Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Sometimes, the friend you need is the one you never saw coming.”

It’s (finally) time for book number three in my 12 in 2025 reads 🥳 I really need to catch up don’t I?! My plan for one per month is failing 😂 My lovely bookstagram-friend-turned-real-life-friend, Emma (@emmas.biblio.treasures) recommended that I read Frank & Red, and oh my God, this book has well and truly done me in. What a gorgeous story with characters I genuinely don’t want to leave behind. I’m so so happy to finally be sharing my review of this beautiful book!

About the book

Frank and Red are a mess.

Frank is a grumpy old curmudgeon. A recluse whose only company is the ‘ghost’ of his dead wife, Marcie. He is estranged from his friends, his son, and the ever-changing world beyond his front gate.

And then Red moves in next door.

Red is six. A boy struggling to adjust to the separation of his mum and dad, a new school, and the demonic school bully. Red is curious, smart, he never stops talking, and he’s got a trampoline.
From the moment Red’s blonde mop appears over the top of the fence that divides their two gardens, the unlikeliest of friendships is born.

. . . And it is a friendship that will change both of their lives forever.

The beginning

Ohhhh, now THIS is what I needed to read. I’m already kicking myself for not picking it up sooner! The first words that came to mind after reading a few chapters of this book were delightful and heartwrenching. This book balances two very different feelings/emotions which I’ll come on to, but it was something so powerful that I never wanted to put this book down. Frank is a grumpy old guy who lives as a recluse since he lost his wife, Marcie. He’s still grieving this profound loss and as a result, he doesn’t talk to anyone. He doesn’t have any contact with his son. He doesn’t leave the house. His situation is so deeply saddening that it didn’t take long for tears to leak from my eyes, even though he’s not the friendliest of guys on the surface. I guess that’s what brilliant writing does to you! What’s really unique about Frank is that he still speaks with his wife. Marcie shows up as his ‘ghost’ whenever he needs a talking to, whenever there’s a moment he needs advice, whenever he needs to rant. It broke me in two, but it was just so lovely. And despite this element of the book constantly tugging at my heart, there was a beautiful lightness to this dark, too.

“As is a tale, so is a life. Not in how long it is, but how good it is.”

Meet Red. He’s just moved in next door to Frank with his mum, Sarah. He’s a curious 6-year-old boy, and he’s struggling with a new home, separated parents and starting again. He’s Frank’s worst nightmare of a neighbour, to put it plainly. And ever since the two moved in, Frank’s being avoiding them as best he can. But getting away from an inquisitive boy was no easy feat… Oh these two!! Their interactions were utterly hilarious, and in between my tears for Marcie, I was laughing out loud at just how hard Red was trying to befriend grumpy Frank. Frank was not having any of it. He just wants the boy to leave him to his own devices. I was in a constant state of disbelief by how beautifully written the sadness and the joy were, side by side. I don’t think it’s something I’ve ever experienced until now, and it felt really special to me. Frank and Red have some brilliant interactions that always made me smile. I could really feel the start of something beautiful. Learning about their individual lives was just as intriguing and fulfilling as reading about their time together. I couldn’t wait to experience their developing relationship!

The middle

This book quickly turned into such a moving story of growth, of new experiences, of building confidence. It was completely heartwarming, but at the same time, it really put things into perspective. We see how Red battles bullying and new school life with brand new classmates. If I ever have a kid, remind me not to call him Jake… kids can be so nasty! But with Frank’s ‘advice’, Red finally gets the courage to stand up for himself, although there was probably a better way to do it! There were so many funny encounters, making friends and general school life which reminded me a lot of the things I saw back when I worked as a teaching assistant with a similar age group. I loved seeing Frank slowly coming out of his shell, after a nudge or two from Marcie, and you can see the slow steps he takes to build some kind of a bond with Red. Life was changing for the both of them, and I could just tell that Frank would soon play a really important part in Red’s, especially with the life advice… unlike Red’s father, who was a bit of a wet flannel. The author’s writing was so easy to get lost in, and I found myself flying through the chapters and losing track of time!

“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”

The book is very character driven and with each new section, we dive even deeper into Frank & Red’s lives, their personalities, and even discover more growth as they spend more time in each other’s company. I loved diving into Frank’s life with Marcie and seeing how they met. And the humour continued to be a big highlight for me! I think I’d pay good money to see this author do stand-up comedy. I was just constantly smiling and it really lifted me up whenever I picked the book up. Even the small and seemingly mundane tasks Frank has to do were written so wonderfully. From fixing the fence, finally sorting his jungle of a garden, looking after Red while his mum has to work and letting him ‘help’ with the tasks, even though Frank would much rather have his own space back. There were times though when Frank does let his guard down and seems to enjoy Red’s company and daft comments. I loved seeing this explored, this kind of continued growth from his reclusive life. And it’s clear that Red’s presence in his life is helping him to finally (but slowly) heal from Marcie’s death.

The end

There was no way Frank would leave the comfort of his own home before Red arrived, not even through the front door. But slowly venturing into the garden, doing something with his day was a huge step, and god did it make me tear up (again). As the chapters passed, I was thinking so much about life, how we really do overcomplicate it at times. Reading chapters from Red and seeing things from a child’s perspective was so moving and eye-opening. The author perfectly portrays how kids see the world and it strangely brought me some clarity about life. Red’s bravery, his desire to do the right thing and make others happy, his selflessness, all worked so beautifully together and had me rooting for every task he sets out to do, even if that meant hopping on the tube, alone, to try and repair Frank’s broken family… This boy, oh my god. My heart. Sarah and Frank go spare over Red’s sudden disappearance, but it’s Frank who knows exactly what Red is up to. He even leaves his home to join the search, for the first time in god knows how long. This book, man. So incredibly wholesome.

“And if it had come as a surprise that adults did not know everything, it was even more of a shock to find out that, in fact, it was worse: adults were idiots.”

The ending of this book had one of the most moving scenes I’ve ever read. I kind of knew it was coming, but the way it was so beautifully delivered, how wonderful it made me feel, how my eyes teared up with happiness (again) was something I urge everyone to experience. It was utterly gorgeous, and even after finishing the book, that scene is the one I keep replaying over and over in my mind. These characters feel like my friends, my family. And leaving them to go onto a new book feels like a crime. I would love nothing more than to stay in this world with Frank & Red, their family and friends. The development of Frank & Red as characters was quite simply, incredible. Their growth from beginning to end was expertly tackled, the more sensitive topics covered along their journey written with such care and attention to detail. If you’re looking for a heartwarming, uplifting read that will stick with you for life, this is the one. Nothing will compare to it. I’ll be eagerly looking out for more books by Matt in the future and if he isn’t writing one then consider my heart BROKEN 😂

Overall thoughts

Frank & Red is a gorgeous, heartwarming, feel-good story of an unlikely friendship, a bond nurtured through patience, time and a deep understanding (as well as a few silly moments!) It’s a book I will never forget. Frank is a recluse, a man unable to leave his home after his wife’s death and a bad fall out with his son. Six-year-old Red is dealing with separated parents, a new home, a new school, and an awful bully. But it soon becomes clear that these two characters would help to heal each other’s suffering. My eyes!

The author brings Frank and Red to life through their quirks and humour, but also their struggles. As you can imagine, this really took me on an emotional rollercoaster. How can you be giggling one minute and tearing up the next?! It really is unlike anything you’ll ever read. The author captures Red’s view of the world with such an adorable innocence, and how Frank’s grief had turned him into someone he didn’t recognise felt so raw and real. I was mind-blown by how attached I was to these characters. I also loved their humour and god did I laugh a lot reading this. It’s hard to get humour just right in a book, to write it down in a way that hits the spot without being cringe, but this was honestly the perfect balance.

The book tackles grief in a way that is tender, yet profound, and the way themes of hope, bravery, and courage weave through the plot completely took my breath away. Heartfelt, witty and so moving. I’ll be recommending this book to anyone who will listen!

You can grab your own copy of Frank & Red right now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books! Make sure you’re following the author on Instagram for more updates.

Thank you SO much to Emma for recommending Frank & Red as one of my 12 in 2025 reads! Emma has been a book friend for so long now that I’ve lost track of how many years it’s been! She writes the most gorgeous reviews and makes me want to read every book she posts. Please give her a follow for the best recs! – @emmas.biblio.treasures

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