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  • Published: 18 August 2026
  • ISBN: 9781804994405
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 512
  • RRP: $24.99

By Your Side




The warm and life-affirming novel from the author of the instant Sunday Times bestsellers, Never Greener, Us Three and Love Untold.

'Ruth Jones writes with such warmth you can't help but fall in love with the characters she creates.’ JAMES CORDEN

The joyful and life-affirming new novel from the co-creator of Gavin and Stacey and the Richard and Judy Book Club author of Love Untold.

Linda and Levi will never meet. But they’re going to change each other’s lives.

After thirty-three years helping strangers at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda is looking forward to early retirement.

But first, one last case: tracking down the relatives of the deceased Levi Norman, a Welshman who spent his final years on a remote Scottish island.

As Linda delves into Levi’s past, aided (and occasionally thwarted) by the residents of Storrich, she uncovers more than just his story.

Bursting with heart and humour, By Your Side is about finding joy in the most unlikely connections, and the importance of holding on to friendship, love and community – especially when life gets messy.

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW.

Praise for Ruth Jones:

‘Ruth Jones is excellent on human nature and why we make the mistakes we do’ JOJO MOYES

‘A cast of characters you'll lose your heart to.' ADELE PARKS

'Beautifully warm and totally absorbing.’ JANE FALLON

  • Published: 18 August 2026
  • ISBN: 9781804994405
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 512
  • RRP: $24.99

About the author

Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones MBE is well known for her television work, most notably BBC One’s multi-award-winning Gavin and Stacey, co-written with James Corden, in which she played Nessa Jenkins. The 2019 and 2024 Christmas specials of this well-loved show garnered viewing figures of 18 million and 21 million respectively. Ruth also created and co-wrote several series of Stella for Sky TV, for which she was BAFTA nominated. Other TV work includes Hattie, Nighty Night and Saxondale. In 2024 Ruth played Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical at London’s Dominion Theatre. Her latest acting roles are Elena Ravenscroft in the Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben's Run Away and Mrs Bennet in the BBC adaptation of Janice Hadlow's The Other Bennet Sister. Ruth’s novels have sold over a million copies. Never Greener was a Sunday Times bestseller for fifteen weeks, three weeks at number one, as well as WHSmith Fiction Book of the Year 2018, a nominated Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards, and a Zoe Ball Book Club pick. Her second novel, Us Three, and her third novel, Love Untold, were also instant Sunday Times bestsellers. Love Untold was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year, as well as a Richard & Judy Book Club pick. Ruth's latest novel is By Your Side

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