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Where We Belong

The heart-breaking new novel from the bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club author

About The Book

*** The wonderful new novel from the acclaimed author of The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton ***

‘Incredibly moving and atmospheric’ Beth O'Leary
'Absorbing and original' Katie Fforde
'Simply stunning’ Fionnuala Kearney
'Utterly enchanting' Heidi Swain

One summer.
One house.
One family learning to love again.


Cate Morris and her son, Leo, are homeless, adrift. They’ve packed up the boxes from their London home, said goodbye to friends and colleagues, and now they are on their way to ‘Hatters Museum of the Wide Wide World – to stay just for the summer. Cate doesn’t want to be there, in Richard’s family home without Richard to guide her any more. And she knows for sure that Araminta, the retainer of the collection of dusty objects and stuffed animals, has taken against them. But they have nowhere else to go. They have to make the best of it.

But Richard hasn’t told Cate the truth about his family’s history. And something about the house starts to work its way under her skin.

Can she really walk away, once she knows the truth?

Praise for Anstey Harris
'Glorious on so many levels' A J Pearce
'Full of hope and charm' Libby Page
'Brilliantly and movingly written' Dorothy Koomson
'Elegant and uplifting . . . I was both engrossed in and moved by this fabulous debut' Catherine Isaac
'A moving, beautifully written, uplifting debut about mending broken hearts through friendship. The twists and turns make it impossible to put down' Sarah J. Harris
'What a total joy!' Fanny Blake

About The Author

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Anstey Harris teaches creative writing for Canterbury Christ Church University and in the community with her own company, Writing Matters. She has been featured in various literary magazines and anthologies, been shortlisted for many prizes, and won the H G Wells Short Story Award. Anstey lives in Kent, UK and is the mother of the singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (May 14, 2020)
  • Length: 400 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781471173851

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Raves and Reviews

‘A perfectly crafted novel: beautifully written, insightful and tender – it’s simply stunning’ Fionnuala Kearney

‘Such a beautifully written and engrossing novel. I felt I knew Cate and Leo as friends at the end of it. I will miss them’ Jacqueline Ward

'A book as rare and exquisite as the objects in Hatters museum . . . I could not look away for a moment. Superb!' Kate Furnivall

‘This beautifully written novel is not only absorbing and original, it will challenge preconceptions in the very best way' Katie Fforde

'An incredibly moving and atmospheric novel, as beautiful and complex and curious as the museum in which it is set' Beth O'Leary

'I loved these characters, especially Leo and Araminta, and I was completely swept along by the wonderful storytelling. This is an emotional story, heartbreaking in places, but joyful and uplifting' Susan Elliot Wright

'Absorbing, powerful and lovely. This book swept me away and then brought me home' Milly Johnson

'I so loved Where We Belong! I got completely sucked into Cate and Leo's world and it was a gorgeous distraction for a couple of days. Fabulous' Jane Fallon

‘Anstey Harris doesn’t flinch from shining a light on some of the most difficult situations anyone can face, but she does it with warmth and compassion . . . a beautiful story of love, loss and resilience’ Woman & Home

‘Gorgeous storytelling . . . I loved this joyful book about friendship, happiness and finding your passion in life’ Good Housekeeping

‘Full of heart and soul, this a beautiful, engrossing read’ Fabulous

'Harris, with her crew of colourfully offbeat characters, navigates beautifully through the choppy waters of guilt, heartbreak and redemption' Daily Mail

‘Atmospheric’ Independent

‘Tender and romantic’ Sunday Mirror

‘With a crumbling museum, a Mrs Danvers-like guardian and a simmering romance, it’s a beautiful story’ Woman’s Weekly

‘Moving and carefully crafted, this is a novel with true hope at its heart’ Woman’s Own

‘A beautiful story’ Bella

‘Original and atmospheric . . . an enchanting tale of families, secrets and lies with an exquisite love story running through it’ Daily Express

‘A beautifully warm-hearted story for these times’ Heat

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