Reasonable People

by Caroline Hulse

Am I the villain for being furious my partner's father changed my daughter's pirate party into a princess party?

REASONABLE PEOPLE is a sharp, funny and timely comedy-of-errors about a feuding family.

After a kid's party faux-pas, mother Janine anonymously vents about her father-in-law's behaviour on internet forum Am I The Villain Here? When the community is invited to take sides the post goes viral, with mild-mannered Roy ending up in the national newspapers and sparking protests at his local library.

REASONABLE PEOPLE explores how judging others reveals our deepest, most unreasonable selves - with Hulse's trademark heart, humour and humanity.

Genres: Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

Published August 3, 2023

About the author

Caroline Hulse lives in Manchester with her husband and a small controlling dog.

Her books have been published in fourteen languages and optioned for television.

Reviews

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Caroline Hulse and certainly won’t be my last and I have already downloaded The Adults and All The Fun of Fair since finishing Reasonable People.

I read this book alongside my buddy reader friends and I can confirm that we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the story of a blended family – Janine and her 5 year old daughter Katie live with Janine’s boyfriend Phil in her family home, but when her ex-husband sells the house, they are forced to move in with Phil’s elderly father Roy on a short-term basis.

Janine is a marmite character, she’s outspoken, opinionated, rude, unforgiving, selfish and stubborn (and that’s just her good points). Now I really like Marmite.. however I did NOT like Janine and the more we get to know her, the less I felt any sympathy towards her as a mother, wife, employee or human being. Even when she loses her job and home her behaviour and attitude remains just as unlikeable.

Now before you wonder why I continued to read the book with such an unlikeable main character it’s because the rest of the cast are WONDERFUL. We have Phil, the boyfriend and practically a saint for putting up with Janine, then we have the “hero” or “villain” Roy. Roy is a very recent widow, his beloved wife died suddenly and he finds himself alone in his house. Offering to help Janine and Phil out on a temporary basis whilst they find somewhere to live, he also wants to give Katie a special party for her 6th birthday. She wants a Pirate Party, however Roy arranges a Princess Party and that’s when all hell breaks loose!

Janine decides to post anonymously on an online forum about her father-in-law’s behaviour which goes viral overnight and soon the entire world knows about Janine and Roy, airing their dirty washing to all and creating a huge family divide.

Reasonable People is a book about family, value and the darker side of social media. It’s heart-breaking in places, humourous in others and will definitely make you think twice before you post something on the internet.

[Kayleigh (BookwormEscapes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

AD/PR - Reasonable People is a family drama centred around the effects of an internet post. Janine and Phil are forced to move in with Phil’s father Roy after a series of events sees them homeless. Janine and Roy clash on everything but the final straw comes when her daughter Katie wants a pirate birthday party and Roy instead arranged a Princess one. Janine anonymously vents about her father-in-law's behaviour on internet forum Am I The Villain Here? When the community is invited to take sides the post goes viral and ends up in the national newspapers!

This was such a quick read for me! It really shows the power of the internet and how quickly things can spiral out of control. I found Janine so unlikeable and the friction between her and Roy was so stressful but I couldn’t stop reading. So. Much. Drama. and the very definition of “that escalated quickly”! I don’t agree with what Roy did but I found Janine’s character too overbearing and self involved to completely side with her 😬. Plus Roy was so well meaning and such a go getter! Janine means well and is trying to be a modern feminist mother but she just completely lacks tact and it is hilarious to witness. Also, Phil needed to grow a backbone - the man was so neutral he’s see through 🤣. I must admit though, you can really see and understand both sides when you consider the generational gap and it’s this that the book explores so well!

[Cydnie Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see why others wouldn’t think this is 5 stars (or any higher than 3 stars), but I really enjoyed this book and the domestic dramas of ordinary people.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 ok stars. The problem I had with this book was that the characters (except Roy) were awful. Janine was a mean bully, Phil was a spineless coward, Sal was a cold hard to read character, Tessa was a bitter woman and Yvonne just blended in.

The way that Roy - who is 78 by the way - is treated is horrible and I felt like giving up at various points so I didn’t have to read more about how badly they were treating him.

Not sure why this book is hyped so much

[Cara McDermott · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully warm, sweet, read. I can see it appealing to Fredrick Backman fans, with Roy reminding me very much of an English Ove! A few interwoven plots with likeable characters and enough intrigue to keep this reader entirely engaged. Utterly charming.

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars


My understanding of what the author has tried to do here is wrapped up in my own family. Which I think is very clever on her part as it really does make you look at your own and the generational divides, especially regarding technology.

Janine is being made homeless and jobless. Roy her father in law has just lost his wife. So Janine, husband Phil and their six year old daughter Katie move in with Roy. All trying to make the best of what they hope is a temporary situation it soon all blows up when Roy fluffs up big time with his decision to change Katie’s pirate birthday party into a Princess one.

Now most people would keep their opinions to themselves, especially when they are doing you a huge favour of letting you live in their home. But oh no not Janine, she takes it to an online forum, which we all know is the court of public opinion and before long it’s one big dogpiling with poor old hubby Phil caught in the middle of the side choosing debate.

Digital hostility, shaming and a family fallout all written with such keen observational skill and humour. Unlikeable characters that still manage to elicit empathy and a reminder to us all that things change, we all grow old and sometimes it’s better to just keep your mouth shut or your fingers away from keyboards.

[f n · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like if I had to describe the book in a sentence, I would say that it’s somewhat entertaining but totally unrealistic to anyone who knows the internet. Let me tell you, in absolutely no circumstance would an r/AITA post garner 100k votes and such discourse over something as simple as a birthday party lmao. At most, it would be the top post for the day - and that’s at most. And absolutely no one would chase him in the street or storm his local library. Though, I did enjoy the snark towards faux-activism and the self righteousness a lot of netizens possess!

The author had some interesting story ideas in the form of AITA posts that Janine (mc) read towards the beginning (and would have been more likely to cause discourse on the internet) so I don’t understand why she went with the most mundane and innocuous storyline and that no one would have cared about on reddit, let alone real life??I think that more drama would’ve occurred from Roy actually posting all Janine’s personal details to reddit lol but nothing came from that moment of rage - a subplot that I think could’ve been interesting. And no, reddit does not have a twitter tab.

I found the authors writing style inoffensive I think, in that (in this particular book) it was entertaining but not the best thing I’ve ever read. And omg I hated all the characters!

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Mum had a way of asking questions that came with the answer rolled in, preemptively removing any possibility of dissent or bad news.”

What I really enjoyed about this book was the way it potrayed not only the power of the internet but the unknown fear that the internet brings to elderly people. I thought the messaging on both of these things was great and did have me really gripped throughout. The pacing was great and the chapters snappy and to the point. The MC was very intentionally unlikeable but I can’t really work out how much I actually connected with her. I absolutely adore an unlikeable character when I understand them but I’m not sure if the whole principle of this one just repulsed me so much that I didn’t have the patience to be understanding about 80 percent through I thought I was going to be happy with the overall growth but the ending all just came together a bit too conveniently for me and I didn’t love it. Overall an interesting and entertaining read- out on 3rd August

“‘A hundred per cent of me thinks you’ve lost your fucking mind.’”

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Orion and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review

[Rebecca Storr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and good fun, if not a bit long. Would definitely read more by this author. Unlikeable main character, but interesting as she asks 'am I the villain here?' and you get to see different people's perspectives.

[Grace Pepicelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

ah yes the dangers of reddit

[Shazzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tagline on the book seems apt for the story, but let me start off by saying that the marketing synopsis does not do the content justice.

A lot of books have tried to showcase how social media vigilantes can blow things out of proportion, but Caroline Hulse has truly done it well here and I commend her for showing the restraint to only tell what needs to be told and keeping the story on track. She also realistically depicts the friction and drama of intergenerational households.

Both the PoVs in this book are judgy, unreasonable, while thinking their way is the best, and I sympathized with each of them. But, I found Janine harder to warm to because she was just a bit too forceful despite all her intentions.

I disagree with the idea that this is “sharply funny”, as promised by the publisher, but it is keenly observant, and makes excellent points about the idea of online justice spaces, the lack of reason involved in passing constant judgements, and is a stark reminder of the consequences of airing private grievances in public spaces, seeking validation from, and trying to justify and reason with anonymous strangers online.

Read my full review of the book here on my blog.

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[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everybody sucks here. Timely Reddit-themed family tale about taking your private problems to a public forum.

This was an interesting one. Like most 'AITA' stories, this one has two sides, and we get to hear both of them. And nobody here is whiter than white.

A 'family situation' means Janine, her new partner (Phil) and her daughter are about to be made homeless. Phil's father Roy offers them accommodation with him, following the death of his wife - pretending he feels frail after a car accident to encourage them to move in unwillingly.

All well and good. A 'tight squeeze' and temporary fix? Well not when cracks appear, with Roy's old-fashioned attitudes clash with Janine's more modern parenting. When her daughter requests a pirate party for her birthday and Roy organises a princess one, this opens the floodgates for family tension and an online rant resulting in off-forum shaming and public humiliation for more than one party (possibly of the pirate kind).

I both liked and was annoyed by almost every character in this. There are lots of points being made about social media, gender norms, separated parents and roles, and more. Poor Phil felt very hard-done-by in my opinion. Little Katie is a clear product of so many different influences, with so many arguments going on around her about how to bring up a child, it makes the reader aware of how much we push our own agendas on our own offspring.

I enjoyed reading this as an audiobook, the voices came across well (though all voiced by a woman) to distinguish each character, though I'd have preferred a male voice for Roy and Phil really.

We are all wrong sometimes, I think is the point. And too quick to judge. The book shows the total idiocy sometimes when it comes to blame and considering ourselves moral arbiters.

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliantly hilarious story - just like all the other Caroline Hulse's books, I am always waiting impatiently for her next release.

However, this time, even though the characters were really were drawn, I couldn't completely warm to them. Especially to Janine - she was "too much" on every level and with my own philosophy of "live and let live" I think I couldn't have a friend like Janine. She was oberbearing and bossy and I know she wanted well but so much drama. No. Just no, Janine.
Roy was also well - meaning and yes, I can see the conflict here, I am not siding with him, but I am so tired with what's happening right now, with all other people telling me what is good and what's wrong, which words I can use and which not and which film under which title I can watch. And it was Janine, so perhaps this is why I couldn't side with her so completely.
So the author really, really well explored the pros and cons of both sides, capturing the ridicoulousness of it all and also going deep into how much harm can an innocent internet post do - and this is the worst. She writes about this digital hostility skillfully and her observations are spot - on, sharp, brutal and genuine. I hope that the book will make some people think twice before thy post something on internet.

This was a quick read and I really didn't want to put the book down and no, I didn't guess "who did it"! The chapters were snappy and the pacing was brilliant, the writing engaging, the topic controversial - perfect read.

[beereadsxo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a hard read. It was very mundane, dragged on certain points and at times utterly bizarre.

The fmc janine is completely unlikeable. She’s rude, selfish, outspoken and highly opinionated. The whole way she treated Roy really got on my nerves and I found it unreadable in parts. I get her situation was hard but she was absolutely NOT thinking about her daughter first and felt very controlling and narcissistic.

I liked the underlining message about how not everything should be posted to social media and that it WILL come back to bite you on the bum (as that’s very much how I feel)

I wouldn’t recommend this book tbh and I don’t think I’ll be reading anything else by this author

[Amy Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. 'Comic’ writing can be very hit-or-miss for me. Humour is hard to convey on the page and, all to often, I find books that have been billed as ‘hilarious’ by others more cringe than comic. And whilst there were definite cringe moments in Caroline Hulse’s Reasonable People, I came away with the feeling that this was very much the intention of the author. Because Reasonable People is a novel that – as well as being genuinely funny and heart-warming – revels in the awkwardness of lives that are lived online, deftly using sharp and intelligent humour to question the judgemental nature of the social media age.

When Janine, Phil, and Janine’s 6-year-old daughter Katie are forced to move in with Phil’s recently widowed father Roy, Janine is determined to try and make the best of a bad situation. Sure, she recently lost her job, now feels like a non-person, AND was made homeless by her good-for-nothing ex. And sure, Katie recently had to perform in the school play dressed in an orange Corn Flakes t-shirt and beige tracksuit bottoms rather than as the prescribed ‘pink’ racoon. And sure, Roy is rather old-fashioned and won’t stop calling Katie ‘pretty’ however much Janine protests that girls have intellectual abilities too. But the situation is only temporary. And deep-down, Janine knows that Roy is trying his best.

But when Katie is left in tears following a disastrous birthday party, Janine resorts to posting on ‘Am I The Villain Here?’ to ask for judgement: Is she the villain for being furious that Roy changed Katie’s birthday pirate party into a princess party? When the post blows up, Janine quickly loses control of the narrative. As more and more people wade in with their opinions on Janine and Roy’s actions, both Janine and Roy find themselves at risk of losing far more than the battle for public opinion.

What really impressed me about Reasonable People is the way in which Caroline Hulse makes unlikeable characters empathetic. Although Janine and Roy are deeply flawed human beings – albeit in very different ways – I found myself relating to both of them. Although some elements of their personalities risk falling into stereotype (Roy’s fussiness, for example, or Janine’s feminist flag-waving), Hulse integrates these elements into their characters so well that I never felt as if they had become caricatures. Yes, Janine is strident in her determination that Katie can be whoever she wants to be (even if that is a pirate when all the other girls in her class want to be a princess), but Hulse ensures that the reader understands why Janine feels so strongly, just as she ensures that the reader understands Roy’s confusion at Janine’s anger when he calls his step-granddaughter pretty. It’s masterfully done and it’s clear that Hulse has a firm grasp of both her characters and their motivations.

I did find myself getting more frustrated with Janine’s partner, Phil, the other key protagonist in the book. Although I felt sorry for the way in which he gets caught in the middle of the battle between his partner and his dad, Phil’s passivity occasionally made me want to fling the book across the room. Without giving away any spoilers, I think he gets off fairly lightly considering that the entire situation could probably have been avoided if he’d spoken a bit more with both his partner and his father. That said, I found Phil’s belated attempts to restore order and normality to chaos pretty funny at times.

Although the pages turned pretty quickly, I did think that Reasonable People was a tad on the long side. The mid-section of the book in particular felt somewhat repetitive in places, although the pace – and the stakes – definitely ramp up again as the novel reaches it’s finale. Hulse has an easy and engaging style, as well as a sharp wit. Her observations of human nature – both good and bad – are absolutely spot-on and, whilst some of the characters and situations bordered on the farcical, I totally believed that they could (and probably have) happened somewhere!

I also really admired the way in which Hulse uses humour to touch on more challenging topics, such as the psychological and reputational effects of’ internet pile-ons, the fear experienced by some older people of modern life and technology, the way in which work (or lack of it) defines identity, and the pressure placed on parents and children alike to ‘keep up’ at the school gates. For a comic novel, there’s genuine depth here and some distinctly bittersweet moments.

With it’s razor-sharp social observations and darkly comic humour, Reasonable People is perfect for fans of Meg Mason and Emma Straub, as well as anyone else looking for a contemporary novel that combines heart, humour, and humanity.

NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[KathVBtn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely spend far longer than I should on mumsnet forums and Reddit posts, working out what I’d do in any given situation and who's being unreasonable.

But when the super - stressed and overloaded Janine posts anonymously about her annoying but well meaning father in law Roy, seeking reassurance that her reactions are correct and that he is in fact a dinosaur stuck in his sexist ways, she leaves in a few too many identifying features and people soon clock that she is the OP (original poster). Janine is angry that Roy arranged a princess party for her daughter rather than a pirate party, and brings up a few other issues that have been bubbling under the surface too.

Soon local and national media have picked up on the story and the repercussions for Roy, Janine and their family are getting out of hand. Roy’s son Phil (Janine's partner) is stuck in the middle of the argument -‘I’m Switzerland 😂’ but it’s not a comfortable situation for any of them and each side gets more entrenched in their views.

I read 'Reasonable People' with my head in my hands, anticipating the delicious cringe fest that builds and builds - and when it all comes to a head at the school quiz night fundraiser, no-one knows where to look. The school mums, Janine's best friend, her ex-husband - they're all there and can see the battlelines being drawn between Janine and Roy.

Reasonable People is a brilliantly light-hearted but fiercely perceptive story about how sticking to your principles may cost you more than you know.

Caroline Hulse has totally nailed the moral whirlwind that can be conjured by social media, with people blithely posting without caring that they may be hurting someone important to them, and with the original argument descending into thousands of spin offs.

I was hugely entertained throughout and would recommend it to anyone

[Pam Wright Alfie Blue Puss In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

FROM THE COVER📖

CantBeArsed8: Am I the villain for being furious my partner's father changed my daughter's pirate party into a princess party?

After a kid's party faux-pas, mother Janine anonymously vents about her father-in-law's behaviour on internet forum Am I The Villain Here? When the community is invited to take sides the post goes viral, with mild-mannered Roy ending up in the national newspapers and sparking protests at his local library. REASONABLE PEOPLE explores how judging others reveals our deepest, most unreasonable selves -

REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️


Told in the 3rd POV we the fall out of what can happen when generations clash and social media takes over.
I enjoyed this book it did make me think how I would react in the situation and reflect on the dynamics between the generations in my own family. The author makes some good points with regards to how much we have actually haven’t moved on that much in terms on gender roles.

The plot was good and flowed well, however I felt it lacked the depth needed to really hammer the points the author was trying to make, they were too hidden within the somewhat poor comedy and characters that were annoying and muddled in their development and personality. I know nothing is ever black and white so there need to be some nuance in the characters views and outlooks but found that nuance wasn’t so subtle.There were also some strange bits I found really didn’t add to the story or the point the author was making( the godson with the porn for example)

Overall this book made me think but I was confused to as what it was trying to be, because of that I found it hard to really engage with. That being said it would make a great book club pick it will spark debates for sure.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story touches on many of the contemporary issues people deal with on an everyday basis - raising children, family politics, relationship issues, internet encounters etc. Except in this book, things don't just go big, they also hit home!

Janine and her 5 year old daughter Katie live in her house, as a blended family, with her second husband, Phil. While Phil is easygoing, if somewhat passive, Janine is anything but. When she loses her job and her house - after her ex decides to sell it - they move in temporarily with Phil's father Roy, who has recently become a widower.

Although tensions between Roy and Janine are quickly evident, things come to a head when Roy decides to throw a princess party for Katie instead of the pirate party that she wanted.

Afterwards, Janine posts about it online to seek validation on who is the villain of the piece. And although this is ostensibly done anonymously, the post goes viral, and there are consequences for Janine, Phil and Roy, as the entire internet - plus national media - decides to sit in judgement of their actions.

This is a well-observed and funny (if slightly long) novel. An easy read, it provides some food for thought about the consequences of our instant gratification culture when it comes to social media, in particular - and why it is best to be circumspect when it comes to family matters. And even to grin and bear it, whenever possible...

I give it 3.5 stars - and more judicious editing lengthwise would have got it 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Reasonable People we meet Janine. She is having a pretty rough day as she gets some bad news at work and her ex has decided he wants to sell their house... the one she is currently living in with their 5 Yr old daughter and her new partner, Phil. They can't afford to buy him out so they have no choice but to move in with Phil's dad, Roy.

Roy is recently widowed and set in his ways, so the addition of three extra people into his home is more than a little bit unsettling, but he really wants to help out as much as possible, as well as keep himself busy. When he offers to throw a party for young Katie's birthday, Janine is dubious, but Katie has been really clear on the type of party she wants so what could go wrong?
Apparently a lot! The aftermath of the party escalates quickly, particularly with Janine adding the details to an AITA type page on the internet causing a whole load of drama for everyone involved, and some that aren't!

This really does delve into the importance of communication, particularly when there is a generation gap, but Janine was not good at this at all! Roy was just trying to help in the best way he could and a bit of an honest conversation with him would have probably avoided most of the issues! As for Phil, I just wanted to give him a shake!

All in all, a quick and entertaining read that I recommend if you are in the mood for some modern family drama.

[Kagan Goodliff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although this book was well written, the main character was so unlikeable and so unreasonable. She bulldozed over anyone who disagreed with her, was incapable of making good decisions for her family, refused to take any responsibility for anything and was incredibly ungrateful. The villain indeed. She thinks herself a feminist, not wanting her daughter to wear pink etc, but doesn’t actually care how her daughter feels about it. Instead of having conversations with people about gender stereotypes, she’s up on her moral high horse judging everyone which changes absolutely nothing and makes people think you’re a condescending jerk. She lectures her friend’s son about watching porn and doesn’t think to mention it to her friend, too busy being superior. She also doesn’t like to think of herself as a mum really, a school mum nicely approaches her in a coffee shop and asks if she’d like to join them, she literally says to her face, I’m not like you, I’m a working mum. Again, condescending jerk. And this is before she tries to avoid living with her father in law even though her child will literally be homeless. Which she knew about but took no action. Her poor father in law, he was dealing with his own grief and he genuinely loves the granddaughter. He thought he was doing the right thing with the party and if the mum hadn’t been so unapproachable, the whole thing wouldn’t have happened. I was sad she got a happy ending she didn’t deserve.

Plot for my memory. Woman with partner and kid loses job and home, father in law recently widowed persuaded them to move in (even though she doesn’t want to). She won’t respect him at all, he says he’ll organise a party for the granddaughter but secretly changes it from pirates to princesses. Mum goes mad, she posts on an Am I the Villain? site to get vindication. He finds out about it, chaos ensues. She somehow ends up perfectly fine and her partner doesn’t leave her.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, not something I would normally pick up but the synopsis had me intrigued so I decided to go for it.

This novel follows Janine, our main character, who is a little bit down on her luck after losing her job and having to move in with her father in law. Janine's daughter, Katie, has an upcoming birthday and asks her mum for a pirate party and when she allows her father in law to take over the planning of it, she (and Katie) are both horrified to find out that Roy had changed the pirate party into a princess party.

Trying to get a sense of unity and compassion for her upset, Janine turns to the internet and asks a well-known website 'Am I The Villain?' for being angry at Roy's behaviour.

What happens next when the internet mob become heavily involved in this argument, both on-line and offline, is hilarious.

Like I say, I really enjoyed this novel. Whilst it was really funny and the dialogue was sharp, it was incredibly relatable and I definitely saw both sides of the argument. I am sure many will disagree and will choose sides and I think this will be one of those novels which will be well debated.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion publishing group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Elizabeth Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the last few months, a forum where people post scenarios and ask if they are being unreasonable started popping up on my social media and I must confess I have found myself fascinated by some of the questions being asked, as well as the responses. So I was intrigued to read Reasonable People, a clever, funny and yet thought provoking book about how one such post turned one family’s life upside down.

When her daughter’s birthday party takes an unexpected turn, mother Janine takes to an internet forum to vent about her father-in-law Roy. What starts as an anonymous rant soon takes on a life of its own with far-reaching consequences for the whole family.

It’s a book full of humour but equally quite emotional at times, and is undoubtedly thought-provoking about both over-sharing on social media and the way in which people are quick to sit in judgement and the complexities of family dynamics. What Hulse does well is create relatable characters, undoubtedly flawed but never less than interesting and whilst some are more likeable than others, none are ever 100% right. It’s an enjoyable and easy read but with a depth that provides plenty of food for thought.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been holding off reading this beauty since I bought it at the book launch in Manchester. I knew I’d like it and wanted to savour it.
After her ‘father in law’ Roy takes over the planning of her daughter Katie’s birthday party (delivering a princess party rather than the much wished for pirate party) Janine takes umbrage and posts on an online forum asking if she’s the villain for getting annoyed with him.
The post goes viral and sparks a chain of events that rocks the entire family.
Janine is a pretty snippy character and not that likeable, that said she has her principles and sticks to them always wanting the best for her daughter. Roy is old school, with old fashioned views and values, and equally as unbending. Playing Switzerland we have Janine’s husband Phil. Together they make a great cast in a book with lots of humour but that also shows the dark side of the internet and how quickly things can get out of hand.
If you enjoy reading the ‘Am I the Asshole’ posts on Twitter (generally posted by someone who wasn’t prepared to give their paid for, extra legroom seat on a plane to a family too mean to pay but kicking up a fuss once boarded) you’ll love this book!

[Lauren-Tess Anderson-Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book only last Wednesday from the librarian on duty last Wednesday, on Friday, I was able to pick up a copy at the library, and I've just finished it.

I think it's safe to say that I enjoyed this book. I'd not read any of Caroline's books previously, but I'm definitely adding her backlist to my wishlist.

Reasonable People's main focus was around judgement and the flaws of our characters.

We follow Janine, who following her daughter's birthday party is furious with father in law, Roy, and vents her frustration on the Internet, Am I The Villian Here? forum. What she didn't expect was the post to go viral and the actions that follow. It is ultimately the story of a feuding family.

I found that the characters were very relatable, and I felt each of their personalities shine through.

All in all, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read with plenty of laugh out loud moments.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Compulsive reader foelr my copy .

This is my first book by this author and I liked her style of writing it was easy to connect to and follow.

We follow this story as a generational gap dives the family. We see how this affects them in their places in society.

As we are following Janie who's low after losing her job and scumbs to needing to move in with her father in law we see her using a website basically the same as another popular really site it's called 'Am I the Villan' get my drift. As Roy (Step father in law) changed a party from one theme to another.

Next, we see the input of what this online post has done offline and online. Both this is quite humorous to watch. And we can see where Janine and Roy are both on their own foots of this debacle.

I do feel like Roy was doing his best and he was not been apperticaed by others.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, funny, relatable and timely read then look no further - this one is a total joy! (Apart from that first chapter, that bit might have you reaching for the tissues 🥺)!

This was such a great idea for a book, and I loved the fact that there was no clear “villain” or side to take, as the author was so fair in showing both sides of the story, and the good and bad of both our key characters. Now maybe I’m a terrible feminist, but I did find Janine difficult to warm to, even if I understood her point of view - I found her a little too forceful about some things 🙈 I did have a total soft spot for Roy though, even if he kept getting it wrong!

This novel looks at so many important topics, from the obvious feminism and sexism, to redundancy and how being out of work can affect a family. It’s laugh out loud funny at times, but also poignant and meaningful. I’d definitely recommend as I know lots of you will love it!

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

First thing first: there's a Reddit forum call Am I the Assxxe or AITA and there's plenty of people posting. It would be quite hard to guess who is talking about whom unless you're unlucky and your neighbour is reading your post.
This blah-blah to say that I found the basic idea of one of those post going viral a bit unbelievelable.
A bit like this book: there's some very funny moments, there's the male that are all nearly saint and Janine who is a sort of wicked witch.
I think it's a good book but I had to suspend my belief and read it as a sort of massive-what-if
Had fun and apppreciated the style of writing and the storytelling
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I being the villain here…..??

When a child’s party goes horrible wrong. Janine posts about her Father in Law’s faux pas for the world to judge….

Will you be Team Janine or Team Roy?

This book, hits the nail on the head with how one post on social media made in haste can have consequences

It is so well written, the characters have so many flaws which makes is believable, it hits real life on the head and how things are in perceived on the internet.

I was unable to put this down. I LOVED this book! Read in 2 days. As I couldn’t put it down

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Caroline Hulse book and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed it. I read it with a group as a buddy read and we enjoyed discussing it as a group too.

Janine has a daughter called Katie and a partner called Phil. She has quite a good relationship with her ex who she grew frustrated with as he lazed about while she worked and supported the family. Her ex has a new partner who is very wealthy and he is living the life of luxury.

Janine is made redundant from her job and she is struggling to keep a hold of the family home she had with her ex as he now wants to sell it. She can’t find another job so they have to go and live with Phil’s dad Roy. Roy is recently widowed and has his routines and keeps his house immaculate. He seems like a lovely man with old fashioned values but is very kind and supportive to Phil and Janine. Janine has very strong opinions and values too and unfortunately they clash with Roy’s.

Roy tells Katie she is clever and pretty which winds Janine up. He offers to organise Katie’s birthday party and with the help of the party planner he prepares an amazing party which is the opposite of what Janine and Katie wanted. From this point Janine and Roy avoid each other and the atmosphere is awful.

Janine posts on an online forum about Roy ( anonymously) and about how she hates his values and finds him archaic and overbearing. She posts about him organising the wrong party and how she and her daughter hates it all. Things go from bad to worse when the comments on this post soar and personal details are revealed.

Such a good read and one I would definitely recommend.

[Kelly Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone sucks here. Except for maybe Phil and Sal.

Very mixed thoughts on this book. I found this hard to get through purely because all the characters are so unlikeable, right down to Katie. The writing was fine (although my version on Kindle had a lot of grammatical errors) and got some good laughs out of me. Some of it seemed a bit far fetched and the whole set up/motivation for “the note” was frankly bizarre. I did end up finishing it because I was keen to see how it would end, and it was pretty solid overall.