Overview

This Is Home follows several migrants trying to build new lives in Britain. Carlo leaves Italy to work as a kitchen porter in London, while Brunilda arrives in Glasgow as a Brazilian au pair. Alongside them are others carrying their own histories, hopes and disappointments. As their stories intersect, the novel explores what it means to search for belonging far from home.

Writing & Voice

We found Serra’s writing compassionate and observant. He focuses on the small details of everyday life, allowing workplaces, shared flats and friendships to become the centre of the story. The result feels intimate without losing sight of the wider social issues surrounding migration and identity.

Content & Perspective

The novel moves between different characters and locations, creating a mosaic of experiences rather than a single narrative. Some are looking for opportunity, some for connection, and others simply for stability. Their lives overlap in unexpected ways, showing how people from very different backgrounds can find common ground.

Themes

This Is Home explores migration, friendship, loneliness and the meaning of belonging. It asks whether home is a place, a memory or something we build through the people around us. Running through the novel is a sense of reinvention, and the challenge of creating a life in an unfamiliar country.

What Worked

• A diverse cast of characters with distinct experiences and perspectives.
• Strong sense of place across both Glasgow and London.
• A thoughtful exploration of belonging without easy answers.

Minor Quibbles

• The multi-character structure means some stories receive more attention than others.
• Readers seeking a single central plot may prefer a more focused narrative.

Final Thoughts

What stayed with us most was the humanity of the characters. Serra treats each person’s search for home with empathy, creating a novel that feels timely, thoughtful and quietly affecting.

Rating: ★★★★½ / 5