Frankie by Graham Norton
PUBLISHER: Coronet Books (Hodder & Stoughton Limited)
- Hardcover (304p) 9781529391442 released 12 September 2024
- Audio (9H 05M) released 12 September 2024
- Digital (291p) 9781529391466 released 12 September 2024
- Paperback (304p) 97815291459 released 19 June 2025
Find the book on Amazon, Goodreads and Storygraph
🌟 Review Note:
This was the BookFairy Book Club pick for June, and as I’d enjoyed Graham Norton’s books before, I was excited to give this one a try. I listened to the audiobook while decorating and it’s slower, reflective pace suited the mood perfectly.
I loved it enough that I bought the hardback copy afterwards, partly to lend to a friend I know will really appreciate the story—and partly because I love having it on my shelf. Just seeing the cover makes me smile, and I know I’ll return to it again in the future.
I’m sharing my review today, 10th July, which is also the day our BookFairy group gathers on WhatsApp to chat about it. I can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts!
As always, this review reflects my honest thoughts.
About the book
Frankie Howe has lived a long life, her small flat is crammed full of art, furniture – and memories. Damian, her young carer, listens as she gradually tells him parts of her story – a story that takes us into a progressive, daring world of New York artists on the brink of fame, aspiring writers and larger-than-life characters.
Always just on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie is never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage. But the outsider holds certain advantages, sees things others don’t, can influence without drawing attention. And when the map has been lost, it’s anyone’s guess where you may end up, or the accidental choices you find you have made. Frankie discovers that life is not always the one we hope for, or the one others expect of us.
Travelling from post-war Ireland to the dazzling art scene of 1960s New York by way of London, Frankie is an immersive, decade-sweeping novel about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life.
About the Author
Graham William Walker is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton.
He is the host of the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show and the BBC commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Graham’s Social Media
Instagram: @grahnort
My Four Star Review
Frankie is a quiet yet immersive novel that sweeps across decades, from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York via London, all through the lens of one woman’s remarkable yet understated life. Frankie Howe, now elderly and living alone in a flat crammed with artwork, furniture, and long-held memories, begins to share her story with Damian, a young carer. As she slowly opens up, we are taken on a journey through the vibrant and sometimes heartbreaking moments that shaped her—always just on the edge of something bigger, observing the world rather than commanding it.
I listened to the audiobook, chosen as June’s Book of the Month for the Bookfairy Book Club, and I’m glad I did. The slower pace of the novel suited my own rhythm at the time – I was decorating while listening – and I think it matched the reflective nature of the story beautifully. I’m not sure I would have appreciated it as much if I’d been listening during a busier or more active moment.
The narrative dips into different stages of Frankie’s life, showing how her choices—often small and seemingly accidental—ended up shaping everything. I felt a great deal of empathy for her; life never seemed particularly easy, and looking back, it felt like one blow after another. But then again, isn’t that how many of us view our own lives in hindsight?
What struck me most was how real Frankie felt. Despite being fictional, she comes across as fully lived-in—flawed, hesitant, observant, and brave in subtle ways. Graham Norton’s writing brings such vivid detail to each setting, and his narration of the audiobook adds a deeply personal, intimate feel.
This is a thoughtful, gently unfolding story perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven fiction and biographical-style storytelling. It’s about love, art, resilience, and the quiet ways in which a life can matter—even when it’s lived from the sidelines.
This review may also appear on my social media and selected book platforms. All links are correct at the time of posting.
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