
Member Reviews

As always, Fiona Gibson doesn't disappoint! Loved everything about this from the characters to the plot. I must also mention Fiona's whip smart wit too! She is a master at making readers laugh and this is no different from her previous titles.
What I also liked was the way the narration told the story from the characters of both Kate and Vince. This is something that differentiates a little from other romcom style books. An absolute must read.
Thank you so much for letting me have an ARC of The Woman Who Ran Away from everything on Net Galley. Definitely a five star read.

The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything has an interesting title and premise which caught my attention. I really enjoyed reading Kate’s POV and felt sad on how she was treated by her husband. However, the inclusion of Vince’s POV was confusing (and also the sudden switch from first person to third person POV) because I was expecting for this to be fully about Kate’s journey and growth. I also didn’t like the part where Kate basically gets into a new relationship without sorting out her marriage. I was so sad to DNF this because it had a lot of potential to be a really emotional and heartwarming read.
Thanks NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For once we get to hear the voice of the rat husband- in this case Vince- in a tale where a wife- in this case Kate- walks away from all of it because she's had enough. That's not to say that you'll like or sympathize with Vince as he tries to sort out what happened and what to do, it's just that it's a perspective we don't see in these novels about women finding their bliss. Kate's decision to take off to Scotland- completely understandable- and you'll enjoy her journey to a new place in her head. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Sick and tired of being constantly taken from granted by her husband, Kate escaped her house from the bathroom window during a house party she didn't know they were having and jumps on a bus to London. After a misunderstanding, she finds herself in Scotland, helping Alice empty her family house.
Even though the switch from first to third person confused me a little at first, I really enjoyed the double point of view. Both Kate and Vince journeys were pretty interesting, although they felt a bit rushed at times, especially Kate's. The story unfolds within months, but I found it quite hard to remember at times, and that made all the development the characters actually had feel kind of sudden.
I really enjoyed the writing, there were many funny moments, and I truly liked the general premise of the book. While it was pretty easy to get into the story and the first half of the book hooked me very soon, the second half fell a bit flat for me; the ending also felt a bit rushed to me, and kind of unresolved in a way. Overall, I did enjoy bits and pieces of this, and I genuinely think it's a great, entertaining read!
Many thanks to Avon Books UK & Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Kate has had enough. She realized this as she’s halfway out her bathroom window, the sounds of the house party she didn’t know her husband was throwing spilling out into the garden. The used-and-abused wife of comedian Vince Weaver, Kate pretty much single-handedly raised her stepdaughter, manages her husband’s social and professional calendar, written two books for him, cleaned, cooked, cared for the dog, worked her own job, and somehow managed to scrounge up some awful treats for the local bake sale. And what has her husband done? Become an absolute twat as soon as he has a whiff of fame years ago and uprooted their lives to relocate to his parent’s house.
And so, Kate absconds her life and runs away to London as a forty something and the story begins.
Heartwarming and a little unexpected, THE WOMAN WHO RAN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING proves that you’re never too old to make your life into what you want it to be. Told through the dual POVs of Kate (the runner) and, surprisingly, Vince (the wanker husband) this book followed Kate finding her own life and love of life and Vince figuring out how to be a successful adult without the wife he’s been taking advantage of.
I truly enjoyed both characters, with Vince’s story and unexpected (but much appreciated) bonus– it was very vindicating to follow Vince realize how much he depended on Kate and, eventually, mature into a considerate person. This was a delightful and light read, I only wish the book had been longer to really wrap up the stories in a meaningful and purposeful way.

A slightly slow start for me but it turned into an enjoyable novel although I did find the ending a bit of a let down. It felt rushed and unresolved and a few extra chapters would have done this justice. Still the plot flowed well and there were some humorous moments. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an engaging and entertaining read. Vince was unpleasant and I was invested in Kate's story.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Kate is fed up of how her life is at present, the way she’s expected to do everything and basically being taken for granted. One day as a party is going on at her house, she decides that she’s had enough and runs away before she’s asked to do something else by her husband.
Whilst she’s away from her husband and the house, she begins to think about what she really wants, and slowly is beginning to find herself.
Will Kate return to her old life or make the changes she’s thought of for herself?
The story portrayed what issues a couple go through in a marriage, their thoughts and actions and how they impact them both.
I highly recommend this book.

I thought the writing in this book was good; it was the plot that didn’t pan out. At the beginning of the book, I hated Vince. He absolutely took Kate and their life together for granted. I completely understood why she wanted to escape and deserved some time to figure things out. It just didn’t feel like she ever really did. The longer she stayed away, particularly without talking to Vince or being honest with Fergus and Alice, the harder she was to respect, the more it felt like she was hiding and pretending rather than figuring out who she was. It was Vince who showed real character growth, which surprised me. I admired how he reflected on his mistakes in the marriage, respected Kate’s need for space and determinedly worked towards becoming a better man and partner. In contrast, Kate did very little self-reflection and actively avoided thinking about how some of her decisions would affect the people she cared about. I disliked that she started into a relationship with Angus before properly ending things with Vince. And she came to really care for Alice. I hated that her lack of transparency had the potential to make Alice feel foolish. Also, the ending of the story was disappointing. [ I wanted more explanation and amends from Kate for Alice and Angus, for Kate to consider her role in the downfall of her marriage, and for her to have candid, upfront conversations with almost every character in the book about what had happened. It seemed as though she did what she wanted with little regard for other people's feelings and was never truly held accountable for it.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Fiona Gibson. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.***

Brilliant,- Fiona Gibson never fails to please. Kate runs away from her life of being taken for granted and not being consulted on important matters . She ends up in Scotland, at the place of happy childhood holidays. Few women will not identify with Kate. A really enjoyable read, hard to put down and the ending is not as predictable as you would expect .

Another great book by fiona Gibson! It has plenty of laugh out loud moments alongside some emotional parts....a perfect book to binge read by the pool!

This book struck the perfect balance between humor and heart. While the laughs were plentiful, there was also a deeper emotional resonance that left me feeling uplifted and inspired. The characters were endearing, the dialogue was snappy, and the comedic timing was spot-on. A feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after you've finished the last page.

Loved this book and characters, another good book by Fiona, it was laugh out loud funny. It would make a great holiday read, be prepared to binge read this excellent book.

not really what I was expecting. It felt alright, i just dont think I could finish it. Im mostly a mood reader, so that may been part of the problem. I did try, I just dont know if ill ever finish.

There were some funny moments in this book. But I also felt like it was a week book for Fiona and I just didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed her other books. Sorry.

This book was not for me. The characters and storyline all blended together until it was impossible to understand what was going on. Hard pass.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon UK for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Well, this was not really book for me. I don't know really why but I just didn't feel this one.

Long in the tooth re shouts of ‘Hilarious’ and ‘LOL Funny’ as often books I have started have not been..so I was more than happy to find both true within the first few pages, it really is hilarious and I really was laughing out loud
Kate leaves home via her bathroom window midway through a horrific ‘Abigail’s Party’ esque kind of neighbourhood do and starts an adventure, one she literally runs into and once started cannot get out of, more to the point she doesn’t want to
Vince is left wondering what on earth has happened and what can he do to maintain his life
Both characters are loveable but not perfect but I liked that the story didn’t vehemently favour either of them, just honest and open and not a barrage of anti one thing or another
Some very very funny moments and some poignant happenings turned this into a lovely read and it featured an old fashioned bookshop, what more could we want
Exhilaratingly feel good yet uncompromising on realities
Loved it

In her heartwarming and humorous novel, "The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything," Fiona Gibson offers a refreshing story of self-discovery and empowerment through the journey of Kate, a woman who breaks free from societal expectations to reclaim her identity. Kate, almost 50, finds herself trapped in a monotonous life in a small town, stifled by her husband Vince's neglect and the constant pressure to conform to the community's standards. Dissatisfied with her current existence, she longs for the vibrant life she once had in London. The unexpected party at her home becomes the final straw, prompting her to make a spontaneous decision to leave everything behind. Kate's journey of self-discovery begins as she embarks on a solo adventure to Scotland. Along the way, she meets a charming bookseller named Euan, who helps her embrace the freedom she has been yearning for. As she settles into her new life, Kate uncovers hidden talents and passions, rediscovering the fun-loving and adventurous spirit she had lost. Gibson skillfully portrays Kate's emotional transformation as she navigates the challenges of creating a new life for herself. She delves into the complexities of marriage, societal expectations, and the courage it takes to break free from the confines of convention. Through Kate's experiences, Gibson highlights the importance of self-acceptance and authenticity, reminding readers that it's never too late to make positive changes in one's life. "The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything" is a thought-provoking and uplifting novel that resonates with readers of all ages, particularly those seeking inspiration to embrace their true selves and live life on their own terms. Gibson's relatable characters, witty dialogue, and vivid descriptions create a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon UK for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Being middle age myself I can to relate to wanting to climb out my bathroom window and escape from my life mostly the bathroom window and at work. Although not married or in a relationship like the main character. The demands of life still sometimes can be that overwhelming for us single people. The book had a lot of humour and I found myself laughing and not feeling so alone. This was my first book by this author and will definitely be checking out her other work.