Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
Publishing Date: 8th July 2021
Source: Received from the publisher, thank you!
Number of pages: 448
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction
Synopsis:
A gripping and heartfelt story about overcoming the past and finding where you belong.
Anna Wilson travels the world as a professional housesitter – stepping into other people's lives - caring for their homes, pets and sometimes even neighbours. Living vicariously.
But all Anna has ever really wanted is a home of her own – a proper one, filled with family and love and happy memories. If only she knew where to start.
Growing up in foster care, she always envied her friends their secure and carefree lives, their certainty and confidence. And, while those same friends may have become her family of choice, Anna is still stuck in that nomadic cycle, looking for answers, trying to find the courage to put down roots and find a place to call home.
Compelling, rich and evocative, Home is Anna's journey to discovering that it isn't where you settle down that matters, but the people you have around you when you do.
Rating: 
Anna is a house – sitter, moving from place to place, from country to country, from continent to continent, never stopping, never putting down the roots. The closest to a family that she has is her best friend Kate and her family in Oxford. Anna, from the age of eight, grew up in the foster care, moving from one foster family to another, always in abeyance – she couldn't have been adopted as she had both her parents, her father usually in prison, her mother simply having left. The only thing that is certain in Anna's life is her brain and ambition – studying hard, she makes it to Oxford. However, Anna can't settle, there is something missing in her life. After three unforgettable house – sits in a month, she's forced to re – evaluate her life and face some of the truths that she tried to forget. Will sie face up to her past? Will it help? Will she find her peace?
I liked how very few main characters there were in the book, as I could truly feel a part of their lives. They were all well developed and interesting, with depth to them.
Anna is such a memorable character! I liked and fell for her right from the very beginning and the more I learnt about her, the more I adored her, her determination, strong character and never giving up. She didn't have an easy life and while it normally would have broken so many of other people, she kept going. Sure, she had her downs to her ups, it's only normal, but it made her even more real and genuine. Her – even if unconsciously - searching for the place that she could call home was heart – breaking and so very poignant, there was so much to Anna than met the eye, and Kate had found, long time ago, how precious and valuable person Anna is and how much she has to give.
Anna's story is told really in a brilliant way, offering us enough flashbacks to satisfy our curiosity and to raise it at the same time, so that we desperately want to read the story. It was lovely to see that she not only had the bad examples in her foster families, but that she also found people who believed in her, who supported her – it was so uplifting. Because you will quickly fall for Anna and will keep everything crossed for her, such a lovely person she is. I had a feeling that she's growing up in front of our eyes, the author gave such a brilliant perspective and view into her life and deepest thoughts.
I adored her friendship with Kate, well, I actually loved Kate! She was Anna's family and fiercely supporting her all the time, but also not afraid to tell what she thinks – and this ist he best kind of friend, as our Anna needed it from time to time, to think things over, to re – evaluate, to see the things from different perspective.
The author touches upon important issue upon important issue, one of them the children being in care and how being moved from home to home, how having no-one special in their lives, nobody they could trust, affects them. I loved how, indirectly, she also showed us that behind every door there is a story to tell, each one so different. The tale jumps between present and past and we get the chance to learn about Anna, her life and her choice, and to completely understand her, her ways, her angst. It's easy to follow the changes in time, I've never felt confused where we are and which moment of Anna's life we are in.
Penny Parkes's previous books, the Larkford series, were light reads but with depth to them. However, with „Home", the author has shot herself up to totally different level of heartfelt, evocative and thoughtful. This was a lovely, emotionally charged read about the fact that family is not only about blood. It was about the power of friendship, about finding people who love you and accept you just like you are. It is a poignant story, full of sad moments, nevertheless there is this overwhelming feeling of hope and that everything will be okay. It was really well thought – over and I think every situation and every character was needed and had their place in this story. It feels nostalgic and melancholic and the yearning for finding your own place in the world is there, all the time. This story is not only milk and honey, it touches upon some uncomfortable truths, nevertheless it's written in such a beautiful, almost lyrical way that makes the reading a truly gentle experience. It's a raw, honest and very emotional rollercoaster journey, insightful, gentle and filled with hope – a gorgeous read, so thought – provoking and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
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