Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Finished the book and it's not the book for me. I had a lot of trouble relating to Maria and was irritated with her (and the majority of the characters) most of the time. Especially the parts where she wonders where Kate's original style has gone. I kept thinking just look at your own behaviour and you have your answer. The only voice of reason I could find in the book was Maria's sister in law Susannah and maybe her husband Joe.

Imke wrote: "Finished the book and it's not the book for me. I had a lot of trouble relating to Maria and was irritated with her (and the majority of the characters) most of the time. Especially the parts where..."

Thanks Imke for your feedback. You were spot on with your assessment that Maria needed to look at herself to work out what was going on with Kate. I know that some readers really prefer books where the main character is likeable - I in fact asked a question in a Goodreads group a while back about whether people felt a main character needed to be likeable. For me, some of my favourite books have had main characters who are really quite unlikeable but I know that's not to everyone's taste. Maria certainly has a lot of flaws during this period of her life, and I wanted these to be picked up by readers - the risk of this of course is that some people just won't want to engage with her at all. Thanks anyway for reading it to the finish, and for your review :-)

Finished!
(view spoiler)[That was a pleasant light read compared to some of the books I have been reading of late. So it was a nice break. I found Maria to be likeable, but I did want to shake her several times. The Beas are the type of women I would avoid at all costs - materialistic shallow snobs..ugh.
I had some issues trying to follow the chapters on the net ball matches as I really don't know the sport. I also had a bit of hard time keeping all the beas and their children and spouses straight. Too many names.
The ending was great. X (hide spoiler)]

Lia wrote: "Finished!
That was a pleasant light read compared to some of the books I have been reading of late. So it was a nice break. I found Maria to be likeable, but I did want to shake her several times. ..."

Thanks, Lia!

I understand Imke. Maria can be pretty frustrating at times and she doesn't realise that Kate is modelling her behaviour.

Chapters 12-25
(view spoiler)[
Ah! Kudos to you Deborah that these women are annoying the business out of me, but I am still compelled to read! :o
I can see how Maria has ended up in this position and I hope she takes a leaf out of Nic's book and starts to relax a little. I'm already seeing small sparks of something coming through which is good. I really like Maria's sister in law as a voice of reason, and the relationship between Maria and her husband has been very "real" ; and as a person that likes character driven novels I really appreciate how all these characters are believable.
I do wonder if Caitlin has posisoned Bea against Maria somehow. Surely this can't all be about a hair tie?! Perhaps I'm being too forgiving to Bea, but I've known people like her in the past and she may be self involved, but also is somehow aware of others and loyalty is important.
I am hoping that Maria either chills out a bit or puts the kids in a different school to enable her to go back to work and her husband to take a career change. There is just so much more to life and to work in something you hate to pay for school fees is not a good balance in my mind. (hide spoiler)]

Hello, just starting Up and In and have to agree with those irritated by Maria. She seems to be very different from her child's classmates but just can't face the facts. I'm still in Kindergarten and hope she comes to her wits soon. Light hearted read so far though, and I can't relate to questioning your mothering skills, although not to this degree.

Karen wrote: "I understand Imke. Maria can be pretty frustrating at times and she doesn't realise that Kate is modelling her behaviour.

Chapters 12-25

Ah! Kudos to you Deborah that these women are annoying the..."

Thanks, Karen, for all your comments - very insightful indeed X

Trinia wrote: "Hello, just starting Up and In and have to agree with those irritated by Maria. She seems to be very different from her child's classmates but just can't face the facts. I'm still in Kindergarten ..."
Hi Trinia, nice to meet you :-)

Stacie Mass D-Struction wrote: "LOL chapter 20

[spoilers removed]"

Oh I know! I kind of cringed also because I think that could have so easily done downhill fast for their relationship!
I may have a unique viewpoint also because I took parental leave for a year with our first child while my husband worked full time, and then we swapped. So we both got life on "the other side" and I felt a bit of jealousy on both sides at times! lol

Emma wrote: "Finished

What a great ending [spoilers removed]"

Well said. Ioved the ending too

The end!

Thanks Deborah for making this book available to us and joining the read. I've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and seeing your comments too. It must be nail-biting watching people read your "baby" in real time!

I really appreciate your ability to write characters. Although, as many commented, the people can be pretty unlikeable, they are real and believable. I also really enjoyed the ending -(view spoiler)[ I did wonder how you would end the book and it was totally fitting. I like that there was more to Caitlin's position than met the eye, and I did actually feel sorry for Bea and I understand why Maria sent her the text. It showed her to be a more mature person and I think she would be able rebuild some relationships with "the Beas" and be more like Nic.
The one thing I don't remember, is how is it that a hairdresser is on the "Bea list"? That didn't seem to fit with the other mothers who all stayed home full time or previously had high powered jobs. (hide spoiler)]

Emma you have me excited to finish, saying how you loved the ending, thanks for your comments!
Moving along slowly but only because summer has been hectic.
Ugh, ironically Bea is bringing me back to high school more than my early mommy days. That woman reminds me of a girl I was friends with in high school and one in college. Ah, how quickly someone can make you fee loved and then the next second so lonely. I never understood how these girls did it, but they were pros- just like Bea. I'm planning on digging deep into this book today!
Thanks Deborah for sharing this delight :)

Chapters 9-16

Man oh man I can not even begin to fathom how a seemingly well intentioned mother turns into a social climbing (without acknowledging it as such) wannabe(a). I can't really relate because at no point in my life have I ever really given to licks about what people thought about me so 'listening' to Maria obsess about the reasons why things are happening the way they are happening is kind of stressful in a way. I am enjoying the book because it is totally not the norm for my wheelhouse. Have to wait and see what happens hopefully she starts 'growing' up soon though. On a side note I adore Joe he reminds me of my boyfriend.

Karen wrote: "The end!

Thanks Deborah for making this book available to us and joining the read. I've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and seeing your comments too. It must be nail-biting watching peo..."

Thank YOU Karen, for reading and reviewing! I think it's great that you are able to perceive that Bea is not thoroughly evil. I am a big believer that people are multi-dimensional and although their actions give us cues as to the type of person they are, no one is ever really the walking-talking version of one of their actions. Re Nic - although 'on paper' she may not have seemed to be the type of person that the beas would include in their inner circle - she proved that being true to yourself and just being yourself instead of trying to pretend to be the person that you think someone wants you to be, wins out in the end. Being yourself, and being comfortable in your own skin is a very appealing quality - and this found her more favour with the beas than Maria received, even though Maria tried so desperately to fit in.
I am working on my second book at the moment, and posting updates on that from time to time - if you would like to follow, you can do that here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debora... Thanks again for your feedback X

Trinia wrote: "Emma you have me excited to finish, saying how you loved the ending, thanks for your comments!
Moving along slowly but only because summer has been hectic.
Ugh, ironically Bea is bringing me back..."

Thanks Trinia - definitely flashes of high school for a lot of readers, I think! Happy reading today X

Victoria wrote: "Chapters 9-16

Man oh man I can not even begin to fathom how a seemingly well intentioned mother turns into a social climbing (without acknowledging it as such) wannabe(a). I can't really relate b..."

Hi Victoria - I think it is in fact Maria's good intentions as a Mum that get her into this mess - she thinks that if she can just fit in with the mums, then that will help her daughter to fit in (and receive invitations to all the parties, no doubt) ... and she somehow loses herself along the way ... X

Finished

Ok so after finishing this book I feel like Maria has been redeemed!! So glad that she finally realized (with a wise Sis-in-law for help) what was important! The last three chapters were by far my favorite of the entire book!! I also felt that each character was believable and in the end it really is a case of you don't know what the other person is going through and you shouldn't judge so harshly!! I enjoyed this book immensely!!

Victoria wrote: "Finished

Ok so after finishing this book I feel like Maria has been redeemed!! So glad that she finally realized (with a wise Sis-in-law for help) what was important! The last three chapters wer..."

That's fantastic to hear, Victoria! Thank you so much for posting that - I so love it when a reader gets what I was trying to do with this story. I am in the middle of writing another novel - if you would like to keep up to date with that, you can follow my progress here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debora... Have a great weekend X

Finished! And can I say Whew! everyone did get what they deserved in the end. Thank you for sharing Deborah, it was a neat quick read, although maddening at times (lol). Poor Maria and Kate had their days.
I have posted my review and will look for your books in the future!

Sorry i haven't been discussing but its been crazy at home with HS graduation and now another graduation on Thursday but I finished very late last night and I have to congratulate you for a very entertaining and we'll written book. Thank you and good luck. I can't wait to see what you'll write about in your next book.

I've always wanted to write but it works better in my head but when it comes to putting it on paper I always have the a problem with changing things and end up putting it aside. How do you stay focus and when do you find the time? Especially with children?

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Sorry i haven't been discussing but its been crazy at home with HS graduation and now another graduation on Thursday but I finished very late last night and I have to congratulate you for a very en..."

Thanks Carmen, and thanks so much for your review! XX

Trinia wrote: "Finished! And can I say Whew! everyone did get what they deserved in the end. Thank you for sharing Deborah, it was a neat quick read, although maddening at times (lol). Poor Maria and Kate had..."

Thanks Trinia and thanks for your review, too XX

This is one of those books that I'll re-read when school begins so that I can laugh as I watch all the usual mothers that love to cackle by the school about what they're planning on doing for the school year. I really one mother that everyone thought she was a Bea until they found out the her husband wasn't such a good guy. He was arrested for child porn. Well you didn't see her anymore. Since she worked in the school, she found a new job somewhere else. I'm guessing she didn't like the looks that she was getting from her so called "friends" It was sad but I guess you really see who your friends really are.