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Up and In
A laugh-out-loud debut that will delight fans of Liane Moriarty and Fiona Higgins, this is The Devil Wears Prada at the school gates.
Distinctly middle-class parents, Maria and Joe have committed every bit of available income to giving their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria must learn to play nicely with Mirabella's mother, Bea - the beguiling yet beastly queen of the toffee-nosed school mothers at Riverton.
A series of social blunders and intentional snubs make Maria determined to ensure Kate's rightful position both at school and on the Saturday morning netball team, but as Maria works hard to negotiate the social hierarchy, her previously contented life with Joe falls far from view.
With her mastery of dialogue and character, Australian author Deborah Disney skillfully balances keen and witty observations about daily life with the more serious issues of schoolyard bullying and social isolation.
You will laugh, you will nod along, and you will want to take the increasingly neurotic Maria aside and point out that in all her desperate, gaffe-filled attempts to fit in with the well-heeled, champagne-swilling mummies of Riverton, she might just be risking all that she holds dear.
'My stand-out fiction read for 2015' Rebecca Sparrow, author, Mammamia columnist and host of So What Are You Reading?
'This story showcases a world where motherhood is a competitive sport ... highly recommended' Chicklit Club (High Raters)
'While the book is satirical and clearly a mummy-mafia-on-speed version of events, it has so many nuggets of truth that Up and In is destined to become the next must-read for any mum navigating schoolyard politics' Kidspot Parenting Magazine
'I am so excited that this is Deborah Disney's debut novel. It's accomplished, compelling and one of those novels that will tug at the heartstrings one minute and have you giggling the next. Warm, extremely well-written and a complete delight to read. If you're looking for a light, funny, yet insightful novel then congratulations - you've found it!' Bookaholic Holly
Distinctly middle-class parents, Maria and Joe have committed every bit of available income to giving their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria must learn to play nicely with Mirabella's mother, Bea - the beguiling yet beastly queen of the toffee-nosed school mothers at Riverton.
A series of social blunders and intentional snubs make Maria determined to ensure Kate's rightful position both at school and on the Saturday morning netball team, but as Maria works hard to negotiate the social hierarchy, her previously contented life with Joe falls far from view.
With her mastery of dialogue and character, Australian author Deborah Disney skillfully balances keen and witty observations about daily life with the more serious issues of schoolyard bullying and social isolation.
You will laugh, you will nod along, and you will want to take the increasingly neurotic Maria aside and point out that in all her desperate, gaffe-filled attempts to fit in with the well-heeled, champagne-swilling mummies of Riverton, she might just be risking all that she holds dear.
'My stand-out fiction read for 2015' Rebecca Sparrow, author, Mammamia columnist and host of So What Are You Reading?
'This story showcases a world where motherhood is a competitive sport ... highly recommended' Chicklit Club (High Raters)
'While the book is satirical and clearly a mummy-mafia-on-speed version of events, it has so many nuggets of truth that Up and In is destined to become the next must-read for any mum navigating schoolyard politics' Kidspot Parenting Magazine
'I am so excited that this is Deborah Disney's debut novel. It's accomplished, compelling and one of those novels that will tug at the heartstrings one minute and have you giggling the next. Warm, extremely well-written and a complete delight to read. If you're looking for a light, funny, yet insightful novel then congratulations - you've found it!' Bookaholic Holly
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
12 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 1, 2014
Up and In by Deborah Disney begins when a distracted Maria politely declines to buy two handmade hair ties while watching her daughter's Saturday morning netball match. It's an unintentional snub that makes her the target of icy disdain from Bea, the 'queen' of Maria's social circle made up of the mother's whose daughters attend the exclusive, and expensive, Riverton school. Maria is torn, she should be relieved that the pressure to fit in with Bea and her cohorts has eased, but instead she finds herself trying to regain her status, while obsessing over the subtext of group email exchanges. There is, after all, her daughter, Kate, to consider, who faces rejection from her own social circle led by Bea's spoilt daughter, Mirabella.
Up and In is told in part by flashbacks that reveal the genesis of Maria and Kate's relationship with the 'bea's' from Kindy to the present day. It reveals a litany of highs and lows as well as a pattern of passive aggressive behaviour from all parties. Many of the situations have the ring of truth, albeit slightly exaggerated for dramatic and comic effect. The interactions that place between the mothers at the girls netball games, especially the upset over positioning, are unerring though.
I can relate to Maria in some ways, it is difficult to resist the desire to fit in, and Bea can be absolutely charming when she chooses to be. Negotiating the social hierarchy can also be tricky when it affects your children's friendships, and poor Kate is caught in the crossfire between the adult power plays. Disney does a good job of exploring Maria's inner conflict though I wish Maria had developed a bit more of a backbone.
I have to admit being disappointed somewhat by the ending, the decision Maria makes to reach out to her nemesis isn't a magnanimous gesture - it's a foolish one, a woman like Bea would not be grateful and Maria would swiftly find herself trapped in the same situation she has been trying to extricate herself from for the length of the novel.
An entertaining and quick read, any mother who has had to negotiate the perils of playground politics will no doubt appreciate the characters and scenarios of Up and In.
December 21, 2015
Originally posted on This Chick Reads
'Up and In' is Deborah Disney's debut and a book which was a wonderful surprise for me. I haven't had the chance to read many Australian chick lits, so I was really eager to start reading this. The blurb hinted it was going to be light hearted and fun, and it really was. It was super fun and very easy to read.
It tells the story of Maria, married to Joe and mother to Sarah and Kate, who's desperately trying to fit in with the other mothers. She's doing her best to provide her kids with the best education, however it seems she's also desperate to be part of the world of 'Bea's', the rich and cool mum's who are oh so organized and very very bitchy. If she could impress Bea, she could definitely impress them all.
All of a sudden, she's caught in this web of illusions, trying too hard to be someone else, spending the money she doesn't got on expensive dresses she'll only wear once, just to impress someone and be accepted. She's not shallow, but she deeply believes her daughter Kate wishes nothing but to be accepted in her new school, so as a mother, Maria thinks it's her duty to bond with the other mothers and that way making her girl accepted in the new community.
Of course, this is not the way it should be. While Maria is teaching her daughter to be strong and independent, it seems she's not living according to her own words. There were many hilarious situations Maria got into while socializing with The Bea's and many times she felt like the black sheep.
I admit, I know what the author tried to do here, but I did want to give Maria a good shake a couple of times. She's not a kid, she should know better than to chase some rich bitches just to be in the 'cool gang'. It also seemed a bit...childish? However, it was hilarious and very fun seeing her go through all these efforts and all the drama caused whenever she would disappoint one of them.
There's a lovely message behind the book, which is a bit obvious yet is very important. Because we've all felt like Maria at least once in our lives, wanting to fit in and just be accepted, and be part of something bigger and cooler. But for most of us, this ends when we get to the adult stage, however I admit I know quite a few people old enough to be my parents who're still trying to be someone else, and compete with everyone and everything just to prove... something, which I don't understand.
'The truth will set you free', so if we ponder on this we should realize that we are who we are and instead of trying to fit in we should be the leaders of our own one member club, being responsible for our own acts and staying try to ourselves. In a very light, fun way that's the message behind this book. I absolutely enjoyed it though I wish it had a slightly different ending which will leave me less confused. Let's say, it wasn't the closure I expected. But still, it was a quick, enjoyable read I can recommend to everyone looking for a chick lit on parenting, or all the funny situations modern mums get themselves into.
June 20, 2015
I found this a delightfully fun read. I loved reading about all the school politicking and social engineering that was going on, although I found the behaviour of some of the mums appalling. But, I guess that is what made this book so entertaining. The book is narrated by the mum's of one of the girls and Deborah Disney did a great job in creating a character that I could both like and dislike at the same time. She is flawed, like any human being, and her actions were sometimes selfish, but I think her flaws are what made her character so relatable. This is the author's debut novel and I am looking forward to any further books she releases in the future.
June 26, 2015
Oh sweet Maria..... I enjoyed following Maria through her angst of friendships. As a mom I can sympathize with her and our daily "trying to keep up with the Joneses".
In this book we meet Maria and her daughter Kate, who is enrolled at a prestigious private school. We are introduced to all the other Mums and girls in her class throughout the book, with the leader of the pack being Bea. Bea has the ultimate control over the social activites and anxieties of this group. She is the leader and manipulator and we see how quickly she can make Maria happy or completely destroyed. It is actually realistic in that I have met women like this , who can put you on top of the world or can bring you down in the dumps. Overall I enjoyed this story , I found Maria to be a typical mom. Someone who wants the best for her children and would make sacrifices to see that happen.
I'd like to list my pros and cons:
Pro's first:
-This was a quick read, once the story was established I found myself drawn to the book. Wanting to see how it ends. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't exciting or suspenseful. But more of a question of when will Maria stand up for herself!
-Realistic characters, I've met these women before. Wow, as a boy mom I am grateful to not have to mix with them daily. The constant competition between fashion and popularity is exhausting!
-Maria and Kate as the main characters, were likable. A bit frustrating as Maria was such a follower and people pleaser and Kate a moody tween. But realistic just the same. I enjoyed Nic and Lauren, it was nice to have someone be nice to Maria even if they were a bit two faced.
And my Cons:
-A bit boring, not a whole lot of suspense until the end gala party when all the gossip comes out. A little bit of back and forth with current and past events, although easy to follow.
-Lots of characters... I felt the need to go back and look up the characters and their histories. Was a bit hard to follow, although I guess with a full class of kids you have a bunch of people.
-Annoying and frustrating at times.... a few times I was so frustrated with Maria's immature behaviors and decisions.
I received this book for free and am thankful to have the opportunity to read "Up and In". I will seek out other books by this author.
In this book we meet Maria and her daughter Kate, who is enrolled at a prestigious private school. We are introduced to all the other Mums and girls in her class throughout the book, with the leader of the pack being Bea. Bea has the ultimate control over the social activites and anxieties of this group. She is the leader and manipulator and we see how quickly she can make Maria happy or completely destroyed. It is actually realistic in that I have met women like this , who can put you on top of the world or can bring you down in the dumps. Overall I enjoyed this story , I found Maria to be a typical mom. Someone who wants the best for her children and would make sacrifices to see that happen.
I'd like to list my pros and cons:
Pro's first:
-This was a quick read, once the story was established I found myself drawn to the book. Wanting to see how it ends. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't exciting or suspenseful. But more of a question of when will Maria stand up for herself!
-Realistic characters, I've met these women before. Wow, as a boy mom I am grateful to not have to mix with them daily. The constant competition between fashion and popularity is exhausting!
-Maria and Kate as the main characters, were likable. A bit frustrating as Maria was such a follower and people pleaser and Kate a moody tween. But realistic just the same. I enjoyed Nic and Lauren, it was nice to have someone be nice to Maria even if they were a bit two faced.
And my Cons:
-A bit boring, not a whole lot of suspense until the end gala party when all the gossip comes out. A little bit of back and forth with current and past events, although easy to follow.
-Lots of characters... I felt the need to go back and look up the characters and their histories. Was a bit hard to follow, although I guess with a full class of kids you have a bunch of people.
-Annoying and frustrating at times.... a few times I was so frustrated with Maria's immature behaviors and decisions.
I received this book for free and am thankful to have the opportunity to read "Up and In". I will seek out other books by this author.
June 19, 2015
When I saw this book described as "the Devil wears Prada at the school gates" I thought it sounded like a fun read. I have never been a fashionista, rubbed shoulders with the high society ladies or had the desire to "keep up with the Jones's", but I still found Maria very relatable. There were so many anecdotal moments throughout the book that made me giggle and say "Yes! I did that too!"
Maria is a middle class mum, just like me. She and her husband Joe have saved up to send their children to "the best" private girls school to give them "the best" education. But they haven't budgeted for "the best" everything else that comes with being accepted into this world. Playground politics whilst swilling champagne.
I found the writing style engaging. I've never played or watched much netball, but found myself caught up in action of the couple of netball games, though not all the action occured on the court.
This is the debut novel from Australian author Deborah Disney. I am looking forward to reading her next one.
X
Maria is a middle class mum, just like me. She and her husband Joe have saved up to send their children to "the best" private girls school to give them "the best" education. But they haven't budgeted for "the best" everything else that comes with being accepted into this world. Playground politics whilst swilling champagne.
I found the writing style engaging. I've never played or watched much netball, but found myself caught up in action of the couple of netball games, though not all the action occured on the court.
This is the debut novel from Australian author Deborah Disney. I am looking forward to reading her next one.
X
June 27, 2015
Deborah Disney made this an entertaining book. It was fun read with a little reality it in. I can relate to Marias dilemma because I see it everyday. There are many people who are always worried about keeping up with the Jones and it effects the children without realizing it. I was never a person who was jealous or wanted to impress others or even try to rub elbows with the high society women, it's just not me, and I don't even raise my children that way either. Maria, a middle class mom, lost her way by feeling she was in school again and being with the "popular girls" but needs to find her true self. Throughout the book there were some funny moments and some annoying ones too but this was a fun and we'll written book.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Deborah Disney made this an entertaining book and can't wait to see what she'll come up with next.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Deborah Disney made this an entertaining book and can't wait to see what she'll come up with next.
December 7, 2014
Highly entertaining, relatable, funny and impossible to put down. I read Up and In in one sitting (when I was supposed to be doing something else).
On the first page, the protagonist relfects on the lack of an x at the end of an email, then plunges you into the story of many colourful and confronting relationships she has with other mothers from her daughter's prestigous school.
The book is suprisingly suspenseful (the netball game scenes are as good as any car chase I've read), the pace is perfect and the only problem I had with it, is that it ended before I was ready to leave the characters or story!
I wouldn't hesitate to read anything by this author.
On the first page, the protagonist relfects on the lack of an x at the end of an email, then plunges you into the story of many colourful and confronting relationships she has with other mothers from her daughter's prestigous school.
The book is suprisingly suspenseful (the netball game scenes are as good as any car chase I've read), the pace is perfect and the only problem I had with it, is that it ended before I was ready to leave the characters or story!
I wouldn't hesitate to read anything by this author.
June 23, 2015
What I loved about this book was the author's ability to write characters. Although some of the characters can be pretty unlikeable, they are real and believable. It is a pretty easy read, with a nice amount of humour, and for those with kids in private school it may feel a little close to home! :o
Great debut novel and I would pick up more of this author's work.
Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher, and "Novel Books and Reading Challenges" for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Great debut novel and I would pick up more of this author's work.
Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher, and "Novel Books and Reading Challenges" for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2017
Despite the blurb - this is no "Devil Wears Prada"; nor was it "laugh out loud" funny. But it was solidly okay. The story about a mom trying to keep up with the rich folk at her daughters private school. It's well written, the characters are engaging (if mostly unpleasant). I guess my problem is that the main character is pretty dim and her problems are mostly of her own creation - which makes it difficult for me to care about her.
November 28, 2014
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2014/11...
What They Say....Maria and Joe have saved every available penny to give their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria finds herself thrust into a high society of champagne-swilling mother-istas she hasn't budgeted for. Saturday morning netball is no longer a fun mother-daughter outing, but a minefield of social politics.
While the increasingly neurotic Maria struggles to negotiate the school mum hierarchy, Joe quietly battles a midlife crisis and Kate attempts to grow up as gracefully as possible (without having her life ruined by embarrassing parents).
What I Say....Ugh. I've known women like the bea's. They are the moms that can make a little girl's sporting event feel like you've taken a time machine back to junior high school. Only now they have sharper weapons, and when you feel like your children are being hurt, you become even more sensitive.
Take Maria, for example. She spends the first chapter poring over a group email, scouring every response looking for an insult, despairing that the other mother's don't sign x (the electronic kiss indicates your social standing) after their name when communicating with her, and trying to read between the lines as to who is friend or foe (hint, they are almost all foes).
Let me preface this by saying that I don't like to get into the Mommy wars, I think stay at home moms have it rough and I think working moms have it rough. They have so much in common, but they also face different challenges.
However, having been in both roles, I can say that this book definitely brought back some bad memories of my time at home. I think when you are at home all day, you just have more time to get emotionally invested in these types of relationships (a strong parallel to office relationships and the politics that happen in the workplace).
Once you are working full time and trying to keep up with the kid's activiites and home life, you really don't notice these type of women anymore, their barbs either go right over your head, or you find yourself snapping back because you don't really care what they think, because can't they see how TIRED you are????? I did find it interesting that the only character that stayed neutral and friendly with everyone, was Nicole, the hairdresser who worked full time.
Okay, I got off topic, but I think it's the mark of really good book that it made me think through the issues that all mommies face.
I liked Maria and her funny family, but by mid-book, I was getting really irritated with her for being so wishy-washy. She hated the way the bea's treated her daughter, but she kept hanging around, setting herself up for more poor treatment. But she didn't hang around as a syncophant, she wouldn't kiss up to Bea, but she wouldn't stand up for herself either. I wanted to shake her and tell her to either grow a pair, and tell them to get lost or just buy the damn hair ties! Take your daughter out of that snobby school and stop signing up for every after school activity that these beyotches take their kids to, or plaster a big fake smile on her face and play the game.
But Maria was half in and half out throughout the book. Her husband is telling her that he is miserable in his job, and unhappy with the direction of his future, and her only thought is that if he quits his job, how will they pay for Riverton? At that point, it seemed like Maria was the only one who cared about the school, it certainly wasn't doing anything for the rest of the family.
At the end, you see a few of the bea's get their comeuppance, but even then, Maria continues her pattern of one foot in, one foot out. She wracks her brain to think of the perfect text to send to the woman who's life is falling apart, the same woman who has done nothing but try to make her own life miserable.
That was my only real complaint - I wanted Maria to get her head on straight and teach her kids what really matters. But even though she could do that when they were alone, she wasn't able to do it in front of the snobs, where the lesson would have really stuck.
Thank you, Net Galley and Harper Collins, for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a 4/5 star read.
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What They Say....Maria and Joe have saved every available penny to give their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria finds herself thrust into a high society of champagne-swilling mother-istas she hasn't budgeted for. Saturday morning netball is no longer a fun mother-daughter outing, but a minefield of social politics.
While the increasingly neurotic Maria struggles to negotiate the school mum hierarchy, Joe quietly battles a midlife crisis and Kate attempts to grow up as gracefully as possible (without having her life ruined by embarrassing parents).
What I Say....Ugh. I've known women like the bea's. They are the moms that can make a little girl's sporting event feel like you've taken a time machine back to junior high school. Only now they have sharper weapons, and when you feel like your children are being hurt, you become even more sensitive.
Take Maria, for example. She spends the first chapter poring over a group email, scouring every response looking for an insult, despairing that the other mother's don't sign x (the electronic kiss indicates your social standing) after their name when communicating with her, and trying to read between the lines as to who is friend or foe (hint, they are almost all foes).
Let me preface this by saying that I don't like to get into the Mommy wars, I think stay at home moms have it rough and I think working moms have it rough. They have so much in common, but they also face different challenges.
However, having been in both roles, I can say that this book definitely brought back some bad memories of my time at home. I think when you are at home all day, you just have more time to get emotionally invested in these types of relationships (a strong parallel to office relationships and the politics that happen in the workplace).
Once you are working full time and trying to keep up with the kid's activiites and home life, you really don't notice these type of women anymore, their barbs either go right over your head, or you find yourself snapping back because you don't really care what they think, because can't they see how TIRED you are????? I did find it interesting that the only character that stayed neutral and friendly with everyone, was Nicole, the hairdresser who worked full time.
Okay, I got off topic, but I think it's the mark of really good book that it made me think through the issues that all mommies face.
I liked Maria and her funny family, but by mid-book, I was getting really irritated with her for being so wishy-washy. She hated the way the bea's treated her daughter, but she kept hanging around, setting herself up for more poor treatment. But she didn't hang around as a syncophant, she wouldn't kiss up to Bea, but she wouldn't stand up for herself either. I wanted to shake her and tell her to either grow a pair, and tell them to get lost or just buy the damn hair ties! Take your daughter out of that snobby school and stop signing up for every after school activity that these beyotches take their kids to, or plaster a big fake smile on her face and play the game.
But Maria was half in and half out throughout the book. Her husband is telling her that he is miserable in his job, and unhappy with the direction of his future, and her only thought is that if he quits his job, how will they pay for Riverton? At that point, it seemed like Maria was the only one who cared about the school, it certainly wasn't doing anything for the rest of the family.
At the end, you see a few of the bea's get their comeuppance, but even then, Maria continues her pattern of one foot in, one foot out. She wracks her brain to think of the perfect text to send to the woman who's life is falling apart, the same woman who has done nothing but try to make her own life miserable.
That was my only real complaint - I wanted Maria to get her head on straight and teach her kids what really matters. But even though she could do that when they were alone, she wasn't able to do it in front of the snobs, where the lesson would have really stuck.
Thank you, Net Galley and Harper Collins, for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a 4/5 star read.
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June 29, 2015
First off let me start by saying that I participated in my very first buddy read with a group on Goodreads.com. I enjoyed this book even though I kept bouncing back and forth between liking the main character Maria and shaking my head in abject disapproval for her handling of situations. I personally have never been one to obsess about other people’s approval of me or their disapproval. She is extremely flawed which makes her more believable and relatable I think. She is so focused on what the other mothers of her social circle think and mean by every text, email, and face to face exchange she can’t see the forest for the trees. We have her husband Joe supportive even while struggling with his own crises. Then we have her daughters Kate and Sarah, Kate is the daughter that the drama centers around. Then we have the wise sister-in-law who dispenses little tidbits of insight just at the right time. Finally we have the ‘Bea’s’; Bea (the queen), Sonya (OCD control freak), Caitlin (the social brownnoser), Jen (follower), Nic and Lauren ( down to earth non-snobs). Ultimately this is a book from which we can all stand to take away the larger picture you just never know what someone else is going through at any given point so don’t take everything to heart all the time.
March 22, 2016
I LOVED this book! What a great new voice in Australian fiction! The subtle yet skillful way Disney melds raw, laugh-out-loud funny with heart-wrenching scenes belies her debut author status. I’m part of a fairly ‘low-brow’ school, so I’m yet to personally experience the delight that is school gate politics, but I have friends that have. And it’s vicious. It may seem banal to those that haven’t experienced it, but the complexities of relationships when you have your child’s friendships and reputation to consider can consume your life, as it does for Maria in Deborah Disney’s fantastic debut. Maria’s focus on her daughter’s well-being despite the melodrama unfolding within their school/netball group is admirable. It’s chick lit- with grit, tackling more serious issues such as bullying and social isolation (that has no socioeconomic boundaries), yet has a light, very readable style. I highly recommend this heart-warming, hilarious take on the politics of parenting. You’ll enjoy every minute!
December 26, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book from the author for review.)
An entertaining read. I am sure many women can relate to Maria's struggles trying to fit in.
An entertaining read. I am sure many women can relate to Maria's struggles trying to fit in.
February 16, 2015
Originally reviewed for Bookaholic Confessions
Up and In follows the struggles that middle-class mother Maria faces as her daughters go to one of the most exclusive (and expensive) schools around, Riverton.
Her eldest daughter Kate has made friends with the awfully spoilt, over-indulged Mirabella, whose mother, Bea, is quite frankly rather terrifying. However after a shaky start, Maria is welcomed into Bea’s highly esteemed circle of friends.
However being one of the ‘beas’ is an expensive and time consuming business. There’s so much to think about. You can’t wear the same outfit twice, you have to always ‘reply all’ to group emails, and ideally you have to live on the ‘right’ side of the river (as opposed to the ‘wrong’ side.) Then there’s the politics of the school netball team, Red Rockets, of which Kate and Mirabella both play for.
It’s not long before Maria finds herself well and truly cast out of Bea’s social circle (i.e. she stops putting X’s at the end of her emails to Maria) which you may think is fine – if that’s how she wants to be…The only trouble is she can make life very difficult for poor little Kate as well as Maria. Like being an eight year old isn’t difficult enough, Kate has to deal with being ousted from her group of friends, strategically placed on the netball team to allow Mirabella to always be the star of the game AND deal with her mother behaving in such an embarrassing way in front of all of the other beas… Whoever said growing up was easy?
I loved, loved, loved the premise of this story. I often enjoy books about playground politics with parents who are in competition with one another at the school gates, but for me, Up and In took a story about ‘Yummy Mummies’ to a WHOLE different level and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
I really enjoyed how the battles were based around the netball court – which child was playing the best, which position they should be in etc. I can completely believe that there are bitter rivalries between the parents who are stood on the sidelines of the court. It also made for a pretty tense read when the matches were taking place. However, Up and In was about so much more than this.
Bea terrified me but she made of an amazing central character. I’m sure we all have a Bea in our lives; someone who you can never quite tell when they’re being genuine, someone who will be your best friend one minute and have nothing to do with you the next, someone who gets jealous, territorial, and pushy all whilst maintaining a perfectly coifed hair-do. I simply could not believe the extent of this woman’s rudeness and I really felt for poor Kate, whose life she was making a misery simply because she didn’t like Maria any more. Can you get much lower than that!? It’s amazing to see the hold that Bea has over the little B beas, though. It’s like they can’t see what she’s doing and how she’s manipulating everyone. She may be the devil wearing Louboutons, but she makes for great reading. Without giving much away the story has quite a satisfying ending where Bea is concerned too…
There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, especially Deborah’s style of writing. She really brings her characters to life, especially in Maria’s case. I loved Maria and could relate to her perfectly, she is your typical down-to-earth parent who gets slightly swept up in the hype when this beautiful, glamorous fellow-parent decides she wants to be her friend. Not many people would be able to resist Bea and her fancy Easter Egg Hunt parties…
Deborah’s writing flows so well and it such a pleasure to read. This is one of those books that you will start and look up from a few hours later in shock to find you’ve almost finished it. You can’t not become engrossed in these women’s lives, they are just fascinating. I will also admit that they are not all completely unlikeable, Nic is lovely and Lauren certainly has her redeeming features where furry vests are concerned…
I also really liked how the relationships were played out in the novel. I adored Maria and Joe, they made for such a strong couple (even when Joe went through his mid-life crisis and bought a Porsche) and I also really admired the relationship between Maria and Kate. It’s clear that Maria would do anything to make her daughter happy and feel as though she fitted in and as well as dealing with being ousted by the bea’s herself, she also has to watch her daughter be rejected by her friends too.
The other big shiny tick against this novel is its humour. It made me laugh-my-socks off. Deborah is such a witty, clever writer and she has got these women and their personalities nailed. They’re actually so realistic that it’s funny. There were times when I didn’t know whether to just sit there open mouthed in amazement or snort with laughter.
I am so excited that this is Deborah Disney’s debut novel. It’s accomplished, compelling and one of those novels that will tug at the heartstrings once minute and have you giggling the next. Warm, extremely well written and a complete delight to read. If you’re looking for a light, funny, yet insightful novel then congratulations – you’ve found it!
Up and In follows the struggles that middle-class mother Maria faces as her daughters go to one of the most exclusive (and expensive) schools around, Riverton.
Her eldest daughter Kate has made friends with the awfully spoilt, over-indulged Mirabella, whose mother, Bea, is quite frankly rather terrifying. However after a shaky start, Maria is welcomed into Bea’s highly esteemed circle of friends.
However being one of the ‘beas’ is an expensive and time consuming business. There’s so much to think about. You can’t wear the same outfit twice, you have to always ‘reply all’ to group emails, and ideally you have to live on the ‘right’ side of the river (as opposed to the ‘wrong’ side.) Then there’s the politics of the school netball team, Red Rockets, of which Kate and Mirabella both play for.
It’s not long before Maria finds herself well and truly cast out of Bea’s social circle (i.e. she stops putting X’s at the end of her emails to Maria) which you may think is fine – if that’s how she wants to be…The only trouble is she can make life very difficult for poor little Kate as well as Maria. Like being an eight year old isn’t difficult enough, Kate has to deal with being ousted from her group of friends, strategically placed on the netball team to allow Mirabella to always be the star of the game AND deal with her mother behaving in such an embarrassing way in front of all of the other beas… Whoever said growing up was easy?
I loved, loved, loved the premise of this story. I often enjoy books about playground politics with parents who are in competition with one another at the school gates, but for me, Up and In took a story about ‘Yummy Mummies’ to a WHOLE different level and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
I really enjoyed how the battles were based around the netball court – which child was playing the best, which position they should be in etc. I can completely believe that there are bitter rivalries between the parents who are stood on the sidelines of the court. It also made for a pretty tense read when the matches were taking place. However, Up and In was about so much more than this.
Bea terrified me but she made of an amazing central character. I’m sure we all have a Bea in our lives; someone who you can never quite tell when they’re being genuine, someone who will be your best friend one minute and have nothing to do with you the next, someone who gets jealous, territorial, and pushy all whilst maintaining a perfectly coifed hair-do. I simply could not believe the extent of this woman’s rudeness and I really felt for poor Kate, whose life she was making a misery simply because she didn’t like Maria any more. Can you get much lower than that!? It’s amazing to see the hold that Bea has over the little B beas, though. It’s like they can’t see what she’s doing and how she’s manipulating everyone. She may be the devil wearing Louboutons, but she makes for great reading. Without giving much away the story has quite a satisfying ending where Bea is concerned too…
There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, especially Deborah’s style of writing. She really brings her characters to life, especially in Maria’s case. I loved Maria and could relate to her perfectly, she is your typical down-to-earth parent who gets slightly swept up in the hype when this beautiful, glamorous fellow-parent decides she wants to be her friend. Not many people would be able to resist Bea and her fancy Easter Egg Hunt parties…
Deborah’s writing flows so well and it such a pleasure to read. This is one of those books that you will start and look up from a few hours later in shock to find you’ve almost finished it. You can’t not become engrossed in these women’s lives, they are just fascinating. I will also admit that they are not all completely unlikeable, Nic is lovely and Lauren certainly has her redeeming features where furry vests are concerned…
I also really liked how the relationships were played out in the novel. I adored Maria and Joe, they made for such a strong couple (even when Joe went through his mid-life crisis and bought a Porsche) and I also really admired the relationship between Maria and Kate. It’s clear that Maria would do anything to make her daughter happy and feel as though she fitted in and as well as dealing with being ousted by the bea’s herself, she also has to watch her daughter be rejected by her friends too.
The other big shiny tick against this novel is its humour. It made me laugh-my-socks off. Deborah is such a witty, clever writer and she has got these women and their personalities nailed. They’re actually so realistic that it’s funny. There were times when I didn’t know whether to just sit there open mouthed in amazement or snort with laughter.
I am so excited that this is Deborah Disney’s debut novel. It’s accomplished, compelling and one of those novels that will tug at the heartstrings once minute and have you giggling the next. Warm, extremely well written and a complete delight to read. If you’re looking for a light, funny, yet insightful novel then congratulations – you’ve found it!
March 2, 2016
Harper Impulse in the UK are one of my favourite digital-only publishers. They publish some authors I truly adore like Nic Tatano and Erin Lawless, and they bring new talent to the fore quickly and easily so when I spotted that Harper in Australia were launching their own Impulse Australia imprint, I was quite pleased and downloaded a couple of their novels, one of them being Up & In by Deborah Disney. I hadn't planned to read it right now, but I was sucked in quickly and easily and soon I couldn't stop reading.
whatiloved
Up & In is your typical mummy-mafia novel - with our titular character Maria on the outs with the "beas" as she calls them, lead by a mum called Bea (hence the name). I don't quite know what set this one apart, but I was actually quickly entranced by the novel, particularly Maria's inner monologue about whether or not kisses are applicable on all reply-all emails between the beas. It was amusing. (For the record, I generally put kisses on all my texts, because otherwise it just looks rude and naked without.)
I loved the netball aspect (I was a netballer, in my day; I won two trophies even), pretty much the entire novel revolves around the kids' netball team the Red Rockets, and it was quite sad to me to see poor Kate being left out, all because Maria had declined to buy some hair ties (and this is all I can say it is, because we're never told any different). It frustrates the life out of me when I read novels about parents who ignore other parents' kids because of their own squabbles and for that I felt Maria's frustrating and wanted to batter the beas for being so ignorant, and not realising they were hurting a kid in the process. So I liked that Maria was willing to go to bat for her kid, and help her not feel so left out.
I also plain and simply loved Maria, Joe, Kate and Sarah. They're the loveliest little family, and even Joe's midlife crisis was done with heart, which is a rarity; in other novels he'd be trading Maria for a new model, but you could tell they loved each other.
thenotsogood
I didn't find there was much wrong at all with Up & In. It was a quick, enjoyable read, and probably the only thing missing was one last all-out battle of words between Maria and Bea, before the happenings at the end. I felt like Maria deserved to know why she had been blanked, and I was disappointed she didn't confront Bea head on.
verdict
Up & In was a wonderful novel. It was funny, it was warm, it was witty, and I adored Maria and the rest of her family. The mummy wars were surprisingly refreshing, and made me laugh on occassion, and I raced through the novel in a matter of hours. The new Impulse Australia imprint gets my two thumbs up and I'm very excited to see what Deborah writes next as this was super enjoyable.
whatiloved
Up & In is your typical mummy-mafia novel - with our titular character Maria on the outs with the "beas" as she calls them, lead by a mum called Bea (hence the name). I don't quite know what set this one apart, but I was actually quickly entranced by the novel, particularly Maria's inner monologue about whether or not kisses are applicable on all reply-all emails between the beas. It was amusing. (For the record, I generally put kisses on all my texts, because otherwise it just looks rude and naked without.)
I loved the netball aspect (I was a netballer, in my day; I won two trophies even), pretty much the entire novel revolves around the kids' netball team the Red Rockets, and it was quite sad to me to see poor Kate being left out, all because Maria had declined to buy some hair ties (and this is all I can say it is, because we're never told any different). It frustrates the life out of me when I read novels about parents who ignore other parents' kids because of their own squabbles and for that I felt Maria's frustrating and wanted to batter the beas for being so ignorant, and not realising they were hurting a kid in the process. So I liked that Maria was willing to go to bat for her kid, and help her not feel so left out.
I also plain and simply loved Maria, Joe, Kate and Sarah. They're the loveliest little family, and even Joe's midlife crisis was done with heart, which is a rarity; in other novels he'd be trading Maria for a new model, but you could tell they loved each other.
thenotsogood
I didn't find there was much wrong at all with Up & In. It was a quick, enjoyable read, and probably the only thing missing was one last all-out battle of words between Maria and Bea, before the happenings at the end. I felt like Maria deserved to know why she had been blanked, and I was disappointed she didn't confront Bea head on.
verdict
Up & In was a wonderful novel. It was funny, it was warm, it was witty, and I adored Maria and the rest of her family. The mummy wars were surprisingly refreshing, and made me laugh on occassion, and I raced through the novel in a matter of hours. The new Impulse Australia imprint gets my two thumbs up and I'm very excited to see what Deborah writes next as this was super enjoyable.
December 8, 2014
Deborah Disney is a captivating writer with a talent for sucking a reader in from the first page. Up and In is a stellar debut. To assuage any suspicions of bias I am going to write a disclaimer to say Disney and I were release-sisters with HarperCollins. However, if I hadn't loved her book I would have quietly allocated it three stars and been on my way. Now that I've cleared that up I can gush with impunity.
Up and In opens with our heroine, Maria, fretting over an email from queen bee, Bea, that coolly cuts her out of the social loop. This sets the tone for a sharp, insightful look at the competitive lives of the mothers who send their daughters to Riverton - the most exclusive school in the state.
In Bea Disney has conjured a magnificent villain. She is Regina George crossed with Cruella De Vil, a calculating, manipulator whose charm is only surpassed by her wealth. Bea is supported by a coterie of little-B beas who combine to form an excellent cast of characters readers will love to hate. This book is a lot of fun and so much of that comes from the outrageous opulence of the bea lifestyle. They have their hair styled to shop for a gift and call caterers to attend netball games. The bea scenes are vivid and delicious and will ring true for all women.
But as enjoyable as the commentary on parenting politics is, it's the relationships that give this novel heart. The premise is one of the most basic human experiences: the sting of social rejection. For our heroine Maria, it is not just hers but her daughter's that she has to contend with and the scenes in which she grapples with the tangle of relationships between herself, the beas, the beas' daughters and her own daughter, really tug at the heartstrings.
All of the relationships are compelling, but none are as touching as Maria's bond with her eldest daughter, Kate. Maria's heartache over her daughter's sadness and confusion is poignant and true.
But I would not want to overstate this side of the novel. Maria is a funny, quick witted woman who has other important relationships to balance out the beas. The overall flavour of this novel is one of a fun frolic in the fancy part of town, with an honest story of a woman who is learning how to be comfortable in her own skin running through it to tie it all together.
Disney's world is vividly drawn and her characters are a delight (even the ones that are delightfully hideous). Up and In is a great book that will particularly appeal to readers who love Liane Moriarty and Marian Keyes.
Up and In opens with our heroine, Maria, fretting over an email from queen bee, Bea, that coolly cuts her out of the social loop. This sets the tone for a sharp, insightful look at the competitive lives of the mothers who send their daughters to Riverton - the most exclusive school in the state.
In Bea Disney has conjured a magnificent villain. She is Regina George crossed with Cruella De Vil, a calculating, manipulator whose charm is only surpassed by her wealth. Bea is supported by a coterie of little-B beas who combine to form an excellent cast of characters readers will love to hate. This book is a lot of fun and so much of that comes from the outrageous opulence of the bea lifestyle. They have their hair styled to shop for a gift and call caterers to attend netball games. The bea scenes are vivid and delicious and will ring true for all women.
But as enjoyable as the commentary on parenting politics is, it's the relationships that give this novel heart. The premise is one of the most basic human experiences: the sting of social rejection. For our heroine Maria, it is not just hers but her daughter's that she has to contend with and the scenes in which she grapples with the tangle of relationships between herself, the beas, the beas' daughters and her own daughter, really tug at the heartstrings.
All of the relationships are compelling, but none are as touching as Maria's bond with her eldest daughter, Kate. Maria's heartache over her daughter's sadness and confusion is poignant and true.
But I would not want to overstate this side of the novel. Maria is a funny, quick witted woman who has other important relationships to balance out the beas. The overall flavour of this novel is one of a fun frolic in the fancy part of town, with an honest story of a woman who is learning how to be comfortable in her own skin running through it to tie it all together.
Disney's world is vividly drawn and her characters are a delight (even the ones that are delightfully hideous). Up and In is a great book that will particularly appeal to readers who love Liane Moriarty and Marian Keyes.
January 17, 2016
Review first posted on my blog 'A Spoonful of Happy Endings': http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...
Maria has been happily married to her husband Joe for several years and together they have two children, Sarah and Kate. Maria wants her daughters to have the best education there is, so even though they are a middle-class family she is determined to have Kate and Sarah attend Riverton, the most exclusive school in the area. Schools like Riverton come with some specific playground politics, though, and Maria soon finds herself becoming a part of the exclusive world of the rich and popular mums. Before she knows it, Maria is pretending to like things she doesn’t like and spending money she doesn’t have, just to fit in with the other Riverton mothers. But it doesn’t take long for Maria to realise she is losing track of who she really is and might not be setting the best example for her own daughters…
‘Up and In’ is Deborah Disney’s first novel and an engaging and entertaining debut novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. The topic of school ground politics is one that has been tackled by various authors within the chick lit/women’s fiction genre over the past couple of years and I have to admit it’s a topic I find really fascinating, even though I am not a mum myself (yet). I think this novel will be quite relatable for some readers and even if it isn’t, it’s still a great read worth picking up with a captivating storyline and realistic characters.
I easily warmed to main character Maria and really liked her. She's a protagonist I both liked and disliked; feeling for her, but also wanting to kick her sometimes for doing or saying certain things. Deborah Disney's writing style is one I really enjoyed; she managed to hold my attention throughout the entire story and the chapters were of a comfortable and well-suited length. There was a constant switch between the present time and flashbacks from the past, completing the story as I went along. Overall, 'Up and In' is a witty and entertaining read about parenting, school ground politics and being part of the social circle; an engaging and definitely promising debut!
Maria has been happily married to her husband Joe for several years and together they have two children, Sarah and Kate. Maria wants her daughters to have the best education there is, so even though they are a middle-class family she is determined to have Kate and Sarah attend Riverton, the most exclusive school in the area. Schools like Riverton come with some specific playground politics, though, and Maria soon finds herself becoming a part of the exclusive world of the rich and popular mums. Before she knows it, Maria is pretending to like things she doesn’t like and spending money she doesn’t have, just to fit in with the other Riverton mothers. But it doesn’t take long for Maria to realise she is losing track of who she really is and might not be setting the best example for her own daughters…
‘Up and In’ is Deborah Disney’s first novel and an engaging and entertaining debut novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. The topic of school ground politics is one that has been tackled by various authors within the chick lit/women’s fiction genre over the past couple of years and I have to admit it’s a topic I find really fascinating, even though I am not a mum myself (yet). I think this novel will be quite relatable for some readers and even if it isn’t, it’s still a great read worth picking up with a captivating storyline and realistic characters.
I easily warmed to main character Maria and really liked her. She's a protagonist I both liked and disliked; feeling for her, but also wanting to kick her sometimes for doing or saying certain things. Deborah Disney's writing style is one I really enjoyed; she managed to hold my attention throughout the entire story and the chapters were of a comfortable and well-suited length. There was a constant switch between the present time and flashbacks from the past, completing the story as I went along. Overall, 'Up and In' is a witty and entertaining read about parenting, school ground politics and being part of the social circle; an engaging and definitely promising debut!
September 21, 2015
The story starts with protagonist, Maria, obsessing over an email she has just received from one of the other mothers at her daughter’s exclusive private school. Unlike the controlling, schmoozing, Bea, Maria has little social clout in the group of women who gather for their daughters’ netball games. When Bea fails to add a kiss at the end of her email, Maria understands that her precarious status in the group has sunk even lower.
Maria hasn’t always been a slave to peer approval but ever since her daughter, Kate, started at swanky Riverton School, it has become clear that the bar for social acceptance is higher than any she’s known before. Like any devoted mother, Maria stretches herself to try to ensure her daughter’s happiness. Maria’s voice is funny, intelligent, and unfailingly convincing as Kate morphs from being a strong individual to someone shaped by peer pressure.
The lengths that Maria goes to for Kate’s happiness make for laugh-out-loud reading while the reader is taken on a lively ride through a world of German-made cars, $350 beauty treatments, and lavish parties. Maria’s helplessness at wanting Kate to be a valued and respected member of the netball team is poignantly told.
I didn’t know much about netball but this book made it completely accessible. By the end of it, I had a clear understanding of the rules and positions without it being distracting.
The novel raises important questions about how people obsess over electronic communication. It delves into the ambivalence of wanting to belong to groups even when common sense says the cost of entry may be toxic or simply too high. It scrutinizes contemporary obsession with youth, beauty and material wealth. It shows the joys and pain of motherhood. It examines the insidious force of bullying through exclusion and ostracizing. A most enjoyable read!
Maria hasn’t always been a slave to peer approval but ever since her daughter, Kate, started at swanky Riverton School, it has become clear that the bar for social acceptance is higher than any she’s known before. Like any devoted mother, Maria stretches herself to try to ensure her daughter’s happiness. Maria’s voice is funny, intelligent, and unfailingly convincing as Kate morphs from being a strong individual to someone shaped by peer pressure.
The lengths that Maria goes to for Kate’s happiness make for laugh-out-loud reading while the reader is taken on a lively ride through a world of German-made cars, $350 beauty treatments, and lavish parties. Maria’s helplessness at wanting Kate to be a valued and respected member of the netball team is poignantly told.
I didn’t know much about netball but this book made it completely accessible. By the end of it, I had a clear understanding of the rules and positions without it being distracting.
The novel raises important questions about how people obsess over electronic communication. It delves into the ambivalence of wanting to belong to groups even when common sense says the cost of entry may be toxic or simply too high. It scrutinizes contemporary obsession with youth, beauty and material wealth. It shows the joys and pain of motherhood. It examines the insidious force of bullying through exclusion and ostracizing. A most enjoyable read!
December 21, 2015
As soon as I saw the blurb for this story I knew I wanted to read it .. meet Maria & Joe .. Mr & Mrs Average with two kids .. all should/would be fine until Bea & Mirabella become a part of the story. Who would have though a missing X on an email could begin all of this!
The angst caused by trying to keep up with Bea & her cronies puts so much pressure on Maria .. much of which is self-inflicted. The competitive streak amongst the playground 'mummies' is something a lot will relate to I'm sure .. viewing it as a reader it becomes apparent how bitchy the whole situation can be.
Bea is downright nasty but for some reason Maria still wants to be part of the in-crowd & for her daughter Kate to be accepted .. the trials & tribulations based around the netball court are so believable.
I found Maria to be very easily led & wanted to shake her, point out what she had in her life & to be grateful for it .. there is so much more than money, fame, popularity .. thankfully Susannah (sister-in-law) has a sensible bone in her body & does try to keep Maria on a level. Even when Joe is obviously unhappy at work & then purchases a Porsche that maybe he wants some attention it doesn't occur to her that perhaps she could change her behaviour .. there is a lot going on but all becomes clear as we progress through the book & the gala holds some surprises!
A good mix of fun, emotion, frustration & insight into the world of some families & the pressure bestowed upon them whether by others or themselves .. well done Deborah a very entertaining read.
The angst caused by trying to keep up with Bea & her cronies puts so much pressure on Maria .. much of which is self-inflicted. The competitive streak amongst the playground 'mummies' is something a lot will relate to I'm sure .. viewing it as a reader it becomes apparent how bitchy the whole situation can be.
Bea is downright nasty but for some reason Maria still wants to be part of the in-crowd & for her daughter Kate to be accepted .. the trials & tribulations based around the netball court are so believable.
I found Maria to be very easily led & wanted to shake her, point out what she had in her life & to be grateful for it .. there is so much more than money, fame, popularity .. thankfully Susannah (sister-in-law) has a sensible bone in her body & does try to keep Maria on a level. Even when Joe is obviously unhappy at work & then purchases a Porsche that maybe he wants some attention it doesn't occur to her that perhaps she could change her behaviour .. there is a lot going on but all becomes clear as we progress through the book & the gala holds some surprises!
A good mix of fun, emotion, frustration & insight into the world of some families & the pressure bestowed upon them whether by others or themselves .. well done Deborah a very entertaining read.
October 26, 2015
It is funny. I'm not a mom, nor did I ever have hopes of being one but I found I loved this book. There's something about this kind of story that makes me think of sitcoms. Fun sitcoms, that they don't make anymore, or a movie. I was trying to figure out how to cast this book the whole time I was reading
I found it amusing that as parents they were trying to be something that they weren't and how they were trying desperately to be liked by the wealthy parents that they were associating with because they were sending their children to the "right" school.
The parents from the right side of town are the Beas, with Bea being the Queen Bea so to speak. Maria's daughter Kate befriends her daughter Mirabella, and that's how everything starts. As the story goes on you see mother and daughter losing themselves trying to be like their friends or rather so called friends. It becomes apparent quickly that not many of the Beas are really friends with Maria and Kate, at times I thought, for the love of god, send her to a different school, get her out of these activities, Circus School? Who has this? What sane mum would pay for this?
I really wanted Maria to stand up to these women, especially when they were being particularly nasty.
This was really a light easy read that is really entertaining and super fun. The ending is perfect though I'm not sure Bea's response to Maria's message was really realistic considering her past behavior.
I found it amusing that as parents they were trying to be something that they weren't and how they were trying desperately to be liked by the wealthy parents that they were associating with because they were sending their children to the "right" school.
The parents from the right side of town are the Beas, with Bea being the Queen Bea so to speak. Maria's daughter Kate befriends her daughter Mirabella, and that's how everything starts. As the story goes on you see mother and daughter losing themselves trying to be like their friends or rather so called friends. It becomes apparent quickly that not many of the Beas are really friends with Maria and Kate, at times I thought, for the love of god, send her to a different school, get her out of these activities, Circus School? Who has this? What sane mum would pay for this?
I really wanted Maria to stand up to these women, especially when they were being particularly nasty.
This was really a light easy read that is really entertaining and super fun. The ending is perfect though I'm not sure Bea's response to Maria's message was really realistic considering her past behavior.
December 7, 2014
The phrase 'it's funny 'cause it's true' came to mind when I read Deborah Disney's Up and In. I am sure most readers would say the same. With wry humour, the author takes us on a trip down memory lane as the main character, Maria, tackles the battle ground of primary school - where the kids are perfectly fine while Mums battle for pecking order and the social standing they perhaps never had when they were students. Most times these struggles are internal; do I need a cut and colour before I go to reading groups tomorrow or will a ponytail do it? Deborah Disney lays Maria struggles to fit in with the bea's bare for all to read and laugh at, while secret knowing exactly how our leading lady feels.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's easy conversational style made me feel like I was having coffee with an old, if slightly neurotic, friend. It was an interesting reminder that what you see is not always the full story. Should you stand up for yourself in spectacular fashion or make peace with the idea that 'what other people think of you is none of your business'?
I had no clue about what the ending would bring. More crushing of Maria's self esteem? Karmic realignment? Elevation to the heights of social excellence? Let's just say I put my iPad down at the end of the book with a quiet smile and a nod of the head.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's easy conversational style made me feel like I was having coffee with an old, if slightly neurotic, friend. It was an interesting reminder that what you see is not always the full story. Should you stand up for yourself in spectacular fashion or make peace with the idea that 'what other people think of you is none of your business'?
I had no clue about what the ending would bring. More crushing of Maria's self esteem? Karmic realignment? Elevation to the heights of social excellence? Let's just say I put my iPad down at the end of the book with a quiet smile and a nod of the head.
December 15, 2014
Review also on my blog https://toomanybooksnotenoughtime.wor...
What a great slice of life this book is. I instantly felt at home because, I’m ashamed to say, I know some of the women in this book and they are every bit as awful as the author has portrayed them.
Maria, our narrator, is struggling to fit in with the other mothers at her daughter’s very expensive private school. Her down to earth attitude is at odds with the pretensions of the wealthier mums. Unfortunately she gets suck into their toxic universe and into a hole that she almost can’t climb out of. I so wanted to put my arm around Maria and whisper in her ear that it just wasn’t worth it and steer her in the right direction.
I frequently laughed at the antics of these women and their ridiculousness. I wouldn’t say this is biting satire but it’s certainly takes a gentle dig at the lifestyle and behaviour of these women. I also loved the Australian setting which made this story even more familiar.
This was a quick and easy read and a great first effort for this author.
Happy reading.
Complementary copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.>/i>
What a great slice of life this book is. I instantly felt at home because, I’m ashamed to say, I know some of the women in this book and they are every bit as awful as the author has portrayed them.
Maria, our narrator, is struggling to fit in with the other mothers at her daughter’s very expensive private school. Her down to earth attitude is at odds with the pretensions of the wealthier mums. Unfortunately she gets suck into their toxic universe and into a hole that she almost can’t climb out of. I so wanted to put my arm around Maria and whisper in her ear that it just wasn’t worth it and steer her in the right direction.
I frequently laughed at the antics of these women and their ridiculousness. I wouldn’t say this is biting satire but it’s certainly takes a gentle dig at the lifestyle and behaviour of these women. I also loved the Australian setting which made this story even more familiar.
This was a quick and easy read and a great first effort for this author.
Happy reading.
Complementary copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.>/i>
February 18, 2015
I really enjoyed reading Up and In. It's a brilliant tale about main character, Maria wanting to fit in with all the other school mums although they are on a different social step to her.
I found the author's approach to this subject fresh and believable. I can easily imagine a scenario similar to this happening at elite schools. The characters in this book are fantastic and add a beautifully hilarious edge to the story. I really felt for Maria and the superficiality she has to endure whilst out and about with the other mums.
Up and In is certainly an engaging read that emphasises the struggle and pressure Maria puts herself under in order to fit in.
I found the author's approach to this subject fresh and believable. I can easily imagine a scenario similar to this happening at elite schools. The characters in this book are fantastic and add a beautifully hilarious edge to the story. I really felt for Maria and the superficiality she has to endure whilst out and about with the other mums.
Up and In is certainly an engaging read that emphasises the struggle and pressure Maria puts herself under in order to fit in.
January 19, 2015
Relatable, page-turning fun - I think perhaps I read it too quickly.
January 29, 2015
99c on Amazon Kindle and about school mums,so I thought I'd give this a go and had pretty low expectations, but it was actually a fun quick read.
March 15, 2017
I received this book through NBRC and NetGalley. Maybe it's because I can't relate to the subject material but the book and I didn't connect like I had hoped.
January 16, 2016
3.5 stars, a thoroughly fun summer beach read. A little like Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies, without being quite so brilliant.
December 20, 2015
A really lovely book! A glimpse inside a world quite different from mine! :-)
February 10, 2016
Confident prose and relevant themes enrich this light-hearted look at how far mothers will go to ensure their child’s happiness.
Highly recommended.
I’ll be right up front and say that when I read the blurb I did not want to read this novel. If you follow my reviews you’ll know that I tend toward more angsty literature with a preference for suspense. So imagine my surprise when I opened the first page and couldn’t stop reading. Here’s why:
The story structure is inspired; Disney has Maria narrate her story from the point at which the glamour of the in-crowd has grown thin, giving her insights into her own behaviour and the cost to her family, including her nine-year-old daughter, Kate, the reason for all her choices. This saves her from coming across as a shallow social climbing mother. The more of an outsider Maria becomes, the more her true self emerges, her wit is sharper, as is her ability to recognise true friendship and the real needs of her family.
The scenes between Maria and the glamorous mothers (the Bea’s, as she calls them) were excruciatingly realistic. You wonder why Maria bothers. Then Disney shows you Kate’s tears and how the mothers’ attitudes trickle down to their daughters. Though many of the characters (as seen through Maria’s eyes) are stereotypical, Disney allows us to discover that even they have facets, that there are events in their lives that outsiders could never guess. There are moments of sharp insight, deep irony and a nice sense of foreboding as events unfold around the parents and their off-spring. Everything culminates on the netball court as Kate’s team look headed for the grand final, but for the parents there is more to come and some will learn a hard lesson.
Up and In lives up to the blurb and delivers so much more. It has ‘all the feels’. It made me laugh, it made me angry, and there were so many relateable moments that I looked at myself and how I judge others, especially those family members for whom this novel is scarily reflective. It left me pondering who the real schoolyard bullies are and how we are all shaped by our upbringing. I'd say that's a book that has earned its 'amazing' status.
I’m glad I took the chance on something outside my comfort zone.
My copy courtesy of the publishers via NetGalley
see more reviews and author interviews at rowenaholloway.com
Highly recommended.
I’ll be right up front and say that when I read the blurb I did not want to read this novel. If you follow my reviews you’ll know that I tend toward more angsty literature with a preference for suspense. So imagine my surprise when I opened the first page and couldn’t stop reading. Here’s why:
The story structure is inspired; Disney has Maria narrate her story from the point at which the glamour of the in-crowd has grown thin, giving her insights into her own behaviour and the cost to her family, including her nine-year-old daughter, Kate, the reason for all her choices. This saves her from coming across as a shallow social climbing mother. The more of an outsider Maria becomes, the more her true self emerges, her wit is sharper, as is her ability to recognise true friendship and the real needs of her family.
The scenes between Maria and the glamorous mothers (the Bea’s, as she calls them) were excruciatingly realistic. You wonder why Maria bothers. Then Disney shows you Kate’s tears and how the mothers’ attitudes trickle down to their daughters. Though many of the characters (as seen through Maria’s eyes) are stereotypical, Disney allows us to discover that even they have facets, that there are events in their lives that outsiders could never guess. There are moments of sharp insight, deep irony and a nice sense of foreboding as events unfold around the parents and their off-spring. Everything culminates on the netball court as Kate’s team look headed for the grand final, but for the parents there is more to come and some will learn a hard lesson.
Up and In lives up to the blurb and delivers so much more. It has ‘all the feels’. It made me laugh, it made me angry, and there were so many relateable moments that I looked at myself and how I judge others, especially those family members for whom this novel is scarily reflective. It left me pondering who the real schoolyard bullies are and how we are all shaped by our upbringing. I'd say that's a book that has earned its 'amazing' status.
I’m glad I took the chance on something outside my comfort zone.
My copy courtesy of the publishers via NetGalley
see more reviews and author interviews at rowenaholloway.com
Read
December 30, 2017Up and In is Australian author, Deborah Disney’s debut novel and is a delightful and funny read. From the very first page, the protagonist Maria resonated with me as she obsessed over the missing "x" at the end of a series of reply-all email messages. The working class mother of 9-year-old Kate and 5-year-old Sarah, who attend the prestigious Riverton school for girls, is caught out when she realises that enrolling her kids at such a school means keeping up with the upper-class mothers of the upper-class daughters with whom her own daughters make friends with. Maria finds herself re-evaluating the burgeoning credit card debts for the excessive amounts of after school clubs and new outfits for every occasion as she tries to ensure her older daughter fits in.
The story is told with a series of flashbacks, guiding us through Kate's early years at Riverton and Maria's initiation to the "Bea-list", which she has recently been struck from. We then follow her efforts to be reinstated with the Queen of the Riverton mothers, Bea, as poor Kate finds herself snubbed as a result of a faux pas inadvertently committed by her mother .
I'm not a mother myself, but it was easy to relate to Maria's constant self-questioning and over-analyzation of her own behaviour as she desperately tries to fit back into the ‘Bea-list’ while also trying to navigate her ever-changing role as a mother and wife. The need to fit in is all too easy to understand and I felt her frustration as her efforts seem to fall flat around her - even if at times I did cringe at her choice of actions.
Part of me was a little disappointed by the seemingly little progress Maria made by the end to understand how important it was to actually model the individuality she kept expressing was so important to her daughter. However, I dare say that this is a more realistic experience of motherhood- where what you do is never right and what is done right is never enough. Given that the story ended just as I felt she was starting to understand this, I can envisage that she actually did get there in the end.
Overall it was a quick and enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it for any mums finding themselves navigating difficult social circles and playground politics for the sake of their children.
The story is told with a series of flashbacks, guiding us through Kate's early years at Riverton and Maria's initiation to the "Bea-list", which she has recently been struck from. We then follow her efforts to be reinstated with the Queen of the Riverton mothers, Bea, as poor Kate finds herself snubbed as a result of a faux pas inadvertently committed by her mother .
I'm not a mother myself, but it was easy to relate to Maria's constant self-questioning and over-analyzation of her own behaviour as she desperately tries to fit back into the ‘Bea-list’ while also trying to navigate her ever-changing role as a mother and wife. The need to fit in is all too easy to understand and I felt her frustration as her efforts seem to fall flat around her - even if at times I did cringe at her choice of actions.
Part of me was a little disappointed by the seemingly little progress Maria made by the end to understand how important it was to actually model the individuality she kept expressing was so important to her daughter. However, I dare say that this is a more realistic experience of motherhood- where what you do is never right and what is done right is never enough. Given that the story ended just as I felt she was starting to understand this, I can envisage that she actually did get there in the end.
Overall it was a quick and enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it for any mums finding themselves navigating difficult social circles and playground politics for the sake of their children.
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