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A review by faysieh
Until Next Weekend by Rachel Marks
5.0
I was very lucky to be invited to read this book as I had thoroughly enjoyed and left a 5 star review for Rachel Marks' previous book Saturdays at Noon.
I love the author's style of writing, full of warmth, compassion, sadness and joy. The characters are easy to get to know and fall in love with and I particularly like the fact that Mr (Noah) Carlton is a primary school teacher, working in Reception. The descriptions of his daily trials and his grumpy TA Mrs Watson are so true to life and had me laughing in appreciation.
The humour is needed because life for Noah is not exactly rosy. He only gets to see his boys every other weekend, he is still in love with his ex wife, and his pain as an adult is influenced by pain as a child which leads him to find too much comfort in the bottom of a bottle.
Whilst you know (and hope) that no matter how many wrong turns are taken, things will improve, I must admit that Rachel Marks kept me on my toes because I wasn't entirely sure this 30 year old man's life was going to work out quite as I was anticipating.
I read the book in one sitting, such was the beauty of the prose and the uncomplicated way the author allowed me to slip away from my own life and into theirs. There is such a depth of understanding of human emotion and motivation, of the barriers we erect, the lies we tell ourselves, the fear and anger of loss and rejection, that practically every sentence leaves a resonating signature on the reader's heart.
With plenty of real life issues explored, this is a drama portrayed with tenderness and plenty of humour to make the dark bits more palatable, and leave the reader inspired and hopeful rather than downcast. I was rooting for every character for many different reasons and it is because of this immediate connection I can have with Rachel Marks' funny and flawed characters, that I find her books highly engaging and a delight to read.
Read with a smile and a tear about friendship, first love, being a father, moving on, and trying to be a better person. Life is messy, unkind, beautiful and cruel, but if you keep on trying maybe, just maybe, someone or something, or a whole series of events will have you celebrating the here and now and not just waiting Until Next Weekend.
I only wish Rachel Marks could write as quickly as I read as I am now very keen to read the next book!
Thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read, to Netgalley for making it happen and Rachel Marks for her customary brilliant words.
I love the author's style of writing, full of warmth, compassion, sadness and joy. The characters are easy to get to know and fall in love with and I particularly like the fact that Mr (Noah) Carlton is a primary school teacher, working in Reception. The descriptions of his daily trials and his grumpy TA Mrs Watson are so true to life and had me laughing in appreciation.
The humour is needed because life for Noah is not exactly rosy. He only gets to see his boys every other weekend, he is still in love with his ex wife, and his pain as an adult is influenced by pain as a child which leads him to find too much comfort in the bottom of a bottle.
Whilst you know (and hope) that no matter how many wrong turns are taken, things will improve, I must admit that Rachel Marks kept me on my toes because I wasn't entirely sure this 30 year old man's life was going to work out quite as I was anticipating.
I read the book in one sitting, such was the beauty of the prose and the uncomplicated way the author allowed me to slip away from my own life and into theirs. There is such a depth of understanding of human emotion and motivation, of the barriers we erect, the lies we tell ourselves, the fear and anger of loss and rejection, that practically every sentence leaves a resonating signature on the reader's heart.
With plenty of real life issues explored, this is a drama portrayed with tenderness and plenty of humour to make the dark bits more palatable, and leave the reader inspired and hopeful rather than downcast. I was rooting for every character for many different reasons and it is because of this immediate connection I can have with Rachel Marks' funny and flawed characters, that I find her books highly engaging and a delight to read.
Read with a smile and a tear about friendship, first love, being a father, moving on, and trying to be a better person. Life is messy, unkind, beautiful and cruel, but if you keep on trying maybe, just maybe, someone or something, or a whole series of events will have you celebrating the here and now and not just waiting Until Next Weekend.
I only wish Rachel Marks could write as quickly as I read as I am now very keen to read the next book!
Thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read, to Netgalley for making it happen and Rachel Marks for her customary brilliant words.