Nesting for Beginners

by Julia Tuffs, Katherine Parkinson (Narrator)

“Before we say anything else I want you all to know that we love you ver-”

Joanie’s marriage is on the rocks - her husband Tom has been sleeping at his brother’s place, her eldest is off to uni, and her job is about to be made redundant.

In an attempt save the family unit, Joanie and Tom agree to give ‘nesting’ a try, taking it in turns to live in the family home, without the other. But what seems like an ideal solution quickly descends into a domestic nightmare - squabbles over toilet roll, runaway children, and walking in on your partner with someone new…

No matter how hard they try to navigate this new shared space apart, the problems that brought them here refuse to go away, and soon it becomes impossible to stop the debris from their new life crashing in.

As new winds blow, Joanie and Tom must learn how far can you fly from the nest before you lose your way back to it for good.

From the author of 45 Things to do Before You’re 45, Julia Tuffs delivery another hilarious and heartfelt account of modern love and life and the courage to rewrite your own story. Narrated by British comedy icon, Katherine Parkinson (star of Rivals and The IT Crowd), Nesting for Beginners is a refreshing middle aged rom-com in reverse, perfect for fans of Bridget Jones and Outnumbered.

Genres: Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published January 1, 2026

Reviews

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! This is how you create a first-person POV narrative. It crackles and sparkles throughout and lets us see pretty much all of Joanie's traits, good and bad.

A marriage grown stale, a new beginning that seems all sparkly. And it is... until it isn't. So what is Joanie's fix from here? I adored every minute of this, especially as actor Katherine Parkinson's performance was superb. As good as it gets :)

[Sophie Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, easy, enjoyable audiobook. Probably the equivalent of a rom-com for women in their 40s who might be feeling a bit under-appreciated and restless with their lives/jobs/relationships. The main character’s disastrous forays into dating made me laugh, whilst also making a good point of how some time and distance from a situation can help you to view your life differently and perhaps appreciate what you’d previously taken for granted.

[Melissa Hayes-Norskog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved listening to this- a true reminder that we can find our way through challenges- even to the brink of us thinking that our marriage is indeed over, and that we are capable of bringing back what was always there through forgiveness and love.
Thank you for a funny and warm look at marriage on the brink.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨

I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed this, as this isn’t set up to be relatable for a 20 something, never been married & has no kids.

However, even though I’ve not experienced any of this, I understood all the thoughts & feelings to why they’ve got in this position & why they do the flawed things that they do. I think the imperfections they had, especially the parents, made for this to be a more realistic story. I’ve definitely seen and heard of relationships being like this, even with my own I could relate in some ways.

Sometimes you do flawed things thinking it’s protecting you & others, when really you’re hurting yourself without even meaning to. I loved that so many of the characters in this story had so much growth and how the story showed how other people’s mind work, how your morals can align with someone but sometimes people are willing to bend around those when they see there’s enough validation for it.

There’s a quote from another book I read that I thought about while reading this.

“Think about who you are and what sacrifices you can live with and what will break you.”

Oh and I absolutely loved the ending to this story.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this complimentary listen from audible.
It was an easy listen with a good main protagonist even if it was unrealistic

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, funnier than I expected it to be. Very well performed, had a good story and relatable characters.

[Emma Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, real and poignant

I didn't so much listen to this, as drink it in. Joanie is such a relatable and likeable character that I loved being in her head. Tuffs takes an interesting situation - Joanie and her estranged husband Tom alternating living at home with their children a week at a time - and uses it to really explore what marriage is.

Between Joanie's friends, colleagues and the women she meets at her new part-time apartment, there are a cast of hilarious supporting characters which make this also a novel about friendship. It was life-out-loud funny, but also poignant. At the end, I had a huge lump in my throat.

Narrated by the brilliant Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd) this novel was an absolute delight. Five easy stars.

[Edrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty random, but I think after a historical fiction it’s nice to read something more contemporary. A middle aged woman getting (almost) divorced and then laid off! Omg, isn’t that a horror story. The nightmare of trying to date new people is portrayed so well, I love the details in the writing. If the story didn’t get resolved in the way it did I would be depressed. Towards the end the writer reiterated the main takeaway through multiple characters’ mouths which was a bit unnecessary. Also I realized how it was the exact same story as TJR’s After I Do.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book over a weekend. The narrator was good. The story felt like a very real account of a woman realizing she isnt happy with her life. She shakes her life up by separating from her husband. The FMC got on my nerves through parts of it bc she wasnt happy with her husband and then when he stepped up she wasnt happy about that either. But I think it all came together in the end.

[Patricia Power · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nesting for Beginners by Julia Tuffs on audible. In a bit of a reading slump so decided on something light and easy …….and that it was. Joanie and Tom split up and try ‘Nesting’ so as not to disrupt their children. Nestling is where the children stay at home and the parents rotate in and out. So we go on a journey with them, analyse the break up, come to terms with it and each other and ultimately look to the future . Nice easy read with a chick lit warning 😂

[Nav · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable easy read based on Joanie Mitchell who is separating from her husband Tom and experimenting with nesting, so the kids stay in the family house and they take turns living at home and a flat nearby in rotation, the ups and downs with kids, work, friends and new relationships, very funny and light hearted.

[Donna Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I did like this story. It did focus on quite a few stereotypes, the worst one being; Mother in her 40’s, is a bit of a blithering idiot, and all serious or uncomfortable situations can only be met by drinking alcohol, of course that would be wine, gin, or champagne. Regardless of this, i loved the supporting characters and enjoyed the outcome.

[Roksolana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice book that explores the development of marriage and mid-life crisis. The stories were real and funny. The phases that both Tom and Joane went through built a compelling story and the resolution made sense in the end.
This book deserves a rom com film adaptation.

[Kate Marvelyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much from this book as it was just a free audible one. However, I ended up really enjoying it. It was a good look at long term relationships and how the stresses of family life and personal baggage get in the way.

[Carrie Silvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2*

[J. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in a very long time. Funny and moving in equal measure. A joy from start to finish.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

something very different and I really enjoyed it.

[Rob Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

hilariously funny in places, very interesting idea and how it all plays out.

[Hilary Cockshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Ben Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny, real and satisfying audiobook (and a freebie from Audible!)

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually suprisingly loved this.

[sam dinsmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic. funny and so well performed

[Mark Beer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story following a family as the parents separate and how adjusting to life with nesting. Some really funny parts with friends and family, and very sweet.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this audiobook. It was written in such an engaging way with great character evolution. I flew through it and was intrigued throughout. It's free for Audible users, highly recommend!

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. So funny, so observant. Perfectly narrated, a complete joy to listen to.