The story was exactly what the title said. Nadia’s twins left for college, her ex was busy with shooting his movies and girlfriend, now it was her time to live her life. The empty nest syndrome became her freedom where she met Jack a single father, and life started looking up for her in the romance department too. Till one twin Alfie popped home and stayed there, and mum title took over the girlfriend one.
Fiona Gibson‘s started off fine. It was humorous, gave me a chuckle or two till Alfie dominated the mother’s thoughts and life. Quite a sanctimonious bub he was!! I would have kicked him out had he been found lazing around on my couch!! Never understood why main character Nadia pandered to her son’s needs more than the daughter’s who was hardly there.
The story went through the routine lanes with the characters revealing their past only in the end. All of them played their parts. Nothing really pulled me in the book. I read and forgot it instantly, except I still want to bop Alfie one!! And I am generally peace loving!!
Overall, the book was a quick read, done in a couple of hours. On to my next!!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Avon Books UK, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
How do you react to characters who irritate you?
Fiona Gibson is an author and journalist. Originally from Yorkshire, she started her writing life at the age of seventeen on Jackie magazine. She is a regular contributor to Red, Sainsbury’s Magazine and the Sunday Herald, and lives with her husband and their three children in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
When her 18-year-old twins leave for university, single mum Nadia’s life changes in ways she never expected: her Glasgow flat feels suddenly huge, laundry doesn’t take up half her week, and she no longer has to buy ‘the Big Milk’. After almost two decades of putting everyone else first, Nadia is finally taking care of herself. And with a budding romance with new boyfriend Jack, She’s never felt more alive.
That is, until her son Alfie drops out of university, and Nadia finds her empty nest is empty no more. With a heartbroken teenager to contend with, Nadia has to ask herself: is it ever possible for a mother to get her own life back? And can Jack and Nadia’s relationship survive having a sulky teenager around?
Publication Date: 1st March 2019
Publisher: Avon Books UK
32 Responses
I bought another of this authors books to read recently having read and loved another of her books. Not read this one x
I am sure you will like it as most have… ❤️
Sounds like a cute read.
It’s okay if there are irritating characters in a book I’m reading as long as it’s not the protagonist. The only exception is when a talented author writes a main character who is insane because then you get into that fun, unreliable narrator thing.
That unreliable main character is so done now. I am not liking it at all Priscilla, now they should go back to likable strong characters and bring new twists to plot.
Alfie certainly sounds as if he needs a bop or two. Maybe Nadia should have done it much earlier – wouldn’t have had to wait for 18 years to get her life back! ( So say I who hasn’t read the book 😂)
😂😂😂😂 Well said, so says I who has read the book and had violent thoughts… 😂 😂
sounds interesting! great review Shalini!
Thank you Yesha ❤️
I applaud you. Usually when I am really irritated by a character, I struggle to finish the book. Hence why I am still only 2/3rds done with Eat Pray Love. Characters make or break a book for me so it’s a struggle to power through if I dislike or am irritated by the main protagonist.
Same here. But there are so many books which have those unlikable unreliable characters that it has become the norm now. Hence I look to the plot bow… 🤷🏻♀️
That’s probabaly a good idea. Unfortunately, characters take a backseat to plot a lot of the time.
It is annoying but I have seen so many mothers do the exact same thing in overindulging and catering to their sons, both my grandmothers had, but – thankfully – I didn’t have a brother
My parents are still strict with me… No indulgence ever…
But she did everything except feed him in this book
I enjoy reading her stories – especially when I am looking for a lighthearted read.
That’s really sweet… Maybe I should try her other books
He does sound quite irritating!
In my reading tastes, I tend to stop reading if the main character(s) irritate me too much. (I had to stop writing my 2nd novel because my own main characters irritated me too much. I could not get them to be anything less than nasty & passive! Rrrr.) I remember reading Middlemarch, by George Eliot, and wanting to slap Rosamond upside the head every time she walked onto the page. Managed to finish that book, though.
Hahaha what did you do with your novel? Did you change the characters?
I ditched the novel and started writing another one!
Oooo you are gutsy!!
Hope the next one is more memorable!
Fingers crossed ❤️
OK that guy sounds kinda irritating. How did you put up with him! And you got right to the end! Bravo! Anyhow it does sound like a fun read despite that character 😉
Umm… Err… Skim read his parts as I was getting so angry with him.. 😂 😂
Great review! I really love how you express your feelings! xxx
😳😲 Really… Half the time I have only few words in my mind.. Wtf or wow😂😂😂 then to expand on that in a polite or gushing manner just takes time… 😂 😂
😂 Same here!
I don’t need a character to be likeable — but they need to be interesting
Well said Da-AL… I like a good plot too
Mum sounds like an enabler!
Exactly my point… The son did nothing leaving the university after a month or so.. And plopped on the couch… 😂
Great book review, Shalini! 💛
Thank you so much Amber ❤️