The book tells the story of two parents who moved to Spain to follow Gus (the dads) dream to own and run his own vineyard, while their two oldest children stayed in boarding school in the UK. I think this is a point these children have never been able to forgive their parents for, while the third and youngest child has no issues as he hadn't started school yet and so was able to live in Spain and join the local school.

As the children grew up and had their own families they all settled in London, however when Gus has a stroke they realise that they need to rally round their parents and support them in ways that they haven't previously.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, especially as the characters seemed interesting and of substance but I feel there was just too much going on, too many different issues and too many people!

As I was reading I was waiting for a big climax but sadly this didn't happen, with a lot of issues being resolved outwith the narrative of the book.

Once again Joanna Trollope hits the nail on the head in her characterisations and descriptions of family dynamics. Bang up to date covering issues from coping the illness in a long standing partner down to cyberbullying and financial pressures of living in the 21st century.

I usually love a Joanna Trollope book, because they're usually slightly edgy but rather old fashioned too... this fitted that description but I didn't warm to any of the characters. Monica and Gus are married and living in Spain with three adult children who live in the UK, until Gus has a stroke. Gus was made out to be a real old curmudgeon but that wasn't expanded on. Monica (who was a bit of a wimp) spent most of her time being rather 'old lady' although apparently only in her 60s and complaining about a bit of bad language. I feel she could have been more likeable and I'm quite certain I'd have liked Gus if I'd been able to spend a little more time with him. Anyway, neither parent particularly gets on with their children or indeed each other and the novel rather rambles on until a conclusion is made about how they'll muddle along in the future. The (adult) children and Monica come to some self realisation throughout the book but it felt like more of a plot device rather than a natural outcome.

Sadly a little disappointed with this one...

Mum and Dad is the first book I've read by Joanna Trollope.
We meet a grown up family with parents who moved to Spain at a pivotal point in their childrens lives. A point i dont think 2 have forgiven them for. The 3 children are grown up now with their own families and their own issues.
The book is a how all of them entwine back together again and how each helps each other too.
An enjoyable easy read.

I really enjoyed this book. Gus and Monica live in southern Spain, running a vineyard. When Gus is struck down by a stroke, their 3 grown up children have to step up to the plate. But they all have family issues of their own. This is a story about the complexities of family relationships and is well worth a read. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This was a strange one for me. I'm a fan of Joanna Trollope's novels, and I've been to an interview of hers- her perspectives on family life are so genuine.
The unsettling feeling came from a personal place- my parents moved to Malaga during my university degree and it was a huge adjustment for the entire family. Trollope really understood the difficulties the parents faced in making a livelihood for themselves, and the feelings felt by the children left in England, and it was very well achieved.

Sebastian,Katie and Jake's mum and dad live in Spain. Gus runs a successful vineyard, until he has a stroke. Jake steps in to run the business but the other 2 siblings are suspicious of his motives. Joanna Trollope ,as usual, writes in such a way that we get embroiled in all the family's problems, hoping for a good outcome. The unexpected sibling steps up to provide a solution.

Mum and Dad live in Spain, running the vineyard they created, miles from their grown up children. But when dad Gus has a stroke, the family come together to help and childhood feelings of resentment and hurt are brought to the surface.
This novel follows the children as they adjust and was an enjoyable, relatable read. However I felt it was let down by the ending which seemed to skip a lot of information, just suddenly jumping to the presentation of the conclusion. It was unsatisfying that the relationship most undeveloped was the one that had most to explore and explain, that of Jake and Bella. Unsatisfying.

Once again Joanna Trollope doesn't disappoint with her insight into family dynamics. Mum & Dad, in this case, Gus and Monica are living in Spain running a prize-winning vineyard when Gus suffers a stroke. Their three children Jake, Katie and Sebastian, all in London are faced with the prospect of supporting their parents while coping with their own partners and children.

An easy read but I did feel the ending was rather abrupt. Nevertheless, fans of Joanna Trollope's earlier family sagas will not be disappointed. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I haven’t read Joanna Trollope before, but know that she has written heaps, I found this book a bit like a comfy, baggy, jumper that makes you feel good. Like the jumper after it’s summer hibernation, it was a little cool when you first pulled it on, but by half way has moulded to all the right spots and made you remember why you liked it so much. I could have read more of this family’s journey and feel that there was more left in the tank, it ended well but a bit too soon.

Thank you #netgalley

Mum and Dad was a gentle read, which I enjoyed. While none of the characters was particularly likeable, they all became slightly more so by the end. The characters faced interesting, gritty, real life situations. It was good to see them coming together to provide a solution for their various problems, and to leave the novel on a positive note, without everything having been neatly tied up and finished. I felt hopeful and optimistic by the end.

This book was a very slow starter, and I didn't really find it ever got going! Based in Spain when dad has a stroke, his children visit from London and goes into what is happening in their lives. Unfortunately didn't keep me enthralled and was quite happy to get to the end.

It’s years since I’ve read a Joanna Trollope book, which I devoured back in Aga Saga days. I found this one just as easy to read, but I did find it a bit glib. The various members of the family have their relationships thrown under a spotlight when curmudgeonly father Gus suffers a stroke at his vineyard in Spain, and the rest of the family have to adjust to new ways of life. I found it quite unbelievable that eldest son Sebastian and his wife Anna should change their characters and relationship with each other so dramatically and so apparently instantaneously. There are similar, if less dramatic, volte faces with other characters. And as for two teenage boys suddenly becoming the voices of reason in their family - well, nice thought but as a mother of two [now adult] boys myself, I just couldn't wear it! Despite that, an enjoyable read.

Not being familiar with bestselling author Joanna Trollope’s work, I was intrigued to see why she has remained so popular for many years. If ‘Mum and Dad’ is typical of her work, is it because her readers enjoy seeing well-heeled folk come a cropper?
This novel is set in Spain amongst the vineyards of Gus Beacham, recently incapacitated by a stroke, and London where all three of his adult children live with their families. Matriarch Monica has lived in Spain with Gus for over a quarter of a century but she’s become increasingly saddened by her husband’s surly manners and selfish preoccupations. Terrified that she will have to cope on her own when he becomes ill, she welcomes support from her children.
Siblings Sebastian, Katie and Jake see little of each other normally and there’s not much love between them. As they work to help their parents stuck in Spain, they begin to understand each other’s priorities, strengths and weaknesses. However, it takes the grandchildren of the next generation to ensure that they face up to all that is fragmented in their family and why this is so.
Certainly, Trollope is attuned to certain middle-class concerns and priorities. Nevertheless, in ‘Mum and Dad’ all predicaments work out just a little too cosily to be convincing. What does the author wish to communicate? Is it that children shouldn’t go to boarding school if they don’t want to? Is it that if you behave like a doormat, then you will get walked over? Might it be that you have to face up to huge debt? Well, yes! Whilst none of her characters are particularly admirable, the real problem for me is that they really didn’t interest me much. Trollope can certainly write an inter-generational tale but just how enlightening is it for most readers?
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

I love Joanna Trollope books and this one was no exception. Her ability to write about different issues with such insight is a rare talent.

Every family have to deal with their own issues and the Beacham family in this story had their own family dynamics. Gus and Monica’s decision to move to Spain to follow their dream of building a vineyard and wine business, sometimes at the expense of their children struck a cord with me as it is something my own in-laws have done.

Their children Sebastian, Katie and Jake need to step in to help when Gus suffers a stroke. With each child having to juggle the demands of their own families and finding the best solution in helping their parents, they need to reunite and put family resentments behind them. But can they?

Gus and Monica have their own relationship struggles to deal with. Gus has always been a demanding husband and his changed lifestyle after his stroke puts extra strain on Monica. Can he adapt and come to terms with his loss of control.? Or will Monica snap under the new pressures? The exploration of old fashioned marriage expectations was beautifully explored.

This book was a gentle easy read and one I enjoyed at this difficult period where I found it hard to pick up a book. It resounded with me that every family has their own personal struggles and sometimes normality can be the easiest option for some and not for others.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this enjoyable identifiable read

I throughly enjoyed this book, I read The Rectors Wife years ago after I watched the tv series and I loved both of them. This book was so gentle and easy to read about all the different characters in the family. The book just seemed to float along and before I knew it I had reached the last page. It was just what I needed in these very difficult times, to forget for just awhile all the awful things going on in the world and leaving the bad news behind..
I will look for more of Joanna’s books when I can.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book was a slow starter, I felt that the characters lacked some depth, but as time went on, we got to know them better. It was an oddly unsatisfying book, and not up to the quality of some of the author's previous novels. It was a pleasant read, but certainly not a page turner. I was glad to see the issues resolved at the end...

Gus and Monica have three grown children and six grandchildren. When Gus suffers a stroke, the family dynamic must change - like it or not. How will they cope? Joanna Trollope at her best.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this Kindle edition in return for an honest review.

A typical Joanna Trollope. I thought this novel might have more insight into balancing coping with elderly parents and teenage children, work etc.
Although some interesting observations were made I kept feeling everything is better if you can afford people to look after you and you are rich enough to support the siblings.

Overall this was a good read about family relationships but I am 'on the fence' as to whether I enjoyed it or not. I don't think I will rush to read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Man Macmillan (Mantle) for giving me the opportunity to read this book.