School's Out

by Sarah Tucker

In school playgrounds across the country parents huddle in worried packs, desperately putting together their final plans to survive the summer weeks of mayhem - school is officially out!

For once, Amanda has a simple, cheap and fail-safe plan to make it through the summer holidays with her three overexcited offspring. But a last-minute addition of fellow-mum Suzanne and her perfect son Orlando quickly shatters Amanda's vision of the quintessential bucket-and-spade summer adventure.

In fact, before she even makes it to the picture-perfect Cornish idyll that is home to her one-time playground comrade Skyler, Amanda has to endure tantrums, floods, and an eerie B&B, all with three ratty kids and a carsick dog in tow. When they finally arrive, dishevelled and exhausted, she discovers that not only must she endure Suzanne at close quarters in a cramped cottage, but also that Skyler's business in dire need of a helping hand.

In the weeks that ensue, Amanda discovers there is only one way to survive the summer holidays, and that's with a stiff drink, a pair of wellies and a bucket-full of bonhomie!

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 1998

About the author

There is more than one author by this name on Goodreads.

British author Sarah Tucker is an award-winning travel journalist and broadcaster. She divides her time between England and France, and only has room for one man in her life: her four-year-old son, Thomas.

Reviews

[Rara]

Date of purchase: 20 June 2010 (BookXcess)

[Helen Urie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. I found the main character to be self righteous with a massive chip on her shoulder. Utter rubbish.