Frankie

The most courageous heroine you'll meet this year, from the Sunday Times bestselling author

By: Graham Norton

Narrated by: Graham Norton

The latest novel from million-copy bestseller author Graham Norton - a dazzling, decades-sweeping story about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life.

'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know'
BONNIE GARMUS

'I loved Frankie so much. I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished'
NIGELLA LAWSON

'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go'
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

Always on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now old, Frankie finds it easier to forget the life that came before.

Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat, there to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years.

Travelling from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger than life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where, for a while, life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable.

'Fascinating, funny, sad... Every page is intriguing. Once again, Graham shows his class as a writer'
JO BRAND

'I was enthralled by Frankie from page one. It's a beauty. A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel'
SARAH WINMAN

'Frankie is a perfect song of a book and everyone who likes human beings should read it'
ANDREW O'HAGAN

'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph'
JENNIE GODFREY

'Packed with surprises, it's moving, riveting and enriching'
MATT CAIN

'A great sweep of a novel, full of unexpected twists'
LISSA EVANS

* Graham Norton's most recent novel Forever Home was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in April 2023, and Frankie was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in September 2024.©2024 Graham Norton

Critic reviews

Immersive, stunningly written and very emotional - this is a triumph. I defy anyone not to love it (but bring tissues!). Graham's writing gets better and better, and Frankie is his best yet

I loved Frankie so much. I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished

A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go

Frankie is popular fiction at its best... Beautifully crafted and impeccably researched

An eventful story about well-drawn characters... Compelling, interesting and enjoyable

Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know

I was enthralled by Frankie from page one. It's a beauty. A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel

Wonderful ... [Norton's] sweeping fifth novel traces the life of the eponymous protagonist as she relays it to her young Irish carer

Beautifully warm and empathetic . . . Frankie is one of the most wonderful characters I've come across in a long time

A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go

What an unforgettable, heartening book; everybody should read it. The accumulation of grief, the revelation of joy, is so brilliant in the story - from Cork to Picadilly to Greenwich Village - and I just loved every page. Frankie is a triumph, a beautiful book of sunshine and memory

A vivid portrait of one woman's life along with her closest friend, from censorious Ireland of the 1950s to high society New York of the 60s and 70s and the utter devastation of the AIDS epidemic of the 80s. Frankie is a beautifully written, entertaining and intriguing read - I couldn't have loved it more

I was bereft when I turned the last page. I adored Frankie and the storytelling was sublime

Travelling from 1940s Ireland to the glamour of New York in the 1960s, this tender and witty story shows that the TV star is a writer to reckon with

A great sweep of a novel, full of unexpected twists; Frankie's riveting story is both a tribute to lifelong friendship and the kindness of strangers

Fascinating, funny, sad . . . Every page is intriguing. Once again, Graham shows his class as a writer

His best yet! Frankie is about a quiet woman who's dismissed and disrespected but lives an extraordinary life. Packed with surprises, it's moving riveting and enriching

The glorious unfolding of a life, beautifully written, heartbreakingly honest

such a funny poignant story

I absolutely love the narration of 'Frankie' by Graham Norton. He brings this story to life with his wonderful accents. I would buy another of his books just to hear him read it.
This is a wonderful story of a young woman's life, her trials and experiences as told to her carer who is looking after her for awhile.i found it funny in places and sad in others, but ultimately a story about friendship. I absolutely loved this book.

Perfect in every way

I loved every aspect of this production! The story was great and the narration was brilliant. Sorry when it came to an end. Highly recommend.

Loved it

This was such an easy book to listen to. Loved the story. Loved the narration. Would definitely recommend.

Fantastic

Fantastic read absolutely loved this book
Well done Graham added bonus of having Mr Norton narrate

Absolutely beautiful

A beautiful story about love, loss, grief, healing and happiness.
Graham Norton, at his best. Excellent narration, brilliant script, sublime entertainment. I HAVE TO listen to it again, just to enjoy every second of this wonderful story, once more!