Reviews

Mum & Dad by Joanna Trollope

Only show reviews with written explanations

lesleyo's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Ok read but needed some depth to it - not a big enough book to convincingly fix all the issues with this family.

crabber's review

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5.0

5/5
Didn’t come in with much besides that this is a drama book and shit will go down. I wasn’t prepared for what I read, the first few chapters were really boring, and after that it was a page turner all the way.
I loved all the characters, even if Jake’s ones is a little hard to read before knowing the circumstances he’s in. Especially loved the little secret the three keep at the end and the amazing bond everyone makes with each other. Sebastian’s confidence boost was really motivating yet the only plot bit I hated because of how unusual it is.

marais90's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

goatfarmer's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

joella82's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

This was beyond boring. Set in southern Spain although a lot of the book takes part in the UK. Its basically about the general daily goings on of family life with very unlikeable characters from mum and dad, children and inlaws and even the staff. Everyone was punchable. It was just bland.

salreads's review against another edition

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4.0

With thanks to Netgalley and The Independent Publishers’ Group for a digital copy. Set in southern Spain the story begins with Gus’ stroke and its ramifications for his family - his wife Monica, their three children and their grandchildren. Trollope examines relationships between the couples, between parents and their children and between siblings as fracture lines start to develop. She explores themes of work-life balance, career parenting, teenage self-harm and the fraught juggling act faced by the sandwich generation. As Gus recovers his family must come together to face next steps, but first they have to address the tensions which already exist between them. This is a lovely read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were well developed, the issues described universally relevant, presented with realism and not neatly resolved. The warmth of the Spanish sun and the whisper of vines provided a stunning backdrop and even in lockdown I could feel myself there.