Despite knowing it’s a mad idea, Lily agrees to take her mother on one last road trip around the UK, in this new novel by the bestselling author of His Other Woman.
This trip will be challenging because Lily’s mother can no longer be described as ‘just a bit forgetful’: Moira has started talking to imaginary friends and singing Abba songs in public, and last week she began emptying boxes of cereal onto the floor in the supermarket.
Lily is worried and embarrassed by her mother’s behavior but, despite her recent dementia diagnosis, Moira is happy – albeit in a sweary sort of way – and insists the journey will help her write a memoir.
As they trundle across the country in an ancient VW campervan, Lily feels the strain as she struggles to deal with her mother’s decline, her own daughter’s criticism and her ex-husband’s upcoming wedding plans to a younger woman. One night, leaving Moira alone in the hotel, Lily meets a man in a bar and, for the first time in years, she feels alive.
This road trip was intended to celebrate the past. But will it end in crisis, or might Lily’s chance encounter help build a new future for this fractured family?
This book had a mixture of it all; humour, romance, relationships, seriousness. I thought it was a wonderful book and thought that Lily was brave (and possibly slightly stupid) to go through with taking her mum on the road trip. Whilst it appears that Lily's mum Moira is in the early stages of dementia, some of her behaviour is very unpredictable.
At times this behaviour brings comedy and others concern. I think it showed really well how family cope and connect when things happen. I definitely think that the road trip needed to be longer - just to see them cause more chaos! As sometimes even Lily is the one who needs looking after!
I loved Lily's daughter - Eleanor's attitude, she was a fiery character and definitely bossy but loved that at times we did see a softer side to her. Some of the scenes were laugh out loud and others made me want to cry! I thought that this was brilliantly written and I would love to hear more from this trio. You can grab a copy here #Aff.
Huge Thanks to Love Books Tours, Sarah Edghill & Bloodhound Books for my place on the blog tour in exchange for a free honest review.
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