And Now There's Zelda

by Carolyn Clarke

For fans of the bestselling author of AND THEN THERE'S MARGARET
comes the perfect family 'dramedy'. AND NOW THERE'S ZELDA takes
readers on another relatable 'slice of life' ride as Allie realizes the
only way to survive the angst of family is to let go....and let it be.

It’s been five years since Allison Montgomery’s beloved father-in-law, George, passed away and her cantankerous mother-in-law, Margaret, moved in. After nearly killing each other during their initial adjustment period, Allie and Margaret have finally buried the hatchet and have even launched a thriving home staging business together.

Today, Allie is enjoying life. That is until her twenty-two-year-old son, Cameron, unexpectedly brings home Zelda, his new fiancé. The problem is, no one has ever met or even heard of her. And when Zelda’s first impression raises more than a few red flags, Allie finds herself in unfamiliar territory.

Facing the prospect of becoming a mother-in-law far sooner than expected, and to someone unworthy of her darling baby boy, Allie’s protective instinct kicks in. And who better to turn to for guidance and support than Margaret, her former nemesis and master of the mothers-in-law’s dark arts.

Allie and Margaret launch Project Zelda, an intervention of sorts designed to show Cameron who Zelda really is and to prevent him from making a catastrophic mistake. However, with Zelda’s ingratiating behavior, Margaret’s occasional disappearances, and Allie’s doubts about turning into her own mother-in-law, will Allie find a way to reconcile her protective instincts or will history repeat itself?

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction

247 pages, Paperback

Published May 8, 2024

About the author

HenLit Central is proud to launch HenLit Central Publishing, a new independent publisher dedicated to creating engaging, high-quality activity books.

The Mind Boosters Series features a number of thoughtfully designed coloring, tracing and puzzle books that stimulate brain function, improve focus, and enhance memory, while bringing a little relaxing fun and creativity to help brighten your day.

Here are some exciting titles coming soon to the Mind Boosters Series:

Menopause Coloring Book
Mindful Mazes Book
Idioms & Expressions Word Search


AND THEN THERE'S MARGARET:

Next Generation Indie Book Awards – Chick Lit (Fiction) – FINALIST

Readers' Choice Book Awards - FINALIST - Best Adult Fiction

Chick Lit Cafe - CLC Book Excellence Award - 1st Place WINNER

Maxy Award Literary & Humor - WINNER

AND NOW THERE'S ZELDA:

2024 NYC BIG BOOK AWARD - Winner - HUMOR

2024 Maxy Awards Finalist - Literary & Humor

2024 Bedside Reading - Best Books of the Summer

2024 Chick Lit Book Cafe - CLBC Book Excellence Award - Winner Women's Fiction/Humor


Carolyn Clarke is the founder and curator of HenLit Central, a blog focused on light-hearted ‘life and lit’ .

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was much I could identify with in And Now There’s Zelda. The main character is Allie, whose adult son Cameron, has come home with an unexpected fiancee in tow.

If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:

https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Five years have passed since And Then There’s Margaret and Margaret has moved into her apartment in the basement of her son, Hank, and daughter-in-law, Allison’s home. It wasn’t easy but Margaret and Allie are not only getting along, they are business partners in a home staging business. There are a few little problems because Allison’s daughter Samantha is “galavanting across Europe” instead of working at the staging business and her replacement is totally incapable of handling the job, Allison hopes her daughter will be back soon.

So Allie was pretty happy with her life until her 20-year-old son Cameron comes home from college with his new fiancé Zelda. Now Allie becomes the over-the-top mother seeing bright red flags in almost everything the girl says and does. Basically, the same things Margaret saw when Hank brought her home. Now she needs Margaret as an ally as they launch Project Zelda to learn as much as possible about the young woman before her beloved son makes a humongous mistake.

I liked this book more than the first book in the series. Margaret is still opinionated and pushy but she has reeled it in a lot this time. In fact, she shows she can still be an independent woman and make plans for her life. Allie on the other hand turns into everything she hated about Margaret. Her precious baby boy has been hurt by another young lady and her mission is to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Hank is very easygoing but is tied up with a big project at work. Cameron is head over heels in love and is determined to make the relationship work. Zelda is an unknown factor that emerges as the story continues.

Allie was very close to her father-in-law George and she took his passing hard. He was the buffer between her and Margaret. She now writes letters or talks to him to tell him what is happening in their lives. It comforts her.

Allie had planned a family trip to Florida for her mother’s birthday but the plans go awry when Samantha has a new opportunity abroad and Hank can’t take the time off from work. Suddenly Margaret and Zelda are going on the trip. I do love Allie’s mother. The woman is full of life and so open to possibilities.

The author fills this story with so much humor and laugh-out-loud moments. Her detailed descriptions and the character’s interactions and dialogues take the reader on a fun journey with the Montgomery family.

If I am truthful, I saw a little bit of myself in Allie. Mothers and sons, especially if the son is the youngest child, the relationship can be complicated when they become adults and make big life decisions.

And Now There’s Zelda is an entertaining read with plenty of drama and humor, but heartwrenching and heartwarming moments too. I am not sure what the author has planned for the Montgomerys but maybe she can take them ahead another 5 years when the children have spouses and maybe a child or two.

*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Renata Tralhao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I've never read anything by this author, I was very intrigued by the book. From the family drama and their personal relationships, to the well described and consistent characters, which I will not go into some detail here, otherwise would be giving away spoilers.
In my opinion as a reader, the book is well done, especially because we're talking about "in-law" relationships that often become important to understand, especially when a stranger joins the family. The effort to prevent a potentially disastrous relationship makes the plot even more addictive and comical.
The descriptive detail, the touching and funny dialogues, the different personalities, as well as the whole space and time captivate and hold the reader to the book.
Even thought all the plot is nice and attractive in terms of reading, I felt a bit of judgment from the mother’s side, giving a bit the idea that mothers-in-law from the man side never like the potentional daugthers-in-law.
Nevertheless, it gives to the reader an insight about the way mothers have concerns about their children happiness.
I recommend it.

[Ciclochick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Clarke's second book after 'And Then There's Margaret', which I thoroughly enjoyed, once I'd ignored the 'dramedy' banner on that novel. It's a very entertaining, well-written family drama, it's just not funny, merely misgenred!

I was very much looking forward to catching up with Ally and co, now dealing with a new addition to her family…her son's new girlfriend/fiancée. Whilst Ally had to deal with Margaret come what may, being her husband's mother, she's quite hell-bent on ejecting Zelda from the family fold, convinced she's not the right girlfriend/fiancée/wife material for her much-loved son.

Again, it's a very enjoyable ride of ups and downs as Ally and Zelda navigate their relationship. It's a very worthy sequel to Clarke's previous novel and the characters are all very real and credible, and could quite happily be your family nextdoor who you'd be popping in to see regularly.

I think the 'And then/now there's…' might have been wrung out now, but I'll more than happily read another Ally life episode or indeed anything else by this author.

[Minerva Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Charlotte recommended this book to me 2 days ago, and I read it at a breakneck pace. Despite not having read anything from Carolyn Clarke before, or 'And Then There's Margaret', this was quite the pleasant surprise! None of the characters were flat or one-note. Everybody felt like a real person. I also like the risk of history repeating itself, as history is wont to do. Funny at times and heart-wrenching at others, it was a book that added some color to my week. Recommend!

[Tracie Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now There’s Zelda by Carolyn Clarke
This was a fun read! It was filled with relatable characters, laugh out loud moments, and real life issues.
Allison Montgomery lives with her cantankerous mother-in-law, Marageret. Alli had an endearing relationship with her father-in-law, George, who passed a few years earlier, she still consults him in her thoughts. After adjusting to one another and becoming business partners, Alli and Margaret become friends.
Alli is officially an empty nester and when her son comes home with a fiancée that she hasn’t heard about, chaos ensues. Zelda becomes a project because Alli isn’t ready for the next phase of life.

This was an entertaining family adventure of finding new pathways in the next chapters of life for the whole family. I really enjoyed it. I loved all the characters and their individuality. This is a sequel to “ And Then There’s Margaret” which I also thoroughly enjoyed! I can’t wait to read more by Carolyn Clarke! 4/5⭐️

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sequel to “And Then There’s Margaret" - if you have not read that, be forewarned.

Allison Montgomery lives with her difficult mother-in-law, Margaret. Allison had a lovely relationship with her father-in-law, George, who sadly passed away a few years ago, but she still thinks about him. After some time, Allison and Margaret become business partners and eventually friends.

Now that Allison's child has moved out, chaos begins when he comes home with a fiancée, Zelda, whom Allison hasn’t heard about. Zelda becomes a focus for Allison, as she isn’t ready for this new stage in her life.

This was an entertaining family story about finding new paths as they move into the next chapters of their lives. I really liked it and loved all the characters and their quirky uniqueness.

[Diane Nagatomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And Now There’s Zelda” by Carolyn Clarke is a witty sequel to “And Then There’s Margaret”. In the first book (Margaret), Allison Montgomery needs to deal with her sticky relationship with her mother-in-law after her father-in-law dies. Against all odds, they reconcile their differences and learn how to coexist together. The tables have turned when Allison’s son brings home his fiancé, Zelda. Exactly who is this person and why have they gotten engaged so quickly? Now it is Allison who acts a bit like the (future) mother-in-law from hell. How can she not? After all, she is only protecting her son.

It is possible to read “And Now There’s Zelda” as a stand-alone book, but I believe the background story from the first book is important to really get Allison’s struggles. Many thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for an ARC. My opinion is my own.

[Anna Bostwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been in a reading slump before I happened to upon And Now There’s Zelda. I loved this book, the perfect read to help me out. I loved the characters each had their own distinct personalities. I now have to go back and read And Then There’s Margaret.

[Sylvia Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title:               And Now There’s Zelda:  The Perfect Family
Life Dramedy

Author:                      Carolyn Clarke

Genre:                        Women’s Literary Fiction- Comedy Drama

Pub Date:                  Releasing on May 9, 2024/preorder now.

Print Length:           265 pages

Book Reviewed By Sylvia J.


Allison Montgomery went from being a kindergarten teacher to a successful home staging business owner. It's really hard to believe that her mother-in-law Margaret, the very person who’s been a major source of frustration for her and her marriage since the day they met, is the same person who gave the financial backing, encouragement, and the emotional support that allowed her to grow her business. 4 ½ years ago, Margaret decided to sell her condo, move into Allison’s basement and finance Allison‘s new start of a business. What would be Margaret’s role in the business? Margaret would deal with all the difficult clients and vendors.


Allison's mother Rosemary is her guru for becoming a better person.
” In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Allison's son named Cameron who is 22 years old brought a girl home named Zelda for the first time and said this is my fiancé. They went out for only a few months. Allison has never heard of this girl before today. Allison thinks Zelda is unworthy of her son and many red flags go up.

Allison and Margaret decide to collaborate and start something called Project Zelda. What is Project Zelda you ask?  Allison and Margaret both plan to expose Zelda for what they think she is. They need to gather evidence. They need to help Cameron see for himself who Zelda really is. What will happen? 

I feel the way this book was written really depicts some relationships between daughter-in-law’s and mother-in-law‘s. It also depicts the relationship between sons and mothers in the way that we feel no one is good enough for our son. There is much drama that goes on in the book that will definitely keep one glued to the book. I feel the book ended very nicely and I definitely  recommend one to read the book. This is the second book I’ve read from this author. I really enjoy all her work. I will continue to follow her on her journey as an author. A five star rating is my rating for this adorable Dramedy.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Book Sirens. I'm grateful to them and the review is entirely my own.)

this book has some strengths and some weaknesses. Depending on how these strike you, you may like the book for or less than I did. I found they balanced each other out.

I think the writing is good, breezy writing. Keeps the plot moving right along and is a fun read. It's predictable, but this is not a general weakness for me. I'm very fond of rereading books (in which case they are completely predictable) and I read romance from time to time. (You pretty much know how they are going to come out.) This book may, however, be a tad too predictable. Or perhaps predictable in ways not intended by the author.

The main problem I have with this book is the characterizations. And I care a lot about this. Alison, the narrator/main character, is too flat, too one dimensional. She's one of the most glass-is-half-empty folks I've ever encountered in my reading. And I don't have any idea why she's so negative. It may be that if I'd read the earlier book about her I would understand. many of the other characters are minor and so I don't expect as much about them. But I did need a lot more to be able to make her make sense. Why, for instance, are there all these sections in the form of letters to her (deceased) father-in-law?

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

when allison’s son comes back from college with a fiancée - who she had no idea existed, on his arm. will she trust her or will their relationship fall apart.

rounding this up to 3.75

the themes in this book mainly focus on if this mothers intuition is correct about seeing red flags and if zelda is really what she seems. it feels like a mystery book, but no mystery has happened. you as the reader, will want to know also if zelda, is really the person she claims to be.

the writing is fast paced, witty and relatable. for older women in their late 30s - 50 this book is so perfect as it’s super relatable to married life, dealing with mother in law’s and motherhood. ( regardless, i’m in my late 20s and enjoyed this )

my only complaint is, i did find the mother a bit judgemental at times and i would’ve enjoyed her trying a bit harder to get to know zelda.

if you want a quick, simple easy read featuring lots of family drama and a sweet ending. this is definitely the book for you.

thankyou to netgalley and black rose for the arc. all opinions are my own

[Heidireadsitall · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now There's Zelda is a fun, relatable family drama that perfectly captures the chaos, humor, and heart of navigating in-laws, grown kids, and unexpected life twists. I really enjoyed how Allie and Margaret's once rocky relationship evolved into a quirky partnership that gave the story warmth and plenty of laughs.
Zelda's sudden arrival definitely stirred things up, and watching Allie struggle between wanting to protect her son and learning to let go felt very real. The story balanced humor with heartfelt moments in a way that made it easy to connect with.

If you're considering the audio version, you're in for a treat! Lisa Lynn Sandlin is the perfect voice for this story. Her narration is absolutely phenomenal, expertly capturing the tension, humor, and underlying affection in Allie and Margaret's relationship. Sandlin brings a distinct and vibrant personality to each character, making their witty exchanges and emotional moments truly jump off the page (or out of the speakers!). She does a great job of bringing this relatable, charming story to life.

[Molly Bethoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

If you love family/domestic dramas, laughs and characters who incredibly relatable, then this book is for you!

As a middle-aged mom meets her new soon-to-be daughter-in-law, she is thrown back into the drama that encompassed her own mother-in-law, with whom there was a rocky start and a tumultuous relationship. In an effort to rid of her maybe daughter-in-law, she teams up with her own MIL to show her son who his fiancée really is. Throughout that process, she is tested and forced to look into her own relationships.

I loved the build of the characters and relationships in this book. I truly laughed out loud so much and enjoyed how thorough the book was in describing relationships and framing the scenarios throughout the book.

I look forward to reading more by Carolyn Clarke!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monster in laws. We all have one or know of one. Mothers (especially of boys) who have a hard time letting go and welcoming their new daughter in laws into the family.

You see, Allie has one too, and while things have been better with Margaret over recent years, the relationship retains some of its strain. When Allie's son returns home with a surprise fiance, Allie sees this as an opportunity to combine forces with Margaret against a common enemy. Not in a monster in law kind of way though. Just, you know, out of concern for her son of course…

And then there was Zelda is a funny, heart warming story with multi dimensional characters and is easy to read. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found there to be a lot of humored drama. Everything was always in the negative sense, especially with the red flags.

Mom, Ali, in this story was shocked by Zelda being in Cam, her son's life, much less his fiance. Ali as been planning a vacation to FL to see her mom for her 75th birthday. Her husband, Hank, is right in the middle of a big merger at his job and can't make it and daughter Sam was in Europe and unable to attend, so Cam suggests Zelda go and Margaret, Hand's mom and Ali's beloved mil, sarcasm meant went on trip in their absence. And what a vacation tis was for everyone.

The ending between Margaret and Ali and Ali and Zelda was heartwarming and made the book, or story great.

I received a free ARC copy and giving my honest and free review.


.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Now There's Zelda by Clarke, Carolyn - I extend thanks to the author and publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy that was gifted to me.

I love how this story begins and without sharing any spoilers...CAUTION: ROUGH ROAD AHEAD.

This story hits all the feelers on so many fronts - Grandmother, Mother, Son, Girlfriend, Best Friend. Genuine insight into the dynamics of relationships able the changes they go through. How to, and not, navigate this minefield. I was thoroughly impressed with the authors in depth dive while keeping the storyline entertaining. She keeps the reader engaged, laughing then shocked, them nodding in understanding. This book addresses a tough situation in a truly engaging way. Well done. I highly recommend this book and author.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After she came to understand and almost like her mother in law in AND THERE'S MARGARET, Ally is facing some major decisions as her son introduces his fiance, Zelda. All is ure Zelda is wrong for her son and she knows the perfect person to help her scare Zelda off......Margaret. But does that mean she is now the bad mother in law to be that she swore she's never be?

This was a very interesting follow up to Clarke's first book on families and their interactions that sometimes feel more like military actions. I have now read BOTH books and would recommend them to anyone looking for something different than the mystery/thrillers I usually read. I know several people who NEED these books!!!

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you there? It's Allison

"Life is unpredictable and control is an illusion."

When I finished Carolyn Clarke's first book about Allison and her family I was very excited to hear this book had been added because I loved Allison's struggles with husband Hank's mother.

And now, 5 years later Cameron comes home with Zelda and Allison's radar gets activated again. But this time the story falls flat. Too much is going on to sort out the oranges from the bowl. And Allison's character isn't as spot on with all the different stories and stimuli. This book really isn't as crisp as the first book was and as much as I liked Clarke's ideas, this was a bit disappointing. Recommended 4/5

[Ava Knowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Clarke has done it again. A must read if you read her first novel "And Then There's Margaret" and fun read even if you didn't. Carolyn brings us back to familiar characters and introduces new and rather unique characters, in her second novel. In "And Now There's Zelda", Carolyn takes us deeper into Cameron's character, by shedding more light on his challenges, his relationship with his mother, Allie, grandmother, Margaret and new girlfriend, ZELDA. She treats us, once again, to some zany situations that we can all relate to, on some level. Carolyn also shares some relatable emotional, at times tearful predicaments, between Cameron, Allie and now Zelda. I hope you enjoy as much as I did, I didn't want to put it down.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious read
This book was just the beach read that I needed. I loved the dynamic between Margaret, a meddling mother-in-law, and her daughter-in-law, Allison. Having read the first book by Carolyn Clarke, this continuation was so welcomed. I truly enjoyed the antics that Margaret employed, and this book made it even better that her expertise as a meddler was again called in for support. The dynamic between Allison’s son, Cameron, and his soon-to-be-wife made this story so fun. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen with the storyline next. I cannot tell you how much I recommend this story!

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Family Drama
This book had me laughing out loud. I loved the hilarious antics that Margaret and Allie got into at every page turn. This book was filled with so much family dramedy that I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. I loved the way Allie navigated life with a possible new daughter-in-law as she tried to adapt to her new life. I also loved Carolyn’s writing; her characters, her plot, and her writing are just so thoroughly thought out and beautiful. Carolyn’s books are award winners and it’s clear why—this was so well written. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[rhonda granquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a sequel to 'And then there's Margaret '. This has the sane characters. Allison Montgomery has 2 children. Both older. Samantha is living in Paris experiencing life there. Cameron is in college. Allison is very worried about Cameron , having just been dumped by the love of life, or so he says. Allison, being the protective mother that she is tries to shelter her son. He comes to town, from school with a gal friend. Whe he announces to his parents that this gal is his fiancé, Zelda, Allison almost has a heart attack. Thus begins the Zelda Project, find out all about her. Allison just knows Zelda is a fortune hunter. After all Cameron hasn't know her very long.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful, witty, and heartfelt novel that masterfully blends laugh-out-loud humor with genuine emotion. Carolyn Clarke creates a perfect storm of family dynamics when Allie's son brings home the enigmatic Zelda, prompting Allie and her former nemesis, mother-in-law Margaret, to launch "Project Zelda." The characters are vibrant and endearingly neurotic, their relationships are beautifully rendered, and the plot is brimming with both hilarious escapades and poignant moments about motherhood, trust, and finding meaning. A truly charming, page-turning dramedy perfect for book clubs and anyone who loves smart, funny, and heartwarming stories.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Now There’s Zelda is an entertaining and insightful family dramedy that explores the delicate balance between love, control, and letting go. Carolyn Clarke captures the humor and tension that arise when family roles shift in unexpected ways.

Allison Montgomery’s journey from frustrated daughter-in-law to protective potential mother-in-law brings both comedy and thoughtful reflection. The evolving dynamic between Allie and Margaret adds a delightful layer to the story, blending sharp wit with moments of genuine connection. The result is a lively and relatable novel about family, perspective, and the challenges of trusting the people we love to make their own choices.

[Karyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decidedly unlikable characters, at times clunky writing.

This continues the story of Allie - middle aged, complainy, self -centred and dull, this time with her cast in the mother in law role, rather then daughter in law (as per the first book in the series) and the relationships she has with her kids, her son’s fiancée, her husband, her mother in law and her mother. Sure some limited character development, a meandering narrative, easy but ultimately unrewarding.

Thanks to Book Sirens and the publisher, Black Rose Writing for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Linda Beilstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read through NetGalley. I read this author's first book, "And Then There's Margaret", about Allison's relationship with her mother-in-law and how it evolved over the years after both parties learned tolerance so I was anxious to read this new book to see if it was just as good. And it did not disappoint. This book deals with the main character's relationship with a future daughter-in-law and how it evolved. It was interesting to see how long it took her to realize that now the shoe is on the other foot and see how she would handle that dynamic. A very enjoyable read.

[Denise Gaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Carolyn Clarke once again hits it out of the ballpark. Ms. Clarke has a good understanding of family dynamics, and it is ever so evident in And Now There's Zelda! We see a more confident Allie in this follow up book to And Then There's Margaret. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially Ms. Clarke's wit! I highly recommend this book!

[lindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

and now there is Zelda

And now there is Zelda, was a good read. I expected more spice out of Margaret. Some of the book was a little drawn out. it would have been nice to have more closure with the rest of the family, but that tells me there’s probably another book on the way.

[Dee Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I’ve read from this author. It was just ok for me-maybe I see too much of my helicoptering mothering in Allison’s character! I thought the plot line was a little dramatic for what was actually going on. 2 1/2 stars.