Flying the Nest in Aussie Readers

Jun 08, 2021 PattyMacDotComma rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, australian-author, kindle, arc-netgalley-done, aa, romance

3.5★
“It was seven o’clock in the morning and I was cutting oranges for Payton’s soccer game when Adrian casually asked if I’d heard of nest parenting.”

Welcome to your weekend, Ashling!

“And that is the exact moment the bottom fell out of my world!”

Married for eighteen years, juggling work and kids and school commitments, Ash is floored by the suggestion of a separation. If anything, she was thinking they should have a romantic getaway.

This is ‘that’ kind of book. A busy mum pulls up her socks i ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-release, aussie-authors, contemporary-fiction, read-on-kindle, own-read, arc

Cutting up oranges for Payton’s soccer match was interrupted by Ashling Wood’s husband Adrian as he threw a comment to her about nest parenting. Shattering Ashling’s illusion that their marriage was a happy one, he declared he wanted a trial separation. And so it began. Dealing with ten-year-old Payton and a teenage Saxon, working out where each parent would stay when not with the children – Ashling was grief stricken. But when offered a cottage to stay in for her off week, in a small town up th ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-author, netgalley-reviews, arc-are

Flying The Nest is an engaging women’s fiction novel from bestselling Australian author Rachael Johns.

Ashling Wood is blindsided when her husband of twenty years casually suggests they try nest parenting while she’s busy preparing the oranges for their daughter’s soccer game. Her first instinct is to believe Adrian doesn’t understand what the term means, but he’s clear, he wants a trial separation and feels nest parenting, where the children remain in the house and the parents move in and out on Flying The Nest is an engaging women’s fiction novel from bestselling Australian author Rachael Johns.

Ashling Wood is blindsided when her husband of twenty years casually suggests they try nest parenting while she’s busy preparing the oranges for their daughter’s soccer game. Her first instinct is to believe Adrian doesn’t understand what the term means, but he’s clear, he wants a trial separation and feels nest parenting, where the children remain in the house and the parents move in and out on an alternate schedule, is the best solution for them all.
The adjustment is difficult for a heartbroken Ashling who misses her children, ten year old Payton and fourteen year old Saxon, when she’s not with them. Taking on the renovation of a friends seaside cottage in Ragged Point during her ‘off’ weeks is a welcome distraction, and though she is certain the arrangement will not be anything but temporary, as the house undergoes a transformation, so too does Ashling.

I can’t imagine what it would be like should my husband so casually and carelessly announce one ordinary morning that he wanted a separation (touch wood). My sympathy was definitely reserved for Ashling from the start, and even though she seemed stuck in the denial phase for slightly too long, I think Johns portrayal of her character’s emotional state was sensitive and believable. There was a brutal scene in the marriage counselor’s office in particular where I really felt Ashling’s pain, and I was glad she finally got angry at Adrian, and found the impetus to take charge of her life.

The community of Ragged Point is a delightful haven for Ashling. Johns deftly creates the character of a small coastal community, and it’s there that she rediscovers, and is able to nurture, the parts of herself that have been dormant while helping her husband build their podiatry business, and raising their children. I liked the development of Ashling’s relationships with Jedda and Dan, who are great supports, but also have interesting stories of their own that add depth to the story.

Written with heart, humour, and warmth, Flying the Nest is sure to resonate with women who need to redefine their lives, whether because of a relationship breakdown, children leaving home, or other change of circumstances. Ashling’s journey is not without its challenges, but it is ultimately rewarding and inspiring, as is this novel. ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Helen rated it it was amazing

Another wonderful story from Rachael Johns, her story telling just gets better I love the way she can hear or read about something this time “nest Parenting” and turn that into a moving, captivating story filled with wonderful characters that are so easy to get to know. This was a subject I had heard of but didn’t really understand it and now I do thank you Rachael Johns, this story is a page turner and a must read.

Ashling Wood is a happily married woman with two great kids and all is running as Another wonderful story from Rachael Johns, her story telling just gets better I love the way she can hear or read about something this time “nest Parenting” and turn that into a moving, captivating story filled with wonderful characters that are so easy to get to know. This was a subject I had heard of but didn’t really understand it and now I do thank you Rachael Johns, this story is a page turner and a must read.

Ashling Wood is a happily married woman with two great kids and all is running as it should, or is it, when suddenly out of the blue her husband Adrian drops a bombshell and suggests that they try nest parenting, needless to say Ashling is shocked and stunned she had no idea there was anything wrong but now finds herself only living in the family home with her kids Saxon and Payton every second week.

Ashling moves in with her sister-in-law and best friend Hayley on her kids free weeks but is not coping well, no matter what people think Ash is determined to get her family back the way it was, but when an offer comes her way to stay at and renovate an old beach shack at Ragged Point Ash jumps at the chance and the new friends she makes, make a very big change in Ash’s life.

Meeting Jedda who runs the café and the local paper brings new meaning to Ash’s life, oh she misses her kids terribly but soon starts to think about herself as well and when she meets her neighbour Dan Emerson she starts to feel even better. Life in Ragged Point is going really well and Ash is very at ease on her weeks there but things at home with the kids is starting to not be so good.

When tragedy happens and Ash needs to be back in Perth she struggles with the needs of her family and what lies ahead for her future, will they be happy living near the beach or will she need to leave the life and friends that she has found and now loves behind, or will she work out a way to have both and move forward into the future, happy and at peace with what has happened?

This is a story about families and what happens when they break down, people play the blame game and emotions are running high, people are hurting but out of the pain and hurt there can be happiness, new lives and a future even though different from the beginning a new life evolves, I am not sure if I am a fan of nest parenting but I am sure it suits lots of families. I loved this story so much and highly recommend it, Rachael Johns never disappoints and as always I look forward to her next one and looking forward to the subject it will be about.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
...more

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Jun 04, 2021 Kim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-women-writers, 2021-aus-release, fiction, australian-fiction, audio-books, borrowbox-act-library, aus-women-writer, woman-writer, aussie-readers, romance

A delightful audiobook, that is the book of the month, for June 2021, in Aussie Readers.
It seems to be a common theme a romance novel that involves a sea change and doing up a beach house. A fun trope, that I haven't tired of yet.
...more

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Oct 02, 2020 Marg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aww-2020

4.5/5

Started this late last night and only put it down because I had to sleep. Finished it today instead of doing everything else I have to do. whoops

Full review to come

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Nov 27, 2020 Tanya rated it it was amazing

Ashling is shocked when her husband suggests they try nest parenting - and just like that life as she knows it has changed forever. Each will spend a week living in the family home with the children, and the other Ashling spends with her sister in law Hayley. When she's given an opportunity to renovate a beachside cottage on her 'off' weeks, she has nothing left to lose.

Flying the Nest is Ashling's story of finding herself. Of discovering the person who was lost in the process of being mum and ...more

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Dec 11, 2022 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2022

How interesting! I had to look up nest-parenting as I'd never heard of it before. Not just a good story but informative too. I really enjoyed it, although I would have liked more about the transformation of both shack & island.

Ashling Wood gets the shock of her life when, completely out of the blue, her husband Adrian suggests they tackle nest parenting. As far as she was concerned, everything had been ticking along nicely. So they begin to spend weekly turnabout living in the family home with t ...more

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Nov 28, 2020 Janine rated it really liked it

Rachael’s latest book delves into nest parenting which I had never heard of! Ash is told by her husband that he’s just not feeling their marriage any more after many years and 2 children. He wants to explore other relationships but feels it would be easier to alternate living arrangements by leaving the children in the family home, which would mean less disruption for them.

Ash has been a wife and mother and apart from helping out in his podiatry business has given up any ambitions she once had f ...more

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Dec 28, 2021 Nikki Sims-Chilton rated it it was amazing

Loved it! I was so invested in the characters and location. Happy with how it ended. Rachael Johns always delivers for me.

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Jun 19, 2020 Chris marked it as to-read

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Nov 11, 2020 Annie rated it it was amazing

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Oct 23, 2020 Bree T rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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Dec 30, 2022 Faye rated it really liked it

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Mar 05, 2021 Elisabeth Rose rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-uno-2021

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May 27, 2021 Jen marked it as to-read

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Dec 21, 2023 Pam rated it really liked it

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Apr 21, 2021 Nicola Marsh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, women-s-fiction, rural-romance, read-in-2021

Another Rachael Johns novel that I devoured in just over a day.

Ashling is blindsided when her husband Adrian wants them to separate and try nest parenting.
She wants the best for her children and agrees, but it's the last thing she wants.

I loved seeing Ash grow into herself and embrace her unexpected independence.
And Dan is the perfect man to help her do it!

Loved her friendships in Ragged Point and how much she becomes a part of the small coastal town.

A thoroughly enjoyable read! ...more

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Dec 04, 2020 Rosie rated it it was amazing

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