The Barbecue at No. 9 🐦‍⬛

By Jennie Godfrey

The Barbecue at No. 9 by Jennie Godfrey is one of those books that quietly pulls you in and then, before you realise it, you are completely absorbed in the lives of its characters.

Set during the summer of 1985, with the country buzzing in anticipation of Live Aid, the story centres on the residents of Delmont Close and one seemingly simple neighbourhood barbecue.

Lydia Gordon is determined that everything will be perfect. With family visiting and appearances to maintain, nothing must slip.

No cracks. No questions.

But as neighbours gather and the afternoon unfolds, long buried secrets begin to surface and tensions simmer beneath polite smiles and forced small talk.

Godfrey writes everyday people with warmth, insight, and a deep understanding of how complicated ordinary lives can be.

Each character feels real, flawed, and recognisable. I loved how the book gently peels back layers, revealing how fear, pride, love, and regret can exist side by side. Even characters I initially struggled to warm to revealed softer, more vulnerable sides that made them difficult not to care about.

There is a strong sense of nostalgia running through the book, but it never overwhelms the story. Instead, it adds texture, grounding the emotional weight in a very specific time and place.

The relationships between siblings, neighbours, friends, and partners are beautifully drawn, and the sense of community feels both comforting and quietly suffocating. It captures that peculiar tension of waiting for something to happen, knowing it will, but not knowing exactly how or when.

This is a thoughtful, emotionally rich, and deeply human book about connection, courage, and the things people hide in order to survive. Gentle yet powerful, it lingers long after the final page and feels perfect for slower evenings when you want something absorbing and meaningful.

Thank you to Beth at Hutchinson Heinemann for supplying our book club with copies! The book is out now and available to purchase!

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