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chezorama's review
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
5.0
_bethandherbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rhealouise's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
harrietmarydean's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
notwithoutmybook's review
5.0
Until Next Weekend is a lovely, funny, moving family drama that I didn't want to end. Rachel Marks has a way of writing characters that I fall in love with and care about and I can't put my book down until I know how their stories end. This is such a feel good story, the ending put me in such a good mood. More please, Rachel :)
katiesstevens's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and quick to get into. I liked the characters although I did find the relationship between Noah and Kate a bit unbelievable. I loved the story line between Noah (as a teacher) and his student 5 year old Harley. It was really heart warming. Although the story was quite predictable, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it for a nice, light read.
oncemorewithreading's review
5.0
As soon as I read Saturdays at Noon, I knew that Rachel Marks was going to become one of my all time favourite authors. As soon as I heard she was coming out with Until Next Weekend I knew I had to read it and oh my god, this book did not disappoint! I loved everything about it and it has just confirmed that Marks is a favourite of mine!
Told from Noah's perspective we see as he struggles with the change from being married to being a single dad who only sees his children every other weekend. Noah's story is heart-breaking as we watch him spiral as his whole life has changed around him. He is now just a weekend dad and he finds himself missing the simple things that come from having children. He has his flaws but that only makes him more relatable and realistic as a main character who is struggling. I find it rare to read books like this told in a male's POV and Rachel Marks has done it so perfectly and so compassionately.
I loved the side characters involved in this book and felt like they all had so much character, especially Mimi and Harley! I loved Mimi's character and I enjoyed the endless amount of banter between her and Noah! Harley was just a gem, a very chaotic but troubled gem who reminds Noah of when he was a child.
Whilst this story does contain trigger warnings (bereavement, suicide, mental health) they were dealt with sympathy and understanding.
This book was perfect and though it made me cry, it also gave me hope. Things can change, you can change as long as you're willing to put the time in to make those changes. It's also okay to ask for help, to lean on people you trust when things aren't good. I honestly will recommend this book and Rachel Marks till my last breath! Go read her books!
Thank you to Michael Joseph for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Told from Noah's perspective we see as he struggles with the change from being married to being a single dad who only sees his children every other weekend. Noah's story is heart-breaking as we watch him spiral as his whole life has changed around him. He is now just a weekend dad and he finds himself missing the simple things that come from having children. He has his flaws but that only makes him more relatable and realistic as a main character who is struggling. I find it rare to read books like this told in a male's POV and Rachel Marks has done it so perfectly and so compassionately.
I loved the side characters involved in this book and felt like they all had so much character, especially Mimi and Harley! I loved Mimi's character and I enjoyed the endless amount of banter between her and Noah! Harley was just a gem, a very chaotic but troubled gem who reminds Noah of when he was a child.
Whilst this story does contain trigger warnings (bereavement, suicide, mental health) they were dealt with sympathy and understanding.
This book was perfect and though it made me cry, it also gave me hope. Things can change, you can change as long as you're willing to put the time in to make those changes. It's also okay to ask for help, to lean on people you trust when things aren't good. I honestly will recommend this book and Rachel Marks till my last breath! Go read her books!
Thank you to Michael Joseph for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
llivsbooks's review
5.0
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for this ARC!
Kate and Noah have been together since they were teens, and are married with 2 perfect sons. Until, Kate leaves one day with both of their boys. Noah is left to be ‘Weekend Dad’, envious of Kate’s new boring boyfriend Jerry, who gets to have more involvement in the boys’ life than he does.
Noah decides to win Kate back through a mission of self improvement - no more drinking, last minute plan cancellations and he will tidy both himself and his home up. Noah enlists the help of his new friend Mimi to “turn over a new leaf” before Kate marries Jerry in six weeks time.
Until Next Weekend tackled a few unexpected and difficult issues very well. Noah’s past trauma from his childhood with a neglectful and mentally ill mother has impacted on his own parenting, an issue Noah bravely confronts with the help of Mimi.
Each character was well developed and the story has a lovely underlying message of honestly and acceptance of things we cannot change.
I would definitely recommend this one
Kate and Noah have been together since they were teens, and are married with 2 perfect sons. Until, Kate leaves one day with both of their boys. Noah is left to be ‘Weekend Dad’, envious of Kate’s new boring boyfriend Jerry, who gets to have more involvement in the boys’ life than he does.
Noah decides to win Kate back through a mission of self improvement - no more drinking, last minute plan cancellations and he will tidy both himself and his home up. Noah enlists the help of his new friend Mimi to “turn over a new leaf” before Kate marries Jerry in six weeks time.
Until Next Weekend tackled a few unexpected and difficult issues very well. Noah’s past trauma from his childhood with a neglectful and mentally ill mother has impacted on his own parenting, an issue Noah bravely confronts with the help of Mimi.
Each character was well developed and the story has a lovely underlying message of honestly and acceptance of things we cannot change.
I would definitely recommend this one
przykrosc's review
4.0
Before starting the book, I was clearly mislead by the descriptions of it – the whole time since buying it I thought that it’s a second-chance romance. Well, I guess it sort of is, but not in the way I expected it to be.
First of all, the come out of this book is great. Marks shows us how real alcoholism looks like and how our parents’ choices influence our whole life, even when we don’t want to admit it. The life of a person who grew up in troubled families isn’t all flowery and happy. I’m really glad the author didn’t try to hide all of Noah’s flaws. His childhood was a nightmare – the lack of a father, the mother who might have loved them, but it wasn’t enough to properly take care of her little children. I know how it sounds, but I loved the fact that Noah was constantly struggling to get his life together. That’s exactly how an addiction looks like (it reminds me of KB Ritchie’s ‘Addicted’ series) and I’d like to see more of it in the, so cold, ‘silly’ literature.
The second thing I want to write about is the fact that even if we thought they would, Kate and Noah didn’t end up being together. She left him when, after years and years of dealing with him, everything felt overwhelming. And I’m really glad she did. That was best for her and her children and I really admire her strength. And the fact, that she still picked up Noah’s late night drunken phone calls a long time after they had split up. It shows the power of love, and a power of a person who has to put up with addicted person’s, simply, life. Even if you love someone to bits, you still find the strength to put yourself first. While feeling sorry for Noah and kind of understanding that he doesn’t want to drink, it’s not a choice for him, I am really glad Kate did what she did. And I’m happy that she found love again, because that’s exactly what she deserves.
Coming back to Noah, ever since we’ve met Mimi I could tell that something’s going to be between these two. They understood each other from the start and could bring the best out of each other. I’m sure our protagonist wanted to change for her, not for Kate and not for himself, even if he thought otherwise. I could tell that she was his person. Sadly, he couldn’t do this while he was still married to his now ex-wife and after she left him.
Lastly, Harley. We can clearly see from the start, that this little boy is living the same live Noah had been experiencing while his mother was still alive. Even if it took him a long time to figure it out, he finally faced his fears with the help of Mimi. I loved that little boy and the connection between him and Noah.
I won't lie, this book brought me a lot of heartache so I won't be coming back to it very often, but Noah's story showed me that there are people who love you, you just have to see them. 5/5 for me!
First of all, the come out of this book is great. Marks shows us how real alcoholism looks like and how our parents’ choices influence our whole life, even when we don’t want to admit it. The life of a person who grew up in troubled families isn’t all flowery and happy. I’m really glad the author didn’t try to hide all of Noah’s flaws. His childhood was a nightmare – the lack of a father, the mother who might have loved them, but it wasn’t enough to properly take care of her little children. I know how it sounds, but I loved the fact that Noah was constantly struggling to get his life together. That’s exactly how an addiction looks like (it reminds me of KB Ritchie’s ‘Addicted’ series) and I’d like to see more of it in the, so cold, ‘silly’ literature.
The second thing I want to write about is the fact that even if we thought they would, Kate and Noah didn’t end up being together. She left him when, after years and years of dealing with him, everything felt overwhelming. And I’m really glad she did. That was best for her and her children and I really admire her strength. And the fact, that she still picked up Noah’s late night drunken phone calls a long time after they had split up. It shows the power of love, and a power of a person who has to put up with addicted person’s, simply, life. Even if you love someone to bits, you still find the strength to put yourself first. While feeling sorry for Noah and kind of understanding that he doesn’t want to drink, it’s not a choice for him, I am really glad Kate did what she did. And I’m happy that she found love again, because that’s exactly what she deserves.
Coming back to Noah, ever since we’ve met Mimi I could tell that something’s going to be between these two. They understood each other from the start and could bring the best out of each other. I’m sure our protagonist wanted to change for her, not for Kate and not for himself, even if he thought otherwise. I could tell that she was his person. Sadly, he couldn’t do this while he was still married to his now ex-wife and after she left him.
Lastly, Harley. We can clearly see from the start, that this little boy is living the same live Noah had been experiencing while his mother was still alive. Even if it took him a long time to figure it out, he finally faced his fears with the help of Mimi. I loved that little boy and the connection between him and Noah.
I won't lie, this book brought me a lot of heartache so I won't be coming back to it very often, but Noah's story showed me that there are people who love you, you just have to see them. 5/5 for me!
talv_loeb's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it as much as Saturday at Noon. Probably even little more.
For me nothing beats the fictional characters who are shown as real as life gets in a story that makes you think along and wonder whether you would have been or acted different or not.
And along the way you discover, that not much is needed for real happiness.
For me nothing beats the fictional characters who are shown as real as life gets in a story that makes you think along and wonder whether you would have been or acted different or not.
And along the way you discover, that not much is needed for real happiness.