A review by thelarlbookworm
Maybe It's About Time by Neil Boss

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is Neil's debut novel and is Book 1 in this series.

The story revolves around 2 main characters - Claire and Marcus.

Claire is a single mum with 2 small children whose husband walked out on her.

She is struggling and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Gavin, her social worker, who then introduces her to Marcus.

Marcus is a married Dad with 2 grown-up children, works at 'The Firm', and isn't exactly struggling with money.

The stark difference between the pair is quite shocking.

When I first met Marcus, I didn't like him. He was very pompous and job driven... which is fine, but not at the detriment of your family.

As the story progresses, you can see Marcus developing as a person and a character as he becomes more aware of not just himself.

I loved Claire as soon as I met her. As a mum, my heart broke for her when, in the first moment we meet her, we are introduced to her dire financial situation.

My daughter is only a year younger than Claire's daughter Alexa, so it really hit home.

The backdrop of this story in early 2020 - before and at the start of Covid. It was interesting to revisit that period of time but also very sad, seeing it from the doctor's POV.

I feel this is a slow paced story as Neil builds the tension, but there is so much 'real life' going on. You sometimes need the slowness to digest everything.

It is very hardhitting and I highly recommend it. I cannot wait to read what happens next after that ending.