Enjoyed the characters and the cutthroat nature of pushy school mums. Amusing at times too. I would definitely read more from the author.

A story that I think will feel familiar to many parents, of just what other mums get up to to try to secure a place at the school of their choice.

From shenanigans with regards moving closer and closer to the school, or inching inside the catchment area, to possibly playing lip service to a religion you don't believe in, to doing everything in your power to be known to be a joiner inner within the school community. Just a hint at what may be in store as Imogen and Lily try to get their daughters one of the few available spaces at this Oftsted Outstanding school

This take place over the course of the year, from Enid and Winnie's first day at pre-school, and most of the focus is on the two women who at one point used to be friends, and their antics, as well as the other mothers to see just what life is like on the school run itself.

The playground politics are in force even amongst parents of 3 year olds at pre-school and it amuses me just what they will try. It was a shame I felt that I didn't really get to know the children's personalities that much, but that all changes with the parents.

We really get to know Imogen and Lily in alternating chapters and I loved seeing everything they were up to, and their relationship dynamics too.

There are all sorts of great sub plots present and I really enjoyed the writing. I think if I was a parent myself, I may have connected with some of the story a bit more, but i could definitely empathises and I wanted to know how things would turn out.

A really good debut novel, and I'll be interested to see what the author writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This book was easy to read and entertaining! The writing styles was fun and light hearted!

It was interesting to follow Imogen and Lily’s lives along with their marriages, jobs, children and friendships.

In terms of feeling an attachment or really being invested in any of the characters, I didn’t really feel that with this book! Therefore it’s a 3 out of 5.

I have to admit I was hesitant to start this book, not because I didn’t think I’d enjoy it but because I’ve done the school runs *shivers* Honestly some of the parents I’ve encountered would have fitted perfectly into this story and the scary thing is, I’ll have to do it all again in a few years time but reading The School Run made realise that I am just a normal mum and I’m quite happy to be just normal.

Lily and Imogen are old friends but lost contact and haven’t seen each other for a number of years so when Lilly meets Imogen in the playground while trying to drop daughter Enid off on her first day of pre-school she’s pleased to see her old friend. Both women are quite different though, Lilly works full time and is always in a rush where as Imogen has given up her job to be mum and does freelance work from home and it’s soon clear that the old friends have a lot of catching up to do.

I really don’t want to give too much away about this story because I had only read the blurb beforehand so went in not really knowing what to expect and I enjoyed it so much. It had me laughing, cringing and there’s a few quite touching moments too but one of the main things I got from this book was the realness. I felt like the characters were real, the situations were real and I could see it all visually developing as I read and I couldn’t help comparing some of the mums to ones that I’ve met in real life. Like most places the school playground has its groups, you have the busy mums, the childminders, the not sure what I’m doing mums and the ‘organic s’ to name a few and it made me laugh as I was reading, the real life mums kept popping into my head as the characters.

I’ll definitely be recommending The School Run, I really enjoyed how the chapters gave us both Lily and Imogen’s feelings and also how their personal relationships were fairing or not so. This is more than just a story about some mums getting a place at a good school for their child, it’s a story about friendships, relationships and about how some things are just maybe not as important as they seem.

I ended devouring this book and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Helen Whitaker soon (hopefully).

Sorry I just couldn't get into this book at all. The premise was good but I just didn't like the characters - I always feel bad giving a low review as I couldn't do any better.

This is billed as the ‘perfect Summer red for Mums on 2019’ and I couldn’t agree more. I found it hard to put down and really enjoyed the story.

I think every Mum out there will find relatable situations in this one – being a working parent, being a stay at home parent, friendships in your thirties, marriage and relationship issues and more! I could really identify with some of the things Imogen and Lily experienced which made it all the more realistic and kept me interested in finding out what happens. Although I have never been engaged in a catchment area battle, I do know this sort of thing can go and can get pretty ruthless. I am sure every parent reading will be able to think of other parents they know that fall into the categories of the other Mum’s Imogen and Lily come across at the school gates.

Lots of laughs, a great format which means you see things from two main character’s perspectives (and therefore learn your first judgement is not always correct) and some heartwarming moments – a definite recommendation from me!

The School Run tells the story of Imogen and Lily who were once old friends. When both their children attend the same nursery they rekindle their friendships but will the race for a school place jeopardise their reunion?

There are several themes running through this novel and they all pull together to make this a brilliant read.

The strongest theme is friendship and the things that can upset it. The narrative alternates between Lily and imogen which helps the reader to gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of each character, and to especially understand the misunderstandings and where they came from.

I particularly enjoyed the mummy stories. Helen Whitaker has included every ‘type’ of mum in existence and to be honest, most of us probably have hints of all of them in us. Very amusing at times, I actually realised that I’d spent half the book judging and laughing at particular characters which then made me question my whole thoughts and feelings. Each parent is written perfectly, with flaws and vulnerabilities that we can all relate to.

Looking deeper into the plot we learn about the heartbreak and difficulties faced by some of the characters. These are written sympathetically and with delicacy, reaching into subjects that will resonate with many readers.

Overall this is a great read with clever and thoughtful character development and some laughs along the way.

I love it when a book surprises me, and this one really did. I expected something along the lines of Bride Wars, a film which although I liked at the time, I now hate. The way in which two smart women are reduced to such ridiculous and hateful behaviour really grates on me. I expected light and frothy slapstick, and whilst there is most definitely humour, but it is laced beautifully between a very honest look at modern motherhood and the relationships we form.
Imogen and Lily, ex-flatmates and friends who have grown apart over the years, are thrown together one day in the school playground whilst dropping off their three year old daughters at pre school. Over the course of the next year, both become embroiled with the school application process for the most sought after school in the area. Whilst Imogen’s preoccupation to move into catchment and create a positive impact begins to rule her life, Lily’s struggle to balance work, motherhood and her marriage, leads to a loss of self.
My son started school last year, and, whilst the rush for places wasn’t quite so dramatic, there was much to recognise. Yasmine, the leader of the ‘Organics’, for example, I’m almost sure that some version of her exists at every school up and down the country and beyond. (A special mention has to be placed here about her baked bean campaign – hilarious!!) It was her character that got me thinking – do we ever really lose the playground mentality of cliques and trying to fit in? And aren’t school politics just the grown up version of pushing, shoving and name-calling at break-time?
I very much identified with Lily and her struggle to combine ambition and motherhood. The guilt is overwhelming at times, the feeling that you’re never quite enough, that you’re being judged whether at work, in the home or – most commonly, by other mothers, never quite goes away.
There was so much I loved about this novel, but the one thing I did think fell a little flat was the backstory of ‘past’ Imogen and Lily. Their history as flatmates is often mentioned, but I would have liked to have known more about that time and the women they used to be. I just didn’t really feel that this particular element was utilised as much as it could have been and I didn’t really ‘feel’ any prior connection between the women, to the point I often wondered if it was necessary. Having said that I did enjoy the way in which their relationship evolved over the course of the novel, and perhaps that is all that matters and I’m just being picky.
Although I can’t give away the ending (obviously!) I just wanted to mention how much I loved it. These imperfect, realistic Mum’s got an imperfectly perfect ending. Not everything was tied up with a pretty bow and because of that, it felt real. I love that there are so many characters and stories out there now which represent reality. Flawed women that we recognise, not a picture of perfection we are led to believe we should aspire to be.
I found The School Run to be insanely easy to pick up and get lost in, I was eager to pick it up and read, and it’s the kind of book that you can snatch ten minutes with – which during the summer holidays is a bookish godsend! Funny and honest, I highly recommend. I will be looking forward to reading more from Helen Whitaker in the future.

I chose to join the blog tour for The School Run as I fancied a lighthearted read with a touch of comedy. It certainly fulfils this criteria and there are several moments that brought a smile to my face.

The School Run is told in alternate chapters from the perspectives of Lily and Imogen. These characters are really well developed and I am impressed by the way that Whitaker looks really deeply into their personalities and personal lives. There is also a great cast of supporting characters in Yasmine, Jusna and the other "nursery mums". As the plot centres around parenthood, I do feel I would have been able to relate to the characters more if I were a parent myself, but it is clear that they are well observed and researched.

Alongside the humour, Whitaker also explores some more serious issues. I appreciated the opportunity to see how the characters would respond to this and it definitely allowed me to give some thought to the issues she raised.

There is nothing more competitive than getting your child into one of the best schools in London, as Helen Whitaker shows in her novel. We have two friends, Lily and Imogen. They used to live together and be best friends. Marriage, children, and career made them lose contact, but now they are both living in the same area and competing to get their daughters into the prestigious St Peter and Paul’s Infant School. The competition is high and all the parents are ready to do anything to get a place for their own children. And while Lily and Imogen try to rekindle their friendship, they also have to face problems at home and with their jobs.

I didn’t know that getting a child into a school could be so stressful. Helen Whitaker portrays a detailed and realistic picture of parents who are willing to pretend they are religious and go to mass every Sunday just to have their child going to the right school. We see them join the organic mothers group, flirt with the hot vicar, hunt for a house by the school to be in the catchment area, and argue over the characters of the Nativity. Some stories made me laugh, some stories were utterly incredible and yet believable.

The chapters alternate between Lily and Imogen. Sometimes I didn’t like them and I found them frustrating, like when Lily kept asking Imogen to babysit her daughter or when Imogen was so keen to live by the school that she would buy a place she didn’t like without asking for the opinion of her boyfriend. I also found them relatable and human. They are mothers trying to do their best for their children, they have to juggle work, house, school, and sometimes with no much help from their partners. They are superwomen and I couldn’t help but sympathize with them.

The story is refreshing and funny, with a few emotional and heart-warming moments while addressing more serious issues. A story not only about parenting and marriage, but also about friendship and loyalty, THE SCHOOL RUN is a compelling read that I highly recommend!

Do you remember your school days? I recall the relief that almost overwhelmed me when the bell rang the end of the day. I can still see my mom near the gates, talking to other moms. I never paid much attention. Life was already so busy, how could I think of what mothers deal with when they are out of our sight? But the magic of books is to take you back and help you grasp the subtleties you missed, the fleeting moments that never reached you but played its part in your life, or the life of someone you love. That’s just what I found here…

I picked The School Run in honor of those blissful days when I didn’t know life was complicated. I wanted to fill the other side of the school gate with stories.

Helen Whitaker’s novel feels so authentic that it is both hilarious and painful! All of a sudden, the children’s world felt uncomplicated!! Adults walk on eggs while their kids paint their clothes! Well, I am simplifying, but at the heart of The School Run, I found a beautiful and scary mirror. Mothers and children being linked by an invisible cord, each with their struggles. Friends? Enemies? Work/Homework? Feelings? It’s all there, it’s all ready for us to read about, to relate with, and to smile.

A long time ago, Lily and Imogen were close friends. Different but on parallel paths, they shared so much that their connection was supposed to withstand the passing of time. Until one day it all stopped. Forward five years later and they are reunited at the gates of a school with an outstanding reputation.

The first day of their upbringing and their way to deal with it told me right away that there were unsolved issues in the air as well as very different takes on parenting. There is no right or wrong, as we get both point of views. I felt the gap between the friends just as much as the small flicker of the old warmth they used to share, and I bonded with both women really fast.

Lily, married, working mom, doing her best not to roll her eyes at the rules and hoping she can channel the most religious part of herself to cope with the primary school’s beliefs. Looking at her watch, she prays she won’t be late for work…
Imogen, long-time girlfriend, PR ace working freelance, embracing motherhood with a blog dedicated to the best role of her life. Teary-eyed and worried about leaving her daughter for the first time, her heart breaks when Winnie starts flying solo.

Around them, dozens of mothers with the same goal: make sure their kid get into the school. For this, they must tick off many criterion on a list. And we all know there is nothing a mother won’t do…

Mothers can be scary!!! When you say goodbye to high school, you think you’re leaving feuds, silly competitions, nastiness, and whatnot behind. Then you’re propelled into the Adult World. As a woman, you are expected to be efficient at work, sexy and a great cook at home, the best friend one can hope, and, when the time comes, Super Mom. Pressure, much?

With their different paths and background, every character in the book opened my eyes to the insecurities being a parent, or even just a human being, brings, as well as the comfort we all need at some point. The biggest lesson however, is that we all totally suck at communication!!! But life does this to us, doesn’t it? It makes the most normal situations look terrifying, it turns the world into something you need to fight against instead of what you need to embrace.

The School Run takes us on a crazy ride where the price is a golden seat in a school. That Holy Graal is at the center, and everyone gravitates around it. Groups form. Loneliness catches up. Daily worries made me laugh. Misunderstanding made me ‘tut’ I just loved hating the haters, I adored rooting for Lilly and Imogen, I enjoyed watching the kids evolve, unaware of the storm around them.

There are all kind of parents in this book. The ones who register a second home to get extra points. The ones who won’t get their kids get chocolate. The ones desperate to move within the vicinity of the school so their babies can get a better chance. The ones who volunteer for fund-raising… Being a parent is exhausting but makes for a terribly good book!
Just how far is too far? With their eyes on that primary school, could those women lose sight of what is important?
With a spot-on narrative making the reader feel like they’re in an elevator going up and down at full speed, the author creates a frank account of what women go through. It is honest, genuine, emotional, fun, and a great read to pick before the new school term!

A great book and so true to life
There are many school mums and dad characters.
A compelling read for anyone who has applied for a school place or been part of the school run

Lily and Imogen (and many other parents) are desperate to get their daughter to the highly appraised St. Peter and Paul's school, but it isn't too easy - you have to live at the right address, show your dedication to the school and its beliefs, be a devoted church goer and those are only few of the things they're ready to go. But won't they forget, among all of those little wars and school - gate politics, what's really important?

I'm a sucker for any school run and not - so - yummy - mummies stories so I was probably the first in the virtual queue to sign for this blog tour. This book was, just like I hoped it's going to be, brutally honest, and oh my, I'll never stop wonder about all those school - gates politics, the tension, bitching and frenemies. It's really stressful and I'm lucky that my daughter goes to school by bus, so I can avoid all of those above mentioned. However, with this book, I'm not so sure what it wanted to tell us, what was the story - yes, I know, about getting a place at school, but other than that? I missed more depth to it and consistency. But I, of course, appreciate what the author did with her story, touching upon so many burning and actual issues of being a parent, no matter if working/non - working, juggling life and job with trying to give your child the best future possible, and the book was just like real life, full of hopes and disappointments.

"The School Run" introduces us to a great number of characters but it's really easy to follow them all and to know who is who and to whom they belong. Lily and Imogen are the main ones, in fact, they used to be friends but they haven't seen each other for a long time so when they meet again dropping their daughters at school maybe their friendship has a chance of reviving? Their lives are not gardens full of roses and I sympathised with both of them, though I actually never warmed to any of them as much as I thought I'm going to, no particular reason why. There is also, of course, a group of "Organic" mums, led by Yasmine, who doesn't feed their children any chocolate because of sugar of course. But no matter who you are, who your group is, how old are you and what's your job, the author shows that parenthood is a hard job for all of them.

It was a genuine, honest and quick novel about friendship and realising what is really important in life. Helen Whitaker's writing style is refreshing, chatty and engaging and the story she tells make you nod when you realise that you've been in some of the situations at least once in your life.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

What an amazing book! Really good description of characters and a good storyline. Highly recommended. Kept me guessing.

I was really excited to read this book and my goodness it did not let me down. It is absolutely hilarious and I found myself unable to put it down. I haven't read anything by this author before but I will be now as she has really impressed me with her style of writing.

My god this was a stressful read. And what I mean by that is that this is an entirely too accurate take on what it's like to be a parent trying to get a child into a school with more applicants than spaces. The tension! The polite face-offs with other mums! The disappointment and the hope!

I'm sure you can enjoy the book if you've never been there, but if you have it takes it to a whole other level.

There's a whole host of school-mum (and dad) characters, but The School Run mostly focuses on Lily, massively busy at work yet also still the one in her relationship in charge of doing all the school admin and drop-offs, and Imogen, new to Walthamstow and equally keen to get her daughter into the same outstanding school.

Lily and Imogen are actually old acquaintances who haven't seen each other in years - ever since their friendship went through a painful rough patch. It should be good to see each other, but somehow it's mostly awkward.

Nevertheless, they keep coming back to one another, in part because of Yasmine, leader of the 'Organics' - ie the school mums who don't let their children eat chocolate or even beans (too much sugar, darling), and also because deep down they know they both want the same thing - to do their best by their daughters. They still have lots in common. And yes, that includes doing (almost) anything they can to get into the goddamn perfect school. Even lusting after the vicar...

I sympathised first with Imogen, constantly being asked favours by Lily, then also with Lily, constantly being put down by the men at work who seemingly never had to worry about childcare themselves. Then there were all the other mums that we got to know through quick snapshots into their lives. It's hard for most of them.

The school run is political. So are catchment areas and self-run church schools. It made me relive the year I applied for my son to go to school. So many emotions! (And so glad I'm not going through it right now.)

Coincidentally, I used to live in Walthamstow - where this book is set - many years ago and although I wasn't in the throes of applying for school places back then, or indeed even thinking of children, I found it enjoyable to go travelling through my old stomping grounds.

A compelling read for anyone who's ever applied for a school place, and hopefully for anyone who has yet to have the pleasure.

The school run depicts some of the struggles of parenthood! Lily and Imogen are desperate to get their daughters a place at the coveted saint peters and Paul’s infant school and will go to extreme lengths to help their application along with the other parents trying to get a place! The extreme lengths they go to are well detailed such as moving house, having extensions, registering a second property, becoming devout church goers,doing fund raising and getting to know the new young trendy vicar very well to name but a few! However realisation dawns and the parents realise what really matters in life is happiness, not compromising on your beliefs and friendship! A light hearted, sensitive,funny read!
Thank you net galley for this advance copy to read and enjoy and the opportunity to try a new author.

This is a lighthearted fun read about several different women attempting to get their children into a local primary school with an outstanding review. We follow the women as they fight to buy properties in the right catchment area, join the PTA and become avid churchgoers all in the hope of attaining one of the coveted places for their offspring. There are some really funny moments such as the nativity play and the "obscene gestures"
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an amusing read. I only have one query about the book, are there really mothers who take their kids to school dressed in skinny jeans and heels with fresh blow dries? In my area they are more likely to turn up in their PJs with smudges of the previous night's mascara under their eyes, lol.

An enjoyable fun book detailing the school run as it is. It makes it so easy to remember life at the school gates and the people you meet there

Well written with some funny observations of school gate life. Profound in places. Enjoyable, but not a read that I couldn’t put down.