A delightfully heartwarming story of four or more funerals and at least one wedding, from the bestselling author of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year
‘There are a lot of lonely people in the world, Martin. Especially when you get to our age. This is the one place you can come where nobody judges. Besides, you don’t need to have known somebody personally to celebrate their life.’
Retired academic Martin Pottinger‘s romantic aspirations for the delectable head of his former university’s archaeology department, Professor Mary Blake, seem about to be realised. If only he could devise a plan to manage the demands of his eccentric elderly mother, Edwina.
Recently bereaved Grace Cavendish spends her days helping out at All Souls Church, making it her mission to drown out the Reverend Rod’s tone-deaf hymn-singing and give each funeral recipient a hearty send-off. Yet the peace she craves remains elusive despite the comforts offered by psychic medium Rhondda and her eight-year-old son, Hudson.
When Martin and Grace meet and bond at an All Souls service, they unwittingly set off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences. They become funeral crashers. But who could have predicted that crashing funerals might have such life-changing and life-affirming outcomes?
Praise for the beloved novels of Joanna Nell including The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village:
‘Takes readers on a sweet journey’ AUSTRALIAN
‘Tender and funny’ WOMAN’S WEEKLY
‘Her best yet . . . a wonderful read about growing older and grabbing hold of life’ WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
‘A delight. Warm characters and observations and great pace’ AMANDA HAMPSON
‘This heartwarming story about growing old gracefully – and disgracefully . . . is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages’ DAILY TELEGRAPH
Joanna Nell is a British-Australian writer, GP and advocate for positive ageing. Her essays and short fiction have won multiple awards and been widely published in magazines, journals and literary anthologies. Her first five novels, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home, The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital and Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year, were national bestsellers. Joanna lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
(5/5)
What a delightful book, I was drawn in from the first few pages.
It was easy to read and I was able to imagine the characters in my mind while reading about their escapades. It’s a story of love, loss and letting go, but also learning to accept things that happen in life and be able to move on and find happiness along the way.
I’ve not read this author before but I am definitely going to look into reading her other books. I thoroughly enjoyed The Funeral Crashers.
(4/5)
Martin is a retired academic with no clear future plan, but it certainly didn’t include bowing to his eccentric 94-year-old mothers every whim and fancy. Edwina had moved in with Martin when she broke her hip and just never left.
Grace is a teacher who retired three years earlier to spend time with her terminally ill daughter. Now she is left with too much time on her hands. She is doing her best to re-join society, but all help offered at her local church is rebuffed by the indomitable Moira.
A chance encounter at a funeral draws Martin and Grace together through their love of singing, and they agree to meet at select strangers funerals to indulge their love of singing hymns (and a joint need to drown out the reverends unfortunate singing voice). So begins a tale of misunderstandings, misadventures and mysteries.
The minor characters are as entertaining as the two major characters and have some of the best lines in the book. They had me laughing out loud, and the typos in the church newsletter are hilarious!
Joanna Nell never disappoints, and The Funeral Crashers is a terrific, fun, light read
(5/5)
Martin, a retired professor, and Grace, a retired school teacher. meet at a funeral singing their hearts out. They then meet up again a couple of weeks singing at another funeral. After that they decided to go to funerals in their parish just to sing to fill in their lonely days.
With Martin thinking about Jane his girlfriend that died in a accident and blaming himself, and putting up with his mother living with him, a lot happens in this book.
I have read all Joanna Nell’s stories and loved them all! Well done Joanna for The Funeral Crashers.
(4/5)
I’ve previously read two other novels by Joanna Nell. The Funeral Crashers is easily my favourite.
The novel’s main characters, Grace and Martin, meet at a funeral. As the book progresses, their friendship develops through “crashing” funerals, and through Grace and Martin’s stories, many of life’s challenges are explored – loneliness, grief, aging, feeling valuable to society in retirement, caring for elderly parents.
Joanna Nell excels at bringing older female characters to the centre of her stories. This is often lacking in novels, with many authors relegating older women to the background as mothers and grandmothers. My only criticism of The Funeral Crashers would be the psychic aspect of the story, which didn’t appeal to me. However, it was probably needed for the overall plot development.
Definitely an entertaining read.
(5/5)
What a delight it was it read The Funeral Crashers.
A wonderful story about connections, community, love, joy, and sorrow at times. The different characters in this book are brought to life and feel like your best friends.
Many issues are sensitively interwoven throughout the book, such as homelessness and domestic violence, but author Joanna Nell handles and intertwines these with compassion and kindness, enriching the story further.
This book takes you on a journey – a rich and wonderful journey. Definitely a 5-star read and I would highly recommend
(5/5)
Having read all of Joanna Nell’s previous books and becoming a big fan of her writing, I was very much looking forward to reading The Funeral Crashers – and it didn’t disappoint!
Grace and Martin are both endearing characters, who are each haunted and struggling to move on from prior events in their lives. While this isn’t what originally brings them together, it helps them understand each other on a more intimate level as their friendship progresses.
I really enjoy the little quirks Joanna Nell’s characters possess, and the way they are bought to life on the pages and in our imagination as we read.
The storyline is peppered with emotion throughout, and had me engaged from the first page. I find Joanna Nell’s books to be like a warm cup of coffee in the morning – comforting, easy to digest and something I very much look forward to!
(5/5)
Joanna Nell has done it again.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Funeral Crashers. It is very funny and loved the relationship between the two main characters.
I would definitely recommend this lovely book, it was a great read!
(4/5)
Have you ever attended a funeral where you knew no-one? Did you ever wonder if that was true for the rest of the “mourners”. Could crashing funerals change your life? Reading this book, it would appear that the answer is yes!
The themes covered in this novel are ones which would be recognised by readers of Nell’s previous books whose protagonists are mostly experiencing the later years of their life.
This light-hearted approach to funerals – an opportunity “for reconnecting with long-lost friends” and family who have not yet passed away will resonate with many. The characters were varied and it was interesting to see how their lives intertwined, as you discover the challenges they each face.
While some of the ideas were not entirely original and the outcome a little predictable it was still a fun read. There was quite a lot of humour and it was easy to picture the characters. Nell, through her books, seems to encourage readers to embrace growing older and not dismiss the opportunities that come their way.
If you can imagine yourself in similar situations, then you will enjoy The Funeral Crashers in its approach to a serious subject.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers is a heartfelt, bittersweet story about unlikely connections and finding meaning in unexpected places. The story flows easily with evocative and vivid imagery, and I found myself quickly becoming invested in the characters. Each of them is written with warmth and complexity, and by the end of the book you genuinely care about their pasts, presents, and futures.
This book balances levity and poignancy. Moments of lightness and playfulness are woven into scenes of grief and reflection, making the story feel authentic and relatable. I particularly enjoyed how the characters’ flaws and quirks were embraced and explored rather than glossed over, which made them feel real and human.
Nell has a knack for detail and these small details led to relatable and meaningful exchanges (as an Aussie, the magpie swoop felt particularly true to life). At times, however, the novel included discussions of social commentary (such as kids on phones) that occasionally distracted from the narrative. Despite this, it is an engaging and touching novel.
The Funeral Crashers is both entertaining and moving, and a reminder that love and connection can be found in the most surprising circumstances
(3/5)
Martin and Grace meet at a funeral, subsequently attending other funerals together. Grace is motivated to give attendees the best possible experience at a difficult time; she strives to rectify the minister’s tone-deaf singing through her own melodic voice, then added to by Martin’s. Readers who enjoy choral singing or have any experience of church tradition will relate to the setting.
I was invested in Martin and Grace, but the author makes us wait a long time before revealing Grace’s backstory and her character seems a little hard to grasp before that.
Martin’s personality was easier to recognise as the stereotypical bumbling professor around retirement age. There was a lot going on in Martin’s life; I would have preferred him without his unnecessary psychosomatic health problems.
Some of the supporting characters and their story-lines aren’t quite fully formed. In contrast, the acerbic wit of Martin’s 90+ year old mother comes across strongly on the page.
Joanna Nell writes The Funeral Crashers with insight, and her light and humorous touch makes this book an easy read. However in her attempt to woo us with humour, Nell at times veers towards the farcical.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell is a charming, heart-warming, feel-good story of two oldies who encounter each other in after life. I begins at a funeral that both Grace and Martin attend for widely different reasons. The characters are likeable and well drawn. I lover the book’s blend of humour and poignancy and I identified with Martin’s grief at the loss of good ‘church choral music’. I absolutely recommend it.
(4/5)
Joanna Nell’s writing is heartfelt, quietly funny, and full of charm. This book is everything I appreciate about her books. I loved the characters. I loved that they are seniors. I loved the setting All Souls Church. I especially loved the writing, as she unfolds a gently woven story about connection, loneliness, and the ways sometimes people are thrown together.
This story left me with a cozy, warm feeling. It was a quick read over a slow weekend.
The idea of “funeral crashing” might sound a little odd at first, but in Nell’s capable hands, it becomes something quite moving and original. Rather than being morbid, it’s handled with care, humour, and grace (no pun intended). The story is filled with warmth and that signature Joanna Nell blend of humour and poignancy that leaves you smiling one minute and deeply touched the next. You’ll be uplifted in The Funeral Crashers.
(3/5)
I thought The Funeral Crashers was a quirky and unique read, just like the characters within the book.
The two main characters, Martin and Grace were cleverly introduced in completely alternating chapters, mirroring their own separate and detached lives before finally meeting each other. The gradual unravelling of lies and deceit all based around crashing funerals was both humorous and thought-provoking to read.
I did find the storyline a little difficult to follow at times, as it felt a bit disjointed when switching between the two main characters. Also, the addition of so many minor characters and the switch between the past and the present confused me slightly. However, I was still drawn in by the clever plot and unexpected twists and turns.
The extra characters all added to the intrigue, and one by one their individual significance was neatly unravelled by the end of the story. Part mystery and part romance cleverly wrapped around historical artefacts, with twists and turns and a sprinkle of comedic value, had me hooked.
(5/5)
Okay. The Funeral Crashers might just be my favourite Joanna Nell book now.
We follow the story of Martin and Grace. Martin and Grace meet at a funeral and a friendship blossoms. The friendship opens up and we get to learn what they have been dealing with – grief and loneliness to name a few. Grace invites Martin to the next funeral to sing hymns and of course chat afterwards. They decide to attend another funeral together and they both get a massive shock. Especially when they have been advised they are apart of the will of a person they’ve never met the deceased’s solicitor. Is this legit or is this a scam? (Spoiler – you’ll have to read the book to find out).
Joanna Nell has written a great novel and one I couldn’t put down. It was packed with humour, sad parts and some amazing characters. I really enjoyed the gate-crashing of funerals and of course the rating of the cakes at said funerals. Nell will continue to be an auto-read author for me and I recommend reading this one. Grab some popcorn and some tissues.
(4/5)
This is a lovely, engaging book infused with gentle humour, the perfect antidote to murder and mayhem.
While The Funeral Crashers frustratingly depicts a very Anglo, monocultural world, it does provide enjoyable escapist literature, like a warm, weighted blanket, best taken with tea and crumpets – preferably not made by one of the book’s characters, an eight-year-old boy who attempts utilising a knife in the toaster to free his.
The book’s adult protagonists, experiencing their own grief and loss issues, are two senior citizens who crash funerals to provide tuneful hymns unlike their tortuously tone-deaf reverend. I always enjoy reading about my contemporaries and the essential need at any age for social connection and purpose. As such, this book did not disappoint.
(5/5)
Never thought I would enjoy a book based around funerals. The characters really came to life, and it was enjoyable to see how they emerged and conquered life after the hardships.
A lighthearted story based around a not so nice topic death and funerals. The plot and characters were very heart-warming.
The Funeral Crashers was a delightful read.
(5/5)
Who knew crashing a funeral to sing a hymn or two could led to not only some rather tasty canapes, but also some rather life changing events.
Grace, a retired schoolteacher and grieving mother, and Martin, a retired professor of Egyptian ceramics, forge a friendship after meeting while singing during funerals held at All Souls – funerals of people they really didn’t know. Deciding to crash further funerals to continue their singing ways, they find themselves suddenly in receipt of some rather good fortune that others are keen to cash in on. Choices must be made and beliefs will be challenged.
The Funeral Crashers is a delightful story that draws you in and requires you to feel all the feelings. Joanna Nell has created a very real world for Grace and Martin, inhabited by a cast of truly interesting and intriguing characters. There are times when you literally want to shake one of them or, alternatively stand beside them to protect them from harm. I do have a very soft spot for Martin’s mum, Edwina. I think she would be rather fun drinking buddy
Absolutely a book that should be added to the reading pile for summer.
(5/5)
The Funeral Crashers is a wonderful and humorous story of grief, loneliness, and finding friendship and love in unusual places.
Martin is a retired archaeology professor and is hoping to woo the new head of his archaeology department. He reluctantly attends a church funeral with his mother, hears a beautiful voice that reminds him of a lost love. Grace who helps out at the church, and sings to drown out the churches Reverend’s awful hymn singing.
The pair decide to attend funerals of people they’ve never met, with funny and unexpected outcomes. Martin’s mother Edwina, with her eccentric ways is funny and a delight and it was easy to fall in love with all the characters.
This is the first book I’ve read of Joanna Nell, and I found it hard to put down, a really enjoyable and a funny read from beginning to end.
(5/5)
The Funeral Crashers is a warm and funny novel about unexpected connections formed through shared grief. When Grace, recently bereaved, meets retired academic Martin at a funeral, their unlikely friendship begins.
It’s a touching and humorous story about companionship, healing, and the surprising ways life brings people together. I found the characters charming and the unusual idea of “funeral crashing” turned out to be a moving exploration of friendship, hope, and new beginnings. I really enjoyed this book.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell is a heart-warming, gently humorous novel about grief, friendship and second chances.
Grace, mourning her daughter, finds comfort attending strangers’ funerals. Martin, a retired academic, is drawn into her world. Together, they crash funerals – not for mischief, but to find meaning and connection. Nell balances emotion and wit beautifully, with quirky characters and a message that it’s never too late to heal.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers had me hooked from the very first chapter.
The book is broken up into separate POV chapters, which I found gave a great insight into each character’s personality and you felt like you really knew them. Grace could easily be your neighbour, Martin could be teaching at the local university and Edwina, well, Edwina is that elderly lady you see out and about dressed spectacularly.
The story has elements of romance, grief, loss, excitement, and anticipation. Although it was a bit predictable at times it was an all round great read. I’m not familiar with Joanna Nell’s works but will be going through her back catalogue based on this book alone.
(4/5)
This book focuses on the unlikely relationship between its two main characters Grace and Martin. They attend a funeral in their local church, where they both hear each other’s singing voices for the first time and develop a mutual attraction. Later that day, they strike up a conversation that leads to a long-lasting and ultimately romantic relationship. But as they say, the course of true love never runs smoothly, and they are confronted with a host of complex and challenging situations, that will ultimately lead them to identify their true feelings for each other.
I believe that the main theme of this tale is the unpredictability of life and how the death of others played a significant part in all of it. I believe that we can see this for three reasons. Firstly, the enduring relationship of Grace and Martin that was initiated at a funeral. Secondly, in the fact that both characters are attempting to come to terms with death in their past. Lastly, we see it also in the impending deaths in their future.
The Funeral Crashers is simple to read and has a series of interconnecting plots that makes it enjoyable too. I highly recommend it.