Scan barcode
georginamay22's review
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
amy_hannah's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
emtalksbooks's review
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK and Transworld Publisers for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
When I got this book I was expecting a light hearted read. What I got instead was a book filled with heartbreak.
Beth is a 30 year old woman who has always been known to quit at everything. Then one day her sister and brother in law are in an accident and she suddenly has a teenager and toddler to take care of.
This book is a story of how your responsibilities change when your life is suddenly turned upside down. She is dealing with having 2 kids to look after as well as herself, a mum who appears to be waiting for her to make a mistake, a best friend who she distances herself from and her job
This was amazingly written and hit me right in the heart from the very beginning, by the end I was crying. I definitely hope that Sarah writes more novels as if she does I will definitely be picking them up!
When I got this book I was expecting a light hearted read. What I got instead was a book filled with heartbreak.
Beth is a 30 year old woman who has always been known to quit at everything. Then one day her sister and brother in law are in an accident and she suddenly has a teenager and toddler to take care of.
This book is a story of how your responsibilities change when your life is suddenly turned upside down. She is dealing with having 2 kids to look after as well as herself, a mum who appears to be waiting for her to make a mistake, a best friend who she distances herself from and her job
This was amazingly written and hit me right in the heart from the very beginning, by the end I was crying. I definitely hope that Sarah writes more novels as if she does I will definitely be picking them up!
kazza27's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you for my copy of the book via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
I was really excited to see that Sarah had written a fiction novel, I had the pleasure of interviewing her back when The Unmumsy Mum book first came out and she came along to Exeter Library with two of her boys.
Stepping Up is the story of Beth who has never really found her way in life she has been in and out of work and her family accept that this is who she is a bit of disaster. She has a long term friend Jory who has always been there for her along with her sister Emmy and brother in law Doug.
After an accident, everything changes for Beth and she is faced with bringing up her teenage niece Polly and young Nephew Ted. The relationships in this book are so well written and so realistic, Beth and her mother have a fractious relationship and she really feels the scrutiny now as the guardian of her sisters children.
I really felt for Beth she is kind hearted and is really dropped into being parent from a great height, Polly a teenager with her own issues and guilt and Ted is just a little boy who doesn’t really understand what has happened to his family. The book packs an emotional punch but also has Sarah’s humour and has a real feeling of hope as the family all navigate their grief and how they will all carry on with life. Beth is also dealing with her best friend Jory starting a new relationship and the loss she feels from this.
The characters are warm and I loved the developing relationship with Beth and Emmy’s elderly neighbour Albert which was so touching as Albert is also learning to life without his beloved wife.
I loved the story, I read it really quickly and I really felt like I grew to know the family and was firmly behind Beth as she navigates the biggest challenge of her life. An emotional, but uplifting read that sensitively deals with a really tragic event but is also funny warm and hopeful.
A 5 star debut *****
I was really excited to see that Sarah had written a fiction novel, I had the pleasure of interviewing her back when The Unmumsy Mum book first came out and she came along to Exeter Library with two of her boys.
Stepping Up is the story of Beth who has never really found her way in life she has been in and out of work and her family accept that this is who she is a bit of disaster. She has a long term friend Jory who has always been there for her along with her sister Emmy and brother in law Doug.
After an accident, everything changes for Beth and she is faced with bringing up her teenage niece Polly and young Nephew Ted. The relationships in this book are so well written and so realistic, Beth and her mother have a fractious relationship and she really feels the scrutiny now as the guardian of her sisters children.
I really felt for Beth she is kind hearted and is really dropped into being parent from a great height, Polly a teenager with her own issues and guilt and Ted is just a little boy who doesn’t really understand what has happened to his family. The book packs an emotional punch but also has Sarah’s humour and has a real feeling of hope as the family all navigate their grief and how they will all carry on with life. Beth is also dealing with her best friend Jory starting a new relationship and the loss she feels from this.
The characters are warm and I loved the developing relationship with Beth and Emmy’s elderly neighbour Albert which was so touching as Albert is also learning to life without his beloved wife.
I loved the story, I read it really quickly and I really felt like I grew to know the family and was firmly behind Beth as she navigates the biggest challenge of her life. An emotional, but uplifting read that sensitively deals with a really tragic event but is also funny warm and hopeful.
A 5 star debut *****
lisaj23's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
louisa0021's review
Storyline dragged and didn't peak my interest enough
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
becky_is_knitting's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0