Certified Book Addicts's Reviews > The Drop-Off

The Drop Off is the debut contemporary novel from Aussie authors, Mike McLeish and Fiona Harris. Set in Melbourne, Australia, it is told from three points of view, Lizzie, Megan and Sam. While women’s fiction can have a male perspective, it is written by a woman more often than not. Having a male author lent authenticity to Sam’s character. Through these friends, McLeish and Harris address many issues that Australians can relate to including, motherhood and fatherhood, friendship, marriage, school and children.

Sam was my favourite character as I got to experience being a husband and father through his eyes. Sam’s viewpoint was told via emails to Jack, a great way to distinguish between the three voices. With a corporate wife, Sam was the stay at home dad. Lizzie was a very busy woman. Her family owned a restaurant, she as a part time mid wife and mother of four. Luckily, Lizzie appeared to have a stable marriage with Rick but, a secret had the potential to change everything. Megan was the single mother of the trio. An ex-model, she had become a business woman.

At the beginning of most days, the trio came together in the Bayside Primary school yard. They shared the ups and downs of parenting, of life, supporting each other along the way. When a tragedy hits Bayside Primary, the school’s reputation is on the line. Sam, Lizzie and Megan will need to come together. As I’m not a parent, I was a little worried that I would not be able to relate to any of the protagonists. In the end, it didn’t matter as the authors incorporated both honesty and humour. It also helped that I’m a teacher so I could relate to the accurate school yard depictions that played a large part in the storyline.

The Drop Off is a reminder of the importance of friendship in a world where everyone struggles at one time or another.

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