A really enjoyable read. It lost me slightly in the second half, but overall I really liked this book and the characters were interesting and well written.

A modern, entertaining novel about family, and all the dysfunctions that come along with it. After an Ancestry DNA test uncovers a family secret, Nancy must navigate the emotions and desires of her family, while also indulging her own need and curiosity to connect with her newly discovered half-brother. At the same time, she is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy with her distant semi-boyfriend, who is working aboard. This was an enjoyable read exploring the meaning of family and the different forms it can take, with a likeable, but uncertain main protagonist. At times I found the dialogue and characterisation too literal, with the impression that you were reading ‘character dialogue’ lacking the nuance often found in reality.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Cuckoo

Nell Fizzell's latest captivating novel, Cuckoo, examines the dynamics of a modern family, and the push and pull of siblings, lies and nappies!

Nancy and her half-sister, Rita, are grieving the passing of their father and are close knit, always in each other's pockets.

Yet when Nancy takes a DNA test and finds out they have a half brother who lives in NZ, the sisters come to blows. Their brother is on his way to London to perform several comedy gigs, keen to know more about his unexpected family. The arrival of Oliver tests their relationship and bond, and the childhood they had with their father, seems to have vanished.

But Oliver is not the only addition to the family, Nancy finds out she is pregnant with a 'nearly' boyfriend who is always abroad and barely sees her. Nell excellently describes the struggles Nancy goes through in her pregnancy where motherhood might not be the scenario she thought.

This books delves into the changing dynamics of grief, pregnancy, secrets and lies, and the complicated bond of family, and learning to forgive each other and make peace with the past.

I was engrossed in Nancy's life, and really enjoyed this snippet into the complications of her family. I would love for there to be a sequel!

Thank you Netgalley for the eBook copy of this book.

Cuckoo by Nell Frizzell.

I loved this family drama. Brilliantly captured , sharp, entertaining and full of heart.
Nancy , grief stricken at the loss of her father, finds her turmoil further compounded but two life changing revelations, she is pregnant and she has a half brother she never knew about.
This book surprised me , it was so much more than I expected and so engaging. Frizzell writes great female characters and captured their emotions and actions with great care and accuracy.
Recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The main character’s world changes when she decides to get DNA testing done 2 years after her father’s death to find out more about the family, at the same time she finds out she’s pregnant. The story explores what family means.

Haven’t read any of this author’s books before but will look to read more.

Thanks to #RandomHouseUK via #NetGalley for my copy of #Cuckoo .

I could not put down this book.

From start to finish I was captivated by the author's writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and the plotline - although there were moments I struggled to rationalise with the narrator, desperately attempting to thwart my attempts at shouting at them through the screen - however, these were minimal next to my eagerness to see her happy and succeed.

Her sister, Rita, I found almost unbearable. Every interaction and scene felt to me as if she were a spoilt, selfish brat, and until the very end of the novel I had no interest in who she was or what she was seemingly able to get away with (nothing inherently BAD, just the kind of behaviour that reminds me a lot of girls I used to go to school with who believed that they were 'God's Gift').

I am looking forward to Frizzell's next publication!

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Nell Frizzell - Cuckoo

It’s been two years since Nancy and Rita lost their father and they’re still (naturally) grieving for him and missing all the love he had for them both. So when Nancy does a DNA test, pretty much for fun and out of curiosity, to find out a bit more about their heritage, she is shocked to find that the results match her with a half sibling on the other side of the world!

Nancy, open to finding out more, contacts Oliver, which immediately creates a rift between her and Rita, who wants nothing to do with Oliver and is convinced he is conning them. In all of the emotional turmoil such a discovery brings, Nancy also finds herself pregnant but her partner does not want to commit. Suddenly Nancy feels very alone…

What makes a family? Is it blood, is it genes, is it the support we have from people around us? And can we accept if what we believed about our families suddenly changes? Can that destroy what we have or make it even better?

This was such an easy read, which flowed very well and explored what it really means to be family: this complicated unit, which means something different to us all but one thing is probably the same for everyone - it’s never simple, always changing and never straightforward but that doesn’t mean it can’t be special or beautiful.

Cuckoo is a compelling exploration of modern family dynamics, woven with rich character development and an engaging narrative style. The story delves deep into the complexities of pregnancy, and I must say, this is the first book I’ve read where pregnancy is such a central theme. The level of detail in describing the physical and emotional experiences of pregnancy is remarkable. For someone like me, who doesn't harbor any maternal desires, these descriptions only solidified my feelings. However, they are integral to understanding the protagonist's journey and add a layer of authenticity to the story.

One of the standout moments in the book is encapsulated by the line, “if you don’t think I can do it, then I don’t need you to do it with me.” l

Frizzell’s writing style is thoroughly enjoyable, with a narrative voice that is both witty and poignant. Each character is vividly portrayed, leaving me craving more time to delve into their lives and relationships. The interplay between the characters is intricate and reflective of the nuanced realities of modern families, making Cuckoo a fascinating and thought-provoking read.

Overall, Cuckoo is an interesting and relatable tale about what it means to build and belong to a family in today’s world and there is so much to appreciate from this novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

A stunning literary turn about the complexities of families and heartache. A brilliant turn, well worth a read.

I really liked the beginning of this book, loved the character Nancy and her sister Rita and mother Anne. I also loved the writing and the London setting too, being able to recognize names and places in London was fun.

Then I felt it got a little boring in the middle as it just solely focused on her pregnancy. This book had amazing potential with the premise and the message, but became all about Nancy’s pregnancy and everything felt very surface level. Also brendhan was a weird and random addition.

But I did appreciate the characters, the story and the message, just wish it had more depth to it. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

What a vibrant and tender, book: Cuckoo by @nellfrizzell, UK release 29 August.

Still grieving after the death of her father Clive, Nancy makes two astonishing discoveries. Firstly, a DNA test she did as bit of a lark reveals that she has a half-brother, Oliver, on the other side of the world and, secondly, she’s pregnant to her “kind of” boyfriend who avoids any degree of emotional commitment.

Her first discovery denotates within her family, angering her half-sister, Rita, and devastating her mother, Anne. Perhaps her second will prove to be the seed which helps the family grow anew, different and even stronger.

I really enjoyed this book. Families have their secrets, their dramas, the navigation of which remakes the family to a greater or lesser degree, over and over. The map gets redrawn, walls come down, fences go up. Frizzell depicts those dynamics with veracity, giving us a convincing story of women trying to hold on to each other as everything they understood about their lives is shaken up around them. Do sides always need to be taken? How would we stack up if the lens we view our parents through was turned on us?

The heart of this book is a funny, smart, and emotive consideration of motherhood; Nancy as a new mother, shocked out of her complacency; Anne, ex-barrister, mother to two grown half-siblings; Marie-Louise, Rita’s mother and Clive’s first wife; Anahera, Oliver's mother. Each one strong, capable, and beleaguered to some extent by the men in their lives.

I read almost exclusively women authors these days, making up for lost time, and I often find myself squirming and reflecting on my own behaviours. Whatever crap we men think we’re getting away with, we’re not. We’re seen, it’s noted, and reading about it can help us course-correct and acknowledge that we still have a way to go.

I’d not read any of Nell Frizzell’s books or journalism before, but I’m now a fan, have Square One on my eTBR, and have had a fine time sampling her pieces for the Guardian.

I think she and my amazing wife would get on like a house on fire.

Nancy is thrown when she learns of a half-brother after her father’s death. The news throws the whole family, but it’s Nancy who feels most curious about the unexpected addition. Her sister Rita is dismissive of the ‘cuckoo’ brother but Nancy, who’s expecting a baby, finds Oliver – the new brother – is available for support and guidance when the baby daddy is not. Juggling feelings of possible motherhood with grief and potential happiness, it’s a lot for Nancy, who has to wonder if there’s room enough in her circle for another? This is a clever read, wry at parts that looks at family and heartbreak and how one can impact the other.

I don’t usually like using the phrase “devoured” but there is no other way to describe how I read this. I read the whole book in one day because it just hooked me from the first moment.

I loved Nell’s memoir “The Panic Years” so I knew I would love her fiction. This book had such beautiful descriptions of how the main character Nancy was feeling within herself especially when describing her pregnancy. It’s a gorgeous novel on chosen family and the different dynamics of family relationships.

10/10 would recommend!

Cuckoo is a book that is all about modern families.

Nancy is having a crisis. Her doctor boyfriend, Gamar, is refusing to commit to a real relationship, her sister Rita is a little upset that her dog Buster is not a chihuahua and she has no idea that another DNA test that Nancy got for herself (as a bit of a laugh) has revealed some very surprising results.

This book is a long hard look at exactly what family really means - is it a biological connection? Is it the people who stick by you? Is it those who are there when the chips are down? Or is it sometimes just you and your baby?

Neil Frizzell has covered all aspects of family life while giving us a very intimate portrait of one woman's struggle as she comes to terms with her own life and the fact that she is going to become a mother.

I enjoyed pretty much all of this book. The relationships Nancy has with her family is delightful - particularly with big sister, Rita. There are a lot of strong women in this book but quietly strong.

There are just a couple of bits that I struggled with around the surprise at a certain person's parentage. When you read the book you'll understand but suffice it to say that there is surprise when there shouldn't be that simply doesn't ring true. Also Nancy's ignorance about childbirth/due dates was a little difficult to believe in a woman of nearly 40. But apart from that I really loved the rest of it. I'd certainly have liked any of them to be my family too.

I'd definitely recommend this book. It'll make you think twice about doing a DNA test for a bit of a lark at the very least.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House for the advance review copy

This book's description drew me in right away. When I was thirty, I found out about a half-brother I knew nothing about. I am fascinated by stories similar to mine. Frizzell's book was a fantastic exploration of relationships, heartbreak, secrets, and much more. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

So interested in reading and sharing my thoughts on this tale of family. We all have issues with our family good and bad and it’s so interesting to read a good character study on family and see if they can be brought together again. I’m sure many can relate to Nell’s journey in some way. Will be sharing much more thoughts on this as I apologize due to recent health issues I’ve been unable to keep up my review pace as usual, but looking forward to sharing much more on this title soon.