Staying On

by C.M. Taylor

Staying On is a geriatric coming-of-age story and a comedy-drama about an expat family played out between a working patriarch and his charming, self-possessed daughter-in-law. Tony Metcalfe, a seventy-year-old Yorkshireman and his wife Laney run Viva Espagne, a bar in a small village in the mountains beyond the Costa Blanca. Set amongst the bawdy working class expats of Spain - the por favors as the Spanish call them - the monoglot, post-war babies who retired early on good pensions, flocking to the dream of wine and rest and sun around the pool. But now their retirement paradise is shadowed by Brexit: the pound has fallen, pensions are frozen and the property crash happened long ago. Tony dreams of moving back to enjoy the remainder of his life in his childhood home, but Laney wants to stay in the happy valley and forget about England and the dark, unresolved feelings it provokes in their marriage. Tony loves his wife and keeps his dreams to himself along with the fact that Viva is losing money. He couldn't go home even if he tried - nobody would buy an ailing bar in a recession. Tony's only chance of getting home lies in puncturing the silence and blame in his marriage, and turning his bar to profit to sell. This looks impossible for passive, amiable Tony until his only son Nick arrives for an unexpectedly long stay, bringing his young wife Jo and son Fred in tow. Their arrival signals a new chapter in Tony's life, but will it be one in which his dreams are finally realised?

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2018

Reviews

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staying On is a moving family drama about a demographic we don’t see much of in this kind of fiction - expat working class baby boomers. I wasn’t sure whether to expect a comedy, a satire or lad lit, but this is none of these, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Tony Metcalfe is stuck. His English bar in a small Costa Brava village is losing money as his clientele, Brits who’ve spent years enjoying a boozy retirement in the sun, are forced home by Brexit and shrinking pensions. He’d love to sell, so he can move home to his beloved Yorkshire, but his wife Laney won’t hear of it, and anyway there are no buyers. When his snobby son Nick unexpectedly shows up with his posh wife Jo and young son Fred in tow, Tony resents the added strain, but Jo, hiding secrets of her own, is determined to shake the Metcalfe’s out of their misery and save them from themselves.

This was a Lovely Book - a fast easy read, fluidly written and surprisingly emotional. I loved Jo, and not just because she’s my namesake - she’s strong and brave and resourceful despite a horrible childhood, and she stands by her man, even when he really doesn’t seem to deserve it.
Tony was also a great character - initially frustrating with his stoic passivity but kind-hearted and generous. I wanted to throttle selfish Laney and Nick, but when the tragedy that has haunted their lives is finally revealed it makes their behaviour more understandable. There are some very funny moments - Fred the toddler with the unerring ability to pick up swear words, and the bonkers hedonistic expat friends star in most of them, but it’s actually quite a sad book until the happily predictable heart-warming ending.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Staying On is available now.

[booksofallkinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who hasn't dreamed of retiring in the sun and possibly running a cafe or restaurant while enjoying the beach and spending quality time with your loved ones?

Well, that was Tony and Laney's dream when they moved to Spain and opened up a bar, Viva Espagne, in a small village brimming with like-minded ex-pat pensioners. But with Brexit bringing things to the boil it isn't long before all of their friends are packing up and returning to their families in England, a move that Tony would be more than happy to make but Laney has vowed never to set foot on English soil again and there is nothing he can do to persuade her.
Worried about his wife, and losing money by the second through the bar which is always empty, and Tony isn't sure what to do to sort out their future but when his son, daughter-in-law, and little grandson arrive for an impromptu visit it may just be the answer to their prayers. That is if everyone can be honest and confront the secrets nestling among them.

Compelling, enjoyable, and relatable STAYING ON by C.M. Taylor is a story that really connects with readers through the author's engaging characters that pull you quickly into the drama. This is a book that doesn't shy away from the fear and mess of Brexit but brings it home in a very real and honest way which is admirable. The setting works and there is never a moment that drags or feels forced and I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the mystery that surrounds this family.

STAYING ON by C.M. Taylor is a great read about family, secrets, and finding real happiness and I highly recommend it to contemporary fiction fans everywhere.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the tour organiser

[Sid Nuncius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Staying On – far more that I expected to from the synopsis, to be honest.

It is the story of Tony and Laney who have been living as ex-pats in Spain for many many years, where they own and run a pub. Tony is now seventy and as both age and Brexit take their toll, very few of his ex-pat friends remain and the pub is struggling. Tony wants to return to the Yorkshire of his youth while Laney refuses to set foot in England again. As their son, his wife and their 3-year-old son come out to stay after many years, old tragedies and guilts which have lain beneath the surface emerge and have a profound effect.

Frankly, it sounds rather familiar and not really like my kind of thing. However, C.M. Taylor writes very well, he creates convincing characters and structures the story very nicely, so that within a readable and engaging story, the book makes important points about families, the meaning of home, friendship, class and other things. I found it touching rather than profoundly moving, but that’s fine with me. I thought it was an unsentimental but compassionate view of a somewhat insular community of Brits abroad and Tony made a very recognisably human protagonist.

I liked the note in the acknowledgements: “I was told by men with expensive educations that people don’t want to read about the working classes. I’d like to thank those men for the motivation.” For me, Taylor has proved them wrong with this book and I can recommend it.

(My thanks to Prelude for an ARC via NetGalley.)

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - in and out over 2 days

Pages - 304

Publisher - Duckworth Overlook

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Staying On is a geriatric coming-of-age story and a comedy-drama about an expat family played out between a working patriarch and his charming, self-possessed daughter-in-law. Tony Metcalfe, a seventy-year-old Yorkshireman and his wife Laney run Viva Espagne, a bar in a small village in the mountains beyond the Costa Blanca. Set amongst the bawdy working class expats of Spain - the por favors as the Spanish call them - the monoglot, post-war babies who retired early on good pensions, flocking to the dream of wine and rest and sun around the pool. But now their retirement paradise is shadowed by Brexit: the pound has fallen, pensions are frozen and the property crash happened long ago. Tony dreams of moving back to enjoy the remainder of his life in his childhood home, but Laney wants to stay in the happy valley and forget about England and the dark, unresolved feelings it provokes in their marriage. Tony loves his wife and keeps his dreams to himself along with the fact that Viva is losing money. He couldn't go home even if he tried - nobody would buy an ailing bar in a recession. Tony's only chance of getting home lies in puncturing the silence and blame in his marriage, and turning his bar to profit to sell. This looks impossible for passive, amiable Tony until his only son Nick arrives for an unexpectedly long stay, bringing his young wife Jo and son Fred in tow. Their arrival signals a new chapter in Tony's life, but will it be one in which his dreams are finally realised?



My Review

Meet Tony and Laney Metcalfe, they moved to Spain after retiring and got themselves a wee bar, sun, friends, company - a good life. When Brexit affects the financials Tony sees many of his expat pals moving home, as a Yorkshire man in his seventies he wants to join them. Laney will never agree to it, Tony wants her happy and is keeping their financial woes hidden from her. When his son finally comes to visit with his wife and grandson he may finally have the help needed to save the bar. However Nick never visits, his wife is the driving force with an agenda and soon the Metcalfe will have to face reality, their past and deal with the fallout.

This book has been on my review list for a wee while and I wish I had picked it up sooner. Different from the genres I have been reading the past wee while. I thought this book was going to be deep on politics (Brexit) and I think that is why I put it off a bit longer but actually the Brexit thing comes up very little. The heart of the story is relationships, family, things we avoid or hide from within our family and the impact and consequences it has. From early on there is something that has affected the family, we know this but not exactly what. Laney and Tony's relationship is like many I am sure we can all recognise, he just wants her to be happy and as a consequence often at the expense of his own wants.

I enjoyed the glimpse into life as a retiree abroad, how many folk thing uck just head over, get a bar, drink what I want and mingle with the locals, many am sure. Taylor allows us this but also the flip side of showing just how hard it can actually be and the lengths one may go to to hide that to protect his family. We see love, sacrifice, family secrets, cause and effect, marital difficulties and how important it is to deal with loss/love. There is also banter in the book, I chuckled a few times at some parts. The characters are very true to life, flawed, selfish, loving, sweet, troubled, lazy, hard working, a good mixed bunch and I think that always goes down well as readers like to be able to identify with situations or character traits. The book is a wee bit emotive but filled with so much more, characters annoy you, make you smile, laugh, shake your head and I love when a book does that to you, especially when you aren't expecting it. This was my first dance with this author, I would absolutely read him again, 3.5/5 for me this time.

[Julie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was offered the chance to read this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The blurb and some of the other information I was given gave me the impression that it might be more political commentary on the influence of Brexit on the ex-pat community in Spain than anything else, but this was not the case. This book is a beautiful, deeply moving portrayal of a family whose current problems are largely caused by issues in their past that they are afraid to confront and what happens when they are forced to address them by outside influences.

I really loved the book, it affected me very deeply. The issues explored of family relationships and tensions and how people can be pushed apart by a failure to communicate, are ones that we can all relate to to a greater or lesser degree and we can all feel great empathy for these characters. They are all so well written and truthful that it is impossible not to be drawn in to their story and be compelled to find out what becomes of them over the arc of the book.

The main characters are Tony and Laney Metcalfe, living the ex-pat dream in a small hillside village inland from the coast of Costa Blanca, running a small, struggling bar and moving in a circle of other ex-pats in an enclave which has been developed for the incoming immigrants. They have not really integrated into the local Spanish community and, as the effects of the 2008 financial crash and the looming threat of Brexit cause a trickle of their community to sell up and return to Britain, they find their world is shifting and becoming unsettled. The arrival of their son, Nick and his wife Jo, who seems intent on stirring things up, lead to seismic shifts in the status quo that force Tony and Laney to face issues in their marriage that have been buried for years leading to startling revelations and events.

Tony and Laney are recognisable as ordinary working class Brits who have, in their thousands, sold up and retired for their dream life in the Spanish sun, only to find it is not so dreamy after all. But of course, like all of us, they are not ordinary at all, but have extraordinary relationships and dynamics that are unique to each of us and drive us to behave the way we do, in a way that is invisible to the outside world, creating pressures and tensions and motivations that are mysterious to outsiders. The author does an amazing job of revealing these individual foibles in a way that is completely believable and compelling.

The setting was beautifully created and peopled with a fascinating cast of characters, there is some fantastic use of language and imagery that I savoured throughout, but it is the gently drawn and played out family drama which is at the heart of this story and which will draw you through the book to the very last page. It is soft and melancholy and totally true and I just fell in love with this book and the every day, unimportant but totally enthralling drama between its pages. This is a book about my life and your life and the life of everyone who is both unimportant but vital in the world, people who don’t do startling things or things that have newsworthy impact on anyone else, but who are central to the worlds of those around them and I wish there were more books like this in the world.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Topical, novel and full of humanity, this is a novel which really conveys what family crisis feels like, with a lot of humour thrown in for balance. Life in a foreign land with the oncoming confusion of Brexit is made understandable as real people struggle with a compulsion to return home, but also the fear of the unknown. Memories, blame and grief all compete for attention with the longing for truth, but this is not a sad book, a fact guaranteed by the presence of a small boy with an unerring instinct for repeating swear words. Too much alcohol, too much sun but also a lot of good humour make this a memorable and enjoyable novel, with a warmth which goes beyond the weather.
Tony is a man who is having a late life crisis, as he is too old for a mid - life one. He owns a bar in a Spanish town where the sun is guaranteed, but sadly customers are not for most of the time. Several facts contribute to this, not least the stream of British expats disappearing home as the threat of Brexit looms. Friends who made the experience of living far from Yorkshire acceptable to Tony in the face of his homesickness are no longer sharing alcoholic in jokes and strange customs, and he is left to do everything as his wife Laney is not engaged. She is strangely distant for reasons that will only become obvious much later, and meanwhile Tony makes every effort to keep the parlous state of their finances to himself and his difficult accountant. He has his friends, but they do not understand that he needs more as he longs to go back to Yorkshire, or at least Britain where his son Nick is married to Jo. He has met his grandson, Fred, on several visits, but Laney has stoutly refused to get on the plane. As yet another couple of friends depart, Tony is thrown back on the company of Pepe, owner of a rival, successful, bar, who has his own agenda. Out of the blue, Jo announces that she is to visit, with Nick and Fred, and she proceeds to upset everything as part of her own progress. As Laney is even more retcient, Tony has more drama to cope with and Fred provides a running commentary, can anything be salvaged?
This book represents far more than another romantic comedy with its razor sharp humour and touching, human aspects. It is confidently written and well plotted, as old wounds are exposed while every effort is made to help. I loved its blend of grumpy old man with quite understandable longing for home and resolution. There may be times when it stretches credibility a little, but this book holds on well to the realistic chaos of life when emotions are tested. Every character is so well drawn, and the cast of people is well realised and controlled. My favourite characters, Tony and Jo, both have their own agendas, yet also have realistic self – doubt as things progress. This book is to be recommended for its incisive wit and realism, and its subtle realisation that life in the sun is not always simple.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started to read Staying On I was not sure if I was going to enjoy it or not as to start off there were a lot of references to Brexit and I had to wonder if this was going to be a bit of a politically charged book. I can honestly say that thankfully this was not the case and I totally loved it. It is not the typical type of book I read but as I was actually looking for something different to get my interest this was the perfect read.
Tony and Laney had retired out to Spain but with Brexit looming they had seen many of their friends return home. Although they were part of the community in some respects they were still considered outsiders in others as despite having been out there for quite some time they had never learnt the language.
On the surface of it they appear to be the stereotypical ex-pats but Tony wants to go home but he knows that Laney doesn’t. The reason for this isn’t known for quite some time and when you do find out you can kind of understand why. Despite his grumpiness Tony does love Laney and lets her get away with most things but part of me just wanted him to tell her the truth about how he felt and what was going on just to see if she really was as selfish and self-centred as she sometimes appeared.
When their son Nick and his wife Jo turn up things start to come to a head and the fractured relationships between them all are finally dealt with. I will admit that initially I didn’t take to Nick as he seemed a little selfish and only looked at how things affected him which often left his wife as piggy in the middle of it all. Not that she was an innocent bystander as she had reasons of her own for getting them out to Spain.
Despite there being some quite heart-breaking moments, there were also some chuckles along the way. What on the surface seems like a tale of retirement in sunny climes is actually a story about family secrets, repairing relationships and learning to move on from the past. If you are looking for something different then you can’t go wrong with this book in my opinion.

[Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy a family Drama with realistic and heart wrenching moments, as well as laughs and general family Shenanigans, then this is the perfect story for you.

When I first saw the cover, I expected this to be a lighthearted summery read, so the Blurb had me intrigued to see where this tale was going to take me. Would it live up to the expectations I already had, for a fast paced and fun read? It certainly did, although perhaps not always how I expected!

The story follows the two main Characters, telling the story from each of their perspectives, and in such a way giving a more rounded understanding of responses and attitudes in any given situation.

Family comes to stay, and that opens doorways for past tensions and conflicts to be opened up and discussed, causing individual and very believable situations for each of the characters. The story is easy to follow and engaging from the first page, and I found myself eager to see what would happen next, even at points I was slightly wary of what somebody would do.

I love the authors writing style, which seems to flow effortlessly to grab the readers attention and then capture it until the very last page. And I have to say, as much as I adored the way this book concluded, there is a big part of me that was sad to see the story end.

If you are looking for a story that will both make you smile, laugh, wince and cringe, and even shed a few tears for the Characters at times, this is the perfect one. I have had so many emotions though out this story, and I have to say I am so massively envious of the Authors talent for weaving a story that I am already excited to see what will come next.

This is certainly an Author to watch!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staying On C.M Taylor
I was sent this book by Real Readers to review.
Tony Metcalf is a Yorkshire man who runs a bar in a mountain village beyond the Costa Verde.
With Brexit and other factors his business is failing and he wants to go home like many of his British ex pats friends already have. Unfortunately, his wife Laney refuses to go home and Tony has never told her of their financial problems. He is cleaning the pools of people who have gone home, for a small fee to make ends meet.
Then everything changes dramatically when their son Nick arrives with his wife Jo and son Fred for a surprise visit staying for a holiday with Tony and Laney.
When I read the introduction, I was concerned that this would be a book that would make a political statement about Brexit and the effects it was having to the Ex Pats living in Spain. However, it turned out to be highly engaging and had very little to do with Brexit
It is a sensitively written book revealing so many issues that all the family had been avoiding for many years. These have had a profound effect on every member of the family for different reasons. There has been an inability to deal with so much baggage that each member of the family has carried around for years and it has ruined their lives.
The Author has the ability to create likeable characters and brings them to life so you feel you really get to know them He also paints a vivid picture of life in this small community and the surrounding countryside. I really enjoyed this book it was different and a page turner. You will remember this family for a long time after reading. I have not written any spoilers as to to so would spoil the enjoyment

[A.D. Flint · Rating 5 out of 5]

A regular British ex-pat couple living the good life in Spain. You get that lovely first taste and then find out that the sunny paradise getaway that was meant to leave all the bad stuff behind is starting to go a bit sour.

This story gently pulls you into a world of engaging and amusing characters - cheery Brits abroad toughing out an economic downturn and the approach of Brexit. Sure, the wheels are starting to wobble, but Tony and Laney are still living in a dream world, if not exactly living the dream.

And then the story starts to ratchet up until it crashes into a shattering revelation. The kind of thing that families try to survive by spending a lifetime trying to escape. I knew something was coming but when it did, it really packed a punch.

And there was more to come. This felt like real characters from a real family, living with one another, trying to function at an acceptable level, but either not able or not willing to properly communicate.

And the madness and irrationality of the fallout when it all comes to a head is a real family disintegrating and then wondering how to put it back together, and whether it is worth it. The novel also asks the questions about home, and what home actually means. Do Tony, Laney, Nick and Jo come up with the same answers? You'll need to read it to find out!

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Tuscany

In the midst of the ex-pat Brexit exodus a couple is having a mid-life crisis. Steeped in angst and misery, he misses home and she won't consider leaving the Costa Blanca of Spain with its vineyards, heat, and harsh beauty. But start digging and there's more to it--much more. As the family drama unfolds, replete with British slang and sensibilities, the sense of who and what constitutes "home" becomes central to all the anger and loss and mourning churning beneath the surfaces. This is much edgier than I'd expected but it drew me in and under.

[Lisa of Hopewell]

I learned of this book via this review: https://superfluousreading.wordpress....

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not my usual genre choice, I enjoyed this book and its lively characters. Some interesting observations on how we navigate life's storms and relate to on another.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beats me how this gets such great reviews. The angle from an older expat POV is unusual and (I thought) refreshing. But in fact I found it quite cliche.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was something I requested on an impulse, I liked the cover and story seemed to be different. I am glad I got a chance to read this book. 

This is a story of a family, who have been harbouring resentments and dysfunctional for years and this is the year when everything boils over. Although the beginning of my review may seem a little dreary, the book was not. A couple in their late sixties have spent a large part of their retirement in Spain. They live as expats, with that demarcation clear since they do not 'assimilate'. There is trouble brewing with Brexit hanging over them and people opting to go back to England. Their daughter-in-law decides to bring the family to visit for the summer and what happens next is the book in its entirety.

I have been living in a foreign country myself without 'assimilating' the last few years so I know some of the emotions that happen to make their way in the heads of Tony and Laney. Their mode of communication with each other and expressing themselves is not refined but heartfelt. It was easy to actually see the events unfolding in reality. None of the people are perfect, some more annoying than others but overall they are a family. I recommend this to people who enjoy seeing family dynamics at work and like reading character-driven tales.

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staying on is a wonderful, easy to read story. One that can be devoured within a day at only 233 pages long. You start to become familiar with the characters and town as if you were there yourself beside them.

Beautifully written, plenty of drama and family feuds. A story you can lose yourself in. A free vacation to spain. Didn’t really like Jo’s character a bit shifty, she had a plan. A dramatic ending which manages to turn out perfectly. A beautifully family with the secret and truth finally free.

Can the family rebuild their relationships? Can they get the restraunt back in business? Can they all get their happy endings? A brilliant read. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars.

[Jill's Book Cafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant contemporary tale about Tony and Laney, whose notion of living the dream is starting to sour. Ex pat life on the Costa's is changing in the shadow of Brexit, but the pair have darker shadows to face. It's finally time to come to terms with what they were running away from in the first place. Warm, funny and at times heartbreaking, this is a story of a broken family struggling to keep it together.

A realistic look at ex pat life and an exploration of what home really means.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow this heartbreaking story of love and loss as two British ex-pats living in a small mountain village in Spain are forced by their daughter-in-law to come to grips with the emotional baggage they have been carrying for years.

With the effects of Brexit looming on the horizon and several of their ex-pat friends returning to England, Tony Metcalf dreams of selling their small (failing) pub and returning to Yorkshire, while his wife Laney is unaware of their financial situation and refuses to return to the place that brought so much grief into their lives.

Inhabited by an appealing community of characters whose stories will twist readers up in knots, STAYING ON manages to catch many of the sweeter moments in life that prove you can teach an old dog new tricks and that home is not necessarily a place on a map or the town you grew up in, but any place where there is the love and support of family, friends and neighbors.

[B.R. Maycock]

What a book! This is the story of Tony Metcalfe, who moved out to Spain with his wife, Laney and a number of other british who decided it was time to live the dream. Of course after the slump and now brexit, they’re disappearing back to their homeland, realising it isn’t what they hoped it would be. I was caught from the beginning, where it began as truly my kind of book, more about telling the story with witty dialogue and vivid scenic descriptions that put me right there.

It’s described in the blurb that Tony is having a crisis but to be honest I think he was just seeing things clearly, (maybe a crisis can cause this or be this, I don’t know!) His wife, Laney is entranced with where they are and very abrupt in letting him know they can’t go back as there’s something in their past that prevents it. I have to talk about characters here, the ones you’re gunning for are amazingly done and I wanted to know them, in particular the lovely Tony and Jo, his partner should they have been in a buddy movie (as she says herself). The others- the ones that you kind of frown at are real and loud and have their notions and are self absorbed and brilliantly done. I flew through this book, devouring every word and nodding along with the odd gasp and tut too (had to be done;)). All in all so beyond recommended.