Quirky but enjoyable. The main character isn't ways likeable but shows us the impact Frank has on those he left behind. A good commentary on the intricacies of human relationships.

This book far exceeded my expectation. So many crossing places in life. Frank may not have been the nicest person in the world. The book is about those he left behind and their lives. Sowed the intricacies of human connection. Really enjoyed it

Nicely written and engaging, this novel features an affair between 2 of the most vile characters I've read in recent times and also a scene detailing domestic abuse and animal cruelty that I feel is a little too hard-hitting for a book described as "smart and witty." The premise is intriguing but seems to run out of steam a little in the last quarter. I enjoyed the explanatory flashbacks but the main narrative lacks any real resolution. I also found the ending out of step with the rest of the story. Also, on a purely personal level, I really needed the narcissistic mother to suffer some horrific comeuppance. Enjoyable but not entirely satisfying.

This book felt like reading a cliché, I went in with zero expectations and it left me feeling flat.

A disappointment. Which is a shame because it lacked something and I can't put my finger exactly on what

Familial Drama..
Keenly observed familial drama with a deftly drawn cast exploring familiar issues. Brimming with dark humour, credible dialogue and a lightness of touch where disturbing issues must be brought to the surface. All of which make for a fluid and enjoyable read.

When Frank drops dead at the airport, on his arrival from his home in France on Christmas Eve, his estranged daughter Jem is called upon to identify his body. She then makes the impulsive decision to travel to France, to the childhood home she hasn’t visited in years.
What she discovers leads her to contact her brother, a brother she didn’t know existed, and this contact will have huge repercussions, for everyone.

Jem is lovely, strong-minded, independent, but with a past that won’t leave her alone. Her brother, Sonny, on the other hand, is spoilt and selfish, as is his mother, Kathleen. Their interactions are sometimes very funny, but sometimes painful to read, as is their treatment of poor Lauren, Sonny’s older sister.

And therein lies an issue for me. Jem is really the only character I liked – unless you count Mike the dog, which of course you should. It was difficult then, to really care about what happened to Sonny and Kathleen or to want a happy outcome for them. I didn’t really understand why Kathleen’s husband, Walter, put up with either of them.

I’m also a bit bored by the amount of books that are middle-class London-centric at the moment.

So I didn’t love this book, but I didn’t hate it either. There’s a lot to recommend and it’s definitely worth a read.

Who wouldn't love this book!? The characters make you feel you are part of their lives, you experience their highs and lows just as you would in your own lives with the hope that the ending would turn out well for them, after all a fairy tale always does doesn't it? Set in wonderful France this is a fabulous book, humorous, poignant and a true reflection of modern life. A great read - highly recommended.

Painfully sad and beautifully written - this book is an exploration of love, loss and hope. It was a brilliant read.

A short but sweet tale about family secrets. There's not a lot else to say about it other than if you enjoy character driven, family based stories, you'll love this.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation to review.

Loved this. Great characters, fascinating plot and strong structure. A really good choice for fans of literary fiction around families, scandal and secrets.

I was not sure if I would enjoy this book as it is not normally my genre but I really enjoyed it. There were lots of twists and turns which kept me interested throughout. I would recommend.

When Frank drops down dead suddenly at Heathrow airport on Christmas Eve, his estranged daughter Jem heads to France to try and understand exactly why Frank may have been travelling to London, with only his passport and wallet on him. She pieces together some of the clues and suddenly jumps to the conclusion that she may in fact have a brother which she didn't know about. To add a little more complication to the matter, she needs to track him down as Frank's cause of death was a heart condition which could be hereditary. So, it's only right that she finds the family and warns them....right?

There are a few strange characters in this and I have to admit I didn't find any of them particularly relateable, but I enjoyed the parts of the story where the flashbacks pieced the backstory together of that fateful summer and we find out more about the mysterious Frank.

An interesting idea for a book as one of the main characters is essentially dead at the beginning of the story. I imagine it would be quite tough to discover you have a sibling you never knew about and this book explores it very well, revealing secrets along the way.

This story starts with a sudden death and gradually all sorts of secrets are unravelled. His daughter has to identify his body and finds out she isn't his only child. What follows will keep you guessing to the end.

The author is introduced to Frank on the day he dies. The story is told in two time lines - the present with what is happening following his death and the past leading the reader on a journey to find out about his past. At the end of his life Frank seems to be a nice gentleman however all is not as it seems. A good read all in all. Thanks for the free copy netgalley.

At the beginning I felt sorry for Frank that he had dropped down dead at the airport and not managed to get what he wanted. His daughter Jem was left to sort out the mess and his death made her face up to a childhood that she had tried to put behind her. She discovers that she has family unknown to her and as the story unfolds you realise that Frank was a dark destructive character and the new and old family dynamics are all thrown into chaos. I especially like the writing about Kathleen a vain, selfish woman and the way her son was following her footstep of self-obsession. The death of Frank brings about many hidden secrets being revealed and highlights the devastation that unfurls. It is dark and funny and I like the way all the strands are tied up in the ending and the characters all grow from the experience.

Enjoyed this book. at first i liked franks character and as his life is played out i don't like him much at all.
good witty read. love how the book ties all the characters together and how their paths have crossed and lives are intertwined .

the vanity and selfishness of kath and how she ended up being a bit of a hero was great.

really good read, kinda wished it had been a bit longer though as finished it quite quickly

It's a novel displaying the nuances of love, jealousy and betrayal with the repercussions of pain and discovery. A compelling read. Food for thought. I do enjoy a book that revisits my thoughts long after I've read it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This was a heart warming book. It was about a family that have a troubled past, some of which they aren't even aware of. Gem gets news that her father has died and suddenly she has to work out who her family are and what to do. The book is quite light hearted and an easy read, where you can pick it up easily. The author has made good social observations and there are sub threads that keep the book flowing at a steady pace. The story is almost believable. The humour has some dark undertones but all this makes the book more enjoyable.

The Frank Business by Olivia Glazebrook is about a family in crisis after the discovery of a betrayal.