The Light a Candle Society
The joyful, warm and utterly uplifting book club read for 2026 from Sunday Times bestseller and author of The Keeper of Lost Things, Ruth Hogan
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Atlantic Books
Published:12th Mar '26
Should be back in stock very soon
'LIFE-AFFIRMING AND FULL OF LOVE' Celia Anderson
'WARM, COMPASSIONATE, WITTY' Mike Gayle
'MAGICAL . . . UPLIFTING' Anton Du Beke
A TOP TEN KINDLE BESTSELLER ABOUT THE POWER OF KINDNESS.
George McGlory is showing off his new shirt to his wife, Audrey. It's got bright-orange parrots on, but he knows she won't say anything. He's talking to the headstone at her grave. Audrey passed away two years ago, and George is still muddling through.
Across the cemetery he sees a lonely coffin with only council pallbearers in attendance. Mrs Kathleen Hooley was eighty-nine and she died safe and warm in her own bed, but had no friends or family to organise a funeral - or even send flowers.
Even through his own grief, George is deeply touched by Kathleen's lonely funeral. No one should be sent out of this world alone, surely?
Not on George's watch. With the help of his friends, he creates The Light a Candle Society, to make sure no one is forgotten. It might just remind him that there's still light in his life, too . . .
An uplifting story of how compassion, kindness and care - even for strangers - can shine a light in the darkest of times, perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Ruth Jones, Jennie Godfrey or Graham Norton.
Praise for Ruth Hogan:
'Told with wit and heart' BETH MORREY
'Every page is a joy' PIP WILLIAMS
'Delightfully uplifting' WOMAN'S OWN
'Full of hope' PRIMA
Readers love Ruth Hogan's uplifting and heartfelt The Light a Candle Society:
'Wow . . . this book is so emotional, uplifting and powerful' Reader review, 5 stars
'The story just grips you. Read it.' Reader review, 5 stars
'Such a powerful read. It will stay with me forever' Reader review, 5 stars
'A poignant, heartwarming story' Reader review, 5 stars
Warm, compassionate, witty and thought provoking, The Light a Candle Society is Ruth Hogan at her very best. -- Mike Gayle, author of THE SONG OF YOU AND ME
Moving, uplifting and thought-provoking in equal parts. George is determined that nobody should leave this life without a fitting celebration. As he builds his team with this end in mind, lives are changed, bonds are forged and something joyful emerges from the sadness. Life-affirming and full of love, this book is one to treasure. I adored it! -- Celia Anderson, bestselling author of 59 MEMORY LANE
Heartwarming * Woman's Own *
A lovely, lovely novel, full of humanity, humour and kindness. I loved it! -- Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME
I relished every word of this beautiful, poignant, uplifting story. Ruth Hogan's characters are easy to love and so I took George and his 'Light A Candle Society' friends to my heart immediately. It's not easy to tackle themes of death, grief and loneliness but Ruth does it effortlessly, with warmth, wit and tenderness. This is exactly the book we need right now and for me, Ruth Hogan's best novel yet. -- Annie Lyons, author of THE AIR RAID BOOK CLUB
I LOVED the latest novel from Ruth Hogan. It's bursting with her signature warmth and heart but this time tackles taboos and issues that aren't spoken about with compassion and hope. Nobody does it quite like Ruth Hogan. If you're looking to be uplifted and to feel better about the world, this is the book for you! -- Matt Cain, author of THE SECRET LIFE OF ALBERT ENTWISTLE
Written with Ruth Hogan's trademark humour and generosity of spirit, The Light a Candle Society shines warm with life. An uplifting celebration of the joy of small things, and the big - kindness, community and love. -- Kate Lord Brown, author of THE GOLDEN HOUR
This book is an absolute treasure trove of light, love, grief, hope, all that makes us human. With all the touchstones we carry that make up a life, it's almost unbearably poignant, helpful and enlightening all at once. And reminds us that our humanity is the ultimate thing we share and none of us is ever really alone. -- Siobhan MacGowan, author of THE GRACES
Ruth Hogan ensnares the heart with The Light a Candle Society. This story is beautifully told and it presents an affirmation of the goodness of human nature ... skillfully weaves together humour, sadness, and the harsher realities of life and death ... must-read fiction. -- Kit Fielding, author of THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE BLUEBELL INN
The ballroom is a magical place, and Ruth Hogan's love and warmth for all the things within it shine brightly in the pages of this wonderful story. She has created such an uplifting world, and the Phoenix Ballroom feels like an old friend of mine -- Anton du Beke on THE PHOENIX BALLROOM
A rich and joyful story told with wit and heart. And the most glamorously-named protagonist ever. Look out for this sweeping waltz of a novel. -- Beth Morrey on THE PHOENIX BALLROOM
Full of hope * Prima on THE PHOENIX BALLROOM *
ISBN: 9781805460770
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
368 pages
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