Five Hundred Miles from You

the most joyful, life-affirming novel of the year

By: Jenny Colgan

Narrated by: Eilidh Beaton

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Escape with Jenny Colgan.

Lissa loves her job as a nurse, but recently she's been doing a better job of looking after other people than looking after herself. After a traumatic incident at work leaves her feeling overwhelmed, she agrees to swap lives with someone in a quiet village in Scotland.

Cormac is restless. Just out of the army, he's desperately in need of distraction, and there's precious little of it in Kirrinfief. Maybe three months in London is just what he needs. 

As Lissa and Cormac warm to their new lives, emailing back and forth about anything and everything, finally things seem to be falling into place. But each of them feel there's still a piece missing. What - or who - could it be?

©2020 Jenny Colgan (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK

Critic Reviews

"This uplifting story is one of Colgan's best to date." (Daily Mirror)

"I wanted to hot-foot it to the Scottish islands." (Daily Mail)

"With a cast of memorable characters and an uplifting storyline, Five Hundred Miles From You is one of her best novels." (Sunday Express)

Has Jenny Colgan lost her sense of humour?

I was looking forward to the new Jenny Colgan as soon as I saw it, I added it to my wish list, read the blurb, checked the narrator, was still looking forward to it and it was anything but what I was expecting. If you're looking for some light relief don't go here, if you want to listen to a story full of angst and woe, details about a hit and run, a heart transplant etc etc then this is for you. I persevered for a couple of hours, hoping it would get lighter but it didn't appear as if it was going to, so surprisingly as it is a Jenny Colgan, I'm about to return it, I've listened to most JC books and wonder why she's gone all serious! So not what I was hoping for, no escapism here, just heaviness and unexpectedly traumatic for the listener too.

Warm and gentle, funny and serious, all in one package, utterly believable

Excellent exploration into living in someone else’s shoes and widening your perspectives. A gently thought-provoking book exploring relationships with people and places, events and choices, and learning to open up to what is different from your normal. A warm tale of healing and love which also highlights some important topics very current for 2020.
One of the most satisfying books I’ve read in quite some time.
First class narration also.

no a good story, extremely boring and perditable

I found this very blant and boring, very flat with no highlights 😴 I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.

Simply Awful

This is the worst book I have encountered in a very long time, dreary, dull and unbelievable characters. Totally unrealistic settings of a kind of fairytale Scotland vs big bad London. Forced myself to get through to the end just to see if it could redeem itself anywhere, sadly it didn't.

We all welcome a bit of romantic escapism from time to time but sorry I just thought this was pure drivel. Felt quite sorry for the narrator having to get through it too, at least she got paid for the 'privilege'.

Don't think I will be tempted into any other Jenny Colgan reads in the future.

Entertaining but lacking

I found this book to be a bit lacking really and quite predictable. That said I enjoyed listening to it

Wonderful as ever

Jenny”s books just keep getting better 😊 loved this story it was funny and very touching , I cannot wait for the next Jenny book

Two worlds meet.

Unusual premise. Good story.
The narration was good. Jenny Colman’s stories are always different. Really enjoyed this book

Loved the ending

I really enjoyed this book. Also I like the presenter. She manages the accents beautifully. The Scottish accent is difficult to master (unless your Scottish). Eilidh Beaton I guess has some Scottish or Irish heritage. I loved her in Bookshop on the Corner. Jenny Colgan manages to sooth with stories and there is always a character one can recognise in oneself. Thanks Jenny.

Absolutely perfect

I read some of Jenny Colgan's books, It's a pleasure to come back to the familiar Highlands.

Not as good as the others

I was excited to listen to this one, but it just doesn’t have the same sparkle as the previous two of the series. It was a bit drawn out and depressing, lots of repetition and the ending…. Well, it just didn’t work for me. I wanted it to end the way it did, but it lacked something. Lovely characters but I just wasn’t as drawn into their world.
Also, I’m Scottish, and was very fed up with the constant overly dramatic descriptions of the beauty of the land. And I laughed a lot at Cormack’s CD collection… way too cheesy.