Written by Caroline Hulse
MEET THE ADULTS.
Claire and Matt are divorced but decide what’s best for their daughter Scarlett is to have a ‘normal’ family Christmas. They can’t agree on whose idea it was, or who said they should bring their new partners. But someone did – and it’s too late to pull the plug.
Claire brings her new boyfriend Patrick, a seemingly eligible Iron-Man-in-Waiting. Matt brings the new love of his life Alex, funny, smart, and extremely patient. Scarlett, their daughter, brings her imaginary friend Posey. He’s a rabbit.
Together the five (or six?) of them grit their teeth over Organized Fun activities, drinking a little too much after bed-time, oversharing classified secrets about their pasts and, before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends – where this story starts – with a tearful, frightened, call to the police…
But what happened? They said they’d all be adults about this…
Honest and Amusing .. 
Well, what a Christmas break!! Note to self: however you celebrate yuletide, don’t do it like this …
Matt and Claire used to be married; they have a daughter, seven year old Scarlett. These days, Claire’s new partner Patrick lives with them whilst Matt moved in with his girlfriend, Alex. So whose bright idea was it that they all head off to a ‘fun’ park to spend Christmas together? Either no-one knows – or nobody’s owning up!
I love Christmas! Having been a single parent – and completely believing in putting children first, well above personal feelings, my ex-husband did come and spend Christmas day with me, our two children and my now husband. But go away with him and a girlfriend for days on end? Not on your life! This novel is alternately gobsmackingly shocking and amusing. Including Scarlett’s ‘friend’ Posey the rabbit was a brilliant idea and frankly it’s a toss up as to whether Posey or Scarlett was the most grown up of all of them!
From sober over-politeness to drunk revelations and attacks, this is one book which will keep your attention. One thing for sure, this author has a wicked sense of humour which shines through all the upsets. The book begins with a disaster and there are little snatches of that, reminding the reader that something monumental occurred. I rather liked how this was done; it added to the mystique. It kept my attention from start to finish – the only annoying thing was the use of a couple of repeated words which jarred and seemed unwieldy, interrupting the flow of the story. I even googled the author to check if she was in the UK!
That aside, it was fun being a silent spectator on the relationships of others; whilst I didn’t find it hilariously funny, it was honest and amusing.
My thanks to publisher Orion for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Tags: family, humour, relationships
- Format: Kindle Edition
- File Size: 681 KB
- Print Length: 416 pages
- Publisher: Orion
- Publication Date: 23 August 2018
- Purchase Links: Amazon UK
- Amazon US
Meet the Author
Caroline Hulse spends most of her days writing, having fulfilled her dream of having a job she could do in pyjamas. She also works in Human Resources sometimes.
She is openly competitive and loves playing board and card games. She can often be found in casino poker rooms, and wishes other people would want to play Cluedo for money.
She lives with her husband in Manchester, where the two are captive to the whims of a small, controlling dog.
Grace J Reviewerlady 