“It’s three people with completely different lives providing laughter and comfort for one another. Whatever happens tomorrow, these ladies will be here to help me pick up the pieces.”

That’s exactly how I feel about my book clubs! In Victoria Cooke’s newest novel, The Single Mums’ Book Club, Stephanie and her two new friends, Janey and Amanda, start a book club, although there isn’t a ton of reading going on, but there is a lot of love and support in their club (and wine!). These three women are there for each other when things get a bit crazy and when they need help setting up a computer camera. These are the friends everyone needs. These women discover their inner strength and have a few adventures along the way.

This was a cute read with a ton of hilarious bits (“There is so much emphasis on peer pressure among teens but nobody ever talks about peer pressure in book club circles. Granted, the number of affected victims could probably fit on a unicycle, but still, we exist and we matter.”) I absolutely loved the relationship between Stephanie, Janey, and Amanda. The romance in the book was well done, as was the idea of non-traditional family units and how children cope with divorce.

My qualm with this book was character development and dialogue. I wanted more substance about the three main women. I never felt that I truly knew Janey and Amanda, even though they were essential to Stephanie’s growth as a character. The Janey who meets Stephanie in the market is, in my opinion, different from the Janey throughout the rest of the novel. Sometimes the dialogue between characters felt forced and bland, almost formulaic. Cooke can write absolutely wonderful zingers and hilarious one-liners, but for some reason, the conversations between characters were a little off for me. Perhaps because I’m American?

This was a fun read, but I wanted to see more depth to the characters. There is a part of the book that discusses mugging and murder, which could be a trigger for some.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

As a single mum myself I adored this story. The characters and the situations rang true to me. I enjoyed this book immensely and I cannot wait to read more by this author.

I wasn’t enjoying this book I was really interested in the books blurb but I just couldn’t get into it. I was kinda disconnected from what was happening I was reading it but nothing was really sticking.

I thought the characters were all alright I just felt meh towards them and some of the characters I just didn’t like at all.

I would have liked to have said that I liked everyone in this book but I can’t.

Hilarious from the first few pages and it hooked me in instantly.

Stephanie is a single mum to three children, her ex husband is being unreasonable at times, and she continually is struggling to do everything and has money woes.

She's been out of work for many years looking after the kids, and now suddenly is trying to get a job, and succeeds at a vet in the next town over, to do their books, and meets Edward.

Edward must be one of the most adorable men I've come across for a long while. He has such a great awkwardness about him, but also has a heart of gold. And frankly any man that seems to love animals and children is ok by me!

Stephanie is though at a low point when Janey finds her in the supermarket, and although they have been neighbours for a while, they had never really spoken and soon a firm friendship forms, in addition to a book club of sorts.

I loved Stephanie's children and dog, and actually almost all of the characters featured. This is a light hearted fun escapist read, that was just really entertaining.

And I can't help but think that if you are a mother, or single mum, then you will get even more recognition from some of the situations and feelings, than I could.

There is also a slightly more serious storyline regarding Stephanie's mother, her passing (when she was a child, and not in the way you may expect) and the impact that has had on her life, which added another dimension to this book and made if even more well rounded.

Full of Victoria Cooke's trademark humour, not the most obvious of love interests, an engaging writing style and believable and relatable to storylines and characters, this was a joy to read. Perfect for an afternoon in the garden, and to take you away from real life for a few hours.

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