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The Borrowed Boy
A borrowed boy, a borrowed name and living on borrowed time.
What do you put on a bucket list when you haven’t done anything with your life? No interesting job, no lovers, no family, no friends. Believing she has only weeks left to live, Angie Winkle vows to make the most of every minute.
Going back to Jaywick Sands, is top of her bucket list. Experiencing life as a grandmother is not, but the universe has other plans and when four-year-old Danny is separated from his mum on the tube, Angie goes to his rescue. She tries to return him to his mum but things do not go exactly as planned and the two of them embark on a life-changing journey.
Set in Jaywick Sands, once an idyllic Essex holiday village in the 70s, but now a shantytown of displaced Londoners, this is a story about hidden communities and our need to belong.
What do you put on a bucket list when you haven’t done anything with your life? No interesting job, no lovers, no family, no friends. Believing she has only weeks left to live, Angie Winkle vows to make the most of every minute.
Going back to Jaywick Sands, is top of her bucket list. Experiencing life as a grandmother is not, but the universe has other plans and when four-year-old Danny is separated from his mum on the tube, Angie goes to his rescue. She tries to return him to his mum but things do not go exactly as planned and the two of them embark on a life-changing journey.
Set in Jaywick Sands, once an idyllic Essex holiday village in the 70s, but now a shantytown of displaced Londoners, this is a story about hidden communities and our need to belong.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
6 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Klée
9 books17 followersDeborah has worked as an occupational therapist, a health service manager, a freelance journalist, and management consultant in health and social care.
Her protagonists are often people who exist on the edges of society. Despite the very real, but dark, subject matter her stories are uplifting, combining pathos with humour. They are about self-discovery and the power of friendships and community.
The Borrowed Boy, her debut was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion, and voted book of the month by Chill with a Book awards.
Just Bea is her second novel.
Deborah lives on the Essex coast, where she loves to walk by the sea and in the countryside filling her pockets with shells and acorns and her head with stories.
Her protagonists are often people who exist on the edges of society. Despite the very real, but dark, subject matter her stories are uplifting, combining pathos with humour. They are about self-discovery and the power of friendships and community.
The Borrowed Boy, her debut was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion, and voted book of the month by Chill with a Book awards.
Just Bea is her second novel.
Deborah lives on the Essex coast, where she loves to walk by the sea and in the countryside filling her pockets with shells and acorns and her head with stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 31, 2020
A compelling debut novel!
This book served to remind me yet again of the many people in this world who are alone, living solitary and unfulfilling lives. My heart went out to Angie. Imagine believing you don’t have much time left to live and regretting that your life has held no happiness, adventure, or most importantly, LOVE.
I enjoyed reading about Angie’s time spent with Danek. How his arrival in her life led to her having friendships for the first time. The setting of Jaywick Sands was one that I had not heard of before reading the book and I found it somehow heartwarming that it has turned into a refuge for people without much material wealth.
I had my suspicions about Nikoleta’s boyfriend from the start. Kamil was shady yet Nikoleta’s naiveté kept her from realizing it.
The novel had themes of loneliness, betrayal, the often dire situations of immigrants, the nourishing aspect of being part of a community, and how social acceptance can influence the human psyche.
I can confidently recommend this debut novel. It has engaging characters, good pacing, an absorbing story, an almost palpable sense of place, and a heart-warming ending. An absorbing read!
This book served to remind me yet again of the many people in this world who are alone, living solitary and unfulfilling lives. My heart went out to Angie. Imagine believing you don’t have much time left to live and regretting that your life has held no happiness, adventure, or most importantly, LOVE.
I enjoyed reading about Angie’s time spent with Danek. How his arrival in her life led to her having friendships for the first time. The setting of Jaywick Sands was one that I had not heard of before reading the book and I found it somehow heartwarming that it has turned into a refuge for people without much material wealth.
I had my suspicions about Nikoleta’s boyfriend from the start. Kamil was shady yet Nikoleta’s naiveté kept her from realizing it.
The novel had themes of loneliness, betrayal, the often dire situations of immigrants, the nourishing aspect of being part of a community, and how social acceptance can influence the human psyche.
I can confidently recommend this debut novel. It has engaging characters, good pacing, an absorbing story, an almost palpable sense of place, and a heart-warming ending. An absorbing read!
August 8, 2020
The Borrowed Boy alternates between the stories of two women whose paths cross by chance because of one small Polish boy, four year old Danek.
Angie Winkle dreams of nothing more than making what she fears may be her final visit to the seaside town of Jaywick Sands. It holds happy childhood memories of staying in the chalet of her best friend’s grandparents. Angie recalls a time of simple pleasures: building sandcastles, picnics on the beach, ice cream and toffee apples.
When the chance arises to share the experience with Danek (or Danny, as she calls him) she convinces herself it is a gift of fate. “There was no such thing as coincidence. The universe had heard her heartfelt plea and given her this chance.” She eagerly grasps the opportunity to taste the life she might have had if she’d become a mother or grandmother. It’s fair to say she’s a natural at it and the relationship that develops between Danny and Angie is heartfelt and touching. It gives Angie a chance to erase dark moments in her life and to distract her from what she fears lies ahead.
Nikoleta’s dream is of a new life in London with boyfriend Kamil and young Danek. But that dream has rapidly turned into a nightmare. She finds Kamil’s refusal to involve the police in the search for Danek and instead use his own network of contacts both frustrating and perplexing. Her trusting nature and naivety makes her ignore the many warning signs that everything is not what it seems.
Initially, Angie is disappointed to find Jaywick Sands rather faded and rundown, not the lovely place she remembers. However, as she and Danny discover, the residents of Jaywick Sands are much more community minded and welcoming than they at first appear. That’s just as well when the story moves in an entirely different and unexpected direction. As certain individuals will find out, “Outsiders didn’t stand a chance when Jaywick came together to protect their own.”
The Borrowed Boy is a touching story about facing up to the future and finding friendship where you least expect it. “Sometimes when you think that you are at the end of a road and have no place to go, a new way opens up to you.”
Angie Winkle dreams of nothing more than making what she fears may be her final visit to the seaside town of Jaywick Sands. It holds happy childhood memories of staying in the chalet of her best friend’s grandparents. Angie recalls a time of simple pleasures: building sandcastles, picnics on the beach, ice cream and toffee apples.
When the chance arises to share the experience with Danek (or Danny, as she calls him) she convinces herself it is a gift of fate. “There was no such thing as coincidence. The universe had heard her heartfelt plea and given her this chance.” She eagerly grasps the opportunity to taste the life she might have had if she’d become a mother or grandmother. It’s fair to say she’s a natural at it and the relationship that develops between Danny and Angie is heartfelt and touching. It gives Angie a chance to erase dark moments in her life and to distract her from what she fears lies ahead.
Nikoleta’s dream is of a new life in London with boyfriend Kamil and young Danek. But that dream has rapidly turned into a nightmare. She finds Kamil’s refusal to involve the police in the search for Danek and instead use his own network of contacts both frustrating and perplexing. Her trusting nature and naivety makes her ignore the many warning signs that everything is not what it seems.
Initially, Angie is disappointed to find Jaywick Sands rather faded and rundown, not the lovely place she remembers. However, as she and Danny discover, the residents of Jaywick Sands are much more community minded and welcoming than they at first appear. That’s just as well when the story moves in an entirely different and unexpected direction. As certain individuals will find out, “Outsiders didn’t stand a chance when Jaywick came together to protect their own.”
The Borrowed Boy is a touching story about facing up to the future and finding friendship where you least expect it. “Sometimes when you think that you are at the end of a road and have no place to go, a new way opens up to you.”
December 14, 2020
I'm not quite sure where to begin with my review to do this book justice. I can honestly say that I've never come across a story like this with so many real-life twists and emotions. The characters were all wonderfully written, the scenery was brilliantly described and the plot was well-thought through. A combination of the mystery, my connection to the characters and the short chapters left me promising myself 'just one more chapter'. A thoroughly enjoyable book with unknown depths and a gritty real-life edge to it.
Looking forward to reading more from this incredibly talented author.
Looking forward to reading more from this incredibly talented author.
August 1, 2020
This story was not what I was expecting. I thought I was going to read about an idyllic, yet rundown community, an older woman who is dying and spends a week with a young boy that needs to be loved. Well, that was all in there, but this was an adventure with some danger, some laughs, great friendships, helpful and caring people and the love of women for a child.
There are two women involved in the care of young Danek. Nikoleta has brought him from Poland to live with her and his father in London, a fresh start, a new family. Angie just wants to go back to Jaywick Sands to relive her happiest memories, but Danek, aka Danny, ends up separated from Nikoleta. While trying to return him to his mom, Angie notices scars and marks that lead her to believe he is being abused. She ends up taking him with her to Jaywick Sands to spend some happy time while she figures out what to do. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with the little boy.
The characters in this book are varied. The people Angie meets in Jaywick Sands are eccentric, but amazing and accepting. She feels part of a community for the first time in her life. Little Danny and his friends are adorable. They are easygoing, free children that are refreshing and loving. There are also some characters that are not so likeable, such as Kamil, Nikoleta's boyfriend. You have to read this book to find out about him and what he puts her through. There are some twists in this story that I was not expecting, but they kept me quickly reading to find out what was going to happen next. This is a story that touches on several themes: loneliness, betrayal, abuse, dangers facing immigrants (especially women), dealing with illness, love, family, friendship, community and the dark side of criminal elements. I definitely recommend this well developed and plotted story that is much more than it appears. I received a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
There are two women involved in the care of young Danek. Nikoleta has brought him from Poland to live with her and his father in London, a fresh start, a new family. Angie just wants to go back to Jaywick Sands to relive her happiest memories, but Danek, aka Danny, ends up separated from Nikoleta. While trying to return him to his mom, Angie notices scars and marks that lead her to believe he is being abused. She ends up taking him with her to Jaywick Sands to spend some happy time while she figures out what to do. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with the little boy.
The characters in this book are varied. The people Angie meets in Jaywick Sands are eccentric, but amazing and accepting. She feels part of a community for the first time in her life. Little Danny and his friends are adorable. They are easygoing, free children that are refreshing and loving. There are also some characters that are not so likeable, such as Kamil, Nikoleta's boyfriend. You have to read this book to find out about him and what he puts her through. There are some twists in this story that I was not expecting, but they kept me quickly reading to find out what was going to happen next. This is a story that touches on several themes: loneliness, betrayal, abuse, dangers facing immigrants (especially women), dealing with illness, love, family, friendship, community and the dark side of criminal elements. I definitely recommend this well developed and plotted story that is much more than it appears. I received a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
August 26, 2020
The Borrowed Boy by Deborah Klee is an emotional book which will pull at your heartstrings while being humerous at the same time. Angie Winkle is at a crossroads in her life, she is waiting for test results and feels that this is it for her. She decides to go down memory lane and visit Jaywick Sands, on the journey there she finds a lost little boy. Angie takes it upon herself to take him with her on her trip. We have the story from the two perspectives, Angie and the little boys mum Nikoleta. Two women who seem totally different but really have much more in common than first anticipated.
We see how Angie actually makes friends in Jaywick due to her having the "borrowed boy", not a normal thing for her. A beautiful book that has themes of loneliness, the struggles of immigrants, community and the inclusiveness that brings. A story of two sides, Angie not realising that Nikoleta would be worrying and she has just kidnapped her son.
A debut book that is engaging, has great characters and highlights the sad themes of today for an awful lot of people. Thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Deborah Klee for the ARC to take part in this blog tour.
We see how Angie actually makes friends in Jaywick due to her having the "borrowed boy", not a normal thing for her. A beautiful book that has themes of loneliness, the struggles of immigrants, community and the inclusiveness that brings. A story of two sides, Angie not realising that Nikoleta would be worrying and she has just kidnapped her son.
A debut book that is engaging, has great characters and highlights the sad themes of today for an awful lot of people. Thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Deborah Klee for the ARC to take part in this blog tour.
July 20, 2020
The Borrowed Boy is an accomplished book that touches on a broad spectrum of emotions whilst delivering an exciting plot that keeps you turning the pages.
Beginning with the trauma of a child abduction, the story takes many unexpected turns that develops into a heartwarming tale, reminding us of what it really means to be human.
When four-year-old Danek is separated from his guardian on a crowded platform of a London tube station, it changes the lives of both Angie and Nikoleta forever. The book is told through the differing perspectives of these two protagonists - both from seemingly different backgrounds, yet with more in common than first meets the eye. The author succeeds in portraying characters that feel real - their actions will strike a chord with anyone that’s braved taking a leap of faith amid feelings of shame, self-doubt, regret, or feeling small and out of place.
A thrilling plot is set against the playful interactions between a little boy and his ‘nomma’ - you can’t help but fall in love with their relationship. There are many joyous moments within the book, mostly centred around the working-class community of Jaywick and the kindness and eccentricities of the neighbours. These moments of tenderness heightens the sense of threat when an imminent danger arrives. It will have you rooting for the underdog - those hidden communities of outsiders, who operate by their own guiding principles to protect and preserve their existence.
What I most enjoyed was how author takes the reader to those places that you hold tight in your heart, which remind you of who you used to be - in the case of Nikoleta and Angie; the rye fields in rural Poland and the toffee apple stall on a seaside promenade in England. These places feel so real and vivid, yet they quietly cease to exist once a moment is over, making their existence so much more precious. The takeaway: home is more than a physical location - it’s about those people you hold dear. A must read!
Beginning with the trauma of a child abduction, the story takes many unexpected turns that develops into a heartwarming tale, reminding us of what it really means to be human.
When four-year-old Danek is separated from his guardian on a crowded platform of a London tube station, it changes the lives of both Angie and Nikoleta forever. The book is told through the differing perspectives of these two protagonists - both from seemingly different backgrounds, yet with more in common than first meets the eye. The author succeeds in portraying characters that feel real - their actions will strike a chord with anyone that’s braved taking a leap of faith amid feelings of shame, self-doubt, regret, or feeling small and out of place.
A thrilling plot is set against the playful interactions between a little boy and his ‘nomma’ - you can’t help but fall in love with their relationship. There are many joyous moments within the book, mostly centred around the working-class community of Jaywick and the kindness and eccentricities of the neighbours. These moments of tenderness heightens the sense of threat when an imminent danger arrives. It will have you rooting for the underdog - those hidden communities of outsiders, who operate by their own guiding principles to protect and preserve their existence.
What I most enjoyed was how author takes the reader to those places that you hold tight in your heart, which remind you of who you used to be - in the case of Nikoleta and Angie; the rye fields in rural Poland and the toffee apple stall on a seaside promenade in England. These places feel so real and vivid, yet they quietly cease to exist once a moment is over, making their existence so much more precious. The takeaway: home is more than a physical location - it’s about those people you hold dear. A must read!
August 7, 2020
Angie is a good woman, with a big, gracious, and giving heart. She just sometimes lets things in her life get out of control When she sees a little boy get separated from his mother, she steps in to rescue him. But then she justifies keeping him for a little bit as she takes him on an adventure to check off one thing on her bucket list. And then the fun begins.
As Angie steps into her different life, she finds the lies that she needs to tell to fit into that life start to come easier and easier for her. After all, she's only trying to do the right thing. As more people come into her new life, she starts to realize that she is not alone. I came to love Angie right along with the others, even with all of her faults.
This was a fun, fast paced story with plenty of quirky and entertaining characters, with plenty of drama and intrigue mixed in to keep me interested. The Borrowed Boy is a great read if you are looking for a feel-good story with a memorable cast who will touch your heart.
As Angie steps into her different life, she finds the lies that she needs to tell to fit into that life start to come easier and easier for her. After all, she's only trying to do the right thing. As more people come into her new life, she starts to realize that she is not alone. I came to love Angie right along with the others, even with all of her faults.
This was a fun, fast paced story with plenty of quirky and entertaining characters, with plenty of drama and intrigue mixed in to keep me interested. The Borrowed Boy is a great read if you are looking for a feel-good story with a memorable cast who will touch your heart.
November 19, 2020
The Borrowed Boy by Deborah Klee has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Premier Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
www.chillwithabook.com
March 2, 2021
We are proud to announce that THE BORROWED BOY by Deborah Klée is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
July 25, 2020
I took a chance to read this one not one I would have picked up myself but I am so glad I did get the chance to read it. Beneath it all is a beautiful story which I enjoyed. Or should I say a beautiful story with the unexpected dotted in between but with a fabulous ending? Better.
Beautifully written. It all starts when young Danek (Danny) gets seperated from Nikoleta on the London tube, every parents worse nightmare. However, Angie was aboard the tube and saw it all happen and vows to look after the boy until he can be reunited.
However, it isn't as simple as that. Angie has always wanted a child or grandchild and this is where she decides she will borrow the boy for a while when things soon become apparant that something is wrong. The boy is scared to return and bruised. They do eventually become reunited but the bond between Danek (Danny) and Angie is one that cannot be broken.
The community spirit in Jaywick is one that isn't seen much these days. They're a family and they all work together despite their differences. I really enjoyed reading this. A well deserved four stars. Highly recommend.
Beautifully written. It all starts when young Danek (Danny) gets seperated from Nikoleta on the London tube, every parents worse nightmare. However, Angie was aboard the tube and saw it all happen and vows to look after the boy until he can be reunited.
However, it isn't as simple as that. Angie has always wanted a child or grandchild and this is where she decides she will borrow the boy for a while when things soon become apparant that something is wrong. The boy is scared to return and bruised. They do eventually become reunited but the bond between Danek (Danny) and Angie is one that cannot be broken.
The community spirit in Jaywick is one that isn't seen much these days. They're a family and they all work together despite their differences. I really enjoyed reading this. A well deserved four stars. Highly recommend.
July 27, 2020
Thoroughly recommend this debut novel, with engaging characters and a storyline which develops at a comfortable pace. The locations are well described, including the slightly unusual choice of Jaywick Sands. The changes to this and surrounding areas past and present are threaded into the story in an interesting fashion. An enjoyable read you won't want to put down.
July 20, 2020
The Borrowed Boy is a fast-paced and heart-warming story about loss, love and belonging set largely in the quirky community of Jaywick Sands, a run-down seaside town in England.
At its heart is the fabulously named Angie Winkle, an almost magical figure, on her journey to make the most of the time she has left to live. Rescuing a lost boy on the Underground, she takes him with her to re-visit Jaywick for the day and their adventure together unfolds as Angie tries to save him from peril. The relationship between Angie and Danek (Danny) would melt the hardest heart as they transform each other’s lives.
Deborah Klee’s debut novel is a cracking good read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled. She paints her scenes well so that we feel we are there with Angie and Danny.
I can even see Angie with her own TV series…
At its heart is the fabulously named Angie Winkle, an almost magical figure, on her journey to make the most of the time she has left to live. Rescuing a lost boy on the Underground, she takes him with her to re-visit Jaywick for the day and their adventure together unfolds as Angie tries to save him from peril. The relationship between Angie and Danek (Danny) would melt the hardest heart as they transform each other’s lives.
Deborah Klee’s debut novel is a cracking good read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled. She paints her scenes well so that we feel we are there with Angie and Danny.
I can even see Angie with her own TV series…
Read
July 24, 2020What a debut! From the beginning you will fall in love with the main character, Angie Winkle and warm to her as she makes a series of well meant, if somewhat rash, decisions. Deborah Klee paints a wonderful picture of a carefree time on the South coast with sinister undertones. The characters and places she describes all come alive in the pages of this book. I will miss them all!
August 30, 2020
A beautiful story full of emotional tension, with a unique cast of characters and an unusual setting. The themes are close to my heart - marginalised people and the search for identity and belonging. I loved this book. Couldn't put it down and read it on one hot sunny weekend.
July 17, 2020
A must read book.The story hooks you in within a few pages and the descriptions make you feel like you are there. Brought back so many memories of my summer holidays as a teenager. I read this in a day and a half. I couldn't put it down.
August 27, 2023
“Who exactly is Angie Winkler?”
Who indeed!
Angie Winkler is the star of author Deborah Klee’s debut novel, The Borrowed Boy. Part mystery, part whimsy, and full of heart, this book will make you want to jump into your own life and live it! Yay! (My spell check wanted me to change “live it” to “love it”. That works, too.)
Angie has kept to a quiet, invisible life ever since a traumatic experience when she was fourteen. For her, life was a sentence of not belonging, always the “weird one”. (She once found a toothbrush in her wild hair.) Until one magical day, when a health scare shocks her back to life.
Fearing that she has only a short time to live, Angie does what many of us dream of doing- going back to an idyllic childhood place. For Angie, the place she felt happiest was the seaside holiday village of Jaywick Sands. As she travels to Jaywick Sands, she encounters a lost little boy. Could she be his grandma, just for a day?
Angie is a character that you will love and always remember. And there are more special people in this charming book. The little boy will melt you. Nikoleta, a young Polish woman, will remind you that it takes love and caring to help you find your way. Yes, there’s a “bad guy” and there are plenty of wonderful, quirky people living in Jaywick Sands. You’ll want to spend the summer with all of them.
The author creates a postcard of the seaside town, with its pier, amusement park and lovely beach. A place where everyone belongs and has fun, even if just for a sunny afternoon. A place where anyone can feel beautiful for the first time. Action, humor, and thrills are sprinkled throughout the story.
I highly recommend this gem. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Who indeed!
Angie Winkler is the star of author Deborah Klee’s debut novel, The Borrowed Boy. Part mystery, part whimsy, and full of heart, this book will make you want to jump into your own life and live it! Yay! (My spell check wanted me to change “live it” to “love it”. That works, too.)
Angie has kept to a quiet, invisible life ever since a traumatic experience when she was fourteen. For her, life was a sentence of not belonging, always the “weird one”. (She once found a toothbrush in her wild hair.) Until one magical day, when a health scare shocks her back to life.
Fearing that she has only a short time to live, Angie does what many of us dream of doing- going back to an idyllic childhood place. For Angie, the place she felt happiest was the seaside holiday village of Jaywick Sands. As she travels to Jaywick Sands, she encounters a lost little boy. Could she be his grandma, just for a day?
Angie is a character that you will love and always remember. And there are more special people in this charming book. The little boy will melt you. Nikoleta, a young Polish woman, will remind you that it takes love and caring to help you find your way. Yes, there’s a “bad guy” and there are plenty of wonderful, quirky people living in Jaywick Sands. You’ll want to spend the summer with all of them.
The author creates a postcard of the seaside town, with its pier, amusement park and lovely beach. A place where everyone belongs and has fun, even if just for a sunny afternoon. A place where anyone can feel beautiful for the first time. Action, humor, and thrills are sprinkled throughout the story.
I highly recommend this gem. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
August 6, 2020
Angie Winkle is in her fifties, tired, and alone. She's got endometrial cancer, and knows she's going to die. The doctors haven't told her that yet, but she's reluctant to go in for the appointment where they'll make it official.
What she wants to do, is do some of the things she's never done.
One of those things is go back to Jaywick Sands, where she spent several summers with her friend, Lorraine, and Lorraine's grandparents, whom she also called Grammy and Gramps, and who made her feel like a part of the Jeffers family.
One thing she didn't plan to do is experience life as a grandmother, though she regrets never having had the experience of being a mother and grandmother. It's obviously too late for that, especially since she may have so little time left.
But life doesn't meekly follow our plans, and Angie finds herself taking responsibility for a little four-year-old boy when he becomes separated from his mother on the tube.
She makes an attempt to get him back to his mother, but it doesn't work out as intended, and, being unwilling to turn him over to the police, she takes him to Jaywick Sands with her.
And when she arrives in Jaywick Sands, she winds up passing herself off as Lorraine Jeffers, largely because she's sure no one will like or welcome her under her own name.
The little boy, Danek, whom she naturally calls Danny, has welts on his back and seems oddly uninterested in getting back together with the woman Angie assumes to be his mother. He is happy to adopt Angie as his "namma," and the two of them are soon making friends and making a home in Jaywick--even though Angie knows it's all very, very temporary.
Meanwhile, Danek's "mother," Nikoletta, is searching for him frantically, but she's the girlfriend of Kamil Krol, the man who (says he) is Danek's father. Nikoletta had been very reluctant to take Danek, whom Kamil has told her he just got custody of away from Danek's neglectful mother, with her on her her travel from Poland to the UK, where they will be living. Nikoletta is entering the UK for the very first time, has never been to such a large city as London, and has never been responsible for such a young child before. She was very nervous even before the train door closed between her and Danek; the idea of telling Kamil she's lost his precious son is just horrible.
But she has to do it, and is shocked when Kamil decides it's better not to call the police.
What's really going on here?
Angie and Nikoletta each have a lot to learn about themselves, who they can and can't trust, and their own ability to take control of their lives and do the right thing.
Both Angie and Nikoletta find themselves making friends almost against their better judgment, making connections, and finding they're capable of more than they expected--and that people will value them for who they really are.
It's an odd, interesting sort of family story, building toward a warm, satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
What she wants to do, is do some of the things she's never done.
One of those things is go back to Jaywick Sands, where she spent several summers with her friend, Lorraine, and Lorraine's grandparents, whom she also called Grammy and Gramps, and who made her feel like a part of the Jeffers family.
One thing she didn't plan to do is experience life as a grandmother, though she regrets never having had the experience of being a mother and grandmother. It's obviously too late for that, especially since she may have so little time left.
But life doesn't meekly follow our plans, and Angie finds herself taking responsibility for a little four-year-old boy when he becomes separated from his mother on the tube.
She makes an attempt to get him back to his mother, but it doesn't work out as intended, and, being unwilling to turn him over to the police, she takes him to Jaywick Sands with her.
And when she arrives in Jaywick Sands, she winds up passing herself off as Lorraine Jeffers, largely because she's sure no one will like or welcome her under her own name.
The little boy, Danek, whom she naturally calls Danny, has welts on his back and seems oddly uninterested in getting back together with the woman Angie assumes to be his mother. He is happy to adopt Angie as his "namma," and the two of them are soon making friends and making a home in Jaywick--even though Angie knows it's all very, very temporary.
Meanwhile, Danek's "mother," Nikoletta, is searching for him frantically, but she's the girlfriend of Kamil Krol, the man who (says he) is Danek's father. Nikoletta had been very reluctant to take Danek, whom Kamil has told her he just got custody of away from Danek's neglectful mother, with her on her her travel from Poland to the UK, where they will be living. Nikoletta is entering the UK for the very first time, has never been to such a large city as London, and has never been responsible for such a young child before. She was very nervous even before the train door closed between her and Danek; the idea of telling Kamil she's lost his precious son is just horrible.
But she has to do it, and is shocked when Kamil decides it's better not to call the police.
What's really going on here?
Angie and Nikoletta each have a lot to learn about themselves, who they can and can't trust, and their own ability to take control of their lives and do the right thing.
Both Angie and Nikoletta find themselves making friends almost against their better judgment, making connections, and finding they're capable of more than they expected--and that people will value them for who they really are.
It's an odd, interesting sort of family story, building toward a warm, satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 6, 2020
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When I started reading this story, I certainly did not expect the roller-coaster ride that was awaiting me. There is SO much in this story that the author has put together so well. The book takes you on a whirlwind ride of emotions. It has a bit of everything to make a reader of any genre enjoy it. Even though the underlying theme of the book is finding love and being accepted, it also has romance, mystery, suspense and drama, with elements of kidnappings and false identifies set in an idyllic setting.
Moreover, I loved how the author changes the plot of the story-line in an unexpected manner. Right in the middle of the story, the author suddenly shifts gears, and the characters shift focus, where some people who you thought were devious, turn out to be helpful. The plot also moves in a completely new direction once Angie and Nikoleta meet in person. So, while I was invested on Angie’s story-line in the first half, I was hooked to Nikoleta’s story in the second half.
Angie is adorable in the lead. I loved her bond with Danek and the lengths she goes through to be with him. Danny is so sweet and the highlight of the book. Nikoleta is also a very interesting character. Moreover, the supporting characters, and residents of Jaywick Sands, like Josie, Peggy Sue, Bill, Zoe etc. all add well to the story. Probably the only thing that threw me off was the romance between Angie and Tomasz. It felt a lot like ‘insta love’, where the characters instantly fall for each other right after they meet. I would have preferred if they remained friends.
Overall, “The Borrowed Boy” borrows from various genres and gives you a wonderful story with heart-warming characters.
February 16, 2024
Angie Winkle in ‘The Borrowed Boy’ is more or less alone in the world. She has no hope, no friends and no future. An unpromising candidate to put at the heart of any novel. But all is not as it seems when Angie witnesses a dramatic separation on the London Underground between a boy aged about three or four, Danek, and someone who appears to be his young mother, Nickoleta. Or is she? Already, the characters are not who or what they seem and so it continues throughout the book
The separation is the catalyst that leads to a series of challenging events and decisions for Angie. Should she listen to her head and do the right thing or should she grab at a last chance for happiness? Revelations about her childhood and her current circumstances leave the reader unsure how much strength of character she has to face these challenges.
The other characters in ‘The Borrowed Boy’ are credible and well-drawn. However, beware of jumping to early conclusions. Who is concealing a dark side, who is lying about their true identity and who makes an unexpected return into her life? And who is the menacing Kamil? Is he the boy’s father and the young woman’s partner, and what is his true agenda?
The action takes place in Jaywick, an Essex seaside resort once home to a thriving holiday camp next to the best sandy beaches in the county. Sadly, years of neglect and under investment have taken their toll on Jaywick. Can the few remaining residents rekindle their sense of community and what is it they find out about Angie?
If ‘The Borrowed Boy’ was a TV programme you might view it from behind a cushion as the challenges keep coming for Angie, Nickoleta, Danek and the Jaywick community. It’s a roller coaster of a read that will keep you guessing until the end.
July 20, 2020
Wow! this is a beautiful story, packed with emotional conundrums yet also tense and exciting.
Angie Winkel is expecting bad news from the hospital. She fears the worst, knowing cancer is in her family's medical history. Assessing her own imminent mortality, she reflects on things she hasn't done. Her biggest regret is not being a mother. In a rash moment, she decides to take the train to the coastal resort of Jaywick where she had such happy memories as a young girl with her best friend Maureen.
Angie is about to be tested.
At the busy station, she sees a young woman with a small boy about to board the same train. Yet the crowds mean that the two are parted and the boy alone gets on the train. It speeds off, leaving the young woman frantically searching for him.
Angie takes the boy's hand and vows to put matters right. At the next stop, she alights and arranges for a message to be sent to the young woman telling her the boy is safe and that she will be waiting by the statue with him.
So far, Angie seems to be doing the right thing. Doing what every parent hopes a stranger might do if it were their child who was lost.
Angie waits at the statue for a long time but there is no sign of the young woman. Until over an hour later ...by which time, Angie has convinced herself that the woman doesn't care enough and that the boy deserves a treat.
Oh dear. It's here that Angie's decision-making skills desert her, and she decides to take the boy to Jaywick and return him later.
From here on the story progresses in the dual perspectives of Angie and the young woman, Nikoleta, both with vastly different life experiences, yet as we later learn more in common that you'd expect.
Nikoleta, we soon discover, is stuck in the middle. She has been duped and lied to, and has to admit her father was right; she should never have left Poland. Her story, and her strength of character, is equally as engaging as Angie's.
The author has created a story with real people whose actions, while ethically questionable, are believable and understandable. As the little boy, Danny (Danek) blossoms under Angie's care, even calling her his "Nomma", it's clear the life he had is not the one he wants.
Yet, the inevitable must happen, and Danek must be returned to his family. Even though, as a reader, you know what Angie did was wrong, you can't help enjoy their developing relationship as hours spread into days and weeks. Angie revisits her past, reinvents herself and finally feel like she belongs somewhere, all the while nobody knows her secret.
The tension mounts and the pace intensifies as the reality of Danek's life becomes known. It is Angie's new-found community who come to her rescue ...and his. It's joyous to behold that sense of community and will have you rooting for Angie and Danny to survive unscathed.
A lovely story, told with heart and humour and one which will hold you rapt until the end.
Angie Winkel is expecting bad news from the hospital. She fears the worst, knowing cancer is in her family's medical history. Assessing her own imminent mortality, she reflects on things she hasn't done. Her biggest regret is not being a mother. In a rash moment, she decides to take the train to the coastal resort of Jaywick where she had such happy memories as a young girl with her best friend Maureen.
Angie is about to be tested.
At the busy station, she sees a young woman with a small boy about to board the same train. Yet the crowds mean that the two are parted and the boy alone gets on the train. It speeds off, leaving the young woman frantically searching for him.
Angie takes the boy's hand and vows to put matters right. At the next stop, she alights and arranges for a message to be sent to the young woman telling her the boy is safe and that she will be waiting by the statue with him.
So far, Angie seems to be doing the right thing. Doing what every parent hopes a stranger might do if it were their child who was lost.
Angie waits at the statue for a long time but there is no sign of the young woman. Until over an hour later ...by which time, Angie has convinced herself that the woman doesn't care enough and that the boy deserves a treat.
Oh dear. It's here that Angie's decision-making skills desert her, and she decides to take the boy to Jaywick and return him later.
From here on the story progresses in the dual perspectives of Angie and the young woman, Nikoleta, both with vastly different life experiences, yet as we later learn more in common that you'd expect.
Nikoleta, we soon discover, is stuck in the middle. She has been duped and lied to, and has to admit her father was right; she should never have left Poland. Her story, and her strength of character, is equally as engaging as Angie's.
The author has created a story with real people whose actions, while ethically questionable, are believable and understandable. As the little boy, Danny (Danek) blossoms under Angie's care, even calling her his "Nomma", it's clear the life he had is not the one he wants.
Yet, the inevitable must happen, and Danek must be returned to his family. Even though, as a reader, you know what Angie did was wrong, you can't help enjoy their developing relationship as hours spread into days and weeks. Angie revisits her past, reinvents herself and finally feel like she belongs somewhere, all the while nobody knows her secret.
The tension mounts and the pace intensifies as the reality of Danek's life becomes known. It is Angie's new-found community who come to her rescue ...and his. It's joyous to behold that sense of community and will have you rooting for Angie and Danny to survive unscathed.
A lovely story, told with heart and humour and one which will hold you rapt until the end.
August 11, 2021
Absorbing and surprisingly suspenseful
Something happened to Angie when she was young, and she's never let herself live much of a life. When she gets a negative health diagnosis, she decides to use what's left of her time differently. First on her list, a trip back to the place where she was happiest.
On the way, Angie accidentally acquires a little boy. What she does next, and the side-by-side story of Nikoleta, who let go of his hand, makes for absorbing and often suspenseful reading.
The author has created a group of characters who are interesting, and very real, but who are not the type of people often given front and center treatment in a novel. The residents of Jaywick Sands are on the fringes of society, but are no less interesting to themselves - or to the reader - because of that.
Highly recommended.
Something happened to Angie when she was young, and she's never let herself live much of a life. When she gets a negative health diagnosis, she decides to use what's left of her time differently. First on her list, a trip back to the place where she was happiest.
On the way, Angie accidentally acquires a little boy. What she does next, and the side-by-side story of Nikoleta, who let go of his hand, makes for absorbing and often suspenseful reading.
The author has created a group of characters who are interesting, and very real, but who are not the type of people often given front and center treatment in a novel. The residents of Jaywick Sands are on the fringes of society, but are no less interesting to themselves - or to the reader - because of that.
Highly recommended.
August 3, 2023
The Borrowed Boy by Deborah Klee is a unique and affecting tale of Angie, a woman in her fifties, who anticipates a fatal diagnosis of cancer. The illness runs in her family, and the symptoms she has been experiencing leave her in little doubt of her fate. Angie has led a lonely and uneventful life without romances, marriage, or children. So, she contemplates what she could do to make her final weeks or months count. On her way to the doctor’s office to receive the results of her tests, Angie encounters a lost child, and she makes a decision that alters the course of her future. This is a fascinating and complex story of a daring adventure Angie undertakes for the sake of a child, and the complications that ensue. I highly recommend this book!
May 18, 2021
Beautiful, poignant, amazing!
This book gripped me right from the start. I’ve been used to reading historical fiction or fantasy books lately, which I love, but the worldbuilding/scale of it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.
The Borrowed Boy was refreshingly simple in comparison, in the best possible way. The raw poignancy of this novel kept me glued from the first page until the last.
The writing is stunning, with such clear description that I really felt I could be walking on the beach alongside Angie and Danny, following them on their journey. The characters are colourful and substantial.
In particular, the author’s use of the past to tell the story of Angie’s earlier life is done brilliantly. This book is also unafraid to give an honest look at the world and the dark issues still facing us today.
This has easily become one of my favourite indie reads and I think this book will stay with me for a long time to come. I heartily recommend and I’m excited to read the author’s next work, ‘Just Bea
This book gripped me right from the start. I’ve been used to reading historical fiction or fantasy books lately, which I love, but the worldbuilding/scale of it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.
The Borrowed Boy was refreshingly simple in comparison, in the best possible way. The raw poignancy of this novel kept me glued from the first page until the last.
The writing is stunning, with such clear description that I really felt I could be walking on the beach alongside Angie and Danny, following them on their journey. The characters are colourful and substantial.
In particular, the author’s use of the past to tell the story of Angie’s earlier life is done brilliantly. This book is also unafraid to give an honest look at the world and the dark issues still facing us today.
This has easily become one of my favourite indie reads and I think this book will stay with me for a long time to come. I heartily recommend and I’m excited to read the author’s next work, ‘Just Bea
March 3, 2022
Angie is at the bottom of her life. Diagnosed with cancer, no item on her bucket list fulfilled or even thought of, she has missed being loved—no marriage, no children, no grandchildren. Then, suddenly on a train to a seaside village, Jaywick, the doors and Fate close, and Angie and 4-year-old Danny, alone, unloved and frightened, are handed a different possibility. Hidden identities push the plot forward, add to this excellent novel’s tension and ask the question who these individuals really are.
August 30, 2023
I was gripped with this story from the outset.
In her fast moving style, Deborah Klee sensitively handles some issues, to which, as a society, we simply cannot continue to turn a blind eye.
Angie finds courage within herself to take action when she is confronted by a shocking discovery.
Alongside the darkness is a story of love and kindness, of a community that demonstrates how to look after each other.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
In her fast moving style, Deborah Klee sensitively handles some issues, to which, as a society, we simply cannot continue to turn a blind eye.
Angie finds courage within herself to take action when she is confronted by a shocking discovery.
Alongside the darkness is a story of love and kindness, of a community that demonstrates how to look after each other.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
January 28, 2021
Absolutely loved this, although I was a bit tense at first given subject matter. It’s a beautiful story. The telling is straightforward yet themes are complex and nuanced. A rare mix, because simplicity is rarely simple.
August 3, 2020
Excellent storyline good strong characters well researched
Enjoyed very much
Enjoyed very much
June 30, 2021
A warm, emotional story of a hurting, confused woman who learns to love and trust amidst a web of lies she's created. An original, memorable story of love and loss so beautifully written.
May 7, 2022
A good read
I enjoyed this lovely book. A great climax towards the end. A story about finding out where we all belong.
I enjoyed this lovely book. A great climax towards the end. A story about finding out where we all belong.
May 30, 2023
Most enjoyable
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