Three and a half stars.

Beth is a teenager trapped in a thirty-one year old's body. She still lives at home with her parents, gets wasted during the week, flits from one dead-end job to another, can't be relied upon for anything, and is prone to calling in fake sick to work after a boozy night in the pub with her best mate Jory. March 15th is just such a day, hungover and with a car that won't start Beth calls in sick and then switches her phone off so she doesn't have to speak to her boss while she deletes all the damning evidence of the previous night's 'high jinks' from social media.

But the unthinkable has happened, Beth's older sister Emmy and her husband have been involved in a terrible car accident on the M5 motorway, her brother-in-law is dead and her sister is in a coma, their wills stated that Beth was to be the guardian of their fourteen year old daughter Polly and four year old son Ted. How can a woman who can't cook, doesn't know how to use a washing machine, and can't get herself out of bed on time for work, expect to look after two heartbroken children? Sometimes it's the really hard things that make you a grown-up.

I was ruminating about this book last night and thinking how some feelings/experiences, like first love, transcend age, it doesn't matter if you are thirteen or eighty reading about first love (especially first heartbreak) really gets you in the feels. Some things however, become less relatable as we get older. So basically I found the concept of a thirty-one year old woman being so completely useless and behaving like a teenager really irritating/off-putting, and I couldn't understand why Jory (who is a responsible adult with his own home and a career as a teacher) still likes Beth or even wants to hang out with her when she gets stupid drunk.

However, once I got over the first few chapters I really got interested in the book, how Beth steps up for Polly and Ted (in her own way) and grows into an adult. I think one of the things I liked was that the journey was long with lots of set-backs, there was no eureka moment halfway through where Beth starts batch-cooking food for the freezer or making exquisite fancy dress costumes for Ted, it's all gradual and more believable. My only gripe is that it is all too predictable, of course we know Beth is going to step up in the end, it's in the title, etc, etc.

I would be interested in reading other books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was probably THE book I was hoping.to be accepted for! What a fantastic fiction debut it is. Funny, heartbreaking and totally relatable, it makes you feel all the feels!
The story follows Beth, a young care free, irresponsible woman. Her world comes crashing down following an accident involving her sister and brother in law. She is forced to step up to an over night role of playing mum and dad for her teenage niece and toddler nephew. Beth really grows as a character, I liked her from the beginning but you really know her by the end. There wasn't a single character I disliked and I felt I connected with all of them at different points in the story.
Loved the toddler mishaps which parents can fully relate to, but equally enjoyed the touching moments between characters.
I would highly recommend as I loved all of it and would happily read again.
Can't wait for her next novel already!
Thanks for the privilege of reading and reviewing this book.

I adored this debut novel from Sarah Turner.

I’m familiar with her Facebook and Instagram profile ‘the unmumsy mum’ and so I was looking forward to getting stuck in. I wasn’t disappointed at all.

It tells the story of Beth, who is unfulfilled in her life, without responsibilities and just hasn’t grown up. Sadly, tragedy strikes and she finds herself the sole guardian of her sister’s two children - a teenage niece and toddler nephew.

I had expected laughs (there are many) but I hadn’t expected to be so moved at the story, this isn’t your average light and frothy rom com. We watch as Beth’s character develops and at times it is deeply moving.

I didn’t want the story to end, and I’m hoping that as there were a few things unresolved, this isn’t the last we hear from Beth and her lovely family.

I would definitely recommend xxx thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow... I cant remember ever being so invested in a book from the off like I was with this. I really did not want it to end. So beautifully written and relatable (not the situation) but the feelings it ignited. I shed a few tears, laughed out loud and everything in between. I would highly recommend this book, please say we will find out more in the future!

What a surprise!!!
I wanted to read this book thinking I would get an easy romance, instead I got so much more.

Beth is 30 and she has a tendency of avoiding responsibilities and spending her evenings at the pub with her best friend. Her life has no real direction. Completely different from her big sister's Emmy, who's married to the love of her life and has 2 kids.
What Beth doesn't expect is for her life to turn upside down when tragedy strikes and she finds herself guardian to her teenage niece and toddler nephew. She will need to learn how to finally be an adult, but she will do it in her own way.

I really enjoyed this one. The romance was there but it wasn't the main focus of the story. What I loved most was reading about Beth's growth, finding herself and her place in the world, slowly becoming a focal point for both her niece and nephew. I loved reading about her friendship with Albert, the elderly neighbour, too.
Sweet and funny, I really recommend it.

Women’s fiction with a big strong heart
I was immediately drawn into this family pulling together in times of crisis after young parents are injured and killed in a road traffic accident leaving the previously happily going free single sister looking after a teenager abs a toddler with the help and sometimes hindrance of their grandparents
Luckily for most of us parenthood develops slowly as we learn as the child grows what we need to do to keep them warm fed clean healthy and happy .How traumatic it must be if this is suddenly thrust upon us by fate .
I loved the story of how Beth the younger sister puts on her big girl pants and takes over the care of the 2 children and their very differing needs
I loved the on off relationship she has with her old school friend and was urging them to get together very soon into the book
The addition of an elderly male neighbour adds an extra input to the story I rather liked him and his joy when a parcel delivery man takes a picture of his slippers
I don’t usually read what I suppose would be classified as chick lit but this book had me grabbed ,I blubbed giggled and was sad when I’d finished
I’d like another novel to see what happens to the family as I’m now invested in their outcome

A lovely book. Beth leads a pretty aimless life which is turned upside down when she suddenly has the responsibility of bringing up a toddler nephew and a teenage niece. She is totally unqualified for the job and her mother is horrified as she knows Beth isn’t up to it , and she constantly undermines her.
Beth makes many mistakes, but does her best to bring some normality out of chaos - often with hilarious results. her best friend Jory (male) is very supportive, and the inclusion of elderly Albert, Beth’s next door neighbour in the story is heartwarming.
You’ll laugh, cry and gasp out loud, - you must read this book!

Heartwarming and heartbreaking. Full of warmth and Turner's perceptive parenting humour. This engaging novel looks at the lengths you go to for your family. It's a book that will break your heart and make you fall in love all at once! I loved it!

Heartwarming..Beth is plunged in to a family disaster of the most unimaginable proportions. A very enjoyable read ... hilarious at times, heartwarming and serious too. Loved Beth's character and how she navigates a very rocky path, trying to be all things to all people.. An excellent debut novel.

I’m a big fan of Sarah Turner (The Unmumsy Mum) on social media so I was quite looking forward to reading her debut fiction novel. It did not disappoint - I really enjoyed it! Beth was a wonderfully relatable character and I felt like I was on the journey with her. The writing was fantastic and the story made me laugh, cry & everything in between. Fab -
4 stars **** Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers & Sarah Turner for the ARC.

A great debut book from Sarah Turner, I really liked this and it really made me think about getting a will! Lovely story and I am keen to read more from the same author.

I really really enjoyed this book! It had so many moments that i really enjoyed and it was a nice quick read!! The perfect kind of escapism

A heartwarming story of a family struggling in their own way to cope with the cruelty of one incident on an otherwise normal day. However, life will never be the same for any of them again, and although the subject matter is so sad, I couldn't stop myself laughing being drawn into the main character's chaotic life. I enjoyed the ending, and was pleased that it wasn't a complete happy ending but left you with a sense that life could go on, and you can find happiness in the everyday.

Beth has never been able to stick at anything. Jobs or relationships until a tragedy hits her family. Her sister Emily and husband Doug are in a car accident and Beth has to step in and look after Polly and Ted. Funny and at times heartbreaking.

I read this over a rainy weekend. I sobbed (properly sobbed!) at the insightful, heartbreaking, beautiful and poignant way Sarah Turner has dealt with grief and losing those we love. When you get to the end of a book and are DESPERATE to know what happens to the characters, you know it's a good story. I have followed The Unmumsy Mum on Instagram for years and was curious as to whether it would be more a biography of the author's life rather than a work of fiction. Although I'm certain there are biographical elements, this is a story about new characters that you will fall in love with (Albert!) and Sarah is very insightful about teenagers as well as toddlers (my girls are both grown up). I thoroughly enjoyed this (even whilst sobbing!) and really, really hope we find out what happens to Beth and Jory and Emmy and Albert! (Please write a sequel!?)

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Sarah Turner for the ARC in return for a fair and honest review. A well deserved 5 stars!

What a fantastic book. I loved every single page.
It’s an emotional, touching and relatable read that draws you in from page 1.
The story will stay with you a long time after finishing it as it’s such a beautiful read. It’s a book that I would strongly recommend and is certainly worthy of 5 stars.

A really good read, pulls on your heartstrings in places. Beth is a remarkable character, who steps up literally for her family. Once started it’s hard to put down.

This story of a young woman who takes on the huge responsibility of looking after her sister's children following an accident is told with empathy, humour and a fairly deft touch.

I have never read this author before, apparently she has a large blog and/or instagram following. I honestly just loved the blurb, cover (I will be buying the paperback for my shelf thank you very much) and title so I wanted to give it a go, and am I ever glad I got the chance to read an early copy of this book. It was such a heartfelt book, not just about the kids but about Beth too. I think they all helped each other, it was a two way street so to speak. This book made me cry but it also made me laugh and I loved the characters in this book so much, flaws and all, but 83-year old Albert was the best! I liked that the children seemed real and their voices come through clearly, especially toddler Ted. And that ending was so surprising but I really appreciated it because of that. Such an endearing read, highly recommended.

Emotional, heartbreaking, funny, witty and wise, this is a cracker of a (sort of) debut novel.

I’ve seen Unmumsy excerpts over the years but this is Sarah’s first novel and I hope there are many more. Her writing style is so engaging and fluid that it’s so easy to read.

The story follows Beth and her family through a tragic event and 9 months beyond. Not a lot really happens - the changes are to the characters really, not the situation but it’s so uplifting and you absolutely can’t help but root for Beth.

An articulate, insightful and incredibly enjoyable read - I definitely recommend it.