A stranger can change your life in a moment of kindness
1952: Bella is a young French Jew in post-war London, having lost everything in WWII. When she meets Adebayo, a doctor from Nigeria, Archibald's Café is the only place they feel like they belong.
1977: With London tense with anger, Amara decides to take action.
2010: Gina is a daydreaming artist whose efforts crumble into disaster. Her hopes for a career are over as she finds herself making lattes at the café where her grandparents went on their first date.
Across the lives of three generations of women, London can be a harsh and beautiful place. Yet, chance friendships hold people together, when the world feels like it is falling apart.
Fans of Clare Pooley and Freya Sampson will love The Café on Manor Lane
'A powerful story of hope, community and friendship… a real love letter to London' Katie Lumsdon, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall
'A beautiful story about the power of community and friendships' Eleanor Goymer, author of The Fallback
'A heartwarming and necessary story to make you fall in love with London' Eve Edwards, author of The Summer of Wishful Thinking
'Amidst all the ugliness in the world…friendship, kindness, chosen family and community can heal' Tina Baker, author of What We Did in the Storm
'The writing has an uplifting side reflecting on the importance of love, family and friends helping relieve trauma across generations.' Historical Novel Society
'THIS BOOK GIVES ME HOPE! It was so beautiful and so powerful! The impact of community in this book is amazing!' ?????
'The story and situation is very unique… all elements of this book are done extremely well. I adored it!' ?????
'A fun sweet read! Highly recommend' ?????
'The setting was beautifully done… I found the characters interesting and engaging and could only ask for more' ????
'The author found the beautiful in the everyday and created a rich narrative firmly rooted in Lewisham' ????
'A heartwarming tale of community, love, and new beginnings. Charming characters and a cozy setting make it an enchanting, feel-good read' ????