I stumbled across Leonard and Hungry Paul when it was featured as a 99p kindle deal. I didn’t know much about the book but the premise instantly appealed to me.
Leonard and Hungry Paul was the debut novel by Rónán Hession, released in 2019. It was chosen as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club Choice and shortlisted for The British Book Awards 2020.
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Plot
This is a story centred around two good friends in their mid-thirties. Both Leonard and Hungry Paul are quiet, unassuming men who live with their parents and meet once a week to play board games.
People like Leonard and Hungry Paul often go uncelebrated but as we get to know these characters, it prompts the idea that maybe we could learn from the people that society tends to overlook.
Leonard and Hungry Paul Book Review
What a gorgeous book! Leonard and Hungry Paul is a charming tale of self-acceptance, friendship and love. Honestly, I adored it.
This book is a celebration of kindness and gentleness. In a world that can feel full of people who are loud and brash, it was a delight to read about characters with such quiet integrity.
The book was full of warmth and gentle humour. Some of the situations the characters end up in (particularly the returning of a box of chocolates!) were really amusing, and yet the author doesn’t mock the characters. The humour is never mean-spirited.
This isn’t a fast-paced, action-packed novel. It’s very much a character-driven tale and the characters are lovable ones.
I’m always a bit reluctant to read books described as ‘feel-good fiction’ or ‘Up Lit’. I love books with characters I really care about but I always worry about the stories becoming a bit too twee and mawkish.
This book, however, was wholesome and uplifting, without being overly sentimental. It had the perfect blend of hope, wit and warmth.
I’m so glad I decided to buy this book on a whim. I’d definitely recommend it.
Has Rónán Hession written any other novels?
Rónán Hession is also the author of Panenka, published in 2021.
What should I read after Leonard and Hungry Paul?
If you’re looking for another gentle read about friendship I’d recommend Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer. It has a slightly different feel to it but still left me feeling moved and hopeful.
If you’re a fan of uplifting fiction I would also recommend The Lido by Libby Page.