Sincerely Me is the second novel by Australian author, Julietta Henderson. After a night on the turps at the Lamb and Flag, an enigmatic bit of drunken graffiti daubed on the footpath, an arrest and a conditional release, Danny Mulberry thinks that’s the end of it. So he is surprised by the two things that follow in fairly quick succession.

Fifteen-year-old Wolfie Harris has spent her short life watching out for her mum, worrying about her. Lou always insists she’s not depressed, just sad sometimes. But since Lou’s close encounter on her moped with a Tesco delivery van, her injuries have made her even more reclusive.

Seeing the photo of Danny Mulberry in the Double is a complete fluke: Wolfie doesn’t twig straight off that it’s her uncle, but the article with it: could he be the solution to their problems?

Danny Mulberry hasn’t seen his younger sister Lou for sixteen years, four months and three weeks. He’s not proud of why. When he finds her waiting for him in the kitchen of Dom’s house, it’s a shock. Of course, it’s not her, but Wolfie could be Lou’s double. What could she want with him?

Wolfie has her uncle summed up pretty smartly: a jobless binge drinker who is, inexplicably, tolerated by this solid, reliable widower and his totally cute, funny six-year-old son. “Danny Mulberry wouldn’t feel like the adult in the room in a kindergarten finger-painting class.” But despite this, and fairly certain her mum won’t approve, she reveals Lou’s current condition.

Danny has lived for a year in, at his own insistence, the garden shed of Dom’s roomy Belsize Park house. So he shouldn’t be surprised when, following their visit to Lou’s tiny Tottenham flat, he and Dom (hands down the best friend a person could ever wish for) and George come home with two house guests.

Luckily, with judiciously timed visits to the Lamb and sneaking back into the shed, he should be able to avoid, for the time being, a facing the elephant in the room. But probably not forever; he’ll have to work up to it…

Danny’s second surprise is Pete Barker, the journalist from the Double whose imaginative story “a complete fabrication assisted by his unnamed but highly cooperative source, Professor Google” ran with his photo. Pete’s editor has been swamped by correspondence, email and snail, from readers wanting Danny’s advice. But what could possibly qualify Danny, whose own life hasn’t exactly been a huge success so far, to advise anyone?

When Danny reads a few of the letters, though, he can’t resist: he’s always been the sort to help people who need it. Turns out, writing replies has him drawing on his own life experiences, recalling his father’s wise words, and also remembering things that he’d maybe rather not. But his advice is sound, and he both dreads and looks forward to each new batch Pete brings.

Danny and Wolfie are the narrators for this story, while Danny’s replies to letters provide a bit of background. Once again, Henderson writes a cast of characters that easily endear themselves to the reader: Danny, flawed but with a good heart; Wolfie, doing her best to keep her little family together under difficult conditions; George is likely to be a favourite for his irrepressibility; and Dom, like a warm hug.

She gives her characters, even the minor ones, insightful observations, and Ed Mulberry’s theory on birthdays is likely to be popular: “if things didn’t quite go to plan on your birthday, you were allowed another shot at it”. Some of the source of the sibling estrangement gradually becomes apparent as the story progresses, but other aspects, when revealed, are likely to put a lump in the throat and bring a tear to the eye: have the tissues ready.

In a story that touches on alcoholism, depression, loneliness, suicide, coping strategies, and grief, Henderson also demonstrates the vital importance of family and good friends. It's quickly clear that this author is not a victim of second-book syndrome: this one is just as funny, moving, heart-warming and uplifting as her first. Highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld.