Author: Helen Whitaker
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Trapeze
Publication Date: 8th August 2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Two mothers. Two daughters. One school place.
Imogen and Lily are old friends - they've shared hangovers, unsuitable boyfriends and wild nights out together. But now they're mums, and their partying days are behind them.
When a place comes up at one of the best primary schools in the area, both women want it for their daughters. From faking religious beliefs to bogus break-ups, Imogen and Lily will go to any lengths to secure the perfect school for their children - and so will all the other mothers.
Will their friendship survive the strain? Will their marriages take the pressure? And when a sexy new vicar arrives on the scene, will the mothers' keep focus for long enough to keep their eyes on the prize?
Imogen and Lily are old friends - they've shared hangovers, unsuitable boyfriends and wild nights out together. But now they're mums, and their partying days are behind them.
When a place comes up at one of the best primary schools in the area, both women want it for their daughters. From faking religious beliefs to bogus break-ups, Imogen and Lily will go to any lengths to secure the perfect school for their children - and so will all the other mothers.
Will their friendship survive the strain? Will their marriages take the pressure? And when a sexy new vicar arrives on the scene, will the mothers' keep focus for long enough to keep their eyes on the prize?
A story that I think will feel familiar to many parents, of just what other mums get up to to try to secure a place at the school of their choice.
From shenanigans with regards moving closer and closer to the school, or inching inside the catchment area, to possibly playing lip service to a religion you don't believe in, to doing everything in your power to be known to be a joiner inner within the school community. Just a hint at what may be in store as Imogen and Lily try to get their daughters one of the few available spaces at this Oftsted Outstanding school
This take place over the course of the year, from Enid and Winnie's first day at pre-school, and most of the focus is on the two women who at one point used to be friends, and their antics, as well as the other mothers to see just what life is like on the school run itself.
The playground politics are in force even amongst parents of 3 year olds at pre-school and it amuses me just what they will try. It was a shame I felt that I didn't really get to know the children's personalities that much, but that all changes with the parents.
We really get to know Imogen and Lily in alternating chapters and I loved seeing everything they were up to, and their relationship dynamics too.
There are all sorts of great sub plots present and I really enjoyed the writing. I think if I was a parent myself, I may have connected with some of the story a bit more, but i could definitely empathises and I wanted to know how things would turn out.
A really good debut novel, and I'll be interested to see what the author writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
From shenanigans with regards moving closer and closer to the school, or inching inside the catchment area, to possibly playing lip service to a religion you don't believe in, to doing everything in your power to be known to be a joiner inner within the school community. Just a hint at what may be in store as Imogen and Lily try to get their daughters one of the few available spaces at this Oftsted Outstanding school
This take place over the course of the year, from Enid and Winnie's first day at pre-school, and most of the focus is on the two women who at one point used to be friends, and their antics, as well as the other mothers to see just what life is like on the school run itself.
The playground politics are in force even amongst parents of 3 year olds at pre-school and it amuses me just what they will try. It was a shame I felt that I didn't really get to know the children's personalities that much, but that all changes with the parents.
We really get to know Imogen and Lily in alternating chapters and I loved seeing everything they were up to, and their relationship dynamics too.
There are all sorts of great sub plots present and I really enjoyed the writing. I think if I was a parent myself, I may have connected with some of the story a bit more, but i could definitely empathises and I wanted to know how things would turn out.
A really good debut novel, and I'll be interested to see what the author writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
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