This Family Life: A laugh-out-loud family comedy. The sequel to This Thirtysomething Life

by Jon Rance

The hilarious and heart warming sequel to the top ten Kindle best seller This Thirtysomething Life. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Matt Dunn and David Nicholls.


SYNOPSIS


Things that might happen during your first year of parenthood:

1. You’ll get covered in a ‘nuclear’ poo.
2. You’ll be convinced your son is talking with a Japanese accent.
3. You’ll worry that when your son waves, it looks like a Nazi salute.

Of course, this might just be Harry Spencer.

Taking up where 'This Thirtysomething Life' left off, Harry Spencer and is wife Emily are back and trying to survive their first year of parenthood. It has its ups and downs (and a few bits in the middle), but along the way they begin to understand the true meaning of family and what it takes to be a parent.

Featuring a hilarious cast of extras including Harry’s father-in-law Derek, who has a unique problem with Scotch, Steve and Fiona, the parents from children’s entertainment hell, and a yoga instructor with a prominent camel-toe, 'This Family Life' is the ultimate comedy for anyone who is a parent, has a parent, or is thinking about becoming one.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2014

About the author

Jon Rance is the author of seven novels: the Kindle top ten bestseller, This Thirtysomething Life, Happy Endings (both published by Hodder and Stoughton), This Family Life, Sunday Dinners, Dan And Nat Got Married, About Us, and The Summer Holidays Survival Guide. He's also the author of the Christmas novella, A Notting Hill Christmas.

Jon studied English Literature at Middlesex University, London, before going travelling and meeting his American wife in Australia. Jon loves comedy (especially sitcoms), the films of Richard Curtis, travelling and tea. He just turned forty, which is a terrifying time, so his books might get a bit edgier and possibly angrier as a result.

Jon writes dramatic, romantic, comedy fiction similar to the work of Mike Gayle, Matt Dunn, Nick Spalding and David Nicholls.

You can email him at: jonrance@yahoo.com

Please visit his website: www.jonrance.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @JRance75

Reviews

[Martina]

This book leaves you with a smile on your face - whether it's because of the cheesy happy ending, the times the book makes you laugh out loud or the "Britishness" of it. At first, I didn't like the book at all - mostly because of Rance's style of writing - but this quickly turned around. There's so much happening in the book and you feel like you can't put it down - you're just too excited about what will happen next! After finishing this, I am actually thinking about reading the first part of the series...

[Marina]

Original review is posted on This Chick Reads

Last year I accidentally ran into This Twentysomething Life, a short story that I totally enjoyed. The story was about a guy in his twenties and his point of view on life, job, dating, relationships, family, everything. It was such a fun and humorous read, it took me less than an hour to finish it and I didn’t stop giggling while reading it.

One year later, I received an ARC for This Family Life, and was thrilled to get the opportunity to read more from Mr Rance. This time, Harry and Emily have a baby, William. The story follows their first year of parenthood. They have a normal family life, well sort of when his or her parents are not around, with best friends moving next door, and noisy neighbors on the other side of the house.

William is growing up, learning his first words (in Japanese, according to Harry) and waving goodbye (Nazi salute). Harry and Emily’s marriage is a little bit shaken and Harry is doing his best to make things better. With his mother fighting the cancer and his best friend living across the globe, Harry is doing his best to keep his family together. And imagine all that spiced with a lot of humor.

What a guy thinks has always been such an enigma for us, women. Reading Harry’s diary you can solve that enigma, or at least take a glimpse at guy’s thoughts. Harry is a decent, normal guy, married, with a child. Being a father is something new for him. He loves his boy so much, but this new role scares him to death. He is so afraid that he won’t be the best father in the world.

Between This Twentysomething Life and This Family Life, there is This Thirtysomething Life. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my TBR list, and I’m very excited to read more from this series. I definitely recommend these humorous books to anyone who wants a good laugh or just a peek into a guy’s mind.

[Lisa]

Brilliant,as always :-)

[Sarah Evans]

This book is a funny journey of Harry and Emily’s first year of parenthood. You'll find yourself chuckling as you join them through their ups, downs, and the wonderfully ordinary bits in between. From laugh-out-loud moments like getting caught in a 'nuclear' poo situation to Harry's quirky belief that their son's babbling is infused with a Japanese accent and even the comical misinterpretation of innocent gestures, every page is filled with relatable humour.

But beyond the laughs, This Family Life beautifully unfolds the heartwarming journey of Harry and Emily. As they navigate the chaotic landscape of parenthood, they discover the true essence of family and the profound dedication required to be great parents. The book introduces a colourful array of characters, like the Scotch-loving father-in-law Derek, the quirky parents from children's entertainment purgatory, and even a yoga instructor who hilariously boasts a unique sense of style.

For anyone who is a parent, cherishes their own parents, or ponders the idea of parenthood, This Family Life offers an uproarious and heartfelt comedy that hits home in the most endearing way. It's a book that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the last page, reminding them of the joyous, crazy, and truly special adventure that is family life.

[Adam Shaw]

Having enjoyed This Thirtysomething Life, I figured I'd like this book, but I was honestly surprised at just how much I enjoyed it. It has many of the same elements -- much of the same humor, conflict (Harry's still sort of fumbling his way through life), etc. -- as its predecessor, but it layered the tension and a few new subplots in new and exciting ways. Between Harry's new job, new neighbors moving in, and new anxiety surrounding Harry's marriage and family life, there's a lot going on in this book. The way the author weaves and balances it, though, makes it never seem overwhelming or cluttered. It's a fast-paced, casual, hilarious, and heartfelt read, and I can't wait to dig into more of the author's work.

[MRS L RICKETTS]

Loving this author!

Good book to read if you want a quick,easy-to-read book which will make you laugh out loud. This my the second novel I've read by this author,I'm now hooked and off to buy more of his work!

[Lori Conant]

Fun

These stories are about the reality of living life. Trials are won with one ingrediant. Love and family. A great read.

[Amelia Palmer]

Just beautiful

The perfect easy lockdown read. Escaping to a normality that could be mine, laughing, crying and smiling at the end. A great read.

[Caroline Mullins]

Jon Rance can't recommend his books enough

[Miranda Beer]

More More More!

My new favourite author... cannot get enough.... reading all your books every day! So raw and real and hilarious and poignant.... Real life out loud!

[M.S.V.V.Sesharao]

Yes I agree

[LOUISE CASTELLI]

Wonderful writer

Enjoyed reading Jon Dance books. His books are funny and inspirational . I am reading everything that he writes.

😂

[nicky crompton]

Great read, great characters. Love the way the author tells a story, lots of lol moments.

[Timothy Worstall]

Funny & Sweet

I have to say my favorite book in a long time. Such a great story about a regular guy living his life with his family. Really laugh out loud. Didn't want this book to end. Sequel please !

[Gary]

Absolutely brilliant! Hilarious at times, poignant at others, this is the story of and Harry and his wife Laura getting to grips with parenthood while Harry's parents decide to start seeing other people and Laura's father lets other people see all of him!

It's been 10 years since I read This Thirtysomething Life and it's prequel This Twentysomething Life and I remember enjoying them, but this sequel was definitely the best of the series.

[Book-shelf Shelf]

This is a brilliantly funny follow up to 'This Thirty something Life'. IN this book we have the addition of William, Harry and Emily's son. William has started growing up and harry tells us all about it, along with stories of the grandparents and best friends/neighbours next door.

Harry puts everything into his diary and we get it first hand. The laughs just keep coming and Jon hasn't changed the characters from the first book. We can all relate to them, be it from a male point of view or a parents, either way this will have you giggling from the start to the last page.

[Judy]

If you like British comedies, you will probably like this story in diary form of a man in his early thirties living in Wimbledon and coping with being a parent for the first time. Much of his experience with his new son is familiar, but told in his own unique way (nuclear poo, the baby that speaks in Japanese before English, the wave that looks like a Hitler salute). His relationship with his parents and parents-in-law are equally amusing. Even his attempt at marriage therapy with his long-suffering wife have their humorous moments.

[Honeypie]

Jon Rance writes funny. His experiences of being a dad, and still as husband are so funny and light, and somehow gives justice to English men, whom I read about. Harhar.

---

The stench of middle-age wafts pungently around the Spencer household.

Something else that’s wafting pungently around the house is William’s nappy. He just did something evil in it.

[Isabella]

If you have read This thirtysomething life, you can't miss this sequel.
If you haven't, well, you can read This family life first, and then you'll be wanting to know how this family was created.
I have read all Jon's books, and I loved them all.
This is no exception.
So amusing!
The perfect Summer read.

[Corissa]

I was more interested in the side story of his parents than the main story.

[Dj Acrey]

Great Read!!

A real life glimpse of the first year with a child and family, with love, drama and laughs included. enjoyed it!!

[Pamela Fellows]

Well written and enjoyable.

Easy to read, funny and brought back memories of early parenthood. Good cast of characters, will look out for his next book.

[tom hammond]

Good

Really cute book
!!! !! ! Would recommend but read the previous books first so you're more invested =) .