This book is the literal definition of a tear jerker! I kept reading it in coffee shops and having to hold it in, I was so glad I read the end in the house so I could do the crying! 
 Set in 1926, Frank Brodie is a sad young man suffering from the traumas of WWI, his abusive, adoptive parents and years of living on the streets selling himself. His birth mother Isobel has always regretted giving him up. This is the story of how they find each other and try to forgive the traumas of the past and come together.
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 It is at times a little Dickensian in it's coincidences and in it's need for our orphan to face all the hardships before they come good. The side characters are lovable stereotypes: the jolly prostitute; the aging, gay, music hall singer; the farm girl; the nasty adoptive parents. As with Dickens though it provides the perfect backdrop for us to root for our hero and the secondary characters had such colourful back stories that I couldn't help love them (apart from the adoptive parents). I wouldn't say no to a young Arthur spin off! Given the, occasionally very dark, subject it was surprisingly easy to read and enjoyable. 
 The one thing I particularly disliked though is that, while Frank appears to be bisexual, all his relationships with men are abusive or transactional. While his relationships with women are always very idealistic, rose-tinted  and loving. 
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 Trigger warnings for rape, domestic violence and child abuse. 
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 Thank you to Fairlight Books for sending me a copy for review.