Toby, a poet, was bought a house in Finchley by his father before he went off and abandoned him. There is already one sitting tenant, but Toby turns the rest of the rooms into a home for waifs and strays, people who can't afford to pay rent, musicians, poets and people who are just down on their luck.
Fifteen years go by and the death of Gus, the sitting tenant, gives Toby a chance to start again and reclaim his life. With the help of Leah, from across the road, Toby gradually starts to get to know the people who have taken over his house and help them find a way to move on!
This is a typical Lisa Jewell book, lovely light reading with small touches of tragedy and comedy. The characters are well developed (especially Ruby, the hard drinking, hard smoking, hard partying rock chick)
Really enjoyable, would make great beach reading, and (as with all Jewell novels) you're guaranteed a happy ending!