Sometimes you find a book that will keep you up beyond your bedtime, and ‘The Secret Collector’ is one of those books. I stayed up well past my bedtime, as I had to know what was in store for Kian and Alfred – and I really hoped that it would be the ending that they both deserved.
This is a brilliant book, like a hug in a book. And, it was a book that created great male characters, with great voices, both young and old, that you would happily befriend if you had the chance.
Alfred is a widower, who lives alone and has become isolated from friends and family as he deals with the grief of losing his dear, Ida. His purpose has become collecting, all sorts of things, whether thay have use to him or not, they appear to give him purpose. Kian, has become a little lost in the system at 17 and has made some choices that have led him down the wrong path, although one of those decisions leads him to meet Alfred. And, so begins an unlikely relationship between the pair – that eventually leads them to make some significant changes to their life and turns them around.
This is a book full of warmth and humour – but also a book that had me crying, quite some ugly tears at points because these two characters just warm your heart and you want the best for them from begining to end. I loved the story that was told and thought the story wrapped up beautifully at the end.
This debut novel from Abigail Johnson is a five star read and it is one that I absolutely cannot wait to share this book with lots of other readers because it is a joy that will bring a smile to the faces of so many readers.