Synopsis: “A heartwarming and hilarious new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of FRANK AND RED

Sister Francis is an unlikely nun. She’s sixty, sweary, drives like a lunatic and smokes like a stacked chimney . . . and she runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club.

Richie, Bennett, Kenny and Stan are four best friends from the Whittle council estate with little to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with local bullies, they discover the crumbling, forgotten club and find themselves in the company of the most remarkable person they will ever meet.

Set against early 1980s Britain, THE TROUBLE WITH SISTER FRANCIS is a funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.

And at the centre of it all lies a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.”

My Review

This was a another fantastic book from Matt Coyne who’s turning out to be a favourite author.

As the above synopsis states it’s set in the 1980s and follows a group of of four boys as they become the latest members of the Dead Dads Club, run by the infamous Sister Francis. The story is told by Richie the most sensible of the four, who also happens to be the only one with a dead dad.

I really liked Richie and enjoyed his recollection of that summer in the early 1980s, of how the boys got to know Sister Francis and her German Shepherd Bridget, and the clapped out old mini bus.

Before the boys club starts up again,, Richie and his friends Kenny, Bennett and Stanley are persuaded to help Sister F get the old clubhouse ready for the summer holidays. While Richie is in her office tidying up old papers, he discovers a diary from World War Two, written by teenage evacuee Reggie, which he starts reading in secret.

I must admit when the diary entries were first introduced to the story I was a bit miffed as I just wanted to hear about Richie and his friends adventures. I began to appreciate the diary a whole lot more as the plot developed, and loved how the two timelines came together near the end.

The four boys were hilarious and Sister Francis is unlike any nun I’ve come across apart from in the Blues Brothers! 😂 There was lots to laugh out loud and reminisce about with all the different 1980s memories, the food and drink, sweets, clothes, bikes, films and TV series. I also got a little teary eyed on occasions when some big reveals came.

Colin R Campbell a new-to-me narrator, was great telling this story. His voice talents enabled him to portray all the different characters expertly.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a feel good laugh out loud book set in the UK during the 1980s.