Reading

Book Review: Lessons From A Default Parent by Lou Beckett

Posted on by Libby Price

I have been a listener to the Parenting Hell podcast since it started way back in lockdown – so I feel like I ‘know’ Lou Beckett already. In fact my review of the Parenting Hell book by her husband Rob and Josh Widdicombe turned into a bit of a Lou Beckett appreciation post! So when I heard she’d written her first book (and having enjoyed the chapter she’d written for the Parenting Hell book and a longform blog post that went viral), I was looking forward to reading it – and then was super grateful to be granted an advance review copy by Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“What nobody tells you about parenthood, from one of the ‘silent partners’ behind the Parenting Hell podcast.
School-run coordinator, party planner, clubs organiser, laundry sorter… and maybe even a ‘real’ job on top! Sound exhaustingly familiar?
From assumptions surrounding who is going to stay at home with the kids to the never-ending list of school admin, being ‘the default parent’ rears its head in a plethora of ways.
This book is for all the defaults out there – bored out of their eyeballs or so overwhelmed they could scream expletives into the wind for a solid hour – to know their invisible labour is seen and valued.
With heartfelt and hilarious advice, Lou Beckett provides much-needed comfort and community for the one who is depended on the most (and often feels appreciated the least), and maybe – just maybe – how we can begin to rebalance the parenting scales and muddle through a little better, together.”

Now I’ve been a default parent for almost 23 years – so this was not telling me anything I didn’t already know – but it did give me vindication for what we’ve experienced as a family! Lou writes incredibly eloquently – and her findings are backed up by research and data which is always reassuring. She is witty, intelligent and occasionally a bit sweary – perfect Mum-friend material I’d say!

Lou talks about her own experiences with Rob and their girls – but also tries to be inclusive of other situations. She does admit that ‘generally’ the default parent is the mother rather than the father. This was highlighted to me recently when the NHS sent text messages about Year 9 vaccinations to the ‘primary contact’ on the school’s records. to everyone in my youngest daughter’s year. In most instances this seemed to be based on historic gender roles for school forms (and possibly because it’s an ancient fee paying school who are quite ‘traditional’) and was the father. My husband, like many others it would appear, had assumed that the message had gone to both parents and so I would deal with it and he could ignore it! Thankfully one husband clarified that with his wife – who hadn’t received the text message – and the school year WhatsApp group unravelled what had happened, and the ‘default family administrators and form fillers’ – who in 95% of the cases were the mothers – got on with registering their children for the jabs. In that instance – as well as with Lou’s anecdotes – it does help you realise you’re not alone!!

I think this would be a perfect book if you’re just starting a family and want to set down some ground rules right from the beginning. I’m also reading it in the capacity as a new grandmother. Due to circumstances are eldest daughter finds herself the sole parent – and thus by default (pun most definitely intended, just as Lou does in the book!) – the default parent to our gorgeous grandson. She has the support of me, her Dad and siblings – but it is completely different dynamic for her than a standard default and non-default parent relationship – and it’s made me think about how we can help her more.

Rob has a right of reply chapter at the end – and I think a lot of what he says would be fairly common for the non-default. I think communication is key for everyone – your partner is unlikely to be psychic! I also believe it is incredibly true where Lou talks about letting the non-default do things their way when you have agreed how tasks are to be shared out. It’s taken me a long time – but I’m getting better at not commenting when the dishwasher hasn’t been stacked as I would (some might say hasn’t been stacked ‘properly’?!)

As Lou said on Saturday Kitchen yesterday (I was v proud of her being on live TV with Rob – not sure if that would feel like a security blanket or more of a liability?!) it’s not a manual – but it does most definitely give you food for thought and realise you’re not alone. I think it would be a perfect gift to a pregnant couple or new parents (I believe it’s going to be in ‘Don’t Buy Her Flowers‘ gift boxes – so that’s a present pairing made in heaven!!)

A huge thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC, it’s out later this month.

Book Review: The Book Club For Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

Posted on by Libby Price

I am very lucky that I get given loads of books to read for free – but my sister messaged to say she thought I’d enjoy this book – so without even reading the blurb I ordered it! But if you need to read the blurb first – here it is:

“By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman’s dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia–one of Northern Virginia’s most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman’s Place–a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn’t that feel like enough?
Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia’s newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte’s orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women–Bitsy and Viv–to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they’d been sold isn’t all roses and sunshine–and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments–and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a humorous, thought provoking, and nostalgic romp through one pivotal and tumultuous American year–as well as an ode to self-discovery, persistence, and the power of sisterhood.“

Straight away I got ‘Lessons In Chemistry‘ vibes from this book – which I also thoroughly enjoyed – but it kind of set the scene for the historical setting in my brain. Margaret and her neighbours are all very different women in very different times – but you will definitely see similarities between your own friends and the book club ladies. They really were incredibly different times for women!

Some historical facts are woven through the story (the assassination of JFK being one of them, which I suspect for the generation older than me is a life event you remember where you were when you heard the news – for me similar events are 9/11 and when Princess Diana died) but a lot of the book is the day to day lives of the women in Concordia.

My sister was correct – I did really enjoy it – and I can see it would make a good ‘bookclub’ book – as there is a lot to discuss and think about.

Book Review: All Grown Up by Daisy Buchanan

Posted on by Libby Price

A few years ago I read a previous book by Daisy Buchanan called Insatiable which I thoroughly enjoyed, and when Net Galley had a new book by the same author, I was pleased to be granted an advance review copy (it’s out in June 2026 but can be pre ordered now).

Here’s the blurb:

“After thirty long years, Louisa’s daughters can finally look after themselves … or so she thinks.
Because suddenly, they’re back – apparently for good. Meg’s second-guessing her marriage. Jo’s career hangs in the balance. Amy has inexplicably quit university. None of them empty the dishwasher.
Louisa knows it’s time for some life lessons. She adores her girls, but if she’s ever going to get her (sex) life back, they’ll have to grow up – and go.
But maybe they’re not the only ones with lessons to learn… And Louisa might just discover that her daughters have something to teach her about being an adult too.“

I have to say I didn’t look closely at the cover of the book – so it was when I started reading it that I realised the names were familiar – and then when it became evident that the sister called Beth had died (not a spoiler, I promise!), I thought it must be connected to the famous Louise May Alcott book Little Women. Seemingly it’s a reimagining in modern day Manchester – but I’m not familiar enough with the classic book’s storylines to know just how close it is, but I suspect big fans of the OG Little Women will find even more Easter Eggs within in than I did.

Louisa is almost my age – it’s her 49th birthday at the start of the book – and so that made it easy to empathise with her in many ways. Also one of her daughters has a baby during the book – and my first Grandson was born as I was reading it – so that was a lovely thing to experience at the same time, and share the emotions of. And children not emptying the dishwasher unless they are asked to is top of my pet peeves according to my husband!

I really enjoyed the book and getting to know all of the March family and their friends and neighbours. It was a lovely read told from their different points of view. Sometimes the girls in particular were frustrating – but at the end of the day, they are all there for each other – just like in real life.

I did keep expecting there to be some graphic sex scenes (based purely on the previous book by the same author that I’d read, and that wasn’t the reason I’d requested the ARC, honestly!) and whilst there was a little bit, it felt much tamer – but completely appropriate to the storyline.

I thoroughly enjoyed it – and would recommend you pre order it ready for June. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC.

Book Review: They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith

Posted on by Libby Price

I’ve enjoyed previous books by Nikki Smith – set in exotic locations around the world – and when I saw her new novel was out and set in Bali, I requested and was granted an advance review copy (although it was out back in July 2025, so you can order it now if you like the sound of it). Here’s the blurb:

“Escape to Bali in this gripping new sunlounger thriller, for fans of Lucy Clarke and Ruth Ware.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . .
Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They’ve been a four for as long as they can remember: fancy dinners, dancing ’til dawn . . . Even living and working together.
So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London.
But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show.
Which is hardly surprising; they’ve been lying to each other for years.
And now, it’s time for revenge.”

I have to say it took me a weirdly long time to get into the book – I kept forgetting which of the characters were couples, and which two had moved to Bali and which two still lived in London. I know that sounds odd – and I’m sure is completely my issue – but everyone seemed interchangeable – it was bizarre!

I didn’t particularly like any of the characters either – so all in all, I’m not really selling this well to you?!?

It was clearly evident that each of the characters was keeping secrets from the others – both their other halves and their friends – or should that be frenemies?!

The descriptions of Bali – and the touristy / non touristy bits was interesting (and made me crave some sunshine!)

The storyline was interesting and you wanted to see how it developed – but then there was this huge change towards the end and a part of the story was so different to the rest it was as if two books had been spliced together with seemingly no initial connection. All in all – a bit weird.

Whether this just got me at the wrong time – but it just wasn’t the book for me – sorry!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC.

Book Review: A Cornish Legacy by Fern Britton

Posted on by Libby Price

Having enjoyed books by Fern Britton before, I realised I hadn’t read one of hers for ages – so I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of A Cornish Legacy. However I was a bit slack with my TBR pile – so I’ve ended up reading it post publication (but at least that means you can purchase it immediately if you like the sound of it!) Here’s the blurb:

“Escape to Cornwall this summer with the new emotional and uplifting novel from Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Fern Britton.
Set by the wild Atlantic coast of Cornwall comes a story about finding home in the most unlikely places.
When Cordelia Jago learns she’s been left the crumbling manor house Wilder Hoo, perched high on the Cornish coast, she wonders if it’s one last cruel joke from beyond the grave.
Having already lost her marriage, her best friend and her career, she’s at rock-bottom. Now she’s inherited a house she hates, full of unhappy memories.
But as she fights with its echoing rooms and whispering shadows, the house begins to exert a pull on her. The wild Cornish landscape, the stark beauty of seagrass and yellow gorse against the deep blue sea, begin to awaken a connection she thought she’d buried forever.
Could she turn around this monstrous wreck of a house – and, along the way, let go of the secrets of the past and heal her heart too?“

Not only was I slack with reading this, I’ve then been even more slack in writing a review! The blurb gives you all of the background, and as you’d expect from a Fern Britton novel – it really evokes Cornwall, and is comforting like a big hug. I thoroughly enjoyed it and being transported to Wilder Hoo.

The dual timeline of the current experience of Delia inheriting the house – but then the back story of how she got there – are both well explored. The supporting cast of friends and family are well written and interesting.

A really lovely, escapist, simple read – perfect for my pre bed reading.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC. If you like the sound of it you can buy it right now!

Book Review: Am I Having Fun Now? by Suzi Ruffell

Posted on by Libby Price

A couple of years ago a friend recommended the podcast ‘Like Minded Friends’ with Tom Allen and Suzi Ruffell – saying it was a really lovely calming podcast, listening to two friends chat away. I started listening – and have been a fan ever since. The podcast started way back in October 2015 (before the whole world and his – or her – wife had a podcast) and whilst Tom and Suzi are both gay, and lots of listeners are members of the LGBTQ+ community – it is also for allies, which I would consider myself to be.

Suzi had mentioned on the pod about the book she was writing – and way back before it’s release I requested an advance review copy from Net Galley. I didn’t hear anything back – and was busy reading other books – so didn’t really worry, but then randomly, a couple of months after publication, I was sent a copy.

Here is the blurb:

“Does peaking in high school ruin you for life?
Was Miley Cyrus right, is it all about the climb (when it comes to building a career?)
And what – scientifically – is the best way to mend a broken heart?
Comedian Suzi Ruffell is considering life’s big questions.In this brutally honest, funny, and often moving memoir, Suzi winningly tells her life story, and asks a host of experts to answer the tricky questions it prompts along the way. Diamond life advice comes from the likes of Elizabeth Day, Dolly Alderton, Charlene Douglas, Laura Bates, Dr Kirren Schnack, and more.From masking anxiety with musical theatre and struggling to find her groove at school, on stage, and in her love life, to (eventually) coming out, falling in love, and becoming a parent, Suzi lays her life bare with trademark wit, verve and style. Am I Having Fun Now? is riveting, relatable and revealing. Studded with brilliant, cutting observations on feminism, being working class in the world of arts and comedy, LGBTQ+ equality and the up- and downsides of ambition, it’s perfect reading for fans of books by Fern Brady, Sarah Pascoe, Elizabeth Day and Tom Allen.”

I feel like I ‘know’ Suzi – listening to her chat to Tom every week – and so really enjoyed hearing more of her story – although I did feel familiar with lots of the other protagonists – Anne Ruffell, Alice etc #clang

Whilst the book tells Suzi’s life story to date – it does it by looking at big important life questions, it’s not a chronological autobiography (although does roughly follow Suzi’s life timeline). At the end of each chapter Suzi talks to a specific ‘expert’ about the topic covered – this gave it it a bit more ‘weight’ and thought than some celebrity memoirs.

As you would expect from a book written by a stand up comedian – some of it is really funny – but it is also thought provoking and interesting too.

A big thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my review copy – albeit not advanced!

Book Review: Still Falling For You by Holly Miller

Posted on by Libby Price

Having enjoyed previous books by Holly Miller (although not for a few years, so I think I may have missed some of her back catalogue) I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of her new book – out in February 2026. Here is the blurb:

“THEY SAY TRUE LOVE LASTS FOREVER. BUT WHAT IF IT REALLY COULD?
Josh is 18. Rachel is 18.
From the first night they meet as freshers, Rachel and Josh know they are meant to be. An electric connection quickly blossoms into plans to spend the rest of their lives together.
Josh is 29. Rachel is 29.
Inexplicably, none of the men in Josh’s family has lived past the age of thirty. As the fateful birthday approaches, Josh is wracked with fears: of his own death, and of leaving Rachel alone in this world.
So when a genius scientist offers him a radical new treatment – which might just save Josh’s future with Rachel – how can he possibly say no?
Josh is 29. Rachel is 31.
Rachel wanted nothing more than to grow old with her soulmate, surrounded by the family they longed for. Now, faced with the impossibility of that dream, she has a heartbreaking choice to make. Does the pursuit of happiness mean more to her than true love?”

OOh- this is good – and with an interesting premise that I really liked, and was beautifully explored and well written – but I don’t feel I can say too much without there being spoilers – and we all know I loathe a book review with spoilers in it!!

Rachel and Josh are just a few years older than me (at the start of the book anyway!) and so their reference points at Uni and getting married are similar to mine. The timeline starts in the late 80s – and goes through present day into the near future. Whilst a lot of the book looks at the relationship between Josh and Rachel – wider family and friends and those relationships are also explored – and how such relationships evolve over time.

You have to have an element of suspending disbelief over the ‘radical new treatment’ referred to in the blurb – but it does prompt lots of things to think about.

The book is thought provoking and emotional and makes you consider your own mortality and ageing. Overall I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC. You can pre order Still Falling For You now ready for it’s release early next year.

Book Review: This Book Made Me Think Of You by Libby Page

Posted on by Libby Price

Having enjoyed previous books by Libby Page, I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of her next book, due out in January 2026 (but available for pre order now if you like the sound of it!) Here’s the blurb:

“Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart . . .
When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago . . .The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.
Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?”

This book is so lovely – and quite emotional – you really feel for what Tilly / Matilda is going through having lost her husband, Joe, a few months before. Whilst he wasn’t a book lover – he fully appreciated that Tilly was and set up this wonderful plan to give her a new book each month. The start of each chapter also has the book shop’s recommendation for the coming month too (and I loved that there were a mixture of books I had and hadn’t already read).

The thought that Joe has put into each month is really lovely – and you see how Tilly grows and changes over the year. There are flashbacks to Tilly’s life with Joe – and her relationships with family and friends (old and new) are also evolving. Clearly grief is an important issue throughout the book – and at times it was incredibly moving (quite embarrassingly I ended up snotty sobbing at the end whilst my daughter and her friend enjoyed splashing around at an Aqua Park!)

Whilst the book is primarily set in London – there are trips to Bali, Italy, Paris and New York – and each setting is described beautifully. Escaping metaphorically into the pages of a book, as well as escaping physically to other parts of the world are cleverly compared and contrasted.

The book also describes the importance of a physical book shop – and the difficulties they have to survive in an era of online purchasing. To be honest I think it’s the same for many independent shops on our high street nowadays – so let’s try and support them whenever we can!

One premise of the storyline is clearly a love for books. I love it when people recommend books to me – or send me book post – it’s so thoughtful (although when I sent a friend a book I thought she’d like, she didn’t see the gift note, and thought she’d been drunk shopping on the internet!!!)

Overall it’s another triumph for Libby Page – she writes such beautiful, emotive books – I’d definitely recommend pre ordering (maybe from your local bookshop) for when this is out in January 2026.

A big thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC.

Book Review: One of Us by Elizabeth Day

Posted on by Libby Price

I always enjoy Elizabeth Day’s books, both fiction and non fiction, and when I saw she’d written a sequel to The Party, I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy from Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“In this compulsive story of betrayal, old bonds and buried scandals, one British establishment family comes face to face with the consequences of privilege and the true cost of power.
Martin and Ben were friends for decades ― best friends, Martin would have said ― before the terrible events at Ben’s 40th birthday party tore them apart. So when Martin receives a surprise invitation back into the inner sanctum of the dazzling Fitzmaurice family after seven years of silence, he can’t resist the chance to get his revenge.
Ben has risen through the ranks of power, and is now touted as the next Prime Minister. But Martin can’t help but notice certain flies in the ointment… Ben’s wife, Serena, for instance, whose privileged existence is beginning to feel like a gilded cage. Or their daughter, Cosima, an environmental activist fighting against everything her parents once stood for. Or the disgraced MP Richard Take, determined to make his big comeback. And then there’s Fliss, the Fitzmaurice black sheep, whose untimely death sparks more suspicion than closure. Through their intertwined stories, we see a family – and a nation – unravelling under the weight of its secrets.
With everyone watching, the stage is set for a reckoning. It’s time for Martin and Ben to confront what love truly means when everything―family, power, and loyalty―is on the line.”

Having said in the opening sentence that I was excited this was a sequel to The Party, I’d then forgotten about this before starting it – and so I hadn’t read back the synopsis of the initial book in the series – and I actually think this would stand alone as a book – as the relevant elements of the back story are explained in summary as and when required – but equally it was interesting to revisit old ‘friends’.

The book is told from multiple points of view – and I quite like that, as it keeps momentum – and you see different ‘takes’ on the same situation.

There were lots of unlikeable characters in the book – and seeing how their unpleasantness interacted and unfolded was interesting! I fundamentally liked both Martin and Cosima – although they could have done with a good talking to sometimes.

Whilst the main threads of family, power and loyalty are fairly timeless – this did feel like a book of the moment with regards to politics, sexual politics and environmental issues all thrown in.

I always feel that a lot of care and attention has been made in both the writing – and editing – of Elizabeth’s books – it’s incredibly unusual to find a typo / grammar / continuity error – and I was not disappointed.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed ‘One Of Us’ and would definitely recommend you pre order before it’s release in late September 2025.

A big thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC.

Book Review: A Month In The Country by J L Carr

Posted on by Libby Price

I have mentioned my love of ‘The Rest Is Entertainment’ podcast before, and recently read one of Marina’s book recommendations, and now it’s Richard’s turn. He recommended A Month In The Country when specifically short novels were being discussed – but has reiterated his love of the book subsequently. Here’s the blurb (although I have to say I didn’t read it – as ‘recommended by Richard Osnam’ was enough for me!):

“One summer, just after the Great War, Tom Birkin, a demobbed soldier, arrives in the village of Oxgodby. He has been invited to uncover and restore a medieval wall painting in the local church. At the same time, Charles Moon – a fellow damaged survivor of the war – has been asked to locate the grave of a village ancestor. As these two outsiders go about their work of recovery, they form a bond, but they also stir up long dormant passions within the village. What Berkin discovers here will stay with him for the rest of his life . . .”

This book is lovely – Richard was not wrong! It is written beautifully and is really evocative of the location and situations Birkin and Moon find themselves in They’ve clearly both had an awful time during the First World War and are now pursuing interesting new careers. Whilst quite serious in places – there were also really funny moments too. It felt like a comfortable, Sunday night escapist drama – with beautiful prose thrown in.

The supporting cast of characters in Oxgodby are fabulous – particular favourites are the Station Master’s family who really take Tom under their wing. The vicar’s wife is also intriguing.

I also like the fact that as Mr Osman said himself, if you recommend a short book and someone else doesn’t like it – it’s not the end of the world. (As I’ve definitely said before, some friends I don’t think will ever forgive me for my The Goldfinch recommendation…………..)