Laura Clark is even niet beschikbaar:

by Helen Russell, Rosalyn van Moorselaar (Translator)

Voor haar collega’s op kantoor is Laura een manusje-van-alles. Terwijl ze officieel toch echt een hr-manager is.

Voor haar aan golf verslaafde echtgenoot en haar aan selfies verslaafde tienerdochter is ze de vrouw die het avondeten op tafel zet – en daarna de keuken opruimt.

Voor haar bejaarde moeder is ze de vrouw die eindeloos naar haar klachten luistert, zoals een dochter hoort te doen.

Maar nu is het genoeg! Op een dag komt Laura niet opdagen op haar werk en moet iedereen het doen met een out-of-office die niet vermeldt wanneer ze er weer is. Al snel verzanden de geordende levens van de mensen om Laura heen in complete chaos en wordt duidelijk hoeveel ze iedereen uit handen nam. Waar is Laura naartoe? Is er iets ergs met haar gebeurd? Of heeft ze er volledig de brui aan gegeven en eindelijk voor zichzelf gekozen? Komt ze ooit nog terug?

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Contemporary, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 7, 2026

About the author

Helen Russell is a bestselling author, journalist, speaker and host. Formerly editor of marieclaire.co.uk turned Scandinavia correspondent for the Guardian, her first book, The Year of Living Danishly, became an international bestseller, optioned for television. She's the author of five critically acclaimed books, translated into 21 languages.

Helen writes for magazines and newspapers globally, including The Times and The Sunday Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, the Observer, Metro, Grazia, Stylist and Stella. She’s spent the last ten years studying cultural approaches to emotions and now speaks about her work internationally.

Reviews

[Engrossed Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been an interesting read. A little bit too close to the nose but the comedic touches gave it distance and the opportunity to reflect.

No one is indispensable, however it is possible that the space they occupied may never be filled in the same way. And in some respects that is a good thing, new blood, new ideas and room for growth. Often it's only absence that make people appreciate what they had

Yet Laura was the main support, no let's call it like it is the backbone of most relationships and interactions she had. The level of stress she was under could easily have led to burnout and a catastrophic breakdown. Rather than this planned quiet withdrawal.

But I think she caused some of this herself by taking everything on or getting tired of waiting for someone else to pick up the slack. Her husband and daughter had no life skills, they could barely function when she left. How can you not know how to use a washing machine - the instructions are literally on the outside or make an edible meal, YouTube anyone, recipe books, meal packs? She stopped being a wife and mother and took on the role of servant, cleaner, housekeeper, personal assistant, cheerleader, going over and beyond to offer the service that she wished to receive at the expense of her own wellbeing.

This was a depiction of a woman who was disappointed by life and tired of her circumstances, compartmentalised to not face reality until she was ready/able to do so. Or circumstances forced her to. In the meantime, she made her life so busy that she didn't have the time to stop and think 'I know I'm not happy, what can I do to change that'. When there were obvious steps like divorcing her husband setting boundaries in personal and professional life, getting a new job.


Whilst I enjoyed this read, it was all very neatly wrapped up and almost fairy tale ish. And ending as it did with no real conclusion and consequences made me realise that the dialogue had more substance than the plot. I didn't like the outcome of Ian's treasure hunt nor the post man arc, but appreciated the accuracy of a woman fed up.

My thanks to Netgalley, publisher and the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review. Reviews are my own rambling thoughts.

[cursedb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. One of its biggest strengths is the way it tells Laura’s story through the perspectives of the people around her rather than through her own voice. Laura is the kind of character who feels instantly recognizable. She could be someone we know, our mother, our sister, a friend, or even ourselves. That’s what makes the novel so effective. It quietly highlights the invisible emotional and practical labor that so many women carry every day, while reminding us that the people who keep everything running have their own needs, feelings, and inner lives that often go unnoticed. I also liked the ending. It wasn’t particularly surprising, but I don’t think it was meant to be. The story wasn’t built around a shocking twist. Instead, it was about making the reader reflect on how easily we take people for granted until they’re no longer there. The only aspect that occasionally felt exaggerated to me was Laura’s husband and daughter. At times, their dependence on her bordered on caricature. Still, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there are people who genuinely lack basic life skills and rely almost entirely on someone else to hold everything together. So while it sometimes felt like hyperbole, it wasn’t entirely unbelievable either. Overall, I thought this was a thoughtful, compassionate novel with an important message. It made me appreciate the countless invisible things people do for those they love, and how often those efforts go unnoticed until they’re gone.

[Chelsea Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Clark is Away From Her Desk, by Helen Russell, is the story of a middle aged woman who chooses herself after a lifetime of caring for others.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Laura’s coworker, her husband, her daughter, her best friend, and her doctor, we learn over the course of the story that Laura is the glue that holds the people around her together. She cares for others so well that they don’t even really notice, let alone appreciate, all she does for them.

Until, one day, Laura is suddenly gone, and those around her are left panicking and fumbling under the weight of daily life responsibilities they previously didn’t need to bear as they were all piled on Laura.

This story was sharp, funny, and surprisingly pleasant and lighthearted while also exploring the large mental, emotional, and physical load of caregiving that women often disproportionately carry. In many ways this story reminded me of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, although Laura is much nicer and much less rich.

Parts of me wish that those around Laura hadn’t been such extreme versions of inept/thoughtless/helpless humans…personally I would have been curious to see how inequitable divisions of labor play out in subtler situations—where those around you seem nice enough, so it’s hard to put a finger on why you feel so exhausted. Instead, those around Laura, especially her husband and employer, seem borderline cruel in how they treat her as someone who exists merely to make their life easier. Although perhaps what we learn about Laura’s relationship with her mother illustrates how Laura was conditioned to put up with this from the very beginning—after all, if as a child love equals bending to the whims of others and making yourself useful in order to stay in the family, that’s what you do. Some love is better than none, isn’t it? Until maybe it isn’t…

Overall, an enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire (an imprint of Headline Books) for this digital ARC. Publication date July 30th, 2026!

[Dori Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart, funny (laugh out loud at times), relatable and so good. The characters are well written with vivid personalities. You can’t help but understand Laura. You’ll want to rage at the world but laugh while doing it.

And the Ian character really grows on you.

By the second half I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you Headline Books and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Clark is all things to all men. As a 40 something she is mum to her actual daughter, her husband, mother, her work colleagues, her neighbours and anyone else who has decided to take advantage of her, but today she is not responding. Not even reading her messages. Out of office on.
Laura is captivating by her absence, the lives of others around her crumbling because she is not there to sort it out for them. For most of the novel you only know about her through the reactions of others. She is described only as being shorter than her daughter and favouring oatmeal, meaning beige.
I thought this book would be funny but I found it dreadfully bleak in a compelling way. I think women in big jobs with way too many responsibilities will inevitably see themselves and feel the call of leaving it all behind and running away, if that is what Laura did.

I was absolutely captivated throughout and that was genuinely one of the best books I've ever read.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review
5 stars is not enough stars

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 stars


A unique concept for me as the main character that the book focuses on isn’t actually present in the book/dialogue itself as such which was very intriguing.

Multiple view points between colleagues, family and friends which kept you on your toes, I did sometimes find this hard to keep up with but is pretty essential to the story.

I did struggle at times with the plot itself just as we spend quite a bit of time hearing a lot about people’s incompetence and inadequacies, some of this may have been able to be snipped out as it did feel a little drawn out at points.

The message of the book does shine through in that a lot of the things that people do go unnoticed until they are no longer there to do them and that essentially you don’t truly know what you have until it’s gone.

Overall an enjoyable read and a nice change of pace from some of the other books on the market.

Thank you NetGalley, Headline & Hatchette for my advanced copy

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and silly book but I really loved it. This novel made me reflect on my own personal relationships as well as how we are each viewed in society especially work culture. I loved the humor and was constantly entertained!! Thank you for approving my request and allowing me to read this book! It is probably one of my favorites this year so far!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐿𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑎 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑝 𝑘𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑟. 𝐻𝑒𝑡 𝑘𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑛.

Een maandag ochtend in juni. Laura komt niet opdagen op kantoor en niemand heeft énig idee waar Laura zich kan bevinden. Haar man en dochter hebben geen idee waar ze is en ook vriendin Ruth maakt zich zorgen. Wáár is Laura?!

Wat een uniek boek is dit! Laura is létterlijk even niet beschikbaar. Het hele boek draait om Laura, maar Laura is er niet. Ze komt nergens opdagen en niemand weet waar ze is. Ze heeft letterlijk al haar werk uit handen laten vallen en is met de noorderzon vertrokken. Je leert Laura kennen door de ogen van de andere personages.

En dit levert humoristische situaties op. Haar man en dochter zitten met de handen in het haar, het huis verandert in een chaos. Ruth heeft advies nodig. Op kantoor hebben ze haar nodig want Laura die deed álles beseffen ze nu. Door de humor in het boek heb ik echt een aantal keer hardop zitten lachen 🤣

Toch zit er in dit boek ook een serieuze ondertoon. Want waarom is Laura weg? Onderwerpen als depressie, eenzaamheid, voor jezelf kiezen en verwachtingspatronen komen in dit boek aan bod maar worden op een fijne manier gebracht. De humor maakt het luchtig. Boodschap die het boek wel meegeeft is dat je écht wel eens wat vaker aan jezelf mag denken en niet altijd alles maar op je hoeft te nemen 😉

Ik vloog door het boek heen. Het leest gemakkelijk weg. Je leest van situatie naar situatie wat ik erg leuk vond. Het boek is perfect voor iedereen die even wil lachen om de chaos van altijd maar alles moeten regelen.

𝗩𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗼𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗽 𝘃𝗿𝗶𝗷𝗱𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗴 𝟭𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝘂𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗻𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘁 '𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗲𝗱' 𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗽: 𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂.

@boekerij ontzettend bedankt voor dit recensie exemplaar, ik heb ervan genoten.

[Cadence Boudreaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was one of the arcs i was crossing my fingers and toes for and i feel that i was just completely not on the right track with the description versus actual plot ! Maybe that’s me not reading the description well enough. I like what it was trying to do, unfortunately i feel like we spent way tooooo much time on just how incapable all the people were . Like i didn’t need four hundred pages to get the point .

I liked the ending, i liked the message! I was just very very bored for majority of the book and quite frustrated with everyone .

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just wasn't for me. I liked the idea of the book. The summary sounded so good but I just was never very interested.

The characters were unlikable and uninteresting to me. I felt like so many of the things they did were ridiculous.

I did like the ending and appreciated what the author was trying to show.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

[Melli · Rating 1 out of 5]

The formatting of this book made it difficult to read. I also did not enjoy the constantly shifting POV. A good idea really but poor execution.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for the woman who doe it all, every day, every week, every month and every year and does it while being mostly invisible. It is laugh out loud funny and outrageous but also a bit (read: very) on the nose. Laura Clark, an mid-level HR employee, managers the childish employees she works with (incapable of doing mostly anything without her) as well as her self-absorbed golf-obsessed husband and her 19 year-old daughter (neither of whom knows how to start the washer let alone use the toaster properly). When Laura doesn't show up at work one day, and her colleagues notice she has an automated response on her email that she is away from her desk (and not on the calendar), they're flummoxed and annoyed but not overly concerned, except for Ian. Ian, a very methodical, regimented, precise man who takes note of everything Laura does. , Her husband is mostly annoyed his dinner isn't ready and his laundry isn't done and-oh-does he really have to take the dog outside? When Laura is away for more than a few days, Ian sounds the alarm and Mark, Laura's husband, grudgingly agrees to contact the police. What ensues is a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Told with satire and wit, Laura Clark is Away from Her Desk will resonate with readers who have wanted to press pause for a bit and step away,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 ⭐️

Chapter 1 opens with 'Laura wasn't there' followed by a typical office scene where a group of adults are slightly confused by her absence and this sets the tone for the book. Alongside Laura's coworkers, we have several chapters which focus on her home (husband and daughter Sian) her mother Carol and best friend, Ruth.

I had no idea where this book would go even knowing the title. Without given away any spoilers, the book title tells us that Laura is out of office but it seems she is missing from the lives of all who know her.

To me, this book highlights the matriarch in both home and office environments and the downfall when they are not there propping others up. Although Laura is the book's namesake we only spend a very short amount of time with character and it focuses very much on the impact she has on other others. The book is all about the development of the other key players in Laura's life, propelled by her disappearance.

I enjoyed this read and I definitely became more invested as the book went on. I felt the pace of the book ramped up about halfway through and towards the end was more invested in those other than Laura. It is a funny book with some sweetheart characters (love you Ian) and a reminder that life is for living.

[Silke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Folgt…

[Eline Lambeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3,5

[Dani M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura is taken advantage of by everyone in her home life and work life, so one day she decides to turn on her Out of Office and not show up to work.

Her husband and teenage daughter soon crumble without her, as well as her office job colleagues, her best friend, her elderly mother and her needy neighbour.

This book was really funny and felt so relatable. Told from multiple POVs, not including the main character for most of the book, it makes you wonder how the people in your own life would cope without you.

The ending did leave me wanting more though!

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook, all opinions are my own.

[Helen-Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun concept. A witty and enjoyable read. I think we all feel like Laura Clark at one time or another in our lives.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Hughes Is Away From Her Desk – 3 Stars

I started this novel with high expectations, especially after reading the synopsis and the early reviews. Almost immediately, though, I found myself feeling frustrated and even angry — not because the writing was weak, but because it was too effective.

Watching how the people around Laura responded to her absence was deeply upsetting. Her husband, daughter and mother seemed to center their concern on how they were affected, rather than on Laura herself. The same was true of her colleagues, whose reactions focused almost entirely on what Laura did for them. As a reader, I kept thinking: did anyone truly see this woman?

It isn’t until well past the midpoint that the characters begin to evolve. This shift starts with Ian, whose growing awareness of Laura’s influence — and his realization that he is capable in his own right — made him more likeable and self-reliant. Gradually, others follow: her husband and daughter begin to take initiative and show pride as they learn to cope with Laura’s absence.

Throughout much of the book, my recurring thought was, did this woman ever get to experience happiness in her life at all? That question lingered heavily — and intentionally. When we finally meet Laura, I felt a sense of hope that had been missing for much of the story, and that hope is what ultimately earned this book three stars.

While this wasn’t an easy or comfortable read for me, it’s clear the author is a talented writer. The emotional response this book provoked speaks to the strength of the storytelling, even when it made me deeply uncomfortable.

[Poppy Sookunah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura is carrying the mental load for everyone in her life. Naturally, her husband and colleagues are concerned when she goes missing — who will ensure that dinner is on the table, and organise the office birthday cakes?

I raced through this, it’s funny and compelling, with many flawed characters. I found the husband difficult to reconcile because he was so exaggerated (but there are men with so few redeeming qualities sadly).

I loved the multiple POV which didn’t include Laura until the very end, tantalisingly — great storytelling.

[Azyria Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlich frei!

Worum geht’s?

Der Aufzug ist kaputt. Der Kühlschrank ist leer. Im Büro stapelt sich die Arbeit. Eigentlich ist alles wie immer. Nur Laura Clark, Mutter, Ehefrau, Kollegin und Mädchen für alles, ist nicht da, um sich um all diese Dinge zu kümmern. Hat sie ihre Familie wirklich im Stich gelassen und sich einfach aus dem Staub gemacht?

Meine Meinung:

Helen Russells Roman „Laura Clark ist dann mal weg“ erzählt auf den ersten Blick nichts Außergewöhnliches. Es ist keine spektakuläre Geschichte, kein großes Drama. Eigentlich begleitet man nur den ganz normalen Alltag in Familie und Büro. Und genau das macht dieses Buch so besonders. Denn es trifft einen Punkt, den vermutlich unzählige Frauen nur allzu gut kennen: den ständigen Spagat zwischen Familie, Haushalt, Beruf und all den unsichtbaren Aufgaben, die nebenbei ganz selbstverständlich erledigt werden.

Wir lernen Lauras Kollegen kennen, allen voran Ian, der im Laufe der Geschichte wohl die größte Entwicklung durchmacht. Dazu kommen ihre Mutter Carol, für die es völlig selbstverständlich ist, Laura jederzeit einzuspannen, Tochter Sian und Ehemann Mark, deren Alltag plötzlich komplett aus den Fugen gerät, sowie ihre beste Freundin Ruth, die als alleinerziehende Mutter von Zwillingen selbst kaum noch weiß, wie sie alles schaffen soll.

Ich mochte die Figuren wirklich sehr. Sie wirken herrlich normal, mit ihren Stärken, Schwächen und kleinen Eigenheiten. Gerade diese Authentizität sorgt für viele wunderbar amüsante Situationen. Gleichzeitig verbindet sie alle etwas: Sie haben Laura viel zu lange als selbstverständlich angesehen. Umso spannender fand ich es zu beobachten, wie plötzlich nichts mehr von allein funktionierte. Aufgaben verschwanden eben nicht einfach wie durch Zauberhand, Probleme lösten sich nicht mehr von selbst und jeder musste sich auf einmal mit Dingen beschäftigen, über die vorher kaum jemand nachgedacht hatte. Besonders interessant war dabei zu sehen, wie unterschiedlich die einzelnen Charaktere auf diese neue Situation reagieren. Und erst ganz am Ende bekommt schließlich auch Laura selbst eine Stimme. Erst dann erfahren wir, wie es ihr wirklich geht und weshalb sie diesen Schritt gegangen ist.

Alles in allem lebt dieses Buch weder von spektakulärer Comedy noch von großen Überraschungen. Es erzählt vielmehr eine Geschichte, die erschreckend nah am echten Leben ist. Eine Geschichte darüber, dass jeder Mensch gesehen werden möchte. Nicht nur als Mutter, Ehefrau oder Kollegin, sondern einfach als Mensch. Es erinnert daran, dass Fürsorge, Organisation und all die kleinen Dinge des Alltags eben nicht selbstverständlich sind. Gleichzeitig ist es unglaublich angenehm zu lesen, warmherzig und gemütlich. Natürlich hätte der Roman an manchen Stellen noch etwas humorvoller sein können. Aber braucht er das wirklich? Für mich nicht. Er erzählt von deinem Leben, meinem Leben und dem Alltag unzähliger Frauen, die sich manchmal einfach wünschen, für einen Moment all ihre Verpflichtungen hinter sich lassen zu können. Zwischen den Zeilen würdigt das Buch all das, was tagtäglich geleistet wird, ohne dass es jemand bemerkt. Und zwischen den Zeilen fühlt es sich wie ein „Dankeschön“.

Mir hat der Roman wirklich gut gefallen. Er liest sich angenehm, die Figuren entwickeln sich glaubwürdig weiter und auch die Auflösung war für mich absolut nachvollziehbar. Denn mal ehrlich: Is That All There Is?!

Fazit:

„Laura Clark ist dann mal weg“ von Helen Russell ist ein warmherziger, lebensnaher Roman über all die unsichtbaren Aufgaben, die so oft still und selbstverständlich übernommen werden. Mit authentischen Figuren, viel Wiedererkennungswert und einer Geschichte, die zum Schmunzeln, Nachdenken und manchmal auch zum Innehalten einlädt, zeigt das Buch, wie wichtig Wertschätzung im Alltag ist. Eine ruhige, kluge Geschichte, die gerade durch ihre Ehrlichkeit berührt.

5 Sterne von mir.

[Vero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wenn unsichtbare Arbeit plötzlich sichtbar wird:
Gesellschaftskritik mit Witz und Leichtigkeit

"Bei Glühlampen war er gut. Er war gut darin, zu erkennen, wenn eine durchgebrannt war. Er war gut darin, nach oben zu greifen, sie aus der Fassung zu drehen und die Ersatzlampe hineinzuschrauben. Solange Laura daran dachte, die richtigen Glühlampen zu kaufen, hatte Mark den Laden fest im Griff."

Laura war immer da und hat sich um alle und alles gekümmert. Bis sie es eines Tages nicht mehr tut. Laura ist weg, spurlos verschwunden. Ihr Ehemann Mark, ihre Tochter Sian, ihre Mutter, ihre Kollegen und Kolleginnen – alle sind vollkommen aufgeschmissen ohne Laura, nichts läuft mehr ohne sie, alles geht den Bach runter: Ihre Familie hat nichts zu essen, keine gewaschene Kleidung zum Anziehen, der Hund wird nicht mehr Gassi geführt und erleichtert sich im Haus. Im Büro kümmert sich niemand um den defekten Fahrstuhl, die anfallenden Aufgaben werden nicht erledigt, der anstehende Betriebsausflug nicht vorbereitet.

Abwechselnd begleiten wir Mark, Sian, Lauras Kollegen Ian bei ihrem Kampf mit dem Alltag ohne Laura, was mich anfangs erheitert hat, mit der Zeit zu Kopfschütteln und Unglauben führte und schließlich Wut und Empörung auslöste. Laura hat sich für die Menschen in ihrem Umfeld aufgeopfert und doch nie ein Dankeschön erhalten, sie und ihr Engagement galten als selbstverständlich und wurden gar nicht erst gesehen; sie war eben immer da, „wie die Tapete.“ (ihre Kollegin Chloe über Laura).

Lediglich Lauras beste Freundin Ruth sieht und weiß, was Laura in den verschiedenen Bereichen ihres Lebens alles leistet, und kann ihr Verschwinden nachvollziehen: „[Sie] [h]atte es ein Jahr nach dem anderen hingenommen, übersehen und unterschätzt zu werden.“

Lauras Tochter Sian ist die erste, die irgendwann Einsicht zeigt und das Verschwinden ihrer Mutter mit der fehlenden Wertschätzung in Zusammenhang bringt, gefolgt von Lauras Kollegen Ian. Die Entwicklung der beiden Figuren hat mir gut gefallen und war ein kleiner Lichtblick bei den größtenteils doch eher unsympathischen Charakteren.

Der Schreibstil ist zugänglich und mitreißend, der Humor perfekt: voller Ironie, Sarkasmus und scharfer Beobachtungen. Die Reflektionen über Care Arbeit, mental load und Mutterschaft anhand von Zeitungsartikeln und durch Ruth sind mühelos und natürlich in die Geschichte eingebunden, ohne belehrend zu wirken, und haben mir gut gefallen.

Das Ende - das ich bis zum Schluss so nicht erwartet habe - war großartig und hat perfekt zur Geschichte passt

Die Idee, die Kritik an Rollenerwartungen an Frauen und Mütter sowie fehlender Wertschätzung und Anerkennung für Care Arbeit und mental load nicht explizit zu äußern, sondern durch das Ausbrechen aus und Wegfallen eben jener sichtbar zu machen, fand ich originell und genial. Dadurch kann das Buch möglicherweise auch solche Lesenden erreichen, die auf oben genannte Kritik eher ablehnend reagieren.

„Laura Clark ist dann mal weg“ war ein humorvolles Lesevergnügen mit einer klugen und wichtigen Botschaft, und ich kann es nur empfehlen!

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such fun to listen to. I think a lot of women will sympathise with Laura. She is mum, wife, daughter, neighbour, friend and colleague but no-one seems to appreciate that she is also just Laura. Until one day she doesn’t turn up for work and her out of office reads Laura Clark is Away From Her Desk. She may be some time. In the immortal words of Peggy Lee, Laura had begun to wonder “Is that all there is?“

In what is quite an unusual way of telling the story, Laura features because of her absence rather than her presence. We hear very little from Laura herself other than a few postcards and messages from her younger life. Instead, we get to know about her through the way her family, friends and colleagues perceive her. It’s not until she’s not there, that people realise just how much she did quietly in the background. She organised everything so efficiently that no-one seemed to notice that things were actually being organised. It was so funny watching everyone suddenly realise how much they relied on Laura and how their lives just didn’t run so smoothly without them being around.

Laura’s husband Mark was awful! He was completely inept and didn’t seem to value or even know his wife at all. Her mother Carol (TN – if you know, you know) was just as bad. It did seem at times that not many people were that worried that Laura had vanished with no word. It was a while before anyone even seemed to consider that perhaps she should actually be reported missing! Some of the characters really stepped up though once they realised that Laura wasn’t around and her absence made them re-evaluate their own lives. Notable among these are her daughter Sian and her colleague Ian.

I so enjoyed Fenella Fudge’s narration. I knew her voice sounded familiar and a bit of investigation showed she used to read the news on Radio 2 which I used to listen to all the time. So it was lovely to hear her voice again. She has a very pleasant voice to listen to and seemed to capture the feel of the various characters very well. She had a few accents to contend with too which she managed admirably.

I’m sure many readers will be cheering Laura on, perhaps wishing that they too could be ‘away from their desk’ for a while and I’m sure that many will identify with her feeling of not being seen. Laura Clark is Away From Her Desk was such an entertaining book to listen to. The ending was very satisfying but of course, I’m not saying anything about that!

[F.M. Winkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Idee hinter dem Roman hat mir richtig gut gefallen. Die Mutter, Ehefrau, Kollegin, die ohne ein Wort zu verlieren aussteigt und einen Cut macht. Unglaublich mutig und spannend umgesetzt.
Niemand weiß, wo Laura steckt. Zu Beginn realisieren sie nicht mal richtig, dass sie weg ist. Erst weil es kein Abendessen gibt, der Kühlschrank leer ist, Erledigungen im Büro ausbleiben. Eine Frau auf diese Funktionserfüllung zu reduzieren, ist ebenso erschreckend wie alltäglich.
Man hat den anderen richtig gegönnt, dass sie selbst den Hintern hochbekommen und ihren Kram regeln müssen, Verantwortung für ihr Leben übernehmen. Weil sie 95 % des Romans einnehmen, hat man sie allesamt gut kennengelernt, teils verstanden, teils verabscheut, aber es war schön, wie zumindest die Tochter an sich gewachsen ist bzw mit ihren 19 Jahren erstmals die Möglichkeit hatte, erwachsen zu werden, weil nicht mehr alles für sie erledigt wird.
Den Ehemann fand ich so furchtbar, keine Ahnung, wie man ihn nicht verlassen kann, er ist wie ein zweites Kind, nur unfähiger als das richtige.
Ich habe gut verstanden, dass Laura diesem grauen Alltag entfliehen wollte und glaube, dass ihr kein  Verständnis entgegengebracht worden wäre, hätte sie es kommuniziert. Es war schön zu lesen, dass sie ihre Tochter nachholen möchte.
Zum ersten Mal lebt sie für sich und kann das Leben genießen, ohne verurteilt zu werden per abliefern zu müssen.
Die Message hinter dem Roman hat mir richtig gut gefallen, für so manchen, der in dieser Schiene feststeckt, wird es sicher ein Weckruf sein, was ich liebe. Er trifft ins Schwarze, ist authentisch, liest sich stellenweise wie Satire, was es noch unheimlicher macht, dass es eben keine ist, sondern absolut realistisch.
Mir persönlich hätte es gefallen, hätten wir mehr von Laura kennengelernt, also nicht erst in den letzten Seiten, sondern vielleicht mal Szenen aus der Vergangenheit oder Einschübe mit Gedankengängen. Dass es mehr um sie selbst geht als um ihr Fehlen. Aber vielleicht kann das Buch nur auf diese Weise so richtig wirken.
Eine Leseempfehlung für alle, die mit ihrer aktuellen,  vlt festgefahrenen nicht ganz glücklich sind und sich mehr vom Leben wünschen als das Rädchen in einem veralteten System zu sein, das die Bedürfnisse und das Glück des Einzelnen viel zu oft hinten anstellt.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unappreciated and absent - consequences and validation.

A lot of words there for a simple concept - what happens to the family and colleagues of a woman who's 'away from her desk'? Laura was an HR manager, mother to a college-dropout daughter, wife to a golf pro husband. But her Out of Office says she's away. Her fridge is swiftly emptying and she's not answering her phone. Nobody, not even her best friend, now struggling with newborn twins in her 40s, knows where Laura is.

The set-up in brilliant, any woman my age will revel and get out the popcorn to watch the fallout, some expected and some less so, as everyone left behind grapples with the workload of someone who seems now like Superwoman - just how DID Laura manage to stay on top of all the work questionnaires, reports and away days? While staying on top of the washing, shopping, household repairs, dog clean-up and cooking at home?! Not to mention the fairly odious and needy Mother/grandmother.

And why is she not still there to do it??

We don't meet Laura, the whole novel (bar a few postcards from her past) is narrated by her subordinates at the office, her husband and daughter, her best friend. We feel we KNOW Laura through their thoughts on her though, the overworked and unsung heroine of a dozen different lives. We also get to know the peripheral characters in her life through their reliance on Laura - pedantic Ian in the HR office. Sian the ungrateful (but quickly becoming less so) daughter struggling with her own future. Pompous and unlikeable Mark, the husband who misses his dinners, his ironed clothes, his easy life.

Loved this, it's validating and amusing watching everyone struggle with just the absence of one person. It reminds you how integral you can be to so many other lives. The reasons Laura has disappeared don't become known until late on in the book, though you suspect early on why she's absented herself. It's a great trip unwinding the past and in particular just how everyone left behind slowly starts to compensate, re-evaluate and acknowledge their past mistakes and neglect.

Great as an audiobook, the voices came across well with one voice and told a satisfying story of regrets, family and finding yourself.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[Andrea Hulme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sharp, witty and clever book, bringing together to many different human emotions and behaviours. I found this to be one of this great observations on life kind of books. Very relatable.

Laura Clark, has become an invisible. In every of life she has become part of the office furniture, a put upon mother and wife at home, even to her best friend, Ruth she was always the Giver in the relationship. So when she disappears one day, it even takes the people around her a long time to figure out what is happening.

Her husband and daughter totally take advantage of her at home, she does everything for them (and Rufus the dog). At work she has been overlooked for promotion for years! Her self centered mother only rings her to complain or when she needs jobs doing. going, Her work colleagues just see her as someone who sorts everything out. But who is looking out for Laura? Not even her friend, Ruth.

There are some seriously laugh out loud moments in the book. I particularly loved the observations and storylines involving Laura's office workers. The behaviours and individuals were so relatable and so familiar to me in many ways. And the chaos that occurs at home as Laura's husband and daughter get to grips with even the most basic domestic parts of life is really funny...and poor Rufus the dog!

The character development is brilliant. I really warmed to Ian, one of Laura's colleagues. But overall the characters were all so well written and identifiable and we really witness some of them growing and becoming more empowered as we progress through the book.

And even though there is comedy and humour throughout the book, I had an emotional response to this book. Laura's health and wellbeing were completely impacted by the people around her. I did keep asking myself if Laura ever found happiness and there's a compelling part of the book where we prise open Laura's true feelings and understand her decision to take control of her own life and leaving it all behind. There is a part of me that would love to leave things behind and seek adventure and experience different things in life.

Fabulous book. I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bee Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I could be good at maths but no one's going to suggest I shouldn't get paid for a job as an investment banker. I don't hear investment bankers saying 'I'll do it for free! I'm just good at it!'"

A book for the women who have been carrying too much for too long, just wishing they could put an out-of-office message on their whole life for a minute and just let it go.

This hilariously relatable tale starts out with our main characters nowhere to be seen; just a slightly uptight colleague thinking about all the rules she's breaking because corporate culture is really just treating adults like unruly children. Her daughter can't get through, nor her husband who isn't sure where the boiler is, her entitled mother or nosy neighbours. Everyone wants something, so it's highly inconvenient.

The mystery of where and why Laura is gone is brilliantly set up, each person we visit with a third-person narration, like we're overlooking the situation, each persons first reaction being an annoyance that Laura isn't there at their beck and call instead of worrying about her uncharacteristic disappearance.

It is deliciously ironic, while everyone flaps about, struggling, wondering where she's gone; we the reader might not know where exactly, but it's painfully obvious that Laura needed a damn break from all these awful people. From the assumption she makes the tea at work, the fact she does everything at home, the incessant expectations that she's 'just better at this stuff' because she's a woman. We both feel like we know her so well and not at all - hearing about her from third parties who clearly don't pay attention to her, interspersed with occasional postcards from her and her bestie from their big moments.

It moves from one scene to the next with excellent pacing, somewhat simple, no-nonsense writing that really works in this context as we move through everyone looking for reason after reason that Laura Clark might be missing.

"Could Laura's disappearance be down to 'women's things'? Or could it be, she thought, that you've been a shitty husband? That Carol's been a shitty mum? That Laura has a shitty time at work? That Laura has a shitty time at home? Could it be, mark, that your wife has just had enough shit?"

[Athirah Idrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be the dutiful daughter, the loyal and obliging wife, the selfless mother, the efficient worker, the empathetic colleague.. These are some of the roles women are expected to play perfectly. No room for flaws or mistakes. The woman is expected to do all this, and not expect anything in return. So what happens when you keep on giving, when everyone around you bosses you around while giving nothing in return, not even basic courtesy to acknowledge you as a person?

So Laura breaks.

What’s interesting is we learn about Laura from the POVs of those around her. Her efforts and contributions were apparent, but nobody took the time to acknowledge or appreciate her. The more I read about other people’s accounts on Laura, the more sympathy I have for her, for being unlucky enough to be surrounded by selfish people who only used her for their convenience. It is sad to see her own selfish mother taking advantage of her, her useless husband and bratty daughter only looking for her when they needed things done, her colleagues who were so reliant on her they basically dropped their own JDs onto Laura’s tray because she was always the problem solver. I was disgusted by the way they felt ENTITLED to have Laura do their bidding, as if Laura was their personal butler, ready at their beck and call. So it’s not surprising to see when Laura decided that she’d had enough.

The saddest thing to me was it took the people around her a long time before they realized Laura was missing. And they only did when things started to go haywire because Laura was not there to manage the mess. Basically they only realized because of her function. They did not remember her, they only remembered she was the one who always put things right again.

It’s refreshing to see a woman’s point of view, especially at an age where she’s deemed to be no longer ‘valuable’ according to society, and yet many things are still imposed on and expected of her. I’m glad I read this.

Thanks to #headline and #netgalley for the advanced copy! This book will be published on 30 July 2026.

[Celine Wu · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, Laura Clark disappears, leaving utter chaos in her wake, because the people in her life are apparently simply that incompetent.

They, and their messes, are both funny and infuriating, with grown adults being unable to feed themselves, work a washing machine, or do their damn jobs. But that’s not all there is to it. There is nuance to these characters and they are well-rounded, though at first glance they seem like mere caricatures.

The humour in this book is rapier sharp and doesn’t let up. It’s shamelessly British (and British humour really is something else), though many references flew over my head.

The author clearly has a deep understanding of people, and that really shines through. The observations she makes on modern life and how one is affected by it, affected by their personalities and upbringing, are cutting. Seeing this interplay and how the characters then handle Laura’s disappearance was my favourite part.

The most amazing thing about this book, though, was that seeing these characters struggle made me want Laura to come back and help them. That the book managed to make me feel this really elevated the experience for me, even though I have mixed feelings about Laura’s absence being the impetus for these people’s personal growth.

My only complaint, in the spirit of making this a balanced review, is the pacing. The last chapter was a somewhat hurried summary of Laura’s week missing. Also, it took half the book for someone to think, “hey, maybe Laura isn’t just off somewhere handling another responsibility and will be back soon?” and contact each other and the police.

I can see why it happened and how, but that it took half the book really hammers the point in.

To sum up, I really didn’t expect to enjoy this book this much, but it really delivers. There’s wit, some mystery, and a whole lot of insight here, mixed up with hijinks and heartache. A winning combination by any means.

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Clark Is Away from Her Desk by Helen Russell was one of those books that made me laugh, get frustrated, and occasionally think “oh… that feels a little too relatable”.

The premise immediately drew me in. Laura is the person everyone relies on - at work, at home, and in her personal life - until one day she simply doesn’t show up. Her out-of-office is switched on and Laura is nowhere to be found. What follows is everyone around her slowly realising just how much she did, and how much they took for granted.

What I really enjoyed was the way this explores the invisible load that so many people, especially women, carry. Laura is the organiser, the fixer, the person who remembers everything before anyone else even realises it needs doing. It was fascinating seeing the people around her try to navigate life without the person who quietly held everything together.

I loved the humour throughout. Helen Russell has a really sharp eye for the ridiculousness of everyday life, and there were plenty of moments that had me laughing while also making me reflect on how often people’s efforts go unnoticed. Underneath the comedy, there’s a much more emotional story about feeling unseen, being valued for what you do rather than who you are, and what happens when someone finally chooses themselves.

The audiobook was a great way to experience this story. The narration by Fenella Fudge brought the different characters to life and captured the humour, frustrations, and emotional moments really well.

If I had one criticism, it’s that some of the characters felt slightly exaggerated at times. I understand that this added to the humour and highlighted the message, but occasionally it pushed things a little further than I personally needed. I also felt the pacing dipped slightly in the middle.

Overall, this was a witty, heartfelt, and very relatable read/listen. It’s funny on the surface, but there’s a lot more underneath about appreciation, identity, and the importance of remembering that the person who does everything for everyone else is still a person too.

Thank you to Helen Russell, Headline/Wildfire, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Mary Lawrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book & had been looking forward to reading it. Laura Clark is one of those annoyingly competent people who is all things to all people. To her family, she is the one who organises the household, arranging everything that needs doing. To her mother she is the dutiful daughter who listens to every one of a long list of complaints. To her work colleagues she is the HR manager who knows everyone, takes care of every detail. To best friend Ruth she is the prop she needs & misses. But by page 150 I’m getting frustrated & bored; all these people are filling up her inbox with messages about things that need doing, but I don’t feel that the story has progressed. Nearly halfway through & I’m no closer to knowing anything genuinely about Laura, beyond a few tantalising hints of things that happened in the past which might explain her disappearance. No-one seems to be concerned about Laura. Yes, I know it’s the point of the story, but there’s not eveny a glimmer of understanding. Everyone takes her for granted but no one takes care of her. I know I can be impatient, but I almost gave up at this point, feeling that too much time was given to setting the scene. I’m keen to get to know more about the mysterious Laura, who she is & what finally tipped her over the edge & sending her running. But I rarely give up so far into a book, especially an arc, & persevered. I’m really glad that I did; I eventually found out more about Laura, felt I understood her & liked her for her bravery & gutsy actions! I do think that it’s a great storyline that just needed a bit more editing. It’s very funny at times, especially accounts of the ineptitude of her husband & daughter when it comes to anything domestic or dog-related. But for me these criticisms mean that I can only give it three stars. This is only my opinion; do read & decide for yourself!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an arc of this book which I am reviewing voluntarily. All opinions are my own.