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Instructions for a Heatwave

The Sunday Times Bestseller from the Author of Hamnet
3.75 goodreads logo

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( 29,948 ratings, 3,341 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
In Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell, set during the sweltering heatwave of 1976, a family is thrown into chaos when the father unexpectedly disappears. His sudden absence forces his wife and their estranged children to confront long-buried secrets and simmering tensions. As they come together to unravel the mystery, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy family dramas filled with buried secrets and complex relationships. Set against the backdrop of a sweltering heatwave in 1976 London, it intricately weaves the tale of a family's journey to uncover truths and mend their bonds. Fans of evocative storytelling and character-driven narratives will find this a compelling read.

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An unforgettable portrait of an Irish family in crisis in the legendary heatwave of 1976

An unforgettable portrait of an Irish family in crisis in the legendary heatwave of 1976

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

A story of a dysfunctional but deeply loveable family reunited, set during the legendary summer of 1976, Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell was shortlisted for the 2013 Costa Novel Award and was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller (2013).

It's July 1976. In London, it hasn't rained for months, gardens are filled with aphids, water comes from a standpipe, and Robert Riordan tells his wife Gretta that he's going round the corner to buy a newspaper. He doesn't come back. The search for Robert brings Gretta's children β€” two estranged sisters and a brother on the brink of divorce β€” back home, each with different ideas as to where their father might have gone. None of them suspects that their mother might have an explanation that even now she cannot share.

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?

Instructions for a Heatwave is a book that captivates readers with its memorable characters and gripping narrative. Reviewers praise it as a big-hearted and psychologically intricate story that is both enthralling and atmospheric. The novel is acclaimed for its seamless language and the vivid, relatable portrayal of the flawed Riordan family, with one review describing it as "unputdownable". Maggie O'Farrell is recognised as an author at the pinnacle of her craft, making this book a delightful read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780755358793

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 August 2013

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Tinder Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 243g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Maggie O'Farrell is the author of HAMNET, Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020, and the memoir I AM, I AM, I AM, both Sunday Times no. 1 bestsellers. Her novels include AFTER YOU'D GONE, MY LOVER'S LOVER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE, which won the 2010 Costa Novel Award, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE, THIS MUST BE THE PLACE and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT, which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize. She is also the author of three books for children, WHERE SNOW ANGELS GO, THE BOY WHO LOST HIS SPARK and WHEN THE STAMMER CAME TO STAY. She lives in Edinburgh.

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