The Opposite of Lonely is a novel brimming with kindness, care, and compassion – which is no surprise, really, since Hilde Hinton is one half of Love Your Sister, the fundraising campaign she and her brother, Samuel Johnson, started after their sister, Connie, passed away from breast cancer. Since then, they’ve raised over $20 million: their love and determination has funded some serious medical research.
Hinton is also the author of The Loudness of Unsaid Things and A Solitary Walk on the Moon, and co-wrote Heroes Next Door with her brother. She writes beautifully about ordinary lives – people who may not stand out in a crowd but have rich, complicated inner worlds. Her characters are flawed, real, and utterly lovable. There’s a warmth to her storytelling, a tenderness that sneaks up on you. Her style is deceptively simple – light, quirky, and easy to read, yet layered with depth and quiet wisdom. Themes of loneliness, connection, and self-discovery run through this new novel, with gentle nods to mental health challenges.
At the heart of the story is Rose. She’s a mother, she has savings, and she is lonely. When her marriage ended, she let go of the shared friendships and his family, figuring they were part of the package deal. She just has Max now: her gentle, sensitive little boy. Enter Ellie – bright, warm, and a little too wonderful. Is she a genuine friend or just too good to be true?
Rose battles self-doubt and guilt, sometimes feeling completely stuck. But she keeps going for her young son. She works as a barista in a family-run café, a place where she feels safe and valued – a lovely kind of found family. She tells Max stories about trees – simple, beautiful metaphors for life that hold more wisdom than she realises.
And then there’s her (ex) mother-in-law – kooky, wise, and holding the family together in ways no one expects. She’s a fantastic older character who adds even more wisdom and heart to the story.
This is a book about kindness in unexpected places, the quiet strength of everyday people, and the slow, sometimes messy process of finding your way. Quirky, poignant, and full of heart – a truly warm and wonderful read.
