A stranger can change your life in a moment of kindness 1952: Bella is a young French Jew in post-war London, having lost everything in WWII. When she meets Adebayo, a doctor from Nigeria, Archibald’s Cafe is the only place they feel like they belong. 1977: With London tense with anger, Amara decides to take action. 2010: Gina is a daydreaming artist whose efforts crumble into disaster. Her hopes for a career are over as she finds herself making lattes at the cafe where her grandparents went on their first date. Across the lives of three generations of women, London can be a harsh and beautiful place. Yet, chance friendships hold people together, when the world feels like it is falling apart. Fans of Clare Pooley and Freya Sampson will love The Cafe on Manor Lane.