37

by Maria Beaumont

On the eve of her thirty-seventh birthday, Fran Clark finds herself in a role she would never have envisioned: that of a surprisingly desperate housewife. As Fran halfheartedly attempts to relaunch her once-vibrant career as a voiceover artist and obsesses over keeping up with the ruthless mothers' scene at her children's school, she begins to realize that her thirty-seventh year isn't going to resemble the midlife bliss she had imagined. Instead, she makes excuses for the fact that she's depressed and drinking -- a lot. But when Fran realizes she has failed her children one too many times, and begins to suspect her husband is having an affair, she knows she has hit rock bottom. It is Fran's two closest friends who ultimately come to her rescue. She learns to thank them for her salvation -- not because they are there for her, but because she discovers how to be there for them. Literate and well written, 37 is a searingly intimate and compulsively readable novel, a very modern diary of a (not quite) mad housewife. Filled with acute, often bitingly funny observations about motherhood, friendship, and the claustrophobia of suburbia, this pitch-perfect novel will resonate with any woman who has ever been stricken with self-doubt. 37 is Maria Beaumont's third novel. After the mums from her kids' school have finished with her, it may be her last.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Womens Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book in the bargain rack of Chapter's and was thoroughly surprised at just how much I enjoyed it. Was definately funny (especially if you enjoy British humour) and very sad in some parts. The story is about a suburban stay-at-home mom who has lost her way and confidence. A story all mom's can relate to in one way or another.....truly couldn't put the book down.......quick and easy read.

[M]

It's a good book but it has an open ended ending, which really disappointed me...we don't know if Fran and Richard reconcile or not, there's no indication either way...why do authors do this to us?! Also, Richard was a complete toad, he was having an affair but was shocked toward the end when Fran mentioned the possibility of 'Divorce', until then he just came and went as he pleased and Fran didn't stand up for herself or anything, she didn't even ask him to make a decision, she just sort of tip toed around him...while he was off having his affair she was still starching and ironing his shirts...she was so desperate to have him back, so I dunno, that was weird

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one a lot. Francesca gave up her career as a voice over artist to raise her kids. Now that they're both in school, she has time to go back to work - but not the confidence to do so. At the same time she finds out her husband is having an affair and suddenly her afternoon glass of wine is turning into an afternoon bottle. And then two. A moving and funny portrayal of a midlife crisis. But all ends well - whew!

This is the first book from this author, and I will definitely keep my eyes out for future works.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The woman in this story starts to unravel and go down a dangerous road. I won't give anything away but to say that it was an interesting read, dark in some parts and some of her decisions made me cringe. But what I liked about it was I could see how easily this could really happen to a woman and I found myself wondering how I would respond to life in her circumstances. Kept me curious as to the ending.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! British. Fran is turning 37. Has 2 kids. Her husband has an affair. Fran used to do voice overs. She feels useless, her son is a good soccer player. Her husband and her get back together.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the author's writing, and at the beginning I was really convinced I would love it, but I was disappointed with the flat "happy ending". She was on a good path to getting a backbone, but pats herself on the back even though SHE doesn't change all that much.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book last year hoping to finish before my 38th birthday, but found the beginning to be a serious downer. But having plugged along even past my birthday, I was relieved to see the story gradually grow in depth and become a triumph for the main character. The ending makes up for it all, and I recommend this book to anyone looking for inspiration relationship-wise; whether it be family, friendship, or career related. Beaumont's voice is witty and humorous, one that will keep the pages turning and not disappoint.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, a combination of humor and pathos. Although the main character could be considered "annoying," I felt as if I was able to get into the head of this thirtysomething alcoholic mother, and I found it to be quite intrgiuing. Some seem to be labeling it as British chick-lit, but I see it as more than that. This woman is in a serious crisis, and the reader witnesses her very real struggle to survive. Very good for a first novel.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

While hating my 37 year-old life, this book was sitting at the library so I decided to read about someone else's 37 year old misery. Okay, so I'll admit I'm a closet chick-lit reader. But if you are going to read smut, it may as well be British.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally satisfying chick lit, only better. Brit author Maria Beamont has a funny, real and engaging voice, and for a book about a character who's completely depressed on the eve of her 37th birthday, it's a hilarious read. Love the scathing satire of the other "mums."

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is about our relationships. They complicate, enrich and fill our lives. Closeness comes with expectations, pain, joy, self reflection, chaous, fear and everything else. In the end, if you don't have relationships, you don't have life.

[Canlit4ever · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing and flow are well-executed. As a tale of the petty self-manufactured trials and tribulations of a very wealthy English woman, there isn’t a great deal of depth to it. It’s humorous in so far as there is some adept word play and metaphor but it is not funny in that the slapstick elements fall flat and the petty backstabbing is cynical rather than wry. There is no reason to like these characters. It’s a screen play for a bad movie you’d watch on a plane because it doesn’t matter if you can’t hear the dialogue properly and drift off occasionally - you’d just like to look at pretty clothes and houses while farting under your blanket and waiting for the flight to be over.

[Christelle Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god I love this book. (It was the 10th time I read it)
I can so relate as a mother! It just seems so realistic that you can read this book in less that half a day. I know I did and couldn’t put it down. It covers so many current obstacles that women nowadays struggle with postpartum depression, miscarriages, unwanted pregnancies, broken marriage…. It covers so much that why I loved it so much.
I will recommend it and keep re-reading it for a while.

[Tracey White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very Rosè tinted spectacles. Fran's life went from okay to bad to great in a suspiciously short space of time. She had a drink problem but then she didn't, had an unfaithful husband who returned bearing gifts and instantly forgiven and almost problem children. Great friendship group though.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the audio version of this book, it was well read and acted and mildly entertaining during my commute.

[Lawanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Kate Reading

[Lien Bonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grappig, feelgood boekje 🙂

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, Fran was a mess and annoying

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I was not expecting this book to be as heavy as it was. A woman turning 37 and going through a mid life crisis. I could relate to the nervousness of getting back to work after having children but she really did need professional help and I was surprised at how long it took her friends to recommend it and how she never got any help in the end. What a poor example to the millions of women who suffer from Postpartum Depression. The swearing was a bit much for me as well. Needless to say, lots of language, Some mention of sex, no violence, lots and lots of drinking and smoking.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found some of the things described in the book realistic enough- the mention of postpartum depression, the nasty ubermoms, the absent husband, the lack of confidence after being out of the workforce for so long....but I agree with the others who have reviewed this book. Fran is a pretty pathetic character, and the whole first half of the novel, you just want to slap her silly and tell her to get a grip.

[Jay G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

This book follows Fran Clark, a 37 year old house wife going through a mid-life crisis.

I did not like this book... I found it extremely slow and I basically had to force myself to finish it. The main character bothered me, the husband was a jack ass and the side characters just pissed me off.

I would not recommend this book!

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

okay, maybe I chose this book because I'm 37, but I didn't expect to read one of the most DEPRESSING books in a long time!! I didn't particularly like her style, not sure if it was because it was written with a casual British tone with a lot of internal monologues. Fran is a middle-aged (am I?) housewife with severe depression and a drinking problem. Enuf said.

[Rebecca Napier-Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist of this novel gave me zero reason to give a damn. A fabulously wealthy housewife who feels "lost" because she has the privilege to chuck her career and raise her kids? She compensates for this terrible burden by drinking like a fish. In the end, everything works out perfectly for the spoiled and arrogant drunken rich lady. What a surprise.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely stop reading books. This is one I couldn't even get into enough to struggle through. I found myself irritated at Fran, she is a annoying whiner. The book seemed very cliche and everything Fran did in the first 50 pages just annoyed me. I had to stop reading, which upsets me because I normally love good british books.

[Kelsey Prosser · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh. A "just okay" sort of read for me. I don't believe it has to do with my being 10years off the mark, because it's not as if I couldn't identify with some of the sentiment or that I couldn't understand the thought process. I just didn't like the main character. It is a decent (if predictable) plot line, but it's hard to love it if you can't fall in with the characters- and I didn't.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of predictable. British stay at home mom struggling with her identity -- feels frumpy, lost, losing her hubby and must bounce back to make everything right again. Add in a snobby school and all the back stabbing snobby moms there and you have another "mommy lit" book.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a little summertime candy when I picked up this book. What I found instead was a terribly annoying main character and a story that has been written before. The portrayal of snobby elementary school culture was funny, however.

[Alice McLeod · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star = I disliked this book so much that I couldn't stand to finish reading it, despite the fact that I'd spent five perfectly good dollars on it. I found the narrator completely unlikeable, the writing pedestrian, and the story uninteresting. Oh well!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

A STAY AT HOME MOM IS HAVING A MID LIFE CRISIS - SHE IS SMOKING AND DRINKING TO EXCESS. HER HUSBAND LEAVES HER. SHE IS FORGETTING THE KIDS AT SCHOOL AND THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE OTHER MOTHERS GOSSIP ABOUT HER. THE STORY IS ABOUT HOW SHE QUITS WINNING AND GETS HER ACT TOGETHER.

[Danni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dollar tree book. Tried reading it before over a year ago but quit...started over. Hard time getting into it. Didn't like the character but her growth was good. Unfortunately most of the book was her being an idiot. Sigh.