Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers #

Blurb: 1957, the suburbs of South East London. Jean Swinney is a journalist on a local paper, trapped in a life of duty and disappointment from which there is no likelihood of escape.

When a young woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, it is down to Jean to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud.

As the investigation turns her quiet life inside out, Jean is suddenly given an unexpected chance at friendship, love and - possibly - happiness.

Notes: Enjoyed it and found it quite compulsive reading which is odd given the stroyline is rather gentle and not much actually happens in it. Was pleasantly surprised that the main character grew up in the area I did though the book isn’t set there but does mention various I know from my youth. Quite a few reviews on Goodreads said they enjoyed the book but not the ending and I'm the same. Just seemed unneccessary. Shouldn't put anyone off reading it though.

=> https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/clare-chambers-2/small-pleasures/9781474613910/