Beth still lives at home with her parents and often rings in sick with a hangover to have duvet days watching daytime tv. Shes drifting through life infantilised by her family, pigeon holed as the flighty undependable sister. When her life is tragically turned upside down she suddenly becomes the fulltime carer for a toddler and teenager.

This was an incredibly moving book, it has humour and love at its heart. Beth's relationship with Albert the octagenerian neighbour was just wonderful, their interactions made me really smile. I really loved the characters in this book. Turner has created a realistic family that despite the constant gripes and banter would do anything for each other. I enjoyed Beth's right of passage as she puts everyones needs before her own and I felt proud of her as she gets more confident.

I did not want to say goodbye to this family, they fely so real and I really hope that Turner will write more.
This was a moving, funny and feel good read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is Sarah Turner’s debut fiction novel and what an amazing book.
A story of loss and grief and our protagonist Beth being thrown into a life she never expected.
Sarah is undoubtedly a natural writer, the prose flows well with a good balance of description and dialogue.
The story was captivating and heart warming (despite handling a sensitive topic). I was entirely invested in the characters and finished this book in no time at all.
Overall I think it’s a spectacular example of its genre. Well done Sarah, I cannot wait to read your next book.

Wowser- this is an emotional read and one I wish I had read without make up on! The story follows Beth and her family as they adjust to the shocking news of her sister and brother in-law being in an accident. Overnight Beth went from a care-free partier to being responsible for her niece and nephew. It was so sad but also so amazing to see her come through for them and ride out the hardest bumps. It was a beautifully written story and I found it hard to put down, I was just desperate to see how things turned out for them all. Would highly recommend.

I absolutely adored Stepping Up. I read it all in an evening, completely unable to put it down! I sobbed through most of it and felt weirdly, desperately proud of Beth, Polly and Ted by the end. Albert remains my favourite character - I would genuinely love a whole book about him and Mavis! The book is incredibly good at drawing you in to a fictional family and making them feel like your own.

This was a rollercoaster of a read, from being laughing our loud in paces to be crying too. It was well written and does make you think of it all. Thank you for the good story.

If we're going to be #blessed about anything on the internet, it's the opportunity to read this book early!

Sarah Turner is a hilarious mum blogger, sharing her life with a big spoonful of reality. Having read her previous non-fiction titles, I was intrigued to read her fiction debut and was surprised in so many ways. Firstly, I did not think I'd be able to trace parallels to her life but perhaps it's the nature of social media, combined with her raw non-fiction titles as The Unmumsy Mum, but I felt like she used her own powerful experiences of grief and motherhood to create an emotional heavyweight. By that I mean: I cried within the first fifth of the book and I'm not the biggest book cryer.

Beth, who is an aunt to a teenage niece and young nephew, becomes Aunty Beth overnight when her sister and brother-in-law are involved in a devastating car accident. Turner balances humour and grief as Beth muddles through her new life. While this plot risked being predictable, it had a fresh side to it as Beth befriended elderly neighbour Albert, balanced her complicated friendship with Jory and tolerated her mother's comments that ate away at her own insecurities. My favourite character had to be Ted though. Turner has taken her experiences with three sons and created a fictional boy with enough innocence and humour to have you falling in love with their whole family.

I spent most of the book wondering how the resolution would come about. Would it be too perfect? Would it be too tragic? But, Turner once more reminds the reader of the true message of the novel when the time comes and leaves readers with a heart-warming feeling as they somehow go back to their own realities.

I can't wait to see what comes next from her!

'Stepping Up' doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's an entertaining read nonetheless.

Beth was a really compelling main character, and I could really relate to a lot of her struggles to take things seriously in life. In some ways, this book reminded me of another book I read recently, 'Act Your Age Eve Brown', although that book was definitely sexier and more of a romance, whereas 'Stepping Up' is a bit more of a slice-of-life.

I liked the ending, I liked that Beth ended the book without having all the answers to everything, but knowing that she was on the right track/had changed a lot in the past year.

An enjoyable read that I read quickly, I loved the characters and this was a perfect read for current times.

I laughed, and very quickly cried, then was left with an undercurrent of constant sadness amongst the funny moments, the parenting moments, the memory moments, and little moments to try and make things alright again.

The close knit Pascoe/Lander family do their best to pick up the pieces and continue with life as best as they know how after a tragic accidents leaves one of them in a coma, and the other dead. Though, how the tragedy comes about is not all that it first seems.

Stepping Up is a story about the life, work, and love of the not-quite-got-it-together Beth Pascoe taking on the appointed role as care giver and guardian to her niece and nephew, whilst her mother, a seemingly over bearing, possibly controlling mother hen thinks her daughter is not up for the responsibility given her track record in life, but luckily, her go along with it father, having more faith in her than most. How on earth is she going to cope and juggle her new responsibility with the life she already has?

The book is oftentimes a very easy flowing read that seems down to earth. Beth, a relatable character, trying to muddle through her life and new responsibilities, mistakes and all. This could very easily be a real world scenario and the telling of someone’s actual story.

A sad, but very enjoyable read that only tiredness had me put the book down.

Have to start by saying the biggest thank you to Random House UK / Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity I was very grateful for to read an advance review copy of this absolute treasure of a book.

I have loved Sarah Turner’s writing as The Unmumsy Mum in her books and blogs for years, her ever-brilliant stories always shared with the right balance of humour, honesty and tenderness, and I couldn’t have been more excited about the idea of her first novel, which - despite the high expectations! - met them and more.

Following 31-year-old Beth as she finds herself thrown into the role of guardian of her teenage niece and toddler nephew in the wake of a family tragedy; it is a beautiful and sensitive exploration of the family relationships and friendships that provide a much-needed lift and pull through both the journey of grief and the challenges of everyday life. There are so many wonderful characters in these pages, and all are drawn with understanding and relatability - from 3-year-old Ted (so often both the light relief and, even simultaneously, an inspiration to the others) to elderly neighbour Albert (whose fresh perspective, wonderful book club choices and text messages that made me laugh out loud brought so much to the story).

This book has everything I love in an involving and memorable story - it is full of such perfectly-drawn moments (a pre-school nativity play, a hospital waiting room, a bonfire-lit garden, all brought to startlingly-recognisable life so expertly); deals with some difficult topics addressed with the right mix of depth and lighter touches; and does justice to all of its characters and storylines, not just those of Beth herself.

Stepping Up is poignant, funny and ultimately so uplifting, and I truly loved it and cannot recommend this wonderfully-written debut novel highly enough.

This book was such an easy heartwarming read. The characters and plot in this story are so relatable and well developed it leaves you emotionally invested in their wellbeing and their happiness. I laughed, I cried during my read sometimes both at the same time! Before starting the book I believed it would just be a basic story of main character Beth swooping in to care for these children. How I was wrong. This is truly a beautiful beautiful story full of compassion that warms your heart the whole time. I will definitely be preordering my own copy of this book!

I started this book yesterday evening and I have already finished it. It has totally engulfed me for the last 24 hours, because even when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it. And now I have read it, I'm still thinking about it and probably will for a while yet.

I just loved the emotion captured and the development of both relationships and characters. It was so rich in natural and believable feeling. At times it was tangible and I felt what the characters were feeling. I cried and laughed at various points. I tutted at some characters, I cheered others. I was just wholly involved. The characters held me in their thrall from the first chapter until the last word, and I needed to know more about them.

Maybe there are a few tweaks I would suggest if I was being picky, maybe they'll be ironed out after the ARCS and in the final draft - shot for every time someone is mortified or says they are mortified - but overall as a simultaneously feel-good and heart-breaking read, I just loved it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but I absolutely loved it, it made me laugh out loud and it made me ugly cry, plus a whole range of emotions in between. It was sweet and funny and heartbreaking and delightful.

I think what really made this wonderful were the characters, who were drawn so realistically that I felt I truly knew them. This made the painful moments all the more heartbreaking, but it also made the triumphs and the joy all the more wonderful and satisfying to read. A wonderful fiction debut, I'll be waiting keenly for the next one!

In all honestly, I wasn’t expecting too much from this book but how wrong I was.

Within the first couple of chapters, this book gives you laughs, smiles and also tears. Sarah’s writing is superb and you really resonate with the characters.

All the characters are likeable and I think this is down to Sarah’s talent.

You will want to hug them and also scream and shout at them at times.

Hopefully there is a sequel to this and after how good this book was I don’t think it will be the end of Sarah’s fiction career either.

This book made me laugh and, at the end I was sobbing. Brilliant read. Believable characters. Just wanted to know if Emmy made it back. Well written Sarah Turner!

Wow, what a beautiful book! This had me smiling and crying in the space of a few chapters, and was something I just couldn't put down.

Sarah Turner's writing made her characters come to life in the best way, and I felt so connected to Beth as she struggled to cope with her grief and stress, whilst also trying to raise her niece and nephew under the judgemental eye of her parents and peers. I often find that when people write child characters, there is a disconnect between reader and character, but this was not the case with Ted and Polly...particularly Ted, who provided comic relief during some of the harder moments of the novel.

My favourite character has to be Albert...what a pure-hearted gentleman!

Dealing with important topics such as grief, long-term illness, stress, cyber bullying, feelings of inadequacy and loneliness, this novel is hard-hitting at times, but filled with beautiful and light moments - a perfect combination for a wonderful novel.

I loved Sarah’s ‘Unmumsy mum’ books and couldn’t wait to read her first dip into fiction and she really didn’t disappoint.

I didn’t actually read much about the book before I started it so wasn’t expecting to be in tears before I got to the middle of the 2nd chapter. WOW!

The writing in this story was really heartfelt – I know Sarah lost her own mum when she was younger so I wonder if she drew on her own teenage grief for the character of Polly – and I’m sure we all recognise a bit of Wilf in young Ted.

The next door neighbour Albert was adorable – and reminded me of my 85yr old nan (who I also taught to text and use emojis this year!) – and really felt Beth’s pain. The writing was so authentic.

I’ve already pre-ordered an actual copy of the book to give to my mum and sisters when it comes out.

A great first novel, not predictable and a real uplifting tear jerker. This will be a huge hit when it comes out and will be *the* book next summer. Bravo Sarah!

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I was excited to read this, having enjoyed Turner's previous work as The Unmumsy Mum (despite not being a mother myself) and was pleased to receive the ARC. It did not disappoint. 'Stepping Up' was emotive and heartwarming, and easy to read. I cared about the characters. The novel touched on many important contemporary themes, and the side plot with Albert was lovely.

Absolutely blown away by this story!!

Having read Sarah Turner previously as the Unmumsy Mum, I was expecting this to be full of laughter. However I was reduced to tears and raw emotion with the power of this story and the potential reality being a mum myself.

Impossible to put down and worth every moment!!

Beth has never stuck at anything.

She still lives in her parents house, drives a rusty old vauxhall and never stays at a job for more than a few months. She's still waiting for her life to start ... but like her car, it just doesn't.

But when a tragedy strikes her family and she suddenly finds herself the sole carer of her teenage neice and toddler nephew, she doesn't have a choice. Can she really look after a family when she can't even look after herself most days?

With her overbearing parents, (platonic) best friend Jory, and a new friend in their 83-year old neighbour Albert, Beth moves into her sisters house and is determined that this time, she's going to step up.

"I wanted to move to London and be a journalist, or run my own business. Instead, I became a serial job-quitter who still lived with my parents until I took on guardianship of two children following an accident. Not something any careers advisor could have predicted."

Stepping Up was a story brimming with heart - the type of story that leaves you unsure whether to laugh or cry from page to page. Beth captured the soul of a lost-twenty something woman without a purpose, trying to navigate relationships, family, friends and a career while the world is falling apart around her. Each character was so nuanced and relatable in some way, from their compassion and kindness to their worst flaws. Although Albert was most definitely the best character - he was a beautiful friend, and had some exceptionally useful tips about clothes pegs - he was an absolute delight to read about.

I thought I knew exactly what I was in for when I opened this book - but wow I was wrong. This story wasn't just about Beths journey to learn to care for two children, but to learn about herself and the people around her in new ways. Full of beautifully heartbreaking moments, this story is devastating but oddly hopeful in the fallout. With an ending I never saw coming, this novel exceeded my expectations and left my head swimming.