A story told across three time periods of a mother who will do anything to win back the love of her daughter. Events go against her on the journey to her daughters 16th birthday and she just snaps resulting in a manic, stressed filled day in her determination of delivering the birthday cake.

It starts off well but I found it lost its engagement because the narrative started getting confusing and mixed up. At times, I found myself reading the same pages again to understand what the character is talking about and became a little more unbelievable as it went on.

This was an enjoyable story with an FMC most of us could relate to. This story made me laugh and well up on a few occasions. Once we learn more about Grace's past you can understand why she is the way she is and it breaks your heart a little more. The mother-and-daughter relationship between Grace and Lottie was beautifully portrayed too.

3.5 (RTC)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book swaps between 3 timelines: when Grace and Ben first met, 4 months ago when it seems events triggered reactions, and now when the reactions have led to her daughter's sixteenth birthday. The 'now' is full of her struggle to get a birthday cake, with lots of references to the menopause and the hot day and drags on and on. The '4 months ago' is full of anger, worry, and behaviours that drag on and on (yes, I agree with other reviewers that comments about / to her daughter are completely inappropriate) including a list of things at the side of / under her bed which are truly disgusting. I persisted trying to read this to 60% when I finally gave up. I would give it no stars if I could, it's not even well-written with numerous American spellings littering a story that is supposed to be set in England.

This was an interesting book that reminded me of a darker version of Where'd You Go Bernadette. I found it to be powerful and moving yet full of humour and wit as it explored the challenges of existing in society as a woman. Do be mindful to check trigger warnings before reading.

A beautiful book which looks at the many journeys that women face throughout their lives.
Motherhood, divorce and menopause.
Easy to read and told through multiple time frames of Graces life,

This book looks at motherhood. The story was compelling and moving. It was an emotional rollercoaster. There are so funny moments interspersed with some sad moments too. It made me laugh and cry

Raw,honest and well written. It's impossible not to fall In love with Grace Adams.
This book is told in a way that is original and refreshing.
Really recommend it.

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I didn't enjoy this book and gave up after I was 20% through. The main character wasn't particularly likeable and I don't like books that portray menopausal women as unhinged.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Grace is menopausal and struggling with a family tragedy. An easy read that made me cry. Perfect holiday reading.

A fantastic book for the beach. A beautifully written tale that will transport you to another world. Emotionally charged and impossible to forget this is one I’ll remember for a long time.

Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this Ebook in exchange for an honest review.

For me this book was ok. I didn't love or hate it, it seemed a little chaotic at times with too much going on. The first half of the book could be confusing but by the end I did understand what has gone on. I had high expectations for this one because it was being compared to Elinor Oliphant which I adored but it just didn't live up to it.
I have seen some GLOWING reviews for this one so don't let me put you off. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read it 🤔

⭐⭐⭐

Grace is having a tough time: being perimenopausal being the least of her worries.

Great read. I loved. I cried. And I read ot in a day.

This debut felt effortless.

Highly recommend for moms whose daughters are growing up way too quickly.

** 3.5 rounded up **
Amazing Grace Adams

Amazing Grace Adams tells the story of a life, a marriage, a family, set against a single north-London day. A rollercoaster ride of redemption and discovery, it's a powerful celebration of womanhood.

This book made me laugh and cry a heart warming story of motherhood and dealing with grief and trauma.

Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Joseph and Fran Littlewood for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This book totally surprised me! I thought it would be just a pleasant, fairly predictable read with likeable characters. However as the story progressed, I realised how cleverly the author had written about a woman in mid-life, struggling on so many fronts, losing herself as she becomes totally overwhelmed.

The situations are (mostly) totally relatable, the raw pain and loss palpable and, at one point, I found myself stifling a sob! Grace, the main character, voices the feelings of many women, with humour and irony in the writing. The ‘out-of-control’ may feel exaggerated, but is it really? How many of us have felt out of our depth, dealing with teenagers who live in such a different world?

Told through several timelines, the reader will see just how changed, the charmed life of Amazing Grace Adams really is. Also how careers of men are not always so similarly affected.

The lives of Grace, Lottie and Ben carry life scars and the story may well reverberate with many readers. Written in a fun, light-hearted, enjoyable way, don’t be fooled, there are some surprises along the way. An enjoyable read with a real cheer at a particularly touching scene.

This book wasn't for me, but I think it might be an age thing? I think women who are a similar age to Grace would love it and emphasise with her. It was still a good read and funny too.

I found this book really easy to read and even though the author moved around in time she used this to good effect and it linked to the story. I liked the way the author was able to use Grace’s walking journey to connect through the layers of her life. The language is beautiful and some comparisons are on point and unique.

This book started strong, and I was immersed in Grace’s story and honestly wanted to learn why her life fell apart and why she did what she did. However, I struggled in the middle of the book as it was pretty flat, and the plot moved slowly, but the last hundred pages were excellent, and I was glad that this book ended perfectly.

It’s a capable debut novel and I enjoyed the opening chapters most. I reckon younger teens might enjoy this novel more than the perimenopausal mothers it might be targeting!

This book was really interesting and quite different to what I was expecting.
Grace Adams is menopausal and she has a day where she has just had enough and she snaps. It was very refreshing to read about a woman of this age plus I think it is the first fictional book that I have read which deals with the menopause head on.
I liked Grace and I really identified with her relationship with her sixteen year old daughter. I think Fran Littlewood really showed how relations between mother and daughter at this stage can often be fraught and tense.
I enjoyed the way the book went back and forth between the past and present. The present takes place over one day so by going back we learn a lot more about the characters.
I would definitely recommend this book.

This book took me a while to get into , but once I did I enjoyed it. Grace is a well written character and although I wasn't her biggest fan I still felt sorry for her situation. It touches on a lot of issues that women face and is a good novel. I enjoyed it overall but found it a small bit too long in places

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was more affected by this book than I'd expected to be. The underpinning element to the plot, which you only find out two-thirds of the way through, was heartwrenchingly poignant, and Grace was a completely understandable character in the light of it. The depiction of a mother's relationship with a teenage daughter was well-done as well, though I could perhaps have done without the underage sexual abuse element to it. Overall this is an emotional and relatable book that I think will make many women feel seen.