What do you think?
Rate this book
Well, This Is Awkward: The hilarious and uplifting debut novel about finding a family when you least expect it. 'Brilliant' – Georgia Toffolo
'I adored this lovely debut about an off-grid child and her sophisticated urban aunt' Wendy Holden, Daily Mail
'Warm and funny, what a joy!' Jessica Stanley, author of Consider Yourself Kissed
'Sharp and funny and full of quirk and heart' Francesa Segal
'Superb. Brilliant. I adored it... Esther Walker is smart and so funny' Georgia Toffolo
'It's a page-turner'The Spectator
Mairéad is single, child-free and head of a successful influencer talent agency. The young people at work may be mean to her, she hasn't seen her only sister for nine years and she's one bad date away from giving up on men completely – but other than that, she's got life sorted.
Until Sunshine shows up. When her militant, off-grid sister has a mysterious accident, Mairéad's inscrutable niece comes to stay, turning life upside down. It's just for a couple of weeks – surely Mairéad can manage that?
But Sunshine makes her look at every single aspect of her life with different eyes. And Mairéad's afraid nothing will be the same again.
'Walker offers smart, peppy humour and good comic characters who power her tale along with brio' The Times
'Warm and funny, what a joy!' Jessica Stanley, author of Consider Yourself Kissed
'Sharp and funny and full of quirk and heart' Francesa Segal
'Superb. Brilliant. I adored it... Esther Walker is smart and so funny' Georgia Toffolo
'It's a page-turner'The Spectator
Mairéad is single, child-free and head of a successful influencer talent agency. The young people at work may be mean to her, she hasn't seen her only sister for nine years and she's one bad date away from giving up on men completely – but other than that, she's got life sorted.
Until Sunshine shows up. When her militant, off-grid sister has a mysterious accident, Mairéad's inscrutable niece comes to stay, turning life upside down. It's just for a couple of weeks – surely Mairéad can manage that?
But Sunshine makes her look at every single aspect of her life with different eyes. And Mairéad's afraid nothing will be the same again.
'Walker offers smart, peppy humour and good comic characters who power her tale along with brio' The Times
- GenresContemporary
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2025
46 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this and read it very quickly. The author is a good writer. My only quibble would be I found the ending to be a bit rushed and Lenny’s actions a bit unrealistic. Apart from that I really enjoyed it.
September 11, 2025
In the first few chapters of this book, I wasn’t certain I really understood main character Mairéad, or perhaps more accurately, I understood her all too well and found her social awkwardness and high anxiety, highly regimented life just a little bit uncomfortable. Awkward, in fact.
Then along comes Sunny and I understood Sunny from the start, as she escaped into books and chose animals over people at every opportunity! And somehow, not only did the two highly awkward – some might say difficult – characters begin to let each other in, but they let me in too and I fell in love with both of them (and Dibs, and the crows, and Bogey!)
While there are a multitude of stories (book and film) about child-free career women getting unexpectedly landed with a child and it being the making of them, what I appreciated about this story was that it felt authentic and unforced. Mairéad didn’t go through a series of comic parenting mishaps before becoming some sort of expert mum. Instead she fumbles her way through the difficulties of balancing work and unexpected family life, eventually finding her way to an awkward balance that mostly works. While she does date, there is no coincidental Mr Right to tie things off with a neat HEA, and nor does she transition from uptight city girl to outdoorsy off-gridder – again, there is a realistic balance of priorities and needs.
It is obvious when reading the story that Sunny is, if not neurodivergent, at least deeply traumatised and I did wonder why Mairéad wouldn’t seek more help for her than a random phone call with a friend-of-a-friend therapist, but then I actually suspected that Mairéad herself could be positioned on a similar spectrum and that perhaps her lack of knowledge about ‘regular’ children placed her in an ideal position to simply accept Sunny as she is and address her individual needs as they arise. I quite liked the fact that they both just learnt to live on each other’s “planet” without attempting to change each other.
Some areas of the plot did feel a little bit rushed – Mairéad’s job sub-plot seemed to lose its momentum and conveniently wrap up in a surprisingly mellow phone call, for example – but, like Mairéad, my focus had already moved away from those ‘city issues’ to focus on Sunny and her story, so I was perfectly content to let career- and romantic- prospects fall away and follow the tiny found-family at the heart of the book.
And ultimately, I found myself reluctant to stop reading at the end of the book, wanting to just stay with Mairéad and Sunny, summer with Dibs and the crows, and enjoy the warm, fuzzy feelings of watching people who needed each other find each other and put in the work to make it work.
Then along comes Sunny and I understood Sunny from the start, as she escaped into books and chose animals over people at every opportunity! And somehow, not only did the two highly awkward – some might say difficult – characters begin to let each other in, but they let me in too and I fell in love with both of them (and Dibs, and the crows, and Bogey!)
While there are a multitude of stories (book and film) about child-free career women getting unexpectedly landed with a child and it being the making of them, what I appreciated about this story was that it felt authentic and unforced. Mairéad didn’t go through a series of comic parenting mishaps before becoming some sort of expert mum. Instead she fumbles her way through the difficulties of balancing work and unexpected family life, eventually finding her way to an awkward balance that mostly works. While she does date, there is no coincidental Mr Right to tie things off with a neat HEA, and nor does she transition from uptight city girl to outdoorsy off-gridder – again, there is a realistic balance of priorities and needs.
It is obvious when reading the story that Sunny is, if not neurodivergent, at least deeply traumatised and I did wonder why Mairéad wouldn’t seek more help for her than a random phone call with a friend-of-a-friend therapist, but then I actually suspected that Mairéad herself could be positioned on a similar spectrum and that perhaps her lack of knowledge about ‘regular’ children placed her in an ideal position to simply accept Sunny as she is and address her individual needs as they arise. I quite liked the fact that they both just learnt to live on each other’s “planet” without attempting to change each other.
Some areas of the plot did feel a little bit rushed – Mairéad’s job sub-plot seemed to lose its momentum and conveniently wrap up in a surprisingly mellow phone call, for example – but, like Mairéad, my focus had already moved away from those ‘city issues’ to focus on Sunny and her story, so I was perfectly content to let career- and romantic- prospects fall away and follow the tiny found-family at the heart of the book.
And ultimately, I found myself reluctant to stop reading at the end of the book, wanting to just stay with Mairéad and Sunny, summer with Dibs and the crows, and enjoy the warm, fuzzy feelings of watching people who needed each other find each other and put in the work to make it work.
September 24, 2025
A child-free woman sets her personal ambitions aside in order to take care of a sibling’s child. This is a familiar plot. Often the heroine emerges from the experience with a big promotion and a new lover. I was interested to find that Esther Walker takes a different approach in her debut novel Well, This Is Awkward.
When Mairéad’s sister Lenny is hospitalised after a freak pig-related incident, she is obliged to take responsibility for Sunny, her eleven-year-old niece. The successful publicist is horrified by the physical neglect the child has suffered, and shocked by her rudeness and odd behaviour. In my opinion it is too easy to label Sunny as neurodivergent. I think the child is trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding her. There are worse ways of handling a crisis than obsessive reading.
Mairéad assumes that her mother, political activist Helen, will take in her only grandchild. Realising that Helen cares more about her shifting troupe of lodgers, she approaches her own friendship group for support. This takes them to a holiday village in Devon, where Sunny makes a friend and learns to socialise within a community. At first, I saw this part of the story as an upmarket version of ‘what I did on my holidays’. On reflection, I can see that it also demonstrates Sunny’s steep learning curve.
After Lenny abandons her daughter, Mairéad tries to adapt to the off-grid rural life Sunny loves. This is my favourite part of the novel, because it is gritty and factual, as well as being realistic about the effect on Mairéad’s mental health. The conclusion is a little disappointing, because it is not clear what comes next for the pair. However, aunt and niece have several options to choose from, and the future looks bright.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
When Mairéad’s sister Lenny is hospitalised after a freak pig-related incident, she is obliged to take responsibility for Sunny, her eleven-year-old niece. The successful publicist is horrified by the physical neglect the child has suffered, and shocked by her rudeness and odd behaviour. In my opinion it is too easy to label Sunny as neurodivergent. I think the child is trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding her. There are worse ways of handling a crisis than obsessive reading.
Mairéad assumes that her mother, political activist Helen, will take in her only grandchild. Realising that Helen cares more about her shifting troupe of lodgers, she approaches her own friendship group for support. This takes them to a holiday village in Devon, where Sunny makes a friend and learns to socialise within a community. At first, I saw this part of the story as an upmarket version of ‘what I did on my holidays’. On reflection, I can see that it also demonstrates Sunny’s steep learning curve.
After Lenny abandons her daughter, Mairéad tries to adapt to the off-grid rural life Sunny loves. This is my favourite part of the novel, because it is gritty and factual, as well as being realistic about the effect on Mairéad’s mental health. The conclusion is a little disappointing, because it is not clear what comes next for the pair. However, aunt and niece have several options to choose from, and the future looks bright.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
August 5, 2025
Thank you Bedford Square Publishers and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!
Well, This is Awkward by Esther Walker is a lighthearted, yet reflective book about the universal theme of parenthood. Mairéad who has carefully curated a life for herself in central London is thrown completely off track when she gets a call to say that she must look after her niece Sunshine.
Mairéad in the beginning is a relatable character for non-parents as she herself is not a parent. She has no desire for children and is happy with her life. This can be relatable for younger readers too who are starting their adult life and have no desire for kids yet.
But, despite this Mairéad steps up when she has to and is thrown into parenthood. She struggles to adapt and this is something I imagine many new parents must experience too. I was rooting for Mairéad and Sunny and their relationship from when they first met right until the end.
Short chapters made this book easy to read. They are greatly appreciated!!
Also as a fellow Mairéad, I ADORED seeing my name not only mentioned in a book but THE MAIN CHARACTER ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨.
I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a lighthearted easy read to fill your time.
Well, This is Awkward by Esther Walker is a lighthearted, yet reflective book about the universal theme of parenthood. Mairéad who has carefully curated a life for herself in central London is thrown completely off track when she gets a call to say that she must look after her niece Sunshine.
Mairéad in the beginning is a relatable character for non-parents as she herself is not a parent. She has no desire for children and is happy with her life. This can be relatable for younger readers too who are starting their adult life and have no desire for kids yet.
But, despite this Mairéad steps up when she has to and is thrown into parenthood. She struggles to adapt and this is something I imagine many new parents must experience too. I was rooting for Mairéad and Sunny and their relationship from when they first met right until the end.
Short chapters made this book easy to read. They are greatly appreciated!!
Also as a fellow Mairéad, I ADORED seeing my name not only mentioned in a book but THE MAIN CHARACTER ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨.
I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a lighthearted easy read to fill your time.
September 20, 2025
Welll This Is Awkward by Esther Walker is a funny, heartwarming story of how life can throw you curveballs - but sometimes for the good if you embrace them!
Mairéad is single and runs a successful influencer agency - life is good but her dating life is a bit of a struggle and children definitely aren’t on her radar. But when her estranged sister is hospitalised, she finds herself taking care of her 11 year old niece Sunshine. Sunshine doesn’t necessarily live up to her name - introverted and socially awkward, she is happiest in the company of books and animals.
Thrown together, and coming from two very different environments, the pair’s relationship is inevitably initially challenging - but as Mairéad tries to get to grips with parenthood alongside her working life, Sunny also helps to change her perspective on life.
There’s plenty of humour with some on-point observations about the challenges of parenthood - and some wonderfully quirky characters from Mairéad’s decidely unconventional family to her work colleagues, friends and the delightful Dibs.
Ultimately it’s a story about embracing what life throws at you, being open to change and possibilities you might never have considered - and the results might surprise you!
Mairéad is single and runs a successful influencer agency - life is good but her dating life is a bit of a struggle and children definitely aren’t on her radar. But when her estranged sister is hospitalised, she finds herself taking care of her 11 year old niece Sunshine. Sunshine doesn’t necessarily live up to her name - introverted and socially awkward, she is happiest in the company of books and animals.
Thrown together, and coming from two very different environments, the pair’s relationship is inevitably initially challenging - but as Mairéad tries to get to grips with parenthood alongside her working life, Sunny also helps to change her perspective on life.
There’s plenty of humour with some on-point observations about the challenges of parenthood - and some wonderfully quirky characters from Mairéad’s decidely unconventional family to her work colleagues, friends and the delightful Dibs.
Ultimately it’s a story about embracing what life throws at you, being open to change and possibilities you might never have considered - and the results might surprise you!
August 27, 2025
Thank you Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.
I wanted to love this story, but it didn’t quite deliver for me. The premise is great—Mairead, a successful businesswoman, suddenly has to care for her niece Sunny. It sets up what should be a heartfelt story about an ambitious woman discovering what it means to nurture and care for someone else.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me. The storyline felt uneven, and the handling of Sunny was my biggest issue. It’s glaringly obvious she is neurodivergent, but this is never addressed, and the way her behaviors are brushed off felt dismissive and unrealistic. For me, this was a major red flag and took away from the impact the story could have had.
The ending was okay—open but not unsatisfying. Still, I felt the book needed tighter editing and more thoughtful handling of its themes to really shine.
I wanted to love this story, but it didn’t quite deliver for me. The premise is great—Mairead, a successful businesswoman, suddenly has to care for her niece Sunny. It sets up what should be a heartfelt story about an ambitious woman discovering what it means to nurture and care for someone else.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me. The storyline felt uneven, and the handling of Sunny was my biggest issue. It’s glaringly obvious she is neurodivergent, but this is never addressed, and the way her behaviors are brushed off felt dismissive and unrealistic. For me, this was a major red flag and took away from the impact the story could have had.
The ending was okay—open but not unsatisfying. Still, I felt the book needed tighter editing and more thoughtful handling of its themes to really shine.
September 7, 2025
Well This is Awkward works on many levels but, for me, didn't add up to a whole satisfying read.
Mairead and Sunny's relationship is the best thing about the book. How their relationship develops gradually into a real bond over a the tricky pre-teen years felt genuine and authentic. However, the story itself felt episodic and rather disjointed with quite a few characters that were hardly more than filler. There is a London section, then a Devon section, then a Wales section and they didn't really hang together. There are so many conveniences as well - Mairead's wealth and position that means she can suddenly dump her job at a moments notice and just disappear for months at a time, the house that suddenly becomes available in Wales...it feels contrived. The ending just seems to peter out, which is disappointing. I liked it but didn't love it.
Mairead and Sunny's relationship is the best thing about the book. How their relationship develops gradually into a real bond over a the tricky pre-teen years felt genuine and authentic. However, the story itself felt episodic and rather disjointed with quite a few characters that were hardly more than filler. There is a London section, then a Devon section, then a Wales section and they didn't really hang together. There are so many conveniences as well - Mairead's wealth and position that means she can suddenly dump her job at a moments notice and just disappear for months at a time, the house that suddenly becomes available in Wales...it feels contrived. The ending just seems to peter out, which is disappointing. I liked it but didn't love it.
August 4, 2025
I feel really conflicted about this book. There are some parts that are really lovely and the main story is actually very heartwarming. The author’s observations about parenthood are often bang on and I did chuckle out loud at times.
The issue, as others have pointed out, seems to be the pacing. There’s a lot going on that doesn’t quite hang together. The holiday in Devon, which happens and then sort of disappears again and then the random characters who seem to appear out of no where. I’m sure an editor should have done a bit more here to shape the narrative.
Others have mentioned the ending, which I actually didn’t have a problem with. It was nice not to have everything wrapped up in a bow.
The issue, as others have pointed out, seems to be the pacing. There’s a lot going on that doesn’t quite hang together. The holiday in Devon, which happens and then sort of disappears again and then the random characters who seem to appear out of no where. I’m sure an editor should have done a bit more here to shape the narrative.
Others have mentioned the ending, which I actually didn’t have a problem with. It was nice not to have everything wrapped up in a bow.
September 7, 2025
Mairéad is very successful; single with her own luxury apartment funded by the sale of her influencer talent agency to a US company. Living her best life, everything about her is immaculate, until the day she receives a call asking her to look after her eleven year old niece Sunny. Mairéad's estranged sister has been hospitalised and there is no one else to care for Sunny. Sunny is home schooled and lives off grid, her mum an eco warrior who protests about most things. Mairéad tries to enlist her mother Helen's help however Helen has never shown much interest in her daughters or granddaughter, preferring the numerous lodgers who live with her. The author gives the impression that Mairéad is the sensible one of the family.
This is a heartwarming tale about building relationships, an understanding of differences, making mistakes and adapting to life's curved balls. There are some amusing moments as Mairéad and Sunny learn about each other. Mairéad rises to the challenge, navigating tricky pre-teen hormones, coping with Sunny's neurodivergent tendencies as they start to build a relationship. Their time in Devon is a well crafted part of the storyline and is fundamental to the growing bond between Mairéad and Sunny. Dibs character is a delight!
Entertaining with realistic dialogue and engaging characters, this is a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.
This is a heartwarming tale about building relationships, an understanding of differences, making mistakes and adapting to life's curved balls. There are some amusing moments as Mairéad and Sunny learn about each other. Mairéad rises to the challenge, navigating tricky pre-teen hormones, coping with Sunny's neurodivergent tendencies as they start to build a relationship. Their time in Devon is a well crafted part of the storyline and is fundamental to the growing bond between Mairéad and Sunny. Dibs character is a delight!
Entertaining with realistic dialogue and engaging characters, this is a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.
September 19, 2025
A captivating read!
I don’t know if it was the plot or the mc Maired but this read was deeply relatable to me, I ate this book up like it was my last meal, each chapter I fell more and more into the story line until I forgot I was even reading a book. Walker has a way of describing scenes and settings that makes it so easy to loose yourself within the pages of her book, by the end of this read I felt like I was Maireds friend who was just along for the ride.
I absolutely adored Maired & Sunny, their similarities and differences really made this an interesting read, these characters felt so realistic and relatable I had a hard time remembering at times that I was in fact reading a book. If you’re looking for a read that will fully suck you in then this is definitely for you.
I don’t know if it was the plot or the mc Maired but this read was deeply relatable to me, I ate this book up like it was my last meal, each chapter I fell more and more into the story line until I forgot I was even reading a book. Walker has a way of describing scenes and settings that makes it so easy to loose yourself within the pages of her book, by the end of this read I felt like I was Maireds friend who was just along for the ride.
I absolutely adored Maired & Sunny, their similarities and differences really made this an interesting read, these characters felt so realistic and relatable I had a hard time remembering at times that I was in fact reading a book. If you’re looking for a read that will fully suck you in then this is definitely for you.
October 27, 2025
This is such an enjoyable read, Mairead is left looking after her sisters child Sunshine when her sister has an accident. It’s such a change from where she works in London. Her sister lives a life without electricity in a farmhouse in Wales . What follows is a bond with her niece who loves to read book after book and watch weird you tube videos . Mairead starts to realise there is more to life than high flying London and she starts to learn to live in the countryside. When her sister Lenny leaves for good she starts to really bond with Sunshine . I loved the characters in this book and the rural life is just wonderful. It’s a quirky novel full of life and love . It’s funny in parts and emotional at times. The only criticism I have is the ending is a bit abrupt , but an enjoyable read .
July 15, 2025
A great read about Mairead stepping in to look after her niece Sunny after her mum is admitted to hospital following a pig accident!
This book was so lovely, fantastic and realistic dialogue. Not everything got spelled out for you in a way that I despise authors doing. A story about reimagining your life and adapting to change.
I loved the summer spent in Devon with Dibs and his family.
Just a really really ace book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
This book was so lovely, fantastic and realistic dialogue. Not everything got spelled out for you in a way that I despise authors doing. A story about reimagining your life and adapting to change.
I loved the summer spent in Devon with Dibs and his family.
Just a really really ace book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
October 8, 2025
I liked this book, it felt very realistic - like it wasn't a fairytale ending and it wasn't a complete disaster either it just felt like how a normal person would react to suddenly having to take care of your 11 year old niece who has no social skills. I'm not sure if the niece was supposed to come off as neurodivergent but I more thought she was just never put in situations to learn social skills then actually having autism, suppose it is up to the reader to come to their own conclusions.
October 17, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
I really loved this book and I think it just missed out on 5 stars because it ended too abruptly for my liking. The relationship between Sunny and Muirhead was so special and I loved the development of each of their characters. The summer they spent with Dibs was so heartwarming too. Loved all the animals that played a part in this story. Beautiful, but sad, story, that I would highly recommend.
I really loved this book and I think it just missed out on 5 stars because it ended too abruptly for my liking. The relationship between Sunny and Muirhead was so special and I loved the development of each of their characters. The summer they spent with Dibs was so heartwarming too. Loved all the animals that played a part in this story. Beautiful, but sad, story, that I would highly recommend.
October 31, 2025
Mairead is happy living a single life and working at the agency that she founded when she gets a phone call from a hospital asking if she can come and pick up her niece as her sister has had an accident and needs to stay in for a while. Mairead hasn't seen her niece for several years and when she tries to enlist the help of her own mother for child care it falls on deaf ears so she ends up taking time off work to care for a 10 year old.
A beautifully told, funny novel.
A beautifully told, funny novel.
December 7, 2025
I struggled through this as didn't feel Lennys character was realistic and parts felt rushed but decided to stick with it.
Spoiler alert...
I got near the end on my kindle app on phone and thought there was a glitch and pages were missing so picked up my kindle to finish the book to find it was finished...disappointing it was a rushed 'in the air' ending.
Spoiler alert...
I got near the end on my kindle app on phone and thought there was a glitch and pages were missing so picked up my kindle to finish the book to find it was finished...disappointing it was a rushed 'in the air' ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
I had no idea where this book was heading and was a bit bored. However, I persevered and it started to pick up around two-thirds of the way through. Then, suddenly - as if I’d missed several chapters - it had finished! All of the characters, and the situation, were totally unrealistic too, I’m afraid.
December 20, 2025
A sweet story about stepping up for family, reassessing your life, and choosing something different. Mariead never expected to become responsible for her niece: especially not a niece as awkward and odd as Sunny. This book tells the story of them learning to live with each other, and learning a lot about life. Thanks to NetGalley for the proof.
Read
April 24, 2025I have never before given a book zero stars, but that is exactly what I am doing here.
September 20, 2025
I’m enjoyed this and read it quickly. Took a while to get going but once the story finds its feet it’s very absorbing.
September 27, 2025
Really difficult to get into at first but once you get past the initial chapters it’s a really good book. Character focussed with great character development.
December 1, 2025
Fun to read, but very silly and lots of unlikely stuff happens.
September 11, 2025
💜 Blurb -
Mairéad is single, child-free and head of a successful influencer talent agency. The young people at work may be mean to her, she hasn't seen her only sister for nine years and she's one bad date away from giving up on men completely – but other than that, she's got life sorted.
Until Sunshine shows up. When her militant, off-grid sister has a mysterious accident, Mairéad's inscrutable niece comes to stay, turning life upside down. It's just for a couple of weeks – surely Mairéad can manage that?
But Sunshine makes her look at every single aspect of her life with different eyes. And Mairéad's afraid nothing will be the same again.
🩷 Review -
This was such an enjoyable and entertaining read. I was hooked from the very first page and kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I found the story fun band heartwarming and I did find myself laughing at times. I loved the great mix of characters, plus the pacing was just right. Overall, a brilliant read that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Mairéad is single, child-free and head of a successful influencer talent agency. The young people at work may be mean to her, she hasn't seen her only sister for nine years and she's one bad date away from giving up on men completely – but other than that, she's got life sorted.
Until Sunshine shows up. When her militant, off-grid sister has a mysterious accident, Mairéad's inscrutable niece comes to stay, turning life upside down. It's just for a couple of weeks – surely Mairéad can manage that?
But Sunshine makes her look at every single aspect of her life with different eyes. And Mairéad's afraid nothing will be the same again.
🩷 Review -
This was such an enjoyable and entertaining read. I was hooked from the very first page and kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I found the story fun band heartwarming and I did find myself laughing at times. I loved the great mix of characters, plus the pacing was just right. Overall, a brilliant read that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2025
I’ve been reading Esther Walker’s writing since the Recipe Rifle days so was excited when I heard she had written her first novel. I had high hopes from reading her non-fiction work and from listening to the Times podcast she does with her husband and I wasn’t disappointed. Well, This Is Awkward starts strongly – I’d have been happy to read a whole story set in the passive-aggressive mess of Mairéad’s workplace and I loved the descriptions of her colleagues’ outfits which serve as character portraits/assassinations.
But off to rural Wales Mairéad speeds, to look after her niece Sunny after her estranged sister Lenny has an accident. Of course she called Mairéad rather than their mother Helen, in whom Esther has created another of the great awful mothers in literature: hardly interested in her own children, she dotes on her lodgers, long-term and short. Sunny has been raised off the grid in almost entire social seclusion so it’s no wonder everything seems bewildering to her. Over a summer, Sunny and Mairéad make mistakes and work out how to live together.
The peripheral characters are great, too: friends Cass (provides great moral support but is way off the mark in the date she pushes on Mairéad) and Dodie (who ‘always preferred to be lying down and went back to bed whenever possible’); Helen’s favourite lodger Roxana (I need to be more Roxana: she somehow manages to be relentlessly positive, entirely direct and yet still delightful); and the gynaecologist Dr Childs (if you had ever wondered if a smear test appointment can be played for laughs then yes, yes it can). I really enjoyed Well, This Is Awkward and recommend it if you’re after funny, moving and spot-on contemporary fiction. I see some reviewers have criticised the pacing and story structure but I ate it up.
Thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
But off to rural Wales Mairéad speeds, to look after her niece Sunny after her estranged sister Lenny has an accident. Of course she called Mairéad rather than their mother Helen, in whom Esther has created another of the great awful mothers in literature: hardly interested in her own children, she dotes on her lodgers, long-term and short. Sunny has been raised off the grid in almost entire social seclusion so it’s no wonder everything seems bewildering to her. Over a summer, Sunny and Mairéad make mistakes and work out how to live together.
The peripheral characters are great, too: friends Cass (provides great moral support but is way off the mark in the date she pushes on Mairéad) and Dodie (who ‘always preferred to be lying down and went back to bed whenever possible’); Helen’s favourite lodger Roxana (I need to be more Roxana: she somehow manages to be relentlessly positive, entirely direct and yet still delightful); and the gynaecologist Dr Childs (if you had ever wondered if a smear test appointment can be played for laughs then yes, yes it can). I really enjoyed Well, This Is Awkward and recommend it if you’re after funny, moving and spot-on contemporary fiction. I see some reviewers have criticised the pacing and story structure but I ate it up.
Thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
January 5, 2026
Mairead is a successful career woman, happily single and child-free until an accident befalls her sister and Mairead is called upon to look after her 11-year old niece, who she hasn't seen since she was a toddler, bringing her to her London flat and away from the off-grid living she is used to in Wales. A mostly heart-warming story ensues, where we also meet Mairead's house-bound activist mother, her friends and questionable work colleagues. We also gather some of her family history along the way.
This is an enjoyable tale. It is not prettied up and feels mostly authentic. Mairead doesn't fall apart; we get the sense that she's always had to be the one who sorts everything out in her family. I also like how there's no heavy-handed "career women just need a kid" angle either. A situation has arisen, and Mairead is dealing with it the best she can with the help of her friends. And, unlike other reviewers, I really enjoyed the Devon storyline. It was integral to getting Mairead and Sunny open up more to each other and other people. Dibs was ace!
So, to the questionable aspects. Sunny obviously has some (possibly neurodivergent) issues that are never addressed, not even when Mairead talks to the child psychotherapist. I also found it convenient the way Mairead's company just accepted what happened; I thought it would be much more brutal considering the supposed "ruthless" American owners.
No spoilers, but I found the way Lenny acted utterly unbelievable. Also it was far too convenient about the Evan storyline. I liked the ending in that it wasn't neatly packaged, but it did seem a little rushed. Indeed, the ending isn't necessarily happy but it is getting there. It was good that a man/romance didn't have to feature to make it happier; it felt more truthful in that way.
I did enjoy this, but it just felt a little flimsy and rushed in places. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could but I don't feel it should be rounded up to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This is an enjoyable tale. It is not prettied up and feels mostly authentic. Mairead doesn't fall apart; we get the sense that she's always had to be the one who sorts everything out in her family. I also like how there's no heavy-handed "career women just need a kid" angle either. A situation has arisen, and Mairead is dealing with it the best she can with the help of her friends. And, unlike other reviewers, I really enjoyed the Devon storyline. It was integral to getting Mairead and Sunny open up more to each other and other people. Dibs was ace!
So, to the questionable aspects. Sunny obviously has some (possibly neurodivergent) issues that are never addressed, not even when Mairead talks to the child psychotherapist. I also found it convenient the way Mairead's company just accepted what happened; I thought it would be much more brutal considering the supposed "ruthless" American owners.
No spoilers, but I found the way Lenny acted utterly unbelievable. Also it was far too convenient about the Evan storyline. I liked the ending in that it wasn't neatly packaged, but it did seem a little rushed. Indeed, the ending isn't necessarily happy but it is getting there. It was good that a man/romance didn't have to feature to make it happier; it felt more truthful in that way.
I did enjoy this, but it just felt a little flimsy and rushed in places. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could but I don't feel it should be rounded up to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
September 11, 2025
Mairéad is living her best life, head of a influencer talent agency (which she sold to a US group for a pile of money), single, her own immaculate flat, impeccable hair, make-up and clothes.
Then she receives a call, her estranged elder sister has been hospitalised and there is no-one to look after her eleven year old daughter Sunny. As her daughter's name suggests, Mairéad's sister is a bit of a hippy, living off-grid, eschewing modern medicines as poison, protesting pretty much everything, and home-schooling Sunny. Mairéad's mother Helen is more interested in her lodgers than either of her daughters or her granddaughter, plus to Mairéad's knowledge she hasn't left her house in years.
So reluctantly, Mairéad agrees to take charge of her niece. Sunny still sucks her thumb, hates being touched, rarely wears shoes, and frankly smells. Her arrival completely throws Mairéad through a loop (hoop?) and necessitates huge changes to her life.
I really enjoyed this, although I thought Mairéad was incredibly dense at some points, it was heart warming and life affirming without the misogynist undertones that successful single women are all really deeply unhappy and would feel happier if they became full-time mothers which I see/feel in many books/films where a career woman suddenly acquires a child. My only gripe(s) was that the end felt a little rushed - there was an issue, it got solved in a few pages, there were some seeds of new beginnings and BOOM the end. I could have read on and on and on.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
Then she receives a call, her estranged elder sister has been hospitalised and there is no-one to look after her eleven year old daughter Sunny. As her daughter's name suggests, Mairéad's sister is a bit of a hippy, living off-grid, eschewing modern medicines as poison, protesting pretty much everything, and home-schooling Sunny. Mairéad's mother Helen is more interested in her lodgers than either of her daughters or her granddaughter, plus to Mairéad's knowledge she hasn't left her house in years.
So reluctantly, Mairéad agrees to take charge of her niece. Sunny still sucks her thumb, hates being touched, rarely wears shoes, and frankly smells. Her arrival completely throws Mairéad through a loop (hoop?) and necessitates huge changes to her life.
I really enjoyed this, although I thought Mairéad was incredibly dense at some points, it was heart warming and life affirming without the misogynist undertones that successful single women are all really deeply unhappy and would feel happier if they became full-time mothers which I see/feel in many books/films where a career woman suddenly acquires a child. My only gripe(s) was that the end felt a little rushed - there was an issue, it got solved in a few pages, there were some seeds of new beginnings and BOOM the end. I could have read on and on and on.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
January 8, 2026
This book shimmers with the wit and kindness Esther’s writing is known for. I loved that I didn’t know where the plot would take me, but I also loved that I felt in very safe hands throughout. It’s a surprising, cosy, funny read. Five stars!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews