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The Accidental Housemate
Listening Length = 11 hours and 12 minutes
As her 40th birthday approaches, single mom Cath finds herself at a crossroads in life. To make ends meet, she agrees to host American student Dan as a lodger in her home. Imagine her surprise when Dan arrives and she finds that he’s definitely not a teenager — but rather a grown-up and quite attractive man…
Sometimes, to find love, you have to be a little accommodating…
A whip-smart, hilariously funny romcom for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella!
Cath Beckinsale is in a jam. She’s a single mum of three, with her 40th birthday in sight and a precarious hold on employment. And she can’t quite let go of her late husband Gaz, whose ashes are still in an urn on the kitchen table.
To make ends meet a student lodger seems like the perfect solution – after all, what’s one more child in the house? But when Dan flies in from the US with guitar and chest hair on display, it’s immediately clear that he’s no teenager, but someone who quickly sends life in an unexpected direction.
As her 40th birthday approaches, single mom Cath finds herself at a crossroads in life. To make ends meet, she agrees to host American student Dan as a lodger in her home. Imagine her surprise when Dan arrives and she finds that he’s definitely not a teenager — but rather a grown-up and quite attractive man…
Sometimes, to find love, you have to be a little accommodating…
A whip-smart, hilariously funny romcom for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella!
Cath Beckinsale is in a jam. She’s a single mum of three, with her 40th birthday in sight and a precarious hold on employment. And she can’t quite let go of her late husband Gaz, whose ashes are still in an urn on the kitchen table.
To make ends meet a student lodger seems like the perfect solution – after all, what’s one more child in the house? But when Dan flies in from the US with guitar and chest hair on display, it’s immediately clear that he’s no teenager, but someone who quickly sends life in an unexpected direction.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Published August 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
October 3, 2023
The Accidental Housemate is the first novel by British author, Sal Thomas. One minute, thirty-nine-year-old single mother of three, Cath Beckinsale thinks she’s handling life OK: dreading the departure of her eldest daughter Leanne to Uni buts coping well enough with her (somewhat precocious) pre-teen, Eric, and her hyperactive toddler, Jack, and enjoying teaching science to her small year 11 learning difficulties group.
Then, without warning, she’s unfairly dismissed and needing to supplement Gaz’s life insurance if she’s to keep paying her rent. The American student lodger sounds like a good idea, until she meets him: Dan Stanford-Sturgess is thirty-six, drop-dead gorgeous and full of self-confidence. Cath turns into a babbling mess, convinced there’s no way he’ll fit in with her crazy tribe.
When Dan decides to stay, Cath busies herself with life, trying to avoid too much interaction with him: there’s the chic-clique at Jack’s daycare to avoid; the new lady that Geoff, Gaz’s dad, is hooking up with, to meet; a school reunion to consider; her rampant negativity bias to overcome; and free private lessons for her struggling students to prepare them for their pending GCSE’s.
A suggestion from Dan about making the lessons more attractive to her students leads to a social-media channel as Science Mom, and popularity and publicity see Cath neglecting those things she previously felt important: her family, her friends, her students, and becoming a less appealing version of herself. It takes harsh words that break up a friendship, someone’s heart attack, and domestic violence on one of her students, for her to take a good hard look at herself and sort out her priorities.
While grief and guilt and love and loyalty feature, there’s plenty of laugh-out-loud humour, of both the situational and dialogue sort: candid descriptions, double meanings and sexual innuendo. This is an entertaining debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter.
Then, without warning, she’s unfairly dismissed and needing to supplement Gaz’s life insurance if she’s to keep paying her rent. The American student lodger sounds like a good idea, until she meets him: Dan Stanford-Sturgess is thirty-six, drop-dead gorgeous and full of self-confidence. Cath turns into a babbling mess, convinced there’s no way he’ll fit in with her crazy tribe.
When Dan decides to stay, Cath busies herself with life, trying to avoid too much interaction with him: there’s the chic-clique at Jack’s daycare to avoid; the new lady that Geoff, Gaz’s dad, is hooking up with, to meet; a school reunion to consider; her rampant negativity bias to overcome; and free private lessons for her struggling students to prepare them for their pending GCSE’s.
A suggestion from Dan about making the lessons more attractive to her students leads to a social-media channel as Science Mom, and popularity and publicity see Cath neglecting those things she previously felt important: her family, her friends, her students, and becoming a less appealing version of herself. It takes harsh words that break up a friendship, someone’s heart attack, and domestic violence on one of her students, for her to take a good hard look at herself and sort out her priorities.
While grief and guilt and love and loyalty feature, there’s plenty of laugh-out-loud humour, of both the situational and dialogue sort: candid descriptions, double meanings and sexual innuendo. This is an entertaining debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter.
June 10, 2023
I received a free copy of, The Accidental Housemate, by Sal Thomas, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Cath Beckinsale is a widow and mother of three, she needs help an thinks a lodger will be her answer. This book was a bit heavier than I thought it was going to be, I thought it would be a light chick read, but it had depth it. I really enjoyed this book.
August 21, 2023
I enjoyed this book. It was a little bonkers at times with the way the main character ran her life and dealt with her kids. But, you can't take this book seriously and just read it and enjoy. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2023
Solid debut, a feel-good story about a single mom of three, who is still on her journey through grief, yet life goes on and to make ends she agrees to host a student from the US, who turns out to be actually a grown-up, attractive man.
Not everything worked for me in this book – I expect the heroes of my age to be more mature and capable of communication among them, therefore, the third act breakup felt a bit flat, and I’m not sure Dan earned the right to be with Cath, I think he should have worked harder, not just grace everybody with his appearance at a certain moment. Still, I found Cath and her life very relatable and honestly depicted, especially the mom part, and though sometimes she was annoying, a bit judgemental and stubborn little cow, I fell in love with her as much as her adorable children.
Writing is great, grabs attention from the first page, there were some pacing issues in the middle of the story, but in general, I had a really good time reading it. So if you are into self-deprecating humor, socially-awkward, geeky characters, opposites attract and forced proximity tropes, you should give it a chance.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.
Not everything worked for me in this book – I expect the heroes of my age to be more mature and capable of communication among them, therefore, the third act breakup felt a bit flat, and I’m not sure Dan earned the right to be with Cath, I think he should have worked harder, not just grace everybody with his appearance at a certain moment. Still, I found Cath and her life very relatable and honestly depicted, especially the mom part, and though sometimes she was annoying, a bit judgemental and stubborn little cow, I fell in love with her as much as her adorable children.
Writing is great, grabs attention from the first page, there were some pacing issues in the middle of the story, but in general, I had a really good time reading it. So if you are into self-deprecating humor, socially-awkward, geeky characters, opposites attract and forced proximity tropes, you should give it a chance.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 16, 2023
Cath is a single mom of three who still talks to her husbands ashes as though he were still alive. When her eldest daughter Leanne goes off to uni and she gets laid off from her job at the same time, she doesn’t know what to do with herself. She decides that at least to help make ends meet that they will take in a lodger. From her social media stalking, she expects a dorky teenager, but instead winds up with a hunky thirty-something man named Dan who turns all their lives upside down, in the best way. He makes things less sad for her and makes things more tolerable for the kids and has them all opening up in a new way, including himself.
This was heartwarming, but I found myself literally laughing out loud at parts. Such a great story about grief and loss but then also about reinventing yourself and believing in you and what others see in you.
Can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
This was heartwarming, but I found myself literally laughing out loud at parts. Such a great story about grief and loss but then also about reinventing yourself and believing in you and what others see in you.
Can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
December 15, 2024
Very funny! Loved the story
September 6, 2023
What a brilliant, funny book it was! There was also enough depth to make this a great reading experience.
The characters were great - jumping off the pages, a little bit unconventional, but all of them brilliantly pictured, with interesting backgrounds and I enjoyed following them - I warmed to all of them immediately, though I had problems with little Jack, still not sure what was wrong with him. Cath was adorable, sharp and strong and I kept everything crossed for her.
The writing style is so easy to follow and light to read and it grabs your attention from the very beginning. Great descriptions mixed with sharp dialogues is what makes the book so great and the book has plenty of awkward moments that will make you laugh out loud.
Altogether, it was really a solid read with hilarious moments and brilliant banter about a journey through grief, second chances, hope, family and opposite attracts.
The characters were great - jumping off the pages, a little bit unconventional, but all of them brilliantly pictured, with interesting backgrounds and I enjoyed following them - I warmed to all of them immediately, though I had problems with little Jack, still not sure what was wrong with him. Cath was adorable, sharp and strong and I kept everything crossed for her.
The writing style is so easy to follow and light to read and it grabs your attention from the very beginning. Great descriptions mixed with sharp dialogues is what makes the book so great and the book has plenty of awkward moments that will make you laugh out loud.
Altogether, it was really a solid read with hilarious moments and brilliant banter about a journey through grief, second chances, hope, family and opposite attracts.
June 16, 2024
The cover and blurb definitely gave off romance book vibes but I’d say this book falls more into women’s fiction. The male MC barely figured at all in the first third of the book and it was well, well beyond that before any romance showed up. Since romance was what I was after, I was a bit disappointed. But I let go of my preconceptions and mostly enjoyed this story about Cath, a widowed 39yo mom, struggling to keep her head above water and get on with her life.
The story was populated by mostly likable and relatable folks. Cath’s relationship with her college-age daughter Leanne was so sweet and healthy. It reminded me of my own relationship with my girls. Leanne was a sounding board, a friend, a person who helped Cath keep things real and I loved how they challenged and supported one another. Dan seemed a great guy but we never get inside his head so he remained pretty elusive to me. I like him and Cath together though. The least likable character was Jack. Maybe it was the way the narrator voiced him (it reminded me of the voice for the demented and possessed puppet in the audiobook for How to Sell a Haunted House) but I could not warm up to him.
I loved the mix of humor and emotion. There was lots of witty dialogue and crazy plot developments and I laughed out loud a lot. But also, the story held surprising emotional depth and wove in some beautifully penned observations on life and widowhood and family bonds. I loved how the family anthropomorphized Gaz’s urn and found joy in doing so.
I did find some things head-scratchingly bizarre. Like when Cath got stuck under the bed with her belt loop hooked on a slat yet was somehow able to wiggle out of her jeans? Or even though she was exceptionally smart and could crush any science category on Jeopardy she knew nothing about the Golden Record in Voyager? Or the insanity of feeding the zoo animals ashes-laced food? Definitely some overly written, goofy, or unbelievable plot points.
The narration was pretty middle-of-the-road. I liked most of the narrator’s voices, but one or two (beyond Jack) were a little too nails-on-a-chalkboard.
Altogether though, a very sweet story with some big-time feels.
The story was populated by mostly likable and relatable folks. Cath’s relationship with her college-age daughter Leanne was so sweet and healthy. It reminded me of my own relationship with my girls. Leanne was a sounding board, a friend, a person who helped Cath keep things real and I loved how they challenged and supported one another. Dan seemed a great guy but we never get inside his head so he remained pretty elusive to me. I like him and Cath together though. The least likable character was Jack. Maybe it was the way the narrator voiced him (it reminded me of the voice for the demented and possessed puppet in the audiobook for How to Sell a Haunted House) but I could not warm up to him.
I loved the mix of humor and emotion. There was lots of witty dialogue and crazy plot developments and I laughed out loud a lot. But also, the story held surprising emotional depth and wove in some beautifully penned observations on life and widowhood and family bonds. I loved how the family anthropomorphized Gaz’s urn and found joy in doing so.
I did find some things head-scratchingly bizarre. Like when Cath got stuck under the bed with her belt loop hooked on a slat yet was somehow able to wiggle out of her jeans? Or even though she was exceptionally smart and could crush any science category on Jeopardy she knew nothing about the Golden Record in Voyager? Or the insanity of feeding the zoo animals ashes-laced food? Definitely some overly written, goofy, or unbelievable plot points.
The narration was pretty middle-of-the-road. I liked most of the narrator’s voices, but one or two (beyond Jack) were a little too nails-on-a-chalkboard.
Altogether though, a very sweet story with some big-time feels.
May 3, 2023
A lovely lighthearted book with a great sense of humour running through it.
Cath tells her own story; she is a 39 year old widow with three children - Leanne is 18 and just about to embark on her university journey, Eric an almost-teen and Jack the toddler.
When Cath unexpectedly loses her job, she needs money so takes in Dan, a university student from America. She's expecting an 18 year old so is surprised when he turns out to be a drop dead gorgeous 30 something.
Quite predictable but I was on her side throughout, unlike others in her life.
Great characters, enjoyable story and 4 🌟 from me.
Cath tells her own story; she is a 39 year old widow with three children - Leanne is 18 and just about to embark on her university journey, Eric an almost-teen and Jack the toddler.
When Cath unexpectedly loses her job, she needs money so takes in Dan, a university student from America. She's expecting an 18 year old so is surprised when he turns out to be a drop dead gorgeous 30 something.
Quite predictable but I was on her side throughout, unlike others in her life.
Great characters, enjoyable story and 4 🌟 from me.
February 17, 2024
this was SOOOO MUCH FUN OH MY GOODNESS. i got this as an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. being a mom is so hard (not speaking from personal experience but my beautiful mom’s!) and then being a recent widow oh my god
then fast forward here comes dan like a knight in shining armour to show you london and love omds i am so obsessed. definitely would recommend this to anyone who is on the fence about it
then fast forward here comes dan like a knight in shining armour to show you london and love omds i am so obsessed. definitely would recommend this to anyone who is on the fence about it
May 12, 2023
2.5 maybe 3-ish stars
January 12, 2025
Hilarious!!
Read
February 26, 20253.75⭐️ starts out slower but has many laugh out loud moments & picks up momentum. Honest fresh view on social media & influencers. Family struggles but ultimately surprises bring on confidence & better coping skills with newfound mindset for success.
February 17, 2024
Omgg I didn’t like this book at all. It was such a boring read
August 17, 2023
2.5/5
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was hard to get into for me mostly because of the writing. It had an okay-ish plot, but the writing felt like it was thrown together. Sometimes it felt like a good amount of detail, most other times it just didn’t make sense.
For example, I didn’t know Eric, one of the sons, was 13 until maybe the last 1/3 of the book cause if it was mentioned, I never saw it, so he was just a mysterious character I couldn’t fully form in my head. The other characters, too, didn’t feel fully developed and they couldn’t stick in my brain, so I was constantly mixing up names and getting confused as to who was who.
Cath, the FMC, is insanely awkward (not quite loveably awkward, it’s a bit much) and she has some redeemable traits about her, but it’s a little difficult to like her. She’s a 39 year old widow with three children and I don’t get why she acts certain ways throughout the book. Maybe it’s just cause she’s not fully fleshed out as a loveably imperfect character, but she fell short for me. Though I do think it’s a combination of poor writing, the need for more character development, and a bit too much immaturity (example: she keeps bashing on Dan for being immature and he’s 36, only three years younger than her…).
I’d probably rate everything as “okay” except for the poor writing. I had to push myself to get through the beginning, but it got a little better after. Though I had to push myself a little to finish it. There also wasn’t much romance for a book that seemed like it’d center around it. All in all it’s an “okay” book, but lots of room for improvement.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was hard to get into for me mostly because of the writing. It had an okay-ish plot, but the writing felt like it was thrown together. Sometimes it felt like a good amount of detail, most other times it just didn’t make sense.
For example, I didn’t know Eric, one of the sons, was 13 until maybe the last 1/3 of the book cause if it was mentioned, I never saw it, so he was just a mysterious character I couldn’t fully form in my head. The other characters, too, didn’t feel fully developed and they couldn’t stick in my brain, so I was constantly mixing up names and getting confused as to who was who.
Cath, the FMC, is insanely awkward (not quite loveably awkward, it’s a bit much) and she has some redeemable traits about her, but it’s a little difficult to like her. She’s a 39 year old widow with three children and I don’t get why she acts certain ways throughout the book. Maybe it’s just cause she’s not fully fleshed out as a loveably imperfect character, but she fell short for me. Though I do think it’s a combination of poor writing, the need for more character development, and a bit too much immaturity (example: she keeps bashing on Dan for being immature and he’s 36, only three years younger than her…).
I’d probably rate everything as “okay” except for the poor writing. I had to push myself to get through the beginning, but it got a little better after. Though I had to push myself a little to finish it. There also wasn’t much romance for a book that seemed like it’d center around it. All in all it’s an “okay” book, but lots of room for improvement.
June 28, 2023
I loved this book, the beginning was a bit tough to get into but once you're in youre hooked. The character development is amazing and well executed, I do think some of the wording is a bit confusing but nothing some google couldn't help. Super grateful to be able to read this book, thank you NetGalley !
June 27, 2023
"The thing about grief is that it never really goes away, it simply shape shifts. Sometimes it's as sharp and heavy as a hatchet blow, the pain exquisite and all-consuming. Other days it's a feeling of not quite there-ness, like watching a film of your own life but ever so slightly out of focus and with dodgy dubbing."
Favourite aspects:
- The characters - especially the children. The characters all feel real and I formed a true connection to them. They all have their flaws, which is of course expected, but you love them anyways. Cath is stubborn, clumsy, and totally awkward, but she is wonderful mum and person. She truly cares for those around her and it shows. Her best friend Sindy was one of my favourite characters. She is totally silly and says the most ridiculous thing (large Hagrid collider will have me chuckling for weeks), which just makes me love her even more. Dan seems too good to be true, but he has depth. The stand out stars for me though were Cath's children Leanne, Eric, and Jack. Leanne is so wise and mature, Eric is a typical teenage boy who is trying to figure himself out, and Jack is a rambunctious three-year-old who has some truly brilliant moments.
- The narrative and writing. I was actually really surprised that this is Sal Thomas's debut novel. Her writing stands out as excellent from page one, especially the narrative between characters. The conversations are all interesting and drive the plot.
- The theme/message. This book drives home some really important messages about love and grief. The representation of grief is very realistic in this book.
The not-so-great aspects:
- The ending. The reconciliation between the Cath and Dan at the end of the book felt far too rushed to me. There was a lot left unsaid between these two characters and I wish we could have seen these conversations. The ending felt too smooth and perfect and as such it didn't feel realistic at all.
The Accidental Housemate has a lot more depth to it than I expected when going into it, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I certainly wouldn't call it a light-hearted book as there are some gut wrenching scenes and grief is a key theme throughout. That is not to say that it is a heavy read. The tone is light at times, but there are moments of sadness.
All in all, this is a wonderful book and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future. She has a new fan!
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favourite aspects:
- The characters - especially the children. The characters all feel real and I formed a true connection to them. They all have their flaws, which is of course expected, but you love them anyways. Cath is stubborn, clumsy, and totally awkward, but she is wonderful mum and person. She truly cares for those around her and it shows. Her best friend Sindy was one of my favourite characters. She is totally silly and says the most ridiculous thing (large Hagrid collider will have me chuckling for weeks), which just makes me love her even more. Dan seems too good to be true, but he has depth. The stand out stars for me though were Cath's children Leanne, Eric, and Jack. Leanne is so wise and mature, Eric is a typical teenage boy who is trying to figure himself out, and Jack is a rambunctious three-year-old who has some truly brilliant moments.
- The narrative and writing. I was actually really surprised that this is Sal Thomas's debut novel. Her writing stands out as excellent from page one, especially the narrative between characters. The conversations are all interesting and drive the plot.
- The theme/message. This book drives home some really important messages about love and grief. The representation of grief is very realistic in this book.
The not-so-great aspects:
- The ending. The reconciliation between the Cath and Dan at the end of the book felt far too rushed to me. There was a lot left unsaid between these two characters and I wish we could have seen these conversations. The ending felt too smooth and perfect and as such it didn't feel realistic at all.
The Accidental Housemate has a lot more depth to it than I expected when going into it, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I certainly wouldn't call it a light-hearted book as there are some gut wrenching scenes and grief is a key theme throughout. That is not to say that it is a heavy read. The tone is light at times, but there are moments of sadness.
All in all, this is a wonderful book and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future. She has a new fan!
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2023
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5
This was a tale of two books. The first half, which is what I would call the pre-Dan section, was a bit cringe and ho-hum, but I was really glad I stuck it out because the post-Dan section was a whole lot better.
Cath is stuck in a rut. A single mum to three, she is knocking on 40 with a dead-end job, suppressing her grief for her late husband. When her eldest moves away for college, she needed to rent out the free room. A student -- referred by a friend -- took up the offer, but to Cath's surprise, Dan was less of a boy and more of a man kind of student. And everyone, except for Cath, seems to adjust well enough to his stay in Casa Beckinsale.
Just get through the pre-Dan section. That is all I will say about that half.
As for the second half, it will take you on a fun, laugh-out-loud ride about finding yourself. I liked the overall arc of Cath's story, though I was a little wary about the ups and downs, especially the foray into getting sucked in by social media popularity.
While Cath and Dan's love story was a fun slow-burn strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, it was Cath's family and best friend that stole the show for me. As someone who has a Sindy in my life, never let that friend go.
Grief is a wild thing that is never the same for anyone, and this read captured that wholeheartedly and approached it with imperfection and humanity. As someone who is still grieving, I felt that deeply in my soul, which is why I am rating this book solely on the post-Dan half.
A lot of the spice was closed-door, though there was an earlier scene with Dan and his fling and his nether regions and Cath that had me rolling.
This (post-Dan) was a great read for someone who needs a loving balm for a grieving soul.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Sal Thomas, One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5
This was a tale of two books. The first half, which is what I would call the pre-Dan section, was a bit cringe and ho-hum, but I was really glad I stuck it out because the post-Dan section was a whole lot better.
Cath is stuck in a rut. A single mum to three, she is knocking on 40 with a dead-end job, suppressing her grief for her late husband. When her eldest moves away for college, she needed to rent out the free room. A student -- referred by a friend -- took up the offer, but to Cath's surprise, Dan was less of a boy and more of a man kind of student. And everyone, except for Cath, seems to adjust well enough to his stay in Casa Beckinsale.
Just get through the pre-Dan section. That is all I will say about that half.
As for the second half, it will take you on a fun, laugh-out-loud ride about finding yourself. I liked the overall arc of Cath's story, though I was a little wary about the ups and downs, especially the foray into getting sucked in by social media popularity.
While Cath and Dan's love story was a fun slow-burn strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, it was Cath's family and best friend that stole the show for me. As someone who has a Sindy in my life, never let that friend go.
Grief is a wild thing that is never the same for anyone, and this read captured that wholeheartedly and approached it with imperfection and humanity. As someone who is still grieving, I felt that deeply in my soul, which is why I am rating this book solely on the post-Dan half.
A lot of the spice was closed-door, though there was an earlier scene with Dan and his fling and his nether regions and Cath that had me rolling.
This (post-Dan) was a great read for someone who needs a loving balm for a grieving soul.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Sal Thomas, One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **
July 19, 2023
PSA: do not try to read this whilst your partner is asleep next to you - you’ll inevitably wake them up with your body shaking as you try desperately to stop laughing.
The Accidental Housemate is a witty, sharp comedy that explores grief, the complexity of relationships and the meaning of success. The book follows Cath, a 39 year old single mother of three who inadvertently ends up renting out a room to a very handsome mature student.
Although it’s categorised as a Romance, I would say there’s not actually a whole lot of romance featured. The romantic storyline is definitely secondary to almost everything else and I’d probably say it’s more of a Comedy.
There are a bunch of Cath’s relationships that are explored throughout, including but not limited to; a father in law and his very eccentric new girlfriend, three children of different ages, a group of misfit students, a best friend, an old friend and of course the newly arrived American love interest.
I found this a heartwarming read with some exceptionally funny scenes and a lovely message about what it means to succeed in life, both personally and professionally. Humour is subjective, so I get that not everyone will find it funny, but there are some moments that I feel the author absolutely nailed and had me scream-laughing so hard. The scene in the airport was a particular favourite!
There were a few negatives that brought my rating down. The story ended too abruptly, with a throwaway reunion that didn’t include nearly enough romance for all of the wait/build up. The pacing was a little off in some parts and aside from the last paragraph, the epilogue fell a bit flat. I also felt that the anecdotes that often feature mid-scene, almost as one of Cath’s errant thoughts, seemed like overkill in trying to add more humour and resulted in a lot of skim reading.
Despite all of that, I fell in love with the characters and found it hard to put down. The writing style was fun and engaging throughout and I really did enjoy the read.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Accidental Housemate is a witty, sharp comedy that explores grief, the complexity of relationships and the meaning of success. The book follows Cath, a 39 year old single mother of three who inadvertently ends up renting out a room to a very handsome mature student.
Although it’s categorised as a Romance, I would say there’s not actually a whole lot of romance featured. The romantic storyline is definitely secondary to almost everything else and I’d probably say it’s more of a Comedy.
There are a bunch of Cath’s relationships that are explored throughout, including but not limited to; a father in law and his very eccentric new girlfriend, three children of different ages, a group of misfit students, a best friend, an old friend and of course the newly arrived American love interest.
I found this a heartwarming read with some exceptionally funny scenes and a lovely message about what it means to succeed in life, both personally and professionally. Humour is subjective, so I get that not everyone will find it funny, but there are some moments that I feel the author absolutely nailed and had me scream-laughing so hard. The scene in the airport was a particular favourite!
There were a few negatives that brought my rating down. The story ended too abruptly, with a throwaway reunion that didn’t include nearly enough romance for all of the wait/build up. The pacing was a little off in some parts and aside from the last paragraph, the epilogue fell a bit flat. I also felt that the anecdotes that often feature mid-scene, almost as one of Cath’s errant thoughts, seemed like overkill in trying to add more humour and resulted in a lot of skim reading.
Despite all of that, I fell in love with the characters and found it hard to put down. The writing style was fun and engaging throughout and I really did enjoy the read.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2023
Cath is a widow (well kinda—they never married), and is struggling to stay afloat, trying to balance three kids and a job. Her eldest is off to college, and she just got sacked from her job at the school. Needing a source of income, she agrees to take in a houseguest while they finish up their own schooling. Expecting a teenager like one of her own kids, she’s surprised at the very-much-not-a-teenager man who has come to live with them. He exudes a confidence that has Cath automatically feeling negative. Must be nice to be so good looking, confident in yourself, traveler, and no responsibilities.
A lot of Cath’s negativity bias is stemmed from her not feeling like she has lived up to her potential or her idea of success. After being sacked, she tries to still teach some of the kids to help them prepare for their upcoming exams. She ends up using social media as a way to reach them since they’re always on their phones, and accidentally ends up becoming a local influencer. Not used to feeling so much positive attention, she starts to become wrapped up in the “fame”. The other moms at the daycare suddenly like her, other influencers are reaching out to her, she’s invited to an influencer conference! Not to mention Dan (the housemate) is helping her with the videos. She’s starting to feel like someone. She has never felt this positive since Gaz passed. However, as her popularity grows, her personal relationships start to suffer.
I went into this expecting a typical roommate romance, but ended up completely endeared about this story of a mom just trying to make it, be a good mom to her kids, figure out who she is, and how to love herself and accept the love that is all around her already. The characters are all lovable, and while Cath herself is frustrating at times, her stubbornness and mindset is understandable given everything. I just wanted to shake her to wake up and realize the opportunities all around her. But it was a journey she had to go on, and it was a delight to read.
Thank you NetGalley, One More Chapter, HarperCollins, and Sal Thomas for an early copy of this gem. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A lot of Cath’s negativity bias is stemmed from her not feeling like she has lived up to her potential or her idea of success. After being sacked, she tries to still teach some of the kids to help them prepare for their upcoming exams. She ends up using social media as a way to reach them since they’re always on their phones, and accidentally ends up becoming a local influencer. Not used to feeling so much positive attention, she starts to become wrapped up in the “fame”. The other moms at the daycare suddenly like her, other influencers are reaching out to her, she’s invited to an influencer conference! Not to mention Dan (the housemate) is helping her with the videos. She’s starting to feel like someone. She has never felt this positive since Gaz passed. However, as her popularity grows, her personal relationships start to suffer.
I went into this expecting a typical roommate romance, but ended up completely endeared about this story of a mom just trying to make it, be a good mom to her kids, figure out who she is, and how to love herself and accept the love that is all around her already. The characters are all lovable, and while Cath herself is frustrating at times, her stubbornness and mindset is understandable given everything. I just wanted to shake her to wake up and realize the opportunities all around her. But it was a journey she had to go on, and it was a delight to read.
Thank you NetGalley, One More Chapter, HarperCollins, and Sal Thomas for an early copy of this gem. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 22, 2023
Sal Thomas - The Accidental Housemate.
When we are told that a book is ‘hilariously funny’ it doesn’t always live up to the claim. However, #TheAccidentalHousemate really is a laugh out loud, do a little wee (if you’re a lady of a certain age) sort of book.
Sal Thomas writes with a raw and brutally honest humour that put me in mind of Joanna Bolouri and Shari Low.
Cath is our almost 40 year old heroine. She has three kids, who were all quite unique, a dead partner whose ashes reside in the kitchen where he can still be a part of the daily mayhem of family life. A best friend who is slightly bonkers, but hugely loyal and a true friend. And then there’s Dan…. Gorgeous, lovely Dan, Cath’s accidental lodger.
Along with a handful of other colourful characters, Sal Thomas has created a very quirky, but warm and loveable community of people in this book.
I loved Cath, with her razor sharp wit, she bounces from day to day, taking life’s knocks on the chin. Cath has a big heart and I was very moved by the kindness and support she showed to her students.
I felt for Cath in so many of the situations that she found herself in.
Ultimately Cath is a little chaotic, but does her absolute best for everybody in her life. She deserves nothing less than to find her happily ever after.
#TheAccidentalHousemate is a lively story, with many ups and downs. You’ll be swept along on this rollercoaster ride and you’ll feel every high and low that this loveable bunch go through.
Sal Thomas has an engaging writing style. She will effortlessly make you howl with laughter then by the next page you’ll be sobbing both happy and sad tears.
Just incase you hadn’t guessed. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
It’s funny, quirky, touching, raw, inspiring, charming and will leave you on a big smiley high.
This is an outstanding debut novel. Well done Sal Thomas…. I can’t wait to read what you write next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Harper Collins Uk for a digital arc of this title.
When we are told that a book is ‘hilariously funny’ it doesn’t always live up to the claim. However, #TheAccidentalHousemate really is a laugh out loud, do a little wee (if you’re a lady of a certain age) sort of book.
Sal Thomas writes with a raw and brutally honest humour that put me in mind of Joanna Bolouri and Shari Low.
Cath is our almost 40 year old heroine. She has three kids, who were all quite unique, a dead partner whose ashes reside in the kitchen where he can still be a part of the daily mayhem of family life. A best friend who is slightly bonkers, but hugely loyal and a true friend. And then there’s Dan…. Gorgeous, lovely Dan, Cath’s accidental lodger.
Along with a handful of other colourful characters, Sal Thomas has created a very quirky, but warm and loveable community of people in this book.
I loved Cath, with her razor sharp wit, she bounces from day to day, taking life’s knocks on the chin. Cath has a big heart and I was very moved by the kindness and support she showed to her students.
I felt for Cath in so many of the situations that she found herself in.
Ultimately Cath is a little chaotic, but does her absolute best for everybody in her life. She deserves nothing less than to find her happily ever after.
#TheAccidentalHousemate is a lively story, with many ups and downs. You’ll be swept along on this rollercoaster ride and you’ll feel every high and low that this loveable bunch go through.
Sal Thomas has an engaging writing style. She will effortlessly make you howl with laughter then by the next page you’ll be sobbing both happy and sad tears.
Just incase you hadn’t guessed. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
It’s funny, quirky, touching, raw, inspiring, charming and will leave you on a big smiley high.
This is an outstanding debut novel. Well done Sal Thomas…. I can’t wait to read what you write next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Harper Collins Uk for a digital arc of this title.
May 31, 2023
The Accidental Housemate is a sweet and somewhat moving romantic/comedic-ish novel about starting over in "middle age" (I use that term loosely) and what it feels like to move on from the loss of a love.
The gist is this - Cath Beckinsale has lost her job as a teacher's aide due to frustrating and unfair circumstances. She's also just found herself with an empty bedroom as her eldest, Leanne, is off to university. So when a former colleague suggests she take on a friend of a friend as a lodger, Cath is willing to take in a fresh-faced teenager from America.
But the lodger isn't a teen - he's a 36 year old man called Dan who looks like he's been carved from stone. Cath, on the other hand, is a mess: a widow-ish after her longterm partner died of a heart attack, leaving her the single mum to two tweens and a baby she didn't even know she was pregnant with. Cath starts things off strong by discussing - at length - quantum mechanics on the way home from the airport and it devolves from there.
Slowly but surely, the two find common ground and even start to get on. In the meantime, Cath has turned to social media to help tutor some of her more troubled students in the GCSEs, and she finds herself at a crossroads and seriously considering being an "edutainment influencer."
There was much to like and much that frustrated me here. The good: it's an honest look at what grief is like. Grief is NOT linear, and neither is healing, and it's too much for any of us to expect it to work that way. The bad: Cath often behaved like a teenager, and not an almost-40 year old mom of three. I think it's good to show that mothers (parents, really) are human just like anyone else, but this verged on the absurd.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and I found a lot of the writing and banter to be quite sharp. But it won't necessarily sit with me for all that long. 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC.
The gist is this - Cath Beckinsale has lost her job as a teacher's aide due to frustrating and unfair circumstances. She's also just found herself with an empty bedroom as her eldest, Leanne, is off to university. So when a former colleague suggests she take on a friend of a friend as a lodger, Cath is willing to take in a fresh-faced teenager from America.
But the lodger isn't a teen - he's a 36 year old man called Dan who looks like he's been carved from stone. Cath, on the other hand, is a mess: a widow-ish after her longterm partner died of a heart attack, leaving her the single mum to two tweens and a baby she didn't even know she was pregnant with. Cath starts things off strong by discussing - at length - quantum mechanics on the way home from the airport and it devolves from there.
Slowly but surely, the two find common ground and even start to get on. In the meantime, Cath has turned to social media to help tutor some of her more troubled students in the GCSEs, and she finds herself at a crossroads and seriously considering being an "edutainment influencer."
There was much to like and much that frustrated me here. The good: it's an honest look at what grief is like. Grief is NOT linear, and neither is healing, and it's too much for any of us to expect it to work that way. The bad: Cath often behaved like a teenager, and not an almost-40 year old mom of three. I think it's good to show that mothers (parents, really) are human just like anyone else, but this verged on the absurd.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and I found a lot of the writing and banter to be quite sharp. But it won't necessarily sit with me for all that long. 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC.
July 4, 2023
The Accidental Housemate is incredibly messy, in a way that feels real and raw. Cath, a widowed single mother of three, has just lost her job after being falsely accused of something she didn't do. Worried about finances, she accepts her (now former) coworker's offer of having a student lodge with her. But when the student arrives, it turns out he's a gorgeous man around her own age. She tries to keep her distance from him, but Dan is good with the kids, and beautiful... and eventually helps her out with a new business venture. He seems to fit right in, which is both a blessing and a curse.
As Cath tries her best to help her former students and gets swept away in a life she could have lived, it seems like things might finally be looking up. But her newfound fame comes with a cost, and now she has more to juggle on top of the chaos that already infuses her life.
I did have some issues with the pacing--a few people call Cath out in a way that read, to me, as them having their own issues going on and projecting onto her, and only later was it revealed that they were right. Given that the book was written in first person, I did kind of understand it, but it did seem to come completely out of left field. There's also a moment where Leanne, Cath's oldest kid, says "because we don't need apologies" but at that point, Cath has yet to apologize for things she absolutely does owe apologies over.
Something else that knocked off a star for me was that Dan was supposedly American, but he didn't talk like one at all--to the point that I kept being confused about who was talking, because he was using distinctly British words and phrases.
Over all, though, I did enjoy this book. The cast of characters was wonderful and wacky and full of love. It was expecting something a bit funnier and less emotional (and a protagonist I was sure I liked, rather than being on the fence about how I felt about her--but my mixed feelings about her worked for me), but it really drew me in.
As Cath tries her best to help her former students and gets swept away in a life she could have lived, it seems like things might finally be looking up. But her newfound fame comes with a cost, and now she has more to juggle on top of the chaos that already infuses her life.
I did have some issues with the pacing--a few people call Cath out in a way that read, to me, as them having their own issues going on and projecting onto her, and only later was it revealed that they were right. Given that the book was written in first person, I did kind of understand it, but it did seem to come completely out of left field. There's also a moment where Leanne, Cath's oldest kid, says "because we don't need apologies" but at that point, Cath has yet to apologize for things she absolutely does owe apologies over.
Something else that knocked off a star for me was that Dan was supposedly American, but he didn't talk like one at all--to the point that I kept being confused about who was talking, because he was using distinctly British words and phrases.
Over all, though, I did enjoy this book. The cast of characters was wonderful and wacky and full of love. It was expecting something a bit funnier and less emotional (and a protagonist I was sure I liked, rather than being on the fence about how I felt about her--but my mixed feelings about her worked for me), but it really drew me in.
August 18, 2023
Cat Beckinsale‘s going through changes she lost her husband three years before she has a toddler a preteen and a daughter who’s going off to college she is an assistant at a vocational school or at least she was until the teacher she helps throws her under the bus and says he injured himself while trying to help her after she drunkenly broke a glass even though it was he who was drunk and broke the glass. This is why even though she initially refused is ultimately letting a transfer student come to stay at her home while attending UNI the only thing is she didn’t expect him to be her age and good looking. Not to mention everyone including toddler Jack loves Daniel cat even gets jealous when him and Cindy get along so well she doesn’t even notice how much Daniel admires her and she for so long has just been in go mowed she neglect to see she is falling for him as well. I found this book to be very funny for the most part and my brief summary doesn’t tell half the story what I didn’t like is all the bathroom humor that to me seems like low hanging fruit but having said that I know some people love it, so no judgment just my opinion. I could totally relate when she was talking to Gas’s ashes as a widow I thought I was the only one so that makes me feel much better also I do believe most Americans know what guy thoughts and ideas so someone is well educated than you not knowing seemed unrealistic to me but having said that I am just pointing out the negative and not the positive in the brilliant romcom. I love a good romcom and with the exception of the bathroom humor which I already expressed I love this book I love her relationship with her daughter loved her daughters attitude and there is way more to love about this book then to dislike and it’s a book I highly recommend and one I absolutely love! I want to thank Harper Collins, one more chapter and Net Galley for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
June 10, 2023
The Accidental Housemate
Show of hands (emoji’s work) what age group do you usually read when it comes to romance novels?
(You can take the survey on my blog)
I think I’m usually reading about characters who are in their early 30’s late 20’s. As for The Accidental Housemate, I came across this gem of a book whose MC is my age, has three children (see how it’s ticking off all the relatable boxes), whose partner was an engineer, and had me in literal tears from the belly laughs throughout the book, I love this book.
A glimpse of life that focuses on friendship, grief, and motherhood, this book will wrap you in a warm hug, holding you tight, while keeping you laughing long after the last chapter. Mother's will get the hilarity of trying to be the best parent, but knowing all to well the critical eye others have for our parenting skills.
With a delicious romance, heartwarming moments between mother and her children, and captures the real and rawness of life, Sal Thomas is on my auto-buy list.
Don’t hesitate to pre-order The Accidental Housemate.
Happy Reading ~ Cece
Visit my blog to grab a copy and chat with me if you're planning on reading this one.
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing for the advance copy for review.
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July 1, 2023
Cath Beckinsale has found herself a widowed mum of three after her partner passed away. She is struggling to make ends meet and has an opportunity for a student lodger to add to her income. When Dan shows up, much older than the teenager she thought she was getting, and is a charismatic man, working his way into her family, her life takes an unexpected turn.
This book says that it is a romcom, and there are absolutely hilarious moments in it, but there also moments of grief, pain and heartache. Sal Thomas writes both the ups and downs in a way that make you laugh out loud, or cry along with Cath. I would say this book trends more on women's fiction than romance, as it is more about Cath's development and who she is, but that did not mean it wasn't an enjoyable novel.
Cath was such a relatable character. She experiences a lot of what other mum's experience and I really felt seen and heard in who she was. I did find both of the main characters to be a bit immature though, which did take away from the story. Her kids were funny themselves and unique in their own ways. They added to the story, rather than take away.
I thought the ending of Cath and Dan getting together was a bit rushed. I would have loved to see more of their Happily Ever After, and actually being in a relationship. We saw Dan work his way into the family with the kids and seeming natural in the home, but I would have liked to see more with them together.
This book had a lot of depth and I found it hard to believe this was a debut novel. I look forward to seeing what else Sal Thomas comes out with in the future! Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
This book says that it is a romcom, and there are absolutely hilarious moments in it, but there also moments of grief, pain and heartache. Sal Thomas writes both the ups and downs in a way that make you laugh out loud, or cry along with Cath. I would say this book trends more on women's fiction than romance, as it is more about Cath's development and who she is, but that did not mean it wasn't an enjoyable novel.
Cath was such a relatable character. She experiences a lot of what other mum's experience and I really felt seen and heard in who she was. I did find both of the main characters to be a bit immature though, which did take away from the story. Her kids were funny themselves and unique in their own ways. They added to the story, rather than take away.
I thought the ending of Cath and Dan getting together was a bit rushed. I would have loved to see more of their Happily Ever After, and actually being in a relationship. We saw Dan work his way into the family with the kids and seeming natural in the home, but I would have liked to see more with them together.
This book had a lot of depth and I found it hard to believe this was a debut novel. I look forward to seeing what else Sal Thomas comes out with in the future! Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
August 12, 2023
3.5!
Thank you to Netgalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cath Beckinsale is a mother to three and recently widowed from the death of her long-time partner. After a tumultuous part-time job ends, Cath is forced to make some changes to her life and family unit. One of these changes is accepting a student lodger from the local University. She expects an 18 year old boy from Kansas and instead gets a 30-something man from Arkansas.
I’d like to start by saying, I don’t think this book should be marketed as a romcom or even a romance really. Although there is a love story aspect to it, this is really about Cath and her navigating some big changes to her life three years after the death of her long-term partner. Some of the changes include a love interest but also a daughter going off to college, a teenage son going through puberty, the toddler being a kid, and personal struggles with her job and students. This story just feels more like a general fiction story with a bit of love for a happy ending.
The start of this story seems to move a bit slow. We have a lot of big emotions that every character seems to be facing and although we’re only in Cath’s head, it just took a long time to get into the meat of things (and maybe this goes back to how it really isn’t romance since the romance doesn’t start until halfway through).
Some things I think were done really well - the way that the big emotions were handled. Cath acknowledges that she’s never felt like she’s known who she is and so this whole journey in finding what’s right for her is done spectacularly. We see some screw-ups and the bad things behind some of those big emotions that she doesn’t handle well but we also see some compassion, love, and forgiveness along the way!
Thank you to Netgalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cath Beckinsale is a mother to three and recently widowed from the death of her long-time partner. After a tumultuous part-time job ends, Cath is forced to make some changes to her life and family unit. One of these changes is accepting a student lodger from the local University. She expects an 18 year old boy from Kansas and instead gets a 30-something man from Arkansas.
I’d like to start by saying, I don’t think this book should be marketed as a romcom or even a romance really. Although there is a love story aspect to it, this is really about Cath and her navigating some big changes to her life three years after the death of her long-term partner. Some of the changes include a love interest but also a daughter going off to college, a teenage son going through puberty, the toddler being a kid, and personal struggles with her job and students. This story just feels more like a general fiction story with a bit of love for a happy ending.
The start of this story seems to move a bit slow. We have a lot of big emotions that every character seems to be facing and although we’re only in Cath’s head, it just took a long time to get into the meat of things (and maybe this goes back to how it really isn’t romance since the romance doesn’t start until halfway through).
Some things I think were done really well - the way that the big emotions were handled. Cath acknowledges that she’s never felt like she’s known who she is and so this whole journey in finding what’s right for her is done spectacularly. We see some screw-ups and the bad things behind some of those big emotions that she doesn’t handle well but we also see some compassion, love, and forgiveness along the way!
August 12, 2023
Catherine (Cath) Beckinsale, 39, is mother to 3 children. Jack is a toddler, Eric is in middle school, and Leanne is in the first year at university. Cath’s “significant other” , Gaz, passed away suddenly 3 years ago. Even though Leanne tries to get Cath to spread his ashes, she refuses so they are still sitting on a table nearby.
Cath’s best friend is Sindy whose husband is away often as he is on deployment with the Army.
Cath works as a classroom assistant in a school for struggling students. She loves her job and her students even though she ends up doing the teaching while the real teacher sits back and can’t be bothered. But when she catches him doing something he shouldn’t at school, she tells him to stop. Fearing her reporting him, he turns the tables on her saying she was the guilty one resulting in her losing her job. Although she has some insurance money from Gaz, she needs to be careful with expenses so as to not have to touch her savings. When a friend suggests she take in a lodger from the U.S. who is attending classes nearby, she accepts. It turns out he is a handsome man named Dan who is nearly her own age.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the plus side, I found Cath to be very intelligent and caring. On the minus side, I found some of the humor to be silly and some of it left me trying to figure out what she had said. All in all, the book, while being lengthy, tells the story of a woman who is working hard to care for herself, her family, friends, and others that touch her soul. It’s certainly a different type of read but one that I hope readers will enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Cath’s best friend is Sindy whose husband is away often as he is on deployment with the Army.
Cath works as a classroom assistant in a school for struggling students. She loves her job and her students even though she ends up doing the teaching while the real teacher sits back and can’t be bothered. But when she catches him doing something he shouldn’t at school, she tells him to stop. Fearing her reporting him, he turns the tables on her saying she was the guilty one resulting in her losing her job. Although she has some insurance money from Gaz, she needs to be careful with expenses so as to not have to touch her savings. When a friend suggests she take in a lodger from the U.S. who is attending classes nearby, she accepts. It turns out he is a handsome man named Dan who is nearly her own age.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the plus side, I found Cath to be very intelligent and caring. On the minus side, I found some of the humor to be silly and some of it left me trying to figure out what she had said. All in all, the book, while being lengthy, tells the story of a woman who is working hard to care for herself, her family, friends, and others that touch her soul. It’s certainly a different type of read but one that I hope readers will enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 13, 2024
Widow Cath is juggling her life as a science technician/TA at a local comprehensive with her three children. Leanne is a feisty eldest daughter with prosthetic legs thanks to childhood meningitis, on the verge of leaving for university, Eric is teetering on the brink of adolescence, a budding philosopher finding his stylistic comfort zone. Her youngest never knew his father who died before he was born. Gaz's ashes still feature in an urn on the mantlepiece.
When Cath loses her job the finances start to get very uncomfortable. Her friend Sindy whose military husband, Dave, is often away, brings humour and wine to Cath's door but a plan is needed. When a friend of a friend tries to find accommodation for another friend coming in from the USA, Cath realises that with Leanne vacating her room, she could earn some money fairly easily.
Dan arrives in a whirlwind of luscious hair and confidence to study media. While Cath's ex-pupils prepare for their GSCE's with little motivation and a variety of horrendous domestic arrangements, she decides to do some tutoring to see them through. Combining her creative teaching with Dan's videography skills they suddenly discover the power of the internet and how numbers boost your profile. Before you know it, 'Science Mum' is an influencer and Cath is launched into a new circle in which her priorities become confused. Will she be able to untangle it all?
You'll need to read it to find out.
Sal Thomas writes some cracking dialogue that had me genuinely laughing out loud. The quick fire banter between her characters reminded me of my own family dynamic even though my situation is significantly different from those she describes. A fun holiday read.
When Cath loses her job the finances start to get very uncomfortable. Her friend Sindy whose military husband, Dave, is often away, brings humour and wine to Cath's door but a plan is needed. When a friend of a friend tries to find accommodation for another friend coming in from the USA, Cath realises that with Leanne vacating her room, she could earn some money fairly easily.
Dan arrives in a whirlwind of luscious hair and confidence to study media. While Cath's ex-pupils prepare for their GSCE's with little motivation and a variety of horrendous domestic arrangements, she decides to do some tutoring to see them through. Combining her creative teaching with Dan's videography skills they suddenly discover the power of the internet and how numbers boost your profile. Before you know it, 'Science Mum' is an influencer and Cath is launched into a new circle in which her priorities become confused. Will she be able to untangle it all?
You'll need to read it to find out.
Sal Thomas writes some cracking dialogue that had me genuinely laughing out loud. The quick fire banter between her characters reminded me of my own family dynamic even though my situation is significantly different from those she describes. A fun holiday read.
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