support group. One day, someone named Celeste, joined the on-line support group and she and Meredith connected immediately. Celeste proved to be a good friend and a good influence on Meredith. Then there was Tom who came into Meredith’s life at just the right time. Meredith’s cat, Fred, became her best friend and confidant. She loved to bake and did it quite often. Meredith was content with the life she was living. Leaving her house and facing the outside world brought about extreme anxiety for Meredith. With encouragement from her therapist, an invitation to Celeste’s fortieth birthday party and allowing her sister to enter her life again, Meredith found the courage she needed to move forward and make strides in being able to leave her house finally and join the outside world once again.
Meredith, Alone alternated between present time and the past in a non linear format. As snippets of Meredith’s past were presented, it gave me a better understanding of her situation. Eventually, her trauma was revealed as well. I loved Meredith’s character and wanted to give her a big hug and tell her that everything would turn out alright. Meredith, Alone was Claire Alexander’s debut novel. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I listened to the audiobook of Meredith Alone that was well narrated by Freya Mavor. Meredith, Alone was about having courage and hope. It was about taking the time to heal in one’s own way and time. Meredith, Alone was also about forming friendships, believing in one another and yourself and mother and daughter relationships. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Meredith, Alone and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2022
Meredith Alone isn't a book that I would typically pick up. But my interest was piqued after reading so many rave reviews on Goodreads and learning that the main character has mental health issues.
Meredith Maggs hasn't left her house in Glasgow Scotland in 3 years, 3 months, and 29 days. She works from home as a writer and gets all of her supplies delivered so she never has to leave. Along with her cat Fred, her friend Sadie who drops by, and an online chat group that she's a member of, Sadie keeps busy. She also has a passion for jigsaw puzzles and baking but some things still missing.
The world is just at Meredith’s door but can she find the courage to face it?
I truly fell head over heels in love with Meredith! I loved getting inside her world and I also enjoyed getting to know Tom and Sadie the sub-characters. Through alternating timelines, we learn about Merideth’s past and about the traumas she has faced that have put her in her current situation.
Meredith Alone explores the complexity of agoraphobia and goes inside the mind of a person who suffers from the disorder. This story is both beautiful and heartbreaking. More people than not suffer from some sort of mental health issue at some point in their lives and I strongly believe that we need more stories like this to normalize mental health.
I listened to the audiobook version of Merideth Alone which is narrated by Freya Mavor. This is the first book I've listened to that she narrated and she did an excellent job. I learned that this is the first adult book written by Claire Alexander as she typically writes children's books. Claire did an excellent job and I look forward to seeing what the future brings for her!
Many thanks to Libro FM, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for the gifted copy!
Meredith Maggs hasn't left her house in Glasgow Scotland in 3 years, 3 months, and 29 days. She works from home as a writer and gets all of her supplies delivered so she never has to leave. Along with her cat Fred, her friend Sadie who drops by, and an online chat group that she's a member of, Sadie keeps busy. She also has a passion for jigsaw puzzles and baking but some things still missing.
The world is just at Meredith’s door but can she find the courage to face it?
I truly fell head over heels in love with Meredith! I loved getting inside her world and I also enjoyed getting to know Tom and Sadie the sub-characters. Through alternating timelines, we learn about Merideth’s past and about the traumas she has faced that have put her in her current situation.
Meredith Alone explores the complexity of agoraphobia and goes inside the mind of a person who suffers from the disorder. This story is both beautiful and heartbreaking. More people than not suffer from some sort of mental health issue at some point in their lives and I strongly believe that we need more stories like this to normalize mental health.
I listened to the audiobook version of Merideth Alone which is narrated by Freya Mavor. This is the first book I've listened to that she narrated and she did an excellent job. I learned that this is the first adult book written by Claire Alexander as she typically writes children's books. Claire did an excellent job and I look forward to seeing what the future brings for her!
Many thanks to Libro FM, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for the gifted copy!
November 19, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, Claire Alexander for letting me read “Meredith, Alone” In exchange for an honest review.
Judging a book by its cover. That is something I unfortunately do. I would not have picked this up, unless searching for a potential buddy read book. The description got me. The cover is exactly the type I can’t stand. I like the more realistic ones.
⚠️ sexual abuse, mental illness, dysfunctional families, PTSD, depression….⚠️
I loved how the author handles all of these hard themes brilliantly and with a love and care.
The story is a bit complex and took me a while to get what was going on and why it was going on.
Meredith is about to turn 40 and has not left her house in over three years. How will she ever be able to join the world again after having lived in isolation for such a long time? It’s her and her cat Fred, with the occasional visit of her best friend Sadie. She keeps herself busy with her cat (love that she is a cat person, bonus points for that), jigsaw puzzles and her online forum/support group.
Meredith did not have a great childhood. Her mother was cold and absent: she was close to her slightly older sister Fiona - Fee - but they are estranged. There is also the ticking Bonn, the traumatic event… we dance around it, but it takes a while until we find out what happened and why she never ventured out of her house anymore.
Will she ever again?!
Meredith is lovely. I instantly liked her character and the way she works. You can relate to her, like she is a friend you can trust. Despite her agoraphobia she tries to be there for Sadie and her new online friend Celeste. She has a good heart.
The only thing in the book that disturbed me was the jumping timeline. I like to get flashes of what happened back then. But these felt unorganised and random, jumping back and forth in time. I like it more structured, please! :)
But all in all this was a wonderful and heartfelt read with a lot of emotions. Loved it.
Judging a book by its cover. That is something I unfortunately do. I would not have picked this up, unless searching for a potential buddy read book. The description got me. The cover is exactly the type I can’t stand. I like the more realistic ones.
⚠️ sexual abuse, mental illness, dysfunctional families, PTSD, depression….⚠️
I loved how the author handles all of these hard themes brilliantly and with a love and care.
The story is a bit complex and took me a while to get what was going on and why it was going on.
Meredith is about to turn 40 and has not left her house in over three years. How will she ever be able to join the world again after having lived in isolation for such a long time? It’s her and her cat Fred, with the occasional visit of her best friend Sadie. She keeps herself busy with her cat (love that she is a cat person, bonus points for that), jigsaw puzzles and her online forum/support group.
Meredith did not have a great childhood. Her mother was cold and absent: she was close to her slightly older sister Fiona - Fee - but they are estranged. There is also the ticking Bonn, the traumatic event… we dance around it, but it takes a while until we find out what happened and why she never ventured out of her house anymore.
Will she ever again?!
Meredith is lovely. I instantly liked her character and the way she works. You can relate to her, like she is a friend you can trust. Despite her agoraphobia she tries to be there for Sadie and her new online friend Celeste. She has a good heart.
The only thing in the book that disturbed me was the jumping timeline. I like to get flashes of what happened back then. But these felt unorganised and random, jumping back and forth in time. I like it more structured, please! :)
But all in all this was a wonderful and heartfelt read with a lot of emotions. Loved it.
May 23, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
Meredith Maggs hasn't left her house in 1,214 days. But she insists she isn't alone. She has her cat Fred. Her friend Sadie visits when she can. There's her online support group. Strength In Numbers. She has her jigsaws, favourite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson, the internet, the Tesco delivery man and her treacherous memories for company. But somethings about to change. Whether Meredith likes it or not.
This story has a dual timeline. Told in the present day and the past which covers Meredith's childhood, her teenage years, and some of her adult life. Anyone who has suffered from anxiety and depression will understand where Meredith is coming from. This is such a thoughtful and sensitively written book. Meredith's panic attacks and fear of the outside world make it hard for anyone to get close to her. My heart went out to Meredith as she tries to move forward with her life. It's difficult to read in places but there's also a little humour. The story is told from Meredith's point of view.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinMichaelJosephUK and the author #ClaireAlexander for my ARC of #MeredithAlone in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith Maggs hasn't left her house in 1,214 days. But she insists she isn't alone. She has her cat Fred. Her friend Sadie visits when she can. There's her online support group. Strength In Numbers. She has her jigsaws, favourite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson, the internet, the Tesco delivery man and her treacherous memories for company. But somethings about to change. Whether Meredith likes it or not.
This story has a dual timeline. Told in the present day and the past which covers Meredith's childhood, her teenage years, and some of her adult life. Anyone who has suffered from anxiety and depression will understand where Meredith is coming from. This is such a thoughtful and sensitively written book. Meredith's panic attacks and fear of the outside world make it hard for anyone to get close to her. My heart went out to Meredith as she tries to move forward with her life. It's difficult to read in places but there's also a little humour. The story is told from Meredith's point of view.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinMichaelJosephUK and the author #ClaireAlexander for my ARC of #MeredithAlone in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2023
Meredith is agoraphobic.
And...
She wasn’t always like this...
And...
To be clear...
What is happening with her isn’t pandemic related.
The author has dated each chapter with a number and a date which goes back in time but clearly shows the present as 2018 and 2019.
Yet...
So much about what Meredith is experiencing I can feel with her – about that need to not want to engage outside of her comfort zone of home. (I digress.)
But...
What has caused her social anxiety? Or her depression?
Clearly...
There is a mystery here. Not your typical mystery like a murder has been committed and we want to know whodunit, but something happened to Meredith, and you want to know what occurred that put her in her self-proclaimed isolation prison.
And...
That is the beauty of this story. You are rooting for Meredith.
Because...
As we (the readers) begin to unravel the mystery of Meredith’s story we can’t help but root for her as she makes her way back into the world again.
Why?
Because...
As readers, we want to know her story. We appreciate the characters that are there protecting her. We are engaged in her survival.
And of course...
We are interested in the mystery being solved.
And...
She wasn’t always like this...
And...
To be clear...
What is happening with her isn’t pandemic related.
The author has dated each chapter with a number and a date which goes back in time but clearly shows the present as 2018 and 2019.
Yet...
So much about what Meredith is experiencing I can feel with her – about that need to not want to engage outside of her comfort zone of home. (I digress.)
But...
What has caused her social anxiety? Or her depression?
Clearly...
There is a mystery here. Not your typical mystery like a murder has been committed and we want to know whodunit, but something happened to Meredith, and you want to know what occurred that put her in her self-proclaimed isolation prison.
And...
That is the beauty of this story. You are rooting for Meredith.
Because...
As we (the readers) begin to unravel the mystery of Meredith’s story we can’t help but root for her as she makes her way back into the world again.
Why?
Because...
As readers, we want to know her story. We appreciate the characters that are there protecting her. We are engaged in her survival.
And of course...
We are interested in the mystery being solved.
February 6, 2023
me looking at all the four & five star reviews for this and wondering if i read the same book as them: 👁️👄👁️
no but actually there is no tea here, no shade i just found this novel incredibly boring, underwhelming, and depressing.
i couldn’t really connect with the story or characters, and the story just dragged for me.
one thing i did love was the growth of a character that didn’t need a romance, and i also like the cover a lot too.
that’s about the end of my praises for this one.
overall i was not a fan.
no but actually there is no tea here, no shade i just found this novel incredibly boring, underwhelming, and depressing.
i couldn’t really connect with the story or characters, and the story just dragged for me.
one thing i did love was the growth of a character that didn’t need a romance, and i also like the cover a lot too.
that’s about the end of my praises for this one.
overall i was not a fan.
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