Following a cardiac arrest , 20 year old Jago moves in with his uncle to recuperate. A gentle story of recovery with a dose of mystery and danger. This felt timeless to me - nostalgic yet current. Charnley has a beautiful writing style with not a wasted word. A novel from the heart , this is a gorgeous debut.

Oh my goodness, I love this book. Jago Trevarno, 20 years, has lost his mother to cancer. After suffering a cardiac arrest, himself, which resulted in him surviving but with many difficulties due to brain damage, he moves to his Uncle Jacob’s farm close to St Ives. As Jago tells us his story we discover the many difficulties he now faces as a young man, from memory loss to pathological apathy to struggling with everyday tasks like reading, writing and cooking. There is a sadness to these explanations but also an understanding and acceptance of how life is now. Along with this beautiful, simple life that Jago now has with his Uncle and the animals on the farm, there is the story of a bad man who lives nearby, who is trying to buy a piece of land from Jacob, who refuses to sell. Bits and pieces of information reach us and we realise there is a criminal afoot. An undercurrent of tension follows these parts of the story and it’s beautifully done. Based on the author’s own experiences of having suffered a cardiac arrest, the narrative and the voice of our protagonist are so genuine and absorbing. I really loved the authors obvious connection to his characters and the story. Alongside this, the author’s own mother was also an author and to discover the way he honours her work in his novel is beautiful.

and it's only February, but likely to be my best book in December. Loved it, like I love Alex McCall Smith No1 books.

Meryl Streep, quoting Carrie Fisher, once said "Take your broken heart and turn in into art." This, My Second Life does just that. In 2021 author Patrick Charnley experienced a cardiac arrest and sustained a life changing brain injury. This experience shapes his portrayal of the book's main character, Jago Trevarno, a 21 year-old who, after a cardiac arrest and subsequent brain injury, lives with his uncle Jacob on a farm in Cornwall. This, My Second Life is told from Jago's perspective, as the young man recovers and learns how to live what he now sees as his second life. The narration feels almost child-like, as Jago's injury has affected how he is able to process the world around him. There is threat, too, as Jago struggles to protect his uncle from a neighbour who seems intent on violence. Rich in portrayals of the natural world, the book's slower, gentle pace mirrors Jago's experiences of living with a brain injury. Life on the farm of the scenery of the Cornwall coast are exquisitely portrayed. This is a book to read slowly; to savour. Don't let its gentleness fool you. Deep meaning and purpose rise up in the day to day business of living, as the reader, along with Jago, has slowed down enough to notice them. As I read this book it felt like I was reading a book from another age. I found it comforting, compelling, and, ultimately, deeply thoughtful. As a Bookseller I would recommend This, My Second Life to readers who enjoy stunning evocations of the natural world, a character-driven plot, and poetic fiction. Many thanks to the book's publisher for providing a copy for an independent review.