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Cat Lady
CAT LADY [n.]
Single, independent, crazy, aloof, on-the-shelf, lives alone...
It’s safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She’s a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on her suit for work each morning like a new skin.
But beneath the surface, there’s another woman just clawing to get out...
When a shocking event shatters the conventional life she’s been so careful to build, Mia is faced with a choice. Does she live for a society that’s all too quick to judge, or does she live for herself?
And if that’s as an independent woman with a cat, then the world better get ready...
Fresh, funny and for anyone who’s ever felt astray, Cat Lady will help you belong – because a woman always lands on her feet.
7 hrs. 37 min.
Single, independent, crazy, aloof, on-the-shelf, lives alone...
It’s safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She’s a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on her suit for work each morning like a new skin.
But beneath the surface, there’s another woman just clawing to get out...
When a shocking event shatters the conventional life she’s been so careful to build, Mia is faced with a choice. Does she live for a society that’s all too quick to judge, or does she live for herself?
And if that’s as an independent woman with a cat, then the world better get ready...
Fresh, funny and for anyone who’s ever felt astray, Cat Lady will help you belong – because a woman always lands on her feet.
7 hrs. 37 min.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2022
872 people are currently reading
8979 people want to read
About the author
Dawn O'Porter
19 books1,512 followersDAWN O’PORTER lives in London with her husband Chris, her two boys Art and Valentine, and her cats Myrtle and Boo.
Dawn is the bestselling author of the novels The Cows and the Richard and Judy Book Club picks So Lucky and Cat Lady, and her non-fiction title Life in Pieces was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
Dawn started out in TV production but quickly landed in front of the camera, making numerous documentaries that included immersive investigations of Polygamy, Size Zero, Childbirth, Free Love, Breast Cancer and the movie Dirty Dancing.
Dawn’s journalism has appeared in multiple publications and she was the monthly columnist for Glamour magazine. She is now a full-time writer, designs dresses for Joanie Clothing, and has a large following on her Patreon blog.
Instagram: @hotpatooties
www.patreon.com/DawnOPorter
Dawn is the bestselling author of the novels The Cows and the Richard and Judy Book Club picks So Lucky and Cat Lady, and her non-fiction title Life in Pieces was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
Dawn started out in TV production but quickly landed in front of the camera, making numerous documentaries that included immersive investigations of Polygamy, Size Zero, Childbirth, Free Love, Breast Cancer and the movie Dirty Dancing.
Dawn’s journalism has appeared in multiple publications and she was the monthly columnist for Glamour magazine. She is now a full-time writer, designs dresses for Joanie Clothing, and has a large following on her Patreon blog.
Instagram: @hotpatooties
www.patreon.com/DawnOPorter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,948 reviews
September 30, 2024
Mia is 45, and happily married (separate bedrooms), lives in a nice house (originally bought by her hubby and his first wife), is a great step mum (although the first wife/mother is always popping round); has a great job (she has to micromanage the gormless chief executive) and is in love (with her cat, 'Pigeon') and is pretty much living the ideal conventional life, but is this the life that Mia wants?
This is a mature top range rom-com, where the "rom" is on the the periphery and the "com" is what this is all about. A delightful dark-ish comedy set around a "my pet has died" grief counselling group and essentially about forming and living one's best-self and not taking on a label that society expects from you. One of the best 'rom-coms' I have ever read, well written and pushing boundaries throughout, yet still remarkable insightful, heartfelt and most of all funny! A ground breaking book that re-imagines the "cat-lady" taking her and pet ownership to new heights! A recommended Autumn read! A 9.5 out of 12, super fun Four Star read.
2023 read
This is a mature top range rom-com, where the "rom" is on the the periphery and the "com" is what this is all about. A delightful dark-ish comedy set around a "my pet has died" grief counselling group and essentially about forming and living one's best-self and not taking on a label that society expects from you. One of the best 'rom-coms' I have ever read, well written and pushing boundaries throughout, yet still remarkable insightful, heartfelt and most of all funny! A ground breaking book that re-imagines the "cat-lady" taking her and pet ownership to new heights! A recommended Autumn read! A 9.5 out of 12, super fun Four Star read.
2023 read
March 24, 2024
This was exceptional. As a woman with a cat, I could relate. I once had a cat that slept on my head, and jumped up on my MacBook and cleaned her leg to get my full attention, so I could definitely relate to the animal lovers in this book. With a lot of humor that hit home, it made me want to read it all again after it sadly ended. It also had such lovely characters, even those who weren’t very nice. Their personalities appealed to me, and when some of them seemed terrible, there was more to their behavior (not for all, but you weren’t to invested in them). It was a prime example of the power of friendship and community, with serious topics like mental health and hard choices handled gently. And again, I couldn’t believe how much I laughed. Dawn’O porter hasn’t written anything yet I didn’t like, and I wish there were more books left to read.
September 3, 2022
I do not recommend this book to anyone who identifies as a Cat Lady, crazy or otherwise. Ironically I brought it forward on my reading schedule, because I was in the mood for something funny or heartwarming. It’s not in any way funny (unless you find people dealing with grief, trauma and other mental health issues amusing.) I found most of it both boring and distasteful, and then something horrible happens. It was heading for 1-star, which is rare for me, but I’ll admit I did like the ending, which redeemed it a little - but not enough to recommend it.
Mia has made the best of her life after a difficult childhood: good job, nice house and a stable marriage. OK so she loves her cat Pigeon more than her husband Tristan, is irritated by most of her colleagues, has no friends, and has to put up with her husband’s awful ex-wife Belinda for the sake of her stepson Oliver - but whose life is perfect?
This is another of those books about quirky oddballs finding their place in the world that have been super popular in womens’ fiction in recent years. Lots of them are very good, unfortunately this was not. Writing in first person present, Mia describes every tiny action of her life in minuscule detail - from what she puts into Oliver’s lunchbox, to having a shower, to her and Tristan’s grotesque middle-age sex. Maybe other readers would find constant references to Belinda’s juices hilarious, I didn’t. Nothing much happens in the first half, there’s a bit of awkward social commentary, and Mia reinforces every stereotype about people who love cats.
There are some weird inconsistencies: there is one mention of the pandemic “There is a woman sitting next to me with a horrible cough. ‘Not Covid,’ she says, turning to me.” but it doesn’t otherwise feature at all - I know the UK is supposedly “getting back to normal” but there’s no other indication that this is set in the future. Also at one point Mia describes Tristan being confronted by Belinda’s lover because she was stalking him after he refused to leave his wife - but unless they got together straight away, she wouldn’t have been there surely?
There are few remotely likeable characters in the whole thing - her colleague Fliss, her put-upon sister Liz, and the members of her poor maligned support group. I didn’t like Mia at all: an example of how she thinks: “She is reading a copy of Cosmo, which makes me assume she has an STD. Poor her; it must come with terrible shame.” The only part of the book which was not completely predictable is the work subplot, and what happens to poor Pigeon (sorry for the spoiler alert but again - don’t read this if you love cats.) I haven’t read anything by this author previously and won’t be doing so again.
I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and am posting this (brutally - sorry) honest review with no pleasure but as a warning to proceed with caution.
Mia has made the best of her life after a difficult childhood: good job, nice house and a stable marriage. OK so she loves her cat Pigeon more than her husband Tristan, is irritated by most of her colleagues, has no friends, and has to put up with her husband’s awful ex-wife Belinda for the sake of her stepson Oliver - but whose life is perfect?
This is another of those books about quirky oddballs finding their place in the world that have been super popular in womens’ fiction in recent years. Lots of them are very good, unfortunately this was not. Writing in first person present, Mia describes every tiny action of her life in minuscule detail - from what she puts into Oliver’s lunchbox, to having a shower, to her and Tristan’s grotesque middle-age sex. Maybe other readers would find constant references to Belinda’s juices hilarious, I didn’t. Nothing much happens in the first half, there’s a bit of awkward social commentary, and Mia reinforces every stereotype about people who love cats.
There are some weird inconsistencies: there is one mention of the pandemic “There is a woman sitting next to me with a horrible cough. ‘Not Covid,’ she says, turning to me.” but it doesn’t otherwise feature at all - I know the UK is supposedly “getting back to normal” but there’s no other indication that this is set in the future. Also at one point Mia describes Tristan being confronted by Belinda’s lover because she was stalking him after he refused to leave his wife - but unless they got together straight away, she wouldn’t have been there surely?
There are few remotely likeable characters in the whole thing - her colleague Fliss, her put-upon sister Liz, and the members of her poor maligned support group. I didn’t like Mia at all: an example of how she thinks: “She is reading a copy of Cosmo, which makes me assume she has an STD. Poor her; it must come with terrible shame.” The only part of the book which was not completely predictable is the work subplot, and what happens to poor Pigeon (sorry for the spoiler alert but again - don’t read this if you love cats.) I haven’t read anything by this author previously and won’t be doing so again.
I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and am posting this (brutally - sorry) honest review with no pleasure but as a warning to proceed with caution.
June 16, 2022
Wowies! This book could not have come at a better time for me. I have had a week where two colleagues told me I needed dogs or children to make friends. I said I loved my cat. Single, and living alone plus cat, this was just the perfect tonic that I needed.
Mia really goes through the motions in this, and there are other characters that I loved to hate, and times I wanted to scream at them. In equal measure, the friends she finds in her unusual support group are just brilliant.
I think generally, this is the book the modern feminist needs. Its about time we had a heroine who isn't obsessed with babies (or dogs) but cares about her career and her cat.
This one where I giggled, cried, gasped, cringed and shouted at the book- possibly even at the same time. Yet again Dawn O'Porter achieves some shock factor in this read.
Yes, yes, yes! This was the book that I didn't know I needed quite as much as I did.
Mia really goes through the motions in this, and there are other characters that I loved to hate, and times I wanted to scream at them. In equal measure, the friends she finds in her unusual support group are just brilliant.
I think generally, this is the book the modern feminist needs. Its about time we had a heroine who isn't obsessed with babies (or dogs) but cares about her career and her cat.
This one where I giggled, cried, gasped, cringed and shouted at the book- possibly even at the same time. Yet again Dawn O'Porter achieves some shock factor in this read.
Yes, yes, yes! This was the book that I didn't know I needed quite as much as I did.
September 29, 2024
At first glance Mia has made it – she’s in her forties, married, step-mom to a lovely boy, successful manager role at a renowned jeweler and cat-mom to little Pigeon. But on a closer look not everything is as golden as it seems; her husband’s baby mom is way too involved in all their lives, her circle of friends doesn’t fancy cats (and let her know it at every occasion), her boss is an egotistical narc – and when things start going down, they do so thick and fast and Mia will need to re-think her whole life and her coping methods, mainly the need for order and routine and emotional distance. A certain “my pet has died” support group will play an important role in her journey, even though her cat isn’t dead.
Without even meaning to I have been lately reading books which revolve around pets and the pain of losing them (It’s been almost 16 years that I lost him, and I still dream about the dog I grew up with, it’s hard…) and it gets me every time. I enjoyed that this was a book about a woman in her 40s, how she closed herself to others to protect herself, but that it’s possible to change and have fun in life. There aren’t enough books about people in their 40s and their struggles, like, the way she is seen as a childless woman, or when deciding to be with a partner with child, how it is determinant to get to know to what degree the mother of the child intends to be present in your life or you end up a stranger in your own home.
I see lots of people dnf’ed this book, not realizing or ignoring that there will be a character arc for Mia, she and everyone around her change a during the course of the book. Some things were exaggerated, of course, as it is ultimately a comedy, for example the hate for cats. I choose to believe people don’t hate cats and cat owners as much as presented in this book.
I laughed and cried a lot listening to this loved the ending Mia was given, so totally worthwhile. Many thanks to Baba for recommending it!
Without even meaning to I have been lately reading books which revolve around pets and the pain of losing them (It’s been almost 16 years that I lost him, and I still dream about the dog I grew up with, it’s hard…) and it gets me every time. I enjoyed that this was a book about a woman in her 40s, how she closed herself to others to protect herself, but that it’s possible to change and have fun in life. There aren’t enough books about people in their 40s and their struggles, like, the way she is seen as a childless woman, or when deciding to be with a partner with child, how it is determinant to get to know to what degree the mother of the child intends to be present in your life or you end up a stranger in your own home.
I see lots of people dnf’ed this book, not realizing or ignoring that there will be a character arc for Mia, she and everyone around her change a during the course of the book. Some things were exaggerated, of course, as it is ultimately a comedy, for example the hate for cats. I choose to believe people don’t hate cats and cat owners as much as presented in this book.
I laughed and cried a lot listening to this loved the ending Mia was given, so totally worthwhile. Many thanks to Baba for recommending it!
March 15, 2024
I have loved every single book of Dawns. I feel like she is a highly underrated author….
All her books catch me off guard with how funny they are! I remember reading the first one ‘The Cows’ and having no idea what to expect and was so wonderfully impressed, then ‘So Lucky’ was another fantastic read, and now ‘Cat Lady’ which definitely did not disappoint!!
I absolutely loved this book. Probably partially because I loved Mia’s character so much. Mia is the main character along with her cat, Pigeon who essentially saved her. On the surface, Mia has it all together but after a tragic incident does she crumble or will she stay standing?….
This is a HILARIOUS read with some very random situations scattered throughout the book 😂 one of which is she is attending these pet grief meetings yet it appears her cat is alive…oh the irony. At first I thought she was going to these meetings to help grieve her mother, that she lost far too young but I was wrong…we have to wait until the end to find the real reason…
One thing I thought was so true and I often feel this when sharing feelings myself is:
“I want to get things off my chest but and out into a room of people because once a secret has been told, it’s no longer a secret, it’s a story.” And boy, does Mia have a big secret to share…
But one thing is for sure: There is “No such thing as just a cat”!!
I highly recommend reading this whether you are a cat person or not…however I will give you a suicide warning ⚠️ there is a very very brief mention of it but it’s still there just incase ❤️
July 29, 2023
such a genuine heartwarming and funny book! I never thought a book could truly be comedic the way people often describe them to be but I am a changed woman now.
the story of a woman and her cat, love and divorce and a pet bereavement therapy group; it’s light and easy to read, at times heart wrenching but all in all, highly recommended for any cat/animal lovers or really anyone in need of a feel-good book :,)
props to the london underground for the huge advertisements of this book, wouldn’t have picked it up without them
the story of a woman and her cat, love and divorce and a pet bereavement therapy group; it’s light and easy to read, at times heart wrenching but all in all, highly recommended for any cat/animal lovers or really anyone in need of a feel-good book :,)
props to the london underground for the huge advertisements of this book, wouldn’t have picked it up without them
January 15, 2024
4.5* I loved this so so much! It made me laugh, it made me teary, it was devastating at points but such a lovely story! Super quick and easy read with a happy ending :)
October 31, 2022
I have read most of Dawn O’Porter’s previous novels and love her witty and unapologetic awkwardness of her main characters. Although ‘Cat Lady’ seemed to be missing something that usually has me turning the pages of her novels.
There were parts where I did find myself endeared to Mia, who despite working hard in her career and her personal life still feels out of place and never quite at peace apart from when it is just her and her beloved cat, Pigeon. I’ll admit I initially found the quips about being a ‘cat lady’ and her intense pet relationship a bit odd, but once her back story starts to be told I completely understood the premise and the MC far better.
Although I was intrigued to see where the novel was going to end up, I found that the humour felt a bit forced and sometimes missed the mark for me personally. I appreciate Dawn’s honest and unflinching writing style when it comes to challenging female stereotypes, but for me this one wasn’t one of my favourites.
There were parts where I did find myself endeared to Mia, who despite working hard in her career and her personal life still feels out of place and never quite at peace apart from when it is just her and her beloved cat, Pigeon. I’ll admit I initially found the quips about being a ‘cat lady’ and her intense pet relationship a bit odd, but once her back story starts to be told I completely understood the premise and the MC far better.
Although I was intrigued to see where the novel was going to end up, I found that the humour felt a bit forced and sometimes missed the mark for me personally. I appreciate Dawn’s honest and unflinching writing style when it comes to challenging female stereotypes, but for me this one wasn’t one of my favourites.
December 22, 2022
“𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, […] 𝘈 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵…”
“𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩!”
✮ ✮ 1/2
I like to think I’ve got quite a varied sense of humour, and apparently this was “laugh out loud”, and maybe it is to some but hell no, not to me. This is the story of a woman who is unapologetically herself, a cat lady. Over the course of the book her life spirals in all different ways possible, and you do feel sorry for her as a character. But this book is just plain weird, it’s fifty shades of messed up.
I promised my mother in law that she could have this book once I had read it, because she truly is a cat lady - not in a weird way. But, I can’t give her this book. It’s so messed up that I feel like giving her this would be a massive mistake. It’s not funny, it’s just wrong. I have read some things in this book that I really wish I could un-read.
Do not recommend this book to anyone, as much as I wish I could. I was gifted this by Harper Fiction and Tandem Collective UK, but will not be tagging due to the negative nature of this review.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
“𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩!”
✮ ✮ 1/2
I like to think I’ve got quite a varied sense of humour, and apparently this was “laugh out loud”, and maybe it is to some but hell no, not to me. This is the story of a woman who is unapologetically herself, a cat lady. Over the course of the book her life spirals in all different ways possible, and you do feel sorry for her as a character. But this book is just plain weird, it’s fifty shades of messed up.
I promised my mother in law that she could have this book once I had read it, because she truly is a cat lady - not in a weird way. But, I can’t give her this book. It’s so messed up that I feel like giving her this would be a massive mistake. It’s not funny, it’s just wrong. I have read some things in this book that I really wish I could un-read.
Do not recommend this book to anyone, as much as I wish I could. I was gifted this by Harper Fiction and Tandem Collective UK, but will not be tagging due to the negative nature of this review.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
May 29, 2023
DNF @ 42%
I can't believe I'm actually doing this, and for this book, but I just can't do it anymore. The cover says it was a bestseller, but I'm having a hard time believing that. Maybe they did what I did, and bought it off vibes alone and then never finished it or hated it. It's just so unpleasant to read, and bad weird things are going on. The part where the book officially lost me, I think, was when the main character's inner monologue went on this strange fantasy about how she wanted her cat to lick some sort of food off of her back, which was followed by her musing that she understood about the (theoretical) woman she'd heard about who let her dog lick her where dogs absolutely should not lick someone! And don't you know it's not animal abuse because the dog wanted to do it!!!
I'm sorry, no. No, thank you please. GTFO of here.
Aside from the bad weirdness, the story here is just one I'm not interested in. It's just basically a family drama in disguise and I do not as a rule like family dramas, unless they are extremely well done, which this wasn't. Also, the main character is not fun to read from and I do not like her. This woman goes to grief meetings for people who have lost pets but her cat is still alive! I am insulted on behalf of all cat ladies that this book is trying to represent us.
I reject this representation.
Anyway, I did read read the epilogue and everything seems to have ended well, I just have absolutely no desire to take the journey to get there. Apparently this book was about pet grief? Who knew. Not me because I didn't finish the book.
I can't believe I'm actually doing this, and for this book, but I just can't do it anymore. The cover says it was a bestseller, but I'm having a hard time believing that. Maybe they did what I did, and bought it off vibes alone and then never finished it or hated it. It's just so unpleasant to read, and bad weird things are going on. The part where the book officially lost me, I think, was when the main character's inner monologue went on this strange fantasy about how she wanted her cat to lick some sort of food off of her back, which was followed by her musing that she understood about the (theoretical) woman she'd heard about who let her dog lick her where dogs absolutely should not lick someone! And don't you know it's not animal abuse because the dog wanted to do it!!!
I'm sorry, no. No, thank you please. GTFO of here.
Aside from the bad weirdness, the story here is just one I'm not interested in. It's just basically a family drama in disguise and I do not as a rule like family dramas, unless they are extremely well done, which this wasn't. Also, the main character is not fun to read from and I do not like her. This woman goes to grief meetings for people who have lost pets but her cat is still alive! I am insulted on behalf of all cat ladies that this book is trying to represent us.
I reject this representation.
Anyway, I did read read the epilogue and everything seems to have ended well, I just have absolutely no desire to take the journey to get there. Apparently this book was about pet grief? Who knew. Not me because I didn't finish the book.
January 27, 2023
The writing in this book was absolutely awful😂
March 14, 2023
DNF at 80%. Check Trigger Warning before you pick this one up.
What the hell even was this book? I was expecting a wholesome story about a woman and her cat and I did not get that! I did enjoy some of the themes that the book explored but at times it was just outright disturbing. I tried to persevere with it and see if it could get any better (or worse) but it just started to make me feel so uncomfortable that I just couldn’t carry on.
Don’t get me wrong, if you got rid of all the uncomfortable encounters, or at least toned it down a little, it would’ve had the potential to become quite an impactful story about mental health and self discovery, and at times it was. But sweet hell, some of the encounters and thoughts that the main character had were just unnecessary and outright disturbing. I did enjoy the development of some of the characters, especially (colleague designer) and how she fought for what she believed to be right within the company, even if it did feel a little half- hearted at times. In contrast to this though, others just outright disturbed me, the main being (creepy babe guy) who had a questionable understanding of what consent was at the best of times and was just straight weird.
In summary, this book needs some severe rethinking in my opinion. I’m glad others did enjoy it and get benefit from it but for me this was just too far in what should have been a very heart wrenching story of falling to rock bottom and building yourself back up. A missed mark for sure.
What the hell even was this book? I was expecting a wholesome story about a woman and her cat and I did not get that! I did enjoy some of the themes that the book explored but at times it was just outright disturbing. I tried to persevere with it and see if it could get any better (or worse) but it just started to make me feel so uncomfortable that I just couldn’t carry on.
Don’t get me wrong, if you got rid of all the uncomfortable encounters, or at least toned it down a little, it would’ve had the potential to become quite an impactful story about mental health and self discovery, and at times it was. But sweet hell, some of the encounters and thoughts that the main character had were just unnecessary and outright disturbing. I did enjoy the development of some of the characters, especially (colleague designer) and how she fought for what she believed to be right within the company, even if it did feel a little half- hearted at times. In contrast to this though, others just outright disturbed me, the main being (creepy babe guy) who had a questionable understanding of what consent was at the best of times and was just straight weird.
In summary, this book needs some severe rethinking in my opinion. I’m glad others did enjoy it and get benefit from it but for me this was just too far in what should have been a very heart wrenching story of falling to rock bottom and building yourself back up. A missed mark for sure.
January 20, 2023
I am 2/3 through this book but don’t think I can finish it. I’m just not finding it funny at all. There is no funny side to homelessness, adultery, grief and abuse etc. I really don’t care what happens to Mia or Pigeon. It has been such a dreary read so far. No ups, no downs.
The biggest problem for me are the ‘continuity’ issues. For example one minute we are told that the en-suite bedroom used to be Tristan and Belinda’s bedroom. The next minute Mia remembers buying the house with Tristan and moving in. Both cannot be true. This happens throughout the book. Then she climbs out of the window saying it is impossible to return via the same route. Yet she somehow gets back into the room despite the desk barricade she has put in place preventing the door being opened!
The author has clearly never worked in an office - people don’t shout ‘just get back to your desk and work’ at people!
It feels like this book has been written by a computer algorithm (time to add a joke here, and now some sex, and now some tears) and not sense-checked by a human, or a cat.
The biggest problem for me are the ‘continuity’ issues. For example one minute we are told that the en-suite bedroom used to be Tristan and Belinda’s bedroom. The next minute Mia remembers buying the house with Tristan and moving in. Both cannot be true. This happens throughout the book. Then she climbs out of the window saying it is impossible to return via the same route. Yet she somehow gets back into the room despite the desk barricade she has put in place preventing the door being opened!
The author has clearly never worked in an office - people don’t shout ‘just get back to your desk and work’ at people!
It feels like this book has been written by a computer algorithm (time to add a joke here, and now some sex, and now some tears) and not sense-checked by a human, or a cat.
November 5, 2022
If there was a book that is just perfect for me… then this is absolutely it. As soon as I saw about this book I hit pre order straight away and I’d been so excited about it, I read this over a couple of days and loved every minute of reading it. It gave me allllll the emotions. It was hilarious and made me laugh out loud, it made me angry, it made me sad, it made me cry and made me feel happy. An all round purrrrfect read!
I’ve had people in life that have said to me ‘it’s just a cat’ .. well no, it isn’t ‘just’ a cat. They are family, companions. Well, mine absolutely are anyway. I think if people have never owned a cat they should never make comments. They truly are wonderful.
I adored Mia’s love for Pigeon 🐈 and how Pigeon literally got her through each day. There was some really great characters in this book and some I really wanted to scream at. It was great how Mia learnt so much about herself through this story and learns to live.
This is such a beautifully written book and I loved it from the first page.
I’ve had people in life that have said to me ‘it’s just a cat’ .. well no, it isn’t ‘just’ a cat. They are family, companions. Well, mine absolutely are anyway. I think if people have never owned a cat they should never make comments. They truly are wonderful.
I adored Mia’s love for Pigeon 🐈 and how Pigeon literally got her through each day. There was some really great characters in this book and some I really wanted to scream at. It was great how Mia learnt so much about herself through this story and learns to live.
This is such a beautifully written book and I loved it from the first page.
December 18, 2022
I really just think that this one wasn't particularly aimed for me. I didn't get the humour or wit and I haven't read any of Dawn O'Porter's other works to compare them to. I enjoyed the fact that the protagonist was an older lady - in her 40s but she wasn't relatable to me in any way, shape, or form. She was quite repulsive.
The ways she views her cat (the shower scene) is kind of what finished me off, oh, and describing the actions of a dog and some peanut butter. She just doesn't view her pet the way most people do. Her cat literally rules the roost. She sleeps in a separate room from her husband and pencils in sex several times a week - she won't sleep with him because he doesn't want animals in their bed after a strange occurrence. She lets the cat control her life. With the added complication of having her husband's ex-wife drop in unannounced, let me tell you, I would be insisting upon some strict boundaries. This was a strange one for me and ultimately I didn't connect with it.
The ways she views her cat (the shower scene) is kind of what finished me off, oh, and describing the actions of a dog and some peanut butter. She just doesn't view her pet the way most people do. Her cat literally rules the roost. She sleeps in a separate room from her husband and pencils in sex several times a week - she won't sleep with him because he doesn't want animals in their bed after a strange occurrence. She lets the cat control her life. With the added complication of having her husband's ex-wife drop in unannounced, let me tell you, I would be insisting upon some strict boundaries. This was a strange one for me and ultimately I didn't connect with it.
March 7, 2023
Don’t be fooled by the quirky cover! This book deals with heavy topics like grief, childhood trauma and mental health issues. However, it also adds some ridiculous and kind of funny scenes, trying to balance everything out.
I listened to the audiobook and found it incredibly entertaining despite the subject matters.
By the end, it actually left me with a warm feeling. It’s definitely one to read if you’re a pet owner as it represents the grief over losing a pet quite accurately, as well as examining the “crazy cat lady” stereotype. It’s also a book about the kindness of strangers, being yourself and letting go of the past.
Not life-changing but worth a listen!
I listened to the audiobook and found it incredibly entertaining despite the subject matters.
By the end, it actually left me with a warm feeling. It’s definitely one to read if you’re a pet owner as it represents the grief over losing a pet quite accurately, as well as examining the “crazy cat lady” stereotype. It’s also a book about the kindness of strangers, being yourself and letting go of the past.
Not life-changing but worth a listen!
February 7, 2024
I’m offended for all the cat ladies out there - I truly doubt you’re all this unhinged.
January 3, 2023
thanks to the publishers and netgalley for a free copy in return for an open and honest review
Enjoyed this book is was funny in parts and the cat lady and her relationship and life problems and was quite dark in parts. can see why people on the whole liked the book
Enjoyed this book is was funny in parts and the cat lady and her relationship and life problems and was quite dark in parts. can see why people on the whole liked the book
January 13, 2025
Such a pleasant surprise of a book.
Both sad and hysterically funny.
Both sad and hysterically funny.
November 6, 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounded up to 5⭐️)
If you are looking for a book that will make you cry, this is the one for you!
Mia has been living in terms of what society expects from her, rather than what she wants in fear of judgement. However, when a particular event happens, she begins to live life for herself (and obviously her cat, Pigeon)
I did find Mia quite relatable in some aspects (however, some things she did truly had me cringing and feeling disgusted). I think a lot of people worry about something happening to their fur babies, which obviously Mia really struggles with that. However, I thought it was quite problematic that she attends groups that are about particular things that she does not suffer from.
It made me upset to read how a lot of the people in the pet bereavement group had came across people who just did not understand what it means to lose a pet. It was really interesting to see how everyone in the group responded differently to losing a pet, from the emotions they experience to the impact that it has had on their life.
Some of the characters in this book were truly unlikeable and I absolutely despised them, such as Tristan (Mia's husband), Belinda (Tristan's ex wife) and Tristan and Belinda's circle of friends. Some of the things that Tristan, Belinda and their friends came out with were absolutely disgusting and I felt so sorry for Mia for having to deal with awful people like that in her life.
Not only did she have to deal with absolutely awful people but this woman could not catch a break. There was constantly something happening to her and after each thing happened, I kept asking myself when something good would happen to Mia. Eventually good things started happening for Mia and I also could not stop crying then. I truly think that you have to be a cat owner in order to understand and connect with this book as I think that's definitely what made me so emotional.
On page 304, there is an error on line 5 where there is a space before the full stop. Also, Mother's Day falls on a Sunday, whereas in this book, it falls on a weekday.
⚠️ Content warnings: stereotypes/discrimination (eating disorder, "cat lady", people having tattoos and person with a drug problem), homophobia, faking alcoholism, anger issues, pet loss and eating disorder, sexism, political issues, foetal harm, derogatory language, mentions of alcoholism, cancer, neglect and physical assault, rape and murder of women by males, victim blaming, coercive control, misogyny, animal preservation, passive bystander of racism, pet death, grief, cheating, profanity, vomiting, sexual situations, death, bestiality, alcohol and drug use, racism, abortion, animal abuse, suicide, suicidal ideation, blood, emotional abuse, STD (crabs) and sexual assault ⚠️
A massive thank you to HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and Tandem Collective UK for my early copy of Cat Lady.
If you are looking for a book that will make you cry, this is the one for you!
Mia has been living in terms of what society expects from her, rather than what she wants in fear of judgement. However, when a particular event happens, she begins to live life for herself (and obviously her cat, Pigeon)
I did find Mia quite relatable in some aspects (however, some things she did truly had me cringing and feeling disgusted). I think a lot of people worry about something happening to their fur babies, which obviously Mia really struggles with that. However, I thought it was quite problematic that she attends groups that are about particular things that she does not suffer from.
It made me upset to read how a lot of the people in the pet bereavement group had came across people who just did not understand what it means to lose a pet. It was really interesting to see how everyone in the group responded differently to losing a pet, from the emotions they experience to the impact that it has had on their life.
Some of the characters in this book were truly unlikeable and I absolutely despised them, such as Tristan (Mia's husband), Belinda (Tristan's ex wife) and Tristan and Belinda's circle of friends. Some of the things that Tristan, Belinda and their friends came out with were absolutely disgusting and I felt so sorry for Mia for having to deal with awful people like that in her life.
Not only did she have to deal with absolutely awful people but this woman could not catch a break. There was constantly something happening to her and after each thing happened, I kept asking myself when something good would happen to Mia. Eventually good things started happening for Mia and I also could not stop crying then. I truly think that you have to be a cat owner in order to understand and connect with this book as I think that's definitely what made me so emotional.
On page 304, there is an error on line 5 where there is a space before the full stop. Also, Mother's Day falls on a Sunday, whereas in this book, it falls on a weekday.
⚠️ Content warnings: stereotypes/discrimination (eating disorder, "cat lady", people having tattoos and person with a drug problem), homophobia, faking alcoholism, anger issues, pet loss and eating disorder, sexism, political issues, foetal harm, derogatory language, mentions of alcoholism, cancer, neglect and physical assault, rape and murder of women by males, victim blaming, coercive control, misogyny, animal preservation, passive bystander of racism, pet death, grief, cheating, profanity, vomiting, sexual situations, death, bestiality, alcohol and drug use, racism, abortion, animal abuse, suicide, suicidal ideation, blood, emotional abuse, STD (crabs) and sexual assault ⚠️
A massive thank you to HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and Tandem Collective UK for my early copy of Cat Lady.
July 12, 2023
I disliked everything about this book.
I really need to remember this author's adult books are not for me.
If the idea behind this book was dismantling stereotypes around people who have a strong bond with their pets it completely fails.
Mia's behaviour is unsettling at several intervals and she is often taking her cat into unsettling and unfamiliar situations (like going on the tube and to a huge warehouse).
The way the sex scenes are described are repulsive and I hope not representative of anyone's actual experience,one of them in particular.
This book also has a rubbish representation of veganism where Mia goes from being vegan for 20 years to eating cookies and butter without any moralising whatsoever.She also prepares steak for a dinner party which is ridiculous.
I really need to remember this author's adult books are not for me.
If the idea behind this book was dismantling stereotypes around people who have a strong bond with their pets it completely fails.
Mia's behaviour is unsettling at several intervals and she is often taking her cat into unsettling and unfamiliar situations (like going on the tube and to a huge warehouse).
The way the sex scenes are described are repulsive and I hope not representative of anyone's actual experience,one of them in particular.
This book also has a rubbish representation of veganism where Mia goes from being vegan for 20 years to eating cookies and butter without any moralising whatsoever.She also prepares steak for a dinner party which is ridiculous.
August 24, 2022
Feel like I’m very much in the minority here but felt this book was a waste of my time and I was glad it was over. The heroine is married to a divorced man who’s ex wife is still obsessed with him, she works for a jewellery line funded by the owners billionaire father..
Far too much of the book was describing her vegan recipes or how she took a shower- why was that needed?
But the most irritating factor was the section about Mother’s Day and going to school/ work. Mother’s Day is always always a Sunday and if the author can’t be bothered to check that, it’s just dismissive.
1.5 stars.
Far too much of the book was describing her vegan recipes or how she took a shower- why was that needed?
But the most irritating factor was the section about Mother’s Day and going to school/ work. Mother’s Day is always always a Sunday and if the author can’t be bothered to check that, it’s just dismissive.
1.5 stars.
June 4, 2024
What a turd of a book. I mean, seriously. What the hell did I just read? Who published this? And why?? This book is the equivalent of someone coming in on a conversation that's happening between you and your friends, burping, and then walking away.
So, it's written in first person, present tense, which is always a red flag, of course. It describes in acutely banal detail the everyday life of a nasty, little-minded moron and (1 hour and 36 minutes in) it doesn't give you one damned thing to care about, not an event, or a mystery, or a question you want answered, nothing. Like why am I following this idiot around? Why am I listening to a description (in present tense, so, you know, it feels really immediate ffs) how she lathers shampoo into her hair, or how she dresses for work? I mean, Jesus, is this the state of literature right now? Is this what sells? Is this... WHY THE FUCK IS THIS???
Anyway, I'm fine. I'm fine, really. I borrowed it from the library so I'm good. I won't be suing. But I was in the mood for something "effortlessly witty and feelgood" (Waterstones), something that multiple reviewers have assured me would be "brilliantly funny". So I borrowed it. This "joyous, touching, funny" story starts with a miserable birthday party for a child whose mother is dying (are you fucking laughing yet?). It then moves on to present day, and our protagonist is married, but the unhinged ex-wife is basically always there (my sides! They are splitting!!) and is being a very cartoonish cow about basically everything (not ha-ha cartoonish, but 1-dimensional cartoonish, don't get your hopes up). Everyone in the protagonist's life hates her, and is particulalry hateful about her cat and her being a vegan (my heart! So warm!). But it's ok, because the protagonist hates everybody, too, so it's completely reciprocated (are you having fun yet?).
Anyway, if you, as a pet lover, recognize yourself in this picture (or the picture of any of the other pet lovers portrayed) I would be amazed. As someone who has grown up with a pet and who currently has a pet, I think the author needs to see a doctor.
To sum up
November 17, 2022
“No such thing as just a cat……CAT LADY - A Woman always lands on her feet”
As a self confessed wannabe ‘cat lady’, I really enjoyed reading Mia’s journey from her ‘safe’ existence to her self-realisation of the person she truly is - an independent cat lady living for herself.
Mia is quite put upon at home, especially by her husband’s ex wife. Not something I think a lot of women would endure and I was overjoyed to see Mia handling her own with the woman’s snooty attitude. Tristan, her husband is irritating and very annoying and her high powered boss is ignorant and selfish but someone who also lives a life different to their inner feelings.
The author incorporated some really funny things - the itching, the references to a marshmallow and I’ll certainly never look at a sharpie in the same way. All these and more, helped break up the real emotions behind the story…. pet grief, which is very much real and needs to be acknowledged. There’s is no such thing as ‘just’ a pet - they are the family, heart and soul of its owner and very difficult to express to someone who doesn’t understand the significance a pet has on one’s life and how they often come first in their lives.
At times the story was quite extreme, but you know…..I got it. I got the fear of losing a cat even if potentially in years to come. I really didn’t want to cry at this book and I tried so hard not to but it just couldn’t be helped, I finally caved and found myself full of tears. If you’re a big emotional softie like me then you may find the last quarter of the book either upsetting and/or heart-wrenching but also heartwarming at the same time as the conclusion to the story neared.
Grief, tackled at its finest with a funny side story and eccentric characters, make this a fabulous read.
#CatLady - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dawn O’Porter is the bestselling author of ‘The Cows’ and the Richard and Judy Book Club pick ‘So Lucky’ and her latest non-fiction title ‘Life in Pieces’ was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
Thank you to Random Things Tours for inviting me and to Harper Collins for my copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.
As a self confessed wannabe ‘cat lady’, I really enjoyed reading Mia’s journey from her ‘safe’ existence to her self-realisation of the person she truly is - an independent cat lady living for herself.
Mia is quite put upon at home, especially by her husband’s ex wife. Not something I think a lot of women would endure and I was overjoyed to see Mia handling her own with the woman’s snooty attitude. Tristan, her husband is irritating and very annoying and her high powered boss is ignorant and selfish but someone who also lives a life different to their inner feelings.
The author incorporated some really funny things - the itching, the references to a marshmallow and I’ll certainly never look at a sharpie in the same way. All these and more, helped break up the real emotions behind the story…. pet grief, which is very much real and needs to be acknowledged. There’s is no such thing as ‘just’ a pet - they are the family, heart and soul of its owner and very difficult to express to someone who doesn’t understand the significance a pet has on one’s life and how they often come first in their lives.
At times the story was quite extreme, but you know…..I got it. I got the fear of losing a cat even if potentially in years to come. I really didn’t want to cry at this book and I tried so hard not to but it just couldn’t be helped, I finally caved and found myself full of tears. If you’re a big emotional softie like me then you may find the last quarter of the book either upsetting and/or heart-wrenching but also heartwarming at the same time as the conclusion to the story neared.
Grief, tackled at its finest with a funny side story and eccentric characters, make this a fabulous read.
#CatLady - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dawn O’Porter is the bestselling author of ‘The Cows’ and the Richard and Judy Book Club pick ‘So Lucky’ and her latest non-fiction title ‘Life in Pieces’ was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
Thank you to Random Things Tours for inviting me and to Harper Collins for my copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.
June 27, 2022
Mia has it all. A fancy house, a husband, a stepson, a fancy job with a jewellery company and best of all, a cat that she loves with all her heart. Sometimes she has a bit more than 'it all' - there's her husband's ex-wife who spends way too much time at their house and has way more opinions about everything Mia's doing wrong than could really be considered appropriate. She also works for a spoiled over-privileged it-girl with no common sense or perspective.
What Mia doesn't have are friends. She's so lonely that she joins a therapy group for people who are grief stricken after losing their pets - even though her cat, Pigeon, is very much still alive. She's never actually fibbed about Pigeon, she's just let the rest of the group ASSUME that she's gone. Most of her life is under complete control but little bits are fraying around the edges and she's at risk.
I love Dawn O'Porter's books - I think I've read all of them to date. I loved this one too. I could relate to Mia's love for Pigeon and her wish to protect herself from just about every other living being. We learn about her challenging childhood and how Pigeon saved her from herself in her teens but much as I love my cats, I know that humans need other humans.
Bits of this are hilarious.
Bits are cry-out -loud-sad.
Sometimes she's way too open - the visit to the GP to get support with her crabs is a stand-out moment.
Mostly she's very buttoned up.
I've known women just like her.
Think Eleanor Oliphant in a power suit and without the drink problem.
It's not perfect. Somehow DO'P has missed that mothers day is always a Sunday and has her characters going to work that day which doesn't make any sense.
I don't care. I still loved it.
With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for my copy.
What Mia doesn't have are friends. She's so lonely that she joins a therapy group for people who are grief stricken after losing their pets - even though her cat, Pigeon, is very much still alive. She's never actually fibbed about Pigeon, she's just let the rest of the group ASSUME that she's gone. Most of her life is under complete control but little bits are fraying around the edges and she's at risk.
I love Dawn O'Porter's books - I think I've read all of them to date. I loved this one too. I could relate to Mia's love for Pigeon and her wish to protect herself from just about every other living being. We learn about her challenging childhood and how Pigeon saved her from herself in her teens but much as I love my cats, I know that humans need other humans.
Bits of this are hilarious.
Bits are cry-out -loud-sad.
Sometimes she's way too open - the visit to the GP to get support with her crabs is a stand-out moment.
Mostly she's very buttoned up.
I've known women just like her.
Think Eleanor Oliphant in a power suit and without the drink problem.
It's not perfect. Somehow DO'P has missed that mothers day is always a Sunday and has her characters going to work that day which doesn't make any sense.
I don't care. I still loved it.
With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for my copy.
August 8, 2022
"It's never 'just a cat' - it's a symbol of how hard you are capable of loving."
Mia, the mother: She dotes on her stepson Oliver. She and her husband Tristan have an unconventional relationship with Oliver's mother, Belinda, but Mia puts up with it for the sake of keeping the family together. Plus, she is utterly devoted to her cat, Pigeon. She is his mother.
Mia, the career woman: Determined to bring Isabella May jewellery to the big leagues, Mia doesn't put up with any nonsense at work - even if it's coming from her boss, a rich millennial.
Mia, the animal: Women in their forties are allowed to be sexual too, right?
Mia, the cat lady: A cat is never "just a cat". Ever.
I'm conflicted here. I've read reviews that said people laughed out loud at this - I was the opposite, I cried several times and found the whole story really sad. Leaving aside some really explicit stuff just thrown in there for shock value (at one point early on I was very worried that this woman was going to sexually abuse her cat), it's a story about a woman who has quite a tough, lonely upbringing who feels like she needs to conform to certain standards.
"The problem with coming from bedlam is no matter how much you take on to keep yourself distracted, it's persistent little voice will always be calling you back."
I liked the main story, I just didn't think there was any need for some of the stuff mentioned.
Also, on what planet is Mother's Day on a weekday?!
"Cat Lady" will be published on October 27th.
Thanks to @harpercollins for the @netgalley ARC.
Mia, the mother: She dotes on her stepson Oliver. She and her husband Tristan have an unconventional relationship with Oliver's mother, Belinda, but Mia puts up with it for the sake of keeping the family together. Plus, she is utterly devoted to her cat, Pigeon. She is his mother.
Mia, the career woman: Determined to bring Isabella May jewellery to the big leagues, Mia doesn't put up with any nonsense at work - even if it's coming from her boss, a rich millennial.
Mia, the animal: Women in their forties are allowed to be sexual too, right?
Mia, the cat lady: A cat is never "just a cat". Ever.
I'm conflicted here. I've read reviews that said people laughed out loud at this - I was the opposite, I cried several times and found the whole story really sad. Leaving aside some really explicit stuff just thrown in there for shock value (at one point early on I was very worried that this woman was going to sexually abuse her cat), it's a story about a woman who has quite a tough, lonely upbringing who feels like she needs to conform to certain standards.
"The problem with coming from bedlam is no matter how much you take on to keep yourself distracted, it's persistent little voice will always be calling you back."
I liked the main story, I just didn't think there was any need for some of the stuff mentioned.
Also, on what planet is Mother's Day on a weekday?!
"Cat Lady" will be published on October 27th.
Thanks to @harpercollins for the @netgalley ARC.
November 20, 2022
A truly just odd book, and not in a good way. There were so many instances when reading when I was simply teetering between cringe, disbelief, and also shock at the standard of publishing. I really can’t fathom if this book is to be taken seriously - the chaos, the decent of her life into dumpsterfire, the way she lets her husband and his ex-wife speak to her at the beginning? The strange things she says about the cat? The entire peanut butter tangent??? The marshmallow comments and the pubic lice??? I think the only thing stopping this getting one star is that I flipping love cats and would absolutely lay down my life for mine - I am cat lady, so those segments where she just loves Pigeon so much got their hooks in me hard. But even I was just sort of uncomfortable with some of her comments. I like Dawn O’Porter on Instagram, she’s fun, witty, and has incredible fashion sense but that charisma just does not in any way translate to her novel (I’ve only read this one). I found it a bit of a sloppy book with one-dimensional characters that just didn’t land for me. When the silent protagonist cat has more personality than literally all the characters in a 300+ page book, there’s a bit of an issue.
June 10, 2024
Bonus star for the multiple gogglebox shout outs
June 20, 2022
There isn't much of a synopsis for this novel so I wasn't sure what I was going to get but it day say 'very funny'. It wasn't!
I like the author Dawn O'Porter and find her funny in real life. She's very funny on her Instagram as well but I've read a few of her novels now and her humour just doesn't translate to her novels and I'm not sure why? Is it because the writing is just not that good? I'm afraid it might be.
The heroine Mia is in her 40's with a successful career. She married her husband in her 30's and he's divorced and has a son who she is Stepmother to. However, her husband's ex still spends a lot of time at their house and Mia doesn't like her. Mia has a cat called Pigeon and neither her husband or his ex particularly like the cat. Her husband doesn't like the cat in their bedroom so they have separate rooms. Mia is quite a cold fish as a wife!
Aspects of this story reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Mia is a bit of an oddball and has quite a few quirks! She's a Managing Director and a bit of a stickler for rules at work. I found it hard to like her character. Even want she went through and by the end I still didn't really like her.
Mia hasn't had a great life and she often attends support groups even though she hasn't got the problem that they relate to. In the book she attends a support group for people whose pets have died as she is so scared of Pigeon dying but obviously doesn't tell them her pet is still alive.
I won't say anymore on the plot as presumably with the lack of synopsis the reader is supposed to go in blind, so I've put this under a spoiler just in case it spoils it for anyone.
I've found with other Dawn O'Porter novels that her characters aren't fleshed out very well and it's still the case in this novel. I also think you need to be a cat lover to really appreciate some aspects of the story, so it didn't help that I am not a cat lover! I found some parts a bit off putting where she talks about her and Pigeon's special relationship! There are other parts that I won't spoil that I found even more off putting.
A lot of the story was predictable. I felt Dawn got a few digs in...a joke about Boris Johnson, a dig at nasty Journalists who write upsetting stories about people. She also covered most current topics like racism (her boss she works for says some racist things), sustainability etc. There's a brief mention of covid but then next minute she's in a hospital environment with filthy hands and no mention of any mask wearing or the fact you still can't really visit people in hospital! Also, I'm surprised that as a mother herself, Dawn writes about Mother's Day being on a weekday as Mia is going to work and the stepson is going to School! It's called Mothering Sunday for a reason Dawn!!
Would I recommend it? If you're a cat lover then yes, you'll probably relate to it and like it but I wouldn't call it funny. I found a lot of it quite depressing really. It's not a book I would recommend to friends.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
I like the author Dawn O'Porter and find her funny in real life. She's very funny on her Instagram as well but I've read a few of her novels now and her humour just doesn't translate to her novels and I'm not sure why? Is it because the writing is just not that good? I'm afraid it might be.
The heroine Mia is in her 40's with a successful career. She married her husband in her 30's and he's divorced and has a son who she is Stepmother to. However, her husband's ex still spends a lot of time at their house and Mia doesn't like her. Mia has a cat called Pigeon and neither her husband or his ex particularly like the cat. Her husband doesn't like the cat in their bedroom so they have separate rooms. Mia is quite a cold fish as a wife!
Aspects of this story reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Mia is a bit of an oddball and has quite a few quirks! She's a Managing Director and a bit of a stickler for rules at work. I found it hard to like her character. Even want she went through and by the end I still didn't really like her.
Mia hasn't had a great life and she often attends support groups even though she hasn't got the problem that they relate to. In the book she attends a support group for people whose pets have died as she is so scared of Pigeon dying but obviously doesn't tell them her pet is still alive.
I won't say anymore on the plot as presumably with the lack of synopsis the reader is supposed to go in blind, so I've put this under a spoiler just in case it spoils it for anyone.
I've found with other Dawn O'Porter novels that her characters aren't fleshed out very well and it's still the case in this novel. I also think you need to be a cat lover to really appreciate some aspects of the story, so it didn't help that I am not a cat lover! I found some parts a bit off putting where she talks about her and Pigeon's special relationship! There are other parts that I won't spoil that I found even more off putting.
A lot of the story was predictable. I felt Dawn got a few digs in...a joke about Boris Johnson, a dig at nasty Journalists who write upsetting stories about people. She also covered most current topics like racism (her boss she works for says some racist things), sustainability etc. There's a brief mention of covid but then next minute she's in a hospital environment with filthy hands and no mention of any mask wearing or the fact you still can't really visit people in hospital! Also, I'm surprised that as a mother herself, Dawn writes about Mother's Day being on a weekday as Mia is going to work and the stepson is going to School! It's called Mothering Sunday for a reason Dawn!!
Would I recommend it? If you're a cat lover then yes, you'll probably relate to it and like it but I wouldn't call it funny. I found a lot of it quite depressing really. It's not a book I would recommend to friends.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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