Well, That Escalated Quickly: The hilarious and relatable new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Stepping Up

by Sarah Turner

The laugh-out-loud, heartfelt and relatable new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unmumsy Mum and Stepping Up. Perfect for fans of Sara Cox, Alexandra Potter and Melanie Cantor!

**Coming soon and available to pre-order now**

Meet Fran. This is her to-do

buy milkget promotedbook dentistswerve PTA meetingpractice gratitudebe a better friendBUY MILKrescue relationshiporganise life stop keeping secrets
Fran is tired of trying to do it all.

So for the first time in her life, she decides to put herself first. With one tiny, reckless decision, Fran's about to blow her life wide open…and, with the help of her friends and family, to start piecing it back together. Her way.

Well, That Escalated Quickly is a hilarious, painfully relatable novel about the magic of what happens when you finally stop trying to have it all.

Praise for Sarah Turner
'Stop EVERYTHING and read this! Funny, tender and beautifully observed. Loved, loved, LOVED it!'
-Cathy Bramley, bestselling author of THE LEMON TREE CAFE

'Written with such love and heart. Sarah has done an exceptional job of marrying her trademark comedy with deep and raw emotion. I loved it!'
-Giovanna Fletcher, bestselling author of HAPPY MUM, HAPPY BABY and WALKING ON SUNSHINE

'What a brilliant storyteller Sarah is . . . as well as laughing out loud, I also cried A LOT'
-Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

'Sarah Turner is pure joy'
-Glamour

'Sarah writes so well and creates characters that jump off the page'
-Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author of THE LAST PARTY

'Sarah Turner writes family like no one else'
-Katie Marsh, author of UNBREAK YOUR HEART

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 2, 2026

Reviews

[Chloë · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75✨

Publication date: 2nd July 2026

A hilarious relatable novel for readers who enjoy -
💙 Heartfelt emotional stories
💛 Laugh out loud humour
💙 Sara Cox, Alexandra Potter & Melanie Cantor

⭑ Remember to check all content/trigger warnings prior to reading!


~ plot ~

When Fran walks into what she thinks is a promotion at work, the last thing she expects is to walk out jobless. Even worse? The surprise party thrown by her family that she walks into afterwards. Worse AGAIN? The fact she can’t bring herself to tell them. The truth is, she just has too much going on in her life to be unemployed!!

And there begins Fran’s totally unintended, chaotic, snowball effect, double life, whoops.


~ review ~

This was such a feel-good read! Don’t get me wrong, it was heartfelt, messy & emotional too but the overall feeling I was left with was one of immense warmth & comfort. It was a very relatable, very human portrayal of this crazy thing we call life & I highly recommend adding it to your TBR!

Sarah Turner’s natural, effortless, conversational, writing style was brilliant. It felt like you were chatting with a friend, discussing the ups & downs of life. From the smaller inconsequential things we do on autopilot to bigger milestones like a promotion or lack of said promotion… Fran’s perfectly-imperfect life & all that it entails had me laughing, crying & everything in between.

Both the characters & their stories felt authentic & familiar & that really added to the humour of things. I’d find myself laughing not only because something was funny but because I recognised it too! Likewise with the softer, more emotional, vulnerable moments. I’m sure a lot of us can relate to that bogged down feeling where you’re drowning in menial things with no end in sight!
I won’t say too much but Fran’s speech towards the end of the novel as well as the ending in general was powerful, satisfying & a just a really great way to close out!


~ characters ~

🦆You know how ducks look chilled on the surface of the water but underneath their little feet are kicking like crazy? Yeah, that’s Fran. Well actually, she’s chaotic on the surface too but you catch my drift, the woman has a LOT is going on! I looked at her character as Superwoman taking some annual leave, hanging her cape up for a little while just to regroup! (ALL Mum’s are heroes though, just saying!) (& Dad’s too!)
I won’t lie, there were times when she really frustrated me, mainly the missed opportunities to be honest. BUT, we’ve all been there & her growth along with the discovery of her self worth was a joy to see.
Her relationship with Cora was really touching & their situation was approached & portrayed with such sensitivity & care. If I wasn’t weeping at that, I was weeping at Ron.

⚽️ Ron was a brilliant additional character. I just wanted to give him a hug & welcome him into my Family! He brought so much warmth & humour to the story & I felt like when it came to him & Fran, it was one of those situations where people find each other when they need them most. Sure, he was a tad grouchy but he had a huge heart & the positive effect he had on so many people (without even realising!) was just so lovely.


~ final thoughts ~

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was humorous but sometimes a little heavy, entertaining but emotional & the perfect story to unwind with. I loved the mentions of the dreaded WhatsApp group (we’ve all been there) & the larger grassroots football theme which personally brought up a lot of childhood memories! Oh, I too have gone along with a name mistake, Zoe in place of Chloë 🙃.
Whether you keep this book on your bedside table, pack it in your bag for your commute to work or in your suitcase for your holiday, just make sure it’s handy. Because once you start reading, you won’t want to stop!

A huge thank you to Bantam Books & the wonderful Sarah Turner for gifting me a proof copy of Well, That Escalated Quickly. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I loved this from the first chapter. The plot, the characters, the storytelling was fabulous. And it could only go in two directions. I could finish it and I would still love it. Or it could be a struggle to keep up that momentum. Luckily it managed to keep my interest.

I don't often find books funny, because humour is so subjective and I just find it doesn't generally work in fiction (in my experience) but I found this one truly funny. I think it's because it wasn't too try hard. As far as I could tell, she wasn't trying to write overly funny bits, but it was definitely there. It felt so natural.

There isn't a dud character among them. I mean, do they set the page alight? Not really. But they didn't need to. They're so natural, so familiar, you could easily see yourself in their shoes and I really enjoyed that.

I mean, Fran does lie in it, quite a lot and about quite a big thing. I'm not a huge fan of characters like that because it's hard to support their decision. However, she was so likeable that even that couldn't irk me. One lie sort of snowballed and it got so chaotic that I couldn't help but find it funny.

It is a bit slow. Not automatically a negative point. I've enjoyed slow books and fast books. Same as I've disliked slow books and fast books. It all depends on the book. I did find this was erring on the side of too slow. It wasn't boring. But because it's a story about everyday normal stuff, it does drag out a bit and I did keep flicking down to see what percentage I was on and I realised it wasn't going up all that quickly. So I think it could have done with something a little earlier to keep it going forward, because by about 1/4 of the way, it still felt quite stuck.

It is quite predictable, let's not lie here. In its parts it doesn't feel very new, but as a whole it feels fresh. It's a bit twee an corny, and at times quite frustrating. But overall I thought it was enjoyable, funny, cute, relatable, relaxing, comforting, and uplifting with marvellous characters.

I think this is my first of her books but I enjoyed it enough to want to read some of her others.

[Ann Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francesca - a busy mum to step daughter Cora and baby Seb.
Full of mum guilt as a working mum . Spinning one plate after another to try and keep her head above water. Her mental load is huge due to perfectionism and a critical mum. Makes a few bad choices and gets in so deep she’s leading a double life !

Steve her partner stay at home dad to Seb. His previous partner died leaving him a single Dad.

Ron - widower and retired football coach with no family. However he doesn’t realise how much impact he’s had on so many lives. Befriended by Fran and they’re such a help to each other it’s a lovely relationship to watch grow.

This is a fun and relatable story. Several extra characters make up the plot. Building a small network in Frans /Cheskas life. The central theme, alongside grassroots football played by her stepdaughter Cora, is the chaos of family life that weighs her down. The story starts to unfold with what appears to be a innocent “I’ll tell them later” to a host of problems for her. It’s funny in parts ( the playground mafia !) with some sad parts in Ron’s life. The building of friendship, Mum’s struggles with honesty and her own personal issues, and the journey of her and Ron’s friendship to seeing their worth make for an absorbing read.

I’d definitely recommend it. I’ve never read any of Sarah Turners books. This was a ARC from NetGalley and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the mum of a nearly two-year-old, I found it incredibly easy to relate to Fran and her struggles. The portrayal of trying (and often failing) to “have it all” as a woman felt very real, and I think a lot of readers will see themselves in her.

Fran is a really likeable protagonist, and I genuinely felt for her - especially when she’s made redundant. The supporting cast (especially Steve and Cora) is equally sweet, with no real villain in the story - just a group of well-meaning, very human characters. That said, I did find myself occasionally frustrated with Fran, wishing she’d just be honest and deal with things before they spiralled. But of course, that’s part of what drives the plot.

The pavilion refurbishment storyline is a little on the twee side, but it ultimately works within the tone of the book. While it’s fairly easy to see where the story is heading, the characters are endearing enough that it doesn’t really matter. This isn’t a book that’s going to be groundbreaking, but it doesn’t need to be.

Overall, it’s an easy, comforting, and enjoyable read - exactly the kind of book you sometimes need.

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Book Review 📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“It’s prudent to get my ducks in a row. Right now, my ducks are all over the fucking place.”

Fran is tired of trying to do it all. So for the first time in her life, she decides to put herself first..

This book will relate to ANY mum/parent carrying the ‘mother load’ out there.. and if you say it doesn’t? You are 100% lying. 🤥
I JUMPED at the chance to receive this uncorrected proof for review - a huge fan of all of Sarah Turners work.

‘Well, That escalated quickly’ is just so so relatable from the funny, witty and laugh out loud moments (a lot of them). To the more serious topics of how hard being a parent really is, especially the parent who has to think, write and complete the to do lists for everyone. To keeping up relationships, friendships, work, careers and even just some sort of self care.
Breaking down the ‘having it all’ image that is just crap really, nobody has it all.

Thank you, @theunmumsymum & @bantambooksuk for sending me a copy, a very enjoyable read ✨

Available to Pre-order now ready for July 2026 ✨

[Michaela Hopkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was overjoyed to receive an advanced copy of this, as I loved Sarah’s previous two novels.
I love her writing style, which is both relatable and honest.

~When protagonist, Fran, is unexpectedly made redundant after expecting a promotion, she returns home to a surprise congratulations party. In that moment, she decides to let everyone believe she has, in fact, got the promotion and so begins to live a lie. Inevitably, the lie escalates and everything starts to unravel…~

Well, That Escalated Quickly is such a fantastic read! Sarah Turner is a brilliant storyteller, making you laugh out one minute and sob your heart out the next! Gorgeous characters and a heartwarming plot - absolutely loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Orla · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

That Escalated Quickly by Sarah Turner

This one really pulled me in from the start. Such an engaging, easy read that had me nodding along so many times. I could really identify with the main character and her chaotic, relatable life.

One of my favourite things about this book was the cast of characters. Each one felt distinct, real, and added something special to the story. And Sarah Turner’s writing style? So warm, witty, and effortless.

A solid 4 star read for me funny, honest, and full of moments that just get it. Definitely worth picking up if you love relatable, character driven stories 💛

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC.

[Louise Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Fran goes to work expecting a promotion, but is instead made redundant. What follows is life spiralling out of control.

This was a humorous but serious feel good story. The characters were very real, and as a mum of three with a full time job I could absolutely feel every second of Fran’s stress over the ‘mother load’. This was an easy read, but it had me hooked for the start. With emotional, heart tugging moments and real laugh out load moments this was definitely one I’d highly recommend.

[Emily Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this author’s debut novel, Stepping Up, and loving it, I was so excited to read her 2026 book. It was such a heartwarming, family-friendly read that covered serious, relatable everyday topics while also including elements of humour. I loved Fran’s character development, and the ending surprised me in a good way! I would 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for a cosy, character-based, thought-provoking novel to dive into.

[Alex Tedford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem of a book.

Fran is juggling her work, family like and all the school admin that comes with school age children, when she makes an impulsive decision. What follows made me nod in understanding, laugh and cry.

I adored this book. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

[Stephanie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story that reflects the busy life of a mum struggling to manage all the things. plenty of laughs but also tears!

[Sally Tyrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read totally relatable to any mum who has tried juggling family life, work, relationships and general life admin!
Told in a funny frank way with plenty of humour but did also have a serious under note of the immense pressure facing working mothers as they try to do it all!
Fran is such a likeable character and despite the complicated situation she finds herself in, you can’t help but feel sorry for her but also in awe as she takes time out and rediscovers a new way of working, parenting and relationships leading to a much more balanced life full of love laughter and enjoyment.
A read that will resonate with many
Thank you NetGalley for this early read