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Whilst I Was Out
As a much-abused working mother of three, Alice begins to suspect what is wrong with her marriage.
Her husband.
Already a few fries short of a Happy Meal and more interested in cycling than Alice, he goes even more bonkers when she wants out. Alice deals with it the only way she knows how - by reaching for the bottle.
Falling head over heels for someone new, and that someone's a woman, Alice dreams of a happy home for her children only to realise she's swapped a narcissist for a sociopath. But can Alice trust her own judgment now her drinking has become a real problem?
Weaving comedy into romance, Sara Stewart lets us laugh and learn with her heroine: how to get out before it turns into a tragedy.
Her husband.
Already a few fries short of a Happy Meal and more interested in cycling than Alice, he goes even more bonkers when she wants out. Alice deals with it the only way she knows how - by reaching for the bottle.
Falling head over heels for someone new, and that someone's a woman, Alice dreams of a happy home for her children only to realise she's swapped a narcissist for a sociopath. But can Alice trust her own judgment now her drinking has become a real problem?
Weaving comedy into romance, Sara Stewart lets us laugh and learn with her heroine: how to get out before it turns into a tragedy.
239 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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October 31, 2017I lost interest. If i get back to it ill leave a proper review.
November 13, 2016
I found this book compelling, but not funny in the least. I've read Brit humor before and enjoyed it. I don't know where comedy was supposed to be in this novel, but I sure didn't see it except for the cover. At least now I get the cover!
That being said, heartbreaking story of a woman who lost herself in her addiction and didn't find herself until she stopped drinking. It was kind of an odd coming out story, but in some ways it was that as well.
I don't know if I liked it, but the writing was fascinating and left me unsettled. Yes, I would read a sequel. I'd actually love to see one!
Review copy from NetGalley.
That being said, heartbreaking story of a woman who lost herself in her addiction and didn't find herself until she stopped drinking. It was kind of an odd coming out story, but in some ways it was that as well.
I don't know if I liked it, but the writing was fascinating and left me unsettled. Yes, I would read a sequel. I'd actually love to see one!
Review copy from NetGalley.
November 2, 2016
This book was a great read and hard to put down once started. I really disliked Anna's character and found her extremely menacing and creepy - very like Rob Titchner in the Archer's and I just found myself urging Alice to get a grip and see through the despicable Anna and ditch her very early on in the book. Looking forward to reading the sequel - hopefully there will be one.
October 22, 2016
Blogger’s note: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review might contain spoilers; if you’re the type of person who hates spoilers, please proceed with caution.
Whew, what a busy week it’s been for me! Managed to finish three to four books while starting on a new job and I decided I’ll make my book reviews this weekend so here goes.
Next on my list of to-read ARCs was Whilst I Was Out by Sara Stewart. This is her first novel to be published. Something about these English authors make me always watch out for their work because their humor is just real awesome! Want proof? Sara’s bio reads (excerpt):
She includes figure skating, extreme crochet and cacti rearing amongst her fictitious hobbies as her life is pretty dull for the most part, what with work, kids, pets and the like. Not forgetting housework!
That’s Brit humor for you and damn, I love it to bits. How can I not? I even love it more when they swear! Bloody damn good!
Here was the book’s synopsis from Goodreads:
As a much-abused working mother of three, Alice begins to suspect what is wrong with her marriage.
Her husband.
Already a few fries short of a Happy Meal and more interested in cycling than Alice, he goes even more bonkers when she wants out. Alice deals with it the only way she knows how - by reaching for the bottle.
Falling head over heels for someone new, and that someone’s a woman, Alice dreams of a happy home for her children only to realise she’s swapped a narcissist for a sociopath. But can Alice trust her own judgment now her drinking has become a real problem?
Weaving comedy into romance, Sara Stewart lets us laugh and learn with her heroine: how to get out before it turns into a tragedy.
That IS definitely a lot to take in but since the humor’s evident on the synopsis, I considered it. I’m glad I did.
The roller-coaster ride of Alice separating from MDH, meeting Anna, MDH trying to win her back then giving up and things getting ugly from there, her moving in with Anna and trying to juggle being a mom and new at being a lesbian–it’s enough to make your head explode. Too much to comprehend if you consider the enormity of the changes she had to go through. I guess while she was going through all of it, I was a bit apathetic. The story just started picking up after Alice hit an all-time low and made a conscious decision to change.
All of them were true, but so what? Deal with it. You’re an adult now.
It was time to accept that most people have issues to contend with. Not everyone uses them as excuses for not participating fully in life.
These lines made Alice come alive again for me. I was passive as her life unfolded–interested, but passive. This made me feel that this is it: Alice is reaching an epiphany. And that finally makes her that much interesting to me.
It had only just struck me that there was no real continuity to her personality.
AMEN. This was Alice’s thoughts over Anna. Tbh I felt the same for Alice. I’m guessing Anna influenced Alice as well that in my mind, both of them are just that. No substance, not much to pick on. That made me lose interest with Alice.
“Neither of us are truly lovely.”
How much bravery would it take for someone to admit that you and your partner aren’t lovely at all and that shithole you call a relationship isn’t either? I’d say it takes that much. And Alice was able to deliver, albeit rather shakily.
She didn’t want to be bothered with the realities of life or anything that went on in the real world.
It was time to pop the bubble.
Did you ever find yourself in the situation wherein you know how shitty someone else is going through and you’re just waiting for them to snap out of it and finally take charge of their lives because you know they’re the only ones who can help themselves?
THIS. IS. ALICE’S. MOMENT.
She finally, FINA-FUCKING-LLY, chose herself. And that speaks volumes.
For a debut novel, not bad. I’ll add Stewart to the list of authors I’ll be looking out for.
Whew, what a busy week it’s been for me! Managed to finish three to four books while starting on a new job and I decided I’ll make my book reviews this weekend so here goes.
Next on my list of to-read ARCs was Whilst I Was Out by Sara Stewart. This is her first novel to be published. Something about these English authors make me always watch out for their work because their humor is just real awesome! Want proof? Sara’s bio reads (excerpt):
She includes figure skating, extreme crochet and cacti rearing amongst her fictitious hobbies as her life is pretty dull for the most part, what with work, kids, pets and the like. Not forgetting housework!
That’s Brit humor for you and damn, I love it to bits. How can I not? I even love it more when they swear! Bloody damn good!
Here was the book’s synopsis from Goodreads:
As a much-abused working mother of three, Alice begins to suspect what is wrong with her marriage.
Her husband.
Already a few fries short of a Happy Meal and more interested in cycling than Alice, he goes even more bonkers when she wants out. Alice deals with it the only way she knows how - by reaching for the bottle.
Falling head over heels for someone new, and that someone’s a woman, Alice dreams of a happy home for her children only to realise she’s swapped a narcissist for a sociopath. But can Alice trust her own judgment now her drinking has become a real problem?
Weaving comedy into romance, Sara Stewart lets us laugh and learn with her heroine: how to get out before it turns into a tragedy.
That IS definitely a lot to take in but since the humor’s evident on the synopsis, I considered it. I’m glad I did.
The roller-coaster ride of Alice separating from MDH, meeting Anna, MDH trying to win her back then giving up and things getting ugly from there, her moving in with Anna and trying to juggle being a mom and new at being a lesbian–it’s enough to make your head explode. Too much to comprehend if you consider the enormity of the changes she had to go through. I guess while she was going through all of it, I was a bit apathetic. The story just started picking up after Alice hit an all-time low and made a conscious decision to change.
All of them were true, but so what? Deal with it. You’re an adult now.
It was time to accept that most people have issues to contend with. Not everyone uses them as excuses for not participating fully in life.
These lines made Alice come alive again for me. I was passive as her life unfolded–interested, but passive. This made me feel that this is it: Alice is reaching an epiphany. And that finally makes her that much interesting to me.
It had only just struck me that there was no real continuity to her personality.
AMEN. This was Alice’s thoughts over Anna. Tbh I felt the same for Alice. I’m guessing Anna influenced Alice as well that in my mind, both of them are just that. No substance, not much to pick on. That made me lose interest with Alice.
“Neither of us are truly lovely.”
How much bravery would it take for someone to admit that you and your partner aren’t lovely at all and that shithole you call a relationship isn’t either? I’d say it takes that much. And Alice was able to deliver, albeit rather shakily.
She didn’t want to be bothered with the realities of life or anything that went on in the real world.
It was time to pop the bubble.
Did you ever find yourself in the situation wherein you know how shitty someone else is going through and you’re just waiting for them to snap out of it and finally take charge of their lives because you know they’re the only ones who can help themselves?
THIS. IS. ALICE’S. MOMENT.
She finally, FINA-FUCKING-LLY, chose herself. And that speaks volumes.
For a debut novel, not bad. I’ll add Stewart to the list of authors I’ll be looking out for.
December 5, 2016
I started reading WHILST I WAS OUT on a Saturday afternoon, and finished it the following day. I simply couldn't begin a new week without seeing the deeply troubled main character, Alice, breakthrough the darkness and arrive in a place where she could begin a new life. I felt like I was battling with her and for her. The author, Sara Stewart, did an outstanding job of building empathy for Alice, making her lovable and forgivable, even in the midst of terrible spiraling and wretchedness. I also enjoyed the authors use of the side-thoughts interspersed within the chapters (e.g. WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN, BAD HAIR DAYS, etc.) For me, that device enriched her storytelling. And of course the dry, dark humor that is maintained throughout the story, keeps the reader from plummeting into complete despair. I look forward to finding out where Alice's new life takes her.
February 8, 2017
A clever and perceptive analysis of a marriage in crisis.
September 24, 2016
I read it from front to back in a weekend. Funny, intelligent and honest, it kept me laughing. I was rooting for Alice all the way through. I'm looking forward to reading her next novel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews