Thank you to Alison Hammond, NetGalley and Transworld for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Bombshell is about Madison who lives this seemingly perfect life with her successful TV husband and family and about to start her interior designer career. All is well until - her husband moves out and Madison sees the life she’s known begin to unravel.

I liked the book and really liked Madison’s can-do-attitude. She feels lost after her husband leaves and expects her to pick up the slack, which was completly unfair. I enjoyed seeing the journey Madison goes through in the book to prove herself and create a successful career for herself and make her children proud.

I found the book was a short read, but well paced. I found it hard to put down and loved the comedic style throughout, very reminiscent of Alison Hammond herself and her character. I would recommend this book as a book you can just sit with and enjoy.

Madison is a woman who’s pretty happy with her lot. While there are some flies in the ointment; the loss of her beloved mother a few years before the story starts, and a job she plods along at that she could happily walk away from at any second, she knows she’s one of the lucky ones. Not only does she have a great group of long-term friends with whom she shares everything, and meets up with regularly, she has two beautiful children and a widowed father who adores and supports her in all she does. Not only that, but her sexy husband Rich has accidentally become a heart-throb on a popular DIY show and is now being touted for greater things – including his own show. This is not only exciting for them as a family, but having worked as a designer in TV production before she took time out to have their babies, this could also herald a return to the career she has put on hold to bring up their family.

However, out of the blue, Rich starts acting weird and announces that he needs to time to sort his head out – and with that he’s left, gone to stay with his cousin Marvin, leaving Madison juggling her job, the kids, her ageing father, and he pretty much goes dark. Madison is equally devastated and furious, and after a chance meeting with Savine, a powerhouse of a woman who was left in a similar situation with her own husband, she decides to take matters into her own hands and find out exactly what is going on. Is Rich having an affair? A mid-life crisis? A break-down? She also meets a new colleague, Nathan, who takes a great interest in her designing talents and makes her remember why she used to love working in the field so much – Nathan encourages her to branch out and see if there may be a Madison-shaped gap in the design industry. Throughout the rest of the book we watch Madison crumble, become almost obsessed with the situation (understandably) and slowly realise her own worth and what she really wants, and needs from life. The only criticism that I would have is that Madison is just a bit too nice and so doesn’t stand up to people, especially Rich – but I also think that allows us to see how she grows in confidence and self-awareness as the book progresses.

I’m a big fan of Alison Hammond, and although I know this was co-written with Lisa Bent, I feel that this book echos Alison’s values – family, loyalty, love, respect and having the courage to stand in your own power. Although this novel was promoted as a Christmas read, I read it in April and it didn’t affect the story at all except that the events taking place led up to Christmas, which as we all know adds a huge amount of pressure to resolving any conflict before the ‘big day’. I thoroughly recommend this – it’s a quick, easy read that I raced through in one day during the recent sunny spell and enjoyed every minute of it!

Bombshell is an enjoyable and easy read. I enjoyed following Madison on her journey of self discovery. It is somewhat predictable in places but still an enjoyable read.

an easy fun read, one your can curl up on summers. day .
a story about finding yourself and following your dreams

Excellent read. Page turner from the beginning.

Easy read, page turner.

Can't wait for more

Change from the norm for me.

When Madison's husband leaves just before Christmas because he needs 'a break' her world is turned upside down. What follows is a lighthearted account of how Maddison navigates the next few weeks and months - and works out what she wants and realises her dreams with a little help from her children, family and old (and new) friends.

A real feel-good fun book, about living life to the full and making every moment count. Well written with rounded, developed characters, the friendships that keep us going. Looking forward to reading what Alison writes next.

DNF @ 10%
I had the opportunity to read the arc of Bombshell but didn't get to it when it published last November. Unfortunately this was such a let down I decided to DNF this book pretty early on. The characters are insufferable from the get go, the customer service situation was so off-putting. I was surprised when I realised this was the main character we are supposed to be rooting for. I can't see how this book lends to humour whatsoever and the writing was so bland and lacklustre. After reading other reviews I definitely made the correct decision in DNFing this one.
1 star

Thank you to NetGalley, Transworld Publishers and Alison Hammond for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads and StoryGraph.

Madison is facing life without her husband and still feels that she is a bombshell.

Has their relationship come to an end or is one of them hiding secrets?

A nice easy read.

I really like Alison Hammond and was excited to read this book.

It did not disappoint it was full of life and funny just like she is.

A great novel good holiday read.

The moment I saw Alison Hammond had written a book I simply knew it would be brilliant! Her writing style is fabulous and the entire story had me laughing and smiling throughout!

What a great debut! I was hooked from the very beginning. The storyline kept me guessing right until the end. The characters and their relationships were compelling. Some old some new and they were great and you really invested in them. Alison if this is the start I can't wait for the next one. I am already looking forward to it

I love Alison Hammond. She comes across on TV as such a warm and likeable person who exudes fun so I was wondering how her personality would come across in her novel. I needed have worried, because Madison has the charisma and flare of Alison in book format. She's bubbly and easy going, although obviously at the start she gets a rough deal from husband Michael and is trapped in a job she dislikes, which dulls her light somewhat. It was fun to see Madison discover herself again and find her love of life, alongside her friends and family - who feel very realistic.

This was a very quick and easy read. Light on substance, and the plot is slow to go anywhere, but a lot of fun nonetheless. I don't think this will stick with me for a long time, but the short time I had was pretty good.

This book lived up to it's name and cover!

I liked the message about new beginnings and really striving for things you want in life. But Rich was tiresome😒🤦🏿‍♀️😒 and I didn't like his (and sometimes Madison's) actions.

This created some good tension and questionable choices which I felt reflected the realities of the rollercoaster people can go through when their world is turned upside down.

Ultimately you root for Madison, I would've liked to see how she gets on with her life after she established what was going on.

It was a different kind of romcom but I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Random House and Transworld for my review copy!

This was such a cute, easy read. Madison's husband Rich says he needs some "space", and it's just not making sense. Madison is confused and hurt (and quite rightly so) and just wants to know what's going on. The book has drama, a little suspense, beautiful friendships and I couldn't put it down.
What I really enjoyed was that although Madison had some eye candy, the wonderful Nathan, the book focused on Madison finding herself FOR herself, to better her life, and doesn't focus on her finding someone else because of her husbands discrestions. Really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Book Review: Bombshell by Alison Hammond

I’ve been a fan of Alison Hammond for years, so when I saw that she was releasing a novel, I couldn’t wait to dive in. Bombshell did not disappoint—it’s everything I wanted and more. A romcom with warmth, humor, and heart, this book had me hooked from the first page.

The story follows Madison, a woman who has always put her family first—especially her husband, Rich, a TV star handyman—and her children. She’s built her life around them, even letting her own career take a backseat. But then, out of nowhere, Rich drops a bombshell: he wants space and is moving out. Madison’s world is turned upside down. As she grapples with this sudden change, she leans on her friends for support. However, when their help doesn’t feel like enough, Madison decides to take matters into her own hands. She turns into a bit of a detective, trying to uncover what’s really going on with Rich. Meanwhile, her career is picking up, as she finally gets the chance to pursue her interior design dreams, though it’s not without some obstacles—mainly her manager and a charming new guy in the office.

I loved how Bombshell explored themes of self-worth, personal growth, and rediscovery. Madison’s journey is relatable and inspiring. She starts off feeling lost and unsure, but through her determination and resilience, she begins to realize that she’s a bombshell in her own right—not just on the outside but in how she handles life’s challenges. Watching her evolve from a woman defined by her family and marriage to someone who carves out her own space was uplifting and empowering.

The humor in this book is spot-on. Alison Hammond’s voice shines through in every page. The witty dialogue and humorous situations kept me laughing, but there’s also a lot of depth to the story. Madison’s relationships—especially with her friends—are portrayed with warmth and authenticity. The friendships in this book are truly heartwarming, and I found myself rooting for Madison to figure things out and reclaim her life.

The romantic element adds another layer to the story, but it never feels forced. It’s a nice balance, and it’s clear that Madison’s journey is as much about herself as it is about love or relationships. There’s a lot of heart in this book, and it’s impossible not to get wrapped up in Madison’s journey of self-discovery.

Overall, Bombshell is a fantastic read—funny, heartfelt, and inspiring. If you’re a fan of Sophie Kinsella, Ruth Jones, or romcoms with a bit of depth, I highly recommend it. Alison Hammond has delivered a story full of charm and heart, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Rating: 5/5
A delightful, feel-good romcom that will leave you smiling and rooting for the main character’s journey of self-discovery. Definitely a must-read for 2025!

It was a lovely, charming story of finding yourself when all feels lost, and relearning how to find your own spark. It has touching moments of reflection on grief and family. I would have loved to see more of Hammond's characteristic humour brought out in the book, but the heart of it is still true to the personality that has made her so popular/beloved.

A good story and one which shows that remembering who you are is important and to not lose yourself in relationship.

You were hoping it all turned out well and she realised her own worth and that she didn’t need anyone to be her best self.

I loved this book!! Alison Hammond is the perfect person to write a romcom because she's so in tune with life and its ups and downs. Highly recommend. Thanks to Alison Hammond, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Reading ‘Bombshell’ evoked such intense emotions in me. I didn’t just feel for Madison—I actually felt personally wronged by everything that unfolded. The dynamic between Madison and Savine was truly beautiful to witness; their blossoming friendship felt so wholesome, it almost made me a little jealous. I have to give huge credit to Alison Hammond for this book. It honestly feels like she poured so much of her own emotions onto the page, and it’s so raw and powerful—this book really radiates feeling. Thank you to Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this for no charge, I am so grateful!