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Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters
Sally’s son has come home after completing his performing arts degree. He needs rent-free accommodation, a love life, and somewhere to perform his arts. Sally herself is taking a career break from teaching English. She is tired of teaching year eleven pupils about the Mockingbird. She wants to kill the bird and stuff it with all the redundant apostrophe’s’ she’s seen in twenty years of marking essays. She needs a rest. She does not need her son, his current girlfriend, his previous girlfriend and his old school friend to move in and share her kitchen and their lives with her.
Sally could seek out her own friends to let off steam, but as a general rule her friends prefer her to keep her steam to herself, otherwise it’s difficult to see their own problems clearly. Sally’s husband is a politician. A tranquil, unexceptional home life would work well for him and his career, but Sally has stumbled into the media spotlight...
Sally could seek out her own friends to let off steam, but as a general rule her friends prefer her to keep her steam to herself, otherwise it’s difficult to see their own problems clearly. Sally’s husband is a politician. A tranquil, unexceptional home life would work well for him and his career, but Sally has stumbled into the media spotlight...
266 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2021
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140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 1, 2021
It’s been a pleasure reading about Mr & Mrs Forth & their Domestic Bliss And Other Disasters, it’s really made me laugh 😂
I’ve never seen myself in a book so much before. Entertaining, yet worryingly real 🥴
It’s like an 80’s sitcom brought bang up to date. Brilliant! Recommended reading particularly for women of a certain age. (40+)
I’ve never seen myself in a book so much before. Entertaining, yet worryingly real 🥴
It’s like an 80’s sitcom brought bang up to date. Brilliant! Recommended reading particularly for women of a certain age. (40+)
October 8, 2021
Really really funny. I laughed out loud on so many occasions because of the cleverness and wit of the writing and I am not surprised at all that the book is shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print prize because it is genuinely hilarious. The Christmas lunch scene is one example. I think the humour flows naturally from the characters, relationships and events and this is the best way. Gentle narratives tug you through the story - I was most interested in Mrs Forth's continual attempts to sort out her household but with no success, in Jen's relationship problems, and in the growing pressure on the Forths to keep things out of the press in order to protect Mr Forth's political career. There was a delightful sense of doom over all of these and I hugely enjoyed sharing in it!
September 29, 2021
I read this after seeing it is shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print prize and it certainly is worthy of being part of that list.
This is a tongue in cheek story of dealing with teenagers, annoying friends and pesky neighbours and it's jam packed with laughs. I feel like this is mostly aimed at those who have teenage/adult children but even in my 20s I enjoyed the tone of this book - I bet those in the target audience would find it even more enjoyable.
Jane Ions has fit the bill perfectly with this read.
This is a tongue in cheek story of dealing with teenagers, annoying friends and pesky neighbours and it's jam packed with laughs. I feel like this is mostly aimed at those who have teenage/adult children but even in my 20s I enjoyed the tone of this book - I bet those in the target audience would find it even more enjoyable.
Jane Ions has fit the bill perfectly with this read.
March 25, 2021
Sometimes a humorous read is just what is needed and Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters certainly fits the bill.
Sally Forth (yes that really is her name, albeit her unfortunate married one) is at a crossroads in her life. Fed up of her teaching job, she's taken a break but is now wondering what she should do to fill her time. Her grown up children are causing havoc, especially Dan who has moved back home bringing with him various friends and girlfriends who seem set to hang around Sally's home independently of Dan. Add to the mix her friend, Jen, who's embarking on internet dating and the woman next door who may or may not be planning to poison her husband and it's all rather chaotic.
From the beginning of this book I was chortling away to myself. Sally, via Jane Ions, has a very acerbic and wry tone which I found was right up my street. Never mind domestic bliss, this is domestic life gone wrong and yet it's all still such fun and so light-hearted. I could see this book as a sitcom on the TV. It's full of wacky situations, bizarre living conditions, curious people, and unusual and sometimes complicated relationships, but Sally regales us with nine months of her life with warmth and wit throughout.
Despite the obvious humour, Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters is an insightful look at the changes to a woman's life at that point when her children are grown but still haven't let go of the apron strings. I enjoyed the mixture of comedy and real life issues.
Sally Forth (yes that really is her name, albeit her unfortunate married one) is at a crossroads in her life. Fed up of her teaching job, she's taken a break but is now wondering what she should do to fill her time. Her grown up children are causing havoc, especially Dan who has moved back home bringing with him various friends and girlfriends who seem set to hang around Sally's home independently of Dan. Add to the mix her friend, Jen, who's embarking on internet dating and the woman next door who may or may not be planning to poison her husband and it's all rather chaotic.
From the beginning of this book I was chortling away to myself. Sally, via Jane Ions, has a very acerbic and wry tone which I found was right up my street. Never mind domestic bliss, this is domestic life gone wrong and yet it's all still such fun and so light-hearted. I could see this book as a sitcom on the TV. It's full of wacky situations, bizarre living conditions, curious people, and unusual and sometimes complicated relationships, but Sally regales us with nine months of her life with warmth and wit throughout.
Despite the obvious humour, Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters is an insightful look at the changes to a woman's life at that point when her children are grown but still haven't let go of the apron strings. I enjoyed the mixture of comedy and real life issues.
March 13, 2021
You are guaranteed to chuckle all the way through this book. An easy to read diary encompassing eight months in Sally’s life in which she shows a remarkable ability to make fun out of the absurd. Insightful, ridiculously true-to-life but hilarious descriptions of day to day relationships between her and family, friends and neighbours. Jane Ions sees humour in all sorts of every day situations. She has a little twist at the end of every day which will make you laugh and a totally unexpected ending. I await, with great expectation, the sequel!
March 7, 2021
To be honest, I wouldn't have bought or read this if it wasn't published by Bluemoose as it wouldn't have been on my radar and not my usual sort of read. So it was a lovely surprise that the couple of days I spent in the company of this book were most enjoyable. It brought me some much needed smiles and laughter on some dark days. If you're looking for something to lighten your mood, and just to spend some easy relaxing time with, then this is for you. Thanks Jane Ions.
May 3, 2021
This is one of the funniest books I have read. Jane has remarkable insight of human behaviour and an extremely sharp & witty mode of expression. I laughed throughout the book (a rare event for me) often with tears rolling down my cheeks and await the next instalment of Sally Forth’s chaotic exploits, which surely must be in the pipeline.
March 15, 2021
Clever, warm and witty. Sally had hoped she was to move into a calmer phase of her life. Instead a series of events made her life more farcical by the day. A very funny book !!
June 10, 2021
What a fantastic book from Jane Ions - I hope she's writing more. It's so hard to write with wit but she nails it. Really enjoyed this book & recommend.
July 8, 2021
I would thoroughly recommend this excellent book that makes you smile and giggle throughout. A great book to cheer you up !
November 12, 2021
"I have two very close friends who I've known for most of my life and I don't get on with either of them". This first sentence had me hooked and, later on, when the narrator mentions her son's friend, Baz as "... a nice lad. I taught him English when he was in year ten, or rather, he was present in the room when I was teaching English to a year ten class, which is not the same thing" I had cackled with laughter every few pages.
Sally Forth and her politician husband Bill have a son, Dan, who has just come home from university and wants to make a living out of performing art. Then there is there daughter, Laura, who has a new baby and is worried that her husband is a sex maniac. Into their lives drift various friends and family and girlfriends of Dan who include a girl called Gentle Rain, Sophie, a carer, and Chrissie who quotes Shakespeare at every opportunity. A state of gentle chaos pervades everything.
There are lots of funny books that deal with the everyday shenanigans of domestic life and this one definitely deserves a place in the top ten.
Sally Forth and her politician husband Bill have a son, Dan, who has just come home from university and wants to make a living out of performing art. Then there is there daughter, Laura, who has a new baby and is worried that her husband is a sex maniac. Into their lives drift various friends and family and girlfriends of Dan who include a girl called Gentle Rain, Sophie, a carer, and Chrissie who quotes Shakespeare at every opportunity. A state of gentle chaos pervades everything.
There are lots of funny books that deal with the everyday shenanigans of domestic life and this one definitely deserves a place in the top ten.
March 28, 2021
Bluemoose are an excellent small publisher, and there are certainly some amusing passages and wry observations in this novel. It scratches an itch as a light read for challenging times.
The main character is quite well drawn and the author creates some amusing situations, although at times it feels a little like every ounce of potential humour is wrung from these. Certain themes are funny the first time, but wane after regular revisiting. For me the strongest elements of this book are not the comedic escapades (I felt some of the key ‘this is going to be funny’ moments fell rather flat), but in the small observations of the inbetweenness of middle aged women, the challenges of motherhood and the intricacies of friendship. It would be great to see this author allowing this side of her writing to grow, as she has strength, warmth and subtle humour which flourishes in the quieter spaces of this book.
The main character is quite well drawn and the author creates some amusing situations, although at times it feels a little like every ounce of potential humour is wrung from these. Certain themes are funny the first time, but wane after regular revisiting. For me the strongest elements of this book are not the comedic escapades (I felt some of the key ‘this is going to be funny’ moments fell rather flat), but in the small observations of the inbetweenness of middle aged women, the challenges of motherhood and the intricacies of friendship. It would be great to see this author allowing this side of her writing to grow, as she has strength, warmth and subtle humour which flourishes in the quieter spaces of this book.
December 22, 2021
4.5
I really loved this book. I don't think it's often that a book can make you laugh out loud- this did. Some books are so far fetched they are completely unrealistic- this isn't. It's a very witty account of family life and Mrs Forth's strive for 'domestic bliss' (and subsequent lack of it).
I loved Mrs Forth. Whilst she has 10 years on me I could relate to her struggles. Especially when it came to Lee the wayward student she mentors (yes, I concur kids like Lee are very much real).
It's published by a small, independent publishing house and I think they've stumbled upon a gem. It ends quite suddenly however, Jane Ions has stated she has two books waiting to be published, here's hoping that one of them is the sequel.
I really loved this book. I don't think it's often that a book can make you laugh out loud- this did. Some books are so far fetched they are completely unrealistic- this isn't. It's a very witty account of family life and Mrs Forth's strive for 'domestic bliss' (and subsequent lack of it).
I loved Mrs Forth. Whilst she has 10 years on me I could relate to her struggles. Especially when it came to Lee the wayward student she mentors (yes, I concur kids like Lee are very much real).
It's published by a small, independent publishing house and I think they've stumbled upon a gem. It ends quite suddenly however, Jane Ions has stated she has two books waiting to be published, here's hoping that one of them is the sequel.
April 19, 2025
Laugh out loud funny, in fact, crying and hiccuping with laughter funny! I loved this story of a middle aged, middle class (“comfortable “) political wife and empty nester, whose nestlings are returning home and bringing homeless friends with them. It’s beautifully written, not a word out of place, and I urgently need to read Jane Ion’s other books. I thought this book slightly lost its way/ ran out of steam towards the end, but hopefully it was being set up for a sequel as Sally begins to forge her new identity. No longer just a wife or just a mother or “Granny”.
September 8, 2021
It's genuinely hard to find an uplifting book that you can widely recommend. Picked this up as I rate Bluemoose Books as a publisher. This does exactly what it says on the tin. It may not be for you if you're still young and unjaded, but for those of us over 40 with older children, it's really funny. I loved her tongue in cheek, conversational style and really warmed to all the characters. As a previous reviewer said, it's like a 1980's sitcom in book form. Your granny will love it!
May 5, 2024
Alternative title: The Diary of a Witty Middle-aged British Lady
A nice, light, entertaining read. This book does not have any deep wisdom or keen, pointed insights, or, frankly speaking, much of a plot, but it does not need to.
Sally Forth is no hero who saves the day, because the day does not really need saving. It is about some very regular people with regular lives who do regular things and they do it, (mostly) in good humour.
A nice, light, entertaining read. This book does not have any deep wisdom or keen, pointed insights, or, frankly speaking, much of a plot, but it does not need to.
Sally Forth is no hero who saves the day, because the day does not really need saving. It is about some very regular people with regular lives who do regular things and they do it, (mostly) in good humour.
April 4, 2022
3.5 stars.
My friend recommended this book (I think). It took me a while to get into the style - it is written on the first person. Once I’d got into it it was quite funny and I did have a couple of laugh out loud moments.
Quite a long read, didn’t suck me in, but it was alright. Some interesting characters but you don’t get into them - just scratch the surface.
My friend recommended this book (I think). It took me a while to get into the style - it is written on the first person. Once I’d got into it it was quite funny and I did have a couple of laugh out loud moments.
Quite a long read, didn’t suck me in, but it was alright. Some interesting characters but you don’t get into them - just scratch the surface.
August 17, 2021
The best book I have read this year. It's fun, witty and hilarious. I love the characters, it could easily be a sitcom. I didn't want it to end. I hope Jane is writing more of these comedy gems!
November 8, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. Snorted and almost wet myself laughing at it on a plane. It’s such wonderfully observed and hilarious.
November 11, 2021
An absolute joy, real people, really funny, a rare talent.
August 2, 2022
A great read. Made me laugh out loud. Now however I need a sequel.....
December 25, 2022
Hilarious
December 12, 2023
Laugh out loud funny and so relatable.
December 14, 2021
HILARIOUS. Loved it. Was sad when it ended. I got quite attached to Sally’s internal monologue 😂
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews