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

'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 died 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, Kathleen's lonely funeral touches George deeply. 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.

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 The Light a Candle Society

'Wow . . . this book is so emotional, uplifting and powerful' *****

'The story just grips you. Read it.' *****

'Such a powerful read. It will stay with me forever' *****

'A poignant, heartwarming story' *****