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autienaut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This book deals with grief in such a way that allows for thought. We don’t get all the answers and that’s true to life. 🖤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
helenpickett's review against another edition
5.0
Beth is a 30 something woman still living with her parents and laxks both direction, organisation and any responsibilities whats so ever. She works in an office and her she spends her free time drinking with her best friend Jory and recovering from hangovers.
That all changes when her sister and brother in law have a car crash killing her brother in law and her sister in a coma.
Her mother expects to resume responsibility of Beth's teenage niece and toddler nephew. but as executor the his son i laws will, Beth's father informs Beth she she is to have guardianship. Beth moves into the family home and steps up to the job.
Beth steers her way around organising a home, dealing with a toddler and a teenager who is keeping something from her. To make matters worse, her ever critical mother is making her feel like a failure, her close relationship with her best friend is dwindling as he has a new girlfriend and she's forgotten to set the alarm at the office where she works. On the plus side she has made a lovely new friend with octogenarian neighbour Albert who is alone after his wife Mavis died and has no children until she lets him down too when she forgets to meet up with him as promised.
This is a story about grief, love, family friendship and individual growth. The characters are all likeable and will have you in an
emotional roller-coaster laughing one minute and feeling the pain of grief in the next.
I often talk about chapter sizes as this is important to me to be able to put down and pick up easily and these chapters were of the right size to do this.
The story develops well apart from the break in at the office, I felt like there could have been more behind this (almost a set up) and has a lovely warm conclusion at the end. Doesn't completely end well nut that's okay otherwise the ending would have been predictably perfect.A typically British sense of humour and a main character was believable.
Suitable for readers of General fiction or women's fiction.
#SteppingUp #NetGalley
That all changes when her sister and brother in law have a car crash killing her brother in law and her sister in a coma.
Her mother expects to resume responsibility of Beth's teenage niece and toddler nephew. but as executor the his son i laws will, Beth's father informs Beth she she is to have guardianship. Beth moves into the family home and steps up to the job.
Beth steers her way around organising a home, dealing with a toddler and a teenager who is keeping something from her. To make matters worse, her ever critical mother is making her feel like a failure, her close relationship with her best friend is dwindling as he has a new girlfriend and she's forgotten to set the alarm at the office where she works. On the plus side she has made a lovely new friend with octogenarian neighbour Albert who is alone after his wife Mavis died and has no children until she lets him down too when she forgets to meet up with him as promised.
This is a story about grief, love, family friendship and individual growth. The characters are all likeable and will have you in an
emotional roller-coaster laughing one minute and feeling the pain of grief in the next.
I often talk about chapter sizes as this is important to me to be able to put down and pick up easily and these chapters were of the right size to do this.
The story develops well apart from the break in at the office, I felt like there could have been more behind this (almost a set up) and has a lovely warm conclusion at the end. Doesn't completely end well nut that's okay otherwise the ending would have been predictably perfect.A typically British sense of humour and a main character was believable.
Suitable for readers of General fiction or women's fiction.
#SteppingUp #NetGalley
mpitts's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Livro interessante, mas o romance é desnecessário e tira o foco do ponto forte do livro: as relações familiares entre os personagens, a dor do luto e a forma subjetiva em que ele se manifesta em indivíduos diferentes, etc.
flowerfrogz's review against another edition
5.0
absolutely LOVED it - that said, it did throw me off that the book kept calling 3/4 year olds toddlers hahaha
hollielt123's review against another edition
4.0
Ok I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I have been reading this book recently as a buddy read within my book club and I am so happy this was one of the options for the month. I have been so busy lately I have been in a mega reading slump but this book has pulled me out of my slump and I couldn’t be more thankful!! The story follows Beth, a irresponsible and care free 30-year old who is suddenly hit by a family tragedy forcing her to become guardian to her niece and nephew.
This book has me in all of my feels and I genuinely laughed and cried whilst reading this book. I think it perfectly portrays the stages and presentation of grief during a family tragedy. It was well written as it was easy to read, easy to follow and I became whole heartedly invested in the characters journeys. I would only dream for a sequel in order to follow the story of Beth and Jory and to see how the story unfolds for Emmy. I would 1000% recommend buying and reading this book!
catriona90's review against another edition
3.0
It started off promisingly - and by that I mean I was sobbing within a few pages. But it lost its way for me then and there was nothing particularly crunchy. I binge read it which for me suggests there wasn’t enough depth to make me stop and think and the characters all felt a bit one dimensional. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it but I wasn’t wowed by it.
georginamay22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Cute story. I'm not sure the romance with Jole was really necessary, it wasn't properly developed and it was mainly told with memories of the old days when we didnt get the chance to connect with him in the present.
cfogg's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a big fan of Sarah Turner (The Unmumsy Mum) on social media so I was quite looking forward to reading her debut fiction novel. It did not disappoint - I really enjoyed it! Beth was a wonderfully relatable character and I felt like I was on the journey with her. The writing was fantastic and the story made me laugh, cry & everything in between. Fab -
4 stars **** Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers & Sarah Turner for the ARC.
4 stars **** Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers & Sarah Turner for the ARC.
hedwig2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5