Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of ‘Stepping Up. ‘
I really enjoyed this debut fiction book. It is well written, a superb plot and characters worth investing in.

This book really tugged on my heartstrings. It was an easy read whilst also maintaining emotional depth, and I felt an affinity for all of the characters in their own way. It left me with a warm fuzzy feeling, and also a feeling of hope. I will be recommending this to friends and family as a lighthearted but uplifting read :)

Disclaimer – I received this book in exchange for a review from NetGalley.

I had no idea what to expect from this book other than I have read some of Sarah Turner’s other books as The Unmumsy Mum. The cover looked intriguing but I went in completely blind as to the plot.

So by page 7 my heart was in my mouth waiting for confirmation of the awful news that Beth is waiting for too. All I can say is that the author did such a great job of making me feel connected to Beth in such a short space of time and when I got the news with Beth, it literally took my breath away.

It’s definitely not usual for me to be so emotionally invested in a book that I am empathetically crying along with the character before I’ve even hit double digits on the page count, and I immediately knew this book was going to be gripping.

There will be potential spoilers from here on out so stop reading this and get yourself pre-ordering this if you’re interested!

The awful news that Beth has just been given is that her sister Emmy and her husband have been in a horrific car accident. Doug has died and Emmy is now in a coma.

Beth has not had the most stable of lives – flitting from one job to another and never finding a steady partner to settle down with – her parents think she is a complete flake and a perennial quitter. So it’s a surprise to everyone when they find out that she is named as guardian of her niece Polly and nephew Ted.

What follows is a very steep learning curve as Beth learns how to look after a teenager and a toddler, both of whom are devastated by the loss of both their parents and the wondering of whether their mum will come back to them. Both are acting out in ways that Beth has no idea how to deal with, but she’s now responsible and has to figure it out.

As I mentioned before, I felt an immediate connection to Beth and felt like I was on this journey with their family. The emotion was pouring out of every single page.

I loved how we see the relationships grow as time goes on, with Beth and her niece and nephew, Beth and her parents, Beth and her best friend Jory, Beth and the lovely elderly neighbour Albert.

Along with the relationships, the best part of the book to me was the characterisation. Every character felt well rounded and real, not an easy task when you have such a wide range of characters, from toddlers to teenagers to elderly men and everything in between.

Beth as a character has all her flaws front and center. You can really see her growing as the time goes on and I felt both disappointed and proud of her at different moments. She felt like a real human being, not a stereotype like is common for lead female characters. I actually felt like I could be best friends with Beth and I wanted to be her cheerleader, urging her to believe in herself before she realised she did.

I loved the ending of the book, although I feel like there were some strands left open. Whether that’s so we can come to our own endings, or there is a potential sequel in the works, I don’t know, but I would be happy either way (although overjoyed to come back to Beth, Polly and Ted again).

I’d recommend this book to anyone who looks for their fiction to have a bit of depth to it – just make sure you have the tissues ready!

A lovely story of a sister who has to look after her sisters children when their is an accident. Add in a love problem and helpful but interfering parents it is a good read. The teenager daughter Polly is so mixed up. I loved Malcolm the boss and Albert the neighbour. The ending for me was wrong but a jolly good story

I've just finished reading Stepping Up and oh my goodness, I want to tell everyone about it! I lost count of how many times I sobbed, my eyes were filled with tears the whole way through, but I laughed out loud (literally!) so many times too. Especially at "you're welcome stickhead"!

I've been really struggling to read the last couple of years, I used to devour books before that, but I lost my ability to read under a fog of depression. I've tried so many times to read again, but got frustrated with my lack of focus. It honestly felt like I'd lost a big chunk of myself. I was lucky enough to be accepted to read Stepping Up early through Net Galley so thought I'd try again.

I honestly couldn't put it down. Every character was so beautifully written, I could imagine every single one of them in real life. The behaviours, the way they spoke, it was all so authentic. To be able to capture people in this way is incredible, particularly considering the range of ages. Beth is one of the most relatable characters ever; flawed, human, with a huge heart. I think I fell in love with Albert, and Ted was hilarious!

What I loved more than anything was that in Beth, we had a strong female character who wasn't fixated on her weight or romantic relationships. She gets things wrong, annoys the hell out of herself and loves hard, even if she doesn't show it - we could be friends!

Sarah - thank you for helping me to fall in love with reading again. I cannot wait for this to be released so I can buy a copy to read over and over again, I can already tell it will be a firm favourite. Also can't wait for others to read it so I can talk about it, instead of sending you a gushing message at 2am - what an embarrassment! Thank you for being so lovely about it!

Really enjoyed this story of Beth, a single young woman who was stuck in a bit of a rut. Her life turns upside down in an instant, and she has to learn to take responsibility for her life very quickly. There are definitely some laughs along the way as she gets to grips with her new life, predictably not making much of a success of it to begin with. I found myself really willing her to do well and I loved the way her relationship with her little nephew, and then her niece, begins to develop and we begin to see a new responsible and caring version of Beth. Her lifelong best friend, Jory, has been a constant fixture in her life but, as her other relationships flourish, cracks begin to form in her relationship with Jory. I loved her neighbour, Albert, and the author very sensitively described this lonely old man and it did make me wonder how many other ‘Alberts’ are out there.
I would love to know what happens next to this family and thank the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to enjoy it.

A good debut book. Roller-coaster of emotions, sad and happy times, laughing and crying. Makes you want to keep reading. Lovely characters and family life in a nutshell. Well written and enjoyable book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started it, but what a wonderful debut novel Sarah Turner has given us. It is so well written and completely character driven, which I so enjoy reading. Every character is so well rounded, from the irritating Mum, to Polly the difficult teenager, to toddler Ted, who is a hoot! Not forgetting the friends, including Arthur next door, who is in his eighties. Even Emmy, who is ‘asleep’ has her own personality, as described by the author. The protagonist Beth starts out in the story as supremely irritating, as someone who is thirty one and has reached this normally mature age but is still so helpless, hapless and hopeless at everything.
As the story progresses her vulnerability shines through as her strength increases. Her self belief takes much longer to catch up though, as she muddles through trying to hold down her job, and keep the children’s lives on track, run the household, keep her hypercritical mother off her case - It’s spinning plates on speed. This is such a human story, based on all aspects of love, which is what shines through the strongest . Love in all it’s guises ; family; siblings; parents; friends; neighbours; and romantic love, they are all here, and written with heart and deftness of touch.
I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work. I have enjoyed this book so much.
My thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance, copy of this title, I heartily recommend it.

How does a young woman who has always lived with mum & dad cope with looking after a teenage niece and a toddler nephew after a tragic accident. This is someone who just about knows how to boil a kettle! A well written coming of age story, albeit for a 30 year old!

Brilliant story of Beth who after her sister and brother in law are involved in a accident in which her brother in law dies and her sister is left in a coma becomes the guardian of her niece Polly and nephew Ted. Full of adventures and twists that are funny and also sometimes sad. Beautifully written and you really feel for Beth and the position she is put in.
Would recommend.

This is such a gem of a book! I didn't read the synopsis before picking it up but the story was a powerful one. I couldn't fault any part of this book and I would recommend anyone read it - especially those who love a bit of a hard hitting story.

I fully engaged with this book and found the plot, whilst incredibly poignant and sad, very thought provoking. I did wonder at first if I would actually like the main character, Beth, who just seemed so immature and totally reliant on others but then over the course of the book, and in fact the major subtext, she matures. Despite the heartbreak and sadness, there are many points of humour to lighten the story, making it seem quite real. The book has many different strands and subplots with many true life scenarios within, so there is some predictability but also heartwarming overall..

I felt like I needed this book, right now, to shine a light of positivity over some tough times.
Beth, our heroine, really ins one, though she doesn't really know it; after all, she is known for being the quitter of the family and has been, pretty much her whole life.
Until a tragedy forces her to stop quitting. Emmy, Beth's older sister, and her husband Doug are involved in a car accident that is fatal for one and leaves the other in a coma.
So we have Beth. A single woman who can't commit to a job, or a relationship, suddenly thrust into the role of mother/aunt, looking after her teenage niece and toddler nephew. With a cranky old neighbour to contend with, a mother with extremely high expectations, yet with no hope that Beth will deliver, and a best friend who seems to be drifting away, at a time when she needs him more than ever.
I truly felt for Beth, who appears resigned to thinking she'll never amount to anything. The change in her, over the course of the book, is heartwarming. I truly enjoyed her blossoming relationship with Ted, her little nephew. He's a charming little character, coming to terms with a huge loss from his life, but not fully understanding it.
She has to contend with a teenage niece, Polly, who is hormonal, emotional and has so much she is holding in, away from everyone else. The way their connection develops and goes from breaking point to a true sense of connection is wonderful.
I loved Albert, the octogenarian neighbour, who appears to be some sort of gorgon, in Beth's mind, yet is quite possibly the sweetest, lonely old man she has ever encountered. Again, her friendship with him is a joy to read about.
Then there is Jory. Beth's best friend of over twenty years. A connection so strong, that ends up fraying, through a difficult time, as they both find it hard to talk about the crux of the matter.
The way the conclusion is reached is just perfect, and all I can say is that I loved it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Random House UK for an arc, in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable book. I liked the characters and the subject matter whilst sad to work well. There was a certain amount of predictability in the story and a bit of the parable about it but I nevertheless found it interesting.

At times bleak, but overall an optimistic and heartwarming book.

An accident leaves two children without a father and with their mother in hospital. Her feckless younger sister has been named as guardian so takes on the children. Will she 'step up' and rise to the challenge, or will she, as so often before, fail to live up to expectations?

A story of family, challenges, romance, setbacks and triumphs.

A good read.

I was delighted to be approved to read @theunmumsymum (aka Sarah Turner’s) debut fiction novel on @netgalley. Argh, this book. I couldn’t put it down and read it in two sittings. And I can already tell I am going to have the biggest book hangover from it. It was more emotional than I was expecting having read Sarah’s non fiction books, but that just made it an even better read. In it we meet Beth, a 30 year old who still lives with her parents and can’t keep a job, who suddenly and unexpectedly becomes guardian of her 14 year old niece and 4 year old nephew after their parents are in a horrific car accident and one dies and one is left in a coma. This is a story about a family pulling together and supporting each other through their grief as they adjust to a new normal and about Beth stepping up to meet her new responsibilities. I totally loved this book and my favourite character was Albert, the octogenarian widow who lives next door. I was also highly amused by the references to the current age of 90s pop stars. If you like your women’s fiction with more of an emotional edge, whilst also having lots of laugh out loud moments, you need to read this book. Out March 2022.

I wasn't sure of this book at first as it seemed it wasn't really going anywhere for a while, but by the end I was fully invested in the characters and the story. Despite never having been in Beth's situation, I found myself relating to her feelings of burnout. Thrown in at the deep end, she's feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle being a surrogate parent, keeping up appearances at work, battling with her feelings towards her best friend and trying to live up to her Mum's impossibly high standards.

Beth is an instantly likeable character and I think every reader would be able to see a part of themselves in her. Sarah Turner handles the sudden, serious illness of a loved one with real sensitivity and an observance of the small details that suddenly seem so magnified when someone you love is so unwell. The bland paintings on the hospital wall, the clothes and post and mugs lying scattered around the house, reminders of a life put on pause.

I felt that one of the characters didn't really add much to the book and didn't serve a real purpose with the rest of the story, but overall I really loved this.

I laughed and sobbed through this book.
It is so sad and joyous in different places. You will recognise the characters as people in your life. I loved it. Family dynamics, teenagers and an octanarian build a layered story.

An entertaining easy read, that was thoroughly enjoyable, and an absolute page-turner.

Beth lives at home with her parents and often struggles to care for herself let alone anyone else, however, when her sister and husband meet with an accident, Beth is left with the responsibility of caring for her teenage niece and toddler nephew.

Sarah's writing style is refreshing and kept me coming back for more. The characters were well described and easy to relate to. The raw emotions and the character's feelings were depicted. The story was heartwarming and truly sad.

A wonderfully warm and beautiful story. Highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley, Random House UK, and Sarah Turner for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have a confession to make – my first thought on this title was ‘oh no, I’m not a fan of ‘Chick Lit.’ Shame on me for multiple reasons, not least of which being the sexist overtones of that so-called genre, a relic of the laddish 90s.
But to be devil’s advocate for just a moment, there are certain literary tropes attached to the label, and ‘Stepping Up’, much like ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’, seems at a cursory glance to fit several.

Youngish single woman, unhappy in love? Check

Fussy and/or critical mother? Check

Shoulders supplied by heart-warming friends for crying purposes? Check

Much like Helen Fielding’s eponymous heroine, Beth struggles with the responsibilities of the adult world, hemmed in by an infuriatingly capable mother and perfect-seeming sister. Still living with her parents into her thirties, she is a serial job-quitter, and her relationship history is a disaster.
When a tragic turn of events plunges her into family life, no-one thinks she can cope. She feels incapable, but who can blame her when faced with her mother’s near-constant judgements? Beth’s fragility when coupled with her down-to-earth humour provided one of the real hooks for me, an early alert to my own unfair first assumptions. That Beth should turn out to be brilliantly relatable whilst gutsy and funny comes as no surprise when you consider that Sarah Turner is also known as ‘The Unmumsy Mum’; a refreshingly smugness-free source of comfort to any mum who has ever felt out of her depth. (cue flashbacks to traumatising public potty-training incidents)
Stepping Up manages to avoid sugar-coating its characters and events, mixing some pretty harsh life events with satisfying but schmaltz-free resolutions. Crucially, the compassion shines through, and I’d say that’s something of a Sarah Turner hallmark. These characters are human and fallible, the take-home message being that it’s perfectly okay to miss perfection, just so long as you CARE. What a relief!

(And by the way, it’s also pleasingly sweary. I’ll never mention chick-lit again.)