The Woman Who Upped and Left

When I read the blurb on the back of this novel, the storyline resonated. There have often been times when I wished I could walk out and leave my responsibilities behind for a while. Many scenarios came to my mind as I considered this novel and I imagined that some of them could be hilarious. Once I was reading the book, however, I experienced a sense of disappointment. Audrey does leave - but not as I imagined she would. In addition, I felt a little annoyed with her as she seems to perpetuate the situation she finds herself in. Having said that, The Woman Who Upped and Left was a lighthearted read which leaves one with a sense of well-being at the end.

Easy read. Some fun. Would read more by the author

Loved this book!

Audrey Pepper is just your average divorced, 40-something mum of an18 year old teenage boy who is slowly being driven round the bend by her life. Well, more accurately by her son, Morgan, who is just drifting and seems to think mum will always be there to feed him, clean up after him and pay all his bills. So starts the great underpant-war. Morgan won't pick them up and now neither will Audrey. It all comes to a head when Audrey wins dinner lady of the year and has a choice of two wonderful prizes - £5,000 or a week long French Cookery Course. Which will she choose and will it be good for her?This is a typical Fiona Gibson story - warm and realistic feeling characters who have their nasty side as well as the nice bits that make them the focus of the story. Whilst some encounters feel a little contrived (does that ever happen to anyone in real life?) knowing that the world is full of surprises that we never anticipate makes even these feel convincing.The real joy of this story is the inter-personal relationships that show how we are all different people depending who we are with. From the caring and empathetic dinner lady and carer to the brazen woman in her Motorway Lover's eyes, the overbearing, nagging mum to her son, fun friend and then the defender of her son's girlfriend all these personalities are wrapped up in one middle-aged woman. Fiona Gibson really seems to understand human relationships and can write about them in such a lively way her books are a joy to read.

This was the second Fiona Gibson novel I purchased and I'm going to download another one right now. I love the humour she inflicts on the reader! Audrey and her teenage son, who I'd cheerfully strangle, live somewhat happily along with Jenna, Morgan's girlfriend, who I'd also cheerfully kick, in a house where Audrey is the sole breadwinner and keeper of said house. When she wins a competition with a prize of £5,000 or a fantastic cookery course she is definitely going to have the money - until she receives, in her birthday card from Morgan, a list of things HE wants! She decides to go on the cookery course instead, leaving a quick note for her son in the hope he'll rally and tidy his mess. It's a lovely story so buy the book to find out more.