Prickly Susan's escapades - forty five, resolutely single and freakishly in control - are fun from the start, and written with wit, intelligence and charm. But they're hardly unexpected. A lovely, heartwarming if rather predictable take on the old trope of a singleton converted. Whilst I knew what was coming at (almost) every turn, I couldn't help but enjoy the ride.

I loved this story and there was a lot to love about it. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review and I can only say good things about the way Sarah has written this and in some ways very down to earth. The characters all go together really well and I just love Susan and the way she changes without her really understanding why. This would make a great christmas present as it is very enjoyable.

I really think Sarah should write another book about what happens and how Susan copes with all the changes that are happening in her life and what does the brother get up to?

A funny and uplifting book which was not quite as funny as A Man Called Ove but more light hearted (and therefore enjoyable) than Eleanor Olliphant. If you enjoyed those (and The Rosie Project) then this is a good one to go for.

The Catus is a brilliant read, following main character Susan who is so interesting to read about. She is a very independent, confident person who has firm beliefs and a fairly unique way of interacting with other people. We see,  throughout this novel, some of the reasons for the way she behaves around people, and although at first I couldn't imagine ever wanting to spend a significant amount of time with her, by the end of the book I could really appreciate what a quirky, interesting character she is. What you see is what you get with Susan; she's unapologetically stuck in her ways and will change for no-one (or so it seems), and I loved that about her! 

The story follows Susan as she deals with the discovery that, at 45 and having never wanted children, she is pregnant. This comes soon after the death of her mother, and some tricky news regarding the will, and is generally a time when life seems to be testing her a little...

The story that follows is heartwarming, a little sad at times, but most definitely a wonderful read. Sarah Haywood has moulded some brilliant characters, from Susan herself and her lovely neighbour Kate, to her (extremely unlikable, but very interesting) brother Edward and his brilliantly unique friend Rob - I loved reading about them all! They seemed to jump off the pages at me and I only wish this novel had been longer, because I could happily have read twice, three times as many pages.

Oddly enough, Susan refers to her mother as 'mom' instead of the more commonly-used (in England) 'mum' - not sure if that's another quirk of Susan's but it did make me check whether the author is from (she is British) and in doing this I saw Sarah's Goodreads Author page that she is actually writing a second novel at the moment - yay! I'll be first in the queue.

I really enjoyed this book which was quite well-written. The way the author gradually explained the prickly character of Susan made you understand her all the more. Some very funny observations on life and chidlbirth had me laughing out loud in parts. Good holiday read.

Susan (never 'Suze' despite what her brother thinks) works in London, trying to convince her workmates to be more efficient, and, at 45, is happy with her life. She has a small flat, perfect for her needs, and a mutually gratifying relationship with a sensible, cultured gentleman which they have agreed will be going nowhere. Again, perfect for her needs. Everything is just as it should be until the sudden death of her mother and the realisation that she is about to become a mother herself. Susan disposes of the baby's father - their arrangement was for an uncomplicated relationship and she is perfectly capable of raising a child on her own - but her plans to use her share of her inheritance to help support the child go awry when she discovers that her mother has left the family home to her feckless and jobless brother Edward. Armed with her law degree and a sense of righteousness she sets about putting things right but discovers that life isn't always logical, fair or controllable.

I liked Susan - even though she is prickly and opinionated you grow to understand the reasons behind her quirks - and her family. She may not feel as if she enjoys spending time with Edward or her rather flighty Aunt Sylvia but I did (although I probably share her lack of patience with her twin cousins who were shallow and a bit odd). As a more mature woman I admired Susan's no-nonsense approach to life and her uncompromising belief that she is the equal of any man but also the way she adapts to the changes in her life. She accepts the friendship of her neighbour, Kate, and is able to rethink her attitude to both her impending motherhood and the father's role in her child's life. Her brother's friend Rob, however, will have to work hard to prove to her that he is not part of Edward's plan (as Susan sees it) to defraud her of her share of the family home.

If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant, Graeme Simsion's Rosie Project or Harold Fry then give this a try. Yes, it is riding on the coat-tails of these books but is also completely itself. Susan Green wouldn't have it any other way.

I really enjoyed this heart-warming feel-good tale, which was quite well-written, with some memorable characters, witty realistic dialogue and uncomplicated plot. A perfect read in between my usual gritty phycological thrillers.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I have to say what drew me to the book was not the cover as i have seen many people saying, but in fact the blurb. The book is not what i would usually pick up but i was intrigued, so i jumped in. Overall it was a quirky and fun read about a woman who is living her own life, free of constraints - to a degree who then gets caught up in many a scenario. Therefore having to re-evaluate who she is and what she is doing, which makes for quite some interesting monologues. A 3 star book from me i know a lot of people have enjoyed it more but it made a nice read from my usual genres

Susan Green a woman who is used to being in control of every aspect of her life, until, aged 45, she is faced with impending single motherhood and a legal battle with her brother for control of their late mother's home. Headstrong and uncompromising, Susan is both admirable for her independence and incredibly frustrating in her refusal to see the world in non-binary terms. However, the humour in Haywood's writing keeps the reader compelled to the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wanted more once I'd finished it. The writing style through the main character, Susan, reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant, just not quite so damaged through childhood. There are some fairly humourous passages making this a light read. Susan certainly does have issues, which she is on the way to solving once she knows the full story behind her upbringing. Her brother, Edward, is a totally dislikeable character and it's interesting how both he and Susan coped with a rather unconventional upbringing as even his behaviour can be explained near the finish.. There are some lovely peripheral characters, namely Kate and Rob and how they manage to crack Susan's defences that she has built around herself.

I look forward to some more writing from this author

Loved this book - an entertaining read with a good balance of humour and drama. Focusing on a woman who is fiercely independent and set in her ways who is forced to reflect on her past. Really well written with a gradual and rewarding unfolding of the plot and authentic characters, especially for a debut novel.

This was actually really lovely - Susan's voice as a character was very strong, very consistent and always very individual.

The story was not unexpected but it was improved by there being very clear reasons for Susan's behaviour - so many books with prickly/ASD characters struggle to explain both why they behave in that way, or why they would change. This one managed it slowly and securely and it worked well, rather than changing someone's innate character (there was also a hinted consideration of the nature/nurture debate, and how it can affect someone's upbringing).

The Cactus is an odd story, and not one I enjoyed, I’m sorry to say. The main character Susan, is so unremittingly hateful, heartless, devoid of any human warmth, empathy or compassion, that I found I did not care what happened to her life or relationships - if she ever managed to form any. Her brother Edward seemed equally dislikeable, but in very different ways. Whatever caused them to be like this, I neither know nor care. I struggled on to 32%, but gave up soon after Susan found a use for her late mother’s ‘tasteful’ casket of ashes.
This is billed by some high-profile reviewers as ‘hilarious’ ‘refreshingly different’ ‘very funny’ No. It was not remotely amusing, just very distasteful and downright nasty in places. Not my idea of entertainment, there are too many good books out there, waiting to be read. I could not waste any more precious time on this one.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

What a totally wonderful read, loved every minute, Suze (sorry Susan) is a fantastic character and I think she's going to stay with me for quite a while, the book is written beautifully and flows from start to finish, highly recommended

I enjoyed this book it was a bit different from a conventional romance, I didn't like Eleanor Oliphant but I enjoyed this book, I think comparisons have been made. It's an easy read .

I don't entirely know how I feel about this book, a part of me really enjoyed it, and watched the characters grow, and a part of me thinks that this is so similar in voice to Eleanor Oliphant, but not as good, that I'm disappointed. If this book had come out first and I didn't have anything to compare it to, then maybe I would have liked it more.

Susan Green, a woman who in some ways is an overexaggerated version of myself. So it's nice to be able to relate to her, but also laugh and breathe a sigh of relief that I'm not quite as over the top as her. Her strength of will, passion and determination are all commendable. I can see why other characters in the book are so quick to judge her, I think it happens a lot in this life, where women in particular are pigeon holed and as a result, are considered bossy or overbearing. I will say with the exception of a very obvious character, for the most part there's no malicious behaviour towards her, just a lot of harmless exasperation.

When I started writing this review I felt it was a solid 3 stars, but actually thinking about what I've written I think it edges up closer to 4 when you think about the characters growth. This book, more than anything, is about how Susan grows as a person and learns to find herself. Some of that transformation is obvious, but a lot more if it is quiet and it takes you by surprise, but is suprising. I felt there was nothing mind blowing in the novel, even the twists were OK, but not great.

It's a really enjoyable read, and I will be recommending it to people. But I will also be careful not to make the comparison to Eleanor Oliphant, because I think when you do, it loses some of it's shine.

Wow, what a hateful character. So devoid of emotion. Irritated me so much I could not finish this book.

This book is perfect in every way and I was really sad when I'd finished.

I was engrossed, enthralled, so vested in Susan's life and what was happening to her. What a well-rounded character and how well the author fed the reader the pieces of Susan's past that made her such a prickly character. Her voice was perfect and really made me laugh at her little observations - I could picture the expression on her face as I read her thoughts. So cleverly written and such a lovely warm-hearted story. LOVED IT!

I'll definitely look out for more books from this author.

I was drawn to this because of the comparisons with 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine', a book that I thought was charming.

In this novel, protagonist Susan Green has her life organised just as she wants. Her work is predictable and her London flat is her refuge, a long way from her messy childhood in Birmingham. Sure, the unplanned pregnancy at the age of 45 might cause a few changes to her life, but nothing that she can't prepare for with parenting manuals and the efficiency with which she organises the rest of her life.

Except, of course, everything is set to change in Susan's life as she challenges her mother's will, makes new friends and negotiates some interesting family relationships.

I did enjoy this and found it amusing in places, although I found Susan a quite unsympathetic heroine at times. I liked the quirky family members and the situation was interesting.

Overall, this is an engaging read that follows Susan Green as she embarks on the journey of her life.

This reminded me more of The Rosie Project than the suggested comparison of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - mainly because whilst Susan has similar defences up against the world, it's much more due to the way she sees things rather than Eleanor's back story. Susan's defences are shaken when she discovers that she's pregnant, just as her mother dies and doesn't leave things the way Susan expects, meaning she has to deal with her younger brother much more than she'd like. Edward is the antithesis of Susan, and they don't get on - the bickering is realistic - and he has backup in the form of his friend Rob, who is also supportive of Susan.
Susan's other supporters include her neighbour Kate, who initially needs her help in an emergency and gradually becomes a massive support, her rather brash aunt Sylvia and an old university friend.
The book is by turns funny, infuriating and touching - the more Susan's childhood takes shape, the more you feel for her, only for her then to do something deeply annoying! The ending is perhaps a little too neat, but is quite satisfying. I'd recommend it!