Only Human

by Diane Chandler

Every betrayal has a consequence... One family... one summer... one woman...

Anna Bond is floundering. Tiger mum to tricky teen Sophie, now slipping through her fingers, and loyal wife to big sociable Ollie, whom she no longer trusts, what does she do next with her life? Once a confident career woman, after so many years at home and the school gate, Anna now finds her mind is chattering and her soul is searching - for what matters. Then Jack walks into their lives. Sophie’s first boyfriend is a breath of fresh air for the whole family, and Anna gradually discovers new purpose for herself. But when deceit creeps in, tensions surface, and she finds herself propelled through a tangled web of secrets and lies towards a devastating climax.

Genres: Fiction

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

Diane was a political lobbyist in Brussels before then working at the European Commission in overseas aid for several years. Back in London, she joined the Ukraine and Africa desks at the Department for International Development (DFID). Her first novel, The Road to Donetsk, draws on her experiences in overseas aid. Her second, Moondance, on the emotional impact of fertility treatment. Her third novel, Only Human, is about a woman struggling to find new meaning in life after her husband cheats on her and her only daughter flies the nest. Diane co-runs Creative Writing Workshops London with Stephanie Zia of Blackbird Digital Books, and also coaches aspiring writers. She hosts www.Chiswickbuzz.net book club Words with Wine in W4.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not surprised at all that Diane Chandler’s “Only Human” has made the long list for the #NotTheBooker prize. I adored this fabulously written book from the very first page, falling in love with Anna immediately and feeling a connection with the whole family scenario.
Anna Bond is floundering. Stay at home ‘tiger’ mother to tricky teen Sophie who is now slipping through her fingers and a loyal wife to a husband she no longer trusts, what does she do next with her life? Once a confident career woman, Anna now finds that her soul is searching for what matters and her mind needs more stimulation. Then Jack walks into their lives. Sophie’s first boyfriend is a breath of fresh air for the whole family and Anna gradually discovers new purpose for herself. But when deceit creeps in, tensions surface and she finds herself propelled through a tangled web of secrets and lies towards a devastating climax.
As a woman of a similar age to Anna with a teenager at home and having been married and a homemaker for over twenty years, I really did ‘get’ how Anna felt with her feelings of lost youth and the potential ‘flying the nest’ syndrome with her sixteen year old daughter. I totally understood her concerns as Sophie starting doing things for the first time, from attending parties, music festivals and having her boyfriend stay overnight. As a mam myself, everything rang true and the realistic storyline was very relatable. What woman stuck in a rut wouldn’t be flattered by the attentions of a handsome young man after finding out her husband has been having an affair for the last five months? What the author also tackled in the storyline was dementia which was handled sympathetically and true to life and Fred really found a place in my heart. Dementia is a horrible disease and I liked the way the author covered it with empathy, even considering Anna as a candidate for a social enterprise, selling devices and activities to help patients suffering from it. However, it’s not all doom and gloom and along with some twists and turns there’s some really funny, laugh out loud moments that I shall I never forget. I can only begin to imagine Sophie’s embarrassment when they return some clothes to a shop! A must read chapter...
Beautifully written with intrigue, genuine emotions and family life dealing with friends, fidelity and secrets, this story was outstanding. I could read it all over again immediately and was quite saddened when it ended. I would love to see what lies ahead for Anna and Sophie and I beg the author to consider writing a follow up to this addictive five star read!

5 stars

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning family drama that many people will relate to and others will hope to never encounter the dramas this family had but as life goes on everyone will have their own story to tell after the years roll by.

Anna and Ollie have been contentedly married for almost twenty years and their only child Sophie is fifteen and just starting to show a little independence from her family as she and Anna were joined at the hip and Anna is extremely overprotective of Sophie and she is not ready to let go. One day Anna discovers Ollie had been having an affair and her whole world starts to unravel while Sophie now meets sixteen year old handsome and charming Jack who becomes the love of her lifetime and he also becomes an integral member of their family and a big distraction for Anna while she begins to rediscover herself as a woman and a person. Then along comes Fred, an eighty-six year old man whom Diane spends a few hours a week offering support and companionship while working through a volunteer program for the elderly. The time Anna spends with Fred will take her on a journey of learning and caring that will affect every aspect of her life.

This book was a wonderful and sometimes very raw story of infidelity, lies, lust, pain, love ,deceit, callousness, gentleness, caring and self-discovery while a wife is trying to make the decision of "should I stay or should I go" while trying to handle the pressure of a daughter rebelling while spreading her wings. Terrific moments of humor are brought into this mesmerizing story and bits of hope while this family experiences so many ups and downs that are truly life shattering. I am very grateful that I was able to read this book as it is different than my usual genre. The characters became realistic and I was drawn into their journey and cheering for a happy ending but this book took many unexpected turns that I wasn't prepared for and I loved it! I also fell in love with Fred and his delightful character who just stood my heart and this book would not have been the stunner without him.

I want to thank the publisher "Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op and Blue Digital Books" for this wonderful ARC and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I highly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy family or life dramas and have given a rating of 4 Stunning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was it that I wanted to stay or that I did not want to leave?

This book is a family drama and the center theme is infidelity. When Anna catches her husband Ollie on the act, they need to see how they're going to face the situation. At the same time their 15 year old daughter starts her own personal development, with her first boyfriend and our heroine volunteers by visiting an old man with dementia and keeps him company.

This book definitely makes you feel many emotions. It was very angsty, I felt sadness, anger, frustration. Keep in mind that this is a drama and that it's not a light book. This book shows you that faith in relationships and friendships is very fragile and the moment you would start feeling hope it would be snatched away.

I also didn't get our heroine's fixation with Jack , it honestly gave me some pedo vibes and that was not okay with me. We are talking about an adult woman who could be his mom and an underaged teenager who's dating your daughter. I know it's fiction, but I didn't like that. It made me feel uncomfortable. Plus the fact that her husband also admitting that his first time was when he was 15 with a 40 year old woman. The fact that the heroine recognizes this as a form of child abuse and yet she seems obsessed over a 16 year old boy makes no sense.

My favorite character was Fred and I felt more connected to his storyline, since my grandfather is also dealing with dementia. His story was more relatable to me and sadly I felt like every character was dislikeable to me. And the ones I initially liked ended up disappointing me. However, I liked the dynamic between the relationships, so if you need a book that talks about adultery in a married couple, that keeps it real, you should give this one a chance.

[Mom_Loves_Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like to try out new authors or do you stick to specific ones? Personally, I love discovering new authors & I am very glad to have been introduced to the writing talent of Diane Chandler.

This is my first book by Diane Chandler & it will not be my last. 'Only Human' is a very profound, heartbreaking, poignant, beautifully told story about the human condition w/ vividly fleshed out characters that are realistically portrayed throughout the pages. It's an all-consuming family drama that was hard to put down. 'Only Human' is a very thought-provoking, well-written, relatable story about family dynamics that also has some humor woven in as well. I highly recommend this book, which is available now.

[Barbara McKinlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read
This is such a good read I could not put it down. It draws you in from the first page. The characters feel very real and the story is truly gripping.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Diane Chandler knows how to tell a story!
Having read and LOVED Moondance back in October 2016 (I got very emotionally involved with certain characters in that book and it stays with me to this day) I was very excited to discover that Only Human was on it’s way and over the moon to have the pleasure of reading an advance copy. BIG thanks to Diane Chandler and Blackbird Books.
Only Human starts as it intends to go on, with an emotional punch. I almost felt winded!
Imagine you’re out shopping and see your husband, of almost 20 years, kissing another woman. This is exactly what happens to 45-year-old Anna Bond. She confronts Ollie and discovers he’s been having an affair for five months!! She had not had the faintest clue. She thought their little family unit was ticking along nicely apart the typical issues with having a 15-year-old daughter (Sophie). I mean, we can all take things for granted, but honestly, I would be devastated if it were me. I’d like to say that Steve would be out on his ear immediately, but I don’t really know how I would react to be honest. I wouldn’t be able to stand the thought of him being elsewhere doing goodness knows what with goodness knows who, but I don’t think I’d want to be with him anymore either. It’s a difficult situation for anyone to find themselves in. I am pretty sure that I wouldn’t take the path that Anna decides on though.
There is so much going on throughout this novel. It is truly intense. I will probably ramble, so I apologise in advance. I really don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t read this yet though.
I was completed immersed in the life of this family. I’m not sure I liked Anna to be begin with, but she definitely grew on me throughout the story, especially when we were introduced to Fred. He is such a lovely character and I loved the relationship they developed.
I can’t say I warmed to Ollie at all.
Or Scar.
Sophie is a fairly typical teenage girl. I found her relationship with her mother quite relatable, although I haven’t had to deal with any cheating boyfriends as yet. I think Jack is probably quite typical of a boy of his age too. The whole Sophie, Jack, Anna and Ollie dynamic is quite fascinating though. I totally did not imagine for one second how that would all pan out!
This book is made up of multiple complicated relationships intertwined to create the most captivating of family dramas. A marriage on the brink, a teenage daughter’s first boyfriend and the heartache that that brings, a wife’s need to re-invent herself, a female friendship which is not immune to deceit either and a beautiful, lifechanging, new friendship with an 87 year old gentleman (and his dog).
Only Human is a story so full of secrets, lies and powerful heart-wrenching emotion. I was almost exhausted by the end of it. Beautiful, seemingly effortless storytelling. I absolutely adored it and can’t recommend it highly enough!
I have a feeling the Bond family (as well as Fred and Dougal) will stay in my thoughts for a long time to come. Everyone needs to read this book. I promise you won’t regret it if you do!
An easy five stars for me.

http://chataboutbooks.blog/2020/09/04...

[Karen Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a family centred drama and we meet Anna at a time when her seemingly perfect family life is beginning to fray at the edges. Her teenage daughter is pulling away from her mother's admittedly tight clutches and her marriage is now a place of distrust rather than a sanctuary from the trials of the modern world. The sense of life pulling away from Anna was very vividly portrayed and her desolation was laid right open as she feels the power and control that is so important to her begin to drift. I too feel my teenagers pulling away and, whilst it is absolutely the way of things, it does leave you a little bereft. I absolutely adored Fred and the relationship that Anna builds with him. He added such warmth to the novel and I feel that, without him, I would have found the book to be a bit of a depressing read. This is because whilst I empathised with Anna and her daughter, I found that I didn't actually like them that much. With the exception of Fred, the male characters were, I felt, deliberately dislikeable.
It was a nice and well -written narrative, but I would have liked to have connected more with the central characters.

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now and again a book comes along that is so special you want to shout about it from the rooftops; Only Human is that book for me. So here I am up on the roof trying to find the words to review this utterly breathtaking novel. I absolutely adored Diane Chandler's novel, Moondance, so I couldn't wait to read what she wrote next. Only Human is a sublime read from beginning to end and I have never been so engrossed in a book outside of the crime genre.

From the first page the reader is launched into the midst of a Bond family drama: Anna has just discovered that her husband, Ollie, is having an affair. Wanting to keep Ollie's indiscretion hidden from their daughter, Sophie, they attempt to maintain a united front. Beneath the surface though, Anna is in turmoil and she searches for a way to find herself again. I feared that the sticking plaster they put over their marriage would come unstuck at some point as once the trust is gone, it's so difficult to get it back.

The focus shifts from their marital problems when Sophie gets her first boyfriend. Jack is welcomed into the Bond's home and becomes one of the family, but teenage love doesn't last forever. It is often said that women are attracted to men who are like their father, and Jack may be more like Ollie than Sophie realises. You really feel the mother daughter bond being stretched to the limit when Anna tries to speak to Sophie about Jack.

As if Anna doesn't have enough going on, she volunteers at Old Friends where she meets the most wonderful octogenarian, Fred. Oh Fred is such a marvelous character, he's like everyone's favourite Grandad and it's so heartbreaking to see his health decline. Diane Chandler's beautiful words paint such a poignant picture of Fred and shows how we try to turn a blind eye and pretend everything is fine rather than admit that our loved ones are failing.

Only Human is an outstanding novel of a family in turmoil filled with so much betrayal, revenge and drama that I could hear the dramatic EastEnders drum beats in my head as pivotal moments played out on the page. Diane Chandler writes from the heart and tells such a marvellous story of human nature that I experienced a wealth of emotions whilst reading.

From humour (I'll never be able to look at an M&S carrier bag without laughing) to heartbreak, Only Human is an exceptional book and one I will never forget. I could read it again right now, I enjoyed it so much. Only Human is a book that deserves so much more than 5 stars to really show how awesome it is; I can't recommend it highly enough.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read drama of Anna’s life in turmoil and essentially the relationship with her daughter .. A well written book that every mum and daughter should read . my thanks to tbc reviewers for my chance to read

[Joni Janice Mielke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was rather underwhelmed by this book. Despite being drawn in by the phrases of foreshadowing that popped up often and showed a lot of promise for later developments, I had expected deeper and more satisfying intrigue than what was delivered. In my opinion the main character works well as an unreliable first person narrator, but I never warmed to her and the growing self-confidence inherent to her character smacks of arrogance most of the time. Anna is, in many ways, the stereotypical emotionally-driven mother and Sophie is a dramatic amalgamation of all the worst traits of teenagedom with vulnerability thrown in to soften her hard edges and make her more likeable - at least to her mother. There were one or two twists in the tale that I had not expected (skillful foreshadowing at work here) and this was a compelling read that I got through quickly, but in my opinion it wasn't good enough to merit a higher rating than three stars.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read Moondance by Diane Chandler and it’s one of my favourite books. Her writing is just so wonderfully engaging that I knew I would enjoy Only Human but I have to say that it totally knocked my socks off! Diane Chandler seems to be able to bring her characters to life so vividly that I felt as though I were reading about a friend, someone I already knew quite well, with only having read a few pages. The storyline centres on and around Anna, wife and “tiger mom”, during the summer her teenage daughter sits her GCSEs and turns 16. And I related to Anna immediately! As a wife and mother of girls myself I understood EXACTLY how she was feeling! Diane Chandler was able to show how a woman heading into middle age can start to wonder where she goes next in her life. When your daughter becomes more sexually attractive than you, her mother, and starts pulling away from her as she becomes an independent woman herself, it can leave women feeling useless and unloved as they try to work out their new “role” in life. This should really then become another honeymoon period for parents as they rediscover each other as individuals and not just “mum and dad” but what if your husband has got his second wind for passion with another woman? That’s the dilemma facing Anna when she discovers her husband is having an affair-what should she do now? She has no job (having given up her career to bring up her daughter and be there for her family) so when her daughter brings home her new boyfriend Jack, he starts off a chain of events that will bring to the surface shocking family secrets and lead Anna to make some rather questionable choices! But I couldn’t judge the direction she went in as she searched for meaning and desire in her life-even though it surprised me that the direction she took wasn’t quite the one I had been expecting!

Only Human has a perfectly balanced storyline as Anna also finds purpose in her life when he befriends an old man called Fred. Their encounters were full of humour and a bittersweet emotion that came to a head with his diagnosis of vascular dementia and a heartbreaking and powerfully emotional plotline. Even Freds dog Dougal was portrayed so realistically that when he went for his “haircut” I went completely nuts on behalf of Anna and Fred! I just hope his coat has grown back now! But seriously, the relationship between Fred and Anna was so emotionally gripping that I didn’t want to read it at times due to the direction I knew it had to take.

I can’t recommend Only Human highly enough. I loved every single page, every ( often thoroughly unlikeable!) character and I didn’t want it to ever end. As with other books I’ve loved, the story will keep going in my head with Anna continuing on with her life-just in a parallel world to this one! Definitely one of my favourite books of 2020!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book occupies that elusive middle ground between literary fiction and the best of popular fiction, compulsively readable but quite beautifully written. Anna’s voice is always clear and distinctive – it might be that she’s a slightly unreliable narrator at times, but it really wasn’t difficult to identify with her and her search for direction and purpose. Her life has revolved entirely around her family for a long time – feckless husband Ollie (who’s really gone too far this time) and daughter Sophie who’s growing up fast and slipping away from her protection and control. Although I’m neither a wife nor a mother, it was quite impossible not to identify with her feeling of lost youth and opportunity, that need to feel attractive and desired, to get a grip on things, to feel wanted. Might some of her actions have been prompted by a thirst for revenge too? Yes, I think they probably were.

I really want to take you through the twists and turns of the story – all those decisions made by Anna, many of which you’ll empathise with, but at other times might be well beyond the behaviour you’d expect. I won’t – but in a story that’s essentially Anna’s, I think it’s fair to say that much of the book’s focus is on men and their impacts. Husband Ollie behaves very badly, but – as men sometimes do – thinks contrition and promises mean that life will resume its former comfortable pattern. Jack, daughter Sophie’s rather exciting new boyfriend, provides a rather nice diversion, easing the tensions for a while when he’s welcomed into the family – I did rather expect the story to go in one direction, but it then it confounded me by going in entirely another. Then there’s Gabby – perhaps one of Anna’s less wise choices, their encounters glorious and a little seedy by turns, so very well handled by the author.

And then there’s Fred – an elderly man “adopted” by Anna as part of her search for purpose and direction, and a storyline that lifted this book for me from “loved it” to “it blew me away”. As a portrait of the descent into vascular dementia, I thought the writing was quite exceptional. It was all in the “moments” – the first signs while doing the crossword, the increasing forgetfulness and focus, the dead-heading of the roses with pliers rather than secateurs. The later stages of their relationship were searingly real – the absence of recognition, the brief moments of lucidity, the asking about his mother – and deeply moving. And through it all we have our own niggling questions around Anna’s motivation – that possibility that she might be caring for him to fulfil her own needs.

I really must mention that the whole book isn’t downbeat in any way – well, unless the story really demands it. There are many times when it’s exceptionally funny – returning items at M&S has never had me in tears of laughter before – and there are plenty of lighter moments. The author’s characters are never less than real people – and they simply behave as real people do.

And although I’ll say no more about it, I absolutely loved the book’s ending – if you’ve questioned Anna’s actions at other parts of the book, it presents perhaps the biggest question of them all, both dark and delicious.

Absolutely without question, this was one of my books of this year – I really hope it will bring Diane Chandler’s wonderful writing the attention and acclaim it so thoroughly deserves.

[Susan Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Chandler is one fearless storyteller. In Only Human, her third novel, she flings a once-contented woman into a whole series of What Ifs. What if you accidentally see your husband passionately kissing another woman? What if you take revenge? What if your teenage daughter turns up with a hunky boy? What if you hanker for the heyday of your successful career, and find out it doesn’t fit you anymore?
This is the story of Anna Bond, and four men are among the complications, from naughty Ollie to dishy Jack, lusty Gabby to wise Fred. Mother-daughter ructions, her own hard-edged best friend, a tortoise and a dog weave in and out of Anna’s ever-growing dilemmas. Diane Chandler has created a wonderful cast of well-rounded characters in a warm and realistic setting amid the comfortable cultural life of Chiswick in West London. You’d never believe that high end wine shops, dinner parties, school quiz nights and returning clothes to M&S could be so fraught with emotions and deceits. Is sex the answer to everything? Well it certainly has a lot to do with everything. Fasten your seatbelt, you are in for a bumpy ride as Anna fights to make sense of her life and find her way through.
Highly readable, Chandler’s writing includes deft turns of phrase without slowing the pace: ‘the foxes of Chiswick were copulating as if mocking me,’ ‘after a sprinkling of sleep,’ ‘a swarm of male lawyers.’ Sad, happy, happy-sad, and most of all human, a stronger Anna emerges at the end. From The Road to Donetsk, to Moondance and now Only Human Diane Chandler writes great endings.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of Only Human in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Diane Chandler and what I've appreciated with her writing is that she delves deep into the lives of people.

As one cog in a family’s life becomes broken cracks start appearing all around until it reaches a point of no return. A story about one family when human instincts, reactions, emotions start a tumbling effect of actions. Human interaction can be percieved in so many different ways. What one person believes is an act of good others can see it totally differently.

Anna has been happily married for nearly 20 years to Ollie and they have a 15 year old daughter. When Anna makes a startling discovery she’s not sure life can ever be the same. Was it her fault, did she become complacent when she gave up her career to become a full time mother? Now her daughter is older Anna is starting to feel redundant with her life and now with this latest discovery she’s wondering whether she should do more to fulfil her life and that of her family’s.

When she befriends an elderly gentleman it gives her a different outlook on life and she soon relishes this time with her new friend. But when her new friend starts to display health concerns Anna tries to think of ways to help.

As new opportunities open up Anna finds herself juggling her commitments resulting in devastating consequences.

An interesting page turner of a read that delves into the lives of people and also sensitively touches on a health concern that effects many.

[Sarah Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Only Human' is about a woman's journey of self-discovery, but without the cliches and so much more besides. Family dynamics are explored with an intriguing dollop of betrayal along with heartfelt emotion - anguish, longing, fear and love. The characters are flawed, but likeable. Easy to read, hard to stop. Highly recommended.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel focuses on the chaotic family life of Tiger mum Anna, her teenager Sophie and husband Ollie. All of whom have lost their way and are trying to get their lives back on track with young love, teenage rebellion, affairs, disloyal friends and a neighbour with dementia contributing to the confusion

I found this an enjoyable read and the characters believable although not always likeable. A definite recommended read

Thank you to TBC Reviewer group for my copy of this novel

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved This book. It was a beautiful family drama that kept me interested the entire read. The author developed characters were engaging and believable and an excellent plot. I really can’t recommend it enough!

[Gail Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna, happily married to Ollie and mum to fifteen year old Sophie. Anna has been a stay at home mum but decides she needs to find herself more importantly a job.
But her world turns upside down when she spots her husband in the arms of another woman.
Throughout the story as seen through the eyes of Anna, we see her try to save her marriage, watch her teenage daughter with her first boyfriend and finally find herself again.
Along the way she befriends elderly Fred; a man who the friendship group matched her with..their friendship expands and she finds herself watching him deteriorate after strokes and finally dementia.
The scenes regarding the home and the elderly was very touching; bringing back memories I'm sure to many people.
A great easy read.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Great characters. Anna is a strong tiger mum and lives for her family and had to deal with a long term husband, teenage daughter and close friends! Writing was fabulous so interesting to follow how everyone evolved. The Ups and downs of relationships, some heartbreaking but so true to life. Thank you

[Karen Farrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this “family” saga although the family is a much smaller than normal saga families. It follows the life of Anna, Ollie and their daughter Sophie. At 15/16 Sophie is approaching adulthood and as all girls of that age, thinks she knows best. Any mother of teenagers will sympathise with Anna & Ollie as Sophie flexes her independence and pushes the boundaries. Anna & Ollie who are approaching their 20th wedding anniversary also have their own issues after Ollie admitted he had an affair, although promising it’s all over. Anna starts volunteering after learning of the affair and befriends an elderly gentleman called Fred.

Their lives have many ups and downs and some are funny, some heartbreaking but the whole book is full of a complete range of emotions and will make you think about lots of things.

The whole book was thoroughly enjoyable and I became invested in it very quickly.

[Caron McKinlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good family drama that captures your intrigue and emotions. It is very easy to sympathise with the main character as she finds her role as mother and wife slightly redundant when her husband cheats and her teenage daughter begins to want her own space. There are gentle twists and turns throughout the novel and love is examined in more than one of its forms. I found myself reflecting on the consequences of a love betrayed and the hurt we cause others.

[Pam Billinge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning read on so many levels: a gripping story, which I couldn't put down; an insightful and moving analysis of what it is to grow a little bit older as a parent, woman, spouse, friend, daughter. And all written oh so beautifully. Diane's use of language is so skilful. It is a book whose themes and characters have stayed with me since I finished it. I would love to see a sequel.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written book about life’s ups and downs. I felt Diane really captured Anna, the main character very well and I found her such a likeable person, making me feel awful for her life experiences within this book, I don’t really want to say any more as I don’t want to spoil it for others, but it’s a highly recommend book.

[Nell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Cherihy808 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start with this one. I have never given a 1 star rating before and I feel bad doing it but I hated this book. I apologize that my review has spoilers (that’s another thing I NEVER do but I felt I had to explain why this book was so bad to me).

First off I try to find something positive in every book I read so I can say one thing I liked about this book...I liked the storyline with Fred. The older gentleman that Anna visits, who becomes a special person in her life. It was a struggle for her to watch him go through memory loss and she didn’t want to accept that he had dementia. It was a touching and emotional part of the book. With that said, there is nothing else I liked. The characters were all annoying...especially Anna. Ughh, you want to feel bad for her in the beginning because her husband has an affair but then she ends up being just as bad as him, if not worse! The affair she ends up having (with a younger man) made me cringe as I was reading. It was just so poorly written. Moving onto the daughter. She’s 15 years old, her parents let her drink alcohol pretty much whenever she wants. They actually had enough alcohol for all the kids at her 16th birthday party but then got mad when the kids drank more than the 2 drinks that they had for each of them. The daughter has sex at 15 and the moms response is “I’m happy for you”. She’s happy for her but yet she has some sort of creepy infatuation with her daughter’s boyfriend. I kept telling myself if she ends up having sex with him I will stop reading. Fortunately she did not. But she did make a lot of comments about his body especially when she walked in on him having sex with the daughters best friend. Ok let’s move onto more issues...drug overdose, naked snapchat photos...horrible things would happen to this girl and it was just all OK the next day. I don’t know any parent that would be ok with everything that went on in this 15 year old’s life. And then the ending...insert huge eye roll 🙄...after all the cheating they just had to throw in one more with the best friend. And let’s not forget Anna hitting Jack on his bicycle at the end and him almost dying. There was just way too much going on in this book and I felt like it was a struggle to read, but I pushed through so I could leave an honest review because I had hoped that it might get better as it went on....it did not. I do not recommend this one at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna’s life is about to undergo some momentous changes.

If you’re looking for a fast paced twisty thriller that writhes its way from implausible beginning to end then Only Human is not for you. However, if you want an intelligent, highly charged and pitch perfect portrait of middle class life and marriage, look no further. I found Only Human absolutely fascinating. Without wishing to be disrespectful to younger readers, I have a feeling that Only Human is the kind of narrative that more mature readers will fully appreciate because it deals with the mid-life events many will recognise.

Other than Fred, whom I adored, I loathed most of the other characters, but I simultaneously found them mesmerising and felt I had been given a privileged insight into their innermost thoughts. The excellent quality of Diane Chandler’s writing wrought physical responses in me as a reader because she made Anna, Ollie and Sophie in particular so vivid, complex, flawed and, indeed, only human. I wanted to shake Sophie, scream at Anna and slap Ollie. Anna’s first person account is so intimate and revealing that it was as if I had become complicit in her behaviour and the events that happen. I may not have liked her, but my goodness I understood her completely.

The plot is so clever because much of it is typical of many families, where real drama elicits calmer responses in the characters, and trivial events ignite words and actions that are disproportionate, so that Only Human becomes a modern parable of family life. I found it both sophisticated and primordial in equal measure.

I loved the themes of family and relationships, fidelity and guilt, love and sexuality, identity and challenge that are so much a part of real life and upon which Diane Chandler shines a laser light that leaves the reader wondering how they might have behaved in similar circumstances. It’s as if Only Human is a kind of ‘what if’ version of your own life and I ended the book feeling incredibly grateful for the life I have in contrast to Anna’s.

I found Only Human the kind of book that I couldn’t tear myself from because I wanted to know what the outcomes would be for these misguided, selfish and compelling people. Only Human is a sophisticated, intense and urbane narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed and I really recommend it.

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Bond - in her mid forties, married for almost twenty years, Anna has reached a precipice in her life. Call it a mid-life crisis if you will. A self-confessed 'Tiger Mom', she adores her teenage daughter and laments that she is becoming independent. Anna quit her job back when she had her daughter and now, after many years of being home, she feels unfulfilled. Then, when a momentous discovery rocks her world, she spirals out of control.

"Was it that I wanted to stay or that I did not want to leave?"

Well... I'm conflicted. This book had me hooked from the beginning. The writing was skillful and compelling. Why am I conflicted? I really didn't like Anna, the protagonist. She portrayed all of the 'human' characteristics that are least likeable. She betrayed those she loved, she lied, she was revengeful, lustful, selfish, duplicitous... yet I was immersed in her story.

Anna's love for her daughter was something that I think almost every parent of a teenager will identify with. The power struggles, the safeguarding, the rebellion, the fear...

Anna's friendship with the elderly man, Fred, was a delight to read about, but this too had a rather melancholy overtone.

This novel relayed a domestic drama in a very authentic way. Perhaps too real to be entirely comfortable? The Bonds were a very dysfunctional family unit. But aren't all families dysfunctional to some extent? Yes, the title was perfect for the narrative. We are all 'only human', and make countless mistakes in our lives.

With themes of warped family dynamics, parenting, adultery, betrayal, and treatment of the elderly, it spoke to a lot of less savory aspects of our modern lives.

This is a book that will remain in my memory for some time. Even though there were many parts of the book that left me uncomfortable, I think that speaks to the powerful writing. In three words: realistic, poignant, and engrossing. Recommended.

[Jirinka (sony08) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect reading for the summer nights just gone. A proper family drama novel that you can get your teeth stuck into and enjoy every page.

Anna is indeed shocked to discover her husband’s affair and it forces her to question the quality of their relationship. Like many couples, their own relationship was unintentionally put onto the side burner, whilst they brought up their daughter Sophie. But now that Sophie is a proper teenager with a charming, first boyfriend, Anna must face the possibility of future alone.

Sophie’s boyfriend Jack seems to breathe fresh air into the family setting and to an outsider, the Bonds seems to be a very happy family. But cracks appear very quickly. I was annoyed with Anna and her own affair, it just seemed selfish to me and it made her lose sight of the important things in her live. But I did love her relationship with Fred and the way she took him under her wing.

This book covers that middle agreed issue of kids flying the nest and couples being forced to question their life together. It shows how fragile relationship can be if not looked after.

[Lauren pavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where has this book been! I must admit I thought it would take a lot to rival some of the amazing coHo books I’ve read lately but step aside coho . I haven’t been able to put this book down!
No wonder this book won the peoples book prize #

This book tells the story of a mother who after giving her life for her family has everything shaken to the core and goes on a travel of self discovery. There’s lots of plot twists, comedy , love and certainly lust but I don’t want to give any spoilers.

The phrase ‘a moment of magic’ was used in this book and that’s how I felt when reading this book, it was a series of moments of magic.

The writing was very confident although I must admit I definitely felt I was team Sophie more than team Anna at times. I love it when a leading lady has faults and is real rather than so many books who have a hero who seems ‘faultless’ and is not relatable. I really wanted to shake Anna at times when she was ignoring what was right in front of her.

The writing made these people come completely to life and I can’t help but wonder if they are based on real people as I felt like I knew them. I really need a sequel to this though to find out what happened to the family especially Dougal.

A beautiful book. Would highly recommend !

[Eunice Coorlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel which his infidelity and its core but also touches on marriage, love, friendship, parenting, and betrayal. Diane Chandler has written an adult novel which, at its core, has Anna and Ollie a couple married almost twenty years. When Anna catches Ollie in an affair their “near perfect“ life begins to unravel. The reader is taken on a ride with these two and their daughter 15-year-old Sophie who has begun a relationship with a 16-year-old boy, Jack. It’s interesting to see the comparisons between the two couples.

Anna and tears into an affair with a younger man. At first it is exciting and makes her see life in a different light. After a while the affair becomes almost tedious. How her husband finds out about the affair is shocking and sobering.

There are many interesting characters in this book one of my favorites is Fred. An 86-year-old man with the beginning of dementia that Anna comes to care for and seeks to help adapt to his new lifestyle.

This is a beautifully written book about the unraveling of a marriage.