Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Preloved
- Narrated by: Jane Collingwood
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Preloved
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
‘Lauren Bravo is one of my very favourite writers.’ Dolly Alderton
Gwen is coasting through life. She’s in her mid-thirties, perpetually single, her friends are busy procreating in the countryside and conversations with her parents seem to revolve entirely around the council’s wheelie-bin timetable.
And she’s lonely. But then, isn’t everyone?
When she’s made redundant from a job she hardly cares about, she takes herself out for a fancy dinner. There she has the best sticky toffee pudding of her life and realises she has no one to tell. She vows to begin living her life fully, reconnect with her friends and family, and finally book that dentist’s appointment.
Gwen decides to start where all things get a second chance: her local charity shop. There, with the help of the weird and wonderful people and donated items bursting with untold stories, Gwen will find a way to move forward with bravery, tenacity, and more regular dental care.
Dazzlingly witty, Preloved is a tale about friendship, loss and being true to yourself no matter the expectations. Lovingly celebrating the enduring power and joy of charity shops.
'An absolute gem of a novel' Sarra Manning
'I think I’ve been waiting for a novel like Preloved for my whole reading life.' Daisy Buchanan
'Preloved is full of sharp observations on life, loss, regret and self-preservation.' Julietta Henderson, author of The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman
'Just like that once-in-a-lifetime charity shop find, Preloved is a gleaming prize to be treasured.' Caroline O'Donohue, author of Promising Young Woman
‘Preloved has taken up residence in my heart and I will be recommending it to everyone I know... I'm officially obsessed.’ Lucy Vine
'Laugh-out-loud funny but also poignant and tender' Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female
More from the same
What listeners say about Preloved
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-05-23
charity shop goodness if you love charity shops
not for you if you don't like stories jumping around, it's a sweet patchwork of charity shop reality. I was a charity shop manager and lots is very true but even I lost track of all the stories half way through. a trip to the dentist? felt like it was in there just to tick a box. shame, the narrator was good.
Big thumbs up for women actually being able to say they don't want kids, but could have been handled slightly better.
I won't be recommending this book, sorry.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-05-23
Exactly what I needed
What a gorgeous book!
I loved Lauren Bravo’s other work, so was really excited to read her first fiction. She’s always so witty and smart. Preloved is brilliant. The characters were so considered and believable that they made me think of the complexities of real people I know. I loved the nuanced Millennial city living references, some of them made me smile and others hit me hard in my heart. The main character was so brilliantly written; a relatable, grubby, hot mess who you feel compassion for one minute and want to roll your eyes at the next. Love, love, love. Highly recommend plugging in and walking around your city while listening, while the Gwen’s of the world walk by you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cynthia R.
- 10-08-23
Lovely theme and heartfelt story
Absolutely loved it! Beautifully narrated.
You navigate between the main story and anecdotes from the charity shop, all in a warm and intimate atmosphere. Well written, offering lots of occasions to smile and giggle as well as feel compassion for every character, their story, or the preloved possessions donated to the charity shop.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Laura
- 19-05-23
Soooooooo pointless
Far too much going on that it all came to nothing. it just went on and on about nothing in particular, too many story lines it was near on impossible to follow. Had such hopes for this book but feel utterly disappointed. Worth listening to if it's free I guess but wouldn't pay/use your credits.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-08-23
Perfect listen
I absolutely loved this story. It made me laugh a lot but is also quite deep at times. I was sad to finish it. The narration is excellent.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Guy Stern
- 21-06-23
Loved the characters and the vocal performance
Very entertaining audiobook, and laugh-out-loud funny in parts.
If you have lived in or near London at any time over the past 15 years, the references in this book will be extremely familiar and over time will probably become quite nostalgic.
Additionally, the character narration was excellent with multiple accents and tones of voice. Great performance.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Berghard
- 20-04-24
Slow burner initially but turned into a proper goodie!
Initially, the main character was a little bit grating, and I didn’t really feel compelled by the novel but actually it’s really charming and gentle with really evocative stories about all sorts of peoples lives so I was completely wrong. Most excellent read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-05-23
Seems to forget about a storylin
I feel this book tried to tackle too many issues and by doing this missed the boat on most of them. the underlying story felt rushed at the end and i felt the maun character became unlikable!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- tao
- 05-05-23
Sweet touching & funny ……
Well observed story of a woman approaching mid life & how life & relationships can be hard at times …..sweet touching & funny and brilliantly narrated
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sally Price
- 15-05-23
feel good read
took me a little while to get into the chapters v charity shop sections but quite quickly I found the story really compelling and the way everything tied together just made it even better. thoroughly enjoyed it. great narration.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!