Fletchers On The Farm by Kelvin and Liz Fletcher

My review

4/5 stars

Like many people, I became interested in Kelvin Fletcher's life after watching him win Strictly Come Dancing in 2019 and started following his family's life on their farm on Instagram. They are a beautiful family, so I was excited to learn more about them in their book, and my library was kind enough to stock a copy that I could borrow!

Kelvin and his wife Liz take turns to tell their story, from the moment they met back in school right up to present day. The back-and-forth of their different points of view is very entertaining and keeps the book feeling dynamic throughout. They obviously know each other inside out, as they are able to seamlessly pick up the next part of the story from each other and make it feel consistent.

I really enjoyed finding out about his backstory, but the main draw of the book and the bulk of the content was about how their relationship has developed over the 20-odd years they've known each other. Much like on their Instagram account, they come across as a very grounded and relatable couple.

The book is called Fletchers on the Farm, so obviously there is some farm-related content. This hit just the right mark for me - there was enough of it that the title felt relevant, but not so much that a townie-reader like me feels alienated or struggles to connect. What was included was funny and approached from a viewpoint of people who were complete novices in that world, so it felt genuine and self-deprecating. The story about their sheep paying an unexpected visit to the neighbours made me chuckle particularly loudly.

This was a sweet, humorous look at how two people ended up on this unexpected adventure together, and it has served to make me like them even more.

Book blurb

‘We jumped in at the deep end and bought a farm! A reluctant wife, a couple of crazy kids and a husband whose knowledge of farming you could write on the back of a stamp… What could go wrong?!’ – Kelvin

‘Exactly! And the journey has only just begun…’ – Liz

Join the Fletchers as they navigate the peaks and troughs of life on a lively farm.

When Kelvin and Liz Fletcher left their happy home in Oldham for a 120-acre farm in the Peak District, they were totally unaware of the surprises that lay in store. Come along for the ride as they navigate the Mishaps, like shearing sheep in a way that costs more than the price for the wool; the Lessons, such as never turn your back on a flock of sheep – or, put simply, ‘always close the gate!’ – and the Adventures, going from self-professed ‘townies’ to farmhands overnight.

In Fletchers on the Farm, childhood sweethearts Kelvin and Liz reflect on their history, their future and their daily balancing act of juggling acting careers, four young children and a farmyard full of animals. With wise words on building and nurturing a happy farm and family, this uplifting, heartwarming book is about following your dreams – even if you have no clue how to do it!

Time to pull on those wellies and get stuck into a farming adventure like no other.

‘Like any farm, determination and perseverance are vital. We took a huge step into the unknown and, together, we haven’t looked back. The adventure continues!’

More...

You can buy the book here now. It was published by HarperCollins.

For more on the authors, you can follow them on Instagram.