One of the most hopeful, honest and wildly imaginative novels you will ever read, for fans of Joanna Cannon, Patrick Ness and Matt Haig.
This is the story of Isaac and the Egg, a grieving young man and his unforgettable new friend, who meet at exactly the right time.
Isaac stands alone on a bridge and screams.
Something screams back.
And that, like everything which follows, is unforgettable.
This is a book about a lot of things – grief, hope, friendship, love. It’s also about what you’d do if you stumbled into the woods at dawn, found something extraordinary there, and decided to take it home.
It’s a tale that might seem familiar. But how it speaks to you will depend on how you’ve lived until now.
Sometimes, to get out of the woods, you have to go into them. Isaac and the Egg is one of the most hopeful, honest and wildly imaginative novels you will ever read.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Isaac and the Egg is an exquisite story about love in all its messy forms, the meaning of family, and how one deals with grief. It is fanciful and wonderfully strange, while making perfect sense at the same time. The journey you go on with Isaac is relatable, and you find yourself riding the waves of emotion with him as his story is pieced together. The characters and plot develop and unfold organically at a pace that captures the reader from the very beginning, while not feeling rushed. This is a beautiful story, one that will capture the imagination and make everyone want their very own Egg. Rachael, NSW, 5 Stars
Isaac and the Egg might be the most wholesome book I’ve read this year. It follows the story of Isaac learning to live in his grief with Egg by his side. I was so enthralled with Isaac and felt his pain from the very start; this book left me in tears, grieving for Isaac and Mary and all that could and would never be but hopeful of a different sort of life to come. Beautifully written, told and tasted. A truly good and wholesome book. Mercury, NSW, 5 Stars
This is a truly extraordinary story. Isaac stands on a bridge and screams into the river. Something screams back in response. Isaac finds this ‘thing’ in the woods and decides to take it home. This story is about grief, love, guilt and loneliness. It is an extraordinary relationship between Isaac and his new friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt deeply for Isaac in his grief. I highly recommend this book. For me, this is one of those rare books that I will never part with. Carolyn, WA, 5 Stars
Isaac and the Egg is a beautiful and quirky story that takes coping with grief and turns it upside down. My heart broke for Isaac and I felt an overwhelming sense of tenderness for Egg. The characters and story were well developed and the twists and turns kept me engaged until the very end. This book needs to go to the top of your TBR pile, it won’t disappoint. I look forward to reading more from Bobby Palmer. Nicole, NSW, 5 Stars
I absolutely loved this book! A beautifully written story of navigating grief. Isaac Addy is devastated by the sudden loss of his beloved wife Mary. As he stands on a bridge preparing to end his life, he hears a strange scream in the woods which breaks him out of his suicidal trance. The creature Isaac discovers and takes home is instrumental in helping him navigate his nearly unbearable grief. There is so much humour and love and sadness in this story! The surprise twist is hinted at strongly and easy to predict, but that doesn’t lessen its impact. A beautifully written debut novel. Denise, QLD, 5 Stars
I really loved this book, it was so unique, I wasn’t sure at first but quickly became intrigued by the relationship that was forming between Isaac and Egg, such an original and quirky telling of a person’s experience with love, love lost, loneliness, mostly grief and baked beans. It had me captivated, if I was asked to explain it I don’t think I could, it starts with Isaac contemplating suicide from a bridge and then the reader gets taken on a ride filled with humour, heartache, mental distress and lots of mess, there was a nice little secret that was a teaser throughout the book but took its time to present to the reader that kept me guessing. I usually like my books to end with all the answers, this one will keep you guessing as to what really happened to Isaac over the pages of this book but I am totally fine with that. I loved it, this book is one of the many reasons I love receiving advance copies of books, I don’t think I would have picked this one up otherwise, thanks to Better Reading for gifting it to me. Linda, VIC, 5 Stars
Isaac And The Egg is a charming story about Isaac and the egg he meets in a forest at a terrible point in his life. It’s funny, sad and makes for an engrossing read. Isaac’s story involves grief and despair but also hope. It would be a good book for bookclubs as there is a lot to discuss and plenty of themes to explore. It’s a wonderful debut novel. Julie, NSW, 5 Stars
What a remarkable story. It is one that will stay with me for quite a while. Isaac Addey is grieving. He is lost and hopeless. We meet him on the worst day of his life when he stumbles across Egg in the woods and decides to take him home. The story follows Isaac’s journey through the stages of grief with Egg by his side, trying to make sense of his companion. It is at times heartbreaking and difficult, but always compelling. It is a story with a big heart. Melissa, QLD, 5 Stars
Isaac and the Egg is a truly unique book. It deals with raw and heartbreaking grief in an honest and individualistic manner, but with charm, humour and sadness. An amazing read, the book makes you think, recollect, appreciate, empathise and love. Truly amazing – just perfect. Helen, QLD, 5 Stars
Isaac and The Egg completely astounded me! What a beautifully written novel about love, grief, joy and life…I could not put it down. The representation of a young man dealing with profound grief is written with such empathy and with hints of deepest despair and moments of pure joy. I cannot recommend this beautiful book highly enough. Denise, NSW, 5 Stars
This debut novel by Bobby Palmer is beautifully written, some parts of the book are so sad and other parts are funny, upon discovering a large egg he nurtures “egg”. Not saying anything else about this book – please read it for yourself, it is a great book. Deborah, NSW, 5 Stars
Wow. Wow wow wow. I couldn’t believe how incredibly invested I got in this book within a few short pages. For a debut novelist, it’s immediately obvious that Bobby Palmer has been a writer for some time as his prose is captivating and descriptive and emotive without ever being too wordy. I read half of it in one sitting and then had to go to work and think about the half I’d read for a few hours before finishing it in my lunch break. At one point I was so invested I had to stop and sneak a peek at the reviews because I was so in love with this book I was worried that an average or sub-par ending was going to break my heart. Luckily I had nothing to worry about except the intentional, healing heartbreak of this story. I will share the kindness done by the other reviewers and say that this book is wonderful and a bit indescribable. Almost more of an experience than a story and my favourite read in a long time. Loved it beyond words. Richard, VIC, 5 Stars
Wow – what a book. We meet Isaac as he stands on the ledge of a bridge – he’s contemplating suicide. He screams into the darkness and is shocked to hear a scream back. This scream leads to an unexpected journey, during which Isaac partners with his new companion, Egg. This book gives me similar feelings to Boy Swallows Universe – there are some incredible pieces of writing and it relies on suspending belief and letting the story take you where it goes. The depiction of grief in this book was brilliant, and subtle but you could tell it was written by someone who has experienced that all-encompassing experience. Trust me – read it. Rochelle, VIC, 4 Stars
Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer is not a book I would normally read. It is different but it was entertaining. It has moments of sadness where you can feel the pain that Isaac is feeling. The struggle is so real, in dealing with loss, of trying to survive. You are taken on a journey of grief, from denial to anger and finally acceptance. The story is well-written, poignant, and a little quirky. Lisa, QLD, 4 Stars
It was a light and joyous read. The story gives you hope, that even when you are at your lowest point there is always hope and people/things that are there to lend you a helping hand. Jen, NSW, 4 Stars
For the first half of this book I was unsure if this was fantasy or reality, or if I even liked it. By the second half of the book I was captivated and couldn’t put it down. Never before have I read a book quite like it – beautifully lyrical, warm and yet sad, leaving question upon question. In parts I laughed. In other parts I thought “what on earth is this about?” and as the story unravelled and we learned more about Isaac Addy, I sobbed and sobbed. If you are looking for a book that pulls on the heartstrings in a touching and uniquely creative way – this is it. Nicole, NSW, 4 Stars
From the bright yellow cover to the creative use of fonts, this book is something out of the ordinary. It is one of those books where it’s better not to know anything about it and just go along for the ride, and what a ride it is. Suspend disbelief and rational thought and embrace incredulity, madness, and mayhem, and you will “find hope in the unexpected”. Little by little the story of how Isaac has arrived in this particularly murky pit of despair is imparted to the reader with aha moments coming as a relief. The story revolves around a tragic incident and the arrival of an unexpected guest who is an absolute delight, incredibly quirky, but showing great compassion and sensitivity. Knowing that this kindly presence cannot stay forever adds a bittersweet element which makes you want to proceed slowly and at times hold your breath. Film buffs will also find much to enjoy and will nod and smile at the mention of family favourites and well-known quotes. Isaac and the Egg is a story of love and loss and heart-wrenching grief, but it simultaneously shines with a mesmerising mash-up of hope, fun, humour and wonder. Michelle, VIC, 4 Stars
This story requires some imagination, and I switched between being fully into the story and struggling to get past the fact that ‘Egg’ couldn’t be real! But really this is a story about loss, grief, friendship and hope. And it deals with it beautifully and seemingly accurately, from denial and chaotic thoughts, through to the vivid dreams and using ‘Egg’ as a distraction. Whilst I struggled to believe ’Egg’ was no more than an imaginary friend, he is an endearing character, and becomes a true friend to Isaac. He is also very observant as we learn during the brief passages where it’s written from his perspective. The story was fast-paced and has some great twists that I definitely didn’t see coming. It’s comforting and funny, and once finished, took a while to sink in! It’s difficult, perhaps deliberately, to understand how much time has passed since the death of his wife, and until the end, we don’t really understand how it happened. Once we do learn these details we start to understand the guilt he feels and the extent of his trauma. Overall, I would recommend if you can suspend reality long enough to enjoy it. Laura, NSW, 3 Stars
Isaac and The Egg was not the type of writing I am used to reading, as such, I did find it a bit unusual and abstract at the beginning, however, it does all start to come together and make more sense as you move through it. The story looks at grief and the range of emotions, thoughts and actions a person experiences with grief. As a person who has experienced grief myself, I could relate to the feelings. I am not exactly sure that I loved this book, but that is certainly more about my personal reading likes as I think it was a well written and interesting book. Sue, WA, 3 Stars
I enjoyed this book for being something different, it kept me interested and entertained. I did find it quite heavy though, with not a lot of relief from the seriousness and darkness, so I did struggle to keep pushing through at times because it was so draining, but sometimes we need to challenge ourselves and try reading things we never would normally. It’s a credit to Bobby Palmer for really pushing the envelope and writing something so unique. Sherridan, SA, 3 Stars
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