All The Lonely People

The perfect heartwarming, life-affirming page-turner about family, friendship and human connection

By: Mike Gayle

Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe

Life is waiting to happen to Hubert Bird.
But first he has to open his front door and let it in.

In weekly phone calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a picture of the perfect retirement, packed with fun, friendship and fulfilment.

But Hubert Bird is lying.

The truth is day after day drags by without him seeing a single soul.

Until, that is, he receives some good news - good news that in one way turns out to be the worst news ever, news that will force him out again, into a world he has long since turned his back on.

Now Hubert faces a seemingly impossible task: to make his real life resemble his fake life before the truth comes out.
Along the way Hubert stumbles across a second chance at love, renews a cherished friendship and finds himself roped into an audacious community scheme that seeks to end loneliness once and for all . . .

Life is certainly beginning to happen to Hubert Bird. But with the origin of his earlier isolation always lurking in the shadows will he ever get to live the life he's pretended to have for so long?

From bestselling author Mike Gayle, All the Lonely People is by turns a funny and moving meditation on love, race, old age and friendship that will not only charm and uplift, but also remind you of the power of ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference.

(P) 2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2020 Pizza FTD Ltd

Critic reviews

A heartwarming story about the power of community and human connection. Hubert Bird stole my heart.

A lovely, emotional, uplifting book about loneliness and community

Mike takes ordinary people and makes them extraordinary. Hubert Bird is a gentle hero and I loved him. All The Lonely People is a book that is perfect for the times we live in, but also one to treasure for many years to come

A tremendous read, as always. A funny, warm, heartbreaking, wonderful story about family and friendship and the power of caring in an imperfect world. Hubert, Ash & the gang are unforgettable characters

I'm such a fan of Mike's, and think this is absolutely his best yet. The characters are so warm and so real, and the issues of loneliness and displacement are so very topical and important

Mike Gayle is on World Beating Form with All the Lonely People. It's the right book at the right time and you're going to love it

A moving and uplifting story about unknown, possibly unsung heroes. I loved it

An uplifting read of family, love and overcoming isolation

This author's books just get better and better - this thoughtful novel is warm, funny and gives you all the feels

Mike Gayle is on a winning streak . . . a keen reminder that the smallest gestures are the most powerful. Heart-warming

A lovely uplifting and heartening read that feels incredibly relevant to our current times

Mike Gayle strikes a chord with this novel . . . it feels relevant to our times

A moving, thought-provoking story about the power of friendship and community, with characters you'll fall in love with. A timely exploration of family, loss and loneliness that's full of humour and heart

Timely and poignant . . . Mike Gayle's writing is beautiful and engaging and All the Lonely People is both heartbreaking and uplifting, devastating and thought-provoking. It is the kind of book you will want to press into the hands of everyone you know and tell them to read immediately

Tender, funny and uplifting, it's the ideal isolation antidote

Heartbreaking, yet also uplifting and thought-provoking

Tender, humorous and uplifting - reading this is the uplift we all need

The loveliest story - we want to be friends with Hubert!

A charming story packed with endearing characters and plenty of humour and insight

As always, Mike Gayle's characters wrap around you like a cosy cardigan, while threads of love, race, friendship, community and old age weave through the pages and into your heart . . . thought provoking

Outstanding... Despite heartbreak and pain, this is a heartwarming story of community and connection

Mike Gayle is on fine form in this moving novel . . . A great summer read

For all the lonely people

I am glad to pick up this book and found a part of me in the book. I cried and laughed together. A journey of 50 chapters.

Great book with talented narrator that adds value to the listening experience

The story grabbed me directly and the book is extremely well written. Sometimes a narrator can make a story less appealing but in this case I have to say that I think it added value to the book.

I wanted to love it

At first, this seemed like it was trying to be another "A Man Called Ove" (awesome book), and then it got lost in the weeds. The character development at times didn't get fully flushed out. The 'Caribbean speak' grammar was -- why? After 60 years in London, when he knew how to speak English grammar, it just became a distraction. As did the frequent almost constant use of UK slang. So much deep and self absorbed depression, not once but twice, then with Gus -- I started getting depressed too (!). The middle of the book drags along at a snails pace. Thoughts are stretched out way longer than they needed to be.. And the twist near the end. Just why??? I scanned the rest of the book (50ish pgs) and immediately felt like I wasted my time and money.