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You can’t choose your family – but you can choose your friends… A heartfelt, warm and truthful novel about female friendship. Eve has never imagined herself as a stepmother. But when she falls in love with Ian, he comes with a ready-made family of three children. And, to make matters worse, he's a widower. The ghost of his glamorous and well known wife haunts them. Clare, a teacher and single mother, is Eve's best friend. She is the only person Eve can talk to about how on earth a journalist in her thirties can win round three wary children. But despite Clare's years of practice with her own teenage daughter, it's Lily ,her younger sister, who provides the truly sympathetic ear. Mel is sent along to Eve's so-called 'support group' by a colleague. With a fledgling relationship and a new business to get off the ground, she has a very different set of pressures to the other women. And Mandy is the stay-at-home mum, whose relationship comes with stepchildren, and who wants more than anything to stitch together a happy family life for herself, her kids and her new step-kids. As a cup of coffee turns to a bottle of wine and the get-togethers become a regular fixture, conversations about new families evolve into ones about relationships, life and each woman’s deepest hopes and dreams. But the friendship is tested and feelings about lovers, husbands and step-children challenged when the five women are forced to confront new futures as well as unwelcome figures from the past…
Paperback
First published August 20, 2009
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About the author
Sam Baker
19 books76 followersSam Baker grew up in Hampshire and, after a degree in politics at Birmingham University, became a journalist, going on to edit some of the UK's biggest magazines. For six years she was Editor in Chief of Red magazine, where she set up the Red Hot Women Awards recognising achievement across politics, science, tech, the arts, media and charity, as well as championing support for Refuge, the charity for victims of domestic abuse.
In 2015 she co-founded and launched The Pool with Lauren Laverne, the online platform that makes inspiring and original content for busy women.
Sam is married to the novelist Jon Courtenay Grimwood and lives in Winchester. When she’s not working or writing she escapes by devouring crime novels or watching box sets.
In 2015 she co-founded and launched The Pool with Lauren Laverne, the online platform that makes inspiring and original content for busy women.
Sam is married to the novelist Jon Courtenay Grimwood and lives in Winchester. When she’s not working or writing she escapes by devouring crime novels or watching box sets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 9, 2024
Excellent read.
It's a great story that kept me absorbed from beginning to end. Well written and well-worth the effort reading. Totally recommend it.
It's a great story that kept me absorbed from beginning to end. Well written and well-worth the effort reading. Totally recommend it.
December 5, 2009
Eve has never imagined herself as a Step-mother, but that’s exactly what she becomes when she falls in love with widow Ian. He comes complete with 3 children, and it’s Eve’s worst nightmare… not to mention the fact that the ghost of his wife is hanging over Eve’s every move. Her best friend Clare is having problems of her own with her teenage daughter Lou, but she still wants to be there for Clare. Lily is Clare’s younger sister and also in love with someone who has a child, but Lily isn’t too afraid of being a step-mother. The 3 women need each other and decide to set up The Step-Mothers Support Group, and recruit a few other mothers for coffee, chat and friendship. But when things all come crashing down around them, can the step-mothers overcome the past as well as their uncertain futures?
This novel is the third for author Sam Baker, who is also the editor of “Red” magazine. The novel is based around female friendships, and how women adapt to looking after someone else’s children as a step-parent, a job I don’t at all envy! The book has a gorgeous pink and red themed cover and is definitely one that will stand out on your bookshelf. However, I don’t think the cover gives away enough about how good a book this is, and it certainly isn’t all that light and fluffy like the cover image might lead you to believe. Don’t let the girlie cover of this book put you off – it’s a meaty read, and very enjoyable too.
The main character of the book is Eve. She’s a career girl, working hard in her job on a magazine, and in love with Ian. The only problem is that he comes with his 3 children by dead wife Caro, and Eve isn’t at all sure of herself with children. We join the book when Ian is introducing Eve to his children for the first time, and it was very cringing in parts! I think Baker has done a great job in describing the situation perfectly and getting on paper the emotions of both the adults and children in the scenario. Just from this opening scene, I knew the rest of the book was going to match up and be a riveting read. The other characters include her best friend Clare, step mums Melanie and Mandy, and Clare’s sister Lily – each of them were real women and you can imagine them being your friend and walking down the street, and this is what made the book so enjoyable for me.
What I really loved about this book is that it showed both the negatives and positives of the different relationships throughout. It shows how awkward a step-parent/child bond can be and how children don’t necessarily accept the adults in their life even when you desperately want them to. Baker really captures the emotion of the children in the book, feeling pushed out, disliking their parent moving on and dislike of the new adult in their life. You can see the relationships change as the book goes on, and it was very realistic and I enjoyed it.
The adult relationships were written well too. Eve and Ian’s partnership was a very good read and realistic too. It was clear that they were different people who loved each other, but had different ideas about family life. Eve and Clare’s relationship was the other main one in the book, and was very touching as it is a friendship from childhood that withstands anything – you just wish you had one of your own like this when you read the book! I really enjoyed the way the realism of it – Eve and Clare fought, didn’t speak to each other, just like in real life and Baker really gets into the head of these women.
I think these days this book is more relevant than ever because there seem to be a lot of “blended families” around, and of course they don’t all work out as you want them to. Sam Baker’s writing is what made this book so enjoyable for me, it was such an easy read and the writing style was so readable, you couldn’t put the book down and I was just desperate to find out how things were going to work out for Eve and Clare. The book details the good, the bad and the ugly but there is a lot of happiness in this book too. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved every page. When I finished it, I felt like I had lost a group of friends because the book is so involving and I was truly gutted to turn the last page. An excellent read, and very highly recommended – one of my top reads of 2009 without a doubt.
This novel is the third for author Sam Baker, who is also the editor of “Red” magazine. The novel is based around female friendships, and how women adapt to looking after someone else’s children as a step-parent, a job I don’t at all envy! The book has a gorgeous pink and red themed cover and is definitely one that will stand out on your bookshelf. However, I don’t think the cover gives away enough about how good a book this is, and it certainly isn’t all that light and fluffy like the cover image might lead you to believe. Don’t let the girlie cover of this book put you off – it’s a meaty read, and very enjoyable too.
The main character of the book is Eve. She’s a career girl, working hard in her job on a magazine, and in love with Ian. The only problem is that he comes with his 3 children by dead wife Caro, and Eve isn’t at all sure of herself with children. We join the book when Ian is introducing Eve to his children for the first time, and it was very cringing in parts! I think Baker has done a great job in describing the situation perfectly and getting on paper the emotions of both the adults and children in the scenario. Just from this opening scene, I knew the rest of the book was going to match up and be a riveting read. The other characters include her best friend Clare, step mums Melanie and Mandy, and Clare’s sister Lily – each of them were real women and you can imagine them being your friend and walking down the street, and this is what made the book so enjoyable for me.
What I really loved about this book is that it showed both the negatives and positives of the different relationships throughout. It shows how awkward a step-parent/child bond can be and how children don’t necessarily accept the adults in their life even when you desperately want them to. Baker really captures the emotion of the children in the book, feeling pushed out, disliking their parent moving on and dislike of the new adult in their life. You can see the relationships change as the book goes on, and it was very realistic and I enjoyed it.
The adult relationships were written well too. Eve and Ian’s partnership was a very good read and realistic too. It was clear that they were different people who loved each other, but had different ideas about family life. Eve and Clare’s relationship was the other main one in the book, and was very touching as it is a friendship from childhood that withstands anything – you just wish you had one of your own like this when you read the book! I really enjoyed the way the realism of it – Eve and Clare fought, didn’t speak to each other, just like in real life and Baker really gets into the head of these women.
I think these days this book is more relevant than ever because there seem to be a lot of “blended families” around, and of course they don’t all work out as you want them to. Sam Baker’s writing is what made this book so enjoyable for me, it was such an easy read and the writing style was so readable, you couldn’t put the book down and I was just desperate to find out how things were going to work out for Eve and Clare. The book details the good, the bad and the ugly but there is a lot of happiness in this book too. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved every page. When I finished it, I felt like I had lost a group of friends because the book is so involving and I was truly gutted to turn the last page. An excellent read, and very highly recommended – one of my top reads of 2009 without a doubt.
October 15, 2020
Leuk om te lezen, maar zeker niet om te herlezen.
de stijl van dit boek is erg verhalend, zonder echt veel hoogtepunten. Het kabbelt allemaal maar wat verder om op het einde allemaal netjes samen te komen zodat het een echt feelgood boek blijft.
de stijl van dit boek is erg verhalend, zonder echt veel hoogtepunten. Het kabbelt allemaal maar wat verder om op het einde allemaal netjes samen te komen zodat het een echt feelgood boek blijft.
May 3, 2023
It took me a bit of time to get engrossed in the story of the characters. The first 100 pages felt a bit slow, but I couldn't put down the second half. I enjoyed the progression of each of the women's stories, except for Mandy. It felt a bit like the character and resolution was shoe horned in.
May 28, 2025
It started slow. Lots if names and stories for me hard to keep up but past the middle i liked the book. The stories, persons in the book they were good.
Would have been nice if the story for Bella was more the it is now
Would have been nice if the story for Bella was more the it is now
dnf
August 9, 2023DNF @ 6%. Wat te negatief ingesteld voor mij.
August 25, 2023
Liked this book, liked the stories, it was a nice read but not too predictable.
January 16, 2025
More of a 3.5 star. Loved each of the characters unique situations :)
March 25, 2018
Erster Eindruck:
Ehrlich gesagt weiß ich nicht mehr, was mein erster Eindruck zu diesem Buch war. Ich habe es vor ein paar Jahren in England gekauft und dort auch angefangen zu lesen. Damals war für mich das Buch aufgrund der Sprache aber noch zu schwer zu verstehen und so lag es nun halt lange Zeit auf meinem SuB. Dank der „Aufgaben Challenge“ nahm ich es nun wieder in die Hand und war überrascht, dass mir der Teil des Buches, den ich damals gelesen hatte, noch so gut in Erinnerung geblieben war.
Meine Meinung:
Eve, Clare, Mandy, Melanie und Lily haben alle Hände voll zu tun. Während Eve, Lily und Melanie sich der Herausforderung gegenüber gestellt sehen, sich mit den Kindern ihrer neuen Partner zu arrangieren, haben Clare und Melanie schon genug mit ihren eigenen Kindern zu tun. Hierbei warten auf die 5 Frauen einige Höhen- und Tiefpunkte.
Lebensnah und lustig erzählt Sam Baker die Geschichte dieser Frauen und fesselt einen sogleich mit ihrem Schreibstil. Da das Buch zwischen den Perspektiven der Fünf abwechselt, bekommt man Einblick in die Gedanken und Gefühle aller. Dadurch kann man die verschiedenen Charakterzüge der Frauen verfolgen und auch wie sie sich im Laufe der Geschichte verändern.
Während die Autorin allerdings sehr auf ihre Hauptcharaktere achtet, bleiben die Nebencharakter eher im Huntergrund. Ian, Vince, Will und auch Eves Stiefkinder und Clares Tochter kann ich mir noch ziemlich gut vorstellen, mehr aber dann nicht mehr. So habe ich meistens schon nach 2 Seiten wieder vergessen, wie Mandys (Stief)kinder und ihr Mann überhaupt heißen, da man über diese sogut wie gar nichts erfährt. Das die meisten Nebencharaktere eher außen vor sind, liegt wahrscheinlich auch daran, dass es im Buch insgesamt so viele Personen gibt. Sehr gestört hat es mich daher nicht, vor allem da Eve, Clare, Mandy, Melanie und Lily schon selbst tolle Charaktere sind.
Man könnte vielleicht meinen, dass sich die Autorin mit 5 Hauptpersonen, die alle das selbe Problem haben, keinen Gefallen tut. Aber dem ist nicht so. So sind alle Frauen unterschiedlich und auch ihre Geschichten/Probleme verlaufen anders. Am meisten fieberte ich hierbei mit Eve mit, da für mich ihre Situation am spannensten war. Aus Eves Sicht ist auch am meisten geschrieben.
Was sehr schön an dem Buch ist, dass es neben dem lockeren Schreibstil aber auch mit Spannung aufwarten kann. Man ist immer gespannt, wie es jetzt wohl weiter geht und wird auch oft durch unerwartete Wendungen überrascht.
Fazit:
Eine überaus lustige und lebensnahe Geschichte, die sich leicht und locker lesen lässt und trotzdem Spannung hält. Das Buch vereinbart so vieles und unterhält auf eine besondere Art und Weise. Einzigster Punkt Abzug aufgrund der Nebencharaktere, die etwas zu kurz kommen. Sonst super und absolut zu empfehlen.
Ehrlich gesagt weiß ich nicht mehr, was mein erster Eindruck zu diesem Buch war. Ich habe es vor ein paar Jahren in England gekauft und dort auch angefangen zu lesen. Damals war für mich das Buch aufgrund der Sprache aber noch zu schwer zu verstehen und so lag es nun halt lange Zeit auf meinem SuB. Dank der „Aufgaben Challenge“ nahm ich es nun wieder in die Hand und war überrascht, dass mir der Teil des Buches, den ich damals gelesen hatte, noch so gut in Erinnerung geblieben war.
Meine Meinung:
Eve, Clare, Mandy, Melanie und Lily haben alle Hände voll zu tun. Während Eve, Lily und Melanie sich der Herausforderung gegenüber gestellt sehen, sich mit den Kindern ihrer neuen Partner zu arrangieren, haben Clare und Melanie schon genug mit ihren eigenen Kindern zu tun. Hierbei warten auf die 5 Frauen einige Höhen- und Tiefpunkte.
Lebensnah und lustig erzählt Sam Baker die Geschichte dieser Frauen und fesselt einen sogleich mit ihrem Schreibstil. Da das Buch zwischen den Perspektiven der Fünf abwechselt, bekommt man Einblick in die Gedanken und Gefühle aller. Dadurch kann man die verschiedenen Charakterzüge der Frauen verfolgen und auch wie sie sich im Laufe der Geschichte verändern.
Während die Autorin allerdings sehr auf ihre Hauptcharaktere achtet, bleiben die Nebencharakter eher im Huntergrund. Ian, Vince, Will und auch Eves Stiefkinder und Clares Tochter kann ich mir noch ziemlich gut vorstellen, mehr aber dann nicht mehr. So habe ich meistens schon nach 2 Seiten wieder vergessen, wie Mandys (Stief)kinder und ihr Mann überhaupt heißen, da man über diese sogut wie gar nichts erfährt. Das die meisten Nebencharaktere eher außen vor sind, liegt wahrscheinlich auch daran, dass es im Buch insgesamt so viele Personen gibt. Sehr gestört hat es mich daher nicht, vor allem da Eve, Clare, Mandy, Melanie und Lily schon selbst tolle Charaktere sind.
Man könnte vielleicht meinen, dass sich die Autorin mit 5 Hauptpersonen, die alle das selbe Problem haben, keinen Gefallen tut. Aber dem ist nicht so. So sind alle Frauen unterschiedlich und auch ihre Geschichten/Probleme verlaufen anders. Am meisten fieberte ich hierbei mit Eve mit, da für mich ihre Situation am spannensten war. Aus Eves Sicht ist auch am meisten geschrieben.
Was sehr schön an dem Buch ist, dass es neben dem lockeren Schreibstil aber auch mit Spannung aufwarten kann. Man ist immer gespannt, wie es jetzt wohl weiter geht und wird auch oft durch unerwartete Wendungen überrascht.
Fazit:
Eine überaus lustige und lebensnahe Geschichte, die sich leicht und locker lesen lässt und trotzdem Spannung hält. Das Buch vereinbart so vieles und unterhält auf eine besondere Art und Weise. Einzigster Punkt Abzug aufgrund der Nebencharaktere, die etwas zu kurz kommen. Sonst super und absolut zu empfehlen.
December 23, 2010
Eve has fallen in love with widower Ian, but his three children aren't as smitten as their father is. Navigating the hazards of stepparenting is an uncomfortable experience for Eve, particularly the outright hostility of 12 year old Hannah. Needing advice, Eve's best friend Clare suggests she meet with her younger sister Lily who's a part time stepmother to a three year old. Melanie has yet to meet her potential 10 year old stepdaughter but lonely and hoping for friendship, she joins the informal group, followed by Mandy who seems to have been successful in creating her blended family. The five women bond over their shared heartbreak, fears and joy.
By bringing together Eve, Clare, Lily, Melanie and Mandy, Baker explores the modern minefield of relationships, parenthood and friendship and is able to provide multiple perspectives to the issues the characters face. Baker skilfully navigates the complex themes by creating a realistic cast.
Eve and Clare are the dominant protagonists in the book, both facing very different challenges. Eve is the less sympathetic character, I felt she was quite self absorbed and there is a bitter edge to her that I never understood. I was more firmly on Hannah's side than hers, despite recognising that Eve was perhaps doing the best she could.
I found Clare more likeable, I can empathise with her financial struggle and the difficulties of negotiating life with a teenage girl. I also find it much easier to understand Clare's fear of Will coming back into her daughters life. I think I might have been even less rational than Clare in the same situation.
Despite my honest admiration for Baker's ability to develop sophisticated, multi faceted characters I just wasn't drawn in to the story the way I wanted to be. Partly I think because of my indifference towards Eve, and also because the issues don't relate to my experience. I think perhaps the story would be more appealing to someone who has been on either side of the stepparenting situation.
By bringing together Eve, Clare, Lily, Melanie and Mandy, Baker explores the modern minefield of relationships, parenthood and friendship and is able to provide multiple perspectives to the issues the characters face. Baker skilfully navigates the complex themes by creating a realistic cast.
Eve and Clare are the dominant protagonists in the book, both facing very different challenges. Eve is the less sympathetic character, I felt she was quite self absorbed and there is a bitter edge to her that I never understood. I was more firmly on Hannah's side than hers, despite recognising that Eve was perhaps doing the best she could.
I found Clare more likeable, I can empathise with her financial struggle and the difficulties of negotiating life with a teenage girl. I also find it much easier to understand Clare's fear of Will coming back into her daughters life. I think I might have been even less rational than Clare in the same situation.
Despite my honest admiration for Baker's ability to develop sophisticated, multi faceted characters I just wasn't drawn in to the story the way I wanted to be. Partly I think because of my indifference towards Eve, and also because the issues don't relate to my experience. I think perhaps the story would be more appealing to someone who has been on either side of the stepparenting situation.
November 9, 2014
A word of warning: this is not The First Wives’ Club. Aside from the obvious reasons, The First Wives’ Club is far more serious and detailed than this book, and if you haven’t read the former than please DO because it is amazing!
This sort of genre (chick-lit / family drama) is the sort I pick up occasionally, intermittently; it isn’t my regular type of read. Half the time I like these types of books, but this one, for me at least, fell into the other half. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with it – it delivers pretty much what you’d expect from the blurb (give or take some favourable character treatment). It just didn’t do it for me.
After about page 70 I started skim-reading and never found myself invested in the characters. Mildly interested, yes, but not invested. I should note that the five women are not given equal treatment by the book, so we only get a fully-fleshed out story of two of the protagonists, and only one of them had their story resolved in a satisfying way. The other three members are very, very minor characters, and we only receive the sketchiest details of their lives.
Have you seen the movie Bridesmaids? The book reminded me of it, though only in the sense that I expected it would be about all of the characters when it was really just about one.
I think if the genre is more of your read then you will enjoy this book more than I did. Even though I was skim-reading, I was interested enough to finish the book. It just didn’t provide anything new for me. A casual read.
This sort of genre (chick-lit / family drama) is the sort I pick up occasionally, intermittently; it isn’t my regular type of read. Half the time I like these types of books, but this one, for me at least, fell into the other half. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with it – it delivers pretty much what you’d expect from the blurb (give or take some favourable character treatment). It just didn’t do it for me.
After about page 70 I started skim-reading and never found myself invested in the characters. Mildly interested, yes, but not invested. I should note that the five women are not given equal treatment by the book, so we only get a fully-fleshed out story of two of the protagonists, and only one of them had their story resolved in a satisfying way. The other three members are very, very minor characters, and we only receive the sketchiest details of their lives.
Have you seen the movie Bridesmaids? The book reminded me of it, though only in the sense that I expected it would be about all of the characters when it was really just about one.
I think if the genre is more of your read then you will enjoy this book more than I did. Even though I was skim-reading, I was interested enough to finish the book. It just didn’t provide anything new for me. A casual read.
May 28, 2010
This book takes a look at the lives of four women who are all on the road to becoming stepmothers, and the emotional struggles and heartbreak that can arise from taking on a man who already has children. It deals with many emotional issues that are faced by women today in a very sympathetic way, and the females are all portrayed as likeable characters, even when their behaviour is less than perfect.
However, because it is written from the females perspective the men come off much less favourably, with some of them being portrayed as selfish and uncaring. For me the least likeable male character was Ian, who behaves dispicably when Eve announces to him that she is pregnant with his child. This is only the final act in a long list of very selfish behaviours that he displays and frankly I can’t see why Eve would take him back after this. I would have liked some of the book to have been from the male characters’ perspective so that there is a bit more insight into why they behaved in the way that they did.
I very much enjoyed The Stepmothers’ Support Group but I would have preferred a less rushed ending. It felt slightly as though the author wanted to just quickly tie up any loose ends and ensure a happy ending for all of the characters. Overall, it is a novel that is touching and sympathetic and it will make you take a look at your own life and relationships. Definitely worth a read!
However, because it is written from the females perspective the men come off much less favourably, with some of them being portrayed as selfish and uncaring. For me the least likeable male character was Ian, who behaves dispicably when Eve announces to him that she is pregnant with his child. This is only the final act in a long list of very selfish behaviours that he displays and frankly I can’t see why Eve would take him back after this. I would have liked some of the book to have been from the male characters’ perspective so that there is a bit more insight into why they behaved in the way that they did.
I very much enjoyed The Stepmothers’ Support Group but I would have preferred a less rushed ending. It felt slightly as though the author wanted to just quickly tie up any loose ends and ensure a happy ending for all of the characters. Overall, it is a novel that is touching and sympathetic and it will make you take a look at your own life and relationships. Definitely worth a read!
May 13, 2014
The story was interesting enough. But the female characters were so annoying! Weak and daft, they were unable to figure out that unless the father is a criminal or psycho, it's in a child's best interests to know him?! Or at least be told that he wants to meet her? The other protagonists made every point other than that one.
And what's with the jerks of men? Really, these characters were difficult to like and that's why I'm going with an "It was OK" rating on this one.
Except ... the book was also riddled with errors and weird expressions. And I love Brits and English. I'm reading Bridget Jones's Diary now, and I haven't seen a single instance of weirdness of language. The expressions weren't enough to send me to literary hell. They were just distracting.
And what's with the jerks of men? Really, these characters were difficult to like and that's why I'm going with an "It was OK" rating on this one.
Except ... the book was also riddled with errors and weird expressions. And I love Brits and English. I'm reading Bridget Jones's Diary now, and I haven't seen a single instance of weirdness of language. The expressions weren't enough to send me to literary hell. They were just distracting.
July 16, 2010
A group of women...Eve, Clare, Lily, Melanie, and Mandy... form a group called "The Stepmothers' Support Group so they can discuss the issues they each face as stepmothers or soon to be stepmothers.
The story held my attention to the very last page. Each woman's story is different and will resonate with women facing some of the same problems. The setting is Great Britian and the author is British, so much of the vocabulary is British...occasionally, I wasn't sure what a character was referring to, but it was fun. A very readable and thought-provoking book.
Also published under the title: The Other Mothers' Club
The story held my attention to the very last page. Each woman's story is different and will resonate with women facing some of the same problems. The setting is Great Britian and the author is British, so much of the vocabulary is British...occasionally, I wasn't sure what a character was referring to, but it was fun. A very readable and thought-provoking book.
Also published under the title: The Other Mothers' Club
April 11, 2010
An ordinary chicklit book with some more depth to it. What if the the love of your life came with kids attached? What would you do and and how would you treat the kids? The kids that always will come first, not you.
The book doesn't give any big insights on those questions, but it gives you a feeling that you're not alone. Stepmother, stepfather or stepchild, other's have been in your shoes before. Great friends who can lend you an ear or two over coffee and wine is also of course good. Definitely a good read that made me think a bit differently upon the whole stepmother/stepchild thing.
The book doesn't give any big insights on those questions, but it gives you a feeling that you're not alone. Stepmother, stepfather or stepchild, other's have been in your shoes before. Great friends who can lend you an ear or two over coffee and wine is also of course good. Definitely a good read that made me think a bit differently upon the whole stepmother/stepchild thing.
August 28, 2011
The best I can give this book is 3 even though I wanted to give a 4. It's because I love other characters in SSG than I love the main character, Eve. I mean, things look easy from her side compared to the others and I believe it is only fair if the other stories, Mandy's for example, was elaborated more by Sam Baker. Other than that, the book is a tutor in several life lesson. Thanks for being updated too. The part where blogging, Gossip Girl and iPod was involved were the parts where I'm feeling like reading a modern book:)
Keep on improving, SSG:)
Keep on improving, SSG:)
June 3, 2013
I read this in a day as I couldn't put it down. Great story and believable characters that you empathised with and wanted to know how it all turned out. The Stepmothers's Support Group starts out as three friends meeting for coffee. Clare, her sister Lily, and her lifelong friend Eve meet up to discuss Eve's problems with her stepchildren, or the eldest in particular. The group expands, as do the stories....
July 13, 2013
Engaging and honest. Its about the unlikely friendship of four women...who could not be more different from each other except for they are going thru relationship as new partner for divorced or widowed guys with kids, hence the ' stepmother' support group. Each goes through conflicts some of them ending not quite like you would hope. But there are happy ones to, I shall not spoil it for you.All in all would try again Sam Baker if she comes out with a new book!
January 22, 2017
It wasn't too bad once the action got in the way. At first I thought it was going to be another tear-support novel with alcohol as back up and secrets on the forefront. Well, sort of. But eventually when things started falling into place, it started to look positive for the book too. And well, I guess when you think about it, stepmothers really are stepmonsters. Some of them. Not everyone.
July 17, 2019
I love love love this book! The author so cleverly plotted out the life of four women that came together for support when they became stepmoms...nicely blended into one another life ...this book is a page turner!! Oh, plus I’m a sucker for happy ending...this one never fail me from page 1 through to the end!
Read
August 6, 2011A nice variety of characters, but a bit hard to follow at times because of that. Interesting to get the different perspectives, especially the discovery of 'Bella' from Eve's blog... An average chic-lit read.
September 15, 2012
Good book to read. At some points I thought it was dragging on a bit. But this morning when I was finishing it, I couldn't put it down. Yes, it is a happy ending but not after a very very rough ride through the lives of many girls in this book.
August 18, 2014
Really enjoyed the very realistic, bitter-sweet and honest stories of all four friends. And I would have loved to have read a lot more about their lives! For me, the best way to judge an author's capacity to engage readers.
February 26, 2010
Read in a day as I'm at home with a bad cold. Bought this as I follow Sam in twitter & love Red magazine, so thought I'd support her. Good read, enjoyed it.
June 16, 2010
This is a top deckchair/bath read. I get bored of this type of book quite quickly, but I rather liked the characters in this one, and soaked a bit longer to find out what happened.
March 29, 2011
I really couldn't get into this book at all. It could have been my mood, but I gave up in less than 50 pages.
February 5, 2011
I was quite dissappointed in this one. As a stepmother myself I sometimes find things rather hard & thought ther maybe some good advice in here. Plot was ok but could of been better x x
April 8, 2011
Good easy read, loved it
April 5, 2011
For a "chick-lit" book it was't bad!
The characters were generally believable and whilst it's got the inevitable happy ending, the little twists on the way kept it interesting.
The characters were generally believable and whilst it's got the inevitable happy ending, the little twists on the way kept it interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2011
Wish we could do half stars... I like it. Fairly predictable but nicely sketched out characters each with their own voice. Nothing much to say really, a good holiday read
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