Home Stretch

A Novel

By: Graham Norton

Narrated by: Graham Norton

In this “compelling, bighearted, emotionally precise page-turner” (Sunday Times), the New York Times best-selling writer and acclaimed television host explores the aftermath of a tragedy on a small town to illuminate the shame and longing that can flow through generations - and how the secrets of the heart cannot stay be buried forever.

It is 1987, and a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony, a group of young friends, including the bride and groom, are involved in an accident. Three survive. Three are killed.

The lives of the families are shattered and the rifts between them ripple throughout the small town. Connor survived, but living among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as carrying the shame of having been the driver. He leaves the only place he knows for another life, taking his secrets with him. Travelling first to Liverpool, then London, he eventually makes a home - of sorts - for himself in New York, where he finds shelter and the possibility of forging a new life.

But the secrets - the unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind - will not be silenced. Before long, Connor will have to confront his past.

A powerful and timely novel of emigration and return, Home Stretch demonstrates Norton’s keen understanding of the power of stigma and secrecy - and their devastating effect on ordinary lives.

©2021 Graham Norton (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Brilliant!

Graham Norton is a master of portraying life and people in small-town Ireland. The people are dimensional, flawed, and real. Their stories interlocked and poignant. And he can reveal a plot twist like no other. You will laugh and cry, rage and sigh. This is another excellently-told story from Norton!

Surprisingly great book.

Normally I do not like author narrated audio books. This book is the exception. Beside great narration this book was very good. It started a bit slow and I almost gave up on it. So glad I kept listening. The book kept my interest with its many surprise twists and turns. At several points during the listening I could not stop because the story was so enchanting. Great read. Highly recommend

Lovely story - Possible Spoilers

This was a well written and timeless story.

It was very representative of how real family love continues and can change for the better.

The characters were realistic and made informed/uninformed choices that seemed true to life.

Graham Norton is an excellent Storyteller

Another great audio book from Graham Norton

Loved it, so well written. Great character development. Found Conor's passivity a bit frustrating thought.

Great story!

I loved this multi generational story, family dynamics ringing true to life. The main characters are fully fleshed out and sympathetic.

First chapter, threw me for some reason

Once I pick the book back up again after several months, I really got into it. I was rather surprised that I didn’t like it right away as I have loved all of Graham Norton‘s other novels. This one certainly lives up to my expectations once I got into it very well done very well read highly recommend.

A beautiful story.

Graham Norton writes with such ease. I actually looked forward to my slow commute because it gave me time to listen. The fact that he reads the story is a huge bonus.

Could have been so much better

Starts well. Appealing characters. Turns into a slow moving soap opera well before the extensive denouement.

So delightful!

The beginning of this was a little slow for me, but so many parts had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed this sweet story. It had some hard emotional parts and if you don’t want any sex content in your story you might skip this one, but I found all of this really great.

Enjoyable

My first book by Graham Norton and he did not disappoint. Really enjoyed the story. Very poignant.