What do you think?
The Comeback
The brand new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Mel Giedroyc is a funny, big-hearted story of second chances.
Sometimes life surprises you with an encore...
Twenty years ago, aspiring performer Gill Piper boarded a bus out of Leatherhead with a spring in her step and stars in her eyes. Things didn't quite pan out...
Back home again, Gill finds much has changed. Young Lights, the youth theatre group which coaxed her out of her shell, is no more. The theatre itself, once the heartbeat of the community, now feels like a has-been; Gill can relate.
When Gill learns the theatre is approaching its hundredth year, she decides to put on a spectacular anniversary show to give it a comeback and unite the town. She has just eight weeks, but if she can persuade some shy newcomers to step into the spotlight, it might just be possible.
But Gill hasn't counted on self-appointed Artistic Director and diva extraordinaire Carla Keswick, who declares war. Can Gill and her unlikely company of amateurs defy Carla's dirty tricks, and prove it's never too late for a curtain call?
Praise for Mel Giedroyc's The Best
'I enjoyed it HUGELY. A real treat' MARIAN KEYES
'A brilliant cast of characters and properly funny!' GRAHAM NORTON
'A warm contemporary fable bursting with colourful characters and comic energy' DAILY MAIL
'Exactly like Mel engaging, uproarious and gleeful. A stonking good read' JO BRAND
'A warm look at a family and what really matters in life. Brimming with hilarious scenes, it is also a redemptive book, and one of hope' WOMAN & HOME
Sometimes life surprises you with an encore...
Twenty years ago, aspiring performer Gill Piper boarded a bus out of Leatherhead with a spring in her step and stars in her eyes. Things didn't quite pan out...
Back home again, Gill finds much has changed. Young Lights, the youth theatre group which coaxed her out of her shell, is no more. The theatre itself, once the heartbeat of the community, now feels like a has-been; Gill can relate.
When Gill learns the theatre is approaching its hundredth year, she decides to put on a spectacular anniversary show to give it a comeback and unite the town. She has just eight weeks, but if she can persuade some shy newcomers to step into the spotlight, it might just be possible.
But Gill hasn't counted on self-appointed Artistic Director and diva extraordinaire Carla Keswick, who declares war. Can Gill and her unlikely company of amateurs defy Carla's dirty tricks, and prove it's never too late for a curtain call?
Praise for Mel Giedroyc's The Best
'I enjoyed it HUGELY. A real treat' MARIAN KEYES
'A brilliant cast of characters and properly funny!' GRAHAM NORTON
'A warm contemporary fable bursting with colourful characters and comic energy' DAILY MAIL
'Exactly like Mel engaging, uproarious and gleeful. A stonking good read' JO BRAND
'A warm look at a family and what really matters in life. Brimming with hilarious scenes, it is also a redemptive book, and one of hope' WOMAN & HOME
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 13, 2026DNF at 20%
Gill arrives back home to take on the youth theatre programme. There is a best friend, and awkward dad relationship and an villain with a grudge.
Sorry Mel but I just couldn't gel with the characters. It all seemed a bit 'ham acted' and at some point you just have to say this isn't for me.
Gill arrives back home to take on the youth theatre programme. There is a best friend, and awkward dad relationship and an villain with a grudge.
Sorry Mel but I just couldn't gel with the characters. It all seemed a bit 'ham acted' and at some point you just have to say this isn't for me.
September 11, 2026
2.5
Gill Piper has returned to Leatherhead to re-boot her first love, the Young Lights company at the Edith Evans Theatre. However she faces obstacles such as leading lady, Carla Keswick, who has an intense dislike for anyone trying to share her limelight; the Friends of Edith Board who dance to Carla's tune and some supreme indifference from the youth of Leatherhead. But Gill is determined to put on a show that noone will forget- all she needs is an idea, a script and a cast - child's play right?
I'm afraid that this novel really didn't land for me. All the characters are OTT and blunder about getting everything wrong all the time. They all have annoying catchphrases and appear as caricatures. It becomes extremely wearing if you're not keen on this type of entertainment.
Perhaps if you enjoyed programmes such as Hi-De-Hi, 'Allo ' Allo or Are You Being Served, way back in the annals of tv history (or even Mrs Brown's Boys in more recent times) this will appeal to you. It is certainly high farce with a group of "quirky" characters forced to work together. However it's really not my thing
I'm sorry. I really wanted to like it because I like Mel Giedroyc. Thankyou to Netgalley and Headline for the digital review copy.
Gill Piper has returned to Leatherhead to re-boot her first love, the Young Lights company at the Edith Evans Theatre. However she faces obstacles such as leading lady, Carla Keswick, who has an intense dislike for anyone trying to share her limelight; the Friends of Edith Board who dance to Carla's tune and some supreme indifference from the youth of Leatherhead. But Gill is determined to put on a show that noone will forget- all she needs is an idea, a script and a cast - child's play right?
I'm afraid that this novel really didn't land for me. All the characters are OTT and blunder about getting everything wrong all the time. They all have annoying catchphrases and appear as caricatures. It becomes extremely wearing if you're not keen on this type of entertainment.
Perhaps if you enjoyed programmes such as Hi-De-Hi, 'Allo ' Allo or Are You Being Served, way back in the annals of tv history (or even Mrs Brown's Boys in more recent times) this will appeal to you. It is certainly high farce with a group of "quirky" characters forced to work together. However it's really not my thing
I'm sorry. I really wanted to like it because I like Mel Giedroyc. Thankyou to Netgalley and Headline for the digital review copy.
Read
May 6, 2026Gill Piper is returning to her hometown, Leatherhead, to an outreach role at the theatre she went to as a child. The theatre that fed into her desire to be onstage. She’s restarting the young lights program that she was part of as a kid. She’s got grand ambitions but there’s one problem - the theatre’s artistic director, Carla Keswick.
This is the first book by Mel Giedroyc I’ve read. I so wanted to like it, but the first part was such a slog, so many characters all seemingly unconnected. I was forgetting who was who, despite the authors annoying habit of full-naming them constantly (especially Mikey Parker). The characters had many flaws and I was struggling to find many of them likeable. I kept going and there were some fun moments, as well as some emotional ones. Overall it was okay, it just didn’t quite work for me.
TW: loss of a parent
This is the first book by Mel Giedroyc I’ve read. I so wanted to like it, but the first part was such a slog, so many characters all seemingly unconnected. I was forgetting who was who, despite the authors annoying habit of full-naming them constantly (especially Mikey Parker). The characters had many flaws and I was struggling to find many of them likeable. I kept going and there were some fun moments, as well as some emotional ones. Overall it was okay, it just didn’t quite work for me.
TW: loss of a parent
June 28, 2026
Gill has returned to her home town of Leatherhead after 20 years. She has the chance to revive the youth theatre group that was such an important part of her younger years. But she faces opposition from others involved in the local theatre...
Too many characters to keep track of. Perhaps the ‘cast list’ at the beginning should have forewarned me about this...
Didn’t warm to the whole local theatre vibe.
The way Gill tried to speak to local teens didn’t ring true at all for someone who’d taught drama in a school.
Jumping back in time for her father’s reminiscing seemed an odd diversion, but maybe it ‘went somewhere’ later on.
Gave up at 45%. Just didn’t care enough about any of the characters. Also, it felt like it was still at the scene-setting stage, waiting for something to happen, and by almost half way through, that’s too much.
Weirdly couldn’t get Gill’s name right in my head: heard it as Gil(bert) rather than Gill(ian).
Grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC.
Too many characters to keep track of. Perhaps the ‘cast list’ at the beginning should have forewarned me about this...
Didn’t warm to the whole local theatre vibe.
The way Gill tried to speak to local teens didn’t ring true at all for someone who’d taught drama in a school.
Jumping back in time for her father’s reminiscing seemed an odd diversion, but maybe it ‘went somewhere’ later on.
Gave up at 45%. Just didn’t care enough about any of the characters. Also, it felt like it was still at the scene-setting stage, waiting for something to happen, and by almost half way through, that’s too much.
Weirdly couldn’t get Gill’s name right in my head: heard it as Gil(bert) rather than Gill(ian).
Grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC.
September 1, 2026
2.5 stars
The Comeback was a mostly enjoyable, easy and light-hearted read, although unfortunately a fairly predictable one for me.
I really enjoyed the small-town local theatre setting, particularly the group of young people coming together to create something they might never otherwise have experienced together. I grew up attending a local youth theatre group, so there was a real sense of nostalgia in reading about the friendships, community and, of course, the slightly ridiculous politics and high stakes of local theatre. Those moments, particularly the tongue-in-cheek humour around how seriously everyone takes their little corner of the theatre world, were probably my favourite parts of the book.
I did struggle with the writing style though. The repetitive language and character catchphrases made the story feel quite monotonous at times, and I found Gill particularly difficult to connect with. Her self-righteousness clearly comes from a place of insecurity, but I wanted more emotional depth and growth from her character, especially given how much time we spend jumping between different POVs.
As someone who works in theatre, I also found some of the industry references quite distracting. The local theatre community felt believable enough within the story, but some of the more industry-focused characters and commentary gave the impression of a passing familiarity with theatre terminology rather than a deeper understanding of the industry, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
That said, this is definitely a fun, undemanding read with plenty of warmth and humour. I just wouldn't go into it expecting particularly nuanced characters or an especially accurate portrayal of the theatre industry.
The Comeback was a mostly enjoyable, easy and light-hearted read, although unfortunately a fairly predictable one for me.
I really enjoyed the small-town local theatre setting, particularly the group of young people coming together to create something they might never otherwise have experienced together. I grew up attending a local youth theatre group, so there was a real sense of nostalgia in reading about the friendships, community and, of course, the slightly ridiculous politics and high stakes of local theatre. Those moments, particularly the tongue-in-cheek humour around how seriously everyone takes their little corner of the theatre world, were probably my favourite parts of the book.
I did struggle with the writing style though. The repetitive language and character catchphrases made the story feel quite monotonous at times, and I found Gill particularly difficult to connect with. Her self-righteousness clearly comes from a place of insecurity, but I wanted more emotional depth and growth from her character, especially given how much time we spend jumping between different POVs.
As someone who works in theatre, I also found some of the industry references quite distracting. The local theatre community felt believable enough within the story, but some of the more industry-focused characters and commentary gave the impression of a passing familiarity with theatre terminology rather than a deeper understanding of the industry, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
That said, this is definitely a fun, undemanding read with plenty of warmth and humour. I just wouldn't go into it expecting particularly nuanced characters or an especially accurate portrayal of the theatre industry.
July 4, 2026
I love Mel, I’ve followed her since light lunch, I find her funny. For some reason the book did not make me laugh. Very few books actually make me laugh so this doesn’t mean that it is an unfunny book. My life is not fun at the moment so it definitely had an up hill struggle. The writing is good, I could see some of the slap stick scenes, I could imagine Victoria Wood playing Gill Piper and the lady from Butterfly playing Carla Keswick but really I found them unappealing. I had no problem with full names and the chaos of a small town with conflict was interesting and I could imagine a sit com on the BBC that people would love. Maybe a full comedy book is not for me, I imagine anyone who has been involved in an amateur dramatics club would love this. I got thrown out of ballet at 4 so maybe I’m harbouring some resentment. I liked the start, like a play or pantomime having the names and role of each character in the cast. I’m sad and disappointed with did not extend to the two Tibetan Mastiff puppies.
I found the capital letters that were in the book, I think to demonstrate shouting, beyond annoying. I really thought that was what an exclamation mark was for?
I can see many people have found it hilarious and I guess if you enjoy a book comedy book then this is for you. I have learnt I need my comedy sporadically and darker and maybe less thespian based.
I know sometimes I get a book after looking at the lower ⭐️ reviews so I’m hoping this gives a fair flavour of the book. I struggle to write a coherent review so can’t really criticise a whole book! This is just my experience of the book and I promise to avoid comedy for a while, or at least until my life is less of a car crash.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
I found the capital letters that were in the book, I think to demonstrate shouting, beyond annoying. I really thought that was what an exclamation mark was for?
I can see many people have found it hilarious and I guess if you enjoy a book comedy book then this is for you. I have learnt I need my comedy sporadically and darker and maybe less thespian based.
I know sometimes I get a book after looking at the lower ⭐️ reviews so I’m hoping this gives a fair flavour of the book. I struggle to write a coherent review so can’t really criticise a whole book! This is just my experience of the book and I promise to avoid comedy for a while, or at least until my life is less of a car crash.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
April 16, 2026
Review of ‘The Comeback’ by Mel Giedroyc, due to be published on 27 August 2026 by Headline.
Gill Piper arrives back in Leatherhead feeling deflated that at 48 years of age she is moving back into her old family home with all her worldly possessions, as she embarks on a new opportunity at the old Edith Evans Theatre, once the shining light of the town, where she dreamed of a bright future on stage.
Tasked with bringing back the outreach project, Young Lights, and putting on a play in 8 weeks to secure the funding for the theatre, it’s an uphill struggle to get the local youngsters to sign up to take part. Add into the mix aging star Carla Keswick who is hellbent on making sure that Gill fails, together with a wide range of supporting characters who all add their own unique presence to the storyline.
This was a joyous, lighthearted read, full of humour, warmth and the madcap adventures of a diverse cast of theatre players and the local community. It’s a perfect book to curl up with and just enjoy. A recommended read.
Gill Piper arrives back in Leatherhead feeling deflated that at 48 years of age she is moving back into her old family home with all her worldly possessions, as she embarks on a new opportunity at the old Edith Evans Theatre, once the shining light of the town, where she dreamed of a bright future on stage.
Tasked with bringing back the outreach project, Young Lights, and putting on a play in 8 weeks to secure the funding for the theatre, it’s an uphill struggle to get the local youngsters to sign up to take part. Add into the mix aging star Carla Keswick who is hellbent on making sure that Gill fails, together with a wide range of supporting characters who all add their own unique presence to the storyline.
This was a joyous, lighthearted read, full of humour, warmth and the madcap adventures of a diverse cast of theatre players and the local community. It’s a perfect book to curl up with and just enjoy. A recommended read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've had a good run of "celebrity" authors which has, sadly come to an end. Which, I guess was actually the best part of this book. The end. Getting to it, I mean. In fact, if ever there was a book I wished I'd DNFd, this is up there....
So we follow Gill as she returns "home". She's in a bit of a pickle personally and professionally, but luckily, her best friend Joy has managed to wangle her the job of resurrecting the youth theatre section of the Edith Evans Theatre, the "young lights" of which she herself was a member many years ago. The theatre itself is in its hundredth year and celebrations are being planned. Gill wants to put on an extravaganza with her youngsters, not only to secure its future, but also to put her past to rest.
Most people appear to be on her side, but then there's Carla Keswick, self-appointed "Artistic Director" of the "Edith". She runs the adult am-dram side of things and she is not about to be upstaged...
This book should have been my dream story. I am a big fan of theatre, especially am-dram or community theatre and am lucky to live in an area where we are blessed with not only two main theatres which both embrace local talent, but also dozens of theatre groups. So much so that we have just had out inaugural awards ceremony.
Sadly, this wasn't to be. To put it in a nutshell. I hated the most of the characters to the limit that I really didn't care what happened to them. And there were a LOT of them! I found the story just flitted too much between what was going on and who was doing it so it didn't really flow, rather stuttered along. It actually read more like it was already optioned as a TV show so, episodic it came across...
I also didn't find the funny bits funny at all, which probably didn't help.
So... yeah... not one for me... But thanks still go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So we follow Gill as she returns "home". She's in a bit of a pickle personally and professionally, but luckily, her best friend Joy has managed to wangle her the job of resurrecting the youth theatre section of the Edith Evans Theatre, the "young lights" of which she herself was a member many years ago. The theatre itself is in its hundredth year and celebrations are being planned. Gill wants to put on an extravaganza with her youngsters, not only to secure its future, but also to put her past to rest.
Most people appear to be on her side, but then there's Carla Keswick, self-appointed "Artistic Director" of the "Edith". She runs the adult am-dram side of things and she is not about to be upstaged...
This book should have been my dream story. I am a big fan of theatre, especially am-dram or community theatre and am lucky to live in an area where we are blessed with not only two main theatres which both embrace local talent, but also dozens of theatre groups. So much so that we have just had out inaugural awards ceremony.
Sadly, this wasn't to be. To put it in a nutshell. I hated the most of the characters to the limit that I really didn't care what happened to them. And there were a LOT of them! I found the story just flitted too much between what was going on and who was doing it so it didn't really flow, rather stuttered along. It actually read more like it was already optioned as a TV show so, episodic it came across...
I also didn't find the funny bits funny at all, which probably didn't help.
So... yeah... not one for me... But thanks still go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’d been looking forward to reading this, but sadly I’m left feeling a bit disappointed. I really wanted to like this book, but have struggled with it.
Main character Gill has returned to her roots at the Edith Evans Theatre in Leatherhead, where she started her theatre career over forty years ago, to direct the 100 years anniversary production. She has some good ideas - & some very bad ones - but was obstructed at every stage by Carla, her old nemesis. She manages to pull together a strange assortment of people, theatre members old & new, for the project, & contrary to expectations manages to pull it off.
There is a lot to like about this book. Firstly there’s the humour, which you’d expect from this author, & there were plenty of lol moments. I loved how the production eventually brought the community together, as the unlikely assortment of people managed to work together. I particularly liked Kyle & Spider & how they eventually managed to successfully resurrect their 60s rock band & outrageous lyrics! The experience of being involved proved to be life changing for almost everyone, mostly for the better.
I think my main problem is that we met so many characters in the first few chapters that I ended up feeling confused. The action jumped all over the place from one character or character group to another, & at times I found the story hard to follow. It didn’t help that I disliked many of the characters, they felt like caricatures & were hard to relate to.
It was a good idea, but it didn’t really work for me. I found it was a book that is better read if you can give it an hour or so to get started. I think it could work better as an audiobook, particularly if read by the author.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an arc of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
Main character Gill has returned to her roots at the Edith Evans Theatre in Leatherhead, where she started her theatre career over forty years ago, to direct the 100 years anniversary production. She has some good ideas - & some very bad ones - but was obstructed at every stage by Carla, her old nemesis. She manages to pull together a strange assortment of people, theatre members old & new, for the project, & contrary to expectations manages to pull it off.
There is a lot to like about this book. Firstly there’s the humour, which you’d expect from this author, & there were plenty of lol moments. I loved how the production eventually brought the community together, as the unlikely assortment of people managed to work together. I particularly liked Kyle & Spider & how they eventually managed to successfully resurrect their 60s rock band & outrageous lyrics! The experience of being involved proved to be life changing for almost everyone, mostly for the better.
I think my main problem is that we met so many characters in the first few chapters that I ended up feeling confused. The action jumped all over the place from one character or character group to another, & at times I found the story hard to follow. It didn’t help that I disliked many of the characters, they felt like caricatures & were hard to relate to.
It was a good idea, but it didn’t really work for me. I found it was a book that is better read if you can give it an hour or so to get started. I think it could work better as an audiobook, particularly if read by the author.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an arc of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Comeback by Mel Giedroyc
DNF @ 75%
May continue at some point but I don't think I will atm.
Content warning: Abuse workplace, sexual innenudos EVERYWHERE, abuse marriage/relationship, randomly talking to your dead wife
Spice Rating: 2/5 (two brief open door sexual scenes)
"The Comeback" follows Gill Piper, a 48-year-old broke former actress, as she comesback to her childhood town of Leatherhead to work for her enemy (yes, really, she is that mean) Carla Keswick to teach in the Young Stars class of the local theatre - in which Carla hates - after leaving twenty years ago for a better life which didn't quite go to plan.
I, as a singer, was so looking forward to this book especially with me reading several highly-rated "celebrity" written books lately. This was such a disappointment and I have so many critiques, I'm sorry.
Okay, I'll start here.
Why are there so many "jokes" about people's bodies, especially people's backsides and privates?!?
Forget that. Why does this book try to be so funny however I could count on one hand the amount of times I laughed?!?
I'll pop it this way, I had a nickel for every time that Mel "joked" about something in which I didn't understand, I would have WAY too many nickels.
The characters. Let's talk about characters.
There was only one character that I really liked and that was Gill, the main character who has gone back to her home town to restart their youth programme. I liked how she was independent and stood on her own two feet.
I couldn't say the same about Valerie. She kept complaining about her work situations and I was like JUST DO SOMETHING YOURSELF ABOUT IT THEN GIRLL.
Clara... is awful. I don't wanna comment.
Speaking of characters. There was WAY TOO MANY. In the first 10-20%, it felt like I was being introduced to another one every second. And.. oh gosh was it confusing.
Also, why the heck is Gordon talking to his DEAD wife. Like I'd understand it if he had some spiritual thing but nothing is mentioned.
This writer is just amateur-ish. It's almost like Mel has opened her laptop, thought of the first thing she could think of and wrote it. I COMPLETELY don't get how she won all of those awards!
I may just read (and by that, I mean skim through the text) on at some point just to see what ends up happening as I'm so far through but this book was just a major disappointment.
DNF @ 75%
May continue at some point but I don't think I will atm.
Content warning: Abuse workplace, sexual innenudos EVERYWHERE, abuse marriage/relationship, randomly talking to your dead wife
Spice Rating: 2/5 (two brief open door sexual scenes)
"The Comeback" follows Gill Piper, a 48-year-old broke former actress, as she comesback to her childhood town of Leatherhead to work for her enemy (yes, really, she is that mean) Carla Keswick to teach in the Young Stars class of the local theatre - in which Carla hates - after leaving twenty years ago for a better life which didn't quite go to plan.
I, as a singer, was so looking forward to this book especially with me reading several highly-rated "celebrity" written books lately. This was such a disappointment and I have so many critiques, I'm sorry.
Okay, I'll start here.
Why are there so many "jokes" about people's bodies, especially people's backsides and privates?!?
Forget that. Why does this book try to be so funny however I could count on one hand the amount of times I laughed?!?
I'll pop it this way, I had a nickel for every time that Mel "joked" about something in which I didn't understand, I would have WAY too many nickels.
The characters. Let's talk about characters.
There was only one character that I really liked and that was Gill, the main character who has gone back to her home town to restart their youth programme. I liked how she was independent and stood on her own two feet.
I couldn't say the same about Valerie. She kept complaining about her work situations and I was like JUST DO SOMETHING YOURSELF ABOUT IT THEN GIRLL.
Clara... is awful. I don't wanna comment.
Speaking of characters. There was WAY TOO MANY. In the first 10-20%, it felt like I was being introduced to another one every second. And.. oh gosh was it confusing.
Also, why the heck is Gordon talking to his DEAD wife. Like I'd understand it if he had some spiritual thing but nothing is mentioned.
This writer is just amateur-ish. It's almost like Mel has opened her laptop, thought of the first thing she could think of and wrote it. I COMPLETELY don't get how she won all of those awards!
I may just read (and by that, I mean skim through the text) on at some point just to see what ends up happening as I'm so far through but this book was just a major disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 stars)
The Comeback by Mel Giedroyc
Jill is a forty-something actress whose career has stalled, and she unexpectedly finds herself back in her hometown running a local youth theatre group. Surrounded by a wonderfully chaotic mix of larger-than-life personalities, the story follows her as she tries to get both the production, and her own life, back on track.
I was really looking forward to this one because I’m a fan of Mel Giedroyc, so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I found the first half of the book quite slow, and it took a long time before I felt invested in either the story or the characters. For much of the book, the cast felt quite disconnected from one another, and I struggled to warm to many of them, which made it harder to stay engaged.
I also found the writing style wasn’t quite for me. It never really flowed in the way I’d hoped, and I often felt like I was pushing myself to pick it back up rather than eagerly wondering what would happen next.
That said, the story itself is genuinely heartwarming once everything starts to come together. The final part of the book has a lovely sense of community, friendship and second chances, and I appreciated how the various storylines eventually intertwined. Although it wasn’t a favourite read for me, I’m glad I stuck with it, and I can definitely see it appealing to readers who enjoy gentle, character-driven stories about finding your place and starting over.
The Comeback by Mel Giedroyc
Jill is a forty-something actress whose career has stalled, and she unexpectedly finds herself back in her hometown running a local youth theatre group. Surrounded by a wonderfully chaotic mix of larger-than-life personalities, the story follows her as she tries to get both the production, and her own life, back on track.
I was really looking forward to this one because I’m a fan of Mel Giedroyc, so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I found the first half of the book quite slow, and it took a long time before I felt invested in either the story or the characters. For much of the book, the cast felt quite disconnected from one another, and I struggled to warm to many of them, which made it harder to stay engaged.
I also found the writing style wasn’t quite for me. It never really flowed in the way I’d hoped, and I often felt like I was pushing myself to pick it back up rather than eagerly wondering what would happen next.
That said, the story itself is genuinely heartwarming once everything starts to come together. The final part of the book has a lovely sense of community, friendship and second chances, and I appreciated how the various storylines eventually intertwined. Although it wasn’t a favourite read for me, I’m glad I stuck with it, and I can definitely see it appealing to readers who enjoy gentle, character-driven stories about finding your place and starting over.
August 21, 2026
I was looking forward to reading this, but I really, really didn't like it and struggled to get to the end. The blurb was really appealling, but the reality of the execution was just not it. For once it's not a celebrity novel that's a cozy crime - but I sort of wished it was because some of the characters annoyed me so much I wouldn't have minded them being bumped off!
There is really no one to root for - Gill, the main character (of the blurb at least) returning to her home town to try and revive the youth theatre faces opposition from the theatre manager BUT Gill is not a competent person. She's terrible at her job (eg no actual plan for the show she's meant to be putting on despite the fact that a friend has gone on a limb to get the grant for it and it's contingent on a show, introducing randoms from the street into rehearsals with kids, no DBS check, no due diligence) so it's hard to feel that the baddie is entirely wrong in thinking that she's not doing a good job. The baddie is truly awful, but there is really no one here to who isn't some how annoying or terrible.
It's not just that every character is relentlessly dislikable, it's that the humour comes mostly from jokes aimed at them, and feels very mean spirited. Honestly I feel awful saying how much I disliked this, but I really, really did.
****Copy from NetGalley, in return for review consideration*****
There is really no one to root for - Gill, the main character (of the blurb at least) returning to her home town to try and revive the youth theatre faces opposition from the theatre manager BUT Gill is not a competent person. She's terrible at her job (eg no actual plan for the show she's meant to be putting on despite the fact that a friend has gone on a limb to get the grant for it and it's contingent on a show, introducing randoms from the street into rehearsals with kids, no DBS check, no due diligence) so it's hard to feel that the baddie is entirely wrong in thinking that she's not doing a good job. The baddie is truly awful, but there is really no one here to who isn't some how annoying or terrible.
It's not just that every character is relentlessly dislikable, it's that the humour comes mostly from jokes aimed at them, and feels very mean spirited. Honestly I feel awful saying how much I disliked this, but I really, really did.
****Copy from NetGalley, in return for review consideration*****
July 23, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t for me.
There were simply too many characters to keep track of, and most of them never seemed to have much of a purpose. Very few had any meaningful development, and several felt irrelevant to the core plot.
The book spent so much time scene-setting that it felt like very little actually happened for the first three quarters. By the time the story finally picked up, I’d already lost interest. Even the twist, which should have been the payoff, felt underwhelming.
There were moments of humour that genuinely made me smile, but they were too few and far between for me. I also struggled to connect with any of the characters. None of them felt particularly likeable or memorable, and I found Gill especially difficult to root for because she came across as overly self-absorbed.
Ironically, I think this story might work far better as a limited TV series, where the ensemble cast and gradual build-up could be brought to life more effectively.
While it wasn’t a book for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy cosy, slow-paced stories with a touch of humour and don’t mind a leisurely plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
There were simply too many characters to keep track of, and most of them never seemed to have much of a purpose. Very few had any meaningful development, and several felt irrelevant to the core plot.
The book spent so much time scene-setting that it felt like very little actually happened for the first three quarters. By the time the story finally picked up, I’d already lost interest. Even the twist, which should have been the payoff, felt underwhelming.
There were moments of humour that genuinely made me smile, but they were too few and far between for me. I also struggled to connect with any of the characters. None of them felt particularly likeable or memorable, and I found Gill especially difficult to root for because she came across as overly self-absorbed.
Ironically, I think this story might work far better as a limited TV series, where the ensemble cast and gradual build-up could be brought to life more effectively.
While it wasn’t a book for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy cosy, slow-paced stories with a touch of humour and don’t mind a leisurely plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Initially, I was really intrigued by the author and how funny she is. Being a fan of her, I couldn't wait to hear her personality shared through the book. However, I just couldn't hear her comedic voice through it and didn't find the humour that I was anticipating.
I was also really drawn in by the concept. As a child, I was part of amateur pantomime productions as one of the younger cast, and I've now moved on to be a teacher. So hearing about that concept initially drew me in, and I was intrigued to see how Gil would get on putting on the show.
However, I just found there were a lot of characters, and not many that I really warmed to. Because of that, I found it really hard to keep track of everyone and to navigate the plot. I also found the way the characters' points of view crossed over quite difficult to follow, and at times the sequencing didn't quite work for me.
I found it hard to persevere through the book, but I really wanted to get to the end performance to see how it would turn out. I just felt like it got to those points slower than I would have liked.
Overall, it was a book with a premise that I really wanted to love, but the execution didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
I was also really drawn in by the concept. As a child, I was part of amateur pantomime productions as one of the younger cast, and I've now moved on to be a teacher. So hearing about that concept initially drew me in, and I was intrigued to see how Gil would get on putting on the show.
However, I just found there were a lot of characters, and not many that I really warmed to. Because of that, I found it really hard to keep track of everyone and to navigate the plot. I also found the way the characters' points of view crossed over quite difficult to follow, and at times the sequencing didn't quite work for me.
I found it hard to persevere through the book, but I really wanted to get to the end performance to see how it would turn out. I just felt like it got to those points slower than I would have liked.
Overall, it was a book with a premise that I really wanted to love, but the execution didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lighthearted and silly, but sadly not quite as entertaining as I’d hoped.
I find Mel incredibly funny, especially when I’ve seen her live on stage, so I went into this one expecting to have a great time. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
I did enjoy the book in the end, but it took until the last quarter for me to become properly invested. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and a few who didn’t seem to add much to the story. At times this made things feel a little confusing, and I found my mind wandering rather than being completely absorbed in the book.
I also struggled with Gill, the main character. She wasn’t particularly likeable for a good chunk of the story, which made it difficult to really root for her.
That said, I do wonder whether listening to the audiobook, narrated by Mel herself, might have made a difference. I could almost hear her doing the voices in my head while reading some parts, and I suspect hearing her actually perform them might have brought the humour to life a little more for me.
Overall, an easy, lighthearted read that just didn’t quite make me laugh as much as I’d hoped.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I find Mel incredibly funny, especially when I’ve seen her live on stage, so I went into this one expecting to have a great time. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
I did enjoy the book in the end, but it took until the last quarter for me to become properly invested. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and a few who didn’t seem to add much to the story. At times this made things feel a little confusing, and I found my mind wandering rather than being completely absorbed in the book.
I also struggled with Gill, the main character. She wasn’t particularly likeable for a good chunk of the story, which made it difficult to really root for her.
That said, I do wonder whether listening to the audiobook, narrated by Mel herself, might have made a difference. I could almost hear her doing the voices in my head while reading some parts, and I suspect hearing her actually perform them might have brought the humour to life a little more for me.
Overall, an easy, lighthearted read that just didn’t quite make me laugh as much as I’d hoped.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book came at the same time as I had seen our local youth theatre The old Mill Theatre company in Tewkesbury who are fab - a plug on a book review.
Gill Piper is moving back to her family home in Leatherhead at the age of 48. She is embarking on a new venture at the Old Edith Evans Theatre. Like a lot of theatres these were once the go to place in town and Gill dreamed of a future on the stage.
Gill is tasked with bringing back the Outreach project called Young Lights but having to put on a play in 2 months in order to secure fundng for the theatre. As expected it is a hard task to get young people to sign up for this and to make matters worse and aging star Carla Keswick is trying to ensure Gill and the theatre fails. So a bit of a tall order.
The cast are a fab bunch of characters and it was in the red heat alert in the south west of englsnd when I read this yesterday this was a complete joy to read.
Mel can write a good story.
Recommended and due for publication during the fab long school summer holidays.
Gill Piper is moving back to her family home in Leatherhead at the age of 48. She is embarking on a new venture at the Old Edith Evans Theatre. Like a lot of theatres these were once the go to place in town and Gill dreamed of a future on the stage.
Gill is tasked with bringing back the Outreach project called Young Lights but having to put on a play in 2 months in order to secure fundng for the theatre. As expected it is a hard task to get young people to sign up for this and to make matters worse and aging star Carla Keswick is trying to ensure Gill and the theatre fails. So a bit of a tall order.
The cast are a fab bunch of characters and it was in the red heat alert in the south west of englsnd when I read this yesterday this was a complete joy to read.
Mel can write a good story.
Recommended and due for publication during the fab long school summer holidays.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the story of Gill, brought in to relaunch the youth drama club at the Edith Evans Theatre in Leatherhead, and the many characters that help her do this, along with those who hinder her in her efforts.
I found the naive and unselfaware Gill very annoying, with her over the top feminism that was supposed to be played for comic effect e.g. when the cast went topless to make some point; even though the audience then was mainly men being lecherous towards them, she thought they understood the rationale behind their decision. If she’d been toned down, the book would have been better for it.
I certainly delighted in any interactions that involved Carla, the fading and ageing star, who was nicely vicious to anyone who thwarted her. This made the ending particularly enjoyable.
This would be a good read for anyone who likes cosy, funny reads, which need a suspension of disbelief. It’s a laugh in places too.
By the way, what does durzle meaning?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I found the naive and unselfaware Gill very annoying, with her over the top feminism that was supposed to be played for comic effect e.g. when the cast went topless to make some point; even though the audience then was mainly men being lecherous towards them, she thought they understood the rationale behind their decision. If she’d been toned down, the book would have been better for it.
I certainly delighted in any interactions that involved Carla, the fading and ageing star, who was nicely vicious to anyone who thwarted her. This made the ending particularly enjoyable.
This would be a good read for anyone who likes cosy, funny reads, which need a suspension of disbelief. It’s a laugh in places too.
By the way, what does durzle meaning?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
July 14, 2026
⭐⭐⭐½
I loved this book from the start and read the first part with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and loved the theatre setting.
As the story went on, though, more and more characters were introduced, and eventually it became a little too much. I found it harder to keep track of everyone, and the story started to lose some of the charm it had at the beginning.
I stuck with it because I wanted to know what was going to happen. Would the show go ahead? Would Nasty Carla finally get her comeuppance?
Unfortunately, the final quarter became a little too silly for me. I lost interest, and it almost felt as though the writer had lost interest too. It was disappointing because the book had so much potential and could have been a really entertaining read from start to finish.
I still enjoyed parts of it, especially the beginning, and I think the premise would make a brilliant television programme. It just didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.
⭐⭐⭐½
I loved this book from the start and read the first part with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and loved the theatre setting.
As the story went on, though, more and more characters were introduced, and eventually it became a little too much. I found it harder to keep track of everyone, and the story started to lose some of the charm it had at the beginning.
I stuck with it because I wanted to know what was going to happen. Would the show go ahead? Would Nasty Carla finally get her comeuppance?
Unfortunately, the final quarter became a little too silly for me. I lost interest, and it almost felt as though the writer had lost interest too. It was disappointing because the book had so much potential and could have been a really entertaining read from start to finish.
I still enjoyed parts of it, especially the beginning, and I think the premise would make a brilliant television programme. It just didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.
⭐⭐⭐½
August 12, 2026
The Comeback is a light-hearted and fun story about 48 year old Gill Piper who finds herself in a bit of a midlife crisis. Gill finds herself back in her hometown, staying with her dad who she has a strained relationship with. As a bit of a failed actress and Drama teacher, Gill takes the opportunity to revive her old theatre school and rallies the community to create a performance to be proud of despite having many obstacles in her way.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and liked the themes in it such as friendship, new starts and community. There were funny moments but unfortunately I didn’t find it as funny as I expected it would be as I really like Mel Giedroyc’s humour and comedy style. I felt like there were too many characters and found it difficult to remember who they all were as I was getting through the book and the plot became slightly chaotic towards the end compared to a slow start.
However, the storyline is a heartwarming one and will appeal to people looking for a light and comforting read that will make them giggle.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and liked the themes in it such as friendship, new starts and community. There were funny moments but unfortunately I didn’t find it as funny as I expected it would be as I really like Mel Giedroyc’s humour and comedy style. I felt like there were too many characters and found it difficult to remember who they all were as I was getting through the book and the plot became slightly chaotic towards the end compared to a slow start.
However, the storyline is a heartwarming one and will appeal to people looking for a light and comforting read that will make them giggle.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gill Piper is returning to her hometown of Leatherhead to restart the youth wing of the Edith Evans Theatre, championed by her friend, Joy. However, her nemesis, Carla Hesketh, is now the director of the theatre, staging dreary farce after dreary farce. Gill returns with great optimism, but cannot begin to imagine the chaos that is about to ensue.
This is the first of Mel's books that I have read, but I have always enjoyed watching Mel on television, no matter what she has done. Her warm, irreverent, cheerful style always makes me smile. However, I could not really hear her voice in this book. I warmed to some of the characters (Alison, for instance, who wants to play netball, but her Mum wants her to tread the boards as she was never allowed to, MC head of the teenage 'gang' in the park and Insta queen), overall I found the story a bit too hectic. However, for those who love a 'comedy of errors' type novel, with larger than life characters to love and hate, this may be worth a read.
This is the first of Mel's books that I have read, but I have always enjoyed watching Mel on television, no matter what she has done. Her warm, irreverent, cheerful style always makes me smile. However, I could not really hear her voice in this book. I warmed to some of the characters (Alison, for instance, who wants to play netball, but her Mum wants her to tread the boards as she was never allowed to, MC head of the teenage 'gang' in the park and Insta queen), overall I found the story a bit too hectic. However, for those who love a 'comedy of errors' type novel, with larger than life characters to love and hate, this may be worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Comeback by Mel Giedroyc is the first book from the author I have read.
Gill Piper was a member of Young Lights at the Leatherhead Edith Evan Theatre. She inspiring to become an actor but that didn’t pan out as she hoped. Years later now in her 40’s she has returned to direct the young lights summer production and to also get her career back on track.
I like Mel Giedroyc on TV. I have always found her quite funny, but I cannot say the same for her writing. Yes, this is a light-hearted read and was amusing at times, but it wasn’t laugh out loud as it portrays, or it maybe myself with my type of humour is different as the style of the book. It is well written, but I personally was overwhelmed how many characters are in it and at times I felt it was hard to keep up and but describing the characters so much that the main objective of the storyline got lost a bit along the way. 3 stars from me.
Gill Piper was a member of Young Lights at the Leatherhead Edith Evan Theatre. She inspiring to become an actor but that didn’t pan out as she hoped. Years later now in her 40’s she has returned to direct the young lights summer production and to also get her career back on track.
I like Mel Giedroyc on TV. I have always found her quite funny, but I cannot say the same for her writing. Yes, this is a light-hearted read and was amusing at times, but it wasn’t laugh out loud as it portrays, or it maybe myself with my type of humour is different as the style of the book. It is well written, but I personally was overwhelmed how many characters are in it and at times I felt it was hard to keep up and but describing the characters so much that the main objective of the storyline got lost a bit along the way. 3 stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really looking forward to this book, set in the world of amateur dramatics. However, I found it quite a disappointment. The premise was interesting - Gill Piper has returned to her home town to revive the young performers' group at her local theatre, but she finds a very run down building being run by a diva, Carla Keswick who remembers Gill and hates her on sight.
Carla works at hindering the young group's progress, while Gill is full of her skills as a production leader, helped by her friend and an alcoholic has-been musician, plus some very canny young people.
The whole book lacks characterisation and has far too much use of the word 'rhubarbing' which must appear on about every page. The plot is fairly complex and really needed to be tightened up, as it had the makings of a fun story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Carla works at hindering the young group's progress, while Gill is full of her skills as a production leader, helped by her friend and an alcoholic has-been musician, plus some very canny young people.
The whole book lacks characterisation and has far too much use of the word 'rhubarbing' which must appear on about every page. The plot is fairly complex and really needed to be tightened up, as it had the makings of a fun story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A story of second chances, but it didn't work for me.
I normally love Mel Giedroyc's humour, and there is humour in this book, but it just came over as forced to me, andoften didn't work. The huge list of characters at the start was quite daunting. I found it hard to remember who they were as the story unfolded and I kept having to refer to the list at the beginning, which I suppose is a plus in having it. The author's timing is usually very good, but the timing of much of the humour was just off.
I found the book overly long. My problem with the characters, all of whom had flaws, meant that on a few occasions I just put the book aside. I kept coming back to it,but itrarely worked for me, and it took me over a month to get through it, which is unheard of for me.
Some, I'm sure, will love this book, but for the reasons given above, I didn't. I finished it because I'd committed to give an honest review in return for early access to the book.8
I normally love Mel Giedroyc's humour, and there is humour in this book, but it just came over as forced to me, andoften didn't work. The huge list of characters at the start was quite daunting. I found it hard to remember who they were as the story unfolded and I kept having to refer to the list at the beginning, which I suppose is a plus in having it. The author's timing is usually very good, but the timing of much of the humour was just off.
I found the book overly long. My problem with the characters, all of whom had flaws, meant that on a few occasions I just put the book aside. I kept coming back to it,but itrarely worked for me, and it took me over a month to get through it, which is unheard of for me.
Some, I'm sure, will love this book, but for the reasons given above, I didn't. I finished it because I'd committed to give an honest review in return for early access to the book.8
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy.
The Comeback follows Gill Piper as she returns to her hometown to revive a struggling community theatre, bringing together a large cast of characters in an attempt to stage a production that could secure the theatre's future.
It's a warm, uplifting premise but it didn't quite work for me. My biggest issue was that I never really connected with the characters. I didn't dislike them, but I also never became invested in their stories or relationships. With such a large ensemble cast, the characters are very much the driving force of the novel, so feeling largely ambivalent towards them meant the story never really came alive for me.
There were some enjoyable moments, and I can see why this will appeal to readers who enjoy cosy, character-led fiction. Sadly, though, it ultimately fell a little flat for me.
The Comeback follows Gill Piper as she returns to her hometown to revive a struggling community theatre, bringing together a large cast of characters in an attempt to stage a production that could secure the theatre's future.
It's a warm, uplifting premise but it didn't quite work for me. My biggest issue was that I never really connected with the characters. I didn't dislike them, but I also never became invested in their stories or relationships. With such a large ensemble cast, the characters are very much the driving force of the novel, so feeling largely ambivalent towards them meant the story never really came alive for me.
There were some enjoyable moments, and I can see why this will appeal to readers who enjoy cosy, character-led fiction. Sadly, though, it ultimately fell a little flat for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Gill Piper is returning home to Leatherhead to a role in the theatre she used to act in as a child in the Young Lights Programme. She’s back to restart that programme up. She has 8 weeks to do so to get the funding they so desperately need.
Gill loves theatre, everything about it and is excited to get started. What she doesn’t expect is how run down it is and the theatres artistic director, Carla that she has past experience with, not so good experience at that.
I loved Gill’s personality, she was a funny one that’s for sure, especially with the young ones, I found myself laughing a few times at her.
This is the first of Mel’s books that I’ve read and I enjoyed it. I like the wide range of characters in the story and getting all their stories as well as just Gill’s. Although at sometimes it felt a bit hectic, I enjoyed it anyway. It was a fun, humours and lighthearted read.
Gill loves theatre, everything about it and is excited to get started. What she doesn’t expect is how run down it is and the theatres artistic director, Carla that she has past experience with, not so good experience at that.
I loved Gill’s personality, she was a funny one that’s for sure, especially with the young ones, I found myself laughing a few times at her.
This is the first of Mel’s books that I’ve read and I enjoyed it. I like the wide range of characters in the story and getting all their stories as well as just Gill’s. Although at sometimes it felt a bit hectic, I enjoyed it anyway. It was a fun, humours and lighthearted read.
September 13, 2026
I love Mel Giedroyc, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. While it isn’t badly written, I struggled to connect with the characters and didn’t enjoy the storyline, and ultimately it just wasn’t for me.
Gill Piper returns to Leatherhead to help promote the Youth Theatre she grew up in, only to find her old nemesis Carla still firmly entrenched there — and the battle lines drawn almost immediately. The whole dynamic is meant to be comedic and chaotic, but I just found it all a bit cringe, and it stopped me from connecting with the story.
Overall, it’s a light, easy read, but it just didn’t land for me. The premise had potential and Mel Giedroyc’s humour does shine through in places, yet the characters and the theatre based drama felt more awkward than engaging. In the end, it wasn’t a book I connected with, though I know others may enjoy it more than I did.
Gill Piper returns to Leatherhead to help promote the Youth Theatre she grew up in, only to find her old nemesis Carla still firmly entrenched there — and the battle lines drawn almost immediately. The whole dynamic is meant to be comedic and chaotic, but I just found it all a bit cringe, and it stopped me from connecting with the story.
Overall, it’s a light, easy read, but it just didn’t land for me. The premise had potential and Mel Giedroyc’s humour does shine through in places, yet the characters and the theatre based drama felt more awkward than engaging. In the end, it wasn’t a book I connected with, though I know others may enjoy it more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Take a dose of buffoonery, add a dash of slapstick and coat it in horseplay. Roll the whole thing in farce and you end up with The Comeback.
Brian Rix is the only thing missing!
However, although all the elements are there for a jolly good laugh, somehow, the whole thing falls short like a damp squib or perhaps more aptly, soggy rhubarb.
Is it that there is a cast of thousands, or just that they are mostly unlikeable? The story is really fragmented. The language cringeworthy and the pace is off. To be honest, I really struggled to finish this book, but persevered in the hope that things would improve. Sadly that didn't happen.
With thanks to Mel. NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Brian Rix is the only thing missing!
However, although all the elements are there for a jolly good laugh, somehow, the whole thing falls short like a damp squib or perhaps more aptly, soggy rhubarb.
Is it that there is a cast of thousands, or just that they are mostly unlikeable? The story is really fragmented. The language cringeworthy and the pace is off. To be honest, I really struggled to finish this book, but persevered in the hope that things would improve. Sadly that didn't happen.
With thanks to Mel. NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm a fan of Mel as a presenter — she's brilliantly funny on screen, so I went into this one with high expectations but that humour didn't quite translate to the page.
The premise is fun: a youth theatre outreach programme, an eccentric cast, and a storyline that leans fully into farce (intentionally, I think!). The main protagonist was Miranda-esque and the one-liners, puns, quips and innuendos came thick and fast. Overall it felt too contrived and sadly nothing made me laugh out loud, which is what I was hoping for most.
There's definitely potential in the premise and the farcical tone, and fans who love a broad, quip-a-minute comic style may well get on with it better than I did. For me, though, it just didn't quite land.
The premise is fun: a youth theatre outreach programme, an eccentric cast, and a storyline that leans fully into farce (intentionally, I think!). The main protagonist was Miranda-esque and the one-liners, puns, quips and innuendos came thick and fast. Overall it felt too contrived and sadly nothing made me laugh out loud, which is what I was hoping for most.
There's definitely potential in the premise and the farcical tone, and fans who love a broad, quip-a-minute comic style may well get on with it better than I did. For me, though, it just didn't quite land.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I struggled with this book as I love the author and her work but the story just didn’t appeal to me as a reader.
I found that the plot was sedentary and difficult to follow, with characters that I struggled to keep up with, what their role was within the book and in conjunction with each other.
I did enjoy the idea of the book, where a community gets together to stage a play in a local theatre and the amusing antics that follow; some of the story was amusing, harking back to the characters in the past and how their lives have evolved.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found that the plot was sedentary and difficult to follow, with characters that I struggled to keep up with, what their role was within the book and in conjunction with each other.
I did enjoy the idea of the book, where a community gets together to stage a play in a local theatre and the amusing antics that follow; some of the story was amusing, harking back to the characters in the past and how their lives have evolved.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2026
Gill Piper has returned to Leatherhead after twenty years away. She dreamed of stardom on the stage and still does, but life hasn't quite worked out. Now, armed with her passion and a lot of ideas, she has returned to the theatre that she performed in as a child to run the Youth Theatre. Still in situ is her nemesis, Carla, a washed-up diva who runs the theatre with a rod of iron.
I really wanted to like this book but found it very difficult to enjoy. The premise is good and the cast of characters potentially good but it isn't as funny as it wants to be. The jokes are obvious and very heavy-handed.
I really wanted to like this book but found it very difficult to enjoy. The premise is good and the cast of characters potentially good but it isn't as funny as it wants to be. The jokes are obvious and very heavy-handed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews