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Family Baggage
Packing up her mother's life, George instead unpacks her own... A deeply insightful and wryly funny story perfect for readers of Meredith Jaffe and The Weekend by Charlotte Wood.
Things you might be surprised to find when cleaning out your deceased mother's house:
a secret diary a family mystery a new lease on life.
Grief-stricken middle-aged sisters George, Kat and Annie give themselves a week to pack up their childhood home and divide their mother's belongings. Beloved items are contested: an Eames chair, a collection of war medals, a learn-to-read book. The sisters - bossy Kat, mediator George and petulant Annie - are hampered by sibling rivalry, the prickly demands of their own offspring, the needs of their disabled younger brother and, in George's case, the after-effects of a spot of adultery.
The discovery of a decades' old diary divides the women further: not only do they learn what their mother really thought of them, they learn that she had a life entirely of her own. They are not the family they thought they were - and their mother was so much more than she seemed. This revelation might be the key to George's freedom ...
PRAISE FOR ILSA EVANS:
'The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer is a heartfelt and thought-provoking read, which will appeal to lovers of family dramas while also providing some laughs along the way.' - Weekend Australian
'A heartfelt and very witty novel that explores in an entertaining, and occasionally amusing way, some very real and poignant issues in today's society. Recommended.' - Canberra Weekly
'This is such a clever novel ... a terrific and heart-warming read.' - Tasmanian Bibliophile
'A compelling read that is hard to pin down to one genre, as it is entertaining whilst touching on serious themes ... It's great to see older female protagonists absolutely lead this novel and shake it up.' - Better Reading
Things you might be surprised to find when cleaning out your deceased mother's house:
a secret diary a family mystery a new lease on life.
Grief-stricken middle-aged sisters George, Kat and Annie give themselves a week to pack up their childhood home and divide their mother's belongings. Beloved items are contested: an Eames chair, a collection of war medals, a learn-to-read book. The sisters - bossy Kat, mediator George and petulant Annie - are hampered by sibling rivalry, the prickly demands of their own offspring, the needs of their disabled younger brother and, in George's case, the after-effects of a spot of adultery.
The discovery of a decades' old diary divides the women further: not only do they learn what their mother really thought of them, they learn that she had a life entirely of her own. They are not the family they thought they were - and their mother was so much more than she seemed. This revelation might be the key to George's freedom ...
PRAISE FOR ILSA EVANS:
'The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer is a heartfelt and thought-provoking read, which will appeal to lovers of family dramas while also providing some laughs along the way.' - Weekend Australian
'A heartfelt and very witty novel that explores in an entertaining, and occasionally amusing way, some very real and poignant issues in today's society. Recommended.' - Canberra Weekly
'This is such a clever novel ... a terrific and heart-warming read.' - Tasmanian Bibliophile
'A compelling read that is hard to pin down to one genre, as it is entertaining whilst touching on serious themes ... It's great to see older female protagonists absolutely lead this novel and shake it up.' - Better Reading
- GenresFictionContemporary
384 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2023
12 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Ilsa Evans
16 books64 followersIlsa Evans is an Australian author. She has written across several genres from light fiction (such as the books that make up the 'laundry series') to more gritty social realism. Two of her books, Broken and Sticks and Stones stem from the findings of a PhD on the long-term effects of family violence that Ilsa completed in 2005. Ilsa teaches creative writing and carries out public speaking when she is not writing. She lives in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne with her children, assorted pets and several uninvited possums.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 28, 2023
The death of their mother hit the siblings hard and the week they gave themselves - after the funeral was over - to clear out the house seemed never-ending. George, the middle sister, Kat, the eldest and Annie, the youngest. Harry was their only brother and he tended to keep to himself as much as he could. George was the one who found their mother's diary and she decided to read it first before showing it to her siblings. Some of the words shocked George, but there were more shocks to come.
Annie, Kat and George began finding themselves at odds with each other. The little niggles, the disagreements - was it all down to grief, or was there something deeper involved? George's two adult children were like chalk and cheese, while Annie's only child, Tom, now lived with his father on the Gold Coast. And Kat had no children. But it was Harry's daughter, Tegan who was a delight. Would George's secret stay that way, or was everything about to hit the fan?
Family Baggage by Aussie author Ilsa Evans was an absolute delight to read. I was chuckling to myself quite often as I sped through the pages. The family dynamics are so real, it was fascinating. Set in and around Melbourne, Victoria, I have no hesitation in recommending this contemporary novel highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Annie, Kat and George began finding themselves at odds with each other. The little niggles, the disagreements - was it all down to grief, or was there something deeper involved? George's two adult children were like chalk and cheese, while Annie's only child, Tom, now lived with his father on the Gold Coast. And Kat had no children. But it was Harry's daughter, Tegan who was a delight. Would George's secret stay that way, or was everything about to hit the fan?
Family Baggage by Aussie author Ilsa Evans was an absolute delight to read. I was chuckling to myself quite often as I sped through the pages. The family dynamics are so real, it was fascinating. Set in and around Melbourne, Victoria, I have no hesitation in recommending this contemporary novel highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2023
An interesting tale of a dysfunctional family trying but failing to deal with the death of their mother and grandmother. The three daughters, Kat, George and Annie are all aged around 50 but frequently act as though they are 15. This was amusing but occasionally also irritating.
I much preferred their brother, Harry, who functions in his own world and brings some light heartedness into the constant moroseness of the sisters. Then there are the grandchildren who are quite likeable and more adult than their parents. Apart from Tom whose agenda I never really understood.
The best part of the whole book was Enid's (the dying mother) thoughts in the hospital. She regrets not having time to organise things in anticipation of her family going through her belongings. Like burning her diary and disposing of her vibrator. Hilarious, and a message to us all! What do you have to hide?
As I said, an interesting tale and a very readable one despite most of the characters being unlikeable and slightly irrational. A bit like a TV drama, it was unrealistic but entertaining. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I much preferred their brother, Harry, who functions in his own world and brings some light heartedness into the constant moroseness of the sisters. Then there are the grandchildren who are quite likeable and more adult than their parents. Apart from Tom whose agenda I never really understood.
The best part of the whole book was Enid's (the dying mother) thoughts in the hospital. She regrets not having time to organise things in anticipation of her family going through her belongings. Like burning her diary and disposing of her vibrator. Hilarious, and a message to us all! What do you have to hide?
As I said, an interesting tale and a very readable one despite most of the characters being unlikeable and slightly irrational. A bit like a TV drama, it was unrealistic but entertaining. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 20, 2023
This one was so hard to put down, MS Evans pulled me into this one from the start, I felt so many emotions reading it, happy, sad, and angry and there were so many smiles along the way, Enid Tapscott is dying and she really wished she was more prepared for this as there are a few things that she really needed to do before she left this world and her children, Kat, (Kathryn) George (Georgette) Annie and Harry now they will have to sort through her possessions and the girls will have to sort out what is going to happen to Harry.
These middle aged woman have a lot of work to do and when a secret diary is found and read by George this opens up a can of worms that is going to be needed, to be worked out. In this diary their mother had dubbed Kat Bossy, George the settler and Annie the sook and it does not go down very well with them, but needs must and possessions need to be sorted out and split between them and the four grandchildren, this starts rumblings of what they each want and the emotions are running high fueled by demands from the grandchildren and personal issues especially with George that is putting more pressure on her.
This diary also shows what their mother had been going through while they were all younger this opens up discussions between them which causes lots of tension, soon life is not so easy and the pressure is on George, the settler is doing her best to keep things calm, Kat the bossy one is pushing to get everything done with her lists and Annie the sook is complaining, will the sisters come out on the other side as friends, will they sort their brother out and will the grandchildren all remain as close as they were?
This is a fabulous story that bought back memories of doing the same thing when we lost our mum although there was nowhere near the tension that these siblings shared, I loved Kat and George although I will be honest and say I was not too fond of Annie, MS Evans has bought all of the characters to life on the pages, it made them all think about their lives and for George it pushed her to do something that she has always wanted to do. I loved the epilogue it was so well done.
This is a book that I would highly recommend, I hope I have gotten the review right, thank you MS Evens for a keeper this one is going to stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to the publisher for my copy to read and review.
These middle aged woman have a lot of work to do and when a secret diary is found and read by George this opens up a can of worms that is going to be needed, to be worked out. In this diary their mother had dubbed Kat Bossy, George the settler and Annie the sook and it does not go down very well with them, but needs must and possessions need to be sorted out and split between them and the four grandchildren, this starts rumblings of what they each want and the emotions are running high fueled by demands from the grandchildren and personal issues especially with George that is putting more pressure on her.
This diary also shows what their mother had been going through while they were all younger this opens up discussions between them which causes lots of tension, soon life is not so easy and the pressure is on George, the settler is doing her best to keep things calm, Kat the bossy one is pushing to get everything done with her lists and Annie the sook is complaining, will the sisters come out on the other side as friends, will they sort their brother out and will the grandchildren all remain as close as they were?
This is a fabulous story that bought back memories of doing the same thing when we lost our mum although there was nowhere near the tension that these siblings shared, I loved Kat and George although I will be honest and say I was not too fond of Annie, MS Evans has bought all of the characters to life on the pages, it made them all think about their lives and for George it pushed her to do something that she has always wanted to do. I loved the epilogue it was so well done.
This is a book that I would highly recommend, I hope I have gotten the review right, thank you MS Evens for a keeper this one is going to stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to the publisher for my copy to read and review.
February 10, 2023
Family Baggage is a stand-alone novel by Australian author, Ilsa Evans. Unexpectedly on her deathbed, Enid Tapscott wishes she’d had time to dispose of certain items. Too late now. Still grieving, their mother just buried, Kat(hryn), George(tte) and Annie meet at their childhood home to begin the sad task of sorting through Enid’s things. Deciding on their younger brother, Harry’s fate is also on the agenda.
Kat, whom Enid silently dubbed The Sorter, has already devised a scheme of coloured tabs that will give everyone a chance to say what they want, that will fairly divide up Enid’s possessions between her four children and her four grandchildren; Annie (The Sook), would prefer everyone just have a civilised discussion about it; George (The Settler) tends to agree with Kat, which of course means that Annie feels ganged-up on, again!
Gathering Enid’s eight grieving descendants together to participate in a scheme with which they don’t all agree is bound to cause a little friction. Maybe the airing of grievances on social media is even to be predicted, although the maturity that usually comes with those in their sixth decade is conspicuously absent in some. That turns out to be the least of their problems.
If some of what they uncover certainly surprises them, it does remind them that Enid was not just a wife and mother, but also a woman. But it’s the diary that George stumbles upon that holds the most jaw-dropping revelation. Stunned, but also intrigued, the sisters follow up. Privately, George is taken aback to find that she has more in common with her mother than she ever thought.
There are aspects of this story that will resonate with many readers of that vintage when we are losing our parents. Evans gives the reader a thoroughly believable plot and populates her tale with characters we’ve all met (or perhaps are) who display amongst their virtues some very human flaws. This cast knows how to push each other’s buttons, to amusing (and sometimes, jaw-dropping) effect.
While there’s a bit of intrigue, some tension, and quite a lot of emotion (which results in a generous sprinkling of expletives), there’s also plenty of humour (especially the almost-non-sequiturs drawn from Harry’s eidetic memory for all things Wikipedia) and a realistic but nonetheless very satisfying conclusion. Funny, moving and thought-provoking, this is another hugely entertaining read from Ilsa Evans.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview, NetGalley and HQ Fiction.
Kat, whom Enid silently dubbed The Sorter, has already devised a scheme of coloured tabs that will give everyone a chance to say what they want, that will fairly divide up Enid’s possessions between her four children and her four grandchildren; Annie (The Sook), would prefer everyone just have a civilised discussion about it; George (The Settler) tends to agree with Kat, which of course means that Annie feels ganged-up on, again!
Gathering Enid’s eight grieving descendants together to participate in a scheme with which they don’t all agree is bound to cause a little friction. Maybe the airing of grievances on social media is even to be predicted, although the maturity that usually comes with those in their sixth decade is conspicuously absent in some. That turns out to be the least of their problems.
If some of what they uncover certainly surprises them, it does remind them that Enid was not just a wife and mother, but also a woman. But it’s the diary that George stumbles upon that holds the most jaw-dropping revelation. Stunned, but also intrigued, the sisters follow up. Privately, George is taken aback to find that she has more in common with her mother than she ever thought.
There are aspects of this story that will resonate with many readers of that vintage when we are losing our parents. Evans gives the reader a thoroughly believable plot and populates her tale with characters we’ve all met (or perhaps are) who display amongst their virtues some very human flaws. This cast knows how to push each other’s buttons, to amusing (and sometimes, jaw-dropping) effect.
While there’s a bit of intrigue, some tension, and quite a lot of emotion (which results in a generous sprinkling of expletives), there’s also plenty of humour (especially the almost-non-sequiturs drawn from Harry’s eidetic memory for all things Wikipedia) and a realistic but nonetheless very satisfying conclusion. Funny, moving and thought-provoking, this is another hugely entertaining read from Ilsa Evans.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview, NetGalley and HQ Fiction.
October 25, 2023
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**3.5 stars**
Family Baggage by Ilsa Evans. (2023).
Grief-stricken middle-aged sisters George, Kat and Annie give themselves a week to pack up their childhood home and divide their mother's belongings. Beloved items are contested. Bossy Kat, mediator George and petulant Annie are hampered by sibling rivalry, the prickly demands of their children, the needs of their disabled younger brother Harry, and in George's case, the after-effects of adultery. The discovery of a decades-old diary divides the women further and they learn not only what their mother really thought of them, but that she had a life entirely of her own. They are not the family they thought...
This book is a look at family dysfunction that occurs after the death of a loved one - when the secrets come out, old resentments rise to the surface, and everyone is a big emotional mess. Kat, George and Annie are in their early to mid 50s and have just lost their mother. Chaos ensues as they attempt to clean out their mother's home. I thought a lot of the sisters' grievances were quite petty and considering their age it felt like they were all a bit immature at points. To be fair, they were all grieving their mother but it just seemed if they communicated a bit more and thought of each other rather than themselves, there would not have been as much conflict. My favourite character by far was brother Harry, especially when he came out with his random trivia facts that added some light moments to the story. I thought it was an interesting choice to have only George's point of view - I would have appreciated getting the other sisters' perspectives on everything that was going on.
Overall: I liked this one well enough, readers that enjoy dysfunctional family stories may really enjoy this book.
**3.5 stars**
Family Baggage by Ilsa Evans. (2023).
Grief-stricken middle-aged sisters George, Kat and Annie give themselves a week to pack up their childhood home and divide their mother's belongings. Beloved items are contested. Bossy Kat, mediator George and petulant Annie are hampered by sibling rivalry, the prickly demands of their children, the needs of their disabled younger brother Harry, and in George's case, the after-effects of adultery. The discovery of a decades-old diary divides the women further and they learn not only what their mother really thought of them, but that she had a life entirely of her own. They are not the family they thought...
This book is a look at family dysfunction that occurs after the death of a loved one - when the secrets come out, old resentments rise to the surface, and everyone is a big emotional mess. Kat, George and Annie are in their early to mid 50s and have just lost their mother. Chaos ensues as they attempt to clean out their mother's home. I thought a lot of the sisters' grievances were quite petty and considering their age it felt like they were all a bit immature at points. To be fair, they were all grieving their mother but it just seemed if they communicated a bit more and thought of each other rather than themselves, there would not have been as much conflict. My favourite character by far was brother Harry, especially when he came out with his random trivia facts that added some light moments to the story. I thought it was an interesting choice to have only George's point of view - I would have appreciated getting the other sisters' perspectives on everything that was going on.
Overall: I liked this one well enough, readers that enjoy dysfunctional family stories may really enjoy this book.
July 31, 2023
Family Baggage by Aussie author Ilsa Evans was such a wonderful read which had me on an emotional roller coaster. There were many laugh-out-loud moments, but there were many heartfelt moments too.
An enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who is looking for their next book to read.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review
An enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who is looking for their next book to read.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review
March 16, 2023
Thank you to Harlequin Aus for sending me a copy of this book to review.
Ilsa writes about families. The title of this book is spot on. Family baggage and secrets are the theme of this book. Ilsa's sense of humour shines through her writing. We have 3 sisters with 3 different personalities. Kat who is the sorter, George who is the settler, and Annie who is the sook. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and immediately went and checked on our daughters derwent pencils.
Ilsa writes about families. The title of this book is spot on. Family baggage and secrets are the theme of this book. Ilsa's sense of humour shines through her writing. We have 3 sisters with 3 different personalities. Kat who is the sorter, George who is the settler, and Annie who is the sook. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and immediately went and checked on our daughters derwent pencils.
May 28, 2023
Family Baggage by Ilsa Evans is a heartfelt story that explores family relationships, unfolding over a period of a week in early 2020.
Upon their mother’s sudden death, the task of disseminating and disposing of Enid’s belongings is left to her daughters, Kathryn, Georgette and Annie, whom she privately thought of as The Sorter, The Settler and The Sook. Gathering at their childhood home Kat, the eldest of the three, is prepared with an agenda and colour coded stickers, plus a sensible plan for the immediate care of their brother Harry, who is unable to live independently. The youngest, Annie, immediately resents her sister taking charge and seems overly concerned about getting her share, while George just wants to get through the week without breaking down completely.
There’s plenty of emotion in Family Baggage, fuelled largely by raw grief. Fond reminiscences give way to reignited resentments, Annie in particular seems determined to find fault with her sisters, annoying Kat, and bewildering George. Evans deftly captures the complicated relationship between the women, who may be in their fifties, but tend to interact with each other as if they are still children, a regression anyone with a sibling will likely relate to.
George’s discovery of her mother’s journal introduces an element of mystery to the novel. The entries eventually expose facets of Enid’s life that shocks her daughters, who react in different ways, triggering more conflict. Learning her mother’s secrets leads George in particular to reflect on her own life, and the choices she has made as a woman, a wife, and a mother. This prompted me to ponder the narrow view I have of my own mother, and that my children, now young adults, probably have of me.
Well timed humour is used to good effect, cutting through the tension that often permeates the novel. I also delighted in the oblique references to Evans’ Majic series (which was a favourite of mine).
A moving and thought-provoking novel, Family Baggage is an engaging read.
Upon their mother’s sudden death, the task of disseminating and disposing of Enid’s belongings is left to her daughters, Kathryn, Georgette and Annie, whom she privately thought of as The Sorter, The Settler and The Sook. Gathering at their childhood home Kat, the eldest of the three, is prepared with an agenda and colour coded stickers, plus a sensible plan for the immediate care of their brother Harry, who is unable to live independently. The youngest, Annie, immediately resents her sister taking charge and seems overly concerned about getting her share, while George just wants to get through the week without breaking down completely.
There’s plenty of emotion in Family Baggage, fuelled largely by raw grief. Fond reminiscences give way to reignited resentments, Annie in particular seems determined to find fault with her sisters, annoying Kat, and bewildering George. Evans deftly captures the complicated relationship between the women, who may be in their fifties, but tend to interact with each other as if they are still children, a regression anyone with a sibling will likely relate to.
George’s discovery of her mother’s journal introduces an element of mystery to the novel. The entries eventually expose facets of Enid’s life that shocks her daughters, who react in different ways, triggering more conflict. Learning her mother’s secrets leads George in particular to reflect on her own life, and the choices she has made as a woman, a wife, and a mother. This prompted me to ponder the narrow view I have of my own mother, and that my children, now young adults, probably have of me.
Well timed humour is used to good effect, cutting through the tension that often permeates the novel. I also delighted in the oblique references to Evans’ Majic series (which was a favourite of mine).
A moving and thought-provoking novel, Family Baggage is an engaging read.
March 21, 2023
Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A family melodrama about dysfunctional life relationships between siblings and other members of the clan.
After their mother Enid passes away sisters George, Kat and Annie have come together to clean out her house.
What they find is a secret diary and long ago mystery.
While dividing up precious items, a dose of sibling rivalry, the attention of offspring, the demands of a disabled brother and a case of adultery, the sisters discover a lot about themselves as well as what their mother thought of them.
Can they heal from the past and unite for the sake of the family?
A warm, tender, inviting and likeable saga that will capture your heart.
My first foray into the fictional world of Miss Evans and I was very impressed.
Her writing is very welcoming, the plot is engaging and entertaining with a cast of characters that will get under your skin and to top it off there’s many moments of happy, sad, funny and an array of other emotions.
A compassionate, insightful tale of understanding, feeling, wisdom, reflection and love that will impress her audience.
I will need to read more from this author so I’ve dragged out her last release and will get to it sooner rather than later.
A family melodrama about dysfunctional life relationships between siblings and other members of the clan.
After their mother Enid passes away sisters George, Kat and Annie have come together to clean out her house.
What they find is a secret diary and long ago mystery.
While dividing up precious items, a dose of sibling rivalry, the attention of offspring, the demands of a disabled brother and a case of adultery, the sisters discover a lot about themselves as well as what their mother thought of them.
Can they heal from the past and unite for the sake of the family?
A warm, tender, inviting and likeable saga that will capture your heart.
My first foray into the fictional world of Miss Evans and I was very impressed.
Her writing is very welcoming, the plot is engaging and entertaining with a cast of characters that will get under your skin and to top it off there’s many moments of happy, sad, funny and an array of other emotions.
A compassionate, insightful tale of understanding, feeling, wisdom, reflection and love that will impress her audience.
I will need to read more from this author so I’ve dragged out her last release and will get to it sooner rather than later.
February 15, 2023
You had me at the front cover, bright, fun and a happy memory for me of days passed. I enjoyed this book so much. Having lost my own dear mum and being one of three sisters this book had me laughing, crying and reminiscing. Let’s face it we’ve all got some sort of family baggage!
Ilsa Evans has created a story that is lighthearted at times but also offers a chance to reflect on how we deal with some difficult issues. Throw in the fact that decisions need to be discussed and reached with others support and the merry go round of life goes on amidst the sadness of losing a loved one. I’ll be seeking out Ilsa’s earlier book to read. Five stars from me!
Ilsa Evans has created a story that is lighthearted at times but also offers a chance to reflect on how we deal with some difficult issues. Throw in the fact that decisions need to be discussed and reached with others support and the merry go round of life goes on amidst the sadness of losing a loved one. I’ll be seeking out Ilsa’s earlier book to read. Five stars from me!
May 4, 2023
This book started out really well, but got bogged down in the petty and not so interesting sister rivalries. To me it could have done with some serious editing, as there were several threads going on, and not all were explored fully. I would have liked more about Enid, and less about Annie and Tom. In the end, I was a bit disappointed that I spent time with these relatively unlikeable characters for no real purpose.
November 17, 2024
In Family Baggage, three middle aged sisters unite following their mother Enid’s passing to sort out her affairs and possessions. Whilst sorting through the home, protagonist George discovers Enid’s diary harbouring many secrets from her mother’s past. Ilsa Evans depicts the nitty gritty aspects of family dynamics and dysfunctional, with insightful comments on grief, regret, mistakes and the unravelling of life. The storyline was long winded and lacked substance, which I personally felt was due to Evan’s unnecessary wordiness and slow plot direction. The story is pretty bogged down with petty sibling rivalries and slow to reach revelations. I honestly felt like Family Baggage had no purpose and skim read a lot of it. I found Enid’s character the most fascinating of them all, and would have loved to have more from her perspective or about her life! Overall, not impressed by this one. I’d totally skip it off the TBR.
March 16, 2023
Excellent
May 21, 2025
Easy read nothing to crazy but happy with it for a $2 opp shop buy! V slow reading atm if anyone has a pacy rec?
April 2, 2023
The book opens with the death of Enid Tapscott and her last thoughts are that she wishes she’d had time to dispose of “things”.
The story then switches to her four middle-aged and grief stricken children, Kat, George(ette) Annie and their disabled brother Harry. Deciding what to do with Harry is also on the agenda along with sorting through their mother’s stuff and disposing of the house. There are four grandchildren in the mix as well. This is not as easy as the girls thinks because personalities, grievances and family dynamics get in the way. And of course, find that which their mother wished she had disposed of.
Kat, the organiser, decides that they spend a week packing up the house and divide those items they wish to keep. She decides on a sticker system - each person is assigned their own colour and place their sticker on anything they wish to claim. And of course there are arguments as more than one character hone in on “treasures”.
I want say right up that I did not like Annie at all, wanted to slap her so many times as she constantly felt everyone was picking on her - so full of a “poor bugger me” attitude. I found George to be incredibly selfish, focusing on her own almost imaginary “mountain out of a molehill” problems and ignoring those of her husband and children, so I did not sympathise with her in the slightest. I loved Harry, who lived in his own world, he broke up the tension between his sisters, his “fact” announcements were often humorous and it seemed that he had memorised most of Wikipedia. Kate was more like me, bossy, wanting to stop deep and meaningful discussions and just get things done, so I related to her the most, which may have the reason I why disliked her warring sisters.
Being able to like, or dislike a character is really the mark of a good writer to produce those feelings. And Ilsa Evans is a very good writer. In fact all of the siblings felt very, very real.
So the scene is set for the discovery of the diary. And the revelation that there was a lot more to their mother than they ever imagined. The sister’s know how to push each others buttons, and each of them have problems in their lives which encroach on their actions.
overall this story is a page turner as research is done to work out their mother’s secrets. As the investigation goes on it is played against a background of an array of emotions, as the baggage that this family each carry gets unpacked resulting in tantrums, revelations, reconnections and estrangement. But nature has a way of foiling the best laid plans and the epilogue has the last laugh.
A wonderful story, with plenty of lighthearted moments to break up the drama. But this is a normal rather than a dysfunctional family - there is a lot of truth in the saying you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family. The loss of a family member doesn’t necessarily draw the rest of the family together, in fact so many times you hear about families imploding after the funeral. Ilsa Evans had her family go on a journey of discovery, a period of growth, a change of direction for some of them. But like them or love them this family will stay with you long after you reach the end. The back ground story of George plays a huge role in the unfolding of the story. Do yourself a favour and get your hands on a copy of FAMILY BAGGAGE.
With thanks to Netgalley and HQ Fiction for my copy to review
The story then switches to her four middle-aged and grief stricken children, Kat, George(ette) Annie and their disabled brother Harry. Deciding what to do with Harry is also on the agenda along with sorting through their mother’s stuff and disposing of the house. There are four grandchildren in the mix as well. This is not as easy as the girls thinks because personalities, grievances and family dynamics get in the way. And of course, find that which their mother wished she had disposed of.
Kat, the organiser, decides that they spend a week packing up the house and divide those items they wish to keep. She decides on a sticker system - each person is assigned their own colour and place their sticker on anything they wish to claim. And of course there are arguments as more than one character hone in on “treasures”.
I want say right up that I did not like Annie at all, wanted to slap her so many times as she constantly felt everyone was picking on her - so full of a “poor bugger me” attitude. I found George to be incredibly selfish, focusing on her own almost imaginary “mountain out of a molehill” problems and ignoring those of her husband and children, so I did not sympathise with her in the slightest. I loved Harry, who lived in his own world, he broke up the tension between his sisters, his “fact” announcements were often humorous and it seemed that he had memorised most of Wikipedia. Kate was more like me, bossy, wanting to stop deep and meaningful discussions and just get things done, so I related to her the most, which may have the reason I why disliked her warring sisters.
Being able to like, or dislike a character is really the mark of a good writer to produce those feelings. And Ilsa Evans is a very good writer. In fact all of the siblings felt very, very real.
So the scene is set for the discovery of the diary. And the revelation that there was a lot more to their mother than they ever imagined. The sister’s know how to push each others buttons, and each of them have problems in their lives which encroach on their actions.
overall this story is a page turner as research is done to work out their mother’s secrets. As the investigation goes on it is played against a background of an array of emotions, as the baggage that this family each carry gets unpacked resulting in tantrums, revelations, reconnections and estrangement. But nature has a way of foiling the best laid plans and the epilogue has the last laugh.
A wonderful story, with plenty of lighthearted moments to break up the drama. But this is a normal rather than a dysfunctional family - there is a lot of truth in the saying you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family. The loss of a family member doesn’t necessarily draw the rest of the family together, in fact so many times you hear about families imploding after the funeral. Ilsa Evans had her family go on a journey of discovery, a period of growth, a change of direction for some of them. But like them or love them this family will stay with you long after you reach the end. The back ground story of George plays a huge role in the unfolding of the story. Do yourself a favour and get your hands on a copy of FAMILY BAGGAGE.
With thanks to Netgalley and HQ Fiction for my copy to review
May 23, 2023
When their beloved mother Enid dies, sisters Kat, George and Annie are left to deal with their grief, their younger brother Harry and their mother's house and all her belongings. When George finds a diary belonging to her mother, it's just one of many bombshells that happens in the first few weeks. Secret diaries, infidelity, sibling feuds and the relationships between mothers and children are just a few of the things the sisters face. But will it bring them together or tear them apart?
A great read.
A great read.
February 11, 2023
A family drama that veers into family melodrama. This is the story of a family dealing with the death of Enid, and it mainly centres around the time when 8 main characters are trying to work out how to distribute Enid's possessions. This unearths a diary and a secret and also brings up some of the more unpleasant sides to the characters who are dealing with issues that have obviously been there far longer than the period of the book.
The main character seems to be George (named after Georgette Heyer) though the story is really about a large group of characters. This, I found was something I didn't immediately love about the book. The large ensemble cast didn't make me feel so strong a connection with any one character and although George was a bit more of the focus ... well, honestly I didn't like her that much. I know she's meant to be sympathetic. She is mentioned as the more amiable character but she didn't seem nice enough to be that amiable, from the beginning I felt she rubbed people up the wrong way too much to be seen that way so I felt a disconnect between the character and how she was supposed to be portrayed.
Harry was probably the character I liked the most, I found his facts interesting and I didn't like how people looked down on him.
One of the problems with this family drama was how unlikable so many people were. Yes, they'd gone through a traumatic experience but it did seem that they were just unlikable anyway. Kat was not just bossy. She was bordering on a bully and she was massively self-important and unable to self-reflect and she did not get better. Annie was so whiny, but after seeing George and Kat I at least could understand why.
Rhyll and Leo seemed to think they were so smart and independent but really, they were 25 they were not that amazing. I kept thinking Rhyll might have been a genius ... if she were 15 and she spoke/wrote like that. I don't know why people were so amazed as she was 25.
Anyway, this was interesting at times to show how a dysfunctional family might operate. At times it was frustrating. The moment Kat opened her big mouth about the stickers I thought of a zillion arguments against them and what could go wrong and not just because she was bulldozing everyone.
I could later see how Annie would react or the conversation between George and Simon. Reading the book was like watching a car wreck and not being able to do anything.
I guess perhaps it is normal but it did seem annoying that some people cannot understand that you can't simply say "sorry" or "unpack" a problem over a cuppa and make things all better especially if they're an emotional problem festering for decades, just because it would make them feel good to say "ok, I made things all right". Kat wasn't just bossy - she completely lacked emotional awareness and consideration of others. I have seen more clued-in robots.
There were some good, emotional moments here, a book that readers might enjoy if they relish the drama of families. Everyday life at its muddiest.
The main character seems to be George (named after Georgette Heyer) though the story is really about a large group of characters. This, I found was something I didn't immediately love about the book. The large ensemble cast didn't make me feel so strong a connection with any one character and although George was a bit more of the focus ... well, honestly I didn't like her that much. I know she's meant to be sympathetic. She is mentioned as the more amiable character but she didn't seem nice enough to be that amiable, from the beginning I felt she rubbed people up the wrong way too much to be seen that way so I felt a disconnect between the character and how she was supposed to be portrayed.
Harry was probably the character I liked the most, I found his facts interesting and I didn't like how people looked down on him.
One of the problems with this family drama was how unlikable so many people were. Yes, they'd gone through a traumatic experience but it did seem that they were just unlikable anyway. Kat was not just bossy. She was bordering on a bully and she was massively self-important and unable to self-reflect and she did not get better. Annie was so whiny, but after seeing George and Kat I at least could understand why.
Rhyll and Leo seemed to think they were so smart and independent but really, they were 25 they were not that amazing. I kept thinking Rhyll might have been a genius ... if she were 15 and she spoke/wrote like that. I don't know why people were so amazed as she was 25.
Anyway, this was interesting at times to show how a dysfunctional family might operate. At times it was frustrating. The moment Kat opened her big mouth about the stickers I thought of a zillion arguments against them and what could go wrong and not just because she was bulldozing everyone.
I could later see how Annie would react or the conversation between George and Simon. Reading the book was like watching a car wreck and not being able to do anything.
I guess perhaps it is normal but it did seem annoying that some people cannot understand that you can't simply say "sorry" or "unpack" a problem over a cuppa and make things all better especially if they're an emotional problem festering for decades, just because it would make them feel good to say "ok, I made things all right". Kat wasn't just bossy - she completely lacked emotional awareness and consideration of others. I have seen more clued-in robots.
There were some good, emotional moments here, a book that readers might enjoy if they relish the drama of families. Everyday life at its muddiest.
April 14, 2023
This is an incredibly enjoyable novel to read. It doesn’t have any great new insights into family relationships, but it depicts them with warmth and humor. It’s not all positive by any means, but it’s highly readable.
Middle aged sisters George, Kat and Annie are coping with the aftermath of their mother’s death. Given her age, it wasn’t entirely unexpected; but then again, nor did anyone plan on it happening so soon. Especially their mother, who clearly hasn’t sanitised her house in preparation for their going through her things.
As a result, the sisters find an old diary, an old letter, and accidentally expose family secrets. On the one hand, this gives them a stunning new insight into their mother. On the other hand, it’s just stunning.
As well as the emotional impact of the death and clean out, the sisters find that dividing up their mother’s possessions causes their never-quite-subsided sibling rivalry to flare up big time. The “help” offered by their own kids – often prickly and full of rivalry themselves – doesn’t do a lot to move things along. And what, exactly, are they to do with their disabled brother?
Anyone who’s ever been part of a family will recognise some parts of these interactions. Irrational arguments, resentments that are never quite resolved, fond memories sparked at unexpected moments, and the inability to completely see each other as adults rather than children… it’s all very familiar. Evans’ draws the complex relationships with considerable empathy for all the characters, even the one who’s being particularly annoying at any given moment (who this is changes regularly).
There’s also a wry humor here. Sometimes it shows in the dialog, sometimes in the amount of thought someone gives to their clothes. I found the writing style really enjoyable. Wry asides, the humor, and the perceptiveness, together with straightforward prose made for a novel where it was a pleasure simply to read it.
Evans’ pulls you into the various relationships quite quickly. Most readers are going to feel that they’ve got some stake in what happens very quickly – perhaps you’ll have a favorite sister, perhaps a recurring squabble resonates with your own experience, perhaps you’ll care deeply about a particular decision… It’s a very involving story.
There is a lot of good stuff here: strong characters, a great writing style, an interesting story, an empathetic approach, and a subtle exploration of complex issues. However, the over riding impression for me was of a novel that was just great to read. I lost myself in it, I looked forward to picking it up again, and I was a little sorry when it ended.
I just plain enjoyed reading it, and recommend it to everyone on that basis.
Middle aged sisters George, Kat and Annie are coping with the aftermath of their mother’s death. Given her age, it wasn’t entirely unexpected; but then again, nor did anyone plan on it happening so soon. Especially their mother, who clearly hasn’t sanitised her house in preparation for their going through her things.
As a result, the sisters find an old diary, an old letter, and accidentally expose family secrets. On the one hand, this gives them a stunning new insight into their mother. On the other hand, it’s just stunning.
As well as the emotional impact of the death and clean out, the sisters find that dividing up their mother’s possessions causes their never-quite-subsided sibling rivalry to flare up big time. The “help” offered by their own kids – often prickly and full of rivalry themselves – doesn’t do a lot to move things along. And what, exactly, are they to do with their disabled brother?
Anyone who’s ever been part of a family will recognise some parts of these interactions. Irrational arguments, resentments that are never quite resolved, fond memories sparked at unexpected moments, and the inability to completely see each other as adults rather than children… it’s all very familiar. Evans’ draws the complex relationships with considerable empathy for all the characters, even the one who’s being particularly annoying at any given moment (who this is changes regularly).
There’s also a wry humor here. Sometimes it shows in the dialog, sometimes in the amount of thought someone gives to their clothes. I found the writing style really enjoyable. Wry asides, the humor, and the perceptiveness, together with straightforward prose made for a novel where it was a pleasure simply to read it.
Evans’ pulls you into the various relationships quite quickly. Most readers are going to feel that they’ve got some stake in what happens very quickly – perhaps you’ll have a favorite sister, perhaps a recurring squabble resonates with your own experience, perhaps you’ll care deeply about a particular decision… It’s a very involving story.
There is a lot of good stuff here: strong characters, a great writing style, an interesting story, an empathetic approach, and a subtle exploration of complex issues. However, the over riding impression for me was of a novel that was just great to read. I lost myself in it, I looked forward to picking it up again, and I was a little sorry when it ended.
I just plain enjoyed reading it, and recommend it to everyone on that basis.
February 11, 2023
Family Baggage is another marvellous story by Ilsa Evans. Absolutely loved reading this book. It was heart warming as well as sad and confronting. For me this book had the WOW factor as I couldn’t put it down - drawn into the family and all its tensions and dramas as well as heart felt moments.
The Publisher’s. Blurb is an excellent introduction:
Things you might be surprised to find when cleaning out your deceased mother's house:a
secret diary
a family mystery
a new lease on life.
Grief-stricken middle-aged sisters George, Kat and Annie give themselves a week to pack up their childhood home and divide their mother's belongings. Beloved items are contested: an Eames chair, a collection of war medals, a learn-to-read book. The sisters - bossy Kat, mediator George and petulant Annie - are hampered by sibling rivalry, the prickly demands of their own offspring, the needs of their disabled younger brother and, in George's case, the after-effects of a spot of adultery.
The discovery of a decades' old diary divides the women further: not only do they learn what their mother really thought of them, they learn that she had a life entirely of her own. They are not the family they thought they were - and their mother was so much more than she seemed. This revelation might be the key to George's freedom ...
The intricacies of families is certainly brought out as is the question as to whether children ever really grow up even when they themselves are parents.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Harlequin Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#FamilyBaggage #Netgalley
The Publisher’s. Blurb is an excellent introduction:
Things you might be surprised to find when cleaning out your deceased mother's house:a
secret diary
a family mystery
a new lease on life.
Grief-stricken middle-aged sisters George, Kat and Annie give themselves a week to pack up their childhood home and divide their mother's belongings. Beloved items are contested: an Eames chair, a collection of war medals, a learn-to-read book. The sisters - bossy Kat, mediator George and petulant Annie - are hampered by sibling rivalry, the prickly demands of their own offspring, the needs of their disabled younger brother and, in George's case, the after-effects of a spot of adultery.
The discovery of a decades' old diary divides the women further: not only do they learn what their mother really thought of them, they learn that she had a life entirely of her own. They are not the family they thought they were - and their mother was so much more than she seemed. This revelation might be the key to George's freedom ...
The intricacies of families is certainly brought out as is the question as to whether children ever really grow up even when they themselves are parents.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Harlequin Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#FamilyBaggage #Netgalley
March 1, 2023
*A copy of this book was received as part of the "Better Reading" Preview.
“It would be a tall order within seven days. Doable […] but a stretch. It was also a little biblical. Except in this case it was seven days to dismantle a world.” Family Baggage by Ilsa Evans, is told from the perspective of middle sister, George, and takes place in the week following their mother’s funeral after her unexpected death as the family clear out her home. It is as much a story about George’s own midlife crisis, as it is of the family’s grief, and her relationship with her two sisters; take-charge eldest sister Kat and hippyish sullen youngest sister Annie, and their differently-abled younger brother Harry. The discovery of a secret their mother left behind seems like an aside to this family drama. The novel is slow paced and the hook to the family mystery - in the form of a sparsely written diary - is somewhat weak. The characters are very human, if a little unlikeable at times, but this adds realism and relatability. There are some poignant reflections about life and death, but description is a little embellished (for example: omelette skies). Overall though, a modest novel for readers of everyday drama with some familial intrigue thrown in.
“It would be a tall order within seven days. Doable […] but a stretch. It was also a little biblical. Except in this case it was seven days to dismantle a world.” Family Baggage by Ilsa Evans, is told from the perspective of middle sister, George, and takes place in the week following their mother’s funeral after her unexpected death as the family clear out her home. It is as much a story about George’s own midlife crisis, as it is of the family’s grief, and her relationship with her two sisters; take-charge eldest sister Kat and hippyish sullen youngest sister Annie, and their differently-abled younger brother Harry. The discovery of a secret their mother left behind seems like an aside to this family drama. The novel is slow paced and the hook to the family mystery - in the form of a sparsely written diary - is somewhat weak. The characters are very human, if a little unlikeable at times, but this adds realism and relatability. There are some poignant reflections about life and death, but description is a little embellished (for example: omelette skies). Overall though, a modest novel for readers of everyday drama with some familial intrigue thrown in.
February 9, 2023
Family Baggage by Australian author Ilsa Evans is a work of fiction in the family drama genre.
The book follows middle-aged sisters George, Annie, and Kat. Each of the siblings are struggling with the complexity of their lives, whilst struggling with their mother’s death. As they are packing up her belongings, they find an abundance of diaries she has kept over the years. The sisters are shocked at what they learn and the secret life their mother kept.
As they face the secrets and each of their own dilemmas both alone and together, the possibility of a happy ending to each of their stories seems possible if they all come together, walking the path of love, compassion, and patience.
This novel does an excellent job of portraying the complexity of a family dynamic complicated by the demands of adulthood and the background of family secrets. The plot is engaging and paced with great skill, moving between characters’ individual stories to expertly keep the reader always engaged. The characters are well-developed, each having their own personality that comes out through the story, little by little.
I highly recommend as a read to fans of family dramas.
The book follows middle-aged sisters George, Annie, and Kat. Each of the siblings are struggling with the complexity of their lives, whilst struggling with their mother’s death. As they are packing up her belongings, they find an abundance of diaries she has kept over the years. The sisters are shocked at what they learn and the secret life their mother kept.
As they face the secrets and each of their own dilemmas both alone and together, the possibility of a happy ending to each of their stories seems possible if they all come together, walking the path of love, compassion, and patience.
This novel does an excellent job of portraying the complexity of a family dynamic complicated by the demands of adulthood and the background of family secrets. The plot is engaging and paced with great skill, moving between characters’ individual stories to expertly keep the reader always engaged. The characters are well-developed, each having their own personality that comes out through the story, little by little.
I highly recommend as a read to fans of family dramas.
February 12, 2023
Enid Tapscott, a beloved and charismatic mother, leaves us in the prologue, but it is what she leaves behind which completes the picture of the person Enid really was.
Family Baggage is a work of friction, a portrayal of grief bringing out the worst in people. The reader is thrust into the lives of Enid’s daughters, three middle-aged woman who seem more like bickering teenagers, and then there’s the grandchildren, and some ancient Aunts, who like stirring up trouble too.
My favourite character was Enid’s intellectually disabled son, Harry, who, with his fascination in random details, was a release valve on the pressure cooker of the three sisters’ weeklong marathon effort dismantling Enid’s world, whilst simultaneously consuming copious amounts of coffee and at times too much alcohol.
Family Baggage is an emotional and nostalgic look at family relationships, the roles we play in them, and what we hold precious. And perhaps it gives hope that in the examining of the lives of those who have gone before us, we might find ways of understanding ourselves and others better, and discover ways to move forward in our own lives.
Family Baggage is a work of friction, a portrayal of grief bringing out the worst in people. The reader is thrust into the lives of Enid’s daughters, three middle-aged woman who seem more like bickering teenagers, and then there’s the grandchildren, and some ancient Aunts, who like stirring up trouble too.
My favourite character was Enid’s intellectually disabled son, Harry, who, with his fascination in random details, was a release valve on the pressure cooker of the three sisters’ weeklong marathon effort dismantling Enid’s world, whilst simultaneously consuming copious amounts of coffee and at times too much alcohol.
Family Baggage is an emotional and nostalgic look at family relationships, the roles we play in them, and what we hold precious. And perhaps it gives hope that in the examining of the lives of those who have gone before us, we might find ways of understanding ourselves and others better, and discover ways to move forward in our own lives.
February 26, 2023
Having read and enjoyed “The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer”, I was looking forward to “Family Baggage” and it didn’t disappoint. Ilse Evans has again constructed a novel dealing with family relationships and the conflict that arises when the stress of losing a parent and packing up a lifetime of memories creates a pressure cooker where long held resentments and feuds are reignited.
Grieving the loss of their mother, and trying to sort out the house and contents in a week, three sisters discover a few surprises including a diary holding a family secret that throws a spanner into the works, requiring some sleuthing and change of perspective. Throw in some adultery, a brother with special needs, adult grandchildren and quirky senior relatives and the week becomes rather more eventful than one might expect.
Growing up in Melbourne with two sisters and being around the same ages as Kat, George and Annie, so many of the insights and cultural references rang true. Not quite the same amount of melodrama though!
Thanks to @BRPreview for the advance copy in exchange for honest review.
Grieving the loss of their mother, and trying to sort out the house and contents in a week, three sisters discover a few surprises including a diary holding a family secret that throws a spanner into the works, requiring some sleuthing and change of perspective. Throw in some adultery, a brother with special needs, adult grandchildren and quirky senior relatives and the week becomes rather more eventful than one might expect.
Growing up in Melbourne with two sisters and being around the same ages as Kat, George and Annie, so many of the insights and cultural references rang true. Not quite the same amount of melodrama though!
Thanks to @BRPreview for the advance copy in exchange for honest review.
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March 11, 2023In Family Baggage, Ilsa Evans is back with her wry humour and fabulous imagery. Here we see a family going through the grief that loss of a parent always brings while discovering that their mother was not quite the woman they thought she was. Enid’s secrets are revealed through her diary, which is filled with quirky little notes, and through sometimes hilarious discoveries made as they pack up her house. The story is told largely through the eyes of George, Enid’s middle daughter, whose own secrets are revealed at the same time, forcing her to take a hard look at herself, her marriage and what she wants out of life. The story is set in early 2020 in Melbourne’s north western suburbs with the horrific 2020 east coast bushfires providing a backdrop. I loved the characters, all of whom were fabulous, though autistic Harry was a favourite with his completely irrelevent pieces of information. There’s so much to this book, but I think most of all its a great entertainer. I went through the full range of emotions as I read and was disappointed when I got to the end.
February 14, 2023
Review
Most families have ‘baggage’, good, bad & on occasion somethings too delicate to reveal.
George’s family discover theirs when sorting through their recently passed mother’s possessions, finding out more than they wished to know about her life as a woman more than their mother.
Siblings Kat & Annie do not always agree with the way of handling issues but are all thrown into forced discussion on how to distribute their inheritance & how to manage their disabled brother’s future.
Thrown into the mix are nephews and nieces and George’s husband Simon.
Simultaneously George is negotiating a perilous pathway via an unsatisfying affair which greatly exasperates the problems.
If you love family life novels, i recommend adding this to your reading list, peruse this one & consider how you might handle their bumps along the road life gives us.
Most families have ‘baggage’, good, bad & on occasion somethings too delicate to reveal.
George’s family discover theirs when sorting through their recently passed mother’s possessions, finding out more than they wished to know about her life as a woman more than their mother.
Siblings Kat & Annie do not always agree with the way of handling issues but are all thrown into forced discussion on how to distribute their inheritance & how to manage their disabled brother’s future.
Thrown into the mix are nephews and nieces and George’s husband Simon.
Simultaneously George is negotiating a perilous pathway via an unsatisfying affair which greatly exasperates the problems.
If you love family life novels, i recommend adding this to your reading list, peruse this one & consider how you might handle their bumps along the road life gives us.
March 1, 2023
This contemporary story is about a month in the life of three middle-aged women, their autistic brother and assorted children, who come together in January 2020 in the aftermath of their mother’s death. The idea is to spend a week cleaning out their mother’s home. The discovery of a diary, the relationship between the three sisters, and the turmoil of farewelling their mother makes for an interesting story. The minutiae of the decisions and disputes between the sisters, and the secrets uncovered, populate this entertaining book. It is interesting that it was set during the 2020 Black Summer at the cusp of the COVID pandemic, and these notable events place this book in a very recognisable timeframe. Review questions at the end make Ilsa Evans’ book perfect for Book Clubs to enjoy and dissect.
February 16, 2023
Family Baggage by Ilsa Evans is the story of three sisters navigating through the loss of their beloved mother who passed away rather unexpectedly. It's told from the point of view of the middle sister, George, as she, along with her two sisters figure out a way to dismantle the family home and say goodbye to so many childhood memories. Battling through grief is hard enough but throw in two adult children who are living at home and feel lost and an affair gone wrong, George is having a rough go. As an only child I enjoyed reading about a family dynamic so different than my own. The only negative I would say about the book is I didn't feel like we got to know George's sisters as we learn about George. But otherwise, I enjoyed this novel
March 7, 2023
This is one of those books where nothing really happens but there's a lot going on. It reads a bit slow and we spend a fair amount of time in the main character's head. However, as I kept reading, I became more invested in some of the characters. There are a few who are not at all likeable, just like any family. It was stressful to me that they had one week to clear out their deceased mother's house but they spent an inordinate amount of time making coffee and sitting around the dining room table. However, a week of mourning and grief coupled with clearing out a lifetime of memories would be a bit of a slog and involve much downtime and even fighting. There were also some very humorous moments so this feels authentic.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy.
March 10, 2023
Ilsa Evans cleverly writes with a warmth and depth that lays bare human emotions, both good and bad!
This book is superbly written and insightful and will long stay with me!
Grieving siblings are faced with sorting through their mother’s belongings. The differing opinions and expectations leave George, Kat and Annie and brother Harry, forced to face who their mother really was! The storyline has an honesty, humour, secrets and rawness. The characters are relatable with heartwarming and thought provoking moments to ponder!
I highly recommend this fabulous novel!
Many thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the wonderful Ilsa Evans for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is superbly written and insightful and will long stay with me!
Grieving siblings are faced with sorting through their mother’s belongings. The differing opinions and expectations leave George, Kat and Annie and brother Harry, forced to face who their mother really was! The storyline has an honesty, humour, secrets and rawness. The characters are relatable with heartwarming and thought provoking moments to ponder!
I highly recommend this fabulous novel!
Many thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the wonderful Ilsa Evans for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 5, 2023
I found this a bit heavy to read at the beginning as my mother died in 2016 which doesn't feel very long ago and I also have 2 sisters as well as 3 brothers. None of us are disabled or had affairs but this felt very close to home. As the characters developed I was pulled into the story and was interested in all their interactions. I was not happy that George kept her mother's diary hidden from her siblings and Annie was annoying, self centred and over sensitive. Tom, her son, is a prat. The under themes of George's affair was developed beautifully and I was so pleased that she ended up apart from her husband. This felt more realistic. The three sisters personalities were investigated thoroughly and I found myself fully invested in their stories.
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