I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Turner’s previous forays into fiction, and have continued to follow her life on social media, as I have done since The Umumsy Mum years – so was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of her new novel ‘Well, That Escalated Quickly’ which is out early July 2026. Here’s the blurb:

“Meet Fran. This is her to-do list:

• buy milk
• get promoted
• book dentist
• swerve PTA meeting
• practice gratitude
• be a better friend
• stop crying in Morrisons
• rescue relationship
• organise life
• stop keeping secrets

Not on her to-do list? Being made redundant when she was expecting a promotion.
And when one tiny, impulsive decision leads Fran to tell a lie she can’t quite keep up with, suddenly everything starts to unravel.
But could rock bottom be a golden opportunity instead of a complete and utter disaster? With the help of her friends and family, Fran’s about to blow her life wide open…and start piecing it back together. Her way.

Well, That Escalated Quickly is a hilarious, painfully relatable novel about the magic of what happens when you finally stop trying to have it all.”

I really liked Fran from the start. She is juggling trying to be the perfect step Mum to Cora, who is 7, and Mum to her new baby, Sonny, who is 6 months old, as well as expecting a promotion at work. Then – she actually loses her job rather than getting the promotion – but doesn’t quite get round to telling everyone straight away that this has happened. The book shows how easily one tiny omission can lead to a complete double life!

I loved lots of the little details – like Cora being an obsessive Plymouth fan! My 15 year old daughter’s best friend and her family are Argyle fans too (not common in Worcester!) so what with their influence and those of Josh Widdicombe on one of my favourite podcasts – Plymouth have become a team I’m always interested in the results of! #UpTheJanners #GreenArmy. (Weirdly, the aforementioned friend’s big brother is also called Sonny – spooky!)

Fran ends up being known as Chesca to a whole new group of people due to confusion over an email address that she doesn’t correct. I have a very similar situation with our local postmaster who assumed that as I’m officially Elisabeth, I would be known as ‘Liz’ so has called me that for YEARS (rather than Libby, which is what most people know me as). It’s gone on so long it would be awkward to correct him now………

It is clear that Sarah is writing about what she knows – from the big picture stuff like being a busy working Mum – but also more niche things like kids’ grassroots football and coworking spaces (I feel like a bit of a stalker for referencing that – but write what you know is always advised!) It feels incredibly authentic and Fran is a fully rounded – and perfectly imperfect – person.

Fran’s relationships with her immediate family, extended family, friends – old and new, and PTA frenemies are all explored and add to the tapestry of the storyline.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book – and think there is something in there that most people will empathise with. I’ve already pre ordered it for others!

A huge thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC – and for Sarah for another cracking read.