Name: Em's review of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
Item: Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting
Rating: 5
Author: Em

Clare Pooley

Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. It's a rule. But what would happen if they did? From the New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project, a heartwarming novel about unexpected friendships and the joy of connecting. Every day Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu. Every day she sees the same people, whom she knows only by nickname: Impossibly-Pretty-Bookworm and Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Of course, they never speak. Seasoned commuters never do. Then one morning, the man she calls Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape right in front of her. He'd have died were it not for the timely intervention of Sanjay, a nurse, who gives him the Heimlich maneuver. This single event starts a chain reaction, and an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you--and even more about yourself.

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

Grace

Your anxiety is the other side of the coin of your empathy. Isuspect that's why you're such a good nurse. But there must be a way of finding a healthier balance to care deeply about your patients while still protecting yourself. Remember the saying You need to fit your own oxygen mask before you can help anyone else fit theirs

All his previous dates were with women he'd met at college, work, or on a dating app where they'd exchange banter for days, tentatively swapping nuggets of personal information, before ac- tually meeting IRL. This was old-school, and it was terrifying. There was a reason why no one did this anymore.

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

this book stood out in the library shelves because of its design and I was attracted by its title. such a joy to read! I often wonder about the lives of other commuters on my daily train rides and even had a phase where I brought along a tiny notebook wherever I went, scribbling down cute interactions and other observations I made on public transport. it was gratifying to see these thoughts get fleshed out in the characters of this book hehe. also I loved the author’s words at the end where she shares how she came up with the characters, and how she’s living her second life as a writer now after a career in marketing. makes me hopeful for the changes life’ll bring ~

made the morning commute to work seem fun  

van 

Petaco

A really sweet book about the joy of friendships. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was diverse and full of great characters. Loved getting to know all the folks from the train.

Veronica Overholt

Fun and sweet, but not one I’ll remember for very long. 

Rowan Hitchcock

emily

Emma Hak-Kovacs

Simran Armstrong

Laia Feliu

tori

Alexandra Sklar

Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. It’s a rule. But what would happen if they did? From the New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project, a heartwarming novel about unexpected friendships and the joy of connecting. Every day Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu. Every day she sees the same people, whom she knows only by nickname: Impossibly-Pretty-Bookworm and Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Of course, they never speak. Seasoned commuters never do. Then one morning, the man she calls Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape right in front of her. He’d have died were it not for the timely intervention of Sanjay, a nurse, who gives him the Heimlich maneuver. This single event starts a chain reaction, and an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you--and even more about yourself.

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley