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!

I absolutely love Alison so was very much looking forward to this one!
An easy, quick read with a strong message of girl power, believing in yourself & the importance of friendship running through it. I would say it was a tiny bit predictable but still enjoyable!
Thank you netgalley for sending.

Madison thinks she's living the perfect life with her TV star husband - apart from her terrible, but safe interior designer job, until he says that he wants a break. She is left with no option but to turn private detective to find out what he's up to.

I wanted to like this book - I love Alison Hammond. But I couldn't hear her unique, funny warm voice in this book at all. It wasn't even set in her beloved Birmingham. They say write about what you know - why not set it there and fill it with warm, unique Brummy voices and culture.. In the end it was a nice enough story, but nothing special.

Alison Hammond's debut novel Bombshell is an absolute delight. The character of Madison is incredibly relatable, and her strength and love for her family shine throughout the story.

When Madison's partner, Rich, abruptly leaves her, she is thrown into turmoil.

Struggling to understand why and maintain a brave front for her children, her journey of self-discovery is both heartwarming and inspiring. Watching her begin to believe in herself, forge new friendships, and rebuild her confidence is a joy.

Madison's detective work leads her back to her passion for art and interior design, while also introducing her to new friends. The twist near the end was a complete surprise and mirrored Madison's own shock - I found myself reacting just as she did!

The budding friendship with Nathan was another highlight.

He recognises Madison's talents and supports her without rushing her into a romantic relationship. Their connection remains understated and realistic, with a simple date proposal at the end, which felt right given Madison's vulnerable state and her need to adjust to a new chapter in her life.

This is a fast-paced, funny, and heartwarming read that touches on resilience, friendship, and rediscovering one's passions.

While the collaborative writing style with another author is occasionally noticeable, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the story.

Highly recommended for those looking for an uplifting and engaging novel.

Wife and mother of two, Madison has always prioritized her family - even putting her own career on the back burner. One day her husband blindsides her with the need for space, moving out of their family home, leaving her feeling confused and completely overwhelmed. Seeking support from friends [old and new], she turns to sleuthing to find out why her husband is pulling away. On the journey, she not only learns more about her new reality, but also rediscovers self-worth.

What I liked about the book was that it was relatively believable - Madison's predicament could happen in real life, the story gave us a glimpse into how multifaceted motherhood is, and how complex interpersonal relationships can be. There were bits of humor here and there, which I appreciated.

What I did not like about the book was that it simply was not my speed. I found the pace a bit slow and I had a hard time connecting with the story/ characters in a way that kept my interest. Roughly 3/4 of the way through the book it began to pick up speed, which helped me see it through to the end.

All in all, I thought the book was okay. But unfortunately, it just was not my cup of tea.

Bombshell was a funny and heartbreaking read at the same time. I love Alison Hammond and I felt like the main character definitely had some of her personality. The plot felt very real and although nothing shocking happened in the book, I was hooked to the story of Madison. Her character development was incredible and she was so loveable.

The chapters were short which made it feel like a quick read and it was an easy book to read. As the book went on and certain events happened (no spoilers), I needed to find out more and it was definitely a page turner. I highly recommend this book, it was everything I was expecting from an Alison Hammond book and more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Family has always meant everything to Madison. Married to the nation’s heartthrob, TV handyman Rich, with two beautiful children, she’s always put their needs first. And she’s never regretted a second, even if her own career has taken a backseat. Then, out of the blue, Rich drops a bombshell. He needs some space and he’s moving out. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Madison turns to her tight-knit group of friends for help. But when their support isn’t enough, Madison resolves to find out what’s really going on. Even if it means turning detective on her own husband. And with her own interior-design career about to take off (once her manager stops squashing her bold ideas for his terrible ones, and provided she doesn’t get distracted by the new guy in the office), Madison’s about to rediscover her own worth. She’s a bombshell, after all…

Unfortunately, this book is a DNF for me. I pushed on but had to give up at 23%. It felt like the book was not going anywhere at all and was incredibly bland. There were no levels of complexity to the storyline or to the characters which could hook my attention. I am a big fan of Alison Hammond and thought this would be a great book to read. But I couldn’t see any Alison in this. None of her charm, or her humour. It just all fell flat. Not to mention that essentially a quarter of the way through the book, all we had seen was the beginnings of a break up. That’s it. Very little about Madison’s job, let alone it taking off as suggested in the blurb, and repetitive actions with the children. I really hoped for more.

Overall, Bombshell is a book I was very excited to read but felt like a let down.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on 14th March and is available now on Goodreads.

I was interested to review this book, I have to admit I dont watch the TV genres this celebrity is in but was open minded with this book. Sadly found this be be a bit "flat" and not well written.
I felt this was a story of finding ondelf when everything is a bit mad round about you but sadly lacked substance.

this is hard to review because I don’t have any feelings towards the book!! It wasn’t bad but I just didn’t really care about the characters apart from Madison I knew Rich was a rat :) and Jess. I don’t know Madison deserved so much better from her husband but I’m also so happy to see that she didn’t go back to him because the way he handled that situation was enough for me to run for the hills

I absolutely raced through this book, I was so invested! It’s one of those where 100 pages feel like nothing and I was turning pages (/ tapping ebook screen) as fast as I could. But equally, didn’t want to read it too fast as I was enjoying it.

I needed to know what was happening! What was Madison’s husband up to? Why had he suddenly become so distant and would Madison find her spark?

The writing was great, the story itself was super enthralling and it was easy to immerse into. It had elements to keep you interested and as a fan of Alison Hammond, this book was an easy win. Loved it!

A brilliant story and debut novel!! Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this and felt all of the emotions being portrayed from the main character.

Please keep them coming!!

I did enjoy this book, it's a perfect Christmas read, but i found myself really frustrated by Rich's behaviour, i spent most the book wanting to slap him! I really 'got' Madison and enjoyed her story. The ending was great.