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The People on Platform 5

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( 76,490 ratings, 10,779 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley is a heartwarming tale that unfolds around a group of strangers who meet during their daily commutes from Clapham to London. Through chance encounters, the passengers form unexpected connections, revealing their hidden lives and transforming each other's journeys in ways they never imagined. This story is a delightful exploration of camaraderie and the impact of small acts of kindness among seemingly disparate individuals.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate heart-warming tales about unexpected friendships and the intertwining lives of strangers. Set amidst the hustle and bustle of daily commutes, it brings together a charming cast of characters, each with their own quirks and stories. It's a delightful exploration of human connection and the power of kindness in everyday life.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

No one writes about community and unexpected friendships like Clare Pooley. Joyful and heart-warming, this is the perfect book-club read.

Every day at 8:05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. As a seasoned commuter, she knows there are rules that everyone should follow:

  • You must have a job to go to
  • Don't consume hot food
  • Always pack for any eventuality
  • You must never speak to strangers on the train

Iona sees the same group of people each day - ones she makes assumptions about, gives nicknames to, but never ever talks to.

But then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction.

With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Clare Pooley's The People on Platform 5 is celebrated for its uplifting and heartwarming narrative, with critics praising its quirky, relatable characters and themes of friendship and community. The novel is described as entertaining, filled with wisdom and wit, and offering a delightful exploration of human connections. Many reviewers highlight its feel-good nature, as well as its poignant and insightful treatment of contemporary issues, making it a joyful and satisfying read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781804990971

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 March 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin (Transworld)

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 289g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising, before becoming a full-time writer. Clare's dark but hilarious memoir, The Sober Diaries, has helped thousands of people around the world to quit drinking. The Authenticity Project, Clare's debut novel, was a BBC Radio 2 bookclub pick, a New York Times bestseller, the winner of the RNA debut novel award and a Babelio award. It's been translated into 29 languages. The People on Platform 5 is Clare's second novel, inspired by her fascination with inventing stories about her fellow passengers on her commute to work. Clare lives in Fulham, London with her husband, three children and two border terriers.

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