I bought my copy of Code Brown during the limited pre-sale offered directly through The Hoof GP website in December 2025. There was a set number of paperbacks available, and I was lucky enough to get one.

This is not an ARC or a gifted copy — I paid for the book myself — and I’ll be buying another copy as soon as there are signed editions available. This original copy will then be given the special book fairy treatment #IBelieveInBookFairies

About The Book

You win or you learn!

When life falls apart, that’s when the real stories begin, Code Brown is a raw, funny, and deeply human follow-up to the best-selling memoir Bruised Sole by Graeme Parker (The Hoof GP) and his brother Robert.

Told with honesty, heart, and sharp wit, it captures the moments when everything goes wrong – and somehow, against all odds, it still comes good in the end.

From the global rescue of Fiona, the world’s loneliest sheep, to airport mayhem, farming fiascos, and personal battles fought behind the scenes, Parker turns disaster into connection and laughter into survival.

Every chapter bursts with warmth, grit, and perspective – reminding readers that even in life’s darkest, muddiest moments, there’s always a flicker of light waiting to break through.

Code Brown speaks to anyone who’s ever felt lost, broken, or ready to give up. It’s a reminder that the hardest days don’t last forever – and that joy, hope, and laughter always find their way back, just when you need them most.

Written jointly by Graeme Parker (The Hoof GP) and his brother Robert Parker, Code Brown reflects a collaborative approach that Graeme has been keen to emphasise. Graeme’s well-known honesty and real-world perspective are complemented by Robert’s thoughtful input, creating a book that feels measured, reflective, and deeply human. Their shared authorship reinforces the book’s themes — that difficult experiences are rarely faced alone, and that understanding often comes through conversation, support, and shared reflection.

At the time of writing, official publication information is limited, reflecting the book’s self-published nature rather than reader demand.

Available Editions

PAPERBACK
- Published (9781068521539) by The Hoof GP on 1 December 2025 (240 pages)
  - currently only available at The Hoof GP Online Store

About The Authors

Graeme Parker and Robert Parker are brothers and co-authors whose work is built on collaboration, lived experience, and reflection. Graeme, widely known as The Hoof GP, is best recognised for his work in hoof care, where his practical knowledge and direct communication style have earned him a wide following. His writing carries the same grounded, unfiltered voice, shaped by real-world challenges and an openness about difficult realities.

Robert Parker (aka Bob Parker) is a Scottish writer and creator behind Scotland Unplugged, a platform dedicated to sharing stories, places, and culture from around Scotland. His depth of knowledge, clarity of expression, and attention to detail bring structure, perspective, and reflective balance to the collaborative writing he shares with his brother Graeme. Through his work on Scotland Unplugged, and in both Bruised Sole and Code Brown, he invites readers to look beyond surface moments and understand the richness of lived experience.

Together, Graeme and Robert Parker combine experience with reflection. While Graeme may be the more publicly recognised voice, their books are very much joint efforts, shaped equally by Robert’s insight and Graeme’s lived experience. The result is writing that feels authentic, balanced, and deliberately collaborative.

📍 Where to Find Graeme Parker Online

👉 YouTube – The Hoof GP

👉 Facebook – The Hoof GP

👉 Instagram – @TheHoofGP

🌍 Where to Find Robert Parker Online

👉 YouTube – Scotland Unplugged

👉 Facebook – Scotland Unplugged

👉 Instagram – Scotland Unplugged

My Review

Code Brown is one of those books that quietly proves its worth as you read it. It doesn’t rely on shock, spectacle, or sentimentality; instead, it succeeds through honesty, clarity, and thoughtful storytelling. From the first page, it is engaging and assured, and it never loses its footing. I genuinely enjoyed every chapter — not just individually, but as part of a carefully shaped whole.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in how its stories are told. Each chapter feels distinct, yet together they build a broader picture of resilience, learning through adversity, and the realities that sit behind public-facing lives. There is humour where it belongs, seriousness where it’s needed, and an underlying sense that these stories are shared because they matter, not because they are easy or comfortable to tell.

A standout feature of Code Brown is the care taken when stories involve other people, particularly family members. Rather than simply naming individuals in passing, the authors take time to explain who they are and how they fit into the wider story. That context deepens the reading experience and creates a sense of continuity and understanding, allowing readers to engage with the narrative on a more meaningful level. It’s a small but deliberate choice that makes a significant difference.

The chapter focusing on Fiona is especially powerful. Told with sensitivity and respect, it captures not just events, but the emotional weight that surrounds them. It stands as a strong example of the book’s ability to handle deeply affecting material without exploitation or excess, trusting the story to speak for itself.

Written collaboratively by brothers Graeme Parker and Robert Parker, Code Brown benefits from that partnership. Graeme’s lived experience and direct voice are complemented by Robert’s clarity, structure, and reflective depth. While Graeme may be the more publicly recognised figure, the book reads very clearly as a joint effort — balanced, thoughtful, and intentionally shared.

If anything, the only real criticism is that the book leaves you wanting more. One can’t help but wonder about the stories that were perhaps too raw, too inappropriate, or simply too unpublishable to make it into these pages — though whether the world truly needs an adults-only follow-up is debatable!

Code Brown earns its five stars with ease. It’s engaging, grounded, and deeply human — a book that stays with you long after the final page.

Personal Reflections

Reading Code Brown had a deeper impact on me than I initially expected, particularly because of the timing. The chapter on Fiona (Chapter 12: Idiots Assemble) resonated strongly as I was reading it alongside the recent announcement from Dalscone Farm that Fiona is in lamb, due mid-February. Although I only discovered Dalscone Farm and Fiona’s story around six to eight months ago, I’ve since immersed myself in her journey — watching past videos and live streams and learning about her rescue and the careful, patient approach taken after her arrival at the farm in November 2023. That overlap made the chapter feel especially poignant.

Another moment that stayed with me came from recognising names beyond the page. Because the book takes time to explain who people are — particularly family members — those connections linger. When it was recently announced that Derek would be joining The Hoof GP team, I realised I already understood that relationship, not just as a name, but as a person with context and history. That recognition came directly from reading the book, and it’s a perfect example of how seemingly small lines can have a lasting impact on readers.

These reflections sit outside the review itself, but they speak to the book’s quiet power. Code Brown doesn’t just tell stories — it changes how you hear them afterwards, adding depth, understanding, and connection in ways that are subtle but meaningful.

#CodeBrown #GraemeParker #RobertParker #TheHoofGP #ScotlandUnplugged
#NonFiction #YouWinOrYouLearn

See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines.

This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication.

DISCLOSURE: I purchased this book myself. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own.

MoMoBookDiary

Code Brown by Graeme and Robert Parker