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The Fallout
Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a secret.
I only took my eyes off him for a second.
One little mistake is all it takes . . .
When Sarah forgets to check on her best friend’s little boy, distraction turns to disaster. And she’s faced with a dilemma.
Tell the truth, lose a friend.
Tell a lie, keep her close.
In a split second, Sarah seals her fate. But accidents have aftershocks, and lies have consequences. And when it’s someone else’s child, the rumours are quick to multiply.
Everyone’s talking about what happened. And sooner or later, the truth will have to come spilling out…
I only took my eyes off him for a second.
One little mistake is all it takes . . .
When Sarah forgets to check on her best friend’s little boy, distraction turns to disaster. And she’s faced with a dilemma.
Tell the truth, lose a friend.
Tell a lie, keep her close.
In a split second, Sarah seals her fate. But accidents have aftershocks, and lies have consequences. And when it’s someone else’s child, the rumours are quick to multiply.
Everyone’s talking about what happened. And sooner or later, the truth will have to come spilling out…
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2020
167 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Thornton
9 books49 followersREBECCA THORNTON is a journalist and runs an online advertising business. Her work has been published in Prospect magazine, the Daily Mail, the Jewish News, and the Sunday People. She was acting editor of an arts and culture magazine based in Jordan, and she’s reported from Kosovo, London, and elsewhere in the Middle East. Rebecca is a graduate of the Faber Academy and The Exclusives is her first novel. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
May 10, 2020
A single second has huge ramifications for a group of West London mums as young Jack playing at the new health club falls and is hospitalized instantly.
But who's to blame?
Jack's Mum Liza's had asked her friend Sarah to keep an eye on her son, soon after tragedy strikes.
The story flairs numerous rumours including the club itself is thrown under the spotlight.
The narrative relies heavily on that thrill of a bit of gossip in an active WhatsApp group and local online forums as the finger of blame spreads.
A pretty simple story that is easy to race through.
But who's to blame?
Jack's Mum Liza's had asked her friend Sarah to keep an eye on her son, soon after tragedy strikes.
The story flairs numerous rumours including the club itself is thrown under the spotlight.
The narrative relies heavily on that thrill of a bit of gossip in an active WhatsApp group and local online forums as the finger of blame spreads.
A pretty simple story that is easy to race through.
March 10, 2020
EXCERPT: Everyone looks the same here. Block-printed athleisure-wear leggings with Olivia Cunningham's brand new Motherhood Mania clothing-line tops. Brightly coloured slogan tees - 'Mother's Little Helper' - complete with lozenge shaped pills underneath. She jolts when she realizes she can't see Casper, his blond bowl haircut flying up and down as he leaps from level to level, before she remembers he's safely ensconced in his Champions Forever tennis lesson.
'See her now?' says Liza. 'It's a good 'un.'
'Nope.' Sarah wonders why Liza is staring at her so intently, waiting for her reaction. A Z-list celebrity, she wonders. Unbearable if it is. But, all she can really think is: why is everyone still smiling? Three days into the autumn half-term and she's done in. Yet here they are, all the other women (and where are all the bloody men today?) bouncing around. Long, lean legs, feet in pristine trainers, chatting so animatedly. Why aren't they exhausted? She knows she's probably just jealous - but what's wrong with them? She'd never stopped to think that maybe they're all normal and it's actually her with the problem. She rubs a mark off her own leggings. Weetabix, she guesses, from Casper's breakfast.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The accident.
The lie.
The fallout will be huge . . .
When Liza’s little boy has an accident at the local health club, it’s all anyone can talk about.
Was nobody watching him?
Where was his mother?
Who’s to blame?
The rumours, the finger-pointing, the whispers – they’re everywhere. And Liza’s best friend, Sarah, desperately needs it to stop.
Because Sarah was there when it happened. It was all her fault. And if she’s caught out on the lie, everything will fall apart . . .
MY THOUGHTS: I tried to like this book but, honestly, it is all about self entitled, selfish, women who see their children as fashion accessories. These women are horrible, shallow, grasping creatures who judge each other by what they buy. Grasping and competitive. Ghastly.
The only nice thing I can say about this book is that I liked the cover.
😵
THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Thornton is an alumna of the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton, narrated by Charlie Sanderson and Guy Mott, published by Harper Collins Publishers. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'See her now?' says Liza. 'It's a good 'un.'
'Nope.' Sarah wonders why Liza is staring at her so intently, waiting for her reaction. A Z-list celebrity, she wonders. Unbearable if it is. But, all she can really think is: why is everyone still smiling? Three days into the autumn half-term and she's done in. Yet here they are, all the other women (and where are all the bloody men today?) bouncing around. Long, lean legs, feet in pristine trainers, chatting so animatedly. Why aren't they exhausted? She knows she's probably just jealous - but what's wrong with them? She'd never stopped to think that maybe they're all normal and it's actually her with the problem. She rubs a mark off her own leggings. Weetabix, she guesses, from Casper's breakfast.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The accident.
The lie.
The fallout will be huge . . .
When Liza’s little boy has an accident at the local health club, it’s all anyone can talk about.
Was nobody watching him?
Where was his mother?
Who’s to blame?
The rumours, the finger-pointing, the whispers – they’re everywhere. And Liza’s best friend, Sarah, desperately needs it to stop.
Because Sarah was there when it happened. It was all her fault. And if she’s caught out on the lie, everything will fall apart . . .
MY THOUGHTS: I tried to like this book but, honestly, it is all about self entitled, selfish, women who see their children as fashion accessories. These women are horrible, shallow, grasping creatures who judge each other by what they buy. Grasping and competitive. Ghastly.
The only nice thing I can say about this book is that I liked the cover.
😵
THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Thornton is an alumna of the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton, narrated by Charlie Sanderson and Guy Mott, published by Harper Collins Publishers. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 15, 2020
Sarah and Liza met during antenatal classes five years ago and are now very close friends.
They go to the new prestigious club The Vale where yummy mummies meet for coffee or to exercise whilst their children play.
Liza asks Sarah to check up on her son who is playing outside in the playground, whilst she goes to get a coffee. On the way back to Liza, Sarah is distracted when she sees Ella who she hasn’t seen since their antenatal clinic and tells Liza she checked up on Jack when she didn’t. Unfortunately this little white lie has consequences when Jack has an accident which leaves him seriously injured.
These close friends have always been there for each other, but that small lie has a chain of events that will affect all their lives and their friendship.
The story is told from Liza, Sarah and Lisa’s point of view, with conversations on WhatsApp between the parents gossiping about what happened that day and laying the blame.
This is a brutal world where people are judged by their looks and lifestyles and everyone has to be perfect and not make mistakes!!
I did enjoy this book. It just goes to show you never really know someone and that anyone can look perfect and seem to have an envious life, but you are only seeing what someone wants to portray.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
They go to the new prestigious club The Vale where yummy mummies meet for coffee or to exercise whilst their children play.
Liza asks Sarah to check up on her son who is playing outside in the playground, whilst she goes to get a coffee. On the way back to Liza, Sarah is distracted when she sees Ella who she hasn’t seen since their antenatal clinic and tells Liza she checked up on Jack when she didn’t. Unfortunately this little white lie has consequences when Jack has an accident which leaves him seriously injured.
These close friends have always been there for each other, but that small lie has a chain of events that will affect all their lives and their friendship.
The story is told from Liza, Sarah and Lisa’s point of view, with conversations on WhatsApp between the parents gossiping about what happened that day and laying the blame.
This is a brutal world where people are judged by their looks and lifestyles and everyone has to be perfect and not make mistakes!!
I did enjoy this book. It just goes to show you never really know someone and that anyone can look perfect and seem to have an envious life, but you are only seeing what someone wants to portray.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
December 5, 2019
The Fallout is Ms Thornton's third thriller and I was in two minds whether to read this one but I was fond of her last novel, Your Guilty Secret. It explores the question of whether it is ever acceptable to lie to keep a secret from your best friend in order to save your friendship. Sarah and Liza are bosom buddies and are having a cheeky coffee at the local community centre when Liza asks Sarah to check if her son Jack is okay; he is outside making the most of the play equipment. However, soon she completely forgets about seeing if he is alright outside when a mother she hasn't seen in an age appears at the centre and they get on talking; she only very quickly looks to see he is still safe and having fun. Jack then has a terrible accident which leaves him in a serious condition but the other parent ends up telling Liza that Sarah had looked to ensure everything was good. Sarah daresn't tell her anything different and so she goes along with it.
This is a straightforward, gripping read which explores the insidious nature of small-town gossip, rumours and how secrets and lies can destroy a friendship when they inevitably come out. Some of the plot is a little far-fetched so if you prefer believability over everything else this may not be for you; set this qualm aside and just go with the flow and you are treated to an insightful exploration of human relationships and the tendency for the truth to always be revealed in the end. It's a compulsive and easy read which moves at a decent pace and looks at whether lying in a particular situation can ever be defended e.g. where you know it will hurt someone. This is probably more appropriately described as women's fiction but there a few surprises along the way and it held my interest well once I got into it. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
This is a straightforward, gripping read which explores the insidious nature of small-town gossip, rumours and how secrets and lies can destroy a friendship when they inevitably come out. Some of the plot is a little far-fetched so if you prefer believability over everything else this may not be for you; set this qualm aside and just go with the flow and you are treated to an insightful exploration of human relationships and the tendency for the truth to always be revealed in the end. It's a compulsive and easy read which moves at a decent pace and looks at whether lying in a particular situation can ever be defended e.g. where you know it will hurt someone. This is probably more appropriately described as women's fiction but there a few surprises along the way and it held my interest well once I got into it. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
December 17, 2019
An interesting, at times ferocious look at :
School gate politics
WatsApp group wars
Affluent Mummies with their spoilt brats and
( I am not sure which one’s comes out top tbh ) the love, hate, respect and envy of friendships
All based around an accident at a ‘well to do’ Leisure club in West London and what one friend decide’s to tell another about what they have witnessed of the accident ( involving their son ) this decision changes theirs, and others, lives dramatically
I found the complex, often quite brutal friendships between the women featured scary tbh and wondered just how traumatic a daily trip to the School gates can be?, if this book is anything to go by its something I dont envy any Mum ( or Dad ) having to endure
An advert for ‘Sisterhood R Us’ it is not,although there are also positives of female friendships shown throughout the book!
There are many secrets and lies, red herrings and ‘misundertstandings’ throughout the story and often just as I found my mind wandering these cropped up and got me focused back on the story
There is dark rye humour alongside utter despair and feelings of inadequacy and the author manages to do a wide range of ‘emotion description’ well
A good story, well written, at times a tad repetitive with good sub stories and a satisfyingly ‘real’ ending that dealt with many issues and did the ‘ friendships built on a lie/secret’ thing well
8/10
4 Stars
School gate politics
WatsApp group wars
Affluent Mummies with their spoilt brats and
( I am not sure which one’s comes out top tbh ) the love, hate, respect and envy of friendships
All based around an accident at a ‘well to do’ Leisure club in West London and what one friend decide’s to tell another about what they have witnessed of the accident ( involving their son ) this decision changes theirs, and others, lives dramatically
I found the complex, often quite brutal friendships between the women featured scary tbh and wondered just how traumatic a daily trip to the School gates can be?, if this book is anything to go by its something I dont envy any Mum ( or Dad ) having to endure
An advert for ‘Sisterhood R Us’ it is not,although there are also positives of female friendships shown throughout the book!
There are many secrets and lies, red herrings and ‘misundertstandings’ throughout the story and often just as I found my mind wandering these cropped up and got me focused back on the story
There is dark rye humour alongside utter despair and feelings of inadequacy and the author manages to do a wide range of ‘emotion description’ well
A good story, well written, at times a tad repetitive with good sub stories and a satisfyingly ‘real’ ending that dealt with many issues and did the ‘ friendships built on a lie/secret’ thing well
8/10
4 Stars
April 27, 2020
Two stars for a distinctive lack of storyline and a main character that should never have found herself in the position she was in. Too many ‘yummy mummy’s’ with over inflated egos that I found irritating and not true to life. However, I would give this story three stars for the many subject themes that were tackled, surrounding post partum depression, ptsd, toxic friendships and long buried secrets. I did read from start to finish to see where the story went and although very well written I did find it lacked the substance it needed. I would read more by this author in the future however.
December 5, 2019
Read this via the pigeonhole app, didn't really get to grips with it at all. Didn't like any of the characters, felt they were annoying, childish and far too materialistic.
There could have been So much more to the story but I found it to be lacking in excitement or intrigue.
There could have been So much more to the story but I found it to be lacking in excitement or intrigue.
April 22, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #13: A book you picked because the title caught your attention.
Secrets, lies, gossip, guilt and modern parenting defines the third novel from Rebecca Thornton. The Fallout is a domestic fiction title with a strong contemporary line, the premise of this novel immediately draws the reader in. Filled with plenty of emotional drama and speculation, it is hard not to cast judgement on the central characters of The Fallout.
When we begin The Fallout, a gaggle of gossiping mothers forge a friendship through an antenatal online chat group. Some years later, two of the women from this group have maintained their friendship. When they meet up at a local health club, a terrible accident occurs, involving the young child of one of these women. The other was supposed to be watching her friend’s son in a punishing twist of fate that will see both women consumed by the guilt that follows them after this incident. The blame game follows this accident, the rumour mill starts and there are accusations made by strangers. This day continues to haunt little Jack, his mother and Sarah, the friend left in charge of this boy’s care. As the lines between truth and lies blur, these two women struggle to keep their sanity in check.
I selected The Fallout to read as the title was speculative and I thought this book definitely had a The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas vibe. Parenting wars and schoolyard politics seem to be a focal point for authors to deconstruct of late, thanks to trailblazing books such as Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I do not generally like making book comparisons, but I do feel as though The Fallout is a kind of hybrid novel of The Slap and Big Little Lies. It definitely falls into the conflict based modern parenting and domestic fiction category.
I really hoped that I would connect with and relate to the characters of The Fallout as a parent. I appreciated the way in which Thornton tried to present her cast in a sympathetic and realistic manner. However, I did feel a sense of frustration with these protagonists and I found their issues trivial. There was selfishness to their nature and they often displayed frivolous attitude which seemed to grate on me. It was hard to let them in and empathise with them.
The situation that occurs to the poor little boy in the story is played out well. In fact, I think The Fallout would actually work better on the screen as a miniseries, rather than a book. There are some good moral high ground issues that come into play in The Fallout, which I desperately wanted to discuss with someone! Thornton doesn’t back away from highlighting some pertinent themes that strike at the heart of present day parenting. These conflicts include parental roles, conception, loss, marital breakdown, friendship, appearances, trauma, anxiety and mental illness. There is also the looming aspect of who is truly to blame for the accident that day, which plays on your mind. It is a hard one to assign. I came to conclusion that no one was truly at fault, it was just an awful accident.
Thornton’s narrative is divided between two friends, Liza and Sarah. Interspersed between the narrative are snippets from chat groups, online newspaper articles, interview transcripts of witnesses of the accident, emails and Facebook page updates. Full points to the author for tapping into our modern fixation on these various communication platforms. It definitely adds another spin to the events of the novel, but I did feel it disrupted the flow of the narrative at times.
The Fallout is an issued based contemporary fiction novel, which is in touch with our current social world. Rebecca Thorton’s latest book provides a glimpse into the pressures of modern parenting, friendships, relationships and our obsession with appearances.
POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #13: A book you picked because the title caught your attention.
Secrets, lies, gossip, guilt and modern parenting defines the third novel from Rebecca Thornton. The Fallout is a domestic fiction title with a strong contemporary line, the premise of this novel immediately draws the reader in. Filled with plenty of emotional drama and speculation, it is hard not to cast judgement on the central characters of The Fallout.
When we begin The Fallout, a gaggle of gossiping mothers forge a friendship through an antenatal online chat group. Some years later, two of the women from this group have maintained their friendship. When they meet up at a local health club, a terrible accident occurs, involving the young child of one of these women. The other was supposed to be watching her friend’s son in a punishing twist of fate that will see both women consumed by the guilt that follows them after this incident. The blame game follows this accident, the rumour mill starts and there are accusations made by strangers. This day continues to haunt little Jack, his mother and Sarah, the friend left in charge of this boy’s care. As the lines between truth and lies blur, these two women struggle to keep their sanity in check.
I selected The Fallout to read as the title was speculative and I thought this book definitely had a The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas vibe. Parenting wars and schoolyard politics seem to be a focal point for authors to deconstruct of late, thanks to trailblazing books such as Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I do not generally like making book comparisons, but I do feel as though The Fallout is a kind of hybrid novel of The Slap and Big Little Lies. It definitely falls into the conflict based modern parenting and domestic fiction category.
I really hoped that I would connect with and relate to the characters of The Fallout as a parent. I appreciated the way in which Thornton tried to present her cast in a sympathetic and realistic manner. However, I did feel a sense of frustration with these protagonists and I found their issues trivial. There was selfishness to their nature and they often displayed frivolous attitude which seemed to grate on me. It was hard to let them in and empathise with them.
The situation that occurs to the poor little boy in the story is played out well. In fact, I think The Fallout would actually work better on the screen as a miniseries, rather than a book. There are some good moral high ground issues that come into play in The Fallout, which I desperately wanted to discuss with someone! Thornton doesn’t back away from highlighting some pertinent themes that strike at the heart of present day parenting. These conflicts include parental roles, conception, loss, marital breakdown, friendship, appearances, trauma, anxiety and mental illness. There is also the looming aspect of who is truly to blame for the accident that day, which plays on your mind. It is a hard one to assign. I came to conclusion that no one was truly at fault, it was just an awful accident.
Thornton’s narrative is divided between two friends, Liza and Sarah. Interspersed between the narrative are snippets from chat groups, online newspaper articles, interview transcripts of witnesses of the accident, emails and Facebook page updates. Full points to the author for tapping into our modern fixation on these various communication platforms. It definitely adds another spin to the events of the novel, but I did feel it disrupted the flow of the narrative at times.
The Fallout is an issued based contemporary fiction novel, which is in touch with our current social world. Rebecca Thorton’s latest book provides a glimpse into the pressures of modern parenting, friendships, relationships and our obsession with appearances.
May 26, 2020
The novel equivalent of a storm in a teacup. A school gates drama of West London yummy mummies with too much time on their hands, characters who can’t say what they mean or ever talk honestly and about twenty ongoing (utterly banal) WhatsApp group conversations.
Reading the author’s inspiration for the story (below) should tell readers all they need to know about this novel and illustrate that the main plot point is itself rather a non-event. Even with the sub-plot of one characters obsession with befriending an aloof elite yummy mummy it certainly doesn’t warrant a novel of 420 pages.
“I was at a health club with one of my best friends and our children. She asked me to go and check on her younger son, whilst I grabbed us a coffee. I did check on him and he was happily playing, but as I walked back to her, I imagined what what have happened if I hadn’t seen him - and if, put on a spot and in a panic, I told her that I had.”
Yes, that really is it.
Reading the author’s inspiration for the story (below) should tell readers all they need to know about this novel and illustrate that the main plot point is itself rather a non-event. Even with the sub-plot of one characters obsession with befriending an aloof elite yummy mummy it certainly doesn’t warrant a novel of 420 pages.
“I was at a health club with one of my best friends and our children. She asked me to go and check on her younger son, whilst I grabbed us a coffee. I did check on him and he was happily playing, but as I walked back to her, I imagined what what have happened if I hadn’t seen him - and if, put on a spot and in a panic, I told her that I had.”
Yes, that really is it.
July 11, 2020
Could not warm to Sarah at all
April 16, 2020
So this might sound a bit harsh but after reading The Fallout, I was overtaken by the immense satisfaction that I don't have kids. A new prestigious club called The Vale has opened up in London. It is a place where parents can exercise and socialize while the kids play. Sarah and Liza have been friends for years. One day while at The Vale, Liza asks Sarah to check on her son. However, Sarah runs into an individual, Ella, who was once part of the friend group but who mysteriously ghosted everyone. Instead of checking on Jack, Sarah talks with Ella. She sees Jack fleetingly but tells Liza he is fine. That couldn't be further from the truth because Jack takes a horrible fall and sets into motion a take of lies, obsession, betrayal and finally honesty.
I found The Fallout to be an extremely engrossing read. Told from both Sarah and Liza's POVs, the reader is able to learn a lot about both individuals and their families. Both have suffered in the past and both have kept part of their lives a secret. I found them both likable, but admit to being more invested in what happens to Liza and her family. Part of the reason for that is Sarah seems to have this immense obsession with Ella which I could never understand. And seriously I didn't see the reason for it. Yes, Ella is rich and beautiful but Sarah's life isn't that horrible either.
This book also incorporates conversations from WhatsApp, where all the school mother congregate to plan function, communicate and above all else, gossip. And man, saying all the ladies even remotely connected to Liza and Sarah are too involved in each other's lives is an understatement. The Fallout is an excellent source of neighborhood drama and I really couldn't wait to see how it all wrapped up. I really enjoyed Thornton's writing style and will be looking for more works by her in the future.
I found The Fallout to be an extremely engrossing read. Told from both Sarah and Liza's POVs, the reader is able to learn a lot about both individuals and their families. Both have suffered in the past and both have kept part of their lives a secret. I found them both likable, but admit to being more invested in what happens to Liza and her family. Part of the reason for that is Sarah seems to have this immense obsession with Ella which I could never understand. And seriously I didn't see the reason for it. Yes, Ella is rich and beautiful but Sarah's life isn't that horrible either.
This book also incorporates conversations from WhatsApp, where all the school mother congregate to plan function, communicate and above all else, gossip. And man, saying all the ladies even remotely connected to Liza and Sarah are too involved in each other's lives is an understatement. The Fallout is an excellent source of neighborhood drama and I really couldn't wait to see how it all wrapped up. I really enjoyed Thornton's writing style and will be looking for more works by her in the future.
September 25, 2019
I did enjoy but it did go on a little bit. Very stretched out. Relevant about playground mums and their WhatsApp groups. Worth a read.
November 17, 2022
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall rating : 2*
Writing skill : 3*
Plot: 2*
Pace: 2*
Characters: 1*
I really wanted to like this one, but it was a whole lot of drama about nothing. I’ve never hated a cast of characters more, what a bunch of privileged, self centred, absent mums!!
Everything escalated after one little lie that could have easily been resolved, but no we have 400+ pages of unnecessary BS. Really sorry I didn’t like this one but it was really not for me. Will avoid all school mum drama books from now on!
Overall rating : 2*
Writing skill : 3*
Plot: 2*
Pace: 2*
Characters: 1*
I really wanted to like this one, but it was a whole lot of drama about nothing. I’ve never hated a cast of characters more, what a bunch of privileged, self centred, absent mums!!
Everything escalated after one little lie that could have easily been resolved, but no we have 400+ pages of unnecessary BS. Really sorry I didn’t like this one but it was really not for me. Will avoid all school mum drama books from now on!
February 6, 2020
I must have requested this book (electronically) a while ago. Or during a lull. Because when it popped up in my 'due to read' pile I read the back cover blurb and groaned. Not from any physical pain ( ;-) ) but rather the thought of yet another book about parenting wars. I know the fascination with good / bad parenting started before Big Little Lies but the perfect / imperfect mummy thing has become a little old hat. More so for me I suspect as a non-parent.
But I bravely read on, deciding it's not the author's fault there's been a deluge of books about parents being blamed for their children going missing or getting hurt when they should be keeping a better eye on them.
And, I was relieved to discover - after this book kicked off - there are some secrets at play that go beyond the parenting crap, so I found myself a little more intrigued than I expected to be.
https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
But I bravely read on, deciding it's not the author's fault there's been a deluge of books about parents being blamed for their children going missing or getting hurt when they should be keeping a better eye on them.
And, I was relieved to discover - after this book kicked off - there are some secrets at play that go beyond the parenting crap, so I found myself a little more intrigued than I expected to be.
https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
November 28, 2019
The world of yummy mummies, who are so wrapped up in themselves, I think I struggled to like any of the female characters in this book. I didn’t feel anything relate able with them and maybe that’s a good thing. I don’t think as readers we were meant to like them or at least I hope not. For me the only situation this reminded me of was picking up my children from the school playgrounds at the end of the day or dropping them off, as there was always that clique group which if on their own would speak but if together nothing.
This group of women start off all pregnant at the same time and have a WhatsApp chat group, but a couple of them have a second chat where they monad about the others. I am so pleased I wasn’t expecting my children during this time of social media frenzy.
Jump ahead a few years a new sports centre has opened, where children have play areas, as well as they can attend tennis lessons or various groups. As can the mothers, areas where they can drop there children whilst they do there exercise classes keeping them looking trim and perfect.
Sarah and Liza are in the cafe whilst Jack Lisa’s son us out playing in an outdoor play area, Sarah goes to get them coffee’s and assures Liza she will check on Jack whilst getting the coffee’s. She does see Jack climbing quite close to the edge of a climbing frame and she should warn him to get down, but then she spots Ella another mother who had left their group and hasn’t been seen around much, Ella is a stunning woman and Sarah has always been fascinated with her and wanted to be a friend she forgets about Jack and is engaged in talking to Ella. Both women go to Liza when a commotion starts outside. Jack has had an accident
Sarah now feels guilty for not telling Jack to get down, she drags Ella into it saying that she had supposed to check on Jack but had got distracted by Ella. Ella tells her to tell Liza she checked on Jack and dismisses the incident. But Sarah is wracked with guilt over not telling her friend the total truth. But can she trust Ella?
Lisa’s husband Gavin is a control freak, he has split from his wife but is still living in the marital home to watch his wife, but why? When he learns of Jacks accident he goes mad, blaming Liza and Sarah and the Centre who he claims he will sue.
The story is interspersed with WhatsApp messages, extracts from newspaper articles from witnesses of the accident, which reveals the strain and tension that these yummy mummies are under.
The rest of the story is told through the points of view of Sara and Liza, what secrets does Liza have? There has to be something for her husband to act as he does.
Despite not liking the characters I had to read on, some of the topics covered were very well done, post natal depression, the loss of a child, being a mum in general, which is one of the toughest jobs, there is no guidebook, and every child is different, so you may get on fine with child number one, but child number two comes along and a totally different personality. The characters are well drawn and are real in the world as we live right now, but I still didn’t find I liked them.
Gavin is a total control freak and really should have been kicked to the kerb.
I wouldn’t say it was a favourite book but I was intrigued enough to continue reading to find out what secrets these ladies had. Not something I would normally read, because it’s basically bitchy women with secrets. I am sure there will be lots of readers possibly younger mums who will absolutely love this.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarperCollins for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
[
This group of women start off all pregnant at the same time and have a WhatsApp chat group, but a couple of them have a second chat where they monad about the others. I am so pleased I wasn’t expecting my children during this time of social media frenzy.
Jump ahead a few years a new sports centre has opened, where children have play areas, as well as they can attend tennis lessons or various groups. As can the mothers, areas where they can drop there children whilst they do there exercise classes keeping them looking trim and perfect.
Sarah and Liza are in the cafe whilst Jack Lisa’s son us out playing in an outdoor play area, Sarah goes to get them coffee’s and assures Liza she will check on Jack whilst getting the coffee’s. She does see Jack climbing quite close to the edge of a climbing frame and she should warn him to get down, but then she spots Ella another mother who had left their group and hasn’t been seen around much, Ella is a stunning woman and Sarah has always been fascinated with her and wanted to be a friend she forgets about Jack and is engaged in talking to Ella. Both women go to Liza when a commotion starts outside. Jack has had an accident
Sarah now feels guilty for not telling Jack to get down, she drags Ella into it saying that she had supposed to check on Jack but had got distracted by Ella. Ella tells her to tell Liza she checked on Jack and dismisses the incident. But Sarah is wracked with guilt over not telling her friend the total truth. But can she trust Ella?
Lisa’s husband Gavin is a control freak, he has split from his wife but is still living in the marital home to watch his wife, but why? When he learns of Jacks accident he goes mad, blaming Liza and Sarah and the Centre who he claims he will sue.
The story is interspersed with WhatsApp messages, extracts from newspaper articles from witnesses of the accident, which reveals the strain and tension that these yummy mummies are under.
The rest of the story is told through the points of view of Sara and Liza, what secrets does Liza have? There has to be something for her husband to act as he does.
Despite not liking the characters I had to read on, some of the topics covered were very well done, post natal depression, the loss of a child, being a mum in general, which is one of the toughest jobs, there is no guidebook, and every child is different, so you may get on fine with child number one, but child number two comes along and a totally different personality. The characters are well drawn and are real in the world as we live right now, but I still didn’t find I liked them.
Gavin is a total control freak and really should have been kicked to the kerb.
I wouldn’t say it was a favourite book but I was intrigued enough to continue reading to find out what secrets these ladies had. Not something I would normally read, because it’s basically bitchy women with secrets. I am sure there will be lots of readers possibly younger mums who will absolutely love this.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarperCollins for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
[
September 7, 2019
Nobody is perfect...right, we all make mistakes. The important thing is that we admit we have made them,learn from our mistakes and try not to repeat them. The Fallout is a tale of human error,misconceptions,secrets,friendships,obsession,relationship,
guilt and loss. It's the story of Sarah's desperate attempts to stop her best friend Liza from.finding out the truth about an accident involving Lisa's four year old son Jack.
Best friends Sarah and Liza had been at the local community centre having a coffee and catching up on the gossip. When Sarah said that she was going to the cafe to get more drinks,Liza asked if she would check on Jack who was outside playing on the play equipment. Sarah agreed that she would but she got distracted by another parent who they hadn't seen for a long time and didn't check on Jack properly. When Jack has a serious accident,Sarah was scared that if she told Liza the truth,she would lose her best friend so when the other mother said that Sarah had checked on Jack,Sarah just went along with the lie.
One mistake,one accident and one lie that results in repercussions,speculation,gossip and rumours. And the predictable judgements by the cyber trolls who hide behind their screens and pass comment without knowing what they are talking about or caring how much upset their comments cause. The characters were all well rounded and realistic,the sort of people that we have all encountered at some point in our lives. The dreaded cliques of so called yummy mummies going on about their perfect little darlings who never did anything wrong. There was characters who were not who they appeared to be,characters I liked and characters I didn't like. I can't say that I liked Sarah very much for various reasons,I did like and empathise with Liza and felt so much sympathy for Sarah's husband Tom. Throughout the story,the author cleverly manipulates the reader into believing that a couple of characters are something that they are not.
The Fallout was one of those books that I really enjoyed reading but I can't honestly explain why. It just had something that kept pulling me back into the complex web that made up the characters lives. I wanted to know all their secrets and how it was going to end. A very enjoyable read and highly recommended to any readers who enjoy reading an excellent human drama.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
guilt and loss. It's the story of Sarah's desperate attempts to stop her best friend Liza from.finding out the truth about an accident involving Lisa's four year old son Jack.
Best friends Sarah and Liza had been at the local community centre having a coffee and catching up on the gossip. When Sarah said that she was going to the cafe to get more drinks,Liza asked if she would check on Jack who was outside playing on the play equipment. Sarah agreed that she would but she got distracted by another parent who they hadn't seen for a long time and didn't check on Jack properly. When Jack has a serious accident,Sarah was scared that if she told Liza the truth,she would lose her best friend so when the other mother said that Sarah had checked on Jack,Sarah just went along with the lie.
One mistake,one accident and one lie that results in repercussions,speculation,gossip and rumours. And the predictable judgements by the cyber trolls who hide behind their screens and pass comment without knowing what they are talking about or caring how much upset their comments cause. The characters were all well rounded and realistic,the sort of people that we have all encountered at some point in our lives. The dreaded cliques of so called yummy mummies going on about their perfect little darlings who never did anything wrong. There was characters who were not who they appeared to be,characters I liked and characters I didn't like. I can't say that I liked Sarah very much for various reasons,I did like and empathise with Liza and felt so much sympathy for Sarah's husband Tom. Throughout the story,the author cleverly manipulates the reader into believing that a couple of characters are something that they are not.
The Fallout was one of those books that I really enjoyed reading but I can't honestly explain why. It just had something that kept pulling me back into the complex web that made up the characters lives. I wanted to know all their secrets and how it was going to end. A very enjoyable read and highly recommended to any readers who enjoy reading an excellent human drama.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 22, 2020
I'll keep this short, partly because it doesn't warrant going into detail, and partly because life is too short to continue to read such rubbsih....
A group of yummy-mummies (a nauseating but apt term) meets at a posh WEst London club - The Vale - which is where we meet Sarah and Liza and their children. Liza is wrestling with her newborn daughter so asks Sarah to check on her energetic son Jack. Airhead Sarah fails in this one task because she becomes involved in conversation with Ella, a glamorous woman from their past. Returning to Liza, with Ella in tow, Sarah tells a white lie regarding Jack, assuring Liza that all is well. A few minutes later there is chaos - noise, confusion, people yelling - you get the picture - and it becomes apparent that all is not well - Jack has fallen and is now being taken to hospital.
Sarah now has a dilemma - should she confess to Liza that she didn't actually see Jack, or should she keep her mouth closed. That really is the crux of this badly written tale involving silly, materialistic women with more time and money than they know what to do with.
I gave up on this well before I reached the 1/3rd mark and cannot - will not - go back to it, or recommend it.
My thanks to Netgalley for a free download, without whom I would never have known how awful this is.
A group of yummy-mummies (a nauseating but apt term) meets at a posh WEst London club - The Vale - which is where we meet Sarah and Liza and their children. Liza is wrestling with her newborn daughter so asks Sarah to check on her energetic son Jack. Airhead Sarah fails in this one task because she becomes involved in conversation with Ella, a glamorous woman from their past. Returning to Liza, with Ella in tow, Sarah tells a white lie regarding Jack, assuring Liza that all is well. A few minutes later there is chaos - noise, confusion, people yelling - you get the picture - and it becomes apparent that all is not well - Jack has fallen and is now being taken to hospital.
Sarah now has a dilemma - should she confess to Liza that she didn't actually see Jack, or should she keep her mouth closed. That really is the crux of this badly written tale involving silly, materialistic women with more time and money than they know what to do with.
I gave up on this well before I reached the 1/3rd mark and cannot - will not - go back to it, or recommend it.
My thanks to Netgalley for a free download, without whom I would never have known how awful this is.
December 5, 2019
I’m still debating what star rating to give this book as it’s a complicated one. At the start I thought two stars as I hated all the self obsessed yummy mummies and became increasingly frustrated at their apparent lack of normality and how shallow they all were. But….. there was one little ray of light that kept me reading and that was Liza ( although she’s not without issues either).
Sarah the protagonist was annoying, insecure, fragile and seriously needs to work on getting her brain in gear before opening her gob. The mysterious Ella, aloof, seemingly perfect but nobody is that perfect right? Gav the controlling ex who refuses to move out so he doesn’t have to relinquish control to Liza and poor Tom Sarah’s husband and best friend of Gav. The author has done an incredible job with the characters whether you love them or loathe them you can’t help but admire how well written they are that you feel that depth of emotion.
The plot moves at a steady pace but god reading it in staves was a nightmare. They kept leaving it on cliffhangers so you had to wait till the next day to find out, then the next day you were left with even MORE questions! I decided to cheat and left it for a bit then read six staves in one go. Ha ha Pigeonhole you can’t stop me. I then got to 90% and I don’t think I’ve ever been so eager on a conclusion before. I was up so early this morning to read the final stave that I have decided that I will give this book 5 stars for that very reason. Because love or hate the characters this is a sharply written insightful book on motherhood, friendships, the impact of social media and shaming. We’ve all done it, we’ve all judged someone without knowing the facts. Listened to gossip and given an opinion. Like the old saying goes “you never really know what goes on behind closed doors”.
Sarah the protagonist was annoying, insecure, fragile and seriously needs to work on getting her brain in gear before opening her gob. The mysterious Ella, aloof, seemingly perfect but nobody is that perfect right? Gav the controlling ex who refuses to move out so he doesn’t have to relinquish control to Liza and poor Tom Sarah’s husband and best friend of Gav. The author has done an incredible job with the characters whether you love them or loathe them you can’t help but admire how well written they are that you feel that depth of emotion.
The plot moves at a steady pace but god reading it in staves was a nightmare. They kept leaving it on cliffhangers so you had to wait till the next day to find out, then the next day you were left with even MORE questions! I decided to cheat and left it for a bit then read six staves in one go. Ha ha Pigeonhole you can’t stop me. I then got to 90% and I don’t think I’ve ever been so eager on a conclusion before. I was up so early this morning to read the final stave that I have decided that I will give this book 5 stars for that very reason. Because love or hate the characters this is a sharply written insightful book on motherhood, friendships, the impact of social media and shaming. We’ve all done it, we’ve all judged someone without knowing the facts. Listened to gossip and given an opinion. Like the old saying goes “you never really know what goes on behind closed doors”.
December 17, 2019
My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Fallout’ by Rebecca Thornton in exchange for an honest review.
This domestic (or rather school gates) drama revolves around the friendship between two women Sarah and Liza as well as their wider group of affluent young mummies who are members of a posh health club in West London. The fallout of the title relates to an accident that befalls Liza’s five-year old son, Jack, at the centre’s play area.
‘The Fallout’ contains plenty of angst, guilt, secrets, lies, repercussions, and lots of drama. Some of the conversations on a WhatsApp group that the mummies belong to provide a bit of humour though overall it’s quite a solemn story.
I find that these kind of dramas with emphasis upon parenthood are not really my thing though this was certainly a quite readable novel.
This domestic (or rather school gates) drama revolves around the friendship between two women Sarah and Liza as well as their wider group of affluent young mummies who are members of a posh health club in West London. The fallout of the title relates to an accident that befalls Liza’s five-year old son, Jack, at the centre’s play area.
‘The Fallout’ contains plenty of angst, guilt, secrets, lies, repercussions, and lots of drama. Some of the conversations on a WhatsApp group that the mummies belong to provide a bit of humour though overall it’s quite a solemn story.
I find that these kind of dramas with emphasis upon parenthood are not really my thing though this was certainly a quite readable novel.
July 21, 2020
I hated them all.
March 7, 2020
What would you do if your five-year-old son fell and got injured on your watch. Your best friend tells you they checked on him before the accident happens. He was safe and happy. You would trust that, wouldn’t you? The Fallout examines the chain of events this accident triggers; they are catastrophic, and no one’s lives will ever be the same again. Friendships should be filled with trust and compassion to what ends will the threads that hold them together snap. The Fallout examines the confines and limits of friendships and the parenting circles of school age children. The two-faced sides of mothers that spend all their time professing kindness but are entirely judgemental at every turn.
I mulled over how to review The Fallout and generally how I felt about it. It was a premise that was topically relevant but in a lot of ways it fell a bit flat. You are fully aware that these things take place. The WhatsApp groups between parents, the snippy behaviour, the envious behaviour of parents that are placed on a pedestal and you can’t help but want their life. These things are going to take place in such a technologically advanced era.
The biggest flaw in The Fallout, for me wasn’t the really the story itself. The characters didn’t connect with me nor were they very nice people. Sarah, although been through an incredibly traumatic event some of her actions were dubious at best and damaging at worst. She seemed to be more concerned about her incredibly dangerous obsession with Ella and her life rather than the safety of a child. Her actions through-out the story just pushed the dominoes over and they kept catapulting to a dangerous climax. She was naive and seemed to be lost within herself.
Liza is a woman that is still in that new-born phase of losing themselves to being a mother to a fully demanding infant. It’s hard to juggle being attentive to the baby’s needs and also being fully present to a five-year-old. It’s a very difficult balance to have successfully. The part of Liza that I just couldn’t cope with was how she let her husband, Gav railroad her into parenting decisions. He has taken the decision to separate from her but refuses to move out of the marital home, WTF is all that about? The way he talks to her is abhorrent, claiming that he needs to keep an eye on her.
Ella is the woman that seems to have it all. She knew Sarah and Liza when they were all expecting their five-year olds at the NCT workshops. She then ghosted them all and has always been the object of Sarah’s obsession. Her money, her house, her beautiful children. What is she hiding and why has she now come into their lives again. Is everything as perfect as it seems?
The Fallout is told in Sarah and Eliza’s perspectives and the viciousness that can be yummy mummies. An accident that leads to Sarah telling a lie that leads to her subsequent guilt. The mummies and their children and their exclusive fitness club was anything but my cup of tea. They all seemed so far removed from the real world. The ending, in my opinion was more of an anti-climax. The story could have been great but the execution of it didn’t work.
I mulled over how to review The Fallout and generally how I felt about it. It was a premise that was topically relevant but in a lot of ways it fell a bit flat. You are fully aware that these things take place. The WhatsApp groups between parents, the snippy behaviour, the envious behaviour of parents that are placed on a pedestal and you can’t help but want their life. These things are going to take place in such a technologically advanced era.
The biggest flaw in The Fallout, for me wasn’t the really the story itself. The characters didn’t connect with me nor were they very nice people. Sarah, although been through an incredibly traumatic event some of her actions were dubious at best and damaging at worst. She seemed to be more concerned about her incredibly dangerous obsession with Ella and her life rather than the safety of a child. Her actions through-out the story just pushed the dominoes over and they kept catapulting to a dangerous climax. She was naive and seemed to be lost within herself.
Liza is a woman that is still in that new-born phase of losing themselves to being a mother to a fully demanding infant. It’s hard to juggle being attentive to the baby’s needs and also being fully present to a five-year-old. It’s a very difficult balance to have successfully. The part of Liza that I just couldn’t cope with was how she let her husband, Gav railroad her into parenting decisions. He has taken the decision to separate from her but refuses to move out of the marital home, WTF is all that about? The way he talks to her is abhorrent, claiming that he needs to keep an eye on her.
Ella is the woman that seems to have it all. She knew Sarah and Liza when they were all expecting their five-year olds at the NCT workshops. She then ghosted them all and has always been the object of Sarah’s obsession. Her money, her house, her beautiful children. What is she hiding and why has she now come into their lives again. Is everything as perfect as it seems?
The Fallout is told in Sarah and Eliza’s perspectives and the viciousness that can be yummy mummies. An accident that leads to Sarah telling a lie that leads to her subsequent guilt. The mummies and their children and their exclusive fitness club was anything but my cup of tea. They all seemed so far removed from the real world. The ending, in my opinion was more of an anti-climax. The story could have been great but the execution of it didn’t work.
April 23, 2020
Ok, so this is another one of those books that I enjoyed a lot at the start but started to get annoying as it progressed., and I have no idea how to review it. So, apologies in advance for this review that feels like its al over the place.
So, The Fallout was an interesting read and one that I did get through quite quickly considering it was a 400+ page book. While I thought this was a well written book with a somewhat engaging plot was interesting it did get to a point where I started to lose a little interest because it felt like we were constantly being built up for a big reveal but when it finally came it was quite disappointing because it turned out not to be as big as I had already worked it out before it came.
Although the characters were well written I must admit I didn’t like them. I found them to be really annoying and they really were portrayed as your typical stuck up, rich yummy mummy types, who think are better than everyone. I really couldn’t relate to them and I actually felt sorry for their kids.
Another thing that is not sitting quite well with me is the accuracy of the aftercare treatment/services Jake is receives after leaving hospital. I know for a fact, in really life Jake would still be on a waiting list to receive his aftercare treatment/services, even if he was prioritised because the fact is the NHS services have long waiting times no matter what your needs are.
Overall this was a good book, but one that I thought could have been better, it just have been a lot better. It’s not a book I would personally re-read, but I would recommend it to others as I feel people who are parents would enjoy it much more.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of my eARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
So, The Fallout was an interesting read and one that I did get through quite quickly considering it was a 400+ page book. While I thought this was a well written book with a somewhat engaging plot was interesting it did get to a point where I started to lose a little interest because it felt like we were constantly being built up for a big reveal but when it finally came it was quite disappointing because it turned out not to be as big as I had already worked it out before it came.
Although the characters were well written I must admit I didn’t like them. I found them to be really annoying and they really were portrayed as your typical stuck up, rich yummy mummy types, who think are better than everyone. I really couldn’t relate to them and I actually felt sorry for their kids.
Another thing that is not sitting quite well with me is the accuracy of the aftercare treatment/services Jake is receives after leaving hospital. I know for a fact, in really life Jake would still be on a waiting list to receive his aftercare treatment/services, even if he was prioritised because the fact is the NHS services have long waiting times no matter what your needs are.
Overall this was a good book, but one that I thought could have been better, it just have been a lot better. It’s not a book I would personally re-read, but I would recommend it to others as I feel people who are parents would enjoy it much more.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of my eARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Read
April 11, 2021No date, no rating - DNF @ p143
This was so ridiculously boring. I have no desire to keep up with needy, obsessive characters with all their money and school applications. There’s supposed to be this big secret and I don’t even care what it is because the characters are so mediocre and annoying.
This was so ridiculously boring. I have no desire to keep up with needy, obsessive characters with all their money and school applications. There’s supposed to be this big secret and I don’t even care what it is because the characters are so mediocre and annoying.
January 25, 2020
I came across THE FALLOUT through reading a friend's review on Goodreads and thought it sounded interesting. I was wrong.
This domestic drama (I wouldn't go so far as to call it a thriller) revolves around the friendship between Sarah and Liza and their group of affluent yummy mummies. All are members of a posh club in West London called The Vale Club, which is where the story begins...
Sarah and Liza had been at The Vale Club enjoying a coffee and a catch-up. When Sarah offered to go to the cafe for another, Liza asked her to check on Jack who was in the outdoor play area. However, on her way back she was distracted by a woman from their past - another parent - and therefore failed to check on Jack properly. By the time Sarah arrived back at their table with Ella now in tow the women heard screams coming from the play area. It was Jack. He had fallen from the pole Sarah had seen him climbing, and now Sarah is scared to tell her best friend the truth. So when Ella tells Liza that Sarah had checked on him, Sarah just went along with the lie.
Tell the truth, lose a friend. Tell a lie, keep her close.
What ensues is Sarah's growing guilt over the lie. She had seen Jack climbing the pole, had waved to him. But had he seen her? She should have called him down. But then seeing Ella had distracted her, and the juicy gossip that would surely follow in her path.
Whilst Liza is at the hospital with Jack, Sarah goes around to her friend's house, tidies up, does a shop and organises a meal for them. But then Ella swoops in and takes over with her high-paid nanny (maternity nurse), leaving Sarah's efforts redundant. Added to that, when Liza and Ella seem be getting on even better than they do, Sarah begins to feel jealous. What is Ella doing? What is she up to?
But that's not the only area in which Ella appears to be taking over. Liza had been heading up the Christmas Fair for the local primary school but in the wake of Jack's accident Sarah thought it was the least she could do for her friend. But then she hears that Ella has taken over that role as well, securing the entire amount of funds needed from out of think air. Ella seems to be everybody's new best friend - except Sarah's - so when she types out a furious WhatsApp message to send to her friend Camilla to let off steam and make her laugh, Sarah mistakenly sends it to Ella instead. And before long, the entire school is privy to the message and Sarah is ostracised.
Honestly, these yummy mummies and their little brats were anything but my cup of tea. Jealous bitchfights, snide remarks, whispers on WhatsApp...it felt like a million dollar playground. I really just wanted to get to the end to find out the many "secrets" that weren't all that exciting after all...so I kind of felt robbed by the end.
I didn't like Sarah much. I could understand her predicament but why wouldn't she just admit it from the start? Things would have been far better had she done and certainly not gone as far as they did. I didn't like Ella. She came across as aloof, and looking down her nose at people as if her s*** don't stink. I did like Liza, but even she was screwed up. I couldn't stand the other yummy mummies. They had no respect for their so-called friends, gossiping about them at the drop of a hat.
THE FALLOUT is filled with plenty of guilt, secrets, lies, angst and a load of drama. The premise sounded intriguing but the actual playout was not. I found it long and drawn out and half of it could have been editted down. I did shed a few tears at the end when the full impact of the bigger picture is clear. It was sad it had come to that and ended the way it did...but really, how else could it have gone?
Filled with characters who were annoying, childish and way too materialistic, THE FALLOUT really wasn't my thing.
I would like to thank #RebeccaThornton, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #TheFallout in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
This domestic drama (I wouldn't go so far as to call it a thriller) revolves around the friendship between Sarah and Liza and their group of affluent yummy mummies. All are members of a posh club in West London called The Vale Club, which is where the story begins...
Sarah and Liza had been at The Vale Club enjoying a coffee and a catch-up. When Sarah offered to go to the cafe for another, Liza asked her to check on Jack who was in the outdoor play area. However, on her way back she was distracted by a woman from their past - another parent - and therefore failed to check on Jack properly. By the time Sarah arrived back at their table with Ella now in tow the women heard screams coming from the play area. It was Jack. He had fallen from the pole Sarah had seen him climbing, and now Sarah is scared to tell her best friend the truth. So when Ella tells Liza that Sarah had checked on him, Sarah just went along with the lie.
Tell the truth, lose a friend. Tell a lie, keep her close.
What ensues is Sarah's growing guilt over the lie. She had seen Jack climbing the pole, had waved to him. But had he seen her? She should have called him down. But then seeing Ella had distracted her, and the juicy gossip that would surely follow in her path.
Whilst Liza is at the hospital with Jack, Sarah goes around to her friend's house, tidies up, does a shop and organises a meal for them. But then Ella swoops in and takes over with her high-paid nanny (maternity nurse), leaving Sarah's efforts redundant. Added to that, when Liza and Ella seem be getting on even better than they do, Sarah begins to feel jealous. What is Ella doing? What is she up to?
But that's not the only area in which Ella appears to be taking over. Liza had been heading up the Christmas Fair for the local primary school but in the wake of Jack's accident Sarah thought it was the least she could do for her friend. But then she hears that Ella has taken over that role as well, securing the entire amount of funds needed from out of think air. Ella seems to be everybody's new best friend - except Sarah's - so when she types out a furious WhatsApp message to send to her friend Camilla to let off steam and make her laugh, Sarah mistakenly sends it to Ella instead. And before long, the entire school is privy to the message and Sarah is ostracised.
Honestly, these yummy mummies and their little brats were anything but my cup of tea. Jealous bitchfights, snide remarks, whispers on WhatsApp...it felt like a million dollar playground. I really just wanted to get to the end to find out the many "secrets" that weren't all that exciting after all...so I kind of felt robbed by the end.
I didn't like Sarah much. I could understand her predicament but why wouldn't she just admit it from the start? Things would have been far better had she done and certainly not gone as far as they did. I didn't like Ella. She came across as aloof, and looking down her nose at people as if her s*** don't stink. I did like Liza, but even she was screwed up. I couldn't stand the other yummy mummies. They had no respect for their so-called friends, gossiping about them at the drop of a hat.
THE FALLOUT is filled with plenty of guilt, secrets, lies, angst and a load of drama. The premise sounded intriguing but the actual playout was not. I found it long and drawn out and half of it could have been editted down. I did shed a few tears at the end when the full impact of the bigger picture is clear. It was sad it had come to that and ended the way it did...but really, how else could it have gone?
Filled with characters who were annoying, childish and way too materialistic, THE FALLOUT really wasn't my thing.
I would like to thank #RebeccaThornton, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #TheFallout in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 5, 2019
This is an interesting one and a bit of a dilemma for me because I kept avidly reading The Fallout and thought the writing was good but actually disliked the characters for their shallow, privileged yummy mummy stance. Even when events showed the reader a different side to each female character (Ella, Liza & Sarah) I still disliked them all!
Fear and emotional pain distorts lives and makes people act very differently because perspectives are skewed and choices aren't always rational. This is the premise of this taut emotional novel about friendships, deception, depression and marital relationships. The anxiety that these women are feeling literally seeps from the pages and makes the reader desperate for them all to receive help! It produces a claustrophobic feel that you want to escape but at the same time feel compelled to endure.
We are led to believe that everyone is hiding very dark secrets and yet these secrets are (mostly) in plain sight. Post natal depression, losing a child at birth, being unable to conceive and the death of a sibling, envelop these women and push them to cover up their frailities in order to compete with the wealthy, gossipy competitive mummies of West London. I mean, heaven forbid that any of us ever admit to feeling inadequate or being flawed in any way. How utterly ridiculous!
The inclusion of WhatsApp group chats and interview transcripts are a welcome, light hearted (but also profound) way to comment on the skewed perspectives held by many of the characters and the pressures of modern day parenting that perhaps were not evident in an age before social media existed.
Is anyone to blame for Jack's fall from the post in a West London health club? Is it his mother's fault for not watching him, is it the lack of rigorous health and safety policies of the health club? Is it Ella's fault for turning up out of the blue and turning heads? Or is it Sarah's fault for lying about what she did and saw?
Friendships will be tested and a very high price will be demanded. Would you pay it or would you walk away?
I recommend this book as I think many will find it relatable.
Fear and emotional pain distorts lives and makes people act very differently because perspectives are skewed and choices aren't always rational. This is the premise of this taut emotional novel about friendships, deception, depression and marital relationships. The anxiety that these women are feeling literally seeps from the pages and makes the reader desperate for them all to receive help! It produces a claustrophobic feel that you want to escape but at the same time feel compelled to endure.
We are led to believe that everyone is hiding very dark secrets and yet these secrets are (mostly) in plain sight. Post natal depression, losing a child at birth, being unable to conceive and the death of a sibling, envelop these women and push them to cover up their frailities in order to compete with the wealthy, gossipy competitive mummies of West London. I mean, heaven forbid that any of us ever admit to feeling inadequate or being flawed in any way. How utterly ridiculous!
The inclusion of WhatsApp group chats and interview transcripts are a welcome, light hearted (but also profound) way to comment on the skewed perspectives held by many of the characters and the pressures of modern day parenting that perhaps were not evident in an age before social media existed.
Is anyone to blame for Jack's fall from the post in a West London health club? Is it his mother's fault for not watching him, is it the lack of rigorous health and safety policies of the health club? Is it Ella's fault for turning up out of the blue and turning heads? Or is it Sarah's fault for lying about what she did and saw?
Friendships will be tested and a very high price will be demanded. Would you pay it or would you walk away?
I recommend this book as I think many will find it relatable.
June 21, 2020
I was really drawn to this book as soon as I read the synopsis and it didn’t let me down! The Fallout is a book about toxic friendships and I love that in a novel! An accident happens at the local health club and the finger-pointing and covering of backs begins very quickly!
Liza is looking after her young baby as her older child is playing and she trusts her best friend Sarah to look over and check on him when she goes to get coffees. But whilst in the queue she bumps into an old acquaintance from when all the women were pregnant she gets distracted.
The way the three women are with each other and the way they all seem to compete to appear perfect, whilst at the same time all trying to be the very best friend in the circumstances was cringe-worthy but oh-so-readable! I find female friendships fascinating, especially when elements of the friendships make them seem more like frenemies. In my experience friendships between women can be so complex for so many reasons and often you never get to know why someone suddenly backs off. It’s something I don’t really understand and I have lived through it many a time. Thornton captures this so well, and it’s made even better in this novel by the fact that none of the women are particularly likeable. I did feel sorry for Liza with what happened to her son, and at times I could understand some of Sarah’s behaviour but overall they are not women you’d want as your friends! And add into to all of this a sprinkling of secrets and lies and you have a potent mix for a novel!
I found this book hard to put down, it really did grab me and it held me right to the very end. If you like novels about messy friendships and you love unlikeable characters then this book is for you. I very much enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more by this author!
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
Liza is looking after her young baby as her older child is playing and she trusts her best friend Sarah to look over and check on him when she goes to get coffees. But whilst in the queue she bumps into an old acquaintance from when all the women were pregnant she gets distracted.
The way the three women are with each other and the way they all seem to compete to appear perfect, whilst at the same time all trying to be the very best friend in the circumstances was cringe-worthy but oh-so-readable! I find female friendships fascinating, especially when elements of the friendships make them seem more like frenemies. In my experience friendships between women can be so complex for so many reasons and often you never get to know why someone suddenly backs off. It’s something I don’t really understand and I have lived through it many a time. Thornton captures this so well, and it’s made even better in this novel by the fact that none of the women are particularly likeable. I did feel sorry for Liza with what happened to her son, and at times I could understand some of Sarah’s behaviour but overall they are not women you’d want as your friends! And add into to all of this a sprinkling of secrets and lies and you have a potent mix for a novel!
I found this book hard to put down, it really did grab me and it held me right to the very end. If you like novels about messy friendships and you love unlikeable characters then this book is for you. I very much enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more by this author!
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
December 17, 2019
When a new Sports Club opens that promotes family health and well being it soon becomes to place to join for the local yuppy families in the area. Somewhere for the kids to get a fitness routine in their lives from an early age while parents go to their classes or chill out at the centre catching up on gossip.
Since a small group of local friends all had babies about the same time, they had all kept in touch with the exception of one, Ella, she had just disappeared and now Sarah had caught a glimpse of her when she was supposed to be checking up on her best friend’s 4-year-old son, who was playing outside. She glanced him climbing a pole but didn’t want to miss the chance to talk to Ella. The first thing Lizzy asked her when she got back to the table with Ella was did you see Jack. Ella answered yes, just before the screaming began.
The first lie was set in place and now it set Sarah on a downward spiral of lie on top of lie and the longer it went on the further away from the truth it all became. This is a story about superficial friendship groups and the lengths some people go to a to be seen in the right group of friends. Loved the Whatsapp messages that kept springing up with gossip about one or another of these elite groups. Everyone had secrets that were misinterpreted. Not everyone was as perfect as they all thought and money certainly didn’t solve what couldn’t be bought.
This story is entertaining and quite sad that people couldn’t just be who they really were in order to fit in. It made life so much more of a struggle.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Since a small group of local friends all had babies about the same time, they had all kept in touch with the exception of one, Ella, she had just disappeared and now Sarah had caught a glimpse of her when she was supposed to be checking up on her best friend’s 4-year-old son, who was playing outside. She glanced him climbing a pole but didn’t want to miss the chance to talk to Ella. The first thing Lizzy asked her when she got back to the table with Ella was did you see Jack. Ella answered yes, just before the screaming began.
The first lie was set in place and now it set Sarah on a downward spiral of lie on top of lie and the longer it went on the further away from the truth it all became. This is a story about superficial friendship groups and the lengths some people go to a to be seen in the right group of friends. Loved the Whatsapp messages that kept springing up with gossip about one or another of these elite groups. Everyone had secrets that were misinterpreted. Not everyone was as perfect as they all thought and money certainly didn’t solve what couldn’t be bought.
This story is entertaining and quite sad that people couldn’t just be who they really were in order to fit in. It made life so much more of a struggle.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
December 16, 2019
A dynamic, engaging story that quivers with tension and edginess.
The theme of this contemporary thriller is motherhood and the thing that stands out for me in The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton is the author's engaging writing-style, along with her wonderful characterisation and the tautly written narrative. The story itself is powerful, along with the usual tropes of secrets and lies and the voluminous resulting consequences, but so are the (terribly unlikable) characters who effortlessly lift this drama to new levels.
The plot is driven by the fallout from the accident of a child and the lies told in its wake, but it is also a tale about motherhood in the social media era - the unsparing judgement of women and the mightiness of gossip, rumour and hearsay.
Highly recommended for those who love dramas about motherhood and female friendships.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from HarperCollins via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Rebecca Thornton for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
The theme of this contemporary thriller is motherhood and the thing that stands out for me in The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton is the author's engaging writing-style, along with her wonderful characterisation and the tautly written narrative. The story itself is powerful, along with the usual tropes of secrets and lies and the voluminous resulting consequences, but so are the (terribly unlikable) characters who effortlessly lift this drama to new levels.
The plot is driven by the fallout from the accident of a child and the lies told in its wake, but it is also a tale about motherhood in the social media era - the unsparing judgement of women and the mightiness of gossip, rumour and hearsay.
Highly recommended for those who love dramas about motherhood and female friendships.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from HarperCollins via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Rebecca Thornton for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
December 7, 2019
I read this via pigeonhole and unfortunately it did not float my boat. The characters weren’t empty remotely like able, the plot was tedious and reading it felt like a chore to me. Others on the app seemed to engage better with it.
April 6, 2020
As a mother of two young children. (A five year old daughter and a two year old son). I realise how true the saying "you need eyes in the back of your head" can be. Children don't see danger and are very willing to try new things despite the consequences that could ensue.
Now, if another parent puts me in charge of their child. Be it a couple of hours or even a few minutes. I become super vigilant and keep watch of that child at all times. However, I'm also just your run of the mill average human. So, I may get distracted or be doing other stuff, and in those split seconds of taking my eye off the ball, that is when something could happen. And, this is what happens to Sarah in THE FALLOUT she took her eye of the ball for a few minutes, and unfortunately her best mates son has an accident.
Liza and Sarah's friendship is at the heart of this book. In the opening chapter we are in a new mums WhatsApp group, the usual congratulating of new arrivals and cooing is typed. Then we see the rebel sub group between Liza and Sarah, who gossip about the other mums. This shows their closeness of these two quite different women.
Fast forward five years and we are at the start of the main story. The story is told from the points of view of these two women. With additional entries of WhatsApp group chats, newspaper cuttings and witness statements. I liked these different formats to narrate the story as it highlights the message put across throughout.
As a parent we've all been through the whole group chat phases with other parents, and the whole one upmanship that revolves around them. We see that within this story, the gossips and the story tellers. The sub groups of chats where secrets are divulged, but strict confidence is asked. However, more group chats are started and the secrets are then passed on again.
Sarah was a character that I wanted to shake and got really frustrated with. I just couldn't understand why she just didn't own up to the truth. This then became an issue with a few more characters where they didn't just say what was on their mind. But, all this becomes clear as the story develops and each characters story is revealed. You can their relate to their reluctance to open up.
THE FALLOUT is a story of why communication is key in relationships. Never make judgements and assumptions. A nice easy read that will suck you into the heart of this community.
Now, if another parent puts me in charge of their child. Be it a couple of hours or even a few minutes. I become super vigilant and keep watch of that child at all times. However, I'm also just your run of the mill average human. So, I may get distracted or be doing other stuff, and in those split seconds of taking my eye off the ball, that is when something could happen. And, this is what happens to Sarah in THE FALLOUT she took her eye of the ball for a few minutes, and unfortunately her best mates son has an accident.
Liza and Sarah's friendship is at the heart of this book. In the opening chapter we are in a new mums WhatsApp group, the usual congratulating of new arrivals and cooing is typed. Then we see the rebel sub group between Liza and Sarah, who gossip about the other mums. This shows their closeness of these two quite different women.
Fast forward five years and we are at the start of the main story. The story is told from the points of view of these two women. With additional entries of WhatsApp group chats, newspaper cuttings and witness statements. I liked these different formats to narrate the story as it highlights the message put across throughout.
As a parent we've all been through the whole group chat phases with other parents, and the whole one upmanship that revolves around them. We see that within this story, the gossips and the story tellers. The sub groups of chats where secrets are divulged, but strict confidence is asked. However, more group chats are started and the secrets are then passed on again.
Sarah was a character that I wanted to shake and got really frustrated with. I just couldn't understand why she just didn't own up to the truth. This then became an issue with a few more characters where they didn't just say what was on their mind. But, all this becomes clear as the story develops and each characters story is revealed. You can their relate to their reluctance to open up.
THE FALLOUT is a story of why communication is key in relationships. Never make judgements and assumptions. A nice easy read that will suck you into the heart of this community.
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