Mum in the Middle

by Jane Wenham-Jones

She’s feeling the squeeze… The hilarious new novel from the highly-acclaimed author of Prime Time

‘Fresh, funny and wise’ Katie Fforde

Tess has downsized to a lively new town and is ready for “me” time. But her Zen-like calm is tested by her boomerang offspring, who keep fluttering back to the nest (usually with a full bag of dirty washing) and by her elderly mother’s struggle to hold on to her independence.
Tess is also surprised to discover that there are dark resentments simmering beneath the vintage charm of her new hometown and a spate of vandalism has exposed the rift between the townsfolk and new arrivals like Tess.
Tess enlists the help of gruff newspaper editor Malcolm to get to the bottom of the mystery but when her ex-husband pays an unexpected visit and her mother stages a disappearance, Tess starts to feel her new-found freedom wearing just a little thin…

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2018

About the author

Jane Wenham-Jones is the author of six novels – her latest is The Big Five O – and three non-fiction books. Wannabe a Writer? is a humorous look at the trials and tribulations of becoming a scribe and Wannabe a Writer We've Heard Of? is a how-to on PR and self-promotion. 100 Ways to Fight the Flab (and still have wine and chocolate) is full of useful tips to combat Writer's Bottom - an occupational hazard often encountered after reading the first two! Jane has also contributed to several short story anthologies and two cookery books, the latter being a particular achievement since she barely knows where the kitchen is. As a freelance journalist, she has had numerous short stories and articles published in women’s magazines and the national press and is the agony aunt for Writing Magazine. Jane has appeared on a variety of TV shows – from Ready, Steady, Cook to The Politics Show - and dozens of radio programmes. As an interviewer she has "been in conversation with" hundreds of big-name authors and celebrities, has presented the Romantic Novel of the Year awards for the past nine years and is regularly booked as an after-dinner speaker.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book about Tess in her new life. Lots of moments to make you laugh & cry. Would like to read more by this author.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Tess is looking forward to a bit of empty nest time- but her children seem to keep popping back. Although she loves having her children round not being able to use her own bubble bath can get very wearing!!!!!!!!!

Her new neighbour is transforming her house into a b&b but meeting opposition. She is a quirky character and loved reading about her.

There is a hint of romance with 2 possible suitors and you are keen for Tess to start allowing herself a bit of 'me time'.

Her house is so chaotic when everyone is home- but feels homely and other people enjoy spending time there. Tess has a lot on her plate but seems to be able to take it all on board.


I am now keen to read more books by Jane Wenham-Jones

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess has left the former marital home in London and bought a run-down house in a rural village where her BFF lives. Now her three children are adults in work or at university she is looking forwards to spending time with friends and not having the smell of take-away food permeating every room of the house.

What she finds is rather different to the idyll she imagined. First, a former TV star lives next door and is renovating a glorious old house in order to run it as a B&B. Second, her mother appears increasingly out-of-sorts and has had a 'turn' necessitating a visit to the hospital and various scans. Third, although they may have lives of her own her three children appear to believe that dropping in and staying for long weekends (or longer) along with their friends and dirty washing is okay. Fourth, there may be someone in the village with a grudge against DFLs (Down From London-ers) buying property and raising prices in the village. Add in dodgy plumbing and a suave architect Tess is beginning to think it's not all sheep and meadows in the country!

This was absolutely perfect beach reading. I laughed along with Tess at the cluelessness of her children and her ex-husband (who thinks its okay to come and stay when his second wife is 'having a turn' AKA had enough of him), sympathised at the dodgy drainage in the downstairs loo and loved the way everything got solved by a bottle of merlot (or chablis or frascati etc).

Recommended for women with teenagers, women who don't have kids, women with elderly parents or just women doing the best they can.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.

[Coffee-crafts&books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the cover, was a bit slow at the beginning but did get more interesting half way through the book would definitely read more by this author

[Meg Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid chick lit…doesn’t take itself too seriously! You’ll laugh, cry, and say “Oh! No!” Definitely a fun weekend read :c)

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read! More 'meno-lit' than 'chick-lit'. This novel gallops along at a rip-roaring pace, echoing Tess's chaotic life as she attempts to juggle her three grown up children, a mother with dementia and three love-struck men.

[Heli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A few short months ago I was bereft not to have my children around me. Now I was a person happy to live alone."

Mum in the middle is a book about Tess. She has three adult children,an aging mother, ex-husband
and an interesting assortment of friends.Tess has just moved from London to Northstone since the last one of her children has moved out. Nortstone is a cozy place and Tess immediately gets new friends. There are some locals who don't like the DFL's, Down From Londoners, because they fear property prices will get too high for them. Tess has been alone for a long time and feels the time might be right for a new relationship.

Tess is very sweet. She is very thoughtful and takes care of everybody. Her life is so full it seems like chaos every once in a while.

The writing is delightful. I could hear the characters speaking when I read. I love the english accent. There is soft humor and caring in the story. This is a feel-good-story. I think the ending was a little long, but it kept me reading anyway, because I just had to know...

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for a copy of this book.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This sounded gorgeous. Feel good, funny and unforgettable.........

Until I got to 5% where the mother has been diagnosed with dementia.

That bloody, vile, horrific illness is NOT FUNNY or 'feel good'

but it bloody well is unforgettable and nightmarish and hideous.

And I DON'T want to keep being reminded.

(and mentioning an elderly mother's struggle to hold onto her independence is NOT a 'tag' about dementia)

For god's sake PUT PROPER WARNINGS IN YOUR BLURBS. PLEASE


I had to stop reading and I will be returning this book to Amazon.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author the cover is what attracted me to it and I'm so glad I read it as so funny and well written and very realist to every day life and a very easy read and wanted you reading more straight away. Made you think about your life to very poignant and recommend you read it.
Tess has moved to a new town and downsized as is ready for time for herself with her kids all grown up. Sadly though she is tested as her children keep coming back home after leaving and she's still supporting them and her elderly mother is struggling to so she's having to help her. Problem is the village she's moved to there is resentments simmering that go back but sadly there is vandalism happening to even the new comers like tess can they solve who it is abs move forward or not and can Tess settle in or is her new found freedom wearing thin and she just wants time for her.
Such a funny read and so true to life a good read.

[Jane]

Just a fun story about a grown up woman in the UK.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Tess has relocated after her divorce to a small village close enough to London and her kids but far enough to rethink her life and start fresh. Her kids are soon descending on her and ruining her peace. Her neighbour is convinced that she is the conspiracy centre for the local troublemakers and Tess has her eye on the local scoundrel!

Ah i loved this read, like Jane's previous books it's full of charm , humour and heart filled happiness. Perfect summer reading

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun weekend read, with a one of a kind plot. I had my expectations set high for an Alzheimer granny as the main character. However, this book turned out to be more of a chick lit than I expected, which was a relief to say the least.

I absolutely loved the British atmosphere of the whole book, and the whole close-knit society kind of suburbia. Some of the characters were brilliantly depicted and funny. At the same time, the author managed to highlight the emotional struggles of a mom whose kids are theoretically grown up and she is also divorced, hence available in the dating field. The whole situation is funny and complex, while catching glimpses of humanity and friendship vs depravity and obsession.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

[Kerry Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just absolutely loved this book. As a mum in her forties with children (although not quite as grown up) I could totally relate to Tess. She has moved to a new town, has a new house, is working from home and is wondering how she will manage now that all her children have left home. Turns out she can’t get rid of them, and add to that some sinister goings on and you have a great read.
It is a story that most women of a certain age will be able to empathise with and I certainly saw massive parts of my own life in Tess’ story. Her mums illness is dealt with in a compassionate and true to life manner, and will hit home to many people. The characters were wonderfully well rounded, whether you liked them or loathed them. The ending was just perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Jane’s books.

[Dawn Brookes · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole this was an entertaining read with good humour and quite a few laugh out loud moments interspersed throughout. The elderly parent with a debilitating disease, many may find all too real and the inclusion added sober moments but that's how real life is. The fragile 'mum in the middle' grows and develops along with the story, and the grown-up kids who I found mostly irritating developed a little along the way too. All in all this was light, funny and entertaining read and I would recommend it.

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book to review. I’m a huge fan of feel good books and Mum in the Middle ticked the feel good box in spades. It was fabulous to read a book where there was some life story behind the characters. There were parts of the book I laughed out loud at, it proved that no matter how old you are you can still make a terrible choice but that choices can be continually changed.
My children aren’t this old but I found myself remembering how I and my siblings treated home when we were at university (an open all hours B and B was how my dad described it with a permanently refilling fridge!)
Tess’s character shone through the pages, regardless of how cross she was with her children she had a parental grin and bear it mentality
Honestly a truest accurate representation of motherhood! I know because I asked my mum!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book

[Binju · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted read. Entertaining, with a lot of truth in the way grown-up kids take their parents for granted. Also how at that stage of life, one has to manage with grown-up children and parents growing old. Lots of lighthearted humor. Love the way the character grows and that sense prevails in the end. Would like to read more from this author.

[B. Fleetwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Tess's move to a small 'fast becoming a commuter' town is peppered with great observational humour.

Divorced, escaping the London suburbs and her three allegedly-grown-up children, this is a tale of a woman who has been a slave to her kids, dominated by her ex and is now ready to begin again. As she starts developing new relationships, her dysfunctional offspring turn up or move in, her mother shows early signs of dementia and she experiences a roller-coaster ride of attraction, rejection and confusion with two local males. Threaded into the narrative is the question of who is vandalising her property (and why), and the addition of another 'surrogate' son who latches onto Tess for support.

I liked the way light humour was applied to familiar every day issues. I thought the story of Tess's mother's dementia was lovingly developed and, in my opinion quite rightly, with some black comedy (I have had to deal with dementia and it was only having the ability to at least smile that saved me!). I also thought Tess's relationship with her children and their sibling rivalry was not only true to life but described with a comic touch that had me chuckling.

If there were any criticisms I could make, firstly it was rather a slow start, taking me 30-40% in to really get into the story. Secondly, I was, at first, unsure about the portraits of the stereotypical loud actress & neighbour, Jinni; the local do-gooder, Ingrid and the champagne-swilling best friend, Caroline (the sister of Tess's ex? Really?). However, as I got immersed in the tale, they all grew on me and despite a large cast of characters, I kept up with who was who, recognising all their voices. Only a skilled writer is capable of this!

I recommend this book and would say: don't be put off if it takes you a few chapters to get going. This is a great read to take away on holiday for a bit of 'time out'.

Thank you to Helen and all at TBC for giving me the opportunity to read this.

[Kourtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to take some time to think about this review. I can't decide if I liked this book or would pass on it again. It had good points and some points I just couldn't get past. For that reason, I gave it 3 stars (right down the middle).

Tess moved to a new town now that her kids have moved out and her husband is now an ex. Instead her kids and ex keep popping back into her house and she gets caught up in local drama when her house gets targeted with vandalism that could be for her, or related to drama her neighbor is caught up in. Who would target her?

There were a few reasons I didn't enjoy reading this book:
1) The plot was a little thin - the whodunit portion of the book kept me turning pages to see who was doing the vandalism to Tess and her neighbor. After that, I remember thinking while I read "when will the story begin?" Only problem was I was 75% of the way through the story.

2) Tess was in her late 40's, but the way she was made me think I was reading about someone in their 70's. She doesn't know social media? She still has a flip phone and can barely figure out how to use it? I'm in my late 30's and have many friends and coworkers in their late 40's who are very social media savvy and have the latest phone. I cannot relate to this.

3) The way Tess let her kids run all over her and wouldn't speak up against them drove me bananas. How hard is it to tell them to pick up after themselves instead of silently resenting them? BE STRONG YOU ARE THEIR MOM!

The author's writing style was great though as when I was reading about the whodunit mystery part of the house vandalism, I found it very easy to turn the pages quickly. I would probably read another story by this author.

I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this funny tale of Mum Tess who has just moved to a new town for a new start. Her children have all grown up but for one reason or another keep arriving home again. Her Mum's health is failing and she becomes embroiled with goings on in the local community. On top of this she is trying to keep on top of her job. Possible love interests add to the fun. An eclectic cast of characters lends itself to this funny tale. I will certainly be looking for more titles by this author. Thank you to the author and to TBC for the chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Mel Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of my house. All the kids grown up but always coming home. The neighbours are like mine too, Either busy with younger kids or a tad on the strange in a funny way side. i liked this book because it was full of emotions. i admire Tess too.

[Chris Tunnicliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story of a divorced woman who moves to a new town. She finds herself with her adult children coming and going, quirky neighbours and eventually love. Told with equal amounts of emotion and humour. Lovely, lovely story.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amusing, easy-going read. Tess is a divorced Mum, whose 3 adult children keep turning up, taking advantage of her as she tries to build an independent, single life for herself and form new relationships in a new town. I enjoyed the book (although I found myself getting irritated with Tess for not standing up for herself enough). I thought her mother's dementia was portrayed very sympathetically (my mother has dementia so I could relate to this). The other characters were believable and the plot was uncomplicated but kept me wanting to read on. Enjoyable chick-lit!

Thank you to TBC Reviewer Request Group for the ARC

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It's well-written with just the right amount of humour, romance and family drama and I can empathise with the main protagonist.

Tess's move from London isn't working out well. She misses her family and friends and wonders whether she's made a mistake. Very soon, she is inundated with family including a very irritating ex and has more friends and admirers than she can cope with.

This contemporary comment on motherhood when the children are grown up and supposed to have left home is topical; with many young adults remaining in the family home until their late twenties because of financial constraints.

Tess is the hub of family life and her new friends' dramas, so much so that she struggles to find any 'me' time. The resultant chaos is often hilarious and thankfully involves copious amounts of champagne. There is also a lovely sprinkling of mature romance, and every character is complex and adds to the story.

If you're looking for a book to make you smile, this is the one.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Heather Copping · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good chick-lit read where the main character Tess has so much going on in her life she makes you feel giddy with all she has to cope with. There's her children who seem to be bommeranging back home all the time, faulty plumbing, being a DFL (down from London) which doesn't please some of the locals and relationships a plenty. Not only her relationships but those of her children, neighbours, relations and her ex husband who comes round at a very wrong moment. Adding to the story is her mother who is diagnosed with a form of dementia which maybe upsetting for some readers but it also means that it may be a read that many women will relate to at some stage of their life.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jane’s books, they are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and stay up too late reading them! ‘Mum in the Middle’ didn’t disappoint, and I really didn’t want to put the book down as I couldn’t wait to see what drama was around the corner. Tess is divorced with three children who have flown the nest, but they keep returning. The ex also rocks up, and then Tess’ mum is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. The book is comedic but Jane still dealt with the subject of Alzheimer’s in a sensitive way.

Tess is certainly in the squeezed generation of having both children and parent/s still reliant on her, but she needs to carve out the next stage of her own life. It’s not easy, as she has moved to a new area and some of the locals are not keen on those who have moved “Down From London” – who is painting graffiti on the outside of her house?

A great read, with lots of twists and turns to keep you glued to the pages. I loved it and would highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperImpulse for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Joanne Cartwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!
It is a book that doesn't seem to have a clear theme (romance, mystery etc) but is so much the better for that. Reading it feels like one of those long phone calls with a dear but distant friend where you cram a years worth of news into a 2 hour chat...a bit of family news, a bit of "you'll never guess" gossip swapping and bit of woman meets man/men alongside a big dollop of humour.
I particularly liked the portrayal of the boomerang kids, grown but forever returning and also grumpy Malcolm- an unlikely but very likeable hero in the making.
The book provides an enjoyable few hours of escapism from reality and touches on family dramas and behaviours and small town/village mentalities that most people can relate to.
There are a couple of harder topics touched upon (dementia and bereavement) but they are very much mentioned as a part of the story and are not explored in depth or described in detail, as I think it should be for a novel of this type.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable, lighthearted read.

[Debs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant read! A book that certainly relates to a lot of my life! The main character has so much going on with her kids, neighbours, relationships and her mother with Alzheimer’s.
The book is wonderfully written and I could not put it down - funny, emotional and a definite must read for all us ladies!

[Gea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I could survive the chaotic family life depicted in this book, or if I would even put up with it! That being said, it was a fun read. Certainly Tess is part of the "sandwich" generation dealing with an aging mother with the beginnings of dementia, and grown children who don't seem ready to stand on their own two feet and expect Mum to fix their problems. Add to that new friendships, issues with vandalism in the neigbourhood, a new romance, and you'll be pulling for Tess to come out allright in the end.

[Lorraine Shorter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story; I'm sure many mums, myself included, can identify with some of the goings on between Tess and her children. Tilly, in particular, pushed my buttons.
Because of the writing style I did on occasion get lost on a page, trying to work out if there had been a time or location jump, but it didn't take long to find myself again.
The whole 'whodunit mystery was a bit anticlimactic for me, but the story still kept my interest to the last page. Not sure about the weird social guidance at the end though...
Overall an enjoyable read. Great for a poolside paperback.

[Vivien Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a 47 year old heroine this is not a book to appeal to the younger chick lit reader, but it will certainly resonate with all those women still dealing with grown up kids who never quite leave home, post divorce dating and elderly parents in need of care. I found the book slow to get started but once I knew who everyone was the daily trials and village politics started to have meaning. For me three and a half stars but fairer to round up than down.