Augusta Hope has always been different. Different from her Mum and Dad and different from her twin sister,her neighbours and friends. She enjoys words and Burundi and she doesn't like the small town she lives in finding it very parochial. on the other side of the world is a young boy growing up in a world of fear and death. In the political turmoil of Africa his parents and brother are slaughtered and he becomes the leader and protector of his remaining family. His decision is to go to Spain and be an artist to support them.

When an unspeakable tragedy upends everything in Augusta’s life, she’s propelled headfirst into the unknown. She’s determined to find where she belongs – but what if her true home, and heart, are half a world away? The Other Half of Augusta Hopeis the stunning debut novel from Joanna Glen. Julia and Augusta Hope are twins; Julia born in the final hours of 31 July and Augusta in the early hours of August 1st. Their different birthdays are just the beginning of their differences, Julia is blonde, Augusta is dark, Julia is the perfect daughter who does as she is told, Augusta questions everything in life, Julia is a homebird and happy to stay in her home town, Augusta wants to move away, discover the world, as home doesn’t feel like home for her, and she feels second best. After a tragedy, Augusta finally flees her parents home and goes looking for another home, a place where she can be herself. She and Julia are very close; their different natures bring out the best in each of them. Life changes and their relationship changes after a two week holiday in Spain. Parfait’s story is different and original as we learn more of the culture of Spain and of dancing! There are some very poetic and beautiful moments in his life and as his and Augusta’s stories start to intertwine, there is redemption and hope for the future. How the lives and stories of these two characters intertwine, is a testament to the brilliance of the author, and I did wonder... 'Who actually was the other half of Augusta Hope?' at the end.Gradually, Augusta Hope worked her way under my skin, there was a lot to love about her and I think that I wanted to be her friend. Another book that made me feel like this was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I am sure that Augusta Hope will get compared to Eleanor Oliphant, as they both feature a quirky main character who is isolated and considered strange by many around them. I really hope that the books don’t get compared though, as that would be doing both a disservice. Joanna Glen has written this story so beautifully raw and open emotionally that I couldn’t read it without feeling those emotions and causing me to shed many tears. It is a wonderful piece of writing. A lovely, lovely read. The characters of Augusta and Parfait are so well drawn (Augusta in particular, Parfait is slightly less 3 dimensional, though still a real person) and the way Joanna has drawn the threads of their very different lives together, weaving coincidence into a believable whole is beautifully done. The tragedy of her blinkered parents is sadly true to life as well, and I felt disgust and pity in equal measure for them. I really enjoyed this book … great observational comic gems within a fast-moving story full of the reality of despair and hope in everyone’s lives" -Miranda Hart

I found it both a mesmerisingly beautiful portrait of a young woman discovering what home means to her, and a poignant depiction of how our actions can touch other people's lives in ways we could never have anticipated. Augusta and Parfait are wonderful characters; I was willing them on to find the happiness and peace they both deserved' Sarah Haywood, author of The Cactus

This book is a split perspective novel, telling the stories of Augusta, a British woman who wants to travel the world to escape her home life and Parfait, a man from Burundi who decides to make a break for it to avoid the ongoing civil war.

At the start of the book Augusta lives with her parents and her twin sister in British suburbia. She is very bright, reads encyclopedias and dictionaries for fun and is not entirely happy with her lot in life. She dreams of escaping to somewhere else, where she can be the person that she really wants to be. Parfait lives in Burundi and is desperate to leave his war-torn country and make a life for himself in Spain. In alternating chapters, the narrative relates the story of these two individuals as they grow up and try to fulfill their ambitions. Inevitably their lives converge. Oh my goodness, what a book. Wonderfully drawn characters who give insight into very different lives. Beautifully written, emotional book- not one I would describe as an easy read but definitely a must read! Joanna Glen is an accomplished wordsmith and her use of language is clever , emotional and to be admired. I loved Augusta. I loved her determination to make something of her life even though there were so many obstacles in her path. Julia is equally inspiring, for different reasons. The parents – let's say that they would not be on my Christmas list, but play a hugely important role in this complicated storyline.With more than 200,000 listeners, the Squiggly Careers podcast is an accessible look at modern careers. The tie-in book runs to self-help type but Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis have hit upon a simple idea: if you work out your values and what you’re good at, it’s likely to motivate you to be confident about what you want to do in the future. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of effectively designing their own career, but for those who find the possibility of moving fluidly between roles and companies either overwhelming or exciting, Tupper and Ellis are invaluable guides. Thanks so much to Harper Collins, Joanna Glen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read THE OTHER HALF OF AUGUSTA HOPE.