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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
Such a feel good book! Absolutely adored it and wish it hadn’t ended!
I really loved this book! I completely related to the characters, although the subject matter was rather sad.
A definite recommendation from me!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
A definite recommendation from me!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Oh I absolutely loved this debut by Sarah Turner!!! It’s such an emotional read and had me giggling and crying at various points. The main character Beth is relatable and I loved the journey she went on throughout the book, I also loved Polly and Ted and thought they were wonderfully written. It is a story full of hope and love and It really is a must read!
Thank you so much for this arc
Thank you so much for this arc
A heart warming read with a balance of grief and comedy. I liked that it didn’t take the easy way out and tie everything up in a neat package - life is messier than that. Easy to become invested in the main character, Beth, as she struggles to take on adult responsibilities for the first time in her life. So much more than just trite ‘chick lit’. What an amazing debut.
Loved it!
A book about family, love, friendship and coming together at times of crisis. What a brilliant book - it kind of took me by surprise as I was simply looking for something a little lighter to cure the emotional hangover I had from a previous read.
When Beth's sister and brother in law are involved in a serious car crash (which is fatal for one, and leaves the other in a coma), it falls upon her to step in and care for her teenage niece, and preschooler nephew. Not really having had any responsibilities other than social and work commitments its not the simplest 'step up'. Perseverance, digging deep, family and friendship, a little bit of faith in yourself and a special mention for the octogenarian neighbour Albert (bloody loved him) all help carry Beth through the ups and downs of the year that unfolds.
The writing style reminds me of Emily Henry (Beach Read, You and Me on Vacation)/ Beth O'Leary (The Flateshare, The Switch), easy, observational, witty and magnetic. I just wanted to keep reading and embracing the story and the characters - didn't want it to end.
A book about family, love, friendship and coming together at times of crisis. What a brilliant book - it kind of took me by surprise as I was simply looking for something a little lighter to cure the emotional hangover I had from a previous read.
When Beth's sister and brother in law are involved in a serious car crash (which is fatal for one, and leaves the other in a coma), it falls upon her to step in and care for her teenage niece, and preschooler nephew. Not really having had any responsibilities other than social and work commitments its not the simplest 'step up'. Perseverance, digging deep, family and friendship, a little bit of faith in yourself and a special mention for the octogenarian neighbour Albert (bloody loved him) all help carry Beth through the ups and downs of the year that unfolds.
The writing style reminds me of Emily Henry (Beach Read, You and Me on Vacation)/ Beth O'Leary (The Flateshare, The Switch), easy, observational, witty and magnetic. I just wanted to keep reading and embracing the story and the characters - didn't want it to end.
I first came across Sarah Turner writing as parenting blogger The Unmumsy Mum. She was one of the first “mummy bloggers” of this sort of style that I found, and my mummy friends and I would send links of her latest post to each other, laughing about how accurate they were. I read her first book, The Unmumsy Mum, and howled laughing at it.
Stepping Up is Sarah’s first fiction novel, so I was keen to give it a go when I saw it come up on NetGalley.
Stepping Up follows Beth, a stereotypical “failure to launch” early 30’s hot mess, still living at home with her parents and quitting job after job because she doesn’t know what she wants from life.
Following a catastrophic family tragedy, Beth has to take on the seemingly impossible task of caring for her early teen niece and toddler nephew. How can Beth possibly look after children when she can barely look after herself?
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I went in expecting it to be a nice, fun read, but actually it had a lot of depth and some really moving moments.
Beth is a great main character. She is pretty flawed but also self-aware, and despite being completely out of her comfort zone, she is determined to do her best, even if that is barely surviving by her exacting mum’s standards. Watching Beth struggle to figure things out is frustrating and inspiring in equal measure, but she is really easy to root for.
This was a heart warming read that had me laughing and crying (and I can’t remember the last book I actually cried about!).
Stepping Up by Sarah Turner will be released on the 17th of March next year.
Thanks to @netgalley and @theunmumsymum for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Stepping Up is Sarah’s first fiction novel, so I was keen to give it a go when I saw it come up on NetGalley.
Stepping Up follows Beth, a stereotypical “failure to launch” early 30’s hot mess, still living at home with her parents and quitting job after job because she doesn’t know what she wants from life.
Following a catastrophic family tragedy, Beth has to take on the seemingly impossible task of caring for her early teen niece and toddler nephew. How can Beth possibly look after children when she can barely look after herself?
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I went in expecting it to be a nice, fun read, but actually it had a lot of depth and some really moving moments.
Beth is a great main character. She is pretty flawed but also self-aware, and despite being completely out of her comfort zone, she is determined to do her best, even if that is barely surviving by her exacting mum’s standards. Watching Beth struggle to figure things out is frustrating and inspiring in equal measure, but she is really easy to root for.
This was a heart warming read that had me laughing and crying (and I can’t remember the last book I actually cried about!).
Stepping Up by Sarah Turner will be released on the 17th of March next year.
Thanks to @netgalley and @theunmumsymum for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beth has never stuck at anything for very long, other than a commitment to leaving jobs at the drop of a hat and living with her parents at the grand old age of 30... This all changes when her beloved sister Emmy and her brother-in-law Doug are involved in a car accident and Beth becomes legal guardian to their children; her teenage niece and three-year-old nephew. What follows is a journey of discovery for everyone but most of all for Beth.
I have followed Sarah under her Instagram pseudonym The Unmumsy Mum for a few years and was intrigued to see how her first fiction novel would go. Stepping Up is a story of someone who is coasting through life and doesn't really give herself any credit but is meeting the challenges that life throws at her with grit and determination - and several glasses of wine thrown in for good measure! Sarah's trademark gentle humour comes through in the prose and some of the scenarios Beth found herself in did make me laugh!
The humour is carefully balanced with some really tender moments between Beth and her niece, Polly that made me tear up! I also loved the relationship that developed between Beth and her elderly neighbour, Albert and shows that friendship at all ages is a beautiful thing. The love story that wound its way through the story was sweet but I don't think it necessarily brought more to the narrative - the story of a family coming to terms with grief and navigating "a new normal" was more interesting to me (but I am not the biggest fan of "romance" novels!!).
This novel was a warm, cosy and uplifting read and hit all the right notes. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Giovanna Fletcher and Abigail Mann.
I have followed Sarah under her Instagram pseudonym The Unmumsy Mum for a few years and was intrigued to see how her first fiction novel would go. Stepping Up is a story of someone who is coasting through life and doesn't really give herself any credit but is meeting the challenges that life throws at her with grit and determination - and several glasses of wine thrown in for good measure! Sarah's trademark gentle humour comes through in the prose and some of the scenarios Beth found herself in did make me laugh!
The humour is carefully balanced with some really tender moments between Beth and her niece, Polly that made me tear up! I also loved the relationship that developed between Beth and her elderly neighbour, Albert and shows that friendship at all ages is a beautiful thing. The love story that wound its way through the story was sweet but I don't think it necessarily brought more to the narrative - the story of a family coming to terms with grief and navigating "a new normal" was more interesting to me (but I am not the biggest fan of "romance" novels!!).
This novel was a warm, cosy and uplifting read and hit all the right notes. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Giovanna Fletcher and Abigail Mann.
This was a fun, and touching story full of love, loss, grief, guilt and hope. I admit that I did not warm to Beth initially and struggled to find her relatable. She seemed very immature for her age and the complete lack of adulting skills *not related to the unexpected parenting role* felt more suited to a character who was not over 30. I did grow to like her more as the story progressed mostly because of her interactions with Ted, Polly and Albert.
There is a romance in this book but I felt that it was negligible and there was not a great deal of chemistry there (imo she had much better chemistry/connection with an 83 year old). The real heart of the story was Beth and how she grew into her role as a guardian and was able to embrace responsibility after years of quitting without trying. A solid 3 ⭐️ .
There is a romance in this book but I felt that it was negligible and there was not a great deal of chemistry there (imo she had much better chemistry/connection with an 83 year old). The real heart of the story was Beth and how she grew into her role as a guardian and was able to embrace responsibility after years of quitting without trying. A solid 3 ⭐️ .
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is an absolute balm to the soul. It's a beautiful piece of storytelling, especially for a fiction debut. The quality of writing is high throughout, with a good, simple plot bolstered by gorgeous characters of all ages, great dialogue, and a strong range of emotions. Occasionally, the exploration of certain themes felt a little glancing and surface level and definitely could have gone further, but this was probably necessary to maintaining a good pace for a book in this genre. It certainly didn't detract from the authenticity and charm of the characters, their community, and their story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol