Needlemouse by Jane O’Connor

Needlemouse by Jane O’Connor
Published in: 2019
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

Did someone say Hedgehogs?

This ARC was provided by Penguin  Random House UK (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Time to come out of hibernation…

Sylvia Penton has been hibernating for years, it’s no wonder she’s a little prickly…

Sylvia lives alone, dedicating herself to her job at the local university. On weekends, she helps out at a local hedgehog sanctuary because it gives her something to talk about on Mondays – and it makes people think she’s nicer than she is.

Only Sylvia has a secret: she’s been in love with her boss, Professor Lomax, for over a decade now, and she’s sure he’s just waiting for the right time to leave his wife. Meanwhile she stores every crumb of his affection and covertly makes trouble for anyone she feels gets in his way.

But when a bright new PhD candidate catches the Professor’s eye, Sylvia’s dreams of the fairy tale ending she has craved for so long, are soon in tatters, driving her to increasingly desperate measures and an uncertain future.

Sylvia might have been sleep walking through her life but things are about to change now she’s woken up…

Book Worm’s Thoughts: I wanted to read this book because Hedgehogs, I mean really who can resist a story featuring Hedgehogs? This was a solid 3 star read for me it is perfect light entertainment for the summertime and you basically know what you are going to get. My one complaint? I wanted more Hedgehogs!

When we start Sylvia is not a very nice person and that is a good thing. Sylvia is in love with the wrong man (Prof is a s**t) she doesn’t appreciate her colleagues, she is petty and will go out of her way to get revenge on those who upset her and honestly I recognise so many people, myself included, in these characteristics. As the story progresses we realises that Sylvia is not happy with who she is and has no real friends, again this is totally relatable. We also learn the reason why Sylvia is so down on herself and it is this reason that leads to a major falling out and a complete change in Sylvia’s life. This change allows her to become the good person she has been hiding away for years.

Watching Sylvia hit rock bottom and working her way back up again made for compelling reading. I like that the happy ending is about Sylvia being true to herself and forgiving herself for past faults and not about being rescued by the handsome prince figure. Finishing the book I am left with the feeling that Sylvia is going to be just fine and that from now on she will be leading life on her own terms.

Who would like this? Anyone who likes Hedgehogs and anyone looking for a feel good, light hearted summer read.

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