Common Decency by Tom Allen 

I did enjoy this offering from Tom Allen, though not quite as much as I’d hoped. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it would have landed even better as an audiobook, read by Tom himself, because his voice and rhythm are so clearly woven through the story. On the surface it’s about a group of residents banding together to save an old oak tree, but there’s so much more happening beneath that premise — layers of personal struggle, community tension and the quiet ways people try to do the right thing.

Oak Drive is a small road opposite a little park with a very old oak tree at its heart. The residents keep an eye on one another, so when the council announces plans to turn the park into an electric‑charging station — removing the ancient oak in the process — they rally together. But nothing on Oak Drive is quite what it seems. Donald, the self‑appointed ruler of the road and dictator of his long‑suffering wife Fanny, is hiding more than anyone realises. Alice, the local doctor, has fallen out of love with her husband Barry, and he’s floundering as he tries to fix what he doesn’t understand. Vince and Nathan Luke, the new couple on the street, have poured themselves into creating their dream home, but they too are carrying secrets. And Miranda, the sweet elderly lady of the close, may not be quite the harmless figure everyone assumes.

In the end, what stood out most for me was the blend of gentle humour and the very human messiness behind each closed door on Oak Drive. Tom Allen captures the quirks, flaws and quiet heartbreaks of his characters with real warmth, even if the story didn’t fully land for me in the way I’d hoped. It’s a thoughtful, often tender look at the small acts of kindness and courage that hold a community together, especially when hidden truths surface and ordinary people find themselves making a difference.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8619112741