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The Weekend Dad
As children, Emmett and Daisy were inseparable.
Until Daisy announced that she'd seen her mum kissing Emmett's dad.
They haven't seen each other since, but Emmett often thinks about her -- where she is, what she's doing, and if she ever thinks about him.
Now almost thirty, Emmett has just begun a fresh chapter in London so he can spend weekends with his seven-year-old daughter, whose existence he only recently discovered. Things are off to a bumpy start -- he's not quite sure he's the father Misty expected -- but they're finding their way.
And then, one day, in a dusty local bookshop, he sees her -- Daisy -- and the spark that never died brightens. But it's not long before the situation becomes very complex indeed and Emmett is torn between telling the truth and risking a blossoming new relationship -- or two...
The Weekend Dad is a heartwarming story of friendship, parenthood, love and what it is to be good enough.
Until Daisy announced that she'd seen her mum kissing Emmett's dad.
They haven't seen each other since, but Emmett often thinks about her -- where she is, what she's doing, and if she ever thinks about him.
Now almost thirty, Emmett has just begun a fresh chapter in London so he can spend weekends with his seven-year-old daughter, whose existence he only recently discovered. Things are off to a bumpy start -- he's not quite sure he's the father Misty expected -- but they're finding their way.
And then, one day, in a dusty local bookshop, he sees her -- Daisy -- and the spark that never died brightens. But it's not long before the situation becomes very complex indeed and Emmett is torn between telling the truth and risking a blossoming new relationship -- or two...
The Weekend Dad is a heartwarming story of friendship, parenthood, love and what it is to be good enough.
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2018
7 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Alison Walsh
14 books5 followersAlison Walsh has been a book editor for many years. A contributor to the books page of the Sunday Independent, her first book, In My Mother's Shoes, was published in 2010. She lives in Dublin with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 23, 2019
I liked this book. I understand the comparison of this author to Nick Hornby, as both seem to have the same light, funny take on relationships. Just like Nick Hornby’s “about a boy”, this book is about a 30-something man who suddenly and unexpectedly needs to take up a role as a father figure. What I thought was a bit unrealistic is how this dad immediately acted like a natural. No struggle or funny situations because he has to adapt to the father-role, this guy just goes along. The author makes fun of the mother’s strict parenting style, but then the new dad throws it all aboard and this happens with zero consequences. A bit unrealistic, but I guess it was not the point of this book.
This book focuses more on past and present relationships between the different characters and their history. The main character, Emmet, goes through some kind of existential crisis, as he suddenly becomes a father and bumps into his youth love. The end of the book was different than I had imagined.
I do hope that this is some kind of pre-print version of the book. First of all, I thought it was annoying that the text runs almost entirely to the bottom of the page (no margins). Secondly, there are at least 2 occasions were names were mixed up. One of those times was a Emmet-John mix up and I kept turning pages hoping for some big reveal... but no, just a typo. I was a bit confused that Betty’s name was Muriel... I must have missed that somewhere in the beginning, so I didn’t really understood when she introduced herself as “Muriel” and first thought it was another name-mix up, but at least this one was intentional. There are several small and big typo’s in the book, which always bothers me.
This book focuses more on past and present relationships between the different characters and their history. The main character, Emmet, goes through some kind of existential crisis, as he suddenly becomes a father and bumps into his youth love. The end of the book was different than I had imagined.
I do hope that this is some kind of pre-print version of the book. First of all, I thought it was annoying that the text runs almost entirely to the bottom of the page (no margins). Secondly, there are at least 2 occasions were names were mixed up. One of those times was a Emmet-John mix up and I kept turning pages hoping for some big reveal... but no, just a typo. I was a bit confused that Betty’s name was Muriel... I must have missed that somewhere in the beginning, so I didn’t really understood when she introduced herself as “Muriel” and first thought it was another name-mix up, but at least this one was intentional. There are several small and big typo’s in the book, which always bothers me.
January 31, 2018
This is my favourite kind of book, although I'm not a parent myself,I love to read about fiction books around parents. I haven't read too many books that centre on dads so I was looking forward to getting stuck in. I liked Misty and I enjoying watching Emmett and misty have a rocky start to begin with but then have things change for them, in ways they couldn't of imagined. I was surprised at certain outcomes but didn't stop my enjoyment. I did find the characters names strange and this was the First time I'd seen them. I look forward to reading more from Alison Walsh.
Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2023
I liked this. Thought the main character was relatable and I enjoyed the parts where he struggled with coming to terms with unexpected parenthood. However, some of the sub plots seemed irrelevant and unresolved- the bother and his relationships, the mum and her relationship too. I found the name changes confusing at points- emmett/ John made more sense than the muriel/Betty? From an editing point of view, grammatical errors incorrect use of words/ spellings irked me as a reader. It made the book feel unfinished.
December 30, 2018
A very different book in that it focuses on the guy and his relationship with his seven year old daughter. Emmett the father has to start being a dad when she is seven and the book follows how this changes his life.
I would totally recommend this book as it is so different from the norm.
I would totally recommend this book as it is so different from the norm.
December 27, 2019
It was quite a good book and easy to visualize the characters that were portrayed. I would recommend this book to other people I know. I don’t know if it’s her first book she’s written or not, but she has a good style of writing.
March 9, 2018
3 1/2 stars.
May 14, 2022
Enjoyable. Well described full characters. Dithering of main character frustrating at times, reflective of his maturity. Loved the ending.
January 1, 2018
This is a good book in its own genre: a more substanial chick lit. My problem was that I had expected something else so I felt slightly disappointed when the book didn't deliver the promise.
When reading the blurb the main plot reminded me of About A Boy by Nick Hornby: a young man unable to grow up suddenly feels responsible for a child. The hero also reminded me of the sensitive young men in Mike Gayle's novels. So I was expecting something similar to their works from this book too.
I was not very happy with the prologue - I usually feel out of my depth with prologues as they usually refer to facts and events that are only much later explained in the book and I feel somehow left out.
Later, as the plot started to unfold it showed an interesting rich tapestry of characters and relationships and had some really great moments. However, I had this niggling feeling that it could have been much better. I felt as if the whole story were somehow falling apart. It might have been the voice of the female author not being in sync with the male character who tells the story in first person singular. Or the too much heart searching and self-analysing of the hero that slowed down the pace of the story.
I loved some of the characters. However I felt the characterisation was not deep enough and I think that there remained too many loose ends in the relationships of the characters.
To be fair, I must stress again: it is a good book if you are after a better chick lit novel. My misgivings were due to the fact that from the introduction I was expecting a different book.
When reading the blurb the main plot reminded me of About A Boy by Nick Hornby: a young man unable to grow up suddenly feels responsible for a child. The hero also reminded me of the sensitive young men in Mike Gayle's novels. So I was expecting something similar to their works from this book too.
I was not very happy with the prologue - I usually feel out of my depth with prologues as they usually refer to facts and events that are only much later explained in the book and I feel somehow left out.
Later, as the plot started to unfold it showed an interesting rich tapestry of characters and relationships and had some really great moments. However, I had this niggling feeling that it could have been much better. I felt as if the whole story were somehow falling apart. It might have been the voice of the female author not being in sync with the male character who tells the story in first person singular. Or the too much heart searching and self-analysing of the hero that slowed down the pace of the story.
I loved some of the characters. However I felt the characterisation was not deep enough and I think that there remained too many loose ends in the relationships of the characters.
To be fair, I must stress again: it is a good book if you are after a better chick lit novel. My misgivings were due to the fact that from the introduction I was expecting a different book.
February 28, 2018
Sorry just could not get into this book at all, Shame because I don't like giving up on a book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews