Menu

Homes

Category: Literary Fiction
Author: Hayden Thompson
Publisher: Amazon Kindle KDP
Publication Date: July 23, 2026
Number of Pages: 221
ISBN-13: 979-8902139980
ASIN: B0HB3LRHGC

Hayden Thompson’s Homes is a globe-trotting novel that follows Dr. George Harrington, a British physician and single father who, in 1995, leaves Paris with his twelve-year-old son, Hugo, for a public-health posting in Asia. Spanning twenty-two years, the story moves from the motorbike-clogged streets of Sagen to a regional role in Pitani, conferences in Geneva, a bureaucratic post in Brussels, and finally retirement in Italy and England. Along the way, George battles infectious diseases, sends Hugo off to study in England, grieves both parents, survives a tender but ill-fated romance, and discovers his own wanderlust. By the end, settled in Birmingham with part-time teaching and a rekindled friendship with fellow traveler Cathy, George realizes that homes are not merely physical places; they are the affections we build within them.

Thompson's character work is impeccable: introducing George as a tender, self-effacing narrator and an unforgettable character whose humanity fills the pages of this inspiring book. Hugo's maturation feels earned, and friends like Samuel, Einar, and Pierre are as finely drawn as they are believable. The four-part structure is cleverly delivered, with locations and dates stamped into the chapters, subtly conveying the truth that homes are never static locations, but where the heart finds connection. The plot is episodic and low on conventional action, yet surprisingly gripping, with some of the tensest moments being emotional, such as Hugo waiting alone at the school gate, though rare field-mission dangers create suspense. The worldbuilding feels real, with monsoon streets, cafés, and Italian piazzas providing details that delight the senses. The pacing is unhurried, occasionally slow during travelogue stretches, but the lyrical, introspective prose rewards patient readers. Fans of contemplative literary fiction about fatherhood, belonging, and aging will find Homes a sincere, comforting read. 

Reviewed By: Bertin Drizller

|

Date: September 23, 2026

Featured

Weekly Top Picks

Hand-picked reviews our authors and readers are loving right now

{

Fiction Books

The Book Commentary

The Read Down

Essays, author interviews and publishing advice for curious readers and writers.

Author Interview: Sophie Guellati-Salcedo, Ph.D.
Author Interview: Sophie Guellati-Salcedo, Ph.D.
Author Interviews

Author Interview: Sophie Guellati-Salcedo, Ph.D.

By  · 

Expanded Awareness: A Health Psychologist's Inquiry into AI and Consciousness

Read the article →
Author Sanjay Sabnani Talks About the Power of Discomfort: Turning Pressure into Action, Learning to Receive, and Finding Peace Beyond Striving
Author Sanjay Sabnani Talks About the Power of Discomfort: Turning Pressure into Action, Learning to Receive, and Finding Peace Beyond Striving
Author Interviews Aug 10, 2026

Author Sanjay Sabnani Talks About the Power of Discomfort: Turning Pressure into Action, Learning to Receive, and Finding Peace Beyond Striving

By Sanjay Sabnani

Discover why your brain sabotages success and how to rewire your identity in this ActualizationOS interview on stillness, self-sabotage, and lasting change.

Read the article →