Fiona Gibson

Book Review: The Mum Who Got Her Life Back by Fiona Gibson

Posted on by Libby Price

The Mum Who Got Her Life Back

 

I’ve enjoyed Fiona Gibson books historically – and as I was about to start her previous one,  The Mum Who’d Had Enough, I noticed this new one was available on NetGalley to download as an advanced review copy – so I jumped at the chance.  However, I then didn’t love The Mum Who’d Had Enough as much as I’d hoped, so wondered if I would regret my decision……

Here’s the blurb:

“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?”

I am DELIGHTED to say, I enjoyed this book immediately.  My sister has just waved my eldest niece off to Uni – and so the first bit of this reminded me of when they did the whole dropping off at halls thing.  I LOLled.  (I have a couple of years before this becomes my reality – but as it will be the first of 4, I’m not too worried about the whole empty nest thing as yet!!)

There are many different settings throughout the book.  Glasgow – obviously, but also the Ayrshire coast and Barcelona – so it was good to reminisce about various trips we’ve been on (although Nadia didn’t get to see a naked bloke strolling along the beach in Barcelona, so I do feel she missed out a bit! #holidayflashbacks #notjustthesangriahonestly)

It was a really ‘nice’ book.  Sometimes the characters were a bit annoying – but no one was particularly unpleasant.  There were some crossed wires (and I wanted to give people a good shake!) but overall it was a lovely read.

This is a fun, easy read – which is sometimes exactly what you want / need.  Nothing too taxing – but enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced review copy in exchange for a fair review.

 

 

Book Review: The Mum Who’d Had Enough by Fiona Gibson

Posted on by Libby Price

 

The Mum.jpg

 

I follow the author Fiona Gibson on Twitter – and she happened to tweet to say this book was on special on Amazon, so being a sucker for social media ad type stuff, I went to buy it!  Here’s the Amazon blurb:

“After sixteen years of marriage, Nate and Sinead Turner have a nice life. They like their jobs, they like their house and they love their son Flynn. Yes, it’s a very nice life.
Or, at least Nate thinks so. Until, one morning, he wakes to find Sinead gone and a note lying on the kitchen table listing all the things he does wrong or doesn’t do at all.
Nate needs to show Sinead he can be a better husband – fast. But as he works through Sinead’s list, his life changes in unexpected ways. And he starts to wonder whether he wants them to go back to normal after all. Could there be more to life than nice?”

The book has chapters written by different characters – initially Sinead and Nate – but later on in the book by a new character who is introduced – Tanzie.  I liked the way it was told by different people – and their differing views of the same scenes.

I found Sinead incredibly annoying and judgemental – and not a very nice wife, mother, or friend.  She was incredibly self centred and frustrating.  If you’re not happy with something then say something – don’t expect the other person to be psychic – and don’t just flounce off without giving them an option to respond.

Nate was a wet lettuce and needed a good slap, and to just be a bit more motivated to do stuff.

Their son Flynn was a typical teenager, and whilst his cerebral palsy was referenced – it didn’t really affect him as a character.  The teenage interactions (and specifically oreos and such like for breakfast) definitely rang true.

I liked Tanzie the most – but definitely best of a bad bunch!

A friend has just FINALLY passed her driving test – and so I quite enjoyed that element of the storyline because it’s something that’s been on my radar recently.

The book was an easy read – and I did want to know what happened – but it’s not going to win any prizes.  It’s nothing taxing – so if you fancy something like that, then it’s fine – but having just read some amazing books, it all felt a bit flat and done before.  I’m just glad I didn’t pay full price for it!

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: As good as it gets? by Fiona Gibson

Posted on by Libby Price

As Good As It Gets

Just a few chapters in I knew I was going to enjoy this book as the reference points were bang on for me! I too have had a shopping fail due to the light being too dark in certain trendy stores (in the book Charlotte mistakes a navy sweatshirt for black, in my case I bought my 11 year old daughter a top with swearing on it!!) and I also concur that Forever 21 stores are enormous and you need to have a map to escape (I actually had to ask for help to find my way out of one last year!!)

This is what Amazon had to say about it:

“A warm, funny read for fans of Outnumbered and the novels of Fern Britton, Fiona writes about life as it really is.

“Midlife crisis? WHAT midlife crisis?!”

Charlotte Bristow is worried about her husband Will. With her 16-year-old daughter Rosie newly signed to a top modelling agency, and Will recently out of a job, things are changing in their household.

As Will dusts down his old leather trousers and starts partying with their new, fun neighbours, Charlotte begins to wonder what on earth is going on.

So when Fraser, Charlotte’s ex – and father of Rosie – suddenly arrives back on the scene, she starts to imagine what might have been…”

I did enjoy this a lot. It’s not intellectually challenging, nor emotionally draining – but it’s an easy read with some great ‘laugh out loud’ moments (in fact I was told off by my 3 year old for making her bed rock with my LOLing when she was trying to go to sleep!!)

I will definitely be investigating Fiona Gibson’s other books – and this is out in paperback next week if you’re a traditional reader!