Welcome to Glorious Tuga

Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal is the destination read of 2024, offering readers an enchanting escape to a tropical paradise where secrets lie beneath the surface. This heartwarming, funny, and uplifting novel invites you to explore the exotic and remote island of Tuga de Oro.

Charlotte Walker, a dedicated veterinarian from London, has eagerly accepted a fellowship on Tuga de Oro to study the endangered gold coin tortoises in the island's lush jungle interior. Though she claims her motivation is purely altruistic – to save a species from extinction – the truth is more intricate. Charlotte harbours a deeply personal secret that ties her to Tuga, and she is determined to uncover the answers that have long eluded her.

However, Charlotte's plans soon become more complicated than she anticipated. She finds herself inconveniently drawn to Dan Zekri, the island’s new doctor, which quickly makes her the centre of local gossip. Between the tortoises needing her expertise, the demands of Tuga’s dogs and donkeys, and the persistent islanders who ply her with cakes to win her over, Charlotte’s days are filled with both charming and challenging encounters.

Francesca Segal brilliantly creates a complete and vivid world in Welcome to Glorious Tuga. This novel is not just about Charlotte’s journey but also about the eccentric and tight-knit community who inhabit the island. Each character adds depth and colour, making the story as dynamic as the setting itself.

Enchanting, uplifting, and thoroughly amusing, this novel delves into themes of love, belonging, and the true meaning of home. As secrets unfold and relationships blossom, readers will find themselves captivated by the magic of Tuga de Oro and its inhabitants.

Marian Keyes praised the novel as "a magical novel, so uplifting, heartwarming, funny... This feels as if it was written specifically to give comfort." Nick Hornby added his admiration, calling it "a gorgeous book... brilliantly and thoroughly imagined," and stating he "didn't want to go home." Elizabeth Day described it as akin to having "a modern-day Jane Austen washed up on a fictional island... Warm, clever, thoughtful, funny, moving, and brilliantly written." Naomi Alderman further enthused, "Pure joy in book form, a hilarious, inviting holiday for the spirit."

Prepare to set sail for an unforgettable literary adventure with Welcome to Glorious Tuga – where paradise not only awaits but promises to capture your heart and imagination.