Book Review: Meredith Alone by Claire Alexander

Meredith Alone is the debut novel by British author Claire Alexander. It was a big hit when it was released in 2022 and was named ‘one to watch’ in Grazia, The Bookseller and by the BBC. It was also a Woman & Home Book Club award winner.

I was instantly intrigued by the premise about a woman who hadn’t left her house in over a 1000 days and I was excited to see where the story would take us.

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Genre: Literary Fiction

Author: Claire Alexander

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2022

Plot

Meredith Maggs leads a seemingly content life within the confines of her home, surrounded by everything she needs. With her loyal best friend Sadie, her beloved cat Fred, jigsaw puzzles to occupy her time, and a reliable Tesco delivery service, Meredith has built a comfortable existence.

However, Meredith has been living in isolation for over three years, not venturing outside her house for over 1000 days. Grappling with disturbing memories, Meredith feels safe in the comfort of her own home. But as her estranged sister persistently reaches out, Meredith faces a crucial question: how much longer can she keep the world at bay?

The story delves into her journey of self-discovery, exploring the lengths she will go to protect herself and the eventual realisation of the person she was meant to become.

Meredith Alone Book Review

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of warmth and though it was poignant and sad in places, it was also hopeful and uplifting.

The book did contain some upsetting themes such as depression, childhood trauma and abuse. The author handles these topics sensitively and I felt like I was on the mental health journey with Meredith, just willing her along. While there were heart-breaking moments, the story didn’t feel depressing or too weighed down by these heavy topics.

I really liked Meredith as a main character. She was relatable and I was rooting for her throughout. I found it difficult not to draw comparisons with Eleanor Oliphant. The quirky personality, the battles with mental health and her past being slowly revealed through flashbacks were all very familiar. However I still believe Meredith offered something new as a character.

As Meredith weighed the comfort of her isolated existence against the possibilities that lie beyond her doorstep, the reader is there with her. It was so inspiring and I felt like I was taking every small step with her.

I felt the supporting characters were also wonderfully drawn. I loved Tom and Celeste. Each of them felt authentic with their own battles to face. I loved how Meredith became a source of support to them, just as they were to her. Sadie too was a brilliant character and friend. The complicated relationship Meredith had with her sister was compelling to read and it made me feel both sad and hopeful for their future.