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Well, This Is Awkward by Esther Walker

A child-free woman sets her personal ambitions aside in order to take care of a sibling’s child. This is a familiar plot. Often the heroine emerges from the experience with a big promotion and a new lover. I was interested to find that Esther Walker takes a different approach in her debut novel Well, This Is Awkward.
When Mairéad’s sister Lenny is hospitalised after a freak pig-related incident, she is obliged to take responsibility for Sunny, her eleven-year-old niece. The successful publicist is horrified by the physical neglect the child has suffered, and shocked by her rudeness and odd behaviour. In my opinion it is too easy to label Sunny as neurodivergent. I think the child is trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding her. There are worse ways of handling a crisis than obsessive reading.
Mairéad assumes that her mother, political activist Helen, will take in her only grandchild. Realising that Helen cares more about her shifting troupe of lodgers, she approaches her own friendship group for support. This takes them to a holiday village in Devon, where Sunny makes a friend and learns to socialise within a community. At first, I saw this part of the story as an upmarket version of ‘what I did on my holidays’. On reflection, I can see that it also demonstrates Sunny’s steep learning curve.
After Lenny abandons her daughter, Mairéad tries to adapt to the off-grid rural life Sunny loves. This is my favourite part of the novel, because it is gritty and factual, as well as being realistic about the effect on Mairéad’s mental health. The conclusion is a little disappointing, because it is not clear what comes next for the pair. However, aunt and niece have several options to choose from, and the future looks bright.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
[book:Well, This Is Awkward: The hilarious and uplifting debut novel about finding a family when you least expect it.

Shoot! Tackle! Murder!

Shoot Tackle Murder by Michael Duffy is billed as ‘a tragi-comedic murder mystery about a bunch of senior friends pulled out of their comfort zone into a world of both sporting and criminal skullduggery. Set against the parallel story of two lovers caught by menacing forces intent on destroying them both. Walking Zeds FC, a walking football team of unfit pensioners are driven by one thing - saving their social club from being demolished by a pushy developer. But nobody wants to see their one-time friend, Tony Ackersby, back in town. He’s fresh out of jail after serving 25 years for murdering his actress ex-girlfriend, Estelle Aurora - none other than the nation’s sweetheart. As fate conspires to bring Walking Zeds and Tony ever closer to one another, can they work together to save the club that is the heartbeat of their little community? In doing so, confronting villains at every turn, can they finally prove Tony’s innocence? In the small town of Slainsworth, many secrets lay buried deep.’

Michael A Duffy was born in the industrial north of England ‘in the days of black and white tellies, cassette players and paper maps.’ His gritty sense of humour dates from this era, so it may not be appreciated by readers under fifty, but readers with a similar background to Duffy’s should enjoy it. They will certainly like his conversational style of writing and vintage vocabulary. What I admired about Shoot Tackle Murder was the realistic depiction of a small, inward-looking community where many residents live in each other’s pockets from schooldays to old age. Duffy’s storytelling makes unexpected leaps between time periods. This is slightly disconcerting, but valid, because it is like strolling around a town you have known for many years, where memories overlie each other.

Many thanks to the author and Random Things Tours for giving me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Shoot! Tackle! Murder!

The Secret Between Us by Kate Hewitt

The Secret Between Us explores how well we know the people we love the most. I found it compulsive reading because of Kate Hewitt's engaging style of storytelling. Her way of describing emotional reactions to everyday, down-to-earth situations gave me plenty to think about. I did not predict how the complex interplay of relationships between bohemian Harriet, ultra-formal Elise and charming Michael would eventually play out, but I enjoyed trying.

Harriet and Elise are thrown together when Harriet's daughter joins the expensive private school attended by Elise's twin sons. Elise is securely married to a handsome surgeon and Harriet is caring for her daughter's father, who is terminally ill. There are no prizes for guessing who has the most influence with the PTA when the novel opens, but the balance of power shifts when Harriet and Michael form a risky friendship.

The three children also have relationship issues which at first appear to reflect what their parents are going through, but develop in a separate and fascinating manner.

I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy emotional fiction by authors like Jodi Picault. I was given a copy in return for an honest review.
The Secret Between Us

The Pod Couple by Adam Leigh

A podcast based on interviews with famous ex-couples and hosted by a pair of former lovers sounds intriguing, but how will it affect the presenters? Adam Leigh explores this premise in The Pod Couple. The result is a humorous and touching blend of satire and romcom.
When journalist Chloe Adams embarks on the publicity tour for her new book, she does not expect to appear on a live radio interview alongside comedian Joe Harris, who is promoting his memoir. Chloe and Joe were university sweethearts, but their romance did not survive the move to a dilapidated flat in London. Fifteen years later, Chloe has two children and a loyal husband, while Joe, still single, has struggled to move on. Their uncomfortable reunion leads to an offer they can’t afford to refuse - hosting a podcast about failed relationships. Together they launch Ex-Communicate, showcasing other people’s heartbreak while tiptoeing around their own complicated history.

The story is told in dual narration, following the reactions of Joe and Chloe at first hand. Transcripts of episodes of Ex-Communicate record the hilarious banter between them and show why their podcast is a huge success. There are several entertaining minor characters, for example Kelly the philosophical producer, Mary the acerbic agent and Chloe’s adorable vicar father Malcolm.
The Pod Couple is a funny, wise, warm and tender exploration of different kinds of love. Also, like Leigh’s first two books, The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus and Chicken Wars, it brings to life an aspect of the business world, in this case entertainment. I recommend The Pod Couple as an enjoyable and thought-provoking holiday or weekend read.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The Pod Couple: A Love Story in Episodes

A Thread of Light by Neema Shah

What I like most about A Thread of Light is the creative way author Neema Shah has used tiny details of everyday living. Her painstaking research brings to life a tumultuous period which was at risk of being forgotten. Food, clothes, travel, education, sport – every aspect of the experiences of Indians living abroad during the struggle for independence is explored.
The story is told from the points of view of two young women living in London at the height of WW2. Indian national Kitty has taken refuge in London with her Muslim husband Haseeb, after being rejected by her Hindu family because of their inter-faith marriage. She is an Oxford educated barrister, but due to misogyny and racism she is unable to land a job which is appropriate to her ability level. Ruby, a working-class air raid warden who is the daughter of an Indian father and White English mother, is keen to explore her Indian heritage. Both women must face enormous challenges. Ruby courageously faces the horrors of the Blitz while trying to cope with a family bereavement and hiding a dark secret. Kitty’s biggest problem is loneliness. She has one female English friend from university who invites her to parties, but this only makes her feel like the token foreigner.
Kitty and Ruby meet at the India Forum, an organisation set up by expatriate Indians to promote the cause of Indian independence. Unfortunately, no two members of the Forum agree on how to achieve this objective. The women are not drawn to each other and have only minimal contact, until Ruby’s attraction to the brooding Satyajit begins to affect the group and the cause they share.
I recommend A Thread of Light for its original and illuminating view of a small but meaningful chunk of colonial history.
A Thread of Light

The Lady in the Park by David Reynolds

Jim Domino, a senior police officer, resigns from the Force after an incident when he defied procedure for all the right reasons. He sets up in business as a private investigator while maintaining a friendly relationship with his former partners in crime-fighting. Gradually he builds up a reliable team of investigators and, using daring but unorthodox methods, fearlessly pursues the puppet-masters of organised crime.
The basic structure of The Lady in the Park will be familiar to readers of crime fiction, but David Reynolds tells his story in a way I have not encountered before. To begin with, Reynolds set up the excellent Quick Reads initiative, which aims to provide well written novels at a literacy level suitable for emerging, or reluctant, readers. For this reason, his prose is simple, clearly expressed and easy to follow.
Also, Jim is multi-faceted, in a positive way. Many fictional detectives have inner demons - substance addiction, or a dark personal history. Not Jim. He gets on well with his two daughters and regularly helps out with babysitting and the school run. I love that he uses the innocent perceptions of his grandson Danny to guide his investigations. He watches what he eats and exercises daily. A widower still mourning the loss of his wife, he has a mutually satisfactory relationship with Vic, a female lawyer.
Although Jim is a nice guy he knows how to handle himself in a fist fight. The mystery he dedicates himself to solving is genuinely puzzling, the crimes he tackles are evil and the criminals he encounters are vile.
I was given this book in return for an honest review. I honestly think it’s a cracking and delightfully accessible read.

The Lady in the Park

Kiss, Marry, Murder by Faye Brann

After receiving a death threat Jessica Sinclair, investigative journalist, TV reality show host and D-list celeb, abandons her career. She thinks it will be easy to find a new job, but at fifty-one her options are limited. With bills to pay she sets up in business as a private investigator, but finds that carrying out surveillance on unfaithful spouses is not as straightforward as she expected. In search of support she goes to visit her former bestie Marianne, hoping for a reconciliation. Instead she discovers her estranged friend dead in a pool of blood. To Jessica’s horror, she is now under suspicion of murder and the gutter press are congregating at her door. To make matters worse, her cheating ex-husband is one of the police officers assigned to the case. Suspecting that the solution is close to home, Jessica sets out to use her investigative skills to track down Marianne’s killer before she also becomes a victim. Two middle-aged female assistants - cynical Darcy and combative Della - eagerly join her in the hunt. The outcome is a fast-paced murder mystery with a surprising conclusion.
Faye Brann won the Comedy Women in Print prize for an unpublished novel with her debut Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy, which I also had the pleasure of reviewing. Brann has a fine talent for juxtaposing unrelated situations and characters for comic effect. She is also very good at finding humour in everyday details. I especially like the way she introduces mature women as leading characters.
I was given a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
Kiss, Marry, Murder

Not That I'm Bitter by Helen Lederer

Not That I’m Bitter is the powerful, frank and funny memoir of UK comedy legend Helen Lederer. It is a shade bitter, but in the best possible way. A woman who began her comedy career at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1982, then fought her way to the top via the stand-up comedy circuit, is entitled to bear a few grudges. Helen, whose best-known role is probably Catriona in Absolutely Fabulous, was present when many of today's comedic national treasures launched their careers. Although she has never been mainstream, her own career continues to be stellar.
Helen recounts the challenges faced by brave women who dare to set their sights on comedy glory, especially those from a less privileged background. There are laugh-out-loud moments, fascinating photos and snatches of vintage scripts. Darker passages describe Helen's struggle to keep her career afloat while coping with single motherhood, and episodes when the world seemed to be against her. Her humour and courage illuminate even the worst times.
I pre-ordered Not That I’m Bitter because I admire Helen Lederer and enjoy her performances. I am very satisfied with my purchase.
Not That I'm Bitter

Still Got It by Claire Carver

In Claire Carver’s debut novel Still Got It, sixty-one year old Grace is in love with the landscape, cuisine and lifestyle of Greece. For years she has been overwhelmed by life-changing experiences: caring responsibilities leading to early retirement, the death of her husband, an adult child settling abroad. Grace misses teaching, so she takes a job at a language school on a Greek island. There she meets age-appropriate Will, a charming ex-forces security manager who appears to be suffering from commitment phobia. The fact that at least two of Will’s ex-girlfriends live on the small island does not deter Grace, and they embark on a romance. Will is a convincing and likeable character. Not only is he capable of having mind-blowing sex on the beach, but he can also cook and do his own laundry. Grace’s colleagues at the language school provide a mixture of companionship and breathtaking scandal to move the story along. Still Got It is an easy read with a feel-good ending. Its blending of later-life romance with beautiful locations and delicious food make it an excellent holiday read.
I was given a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
Still Got It: Make this heartwarming later-in-life romantic comedy your must-have beach read for 2025!

Aged to Perfection by Niloufar Lamakan

In her very funny debut novel Aged to Perfection, Niloufar Lamakan celebrates the pursuit of passion in later life. When Sophia Stone finds herself single at sixty, a friend dares her to seek her soulmate by going on one date a week for a year. Having had her fill of faithless men, Sophia chooses to ignore the soulmate bit. Instead, she resolves to have lots of meaningless but thrilling sex. Her adventures on the mature dating scene ring true. Characters like Premature Paul, the Opera Buff and the Orgasm Expert are hilarious and totally convincing.
Many humorous novels about older women are dominated by their relationships with former partners or adult children. In contrast, there is a refreshing sense of liberation in Aged to Perfection. Sophia’s sex life is nobody’s business but her own. Also, being a successful interior designer, she can afford to travel abroad on her quest for sensual pleasure. Her career also provides a stream of comical anecdotes about her quirky clients.
Lamakan narrates the story in diary format. Most of the entries are witty and casual, but others are more thoughtful. When Sophia is not engaged in bawdy carousing, she cares deeply for her close circle of friends, her lively eighty-year-old parents and her difficult sister. When she says ‘I kept my feelings inside with a giant stopper of nonchalance’ it perfectly sums up her personality.
I recommend Aged to Perfection to anyone who enjoys a naughty giggle. I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.