Bookseller Reviews
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Fabulous and highly recommended!
I loved this, such warmth, characters I fell in love with straight away, I think her best yet, book lovers you know what to do!
Tear jerking and brilliant!
I absolutely love Ruth Jones and she has written another tear jerker! Follow the story of Linda who is trying to track down the family of the recently dece... READ MORE
Her best yet
I absolutely loved this book. It has everything you’d expect from Ruth Jones - warmth, sadness, laughter and a wonderful group of characters that you reall... READ MORE
Wow!
I absolutely LOVE this book. I have never read any of Ruth Jones' books before, but I was lucky to be sent a free copy by the publisher and I am so gratef... READ MORE
Synopsis
The joyful and life-affirming new novel from the BAFTA-winning co-writer of Gavin and Stacey and the Sunday Times bestselling and Richard and Judy Book Club author of Love Untold.
Because second chances come when you least expect them . . .
Linda Standish has been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years, in her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit. And now she’s looking forward to the joys of an early retirement.
But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the five years before he died. Linda must visit Storrich to track down Levi's remaining relatives . . .
What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse!) with her arch nemesis, and helped (and hindered...) by the local residents, Linda searches for clues to a life now lost. And in the process unexpectedly makes new friends, and discovers things about herself she never knew.
Bursting with all the heart and humour that has made Ruth’s name as a screenwriter and author, By Your Side is a joyful celebration of friendship, love and community.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
- ISBN: 9781804994405
- Number of pages: 512
- Dimensions: 197 x 129 x 34 mm
- Weight: 352g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allBrilliant!
Ruth Jones has done it again, an absolute smasher.
I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!! I loved the way it was written with us reading about past an... READ MORE
A unique story with emotion and humour
I can't begin to tell you why I loved this book, I just did. The concept of the story is unusual, the characters well rounded and likeable, it made me laug... READ MORE
A wonderful heartfelt story
As always Ruth Jones writes a wonderful poignant touching yet down to earth humourous book. By Your Side has two narratives running simultaneously. One tel... READ MORE
Loved this read so much
This was the second novel I have read from Ruth Jones. I was very much looking forward to reading this one after enjoying her last. I found this was a rea... READ MORE
Poignant hilarious beautiful and just brilliant!!
The new novel from Ruth Jones is a brilliant reflection of human nature, a poignant reminder of our own fallibility, and full of wonderful dark and light h... READ MORE
My favourite read of 2025 so far
"I always think books make a home. A home without books is like a lamp without a lightbulb."
°•♡•°
An absolutely brilliant and bold new book from Rut... READ MORE
Absolutely brilliant
I loved this book. Linda has the interesting job of going to the properties of people who have died without leaving a will, and trying to find their benefi... READ MORE
A joy to read, and such an unusual story
Ruth Jones has done it again, what an enjoyable book this is. Following Linda Standish, an ‘heir hunter’ for the local council, at the beginning I had no i... READ MORE
Another great read by Ruth Jones
The book is set on two lives. First is Linda, who works at the unclaimed heirs department and has one last case before she finishes to take early retiremen... READ MORE
Insightful storytelling.
What makes this story so good is the insightful storytelling, the characters' complexity and relatability and the immersive quality that draws you in and t... READ MORE
Heartwarming and heartbreaking
This was my first Ruth Jones read but it certainly won't be my last!
What a beautiful and heartwarming read about the trials and tribulations of family... READ MORE
Another lovely read from Ruth
I’ve enjoyed all of Ruth’s books and this one was no exception.
Linda enjoys her job, as unusual as it working with the estates of deceased people without... READ MORE
so beautifully written...
Ruth Jones is one of my favourite writers and she never disappoints me. I absolutely fell in love with the characters in 'By Your Side'. It truly was an a... READ MORE
5* Top rating and highly recommended.
For such a sad subject, dying alone without relatives or friends, this is a very funny and emotional book, even developing into utter farce at several poin... READ MORE
Enjoyable
I was sent a copy of By Your Side by Ruth Jones to read and review by NetGalley. I have read two other books by this author, neither of which I was totall... READ MORE
What a lovely tale!
Ruth Jones is so adept at getting to the very root of a character and bringing them to life through a relatability which is always skillfully written. I lo... READ MORE
Ruth Jones made me laugh and cry
4.5
Oh, Ruth Jones, that wasn't fair. You made me cry. What a truly lovely story.
By Your Side is split onto two narratives. The first is the story o... READ MORE
Pure escapism!
I truly loved this book. Two stories running side by side, one feeding into the other. It was sad and funny and generally totally wholesome. A delightfully... READ MORE
Wow
If you’re a fan of Ruth jones work & writing skills I.e gavin & Stacey, Stella you will instantly love this book. It is witty, funny, sad, heartbreaking bu... READ MORE
By Your Side
Fiftysomething Linda Standish, employee of (fictional) Boransay Council in Scotland, spends her working days dealing with the affairs and trying to track d... READ MORE
Superb!
Another wonderful novel from the pen of Ruth Jones!
Linda Standish has worked for the Unclaimed Heirs department in the local council for the past thirt... READ MORE
Completely heart warming and utterly devastating.
God how do I even start to talk about the impact this book had on me? After reading Sunrise on the Reaping last month I honestly didn’t think any book woul... READ MORE
Absolutely brilliant
Boy was I excited to read this book and I certainly was not disappointed. I’ve read all of Ruth Jones’ books now and each one is pure delight. By Your Side... READ MORE
Another absolute cracker from Ruth Jones.
Every new book Ruth Jones writes becomes my favourite, and By Your Side is no exception. I devoured it.
A story full of laughter, heartbreak and complex ... READ MORE
Wonderful
Ruth Jones just gets it right every time. How does she do what she does! She creates characters who tug at your heartstrings and builds stories upon them t... READ MORE
An immensely enjoyable book
An immensely enjoyable book. Despite reading murder mysteries I really enjoyed this book. It flowed well keeping a good pace. Linda works for the local c... READ MORE
Interesting
Linda Standish can't understand why her son can't see the faults in his ex wife, they are going through a divorce but he still is trying to please her; the... READ MORE
Beautiful read
This is a highly unusual but beautiful story which starts with Linda who is encouraged to take early retirement from the job she has been doing for the las... READ MORE
What a cracking read!
This is my first experience of a Ruth Jones novel & I’m kicking myself that I left it so long.
By Your Side is two stories meshed together, Linda (one ... READ MORE
Full of challenges
This is a carefully crafted story that captivated me from the first page. It is emotionally charged, full of challenges, and has very funny comical scenes ... READ MORE
Fabulous read by a wonderful writer
What a fabulous writer Ruth Jones is! I was immediately drawn into the story of Linda, working for the council for the department that deals with a persons... READ MORE
Life-affirming and heart- warming
Such a heart-warming, life-affirming , beautifully written book with a cast of characters you fall in love with. I love the warmth Ruth Jones creates throu... READ MORE
A warm, emotional and humorous book
In 'By your Side' by Ruth Jones, Linda Standish (a member of staff at the local council's unclaimed heirs unit) goes above and beyond her job description, ... READ MORE
Heart-achingly perfect
Oh this is lovely. This is the story of Linda, who is about to retire from her job in the council’s unit for unclaimed heirs. She attends funerals and read... READ MORE
Perfect summer readI've just spent about three days with Linda Standish. Linda works for the council, and investigates those who have passed away and, apparently, have no-one. No heirs. Before early retirement, Linda decides to take on one more case whic
I've just spent about three days with Linda Standish. Linda works for the council, and investigates those who have passed away and, apparently, have no-on... READ MORE
A warm hug of a book
Happily divorced, Linda loves her job for the council, dealing with people who have died alone. As she approaches retirement she is tasked with visiting a... READ MORE
Wow
If you’re a fan of Ruth jones work & writing skills I.e gavin & Stacey, Stella you will instantly love this book. It is witty, funny, sad, heartbreaking bu... READ MORE
A fantastic mix of humour, romance, mystery and heartbreak
Arranging the funeral and tracking down relatives of a loner who died on a remote Hebridean island is the final job of Linda Standish before she retires. L... READ MORE
Delightful
I’ve never read any of Ruth Jones’ books before but know her from the TV. and that’s why I wanted to read this book. I thought it was delightful- a lovely... READ MORE
Highly Recommended
Beautifully written, absolutely loved it. I was drawn in from the start. It was a dual timeline book, Linda in the present and Levi in the past. I do not a... READ MORE
A heartwarming story and a lovely read
This is the third Ruth Jones book I’ve read and it’s equally as good as the others. Jones has a brilliant talent for writing characters that jump off the p... READ MORE
A brilliant, intriguing, warm, happy, sad and hopeful tale through time and place.
Ruth Jones weaves stories through time and tide like a wizard! Having read all of her other novels I was excited to see where the storytelling would take m... READ MORE
A wonderful story well told.
This book runs on two timelines.One starts in late 2024. It concerns the death by natural causes of Levi Norman on the Scottish Hebridean Isle of Storich..... READ MORE
Lovely read
Linda Standish loves her job in the Council's Unclaimed Heirs Unit, but due to changes she's facing redundancy and early retirement. Her last case takes h... READ MORE
I loved this!
This is an emotional and compelling read which really tugged at the heartstrings. Linda works at the missing heirs section of the council in Inverness, tr... READ MORE
Warm, witty and wonderful
I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve read a book by Ruth Jones. I’m aware I can be a bit snooty about celebrities who decide they can also write boo... READ MORE
A hug between the covers
Fifty-something Linda is going to take redundancy from the local council but has one job to do before she leaves. Set in Scotland, Linda needs to find if t... READ MORE
Another triumph from Ruth Jones
I’m writing this review with tears still on my face but just wanted to share how wonderful a writer Ruth Jones is. This, her fourth book, is a triumph wit... READ MORE
Four stars!
Some books wrap around you like a warm blanket, and By Your Side is exactly that sort of story. It is tender, quietly funny and filled with moments that ma... READ MORE
another winner
Another winner from Ruth Jones, she is able to write about people's lives ( and deaths) with empathy and clarity and I particularly like that Linda was a... READ MORE
Enjoy I did
Families are not necessarily made by blood but love and commitment.
Working for the council tracking down relative's of people who have died with no know... READ MORE
A fantastic read
A really enjoyable read. When Hannah's father dies she expects to inherit the family farm as she has been looking after her father since her mother's death... READ MORE
A lovely heartwarming tale
I really enjoyed this read - 5 stars from me!
Linda works for the Unclaimed Heirs Unit at the council and is due to retire when she is handed her last c... READ MORE
Wonderful Characters
Council employed heir hunter Linda is given one final case after redundancy pushes her into a reluctant early retirement. Her job is to sort out the affair... READ MORE
Rounded, lovable characters - wonderful read
As expected with Ruth Jones there is much humour in this tale but so much more. Her characters are rounded, believable, lovable. She makes you care about t... READ MORE
Best story
Oh my word, this was the best story that I've read for a long time, so full of emotions, happy, sad and forging new relationships along the way, good luck ... READ MORE
A heartwarming hug of a book...
Ruth Jones is one of my favourite writers and she never disappoints me. I absolutely fell in love with the characters in 'By Your Side'. It truly was an a... READ MORE
Subtle, empathetic and just sheer fun
Linda Standish has one last case for the Unclaimed Heirs department of her local council, a man who died on a remote Hebridean island but whose story no-on... READ MORE
Cosy, funny, emotional and gripping
This book starts with the character of Linda. She works at her local Unclaimed Heirs Unit in Scotland. We discover early on that she’s going to be retiring... READ MORE
Warm, compelling, relatable and life-affirming - just beautiful
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld for this ARC.
Linda Standish, 54 and divorced, lives with adult son Struan and grandson Zander an... READ MORE
Another 5 star read from Ruth
I couldn’t wait to start this book as I have read all of Ruth’s books and loved them all. This one was just fantastic and had me hooked from the first page... READ MORE
Poignant, heartfelt, brilliant
I had not read any of the books written by Ruth Jones but of course knew of her script writing skills from Gavin and Stacy.
I can be a bit sceptical ab... READ MORE
Excellent writing
Ruth Jones does it again. Empathy, understanding, forgiveness and humour all in one. What else can one ask for?
A job for Linda that I did not know pers... READ MORE
Other People's Lives
I just have to get my one gripe out of the way first. And that's about the editing. A tiny tiny bit of research will reveal that the hospital in Inverness ... READ MORE
Best Ruth Jones to date!
Having read Ruth Jones's previous books, I felt this one surpassed them. Really enjoyed the plot and the light-hearted moments. The balance was right.