Book

The alternating chapters are like episodes of The Inbetweeners and Men Behaving Badly.

Alternating narratives weave a compelling tale.
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This book alternates each chapter between the main protagonist Ray as a schoolboy and present day.
It’s cleverly executed … I enjoyed the storytelling and I was invested in finding out how things concluded. It left me interested enough to buy the author’s previous book ‘Them Roper Girls’ to see how that fits in. However, it was enjoyable enough as a stand-alone story.
I particularly liked the Caribbean backdrop to the present day chapters.

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Driven by machismo and a pathological need not to be bested, Ray is a marmite character often behaving badly. A suspenseful ending though reveals a different side of his character

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A humorous but gritty read. I found myself frustrated with the main character but also invested in how life turned out for him. Definitely not a romance novel but a real life story. Would recommend

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This is what I would call a gritty and sometimes frustrating story. Not because of the author, but because you are following a man, the protagonist, Ray, through his life and often a trail of bad decisions as he goes…

You really do get a flavour of the main character and his life, and things that have happened to him and his background, which helps you see why his life has shaped up to be the way it has and why he is frustratingly, sometimes the way he is.

It’s a very gritty and realistic book, and the author really pulls you into the story and along for the ride as Ray faces relationship disasters, makes life mistakes and faces the consequences of his actions, or sometimes refuses to admit that he might be the problem.

This isn’t my usual style of book, but it did intrigue me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I did want to grab Ray and give him a good talking to at certain points and tell him what I thought of him.

If you enjoy real life and aren’t a person who likes fluffy romance with happy endings and prefers something that is more based on people and the mistakes they make and the lives they live, then this is definitely the book for you, and I would recommend it. I read it over a couple of days and will probably read it again. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it despite the occasional wince at Ray and his life choices … whilst the ending may not be what you expected, I think it’s absolutely worth getting your hands on a copy for a read and something a bit interesting and different.

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Them Feltwell Boys is an extremely emotive read. It’s a very character-driven story so you get to really understand the characters and the motivation for their actions.

What makes this book such a good read is that the author doesn’t try to sugarcoat or hide the fact that Ray is flawed and makes questionable decisions. It’s mark of his talent as a writer though that you fully understand the choices Ray makes, even if you don’t agree with them, and it doesn’t make you him hate him.

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An interesting story about an expat insurance executive travelling the Caribbean. He has had relationship issues all his life which don’t seem to get resolved. The story includes amongst other topics violence, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and abusive language! Parallel narratives of his childhood and his career. Twenty-five years on at a school reunion is there a happy ending?

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Loved this fictional book about a young boy growing up through his life we get to know quite a lot about his life history.

I enjoyed the writing style, the characters and the atmosphere in this story. It was an amazing read I enjoyed.

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David, I think you write very well and your words do pull on the emotions. Otherwise I possibly wouldn’t have continued Ray’s journey as the character himself and that of Dan really did grate on a nerve and I wanted to give them a good shake for some of their behaviours and attitudes.

I really enjoyed the dual narratives and the difference in word/number for each chapter. Made it much easier to follow Ray and his friends/women from teen perspective to an adult one. Also how there are characters from his previous. A 🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me. Not my usual read but give it a go folks. I enjoy finding gems like this with its dark humour.

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I loved how realistic the characters came across and the story had me hooked it was such a quick read and I loved the parallel time narratives! It was really funny at times!
There is nothing I didn’t love about this book and for that it gets a solid⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

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Ray is a travelling insurance salesman, who is based in the Caribbean with his wife and two children- an idyllic life, right? No, no and absolutely not.

This is dark and it is gritty, and the characters are solid and dependable; even in their mistakes. Ray is struggling at work and the pressure is piling on. He’s been cheating on his wife and she is close to having had enough. As the storm comes in, he has everything and more to worry about.

The dual timeline is brilliantly done and Ray’s present-day character makes perfect sense based on his early childhood. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about schooling in years gone by.

Ray is a strong character – if frustrating at times. You want him to make better decisions but equally I was addicted to find out what he could do next. There are glimpses of who he wants to be; the bowling scene was heart-warming and I loved the bunker down night.

The story comes full circle as he returns home for his school reunion and seeks out his first and possibly only one true love, Tina. As many school reunions, it doesn’t go quite as well as planned and Ray learns some home truths.

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Ray Roden’s tale is told throughout this book from a childhood through to adulthood with lots of trying times.

The character is well developed through the story and you go on a journey with him throughout his life. You are with him when he goes through a range of emotions.

The writing is readable and tells the story well. It tells a gritty tale that will leave you wanting to read on.

Recommended read and look out for more from this author.
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This is a compelling novel with realistic and well-written characters; it’s a parallel narrative of a schoolboy’s first love, and then growing up as an adult, and his more tumultuous life. This book is such a rollercoaster of emotions, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride!

Some of the key themes that the author explores include love and its many complexities, regret, and life in general, though there is lots of humour too.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quality writing, complex characters and novels that explore the intricacies of human relationships. I look forward to reading more from the author.

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I wanted Ray to have some redeeming features somewhere, but I found him incredibly difficult to like or respect in any way … he shows real signs of personality disorder … how could anyone like, trust or respect him?

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A compelling novel that weaves together parallel narratives of a schoolboy’s first love affair and his tumultuous adult life. The story follows Ray Roden as he navigates the challenges of growing up, marriage, and career, culminating in a school reunion where past and present collide. With humour and depth, the novel explores themes of love, regret, and the complexities of relationships. Bailey’s masterful storytelling makes for a captivating read that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished the book.

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