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The Birthday That Changed Everything
She wanted a birthday surprise, just not the one she got…
The last thing Sally Summers expected from her husband on her special day was that he’d leave her for a Latvian lap dancer half her age. So with her world in tatters, Sally jets off to Turkey for some sun, sea and sanctuary.
The Blue Bay resort brings new friends and the perfect balm for Sally’s broken heart in gorgeous Dubliner James. He’s just the birthday present she needs. And when the chemistry between them continues to spark as the holiday ends, Sally wonders if this is more than just a summer fling.
But James has scars of his own and Sally isn’t quite ready to turn her back on her marriage. This birthday might have changed everything, but what will the next one bring?
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2016
140 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Johnson
31 books908 followersDebbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
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February 6, 2016Decided to DNF this book as I don't think I'm going to enjoy the rest of it. Sadly this just wasn't for me. I found the sex references too gratuitous and did nothing to forward the narrative and, in my opinion, weren't funny and instead just crass.
The characters were just a bunch of over-exaggerated stereotypes: the 40 something woman who's been cheated on who then goes and re-invents herself, the hormonal young daughter, the handsome man who falls head over heels etc.
I hated the character of the daughter - her language and behaviour was abhorrent and unrealistic and I would have expected her to have been punished and kept in line rather than just called names by her own mother.
Also, jokes about her listening to 'suicide songs for beginners' are offensive. I struggle to see why authors and editors continue to allow jokes about mental health to be published.
This book just wasn't for me but I see from other reviews that I am completely in the minority. I have enjoyed Debbie's other books but sadly this one just didn't hit the spot.
The characters were just a bunch of over-exaggerated stereotypes: the 40 something woman who's been cheated on who then goes and re-invents herself, the hormonal young daughter, the handsome man who falls head over heels etc.
I hated the character of the daughter - her language and behaviour was abhorrent and unrealistic and I would have expected her to have been punished and kept in line rather than just called names by her own mother.
Also, jokes about her listening to 'suicide songs for beginners' are offensive. I struggle to see why authors and editors continue to allow jokes about mental health to be published.
This book just wasn't for me but I see from other reviews that I am completely in the minority. I have enjoyed Debbie's other books but sadly this one just didn't hit the spot.
May 26, 2018
A must buy, must read
What did Sally Summers get from her husband for her birthday after seventeen years of marriage? chocolates, flowers, A ring, maybe even a new dress? All wrong.
On Sally Summers special day she gets an email from her husband that he has to take a break and wont be coming home and wants Sally to tell the children. He has a nerve he wants Sally to pack his work shirts.
with all the help in the world about other issues, there are no style guides to help for the wife, like How To Look Good Dumped or What Not To Wear While Confronting Your Probably Cheating Husband.
I have loved reading every page of The Birthday That Changed Everything and will be most definitely be reading more novels by Debbie Johnson. Oh Debbie what a wicked husband Sally Summers had.
What did Sally Summers get from her husband for her birthday after seventeen years of marriage? chocolates, flowers, A ring, maybe even a new dress? All wrong.
On Sally Summers special day she gets an email from her husband that he has to take a break and wont be coming home and wants Sally to tell the children. He has a nerve he wants Sally to pack his work shirts.
with all the help in the world about other issues, there are no style guides to help for the wife, like How To Look Good Dumped or What Not To Wear While Confronting Your Probably Cheating Husband.
I have loved reading every page of The Birthday That Changed Everything and will be most definitely be reading more novels by Debbie Johnson. Oh Debbie what a wicked husband Sally Summers had.
January 25, 2016
Lately, in a relatively short space of time, I've read two of Debbie Johnson's books, and I truly liked them, so when requesting "The Birthday that Changed Everything" and keeping everything crossed to be accepted, I knew that I can expect an entertaining, funny book. But reality has totally, absolutely exceeded my expectations and this book has just Blown. Me. Away.
"The Birthday that Changed Everything" is written purely for entertaining purposes, and believe me, I don't remember laughing so much (SO MUCH) when reading a book. This was totally my kind of humour, also the one that you must read between the lines, and it was full of the most fantastic one - liners, awkward and embarrassing situations but also some more gentle and touching moments.
Because there was not a single thing that I find weaker in this book, let me tell you what I so much enjoyed:
- humour. From the very beginning, with the way Simon dumped Sally (for a moment I had a déjà- vu feeling, as Sue Watson's book "Bella's Christmas Bake Off" started in the same way, with a main character being dumped by her husband almost on the first page, but then the books, apart of the fact that they're both great, are totally different), through the whole story in fact it was laugh out loud funny.
- characters, especially Lucy and Ollie, but all other as well! It was impossible not to like them - well, except for Sally's husband perhaps, although he had his moments as well, and he was exactly as entertaining as the others. When he was in a competition modus for example. To be honest, at the beginning I was outraged with Goth - Lucy, her foul mouth and the way she treated her mother, father, brother and the whole world, but then I got used to her and I started to warm to her so, so much, and to love her foul mouth, loudness and bluntness. Ollie was so, so sweet, such a good boy and I loved him even more after the scene where he got plastered for the first time - it was priceless!
I adored Sally as mother, her stoicism, she knew exactly when she should react and when not. She was so honest and genuine in all that she did or said - no matter if she was heartbroken because her husband has just left her for a 19 - year - old Latvian stripper, or if she was furious with her daughter, or if she was in love - she just felt totally honest.
James. Oh James. Honest, handsome, funny and full of feelings. Also with a past but looking to the future. Not afraid to show those feelings. I loved him, mmmm.
And all the other characters, the whole Blue Bay resort gang, they were so warm and welcoming and I'd love to spend holidays with them. Even though they are a very loud bunch of people. Brilliantly described, vivid, colourful characters, each of them with their own story which added so much to the novel - fantastic!
- setting. Usually our characters travel to Greece for their holidays but this time they went to Turkey. I loved Blue Bay resort, together with the waiters - especially with the waiters, especially on the day of the farewell party!
- plot. You know, it was not only fun, fun, fun and having drinks under the sunshades. The author has firstly: brilliantly varied all the holidays, adding so much events and I couldn't wait to see what there is going to happen and secondly: she has complicated the plot, it was not predictable, there were many twists and turns that I so incredibly enjoyed. And thirdly: the fact the characters were so normal, they were all drinking booze, they were getting ill, they must have bear the moods of their teenage children, they had better and worse days. Debbie Johnson has shown us the characters in their most difficult moments and in their funniest moments and it was brilliantly balanced.
- twists and turns and not making the plot run so obvious - see above.
- writing style and they way the story was told. I find the idea of this book just brilliant - going on holidays to the same place and meeting the same group of people there, but what people! They were the whole fun. The way the story was told, as it was set over few years, taking part mostly during holidays, took me by surprise, I didn't expect it to be like this, and especially not the characters coming back to the same resort, but it worked brilliantly. I really enjoyed it, it made the pace even quicker, and I think the reading itself much more hooking and interesting, as it spared us, with some exceptions when the characters reminisced a little, the less significant events happening in the characters' lives and concentrated only on the sunny parts of their lives. But "sunny" in inverted commas of course, as the holidays were full not only with fun, fun, fun but also drama and life - changing decisions.
- the romance that was not so straight - forward, not at all! It was so great and so realistic, with all its ups and downs, and there was a moment that I was really climbing the walls - I was truly scared. I really liked that Debbie Johnsons had thought about all the aspects like living in different countries, having exes, having children - well, this is the life, right? But the sparks of attraction between Sally and James were just palpable through the pages, the question was only if they are ready for a relationship? Or is this going to stay a holiday romance only?
So this is really my favourite book by Debbie Johnson so far. It is not only a pure fun but it brilliantly showed the changes in characters' lives, how they developed. It effortlessly transported me in the sunny Turkey, to the poolside and I felt like part of the Blue Bay gang. It is a sexy, flirty book, funny and sad, bitter - sweet read that kept me guessing to the very end. If you are looking for a novel with an overwhelming feel - good factor, it is a read for you - I can't recommend it highly enough! This book deserves much more than only 5 stars. In Lucy's words: FUCKING BRILLIANT!!!!
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
January 28, 2016
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/0...
I have to start by saying I absolutely loved The Birthday That Changed Everything. Pure escapism but with a healthy dose of reality :)
You know when a character is just so right? That's Sally. I wanted to be her best friend. I wanted to meet her at the Blue Bay Hotel and laugh and cry with her as she finds out where she belongs. I don't think it will be just me who feels that way either.
In the beginning she's living under Simon's shadow and although unsure socially (not sure of who she is either), Sal is not afraid to put herself out there. The mix up with the suitcases on her first stay at the complex is hilarious. I thought she carried it off with aplomb. I loved her relationship with 16 year old daughter Lucy (who by the way is another fabulous character).
The majority of the story we're at the complex in Turkey each year which is interspersed with Sally's life back in Oxford. In Turkey we meet an interesting mix of characters and through them I experienced so many different emotions. There is plenty of humor but there are moments which take your breath away in pain. Be prepared to laugh and cry!
The romance is interesting too. Everyone will be able to identify with Simon and James. Yes they are stereotypes but three dimensional too. I could see why Sal was on the verge of making a particular decision but was disappointed in her too. The one upmanship scenes are quite primal :) There's a lot of sizzle in the sand (yes the sex is hot but also tempers too).
There's so much entertainment in this story. It's uplifting and humorous but I also guarantee you're feel sadness with every emotion in-between. If you're a regular blog reader you'll know that for a story to be a keeper for me I have to have my emotions hooked in for those all important feels. The Birthday That Changed Everything not only did that but I couldn't wait to get back to reading it and I thought about Sal in between those times too. This is one you don't want to miss!
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have to start by saying I absolutely loved The Birthday That Changed Everything. Pure escapism but with a healthy dose of reality :)
You know when a character is just so right? That's Sally. I wanted to be her best friend. I wanted to meet her at the Blue Bay Hotel and laugh and cry with her as she finds out where she belongs. I don't think it will be just me who feels that way either.
In the beginning she's living under Simon's shadow and although unsure socially (not sure of who she is either), Sal is not afraid to put herself out there. The mix up with the suitcases on her first stay at the complex is hilarious. I thought she carried it off with aplomb. I loved her relationship with 16 year old daughter Lucy (who by the way is another fabulous character).
The majority of the story we're at the complex in Turkey each year which is interspersed with Sally's life back in Oxford. In Turkey we meet an interesting mix of characters and through them I experienced so many different emotions. There is plenty of humor but there are moments which take your breath away in pain. Be prepared to laugh and cry!
The romance is interesting too. Everyone will be able to identify with Simon and James. Yes they are stereotypes but three dimensional too. I could see why Sal was on the verge of making a particular decision but was disappointed in her too. The one upmanship scenes are quite primal :) There's a lot of sizzle in the sand (yes the sex is hot but also tempers too).
There's so much entertainment in this story. It's uplifting and humorous but I also guarantee you're feel sadness with every emotion in-between. If you're a regular blog reader you'll know that for a story to be a keeper for me I have to have my emotions hooked in for those all important feels. The Birthday That Changed Everything not only did that but I couldn't wait to get back to reading it and I thought about Sal in between those times too. This is one you don't want to miss!
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2016
The Birthday That Changed Everything is easily my favourite book so far by Debbie Johnson. I was laughing from the start, and the second the action went to Turkey, and the Blue Bay Resort, I felt as though I was part of the Blue Bay gang.
I'm sure like me you will have made friends with people when you are on holiday. Because you are free-er and more relaxed, and due to knowing you may not see these people again, you will perhaps share more with these holiday friends, and a deep friendship can occur. In the instances where you decide to go back on holiday with the same people, or perhaps just back to the same hotel as the previous year, you will be remembered, and you will pick up conversations where you left off etc... It feels like you have a home and a family away from home.
And this is exactly what The Birthday That Changed Everything featured, as Sally and her family kept returning to the Blue Bay Resort. The story was told in parts, and with the exception of the first part, they were all based, on her annual holidays to this hotel in Turkey. This was a great way to pass the time, and to focus on what should be the fun parts of a person's life, and how they have changed and developed each year.
Sally's daughter, Lucy, is an tonic, she is loud and foul mouthed, has no respect for her mother, and after her father left them for a Latvian lap dancer, not much older than Lucy, has nothing good to say about her father either.
Sally's son Ollie, is a sweet teenage boy, who can be extremely sensitive at times. He also develops an unusual taste in reading material for a teenage boy, as the book proceeds.
Sally is heartbroken from Simon leaving her, but on that first trip to The Blue Bay, she meets James, who is gorgeous and who she fights clear feelings for. She also makes a whole group of friends, including Allie, who helped rescue her on the first day of the holiday, when there was an issue with her case (very memorable scenes that were hilarious).
I would love to say that at times Sally acted more like a teenager than Lucy, but realistically she is a middle aged woman, on holiday, with cheap booze, and I am sure you have all seen how people relish 2 weeks of freedom away from work and normal real life pressures. Sally enjoys letting off steam, and that has some fabulous consequences.
I loved reading about the Blue Bay friends, as well as spending time in the wonderful hotel, which I would like to stay at myself. The Birthday That Changed Everything would be a perfect poolside book, or will easily brighten up a cold winters day, and whisk you away to the sun.
Thank you so much to Felicity Denham at Harper for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.
I'm sure like me you will have made friends with people when you are on holiday. Because you are free-er and more relaxed, and due to knowing you may not see these people again, you will perhaps share more with these holiday friends, and a deep friendship can occur. In the instances where you decide to go back on holiday with the same people, or perhaps just back to the same hotel as the previous year, you will be remembered, and you will pick up conversations where you left off etc... It feels like you have a home and a family away from home.
And this is exactly what The Birthday That Changed Everything featured, as Sally and her family kept returning to the Blue Bay Resort. The story was told in parts, and with the exception of the first part, they were all based, on her annual holidays to this hotel in Turkey. This was a great way to pass the time, and to focus on what should be the fun parts of a person's life, and how they have changed and developed each year.
Sally's daughter, Lucy, is an tonic, she is loud and foul mouthed, has no respect for her mother, and after her father left them for a Latvian lap dancer, not much older than Lucy, has nothing good to say about her father either.
Sally's son Ollie, is a sweet teenage boy, who can be extremely sensitive at times. He also develops an unusual taste in reading material for a teenage boy, as the book proceeds.
Sally is heartbroken from Simon leaving her, but on that first trip to The Blue Bay, she meets James, who is gorgeous and who she fights clear feelings for. She also makes a whole group of friends, including Allie, who helped rescue her on the first day of the holiday, when there was an issue with her case (very memorable scenes that were hilarious).
I would love to say that at times Sally acted more like a teenager than Lucy, but realistically she is a middle aged woman, on holiday, with cheap booze, and I am sure you have all seen how people relish 2 weeks of freedom away from work and normal real life pressures. Sally enjoys letting off steam, and that has some fabulous consequences.
I loved reading about the Blue Bay friends, as well as spending time in the wonderful hotel, which I would like to stay at myself. The Birthday That Changed Everything would be a perfect poolside book, or will easily brighten up a cold winters day, and whisk you away to the sun.
Thank you so much to Felicity Denham at Harper for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.
February 15, 2016
Couldn't put this down, for all the wrong reasons. I understood it to be a laugh out loud book. I don't think I managed one at all.
The daughter's character, Lucy, is far too unrealistic; foul mouthed and just blatantly disrespectful to all and sundry and the mother, Sally, is just a doormat used by her stupid husband and daughter.
The only characters I really liked were the son, Ollie, and Allie the friend.
The constant references to sex and body parts became tedious and very unfunny. I'm not a prude by a long way but I would never have the conversations Sally did with her disgusting daughter, Lucy, and vice Versa.
The daughter's character, Lucy, is far too unrealistic; foul mouthed and just blatantly disrespectful to all and sundry and the mother, Sally, is just a doormat used by her stupid husband and daughter.
The only characters I really liked were the son, Ollie, and Allie the friend.
The constant references to sex and body parts became tedious and very unfunny. I'm not a prude by a long way but I would never have the conversations Sally did with her disgusting daughter, Lucy, and vice Versa.
January 16, 2016
In a very cold January, this was just the book to brighten up my weekend. The birthday in question is Sally's 40th. While online choosing her own present from her husband Simon (tells you a lot about the husband already!) she gets an email from him telling her he's leaving her. It soon emerges that he has a 19 year old Latvian lapdancer on the side - only a few years older than their daughter. Reeling from the shock, she books a holiday and takes her children, Lucy and Ollie, off to Turkey. There she meets up with and is included in a group of people who meet up at the resort every year. In this group, is single father and very handsome Dubliner James. Sparks of attraction fly between them but are either actually ready for a relationship or will this be a holiday romance?
I have to say much though all the holiday makers sounded like lovely people and great fun I would hate to be holidaying with them. They were so drunk and loud all the time! However, this did lead to lots of very funny situations with the karaoke evenings springing to mind. Debbie Johnson has created lots of very memorable characters and situations in her book not least of which is Miss McTavish with her rather forthright questions! I was horrified and entertained in equal measure by Sally's Goth daughter, Lucy, who was so incredibly rude to her mother and to everyone in general really. I was getting a bit fed up with how often Sally's ample bosom was referred to and ogled over by every man in the place but to be fair, this was balanced out by frequent references to the attractiveness of James' behind both in and out of his jeans!
The Birthday That Changed Everything has a lot of really funny moments which will have you giggling away but there are also a few shocks and surprises and a lot of emotional moments too. The romance between Sally and James was great to read about with all its ups and downs. I felt this was probably very realistic for people in their position, living in different countries and with children and ex-partners and all that comes with that to consider. This is a perfect book for when you want a funny, entertaining read with a healthy dose of romance thrown in.
(I was given my copy from the publishers via Netgalley)
I have to say much though all the holiday makers sounded like lovely people and great fun I would hate to be holidaying with them. They were so drunk and loud all the time! However, this did lead to lots of very funny situations with the karaoke evenings springing to mind. Debbie Johnson has created lots of very memorable characters and situations in her book not least of which is Miss McTavish with her rather forthright questions! I was horrified and entertained in equal measure by Sally's Goth daughter, Lucy, who was so incredibly rude to her mother and to everyone in general really. I was getting a bit fed up with how often Sally's ample bosom was referred to and ogled over by every man in the place but to be fair, this was balanced out by frequent references to the attractiveness of James' behind both in and out of his jeans!
The Birthday That Changed Everything has a lot of really funny moments which will have you giggling away but there are also a few shocks and surprises and a lot of emotional moments too. The romance between Sally and James was great to read about with all its ups and downs. I felt this was probably very realistic for people in their position, living in different countries and with children and ex-partners and all that comes with that to consider. This is a perfect book for when you want a funny, entertaining read with a healthy dose of romance thrown in.
(I was given my copy from the publishers via Netgalley)
February 5, 2016
I received a copy of this via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
This was one of those books that had me giggling and shaking my head with annoyance in equal measures!!
As a fun, racy Summer read it is perfect and has all the ingredients of pure escapism that we often look for in reading a book. Sally Summer is approaching her 40th birthday, and while she's shopping online for her own birthday present from her Surgeon husband Simon, she gets an email from him telling her he's leaving her and their two teenage children - Lucy and Ollie - as he's fallen in love with a girl not much older than his daughter. 17 years of marriage forgotten instantly!
Sally has given up her career dreams to bring up the children and be the perfect wife, so she responds to this news by taking the children away to Turkey for her 40th birthday and to try and make sense of it all and have some fun! She soon gets the fun sooner than she imagined when her luggage is mixed up and she ends up with a suitcase full of sex toys and naughty outfits!
She meets a good group of new friends while on holiday and her teenage children are pretty much out doing their own thing - Lucy in particular is often extremely rude to her mother and this began to grate on me as it often went a little over the top! I know teenage daughters often have battles with their mothers but a lot of this was plain nasty!
There were lots of giggles throughout the book and when James and his son Jake appear on the scene you start to hope that things are picking up for Sally. Unfortunately she still seems happy to pine for Simon and I often found myself shouting at the book when she would find herself caring more about Simon after what he put her through and not concentrating on her own happiness and moving forward..
If you are looking for a quick book to escape into then this is perfect!
This was one of those books that had me giggling and shaking my head with annoyance in equal measures!!
As a fun, racy Summer read it is perfect and has all the ingredients of pure escapism that we often look for in reading a book. Sally Summer is approaching her 40th birthday, and while she's shopping online for her own birthday present from her Surgeon husband Simon, she gets an email from him telling her he's leaving her and their two teenage children - Lucy and Ollie - as he's fallen in love with a girl not much older than his daughter. 17 years of marriage forgotten instantly!
Sally has given up her career dreams to bring up the children and be the perfect wife, so she responds to this news by taking the children away to Turkey for her 40th birthday and to try and make sense of it all and have some fun! She soon gets the fun sooner than she imagined when her luggage is mixed up and she ends up with a suitcase full of sex toys and naughty outfits!
She meets a good group of new friends while on holiday and her teenage children are pretty much out doing their own thing - Lucy in particular is often extremely rude to her mother and this began to grate on me as it often went a little over the top! I know teenage daughters often have battles with their mothers but a lot of this was plain nasty!
There were lots of giggles throughout the book and when James and his son Jake appear on the scene you start to hope that things are picking up for Sally. Unfortunately she still seems happy to pine for Simon and I often found myself shouting at the book when she would find herself caring more about Simon after what he put her through and not concentrating on her own happiness and moving forward..
If you are looking for a quick book to escape into then this is perfect!
February 3, 2016
Wow! I've been looking at that gorgeous cover for months with my tongue hanging out, so I was very happy to finally get my hands on this book. And I'm delighted to say it delivered even more than I'd hoped for. It might be worth saying I'm already a huge fan of Debbie Johnson's writing. Her prose is deft and witty, and frankly no-one else has me falling off the sofa LOLing one moment, then reaching for the tissues the next, in the way Ms J does. Like her other books, I couldn't put The Birthday That Changed Everything down, and for me, this is definitely her best yet.
Sally Summers is a great heroine, her life is catastrophically chaotic, her teens are a nightmare. While this is sad for Sally, it's great news for us readers. There was so much to identify with in the long term break up scenario, and the angry teenagers are perfectly captured. The supporting cast of characters are brilliant, and there are some very original moments as the plot twists and turns. I really liked that it was set, very realistically, over a two year period, and Sally's progression through the book was uplifting. If you're looking for a delicious combination of laughter and tears, this one's definitely for you. Gritty, witty, original, heartfelt – the perfect forty-something coming of age story. This one's a cut above the rest.
Sally Summers is a great heroine, her life is catastrophically chaotic, her teens are a nightmare. While this is sad for Sally, it's great news for us readers. There was so much to identify with in the long term break up scenario, and the angry teenagers are perfectly captured. The supporting cast of characters are brilliant, and there are some very original moments as the plot twists and turns. I really liked that it was set, very realistically, over a two year period, and Sally's progression through the book was uplifting. If you're looking for a delicious combination of laughter and tears, this one's definitely for you. Gritty, witty, original, heartfelt – the perfect forty-something coming of age story. This one's a cut above the rest.
March 25, 2016
When you go on holiday this year, make sure you pack this book along with your suncream and cossie! A riotous, fast-paced read with saucy scenes, laugh out loud humour and poignant moments. And one very hot book hero! What more could a gal want to enjoy on the beach?!
August 20, 2017
I'm really sad that there are no more Debbie Johnson's for me to read yet.
But Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe will be out in October.
Yet again, this book made me laugh through tears.
I think hubby is almost ready to have me certified because of the laughter coming from the silent reading corner.
Can't wait for the next one!
But Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe will be out in October.
Yet again, this book made me laugh through tears.
I think hubby is almost ready to have me certified because of the laughter coming from the silent reading corner.
Can't wait for the next one!
September 27, 2018
Another great novel by Debbie Johnson.
Sally is 39 years old, buying her own birthday present from her husband, when she gets an email from him saying he needs some space, it's not her it's him, oh and can she iron five work shirts for him? Of course, it's the age old story of middle-aged husband 'falling in love' with a girl half his age!
As revenge/ comfort Sally takes her two teenage children, Lucy the foul-mouthed Goth and Ollie the six foot nerd to Turkey for a two week holiday. I couldn't work out whether I would love or hate to stay in the hotel with Sally and what turn out to be her new friends: Marcia and Rick, James and Jake, Allie, Mike and Max, Ian and Jenny and the scary Miss McTavish. There's booze-fuelled nights, karaoke, boat trips and teenage angst.
Set over four holidays in the same resort watch as love blossoms, tragedy hits and Sally and her children find out what it means to have the sort of friends that would help you bury a body!
As I sit here on a rainy Monday morning in London part of me is still sitting on a sunbed next to Sally, slathering on the factor 25 and slugging back cocktails watching as Rick leers over the young Turkish waiters and Mike opens his next can of beer.
Hey ho, it's off to work I go ... Highly recommended reading, funny and sad and endearing all in one.
Sally is 39 years old, buying her own birthday present from her husband, when she gets an email from him saying he needs some space, it's not her it's him, oh and can she iron five work shirts for him? Of course, it's the age old story of middle-aged husband 'falling in love' with a girl half his age!
As revenge/ comfort Sally takes her two teenage children, Lucy the foul-mouthed Goth and Ollie the six foot nerd to Turkey for a two week holiday. I couldn't work out whether I would love or hate to stay in the hotel with Sally and what turn out to be her new friends: Marcia and Rick, James and Jake, Allie, Mike and Max, Ian and Jenny and the scary Miss McTavish. There's booze-fuelled nights, karaoke, boat trips and teenage angst.
Set over four holidays in the same resort watch as love blossoms, tragedy hits and Sally and her children find out what it means to have the sort of friends that would help you bury a body!
As I sit here on a rainy Monday morning in London part of me is still sitting on a sunbed next to Sally, slathering on the factor 25 and slugging back cocktails watching as Rick leers over the young Turkish waiters and Mike opens his next can of beer.
Hey ho, it's off to work I go ... Highly recommended reading, funny and sad and endearing all in one.
February 5, 2016
I really enjoyed this fun, funny, laugh out loud read. You just could not help but get swept away with the story of Sally Summers.
Sally recieves an e-mail from her husband Simon saying he is leaving her for a younger woman who just happens to be a lap dancer. Sally then along with daughter Lucy and son Ollie she books a holiday to the Blue Bay Resort in Turkey to take some time out and celebrate her 40th birthday. They soon meet up with a group of people who have been coming to the resort for years. Sally takes a liking to single dad James, and boy are we in for a treat.
I loved this little family, although at times i did want to slap Lucy for the way she spoke to her mum, then on the other hand she had me smiling in parts. I did nearly pee my pants at the buzzing suitcase, oh my god that was so funny.
I do love Debbie Johnson's style of writing and sense of humour. I fell in love with this book from the off, i escaped into it and really didnt want it to end. This is one to go on the favourite shelf.
Debbie needs to give us a follow on, with more Turkey treats!.
My favourite quote has to be ' he was right. I did want to eat it. And the cake. '
Sally recieves an e-mail from her husband Simon saying he is leaving her for a younger woman who just happens to be a lap dancer. Sally then along with daughter Lucy and son Ollie she books a holiday to the Blue Bay Resort in Turkey to take some time out and celebrate her 40th birthday. They soon meet up with a group of people who have been coming to the resort for years. Sally takes a liking to single dad James, and boy are we in for a treat.
I loved this little family, although at times i did want to slap Lucy for the way she spoke to her mum, then on the other hand she had me smiling in parts. I did nearly pee my pants at the buzzing suitcase, oh my god that was so funny.
I do love Debbie Johnson's style of writing and sense of humour. I fell in love with this book from the off, i escaped into it and really didnt want it to end. This is one to go on the favourite shelf.
Debbie needs to give us a follow on, with more Turkey treats!.
My favourite quote has to be ' he was right. I did want to eat it. And the cake. '
January 12, 2016
I want to start by thanking Netgalley and the publisher for a ARC for my honest review.
This will be a typical chick lit once it's in the market. I didn't really care for the characters in this book or how the author developed them, especially with the daughter in this book, the author must have had a very disturbed idea of what a 16 yr old is like and what a parent should accept as acceptable behavouir from them, this was way over the top and not acceptable in any fiction let alone non-fiction. Other than that a typical chich lit, family drama.
The story and people could have been developed a little further and some characters maybe removed as they really didn't have a purpose.
This will be a typical chick lit once it's in the market. I didn't really care for the characters in this book or how the author developed them, especially with the daughter in this book, the author must have had a very disturbed idea of what a 16 yr old is like and what a parent should accept as acceptable behavouir from them, this was way over the top and not acceptable in any fiction let alone non-fiction. Other than that a typical chich lit, family drama.
The story and people could have been developed a little further and some characters maybe removed as they really didn't have a purpose.
March 26, 2016
I really looked forward to this book. But I started reading it and I just got so Angry at it. Yes all children have the stage where they go through adolescence and they arnt sweet and lovely anymore but the daughter in this book is a brat! I wanted to chuck her into the swimming pool. The humour in this book was so in your face that I found it really cringe worthy and not very funny at all. I couldn't warm to the characters at all. Disappointed!!
January 26, 2019
So disappointing. Disgusting language, horrible annoying characters, and graphic TMI sex. Frankly, if the editor had removed all of the f-bombs, this 407 page book would be a short story. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn’t. Is this the same author who wrote the “Comfort Food Cafe” books??? Perhaps it was her evil twin.
All I can say is ew, ew, EW!!!!
All I can say is ew, ew, EW!!!!
January 31, 2016
Hmmm, lots of cheating not really my cup of tea. Made the heroine a bit of a doormat. The daughter Lucy was vile too!!
August 12, 2017
I've had this book on my TBR for quite some time and if I'd known how HILARIOUS it was going to be, I would have read it a lot sooner. I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover in this case as I took from all the pink that it was going to be a bit of no-brainer chick-lit. Don't get me wrong, I love the cover and it actually fits the story very well but I have to be in the mood for chick-lit, hence the delay in reading it. So before I dig myself into a very big hole, and Debbie Johnson pours sand on my head, here's what I thought about the book.
The Birthday That Changed Everything is hilarious from the start whilst dealing with a heartbreaking storyline for Sally. She has received an email from her husband, Simon, telling her that he is leaving her but asking her to pack his bag and iron his shirts for him before he goes. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr what a total @&$£%0!£. As if that wasn't a big enough kick in the virtual nuts, Sally is about to turn 40 and Simon has run off with a 19 year old Latvian lapdancer. So she packs her bags and heads off to Turkey with her two teenage kids - scary Lucy and loveable big-kid Ollie.
After a mix up with the cases, Sally's holiday doesn't get off to the best start but being dressed as Naughty Nurse Nancy is quite an icebreaker. She immediately fits in with a crowd of people who visit Blue Bay every year. One of the crowd, James, is a mouthwatering piece of eye candy and he certainly got my heart racing every time he made an appearance. He definitely wakes up Sally's snoozing libido but she's still reeling about Simon and doesn't want a holiday romance. It's not long before James wears down her resistance but as time goes on both ex-partners reappear to put a spanner in the works. With men literally cock-fighting over her, who will win Sally's heart?
Honestly, this must be the MOST HILARIOUS book I have ever read, although I did shed a few tears as the sun set on one of these wonderfully colourful characters that I had got to know so well. There are so many fabulous characters but I always think it's funny that wherever you go there always seems to be a Geordie, so it was great to see Andrew the hunky Geordie firefighter make an appearance although I'm not sure which side he was batting for...
I guffawed, chortled, snorted and howled through the whole story, mainly due to Lucy and her incendiary outbursts, known as 'proper radgies' here in the North East. She scared the bejeezus out of me but I think she was my favourite character in the end. I really would not have taken so long to read this if I'd known how funny it was going to be, and I should have known as it's not my first Debbie Johnson book. All good things come to those who wait but fellow book lovers, don't make the same mistake as me - read this book now! Make sure that you wear two pairs of knickers whilst reading The Birthday That Changed Everything as you are guaranteed to pee your pants.
A perfect feel-good book for rain, hail or shine - escape to Turkey with Debbie Johnson and be prepared for some proper belly laughs.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The Birthday That Changed Everything is hilarious from the start whilst dealing with a heartbreaking storyline for Sally. She has received an email from her husband, Simon, telling her that he is leaving her but asking her to pack his bag and iron his shirts for him before he goes. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr what a total @&$£%0!£. As if that wasn't a big enough kick in the virtual nuts, Sally is about to turn 40 and Simon has run off with a 19 year old Latvian lapdancer. So she packs her bags and heads off to Turkey with her two teenage kids - scary Lucy and loveable big-kid Ollie.
After a mix up with the cases, Sally's holiday doesn't get off to the best start but being dressed as Naughty Nurse Nancy is quite an icebreaker. She immediately fits in with a crowd of people who visit Blue Bay every year. One of the crowd, James, is a mouthwatering piece of eye candy and he certainly got my heart racing every time he made an appearance. He definitely wakes up Sally's snoozing libido but she's still reeling about Simon and doesn't want a holiday romance. It's not long before James wears down her resistance but as time goes on both ex-partners reappear to put a spanner in the works. With men literally cock-fighting over her, who will win Sally's heart?
Honestly, this must be the MOST HILARIOUS book I have ever read, although I did shed a few tears as the sun set on one of these wonderfully colourful characters that I had got to know so well. There are so many fabulous characters but I always think it's funny that wherever you go there always seems to be a Geordie, so it was great to see Andrew the hunky Geordie firefighter make an appearance although I'm not sure which side he was batting for...
I guffawed, chortled, snorted and howled through the whole story, mainly due to Lucy and her incendiary outbursts, known as 'proper radgies' here in the North East. She scared the bejeezus out of me but I think she was my favourite character in the end. I really would not have taken so long to read this if I'd known how funny it was going to be, and I should have known as it's not my first Debbie Johnson book. All good things come to those who wait but fellow book lovers, don't make the same mistake as me - read this book now! Make sure that you wear two pairs of knickers whilst reading The Birthday That Changed Everything as you are guaranteed to pee your pants.
A perfect feel-good book for rain, hail or shine - escape to Turkey with Debbie Johnson and be prepared for some proper belly laughs.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
May 19, 2019
First and foremost, this is not my favourite book by Johnson.
However, with the horrible week that I had, reading it put me in a good mood.
I actually had a good laugh from start to finish.
To be frank, it wasn't that funny, but I laughed a lot at the cringy parts, mainly because of how awkward it is. Plus, the characters aren't realistic but then again, it's fiction.
Anything is possible, right?
Can't wait to read more of Debbie Johnson's works!
Kudos.
However, with the horrible week that I had, reading it put me in a good mood.
I actually had a good laugh from start to finish.
To be frank, it wasn't that funny, but I laughed a lot at the cringy parts, mainly because of how awkward it is. Plus, the characters aren't realistic but then again, it's fiction.
Anything is possible, right?
Can't wait to read more of Debbie Johnson's works!
Kudos.
August 5, 2021
I like Debbie Johnson's books (usually) this one was just not for me. The story did not keep my interest it was full of stereotypes and cliques. I did not like Lucy either. Part 4 made it worth reading other than skim reading 2.5 stars for Part 4.
June 24, 2018
I needed a break from thrillers and this was perfect. I was pleasantly surprised by how funny and cheeky it was, with a solid plot and happy ending.
December 27, 2016
Sally's husband leaves her for a 19-year-old Latvian lap dancer shortly before her fortieth birthday. Because she wants to do something nice for herself Sally books a holiday. Together with her two teenage children she's going to enjoy the sun in Turkey. Blue Bay resort is a wonderful place with even better company. Soon Sally has a bunch of new friends. She's now part of a group of people who are meeting each other every year. One of them is James, he's gorgeous and he's single. They have a connection, only it might be too soon for Sally to start seeing someone... And what will her next birthday bring, and the next?
The Birthday That Changed Everything is another great Debbie Johnson story. I laughed out loud several times. Sally manages to get herself into the most hilarious situations. She's absolutely fantastic. She stumbles through life and doesn't see how great she actually is which makes her endearing. She's a sweet person and she's easy to love. I liked the other main characters very much as well. They've all got their own quirks which makes them fabulous. Sally's foul-mouthed daughter is hilarious and there are several interesting couples. Each character has a story and Debbie Johnson is good at making them come to life. They're detailed and the descriptions are vivid.
Debbie Johnson is a great story teller and I like her sense of humor. I like her honest way of writing and her crude jokes. I loved this book from the start. The setting is amazing. I could picture the beautiful resort very well and loved the idea of a group of friends who are meeting each other there every year. It creates a strong bond between the main characters. It's all about the holidays, several years in a row. I got attached to these people very quickly and couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them. There's of course some sadness in the story, the balance is actually pretty good, but the funny scenes stood out for me. The Birthday That Changed Everything definitely cheered me up. If you're looking for a fantastic fun summer story, get this book. You will love it.
The Birthday That Changed Everything is another great Debbie Johnson story. I laughed out loud several times. Sally manages to get herself into the most hilarious situations. She's absolutely fantastic. She stumbles through life and doesn't see how great she actually is which makes her endearing. She's a sweet person and she's easy to love. I liked the other main characters very much as well. They've all got their own quirks which makes them fabulous. Sally's foul-mouthed daughter is hilarious and there are several interesting couples. Each character has a story and Debbie Johnson is good at making them come to life. They're detailed and the descriptions are vivid.
Debbie Johnson is a great story teller and I like her sense of humor. I like her honest way of writing and her crude jokes. I loved this book from the start. The setting is amazing. I could picture the beautiful resort very well and loved the idea of a group of friends who are meeting each other there every year. It creates a strong bond between the main characters. It's all about the holidays, several years in a row. I got attached to these people very quickly and couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them. There's of course some sadness in the story, the balance is actually pretty good, but the funny scenes stood out for me. The Birthday That Changed Everything definitely cheered me up. If you're looking for a fantastic fun summer story, get this book. You will love it.
January 28, 2016
Firstly I’d like to thank the publisher for approving my NetGalley request for this eBook. The first thing to catch my eye was the beautiful cover and then when I read the description I just couldn’t resist.
What a fab opening paragraph! A book that can put a smile on my face just a few words into the storyline is definitely going places.
Sally’s life had pretty much crashed down around her. She still had her kids, Lucy and Ollie but they weren’t easy to handle at all, especially Lucy whose words could have brought a grown man to tears. At the beginning I felt so sorry for Sally having such difficult children but do you know what, they totally grew on me and by the end I loved them both as much as the rest of the characters!
Somehow Sally and her kids ended up in Turkey and that’s when the fun really began.
The author’s style of writing and humour made this such an easy book to enjoy, a few of my favourite laugh-out-loud moments included: a baggage mix-up, a pub brawl and a pink spray attack! I found myself looking forward to picking up my Kindle to read more because I knew I’d soon be having a giggle.
There was an entertaining collection of crazy characters and each one of them added their own special zing to the comedy. Thrown into the mix was an exciting touch of romance which lingered beautifully, teasing me in a ‘will they, won’t they’ kind of way.
It wasn’t all about the laughter though, the author had a wonderful way of making me care about the characters so that when things went wrong I felt the same emotions they were feeling.
This book contained lots of fun combined with lots of emotion. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!
What a fab opening paragraph! A book that can put a smile on my face just a few words into the storyline is definitely going places.
Sally’s life had pretty much crashed down around her. She still had her kids, Lucy and Ollie but they weren’t easy to handle at all, especially Lucy whose words could have brought a grown man to tears. At the beginning I felt so sorry for Sally having such difficult children but do you know what, they totally grew on me and by the end I loved them both as much as the rest of the characters!
Somehow Sally and her kids ended up in Turkey and that’s when the fun really began.
The author’s style of writing and humour made this such an easy book to enjoy, a few of my favourite laugh-out-loud moments included: a baggage mix-up, a pub brawl and a pink spray attack! I found myself looking forward to picking up my Kindle to read more because I knew I’d soon be having a giggle.
There was an entertaining collection of crazy characters and each one of them added their own special zing to the comedy. Thrown into the mix was an exciting touch of romance which lingered beautifully, teasing me in a ‘will they, won’t they’ kind of way.
It wasn’t all about the laughter though, the author had a wonderful way of making me care about the characters so that when things went wrong I felt the same emotions they were feeling.
This book contained lots of fun combined with lots of emotion. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!
January 21, 2016
I'd give this amazing book ten stars, if I could! It's a while since I became so immersed in a story. Even when I was trying to get on with other things, it was there, at the back of my mind. It has everything: One liners, love, sex, tension, sun, sea and even rock & roll (well, karaoke anyway!).
It is incredibly funny, incredibly sad and keeps you guessing to the very end! I loved the idea of focussing on a group of people who meet once a year on holiday in Turkey. The main storyline follows Sally and her family and we see more of them during the rest of the year, but the action mainly takes place in Turkey.
Sally's family is wonderful - Lucy (more like Lucyfer) her daughter, Ollie her son and Simon her husband. Maybe Simon not so much, but I'll say no more. I really felt as if I was part of the family!
Over the years, you see the children and teeagers maturing and the adults adapting to major changes in life. Even at their lowest, Debbie still allows humour to relieve the situations.
I was so sad when I finished it. I'll miss them all and will definitely reread this!
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is incredibly funny, incredibly sad and keeps you guessing to the very end! I loved the idea of focussing on a group of people who meet once a year on holiday in Turkey. The main storyline follows Sally and her family and we see more of them during the rest of the year, but the action mainly takes place in Turkey.
Sally's family is wonderful - Lucy (more like Lucyfer) her daughter, Ollie her son and Simon her husband. Maybe Simon not so much, but I'll say no more. I really felt as if I was part of the family!
Over the years, you see the children and teeagers maturing and the adults adapting to major changes in life. Even at their lowest, Debbie still allows humour to relieve the situations.
I was so sad when I finished it. I'll miss them all and will definitely reread this!
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2016
I loved every page of this book- it was full of laughs and a few tears. It really mixed your emotions. I was indignant on Sally's behalf when her husband sent an email saying that he was leaving her but asking her to pack a bag of the things he needed!
She books a holiday to Turkey and we get to meet a really rich cast of characters who all join up every year. A mix up with her case provides hilarious moments. She has her two teenage children along with her and her daughter particularly is very challenging.
I just loved the idea that the 'friends' met every year and the story picks up back in Turkey the following year.
I was so sad to get to the end- the mark of a truly entertaining book.
With many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
She books a holiday to Turkey and we get to meet a really rich cast of characters who all join up every year. A mix up with her case provides hilarious moments. She has her two teenage children along with her and her daughter particularly is very challenging.
I just loved the idea that the 'friends' met every year and the story picks up back in Turkey the following year.
I was so sad to get to the end- the mark of a truly entertaining book.
With many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2016
Attracted by the cover (don't judge a book....??) I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway - but I need to look more closely next time! I can do 'chick-lit' for an easy, relaxing read but was put off in this case by the bad language, which was deemed necessary to enhance the character of the daughter, and the explicit sex scenes, which the entire relationship between the main characters seemed to be based on. It was predictable and the story hinged on a group of characters who came together each year in a holiday hotel in Turkey - seemingly to the exclusion of any other hotel guests. My copy is going straight to the charity shop!
February 7, 2016
Oh my goodness, so much is packed into this book and I loved it. Flipping heck, the main character Sally has the patience of a saint with her family but boy does she get rewarded when going on holiday with her children to Turkey. Irish hunk James sees only beauty and not the flabby and 40 that Sally sees herself as, quite the reverse and there is some mind blowing sex scenes. It has toe curling, belly laughs within its pages and jaw dropping behaviour from her children. There is a hidden depth to this book, a strong friendship group is made. Sit back and imagine the sun on your face and never worry about how things appear on holiday ever again. 5 shining stars.
April 13, 2016
Another excellent book and wanted to keep reading more to find out what happened next. Sally is due her big birthday and really wants a lovely birthday surprise from her husband but she doesn't expect what she gets and decided to go on holiday to get over her husband leaving her but does she meet someone else and does it work out or does her husband want her back. She also has problems with her daughter and she talks to her like rubbish but can they sort there issues out. A must read and enjoyable from beginning to end.
May 17, 2016
The book was an ok read although the story line was quite predictable.
The daughter was quite obnoxious at the beginning of the book but I suppose the author was showing extremes of characters to make the book entertaining. Needless to say by the finale ,daughter Lucy is a changed person for the better.
Quite a sweet ending and some of it was funny, just a bit too predictable .
The daughter was quite obnoxious at the beginning of the book but I suppose the author was showing extremes of characters to make the book entertaining. Needless to say by the finale ,daughter Lucy is a changed person for the better.
Quite a sweet ending and some of it was funny, just a bit too predictable .
March 11, 2016
An entertaining read. Perfect holiday material. Easy story line and likeable characters. Even the daughter did good despite her actions sometimes. I've not read this author before but would look for her again for holiday books more so than a gripping page turner.
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