Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting Audiobook By Clare Pooley cover art

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

A Novel

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Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

By: Clare Pooley
Narrated by: Clare Corbett
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About this listen

Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. It’s a rule. But what would happen if they did? From the New York Times and Globe and Mail 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-Constant-Reader 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.

©2022 Clare Pooley (P)2022 Penguin Audio
City Life Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Urban Women's Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Funny Witty

Critic reviews

“A soothing story where bad things happen yet are overcome, and friendship leads the way to personal acceptance and rebirth.”
Kirkus

“Why don't I ever meet people this delightful on a train? This feel-good ensemble story will bring joy to readers who loved Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine—not to mention fans of quirky London-set fare such as Ted Lasso. Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting is a warm, fun pick-me-up of a book.” —Mary Laura Philpott, bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink and Bomb Shelter

“Pooley's grasp on the constraints and longings of the human condition proves immensely entertaining. Readers will be charmed by this uplifting, hopeful story rife with tender insights. Traveling with Iona Iverson is a literary journey well worth taking!” —Shelf Awareness

Heartwarming Storyline • Well-developed Characters • Delightful Humor • Uplifting Message • Perfect Voice Matching
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Such a good story! Great narration! I loved all the different characters. I highly recommend.

Loved this!

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Wonderful story line! I actually laughed out line a few times.
I wish I knew an “Iona”.

Great Read

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A little slow in the beginning but it picked up momentum. Characters so different and began to visualize them near the end. I guess you can’t judge a book by it’s cover..

A change of pace.

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Loved this book with amazing characters you can fall in love with. It is a story of hope for the future.

Great Read

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Loved this book. Encourages you to step outside yourself and discover others. Everyone has a story. All people are interesting in their own way.

Why can’t we all get along

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This book made you feel all the emotions a good story should. I was especially drawn in by the characters and their interactions with each other.

Loved this book!

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If you are looking for a fun summer read, this is the one. Absolutely lovely.

Absolutely lovely

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Would make a great Netflix limited series. The characters are all very easy to love and the story a sweet ride.

Sweet story. Pleasure to listen to

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Loved the diverse characters and the way they all came together to support one another. Sweet story. Left me smiling.

Feel good story

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I’d loved this so much. Narration was spot on. It spoke to so many themes: purpose in life, friendship, ageism, finding your true self, the camaraderie of the theater, and hope. I think this should be made into a movie and I really want to be an Iona.

I want to be Iona

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