A nice story about the messed up dynamics of a family and no one realising what is going on for anyone else. A good read without being too heavy

A good read. Not an exciting story, but a believable one. A gentle story about a family in crisis. A subject Trollope does well. Took me a couple of chapters to sort out all the participants. Occasionally the story deviates from the main theme and this does not seem to add too much to the plot. However overall I enjoyed the book and I think fans of Johanne Trollope will enjoy it too. The fact it is set in a part of Spain that I love added to my enjoyment.

This is a very enjoyable read. Gus and Monica have spent the last 25 years living in Spain running a vineyard, that is until Gus has a stroke and they question whether their current way of life is viable and if they need to return to UK. Next their three, very different, each with busy lives of their own, offspring step in. They travel from England, each with their own plans and solutions, each knowing exactly how to right the situation. Of course it would lead to disaster and the consenquences are entirely as expected with usual familial trials and tribulations hampering the way. Joanna Trollope writes so well about families and she didn't disappoint here. It was a lovely light hearted read, one I highly recommend,

A typical Joanna Trollope book writing about families although not my favourite. It didn’t really keep me gripped so it was slow going and not that exciting. Nonetheless thanks Joanna and NetGalley.

An interesting, undemanding read, following the intricate family relationships and dynamics of the dysfunctional Beacham family. Ultimately however I was strangely unmoved by their dilemmas and issues because I simply could not feel any real empathy with them. For me a little disappointing as I remember loving Joanna Trollope’s earlier works.

This was a slow starter for me and I had to make a list of the characters to keep track. (A disadvantage of reading on a Kindle and not being able to flick easily back and forth – probably my own ineptitude). There are many personalities in this family story and each has a problem; some are more likable than others and they all clash or meld just as all families do. Trollope is good at family dynamics. In this story, from the youngest to the oldest member, each character is a real person that lives beyond the page - from Mouse or Molly, who is a baby to her grandparents, grumpy Gus and long-suffering Monica living in Spain… I could picture them all. My favourite character is one of their sons, Sebastian – at first dull. But he’s dependable and much stronger than he realises. Jake (the youngest son) “designed for optimism, for the positive” stirs the rest of the family up when he starts to take over after his father suffers from a stroke. Jake has his eyes set on the wine business that his parents set up when their children were young. They put all their efforts into building it up – too much effort: (“… the ruins of what once looked like a bold and adventurous dream.”) which might account for the way their complex children have turned out. Dermot, the teenaged grandson is also a great character, telling his grandfather off for being so rude. Love it!

I could identify with a lot of this story. I’m of a similar age to Monica and live abroad for much of the year. My children are roughly the age of the characters in the story, but I think the story can be enjoyed by readers outside my own age bracket too.
I loved so many of the asides; the author’s wry observations: “my father is so stubborn, he makes a mule look obliging.” – (Of Monica) “She’s of her generation… wives like her followed the drum…” – the middle class “mashed avocado for her supper” that is fed to baby Mouse – little snatches like - “and she stood in Pilar’s embrace with all the reciprocal warmth of a coat hanger” – “Bringing up children isn’t the same as it was in your day” Ha ha! I’ve heard this myself quite often!! And I love the way that grandmother Monica crossed the divide of the generations and managed to get through to troubled, thirteen-year-old Marta when nobody else could. Monica explains “teenage was a new thing when I was growing up. Before that, you were just waiting to be old enough to have lipstick of your own and perhaps even a cigarette lighter…” This is vintage stuff and yet it isn’t. It’s ageless, this angst over growing up. Perhaps more so nowadays than ever with extra pressures. This family theme worked so well.
There were a couple of passages that I didn’t feel really needed to belong to the narrative – the longish account of the son of Kravchuk, a Russain oligarch – an important client of Katie, the daughter… that felt like padding out and I couldn’t understand its relevance and an earlier bit explaining why Gus came to Spain in the first place (involving an account of the Olympic Games in 1992…) I didn’t find this necessary. And I thought the ending was abrupt. Maybe Trollope means us to understand that nothing in a family can ever be neatly solved. There will always be stuff to work out, so there is no point in a happily ever after ending.
Once I was into this family, I really enjoyed this book. I give it a 4.5 rounded up to 5. This is my honest review in exchange for reading it from NetGalley and I thank Joanna Trollope’s publisher for the opportunity to read early.

A good analysis of the complexities of family relationships. This novel started slowly and was interesting in terms of character progression, but lacked the gripping factor for me, unfortunately. I've not read a Joanna Trollope book before and I would certainly look at some others - but this isn't strong enough to be a reread.

It took me quite a while dipping in and out of the first part of the book to get into it, it didn’t really grip me to start with. However the story of this family was interesting and I ended up enjoying this book a lot. I really enjoyed learning about the family dynamic and how they came together at the end. My only wish was that the ending hadn’t been so abrupt, I thought we would get a little more about how things had played out for the family. Thanks for another lovely read Netgalley

Joanna Trollope does family relationships well.
Elderly parents live in Spain and the father has a stroke. The children come into play in different ways. The daughter's difficult relationship with her mother changes; the youngest son volunteers to take over the father's vineyard with an enthusiasm that his siblings do not understand; and the eldest son tries to work out where he fits in. Does everything turn out OK? Or will family rivalries get in the way...
Not her best book, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this to read from NetGalley.

It has been quite a few years since I have read a Joanna Trollope novel so I was looking forward to it. Sadly I found myself disappointed by the storyline. It is about a grown up family and all of the complexities surrounding that, and how they cope when one of them becomes unwell. However, I found I was on edge waiting for the “punch line” that never came.

Apart from a deeper understanding of the family dynamics, I’m afraid I didn’t under the point of the novel; it felt unfinished and like it needed more excitement.

A good book about relationships within families.

The characters are flawed and believable and although there are tensions, they have to come together for a common goal which makes for some interesting situations.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest. This is not my usual genre therefore am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Gus and Monica gave up life in England 25 years ago and settled in Spain where Gus developed a very successful vineyard and produced top quality wine. Their younger son, Jake, spent his younger life with them before returning to England to run his own business. His older brother, Sebastian, and his sister, Katie both spent their early years in boarding school and saw little of their parents. Sebastian runs his own very successful business and his wife Anna is a well respected solicitor, having produced three somewhat problematic daughters. Katie and her long term partner, Nic have the teenage sons.

Gus suddenly suffers a severe strokes, throwing the family into a state of chaos and turmoil. Jake takes it on himself to rush to Spain to “take over” the business, soon persuading his wife to reluctantly join together with their small daughter - a recipe for family strife with Sebastian and Katie in turmoil as to what should be done.

Joanna always writes a most plausible story and this one won’t disappoint her fans.

This was a great modern day family drama with believable characters. The author deals with some difficult issues, skillfully weaving them into the plot. An interesting read but not her best, My thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read a Joanna Trollope for some years but as I used to really enjoy them, I thought I might like to try one again. I was particularly interested because it was about family relationships (as many of her stories are) and this one seemed to be from the perspective of older family members too. I think that is what attracted me as I am now in my early 70's. When I was a lot younger I devoured Joanna's books, being I think, in the age group she often wrote about. This time I am in the age group of the oldest couple, the parents and grandparents and this is an age group not given too much time generally in novels. The family in the story is nothing like my own but there were all sorts of little things that cropped up throughout that I still related too in terms of family relationships and all the little intricacies of family get togethers. I particularly enjoyed moments relating to the emotions experienced by the Mum/Grandmum as I could really identify with many of them. Yes, a lovely read.

I have read a few Joanna Trollope novels, and seen some TV adaptations, over the years and this book shows that she has not lost her touch. Joanna Trollope writes great family dramas and this one really resonated with me, particularly as I am one of 3 siblings who have struggled to deal with elderly parents. The characters are very believable, as is the situation of the parents having a life in Spain and the children having their own families and jobs hack in the UK. Even the general lack of communication between Katie, Sebastian and Jake, until their father has a stroke, rings true. A great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about modern family life with having to deal with elderly parents with failing health, siblings and children whilst holding down demanding jobs and lives. The ever changing dynamics and diversity of the modern family are perfectly depicted with plenty of tensions, and twists as secrets come out from a family grown apart. Brilliantly written and thoroughly engaging as the book deals with so many issues mainly bullying and control on many levels throughout all three generations.

I haven't read any Joanna Trollope for a while but will certainly read some more of her work again.

JOANNA TROLLOPE – MUM & DAD

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

With so many novels under her belt, JT as a celebrated author (as opposed to JT the person), must be almost impervious to reviews, good or bad. She is a national institution.

Her latest work is set in Spain and England and concerns the branches of the same family who live in and love their respective sides of the channel. And, crucially, what happens when one member of the Spanish branch, Gus, the patriarch, is taken ill. The consequences of his no longer being able to drive, make coherent decisions, nor manage the successful wine business which he has lorded over for decades is the kernel of the story .

As usual JT dissects the emotions and buried secrets of each branch, how they gel – or not! – and the hidden agendas and sibling rivalries that bubble beneath the surface of any family of such a size.

It is enjoyable and easy to read, with interesting characters – which must be difficult to create having crafted so many – and you, the reader, get carried along on the nuances of their lives.

My only disappointment was that there was not more of the character of Spain – I didn’t feel the sunshine and atmosphere as I hoped I would. But other than that, no complaints. Another story that will sell in tens of thousands.

Having read previous books by this author, I expected an entertaining read but was slightly disappointed. The story is mainly set in Spain with Monica and her husband Gus, who owns a vinery. When Gus falls ill, their three children and partners go to offer support, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

This is a story about family dynamics and differing lifestyles, also the doubtful trustworthiness of some family members. All three families have their own issues and problems to solve, and the book addresses relationships within families. Jake enthusiastically takes over running the family vineyard, but the family question his reasons for doing so.

The book will resonate with many readers who have similar issues to deal with. All characters are skillfully drawn, the beautiful Spanish scenery so well described, you could almost feel you were there. On the downside, I felt that there were too many characters in the book and as the story skipped from one family’s perspective to another, I felt it became confusing at times.

This book is so like so many of our own lives with all the intricacies associated with family and sibling issues. Joanna raises the awareness of the need for sons and daughters to suddenly become the responsible one's when faced with the sudden illness of a parent. It was particularly poignant for myself as my own mother suffered a sudden stroke and was a big change to our own family lives. I love Joanna Trollope as she captures the subject she writes about so accurately. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers allowing me to read this book