Book Review: Three Things About Elsie

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on my site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

This is my book review of the novel ‘Three Things About Elsie”, by Joanna Cannon.

Book Summary:

There are three things you should know about Elsie.
The first thing is that she’s my best friend.
The second is that she always knows what to say to make me feel better.
And the third thing… it might take a little bit more explaining.

It happens that 84-year-old Florence has fallen in her flat at Cherry Tree Home. As she waits to be rescued, Florence wonders if a terrible secret from her past is about to come to light.

The narrative is written in flashbacks as Florence waits to be found.

From the author of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEP, this book will teach you many things, but here are three of them:

1) The fine threads of humanity will connect us all forever.
2) There is so very much more to anyone than the worst thing they have ever done.
3) Even the smallest life can leave the loudest echo.

My Review:

I enjoyed reading about these lifelong friends.

These two women have a secret that transpired decades ago. A man died. So why is the spitting image of him now living with them?

I will say, this book has quite a surprise ending!

About The Author:

Joanna Cannon is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling debut novel ‘The Trouble with Goats and Sheep’, which has sold over 250,000 copies in the UK alone and has been published in 15 countries.

Joanna left school at fifteen with one O-level and worked her way through many different jobs. She has been a barmaid, kennel maid, and a pizza delivery expert. She does all this before returning to school in her thirties and qualifying as a doctor.

Her work as a psychiatrist and her interest in people on the fringes of society continue to inspire her writing, and Joanna currently volunteers for Arts for Health, an organisation that brings creative arts to NHS staff and patients.  

Joanna Cannon’s second novel, ‘Three Things About Elsie’, was published in January 2018. The book explores memory, friendship, and old age. Joanna lives in the Peak District with her family and her dog.

I hope you enjoyed my book review of a story about old age and the secrets that lie just beneath the surface, waiting to be exposed.