Product Description

In a rambling house, failed poet Toby Dobbs has created a refuge for people who need one. But when a quiet tragedy and an unwelcome letter interrupt Toby's sedate existence, he needs his housemates to find some direction in their lives. Leah Pilgrim has watched the tenants of the house over the road for several years, and when the owner of 31 Silversmith Road asks her for advice, he opens the door not only to the eccentric building across the street - but to five lives in various stages of turmoil. Can Toby and Leah help these misfits to grow up, move on and move out? And in doing so, can they make their own dreams come true?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #286158 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 480 pages

About the Author
Lisa Jewell was born and raised in North London, where she lives with her husband and baby daughter. She worked as a secretary before redundancy, a bet and a book deal took her away from all that. She is the author of five huge bestsellers: Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing, One-Hit Wonder, Friend of the Family and, most recently, Vince and Joy, all of which are available as Penguin paperbacks.

Customer Reviews

Gotta be a film one day!
If this book doesn't become a film one day, I'll eat my hat. It has blockbuster written all over it - in the vein of About a Boy, Love Actually, Four Weddings and Bridget Jones. It's a superbly woven tale of the lives of the inhabitants of Peacock House, owned by Toby, overlooked by Leah and recently left by Gus ... who turns both their lives around. This is a beautifully written book, which really draws the reader into the lives of the main characters, and by the end of the book I was genuinely caught up in a desire for happy endings for (nearly) all of them. I adored Toby, and it was a really refreshing angle for the lead character of a Chick Lit title to be a man...Though not overly sentimental, there is much poignant soul searching for all the characters involved, and the author carefully handles the twists and turns of their lives with grace. I loved Lisa's books before this one - they are all funny and "real" and touching, but the bar has definitely been raised with 31 Dream Street. It's one of the best books I've read this year, and the feeling that I really care what the future holds for Con and Daisy, Melinda and Jack (who for some reason I picture as Anthony LaPaglia), and of course Toby and Leah....has stayed with me since I turned the last page. Thank you Lisa.

Fabulous!!
I couldn't agree more with the review above - i love Lisa Jewell & i thought could get no better than Vince & Joy - how wrong can you be??

This book is so real - you can relate to any one of the characters and thats what i like most about Lisa's books, you could know anyone of her characters and the places.
Did not put it down - read in one weekend (and a bit)
For anyone who has never read Lisa Jewll - buy buy buy!!

Really enjoyable light reading
Toby, a poet, was bought a house in Finchley by his father before he went off and abandoned him. There is already one sitting tenant, but Toby turns the rest of the rooms into a home for waifs and strays, people who can't afford to pay rent, musicians, poets and people who are just down on their luck.

Fifteen years go by and the death of Gus, the sitting tenant, gives Toby a chance to start again and reclaim his life. With the help of Leah, from across the road, Toby gradually starts to get to know the people who have taken over his house and help them find a way to move on!

This is a typical Lisa Jewell book, lovely light reading with small touches of tragedy and comedy. The characters are well developed (especially Ruby, the hard drinking, hard smoking, hard partying rock chick)

Really enjoyable, would make great beach reading, and (as with all Jewell novels) you're guaranteed a happy ending!