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The School Run Reject Club: A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about not fitting in!
Carrie Crawford is a woman on a mission.
She never thought she’d be back in the north east of England as a single mum, but now that she is, the future looks bright. She’s landed a great new job as political editor of her local paper, and she’s determined to finally make her journalistic mark on the world. Best of all, her five-year-old son, Thomas, has finally stopped eating crayons.
But Carrie finds she is unprepared for the new challenges she’s about to face. The conspiracies. The power plays. The backstabbing. She thought that kind of thing was the preserve of Westminster politics. Turns out the House of Commons has nothing on the gates of Hawthorn Primary.
Carrie finds herself embroiled in a battle that makes Parliament look like a soft-play party (minus the chicken nuggets), and it seems she can’t stop opening her mouth and making enemies. She’s surrounded by other mums, but she’s never felt so alone.
But maybe Carrie’s not as alone as she thinks she is. With the help of Hawthorn’s other misfit mums – and the school’s only hot single dad – Carrie learns that maybe you can stand out and still find somewhere to fit in.
She never thought she’d be back in the north east of England as a single mum, but now that she is, the future looks bright. She’s landed a great new job as political editor of her local paper, and she’s determined to finally make her journalistic mark on the world. Best of all, her five-year-old son, Thomas, has finally stopped eating crayons.
But Carrie finds she is unprepared for the new challenges she’s about to face. The conspiracies. The power plays. The backstabbing. She thought that kind of thing was the preserve of Westminster politics. Turns out the House of Commons has nothing on the gates of Hawthorn Primary.
Carrie finds herself embroiled in a battle that makes Parliament look like a soft-play party (minus the chicken nuggets), and it seems she can’t stop opening her mouth and making enemies. She’s surrounded by other mums, but she’s never felt so alone.
But maybe Carrie’s not as alone as she thinks she is. With the help of Hawthorn’s other misfit mums – and the school’s only hot single dad – Carrie learns that maybe you can stand out and still find somewhere to fit in.
- GenresFiction
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2021
28 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 18, 2022
A little predictable, but overall an enjoyable light hearted read. 3.5*
June 1, 2021
Scarily accurate but very funny story about navigating the school run
Loved this book. Carrie is a single mum and she is a fighter for what's right. She doesn't do demure and she doesn't have a filter. She does have Adhd. Moving from London to give her son a better life up North, Carrie soon finds herself inadvertently breaking playground rules and getting on the wrong side of the mummy clique who rule the reception playground. However she finds allies in other parents who don't quite fit in including handsome Alex. Can Carrie win again at the clique? Is Alex the man for her? I won't spoil it so if you want to visit then download this boom. It's an absolute belter
Loved this book. Carrie is a single mum and she is a fighter for what's right. She doesn't do demure and she doesn't have a filter. She does have Adhd. Moving from London to give her son a better life up North, Carrie soon finds herself inadvertently breaking playground rules and getting on the wrong side of the mummy clique who rule the reception playground. However she finds allies in other parents who don't quite fit in including handsome Alex. Can Carrie win again at the clique? Is Alex the man for her? I won't spoil it so if you want to visit then download this boom. It's an absolute belter
August 1, 2021
Wonderful, Inclusive, Relatable
As a neurodiverse woman diagnosed in adulthood, this book was the first time I have ever seen myself in a protagonist. Carrie will be a relatable character to so many women - not just those of us who are ND - as her struggles with playground politics will resonate strongly.
This isn't a book *about* neurodiversity per se, but for me it is a book which could have a spectacular impact upon the lives of those who feel misunderstood every moment of every day. And taking that out of the equation, it's just a well-written book with a relatable storyline and fantastic characters.
Elizabeth Grey - if you ever read this review - thank you for making me feel seen.
As a neurodiverse woman diagnosed in adulthood, this book was the first time I have ever seen myself in a protagonist. Carrie will be a relatable character to so many women - not just those of us who are ND - as her struggles with playground politics will resonate strongly.
This isn't a book *about* neurodiversity per se, but for me it is a book which could have a spectacular impact upon the lives of those who feel misunderstood every moment of every day. And taking that out of the equation, it's just a well-written book with a relatable storyline and fantastic characters.
Elizabeth Grey - if you ever read this review - thank you for making me feel seen.
August 4, 2021
Not for Me . . .
This book seems to have all kinds of “stuff” that I cannot relate to and want no part of. Books are my enjoyment, not what I read to take political stands or push causes. Not saying this was a bad book, but it seems to be a disconnect for me. Parliament and House of Commons are completely out of my wheelhouse. Conspiracies, power plays, backstabbing, and politics in general do not point to a relaxing, enjoyable read. And the Reject Club for Misfits also does not resonate with me.
So Carrie Crawford is a woman on a mission. She hardly makes it through breakfast with her son, so it’s going to be a rough road for her, I think. If the other moms can encourage her, that’s probably as good as it gets, especially as she wants to “stand out and still fit in”. This book just doesn’t resonate with me.
This book seems to have all kinds of “stuff” that I cannot relate to and want no part of. Books are my enjoyment, not what I read to take political stands or push causes. Not saying this was a bad book, but it seems to be a disconnect for me. Parliament and House of Commons are completely out of my wheelhouse. Conspiracies, power plays, backstabbing, and politics in general do not point to a relaxing, enjoyable read. And the Reject Club for Misfits also does not resonate with me.
So Carrie Crawford is a woman on a mission. She hardly makes it through breakfast with her son, so it’s going to be a rough road for her, I think. If the other moms can encourage her, that’s probably as good as it gets, especially as she wants to “stand out and still fit in”. This book just doesn’t resonate with me.
October 16, 2021
The school run reject club..the club everyone wants to be a part of.
Oh the joys of the playground mafia! This is a gloriously funny book about NOT fitting in with the 'perfect' crew and discovering what really matters, true friendship. The romance is more of a side story and making him a physiologist/physiatrist is genius and actually really informative.
This is a must read for everyone who's ever felt slightly at odds with the world and experienced not quite fitting in.
Oh the joys of the playground mafia! This is a gloriously funny book about NOT fitting in with the 'perfect' crew and discovering what really matters, true friendship. The romance is more of a side story and making him a physiologist/physiatrist is genius and actually really informative.
This is a must read for everyone who's ever felt slightly at odds with the world and experienced not quite fitting in.
September 3, 2025
This was ok, an easy enough read though pretty predictable. I didn’t find it laugh out loud funny either, in fact I thought the attempts at humour were distinctly unfunny (e.g. Gordon & friend taking a laxative to see who’d last the longest before needing the toilet & the predictable pooping the pants - hilarious (not) or the London friend falling & burning his backside because he put lit matches in his back pocket - how could anyone even manage to do that??!!)
August 9, 2021
Carrie has her hands full when she finds she’s mostly breaking the unspoken rules. Can she bring them around and will Alex be something more? A unique story!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2021
The story was okay. It rambled a bit at times which made it slow in some parts. Not often but 2-3 times it did it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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January 16, 2023I really enjoyed reading this and found it so relateable
June 14, 2023
Comical, relatable and an easy read
A very easy read which kept you wanting to read more. Humorously written with relatable school runs and playground antics.
A very easy read which kept you wanting to read more. Humorously written with relatable school runs and playground antics.
December 29, 2025
An absolute must read
This is the third time I have read this book and as you can guess I absolutely love reading it. I am now going to read the next book in this series.
This is the third time I have read this book and as you can guess I absolutely love reading it. I am now going to read the next book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews