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New Family Required
Sasha Greenhope has a very lovely life. Her marriage is solid, her only daughter is delightful, and the family business is going full steam ahead.
The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parents 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her rich family. Her French mother, Delphine thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas.. And siblings, Adele and Beau, are clearly the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements
So when Sasha’s husband Ben takes this exact moment to reveal that they are about to go bankrupt, Sasha wants to be anywhere but stuck in a lavish marquee!
Swallowing her pride, and a whole bottle of fizz, Sasha determines to ask her family for help – and maybe even a loan – only to discover that her parents and siblings are all keeping secrets of their own!
Family secrets, warring siblings and a disastrous reunion… what could possibly go right?!
Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!
The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parents 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her rich family. Her French mother, Delphine thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas.. And siblings, Adele and Beau, are clearly the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements
So when Sasha’s husband Ben takes this exact moment to reveal that they are about to go bankrupt, Sasha wants to be anywhere but stuck in a lavish marquee!
Swallowing her pride, and a whole bottle of fizz, Sasha determines to ask her family for help – and maybe even a loan – only to discover that her parents and siblings are all keeping secrets of their own!
Family secrets, warring siblings and a disastrous reunion… what could possibly go right?!
Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2022
814 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Carmen Reid
65 books232 followersCarmen was born and brought up in a chilly and windy corner of Scotland in the depths of the countryside.
This may explain her lifelong phobia of cows and abiding interest in cities, department stores, books, the cinema and newspapers.
She is currently working on her eigth novel for grown-ups and her third novel for teenagers. Well, she likes to keep busy.
Carmen did once study English Literature at University College London, but, ignoring everything she’d learned, she spent most of her 20s working as a local, regional and then national newspaper reporter.
Knowing deep down that she was supposed to be an author not a journo, she left her day job to have a baby and write her first novel. (Hey, and just four sleepless, penniless years later it was published!)
Although there is a corner of her heart that will always belong to London (property developers welcome) she now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, Thomas, and two children, Sam and Claudie, plus Jimmy the (lunatic) Jack Russell and Clive, Orangey and Gorcha, the fish.
Fortunately her hobbies are cooking, cleaning, arguing about whose turn it is to walk the dog, clean the fish tank, take out the rubbish, do the laundry... and so on.
This may explain her lifelong phobia of cows and abiding interest in cities, department stores, books, the cinema and newspapers.
She is currently working on her eigth novel for grown-ups and her third novel for teenagers. Well, she likes to keep busy.
Carmen did once study English Literature at University College London, but, ignoring everything she’d learned, she spent most of her 20s working as a local, regional and then national newspaper reporter.
Knowing deep down that she was supposed to be an author not a journo, she left her day job to have a baby and write her first novel. (Hey, and just four sleepless, penniless years later it was published!)
Although there is a corner of her heart that will always belong to London (property developers welcome) she now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, Thomas, and two children, Sam and Claudie, plus Jimmy the (lunatic) Jack Russell and Clive, Orangey and Gorcha, the fish.
Fortunately her hobbies are cooking, cleaning, arguing about whose turn it is to walk the dog, clean the fish tank, take out the rubbish, do the laundry... and so on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 11, 2022
Got to say that the cover drew me to this book, the colour and bold wording made it stand out and so I chose it without reading what it was about 😀 also a new author to me
What I got was a really different read for me, based around a family, 3 very different grown up kids and a overbearing? yet loving Mum and Dad, who all get together in their old huge family home for a party….all of them have worries and secrets and all of them are forced to faced them when a set of ( dramatic but funnily told ) things happen….a heart warming family comedy ish story that was in a word delightful, a range of characters, some immediately likeable some not but generally a good set of folk, trying their best, getting in difficulty and whether realising it or not needing family to help
Enjoyable,very readable and made me feel good
9/10
5 Stars
What I got was a really different read for me, based around a family, 3 very different grown up kids and a overbearing? yet loving Mum and Dad, who all get together in their old huge family home for a party….all of them have worries and secrets and all of them are forced to faced them when a set of ( dramatic but funnily told ) things happen….a heart warming family comedy ish story that was in a word delightful, a range of characters, some immediately likeable some not but generally a good set of folk, trying their best, getting in difficulty and whether realising it or not needing family to help
Enjoyable,very readable and made me feel good
9/10
5 Stars
August 24, 2022
I really liked my other read from this author and went into this book with high optimism. However, although it started well, it began to fall flat and my attention wandered.
Set over an eventful weekend, readers follow middle child, Sasha, as she and her family attend her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary celebrations. But, Sasha’s relationship with her family is strained, to say the least, and I think she would rather launch hot pokers into her eyeballs, rather than spend time with them! Thanks to Reid’s flashbacks, we get an understanding of the causes of this troubled family, and I like how this fed into the narrative.
Meeting the rest of the family, I found I did not like them very much. There was no sense of a united team and too much blame was passed on without taking any responsibility. I could understand Sasha’s feelings towards her family, but did not believe she was as perfect as she claimed, making herself a victim too often for my liking. One thing is for sure however, you cannot choose your family and I did enjoy seeing how the relationships eventually changed.
Up until the morning after the party, I found the novel really interesting. It felt like the characters were moving from one disaster to the next and I could not foresee how they would be resolved. But when Sasha and her family are forced to extend their stay at the family home, this was where I thought the story went ‘off boil’. I recognised the symbol of forcing the family to acknowledge their differences but felt frustrated at how slowly the story suddenly moved. Loulou’s accident also felt prolonged and I had guessed some of the plot developments too. In this case, I was quite glad when I finished the story.
This is a family drama in two halves: destruction followed by reformation. I appreciated the characters’ eventual honesty towards one another but thought it could have been done in a more engrossing way. I don’t think this was as light-hearted as my previous read from Reid, consequently making it far less entertaining too.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set over an eventful weekend, readers follow middle child, Sasha, as she and her family attend her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary celebrations. But, Sasha’s relationship with her family is strained, to say the least, and I think she would rather launch hot pokers into her eyeballs, rather than spend time with them! Thanks to Reid’s flashbacks, we get an understanding of the causes of this troubled family, and I like how this fed into the narrative.
Meeting the rest of the family, I found I did not like them very much. There was no sense of a united team and too much blame was passed on without taking any responsibility. I could understand Sasha’s feelings towards her family, but did not believe she was as perfect as she claimed, making herself a victim too often for my liking. One thing is for sure however, you cannot choose your family and I did enjoy seeing how the relationships eventually changed.
Up until the morning after the party, I found the novel really interesting. It felt like the characters were moving from one disaster to the next and I could not foresee how they would be resolved. But when Sasha and her family are forced to extend their stay at the family home, this was where I thought the story went ‘off boil’. I recognised the symbol of forcing the family to acknowledge their differences but felt frustrated at how slowly the story suddenly moved. Loulou’s accident also felt prolonged and I had guessed some of the plot developments too. In this case, I was quite glad when I finished the story.
This is a family drama in two halves: destruction followed by reformation. I appreciated the characters’ eventual honesty towards one another but thought it could have been done in a more engrossing way. I don’t think this was as light-hearted as my previous read from Reid, consequently making it far less entertaining too.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2022
Uh. Happy to have finished the book eventually. Having read the synopsis and with this brillianty and catchy title, I was hoping for something hilariously funny, full of laugh, misunderstanding and family antics. What I got was, sadly, boring plot, boring characters, predictable situations, things that were not done enough or were totally over - dramatic and a slow story telling. It's a shame, really, but I struggled already with the beginning and so it stayed like this. The rescue - action made me roll my eyes, to be honest, and everything that was happenning to the characters, well, I didn't warm to them so I really didn't care about them.
June 26, 2022
Sasha has good grounds for jokingly wanting Ben to place and advert for a new family. She doesn't really seem to fit into her own one, and certainly doesn't want to let them know about her true feelings, or their financial position.
But yet she has to go and spend a weekend in the manor house to celebrate her parents 40th wedding anniversary.
I could feel her dread at attending from here, and really felt for Sasha, and Ben who seem like regular normal people. Over the course of the weekend let's say nothing goes smoothly, and there is drama, there are some far too vividly described scenes that made me feel as ill as the characters, there is a mystery behind where on earth the missing earrings are, and there are laughs too.
But most of all, it is the change in family dynamics as the weekend progressed that I found most fascinating.
I couldn't get enough of this book, it was a delight to read, and once again another book from the author that I completely and utterly loved. What a triumph!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
But yet she has to go and spend a weekend in the manor house to celebrate her parents 40th wedding anniversary.
I could feel her dread at attending from here, and really felt for Sasha, and Ben who seem like regular normal people. Over the course of the weekend let's say nothing goes smoothly, and there is drama, there are some far too vividly described scenes that made me feel as ill as the characters, there is a mystery behind where on earth the missing earrings are, and there are laughs too.
But most of all, it is the change in family dynamics as the weekend progressed that I found most fascinating.
I couldn't get enough of this book, it was a delight to read, and once again another book from the author that I completely and utterly loved. What a triumph!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
December 16, 2023
From reading the description, I was expecting some good laughs and lively family drama. Unfortunately the story felt flat with unexciting characters that didn't engage my attention.
July 23, 2022
I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review…
I have previously read a few books from this author and always loved them and honestly this one was no exception, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book is full of family secrets, warring siblings and a disastrous reunion and it is a wonderfully emotional, laugh out loud read that made me giggle throughout!!
New Family Required is set around a wonderful group of characters - some very likeable and some not so much - but all of whom add that certain something to the story!
This was a lovely, feel good story that I thoroughly enjoyed…..
I have previously read a few books from this author and always loved them and honestly this one was no exception, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book is full of family secrets, warring siblings and a disastrous reunion and it is a wonderfully emotional, laugh out loud read that made me giggle throughout!!
New Family Required is set around a wonderful group of characters - some very likeable and some not so much - but all of whom add that certain something to the story!
This was a lovely, feel good story that I thoroughly enjoyed…..
July 14, 2022
I read and thoroughly enjoyed Carmen’s previous book called ‘Worn Out Wife Seeks New Life’. So when I heard that she was due to release a new book, I knew I had to grab a copy at the earliest opportunity and squirrel myself away until I had finished reading. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over as Carmen’s new book is called ‘New Family Required’ and it was released on 13th July 2022. IT another cracker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into ‘New Family Required’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I instinctively knew that this was one of those books that I would find extremely hard to put down for any length of time. That certainly proved to be the truth because I did find it difficult to put the book down. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a second of the story. The characters intrigued me and I had an inkling that each of them was keeping a secret or not telling the whole truth. I had to keep reading to see firstly if I was on the right track and secondly to see what each character was trying to keep hidden. Reading this book became addictive and the pages turned over with increasing speed. At one point the page numbers became a blur. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘New Family Required’. I found ‘New Family Required’ to be a fun, light hearted and ultimately feel good story.
‘New Family Required’ is extremely well written. Carmen has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Carmen’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a steady pace throughout. Carmen clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Carmen can combine the drama with humour. For me, there were several ‘laugh out loud’ moments and at other times I could quite cheerfully have slapped certain characters with a wet flip flop. I love the way in which Carmen makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘New Family Required’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I hope to read much more of Carmen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into ‘New Family Required’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I instinctively knew that this was one of those books that I would find extremely hard to put down for any length of time. That certainly proved to be the truth because I did find it difficult to put the book down. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a second of the story. The characters intrigued me and I had an inkling that each of them was keeping a secret or not telling the whole truth. I had to keep reading to see firstly if I was on the right track and secondly to see what each character was trying to keep hidden. Reading this book became addictive and the pages turned over with increasing speed. At one point the page numbers became a blur. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘New Family Required’. I found ‘New Family Required’ to be a fun, light hearted and ultimately feel good story.
‘New Family Required’ is extremely well written. Carmen has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Carmen’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a steady pace throughout. Carmen clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Carmen can combine the drama with humour. For me, there were several ‘laugh out loud’ moments and at other times I could quite cheerfully have slapped certain characters with a wet flip flop. I love the way in which Carmen makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘New Family Required’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I hope to read much more of Carmen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
July 10, 2022
New Family Required by Carmen Reid
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sasha Greenhope has a very lovely life. Her marriage is solid, her only daughter is delightful, and the family business is going full steam ahead.
The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parents 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her rich family. Her French mother, Delphine thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas.. And siblings, Adele and Beau, are clearly the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements
So when Sasha’s husband Ben takes this exact moment to reveal that they are about to go bankrupt, Sasha wants to be anywhere but stuck in a lavish marquee!
This was a delight to read and I was a little shocked at how fast I worked my way through this book. The way that Carmen had portrayed Sasha, allows the reader to feel the fact that she is dreading returning home. A light-hearted easy book to read - perfect for reading this summer.
Rating: 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sasha Greenhope has a very lovely life. Her marriage is solid, her only daughter is delightful, and the family business is going full steam ahead.
The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parents 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her rich family. Her French mother, Delphine thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas.. And siblings, Adele and Beau, are clearly the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements
So when Sasha’s husband Ben takes this exact moment to reveal that they are about to go bankrupt, Sasha wants to be anywhere but stuck in a lavish marquee!
This was a delight to read and I was a little shocked at how fast I worked my way through this book. The way that Carmen had portrayed Sasha, allows the reader to feel the fact that she is dreading returning home. A light-hearted easy book to read - perfect for reading this summer.
Rating: 4/5
June 11, 2022
A fantastic lighthearted read that delves into family dynamics, relationships, history and secrets!
The three griffon siblings are very different,Adele high achieving successful and financially secure, Sasha the middle child struggling to make ends meet and always thought of as the wild child, and lastly Beau the youngest and favoured by his mother!
As adults they are all invited home to the country pile to celebrate their parents wedding anniversary, things don’t go to plan and secrets are revealed, misconceptions resolved and a new found respect and understanding achieved as the parents and siblings open up, share, and support each other proving that family is everything and to be treasured.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
The three griffon siblings are very different,Adele high achieving successful and financially secure, Sasha the middle child struggling to make ends meet and always thought of as the wild child, and lastly Beau the youngest and favoured by his mother!
As adults they are all invited home to the country pile to celebrate their parents wedding anniversary, things don’t go to plan and secrets are revealed, misconceptions resolved and a new found respect and understanding achieved as the parents and siblings open up, share, and support each other proving that family is everything and to be treasured.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
May 2, 2023
Finally finished the book. The title is fun, but the book was boring. found ways to delay the reading finally the hell with it, skipped to the back and got the gist of the ending.
The family bound together when the members share the happiness and sadness while the family fall apart and create havoc when the members bottle up and pretend nothing bad happened. This is what is basically what this book is about. In the end they came together and become a coherent family because they talked thru their problems with each other.
don't know if I want to read her other titles.
The family bound together when the members share the happiness and sadness while the family fall apart and create havoc when the members bottle up and pretend nothing bad happened. This is what is basically what this book is about. In the end they came together and become a coherent family because they talked thru their problems with each other.
don't know if I want to read her other titles.
March 17, 2023
Intriguing and lighthearted
A great story about families, relationships, and the various f
actors that shape adult life. It was a fun and engaging book.
A great story about families, relationships, and the various f
actors that shape adult life. It was a fun and engaging book.
June 9, 2022
This is a fantastic, engrossing story! While most families do not have a huge mansion that they can call their family home, they do have all the complexities that are part of this book’s plot. Roles taken in childhood often are retained as adults. Families often have secrets not shared. Hurtful things said are not let go of and fester. All that and much more is woven into this thought provoking story. The author, Carmen Reid, has a wonder gift of writing a humorous, heartwarming tale while tackling serious issues. She did an excellent job in writing this book!
I was immediately invested in lives of the Griffon family and enjoyed every moment I had with them. This was definitely a page-turner for me!
A huge thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I was immediately invested in lives of the Griffon family and enjoyed every moment I had with them. This was definitely a page-turner for me!
A huge thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
January 4, 2023
Very yawn
October 2, 2022
Carmen Reid delights yet again with a fun, relatable and immensely enjoyable new novel, New Family Required.
Sasha Greenhope has got a lot to be thankful for. Like most people, her life has got its fair share of ups and downs, but she has a rock-solid marriage, a lovely daughter and a thriving family business. Everything seems to be going reasonably well – with the only blip on the horizon being a family reunion for her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile – which she is simply dreading.
When it comes to her family, Sasha has always felt like a square peg in a round hole. Her rich parents – particularly her French mother, Delphine – have always regarded her as an oddity and it’s quite clear that her two siblings are her parents’ favourites. Sasha just wants this family reunion to be over and done with, however, she hadn’t counted on her husband Ben making things a million times worse by choosing to blurt out to her family that they are about to go bankrupt!
Sasha just wants to disappear into the ground, but with her family’s livelihood at stake, she decides to swallow her pride and ask her filthy rich parents for financial assistance. Only, it soon transpires that Sasha is not the only one with secrets and that her family have got skeletons in their closets they are all desperate to keep hidden!
Caught between a rock and hard place, what on earth is Sasha going to do next?
Readers everywhere will laugh, cry and cringle along with Sasha and the rest of her clan in Carmen Reid’s latest novel, New Family Required. Carmen Reid explores with great humour and depth the complexities, tensions and intricacies of family life and has created a feel-good and uplifting read that I couldn’t read quickly enough.
New Family Required cleverly blends wit, warmth and drama in an irresistible and realistic page-turner from Carmen Reid.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sasha Greenhope has got a lot to be thankful for. Like most people, her life has got its fair share of ups and downs, but she has a rock-solid marriage, a lovely daughter and a thriving family business. Everything seems to be going reasonably well – with the only blip on the horizon being a family reunion for her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile – which she is simply dreading.
When it comes to her family, Sasha has always felt like a square peg in a round hole. Her rich parents – particularly her French mother, Delphine – have always regarded her as an oddity and it’s quite clear that her two siblings are her parents’ favourites. Sasha just wants this family reunion to be over and done with, however, she hadn’t counted on her husband Ben making things a million times worse by choosing to blurt out to her family that they are about to go bankrupt!
Sasha just wants to disappear into the ground, but with her family’s livelihood at stake, she decides to swallow her pride and ask her filthy rich parents for financial assistance. Only, it soon transpires that Sasha is not the only one with secrets and that her family have got skeletons in their closets they are all desperate to keep hidden!
Caught between a rock and hard place, what on earth is Sasha going to do next?
Readers everywhere will laugh, cry and cringle along with Sasha and the rest of her clan in Carmen Reid’s latest novel, New Family Required. Carmen Reid explores with great humour and depth the complexities, tensions and intricacies of family life and has created a feel-good and uplifting read that I couldn’t read quickly enough.
New Family Required cleverly blends wit, warmth and drama in an irresistible and realistic page-turner from Carmen Reid.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 28, 2024
4.75
Sasha was having an amazing life, she has an amazing marriage and a fantastic daughter (LouLou). As well as having a great business…well had a great business. Her business in on the brink of bankruptcy. And the icing on the cake she has to attend her family reunion to celebrate her parents’ anniversary. Sasha however doesn’t want to attend. (She felt like an outsider – her parents favourited her older sister and younger brother). But agrees to go. Her husband Ben wants Sasha to ask her family for some money to help their business, however, Sasha doesn’t think that this will be a good idea.
From the moment Dirk character was introduced by Sasha’s sister (Adele), I had a strong feeling that this guy is her boyfriend (he is also Adele’s daughter tutor). We soon find out that Sasha’s dad wants to sell the house, however her mum is totally against it as alongside being married to her husband Tony, the house was the only other thing that made her stay in England.
We soon learn that Adele and their brother Beau had been asking their parents for money. Sasha had taught they were financially stable, but they really weren’t. Sasha decides to leave with her family first thing the next morning but unfortunately get into a car crash, her dad just so happens to be following behind them and Sasha has no choice but to return home.
As the story continues Sasha is continuing helping her mum look for her missing earrings during this time Sasha discovered a picture of a baby, but she didn’t recognise who this child was. We learn that the child was a child who died a baby, and their parents decided it would be best not to tell the girls. We then discover that it was LouLou who took the earrings and put them in a safe spot, when the earrings was returned Sasha and the rest of the family learn a lot about their family history and where they came from.
Overall, it was a good book. The story line got better as I continued to read it, but there were points in the story which I did find a bit boring.
Sasha was having an amazing life, she has an amazing marriage and a fantastic daughter (LouLou). As well as having a great business…well had a great business. Her business in on the brink of bankruptcy. And the icing on the cake she has to attend her family reunion to celebrate her parents’ anniversary. Sasha however doesn’t want to attend. (She felt like an outsider – her parents favourited her older sister and younger brother). But agrees to go. Her husband Ben wants Sasha to ask her family for some money to help their business, however, Sasha doesn’t think that this will be a good idea.
From the moment Dirk character was introduced by Sasha’s sister (Adele), I had a strong feeling that this guy is her boyfriend (he is also Adele’s daughter tutor). We soon find out that Sasha’s dad wants to sell the house, however her mum is totally against it as alongside being married to her husband Tony, the house was the only other thing that made her stay in England.
We soon learn that Adele and their brother Beau had been asking their parents for money. Sasha had taught they were financially stable, but they really weren’t. Sasha decides to leave with her family first thing the next morning but unfortunately get into a car crash, her dad just so happens to be following behind them and Sasha has no choice but to return home.
As the story continues Sasha is continuing helping her mum look for her missing earrings during this time Sasha discovered a picture of a baby, but she didn’t recognise who this child was. We learn that the child was a child who died a baby, and their parents decided it would be best not to tell the girls. We then discover that it was LouLou who took the earrings and put them in a safe spot, when the earrings was returned Sasha and the rest of the family learn a lot about their family history and where they came from.
Overall, it was a good book. The story line got better as I continued to read it, but there were points in the story which I did find a bit boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2022
This is a gem of a book which, if it had been a swimming pool, had me gently paddling in the first few chapters before becoming fully immersed and then not wanting to come out! As the story unfolded, I felt as though I was on one of those steep waterslides, as I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
I was immediately drawn to Sasha. Her love story with Ben, their meeting and subsequent marriage, ticked every box on the romance stakes. Of course, nothing in this life is perfect, and so we learn more about Sasha’s delightful family.
From her stiff-upper-lipped parents to her indulged siblings, they were each introduced in a way that was bound to make the reader dislike them. Chadwell House put me in mind of so many stately homes owned by the fur coat and no knicker brigade. The people who host lavish parties but can’t afford to fix the roof. True to form, her parents are struggling to maintain the house and are worried That their anniversary party may have to be the last hurrah. I don’t believe in spoilers, so I’ll leave the story there.
What I learned from this book is the power of communication. Had there been ongoing dialogues between the main characters, there wouldn’t have been a story, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the fictional lives as they fall from the pages.
There’s a lot to unpack with this story and so many elements are hidden behind secrets and pain that it takes a while for the proverbial dust to settle and a more positive future to emerge. As the first few threads begin to unravel, the reader needs to hold on tight as the surprises and shocks keep on coming. I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears as I found myself willing the characters toward a happy ending.
Carmen Reid has excelled herself with this book. I just loved everything about it and I’m thankful that I dived in.
I was immediately drawn to Sasha. Her love story with Ben, their meeting and subsequent marriage, ticked every box on the romance stakes. Of course, nothing in this life is perfect, and so we learn more about Sasha’s delightful family.
From her stiff-upper-lipped parents to her indulged siblings, they were each introduced in a way that was bound to make the reader dislike them. Chadwell House put me in mind of so many stately homes owned by the fur coat and no knicker brigade. The people who host lavish parties but can’t afford to fix the roof. True to form, her parents are struggling to maintain the house and are worried That their anniversary party may have to be the last hurrah. I don’t believe in spoilers, so I’ll leave the story there.
What I learned from this book is the power of communication. Had there been ongoing dialogues between the main characters, there wouldn’t have been a story, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the fictional lives as they fall from the pages.
There’s a lot to unpack with this story and so many elements are hidden behind secrets and pain that it takes a while for the proverbial dust to settle and a more positive future to emerge. As the first few threads begin to unravel, the reader needs to hold on tight as the surprises and shocks keep on coming. I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears as I found myself willing the characters toward a happy ending.
Carmen Reid has excelled herself with this book. I just loved everything about it and I’m thankful that I dived in.
July 15, 2022
Sasha and Ben own Greenhouse Gardening, a landscaping business they built from scratch. Along with their daughter, LouLou, life is good. That is until a huge job they undertook that was to pay 79,000 pounds. After all the work and expense they put into the project, the company they did the work for is now saying they are bankrupt, leaving Sasha and Ben deeply in debt.
Sasha’s parents, Tony and Delphine Griffon, are very wealthy and live in the huge family mansion, Chadwell Hall. Ben wants Sasha to ask her parents for a loan to help them out until they can undertake some more jobs but she refuses as her father believes people should earn their own money and never borrow.
Now, the Griffon’s are planning a 40th wedding anniversary party for all of the family to attend at Chadwell Hall. This means that Sasha and Ben will be among her well-to-do and successful siblings, Adele, and Beau, their mother’s favorite. Sasha has always felt that she was never a part of the family like the others.
As the weekend events take place, each of the siblings and their parents slowly begin to open up and share secrets and finally become honest about their feelings toward one another. While there are at first some hurt feelings, sharing proves to be cathartic for everyone which finally brings about healing and true family love. Sometimes, we just have to be honest with one another and put hard feelings behind to stay a family. Interesting book which I believe readers will enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sasha’s parents, Tony and Delphine Griffon, are very wealthy and live in the huge family mansion, Chadwell Hall. Ben wants Sasha to ask her parents for a loan to help them out until they can undertake some more jobs but she refuses as her father believes people should earn their own money and never borrow.
Now, the Griffon’s are planning a 40th wedding anniversary party for all of the family to attend at Chadwell Hall. This means that Sasha and Ben will be among her well-to-do and successful siblings, Adele, and Beau, their mother’s favorite. Sasha has always felt that she was never a part of the family like the others.
As the weekend events take place, each of the siblings and their parents slowly begin to open up and share secrets and finally become honest about their feelings toward one another. While there are at first some hurt feelings, sharing proves to be cathartic for everyone which finally brings about healing and true family love. Sometimes, we just have to be honest with one another and put hard feelings behind to stay a family. Interesting book which I believe readers will enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 19, 2022
New Family Required by Carmen Reid
Sasha Greenhope has a charming life. Her marriage is solid, her only daughter is delightful, and the family business is full steam ahead.
The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parent's 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her wealthy family. Her French mother, Delphine, thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas... And siblings, Adele and Beau, are the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements.
Family secrets, warring siblings, what could go right?!
New Family Required' is a light-hearted, easy-going, well-written story.
Family secrets are disclosed during the reunion, which makes Sasha reevaluate her long-held opinion of her kin.
Carmen writes clearly, and descriptively and her characters are expressive and realistic. With just the right mix of drama and humour, this story has a perfect balance.
I am happy to recommend this book.
I want to thank publishers Boldwood Books, author Carmen Reid and Rachel's Random Resources for a copy to read and review and for the tour invitation.
Sasha Greenhope has a charming life. Her marriage is solid, her only daughter is delightful, and the family business is full steam ahead.
The only blip on the horizon is the upcoming family reunion for her parent's 40th wedding anniversary at Chadwell House – the family pile. Sasha just does not fit with her wealthy family. Her French mother, Delphine, thinks everything Sasha does is a faux pas... And siblings, Adele and Beau, are the favourites, leaving Sasha surplus to requirements.
Family secrets, warring siblings, what could go right?!
New Family Required' is a light-hearted, easy-going, well-written story.
Family secrets are disclosed during the reunion, which makes Sasha reevaluate her long-held opinion of her kin.
Carmen writes clearly, and descriptively and her characters are expressive and realistic. With just the right mix of drama and humour, this story has a perfect balance.
I am happy to recommend this book.
I want to thank publishers Boldwood Books, author Carmen Reid and Rachel's Random Resources for a copy to read and review and for the tour invitation.
February 16, 2023
I enjoyed this family story, although I don't know a family like this one. Of course, every family usually has at least one child who feels like they don't belong to the family for various reasons. In this case, the middle child feels like her younger brother is the mother's favorite child, and her older sister is more in tune with the dad. She feels she has no one on her side, including her siblings. The parents are celebrating their 40th anniversary and the family is expected to come to the very large, very old family home for the weekend of the big celebration. All three of the these now grown adults with families of their own, would rather be anywhere else but here. If anything could go wrong with this whole event, it does as each person in the family with their own feelings, worries, even their anger comes to this weekend and results in one very dramatic ending where the family realizes how much the love and need each other. Reading this story will make you, laugh, cry, feel angry and frustrated and finally rejoyce with the family all in a very short time,
June 14, 2023
This was an Amazon Prime library read.
I wanted something light, but something on my kindle to read as I knew I would be heading back to the hospital and didn't want a big book to take. In the end, I didn't actually read at the hospital as I was too hot, tired and stressed!!
The story of Sasha and her family was entertaining, but I didn't laugh out loud. The rich family all had their issues, and whilst it was nice to read of them all resolving issues at the end, there still seemed a lot of dysfunction that needed to be resolved rather than a happy families ending.
I found Beau to be the stereotypical rich boy, and the parents demanding and unbending. Whilst there does seem to be some softening at the end, it seems again that it doesn't really make up of the historical wrongs meted out to Sasha. And Ben...well I'd be getting him to pack his bags if he did that to me!
It killed some time, wasn't offensive in the slightest, and did hold my attention so it's not all bad by any stretch of the imagination.
I wanted something light, but something on my kindle to read as I knew I would be heading back to the hospital and didn't want a big book to take. In the end, I didn't actually read at the hospital as I was too hot, tired and stressed!!
The story of Sasha and her family was entertaining, but I didn't laugh out loud. The rich family all had their issues, and whilst it was nice to read of them all resolving issues at the end, there still seemed a lot of dysfunction that needed to be resolved rather than a happy families ending.
I found Beau to be the stereotypical rich boy, and the parents demanding and unbending. Whilst there does seem to be some softening at the end, it seems again that it doesn't really make up of the historical wrongs meted out to Sasha. And Ben...well I'd be getting him to pack his bags if he did that to me!
It killed some time, wasn't offensive in the slightest, and did hold my attention so it's not all bad by any stretch of the imagination.
June 8, 2022
Families are complex and even more so at big gatherings! Much as she loves them Sasha dreads going to her parents' wedding vow renewal as she feels subordinate next to her wealthy, slightly snobby parents and her successful siblings, Beau and Adele, have high-flying careers. To make things worse the gardening business she runs with hubby Ben is under threat due to financial worries and she is too embarassed to reveal this to her family.
However, when things go a bit pear-shaped at the party, cracks in her family's shiny facade are revealed... and just where have her mum's heirloom earrings, worth £150,000 gone?
Carmen Reid's writing style is light-hearted and this was an enjoyable read but I couldn't help feeling sorry for the main character Sasha as nobody should make anyone feel as though they are not good enough, especially family.
However, when things go a bit pear-shaped at the party, cracks in her family's shiny facade are revealed... and just where have her mum's heirloom earrings, worth £150,000 gone?
Carmen Reid's writing style is light-hearted and this was an enjoyable read but I couldn't help feeling sorry for the main character Sasha as nobody should make anyone feel as though they are not good enough, especially family.
June 3, 2023
SIBLING RIVALRY Which of the three was their mother’s favourite?
Carmen Reid presents a comfortable read based on the middle daughter’s thoughts and insecurities. Sura knows how difficult it is for her to visit her parents at the family home in Norfolk without fully understanding why. She has always felt left out and second best and is very happy with her husband and daughter where she feels loved and special. The story is based on a long weekend planned for her parents’ special wedding anniversary, not especially anticipated as the dream function for Sura. As a diligent daughter, she bends over backwards to please with the consequence of being in the middle of chaos and family trauma. The story unlocks some truths and painful occurrences from the past throwing the family into a possible breakdown.
I enjoyed reading this book and wish there was a 3.5 rating.
Carmen Reid presents a comfortable read based on the middle daughter’s thoughts and insecurities. Sura knows how difficult it is for her to visit her parents at the family home in Norfolk without fully understanding why. She has always felt left out and second best and is very happy with her husband and daughter where she feels loved and special. The story is based on a long weekend planned for her parents’ special wedding anniversary, not especially anticipated as the dream function for Sura. As a diligent daughter, she bends over backwards to please with the consequence of being in the middle of chaos and family trauma. The story unlocks some truths and painful occurrences from the past throwing the family into a possible breakdown.
I enjoyed reading this book and wish there was a 3.5 rating.
June 23, 2022
✏️ARC Review- Coming to you July 12, 2022!✏️
📚64/100
New Family Required by Carmen Reid
Format: 📱 (E-Book ARC) This book was compliments of NetGalley and Boldwood Books- thank you so much for the opportunity to read in exchange for publishing reviews!
Fans of “This Is Where I Leave You” and similar family dramas will enjoy this novel full of dysfunction, family secrets, and an honest look at what keeps a family together. Short chapters and quick, dialogue heavy writing made this very readable and entertaining- would be a candidate for a travel or beach read!. The characters in this story were intentionally a bit unlikeable, but I still found myself rooting for them to find their way through their turmoil. The plot line was occasionally fairly predictable, but one could argue that this gave it a comfortable and “unfussy” feel. The writing style wasn’t my particular taste in some parts, as I like any moral point to be a bit less obvious, but a well-done, quick read!
————————————————————
*Spoiler Free Summary*
Just in time for her extremely particular parents’ anniversary celebration, Sasha and her husband, Ben, have taken a hard hit to their family owned business. To say that the relationships in this family are strained is an understatement, and anxiety continues to build as they balance financial downfall and the impending familial drama. The couple decides to hide this reality from Sasha’s complicated and overbearing parents and siblings- until the celebration night goes awry and even more family secrets come in to play.
Check out “New Family Required” when it is released on July 12!
#bookstagram #bookreview #fictionbooks #readersofinstagram #booksta #netgalley #arc #noshelfcontrol #bookish #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #bookworm
📚64/100
New Family Required by Carmen Reid
Format: 📱 (E-Book ARC) This book was compliments of NetGalley and Boldwood Books- thank you so much for the opportunity to read in exchange for publishing reviews!
Fans of “This Is Where I Leave You” and similar family dramas will enjoy this novel full of dysfunction, family secrets, and an honest look at what keeps a family together. Short chapters and quick, dialogue heavy writing made this very readable and entertaining- would be a candidate for a travel or beach read!. The characters in this story were intentionally a bit unlikeable, but I still found myself rooting for them to find their way through their turmoil. The plot line was occasionally fairly predictable, but one could argue that this gave it a comfortable and “unfussy” feel. The writing style wasn’t my particular taste in some parts, as I like any moral point to be a bit less obvious, but a well-done, quick read!
————————————————————
*Spoiler Free Summary*
Just in time for her extremely particular parents’ anniversary celebration, Sasha and her husband, Ben, have taken a hard hit to their family owned business. To say that the relationships in this family are strained is an understatement, and anxiety continues to build as they balance financial downfall and the impending familial drama. The couple decides to hide this reality from Sasha’s complicated and overbearing parents and siblings- until the celebration night goes awry and even more family secrets come in to play.
Check out “New Family Required” when it is released on July 12!
#bookstagram #bookreview #fictionbooks #readersofinstagram #booksta #netgalley #arc #noshelfcontrol #bookish #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #bookworm
September 13, 2022
I won the audiobook in a Boldwood Books competition, and this was the first audiobook I've ever listened to!
This is a funny and endearing women's fiction novel about families. It makes you laugh, scream in frustration, and cry (almost - I'm not a crier).
I loved all the family drama. I don't know where to begin, there were just so many hilarious and perfectly relatable moments.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read/listen. As an audiobook in particular, I especially enjoyed the accents and different voices put on by Imogen Church. She really brought the characters to life.
Lulu is my favourite little girl character I have read this year, especially at the end.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone, no matter what your family situation. It's a really enjoyable read.
This is a funny and endearing women's fiction novel about families. It makes you laugh, scream in frustration, and cry (almost - I'm not a crier).
I loved all the family drama. I don't know where to begin, there were just so many hilarious and perfectly relatable moments.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read/listen. As an audiobook in particular, I especially enjoyed the accents and different voices put on by Imogen Church. She really brought the characters to life.
Lulu is my favourite little girl character I have read this year, especially at the end.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone, no matter what your family situation. It's a really enjoyable read.
July 16, 2022
This is the story of Sasha and her family. There story is told over the course of 32 Chapters as well as a Prologue. Throughout this story the reader gets to meet a lot of different characters that will intrigue the readers.
This is such a good book to read when you want to relax as it is so easy to get into and so easy to read. This is quite simply a fun and easy read. The characters are realistic and will intrigue the reader as there are hints that secrets are being hidden.
Overall this is a fun and easy read that readers will enjoy. Although this is my first book by this author it certainly won't be my last.
This is such a good book to read when you want to relax as it is so easy to get into and so easy to read. This is quite simply a fun and easy read. The characters are realistic and will intrigue the reader as there are hints that secrets are being hidden.
Overall this is a fun and easy read that readers will enjoy. Although this is my first book by this author it certainly won't be my last.
February 22, 2023
Memories!
Being a middle child myself, reading this book kicked over my box of compartmentalized childhood memories. Ugh! Do all middle children have these same issues growing up? Eventually, we all grow up and out of our childhood and become the heroes of our own lives. Then we find out that the siblings around us lived totally different lives, in the same family and at the same time! It's just that way! AMAZING! In this book, Sasha, the middle child, becomes the hero, resolves her childhood 'traumas' along with her adult issues and puts herself on the track to happy outcomes! A great read!
Being a middle child myself, reading this book kicked over my box of compartmentalized childhood memories. Ugh! Do all middle children have these same issues growing up? Eventually, we all grow up and out of our childhood and become the heroes of our own lives. Then we find out that the siblings around us lived totally different lives, in the same family and at the same time! It's just that way! AMAZING! In this book, Sasha, the middle child, becomes the hero, resolves her childhood 'traumas' along with her adult issues and puts herself on the track to happy outcomes! A great read!
July 13, 2022
Don't we all imagine we had a different family, sometimes? Sasha and Ben are on the brink of bankruptcy and are facing financial ruin. But there is no way Sasha will ask her supposedly wealthy family for a loan, having been rejected years ago. In the meantime, there is her parent's 40th wedding anniversary party to get through. A lot can happen in a few days, and Sasha, and other family members must consider the cost of not being honest, especially with our families. This was such a good read!
July 24, 2022
I really enjoyed Carmen's last book, Worn Out Wife Seeks New Life, so was pleased to be able to read New Family Required.
I really like Carmen's writing, it's simple, unassuming and makes for a very easy read. I flew through this in a day and found the characters to be intriguing and realistic.
There are some hilarious moments that really made me smile but there is also some very touching sides to the storyline as well which left me with a bit of a lump in my throat.
A great and really enjoyable read for those looking for something easy and fun.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.
I really like Carmen's writing, it's simple, unassuming and makes for a very easy read. I flew through this in a day and found the characters to be intriguing and realistic.
There are some hilarious moments that really made me smile but there is also some very touching sides to the storyline as well which left me with a bit of a lump in my throat.
A great and really enjoyable read for those looking for something easy and fun.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.
May 13, 2024
New Family Required
This is a story of unequal family dynamics.
Her brother Beau is her mother’s favourite and her sister Adele is her father’s favourite. Sasha feels like an extra.
Her brother and sister are considered to be more successful than her by her parents.
With her and husband Ben’s business in danger due to a big client going under without paying their account, they attend a family occasion.
An occasion none of the siblings want to attend. Nobody could predict the outcome.
This is a story of unequal family dynamics.
Her brother Beau is her mother’s favourite and her sister Adele is her father’s favourite. Sasha feels like an extra.
Her brother and sister are considered to be more successful than her by her parents.
With her and husband Ben’s business in danger due to a big client going under without paying their account, they attend a family occasion.
An occasion none of the siblings want to attend. Nobody could predict the outcome.
June 8, 2024
It is really curious how I find inversely proportional the fondness of a book with their rating on goodreads. Take this book, for instante. It’s highly rated here, however, it’s been requiring absolute amount of patience for me to finish it! It’s so freaking boring! Gosh! Yes, it’s well done, good writing and editing, but the plot itself is just… bleh. Sorry for this brutally honest review, but among my book club friends I was the only one who actually went through it, everyone else just dropped it and moved on.
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