Written by comedian Mel Giedroyc, of Mel & Sue fame, I was expecting more from this book. It’s OK. Honestly, that’s the best way I can describe it. It’s an easy pick up and throw away read. It pains me to write all this because I think Giedroyc is wonderful, but this book does not do her comedic mind justice.

The plot relies on a well known story: a very wealthy woman finds herself rather bored and without purpose. She has a superficial relationship with her husband and children who are all cocooned in their own comfortable worlds. They then lose everything, but in turn find themselves.

You will recognise all the characters. You’ll find them amongst your family, friends and on TV. The characters and the plot, although well written, leave you feeling like you’ve read this somewhere before.

“Are we all right, Sal? asked Frank. Sally didn’t answer for a bit. ‘Who knows, Frank?’ she replied after a while’

I think if it wasn’t written by a ‘celebrity’ I’d properly have given it 4 stars. Writing a novel as a big name, you REALLY need to make a splash. I didn’t even find it particularly funny, and I honestly thought I would be howling.

Sadly this book did not live up to my expectations. I didn't feel any empathy with the main characters and found myself not really caring what befell them. I did really want to like it as I think Mel Giedroyc is a wonderful tv presenter.
So sorry, but this was not the book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this book.

I was really looking forward to reading this book but, unfortunately I didn’t like it very much. I found the whole thing rambling and disjointed. I found it quite a struggle to get through this. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A novel full of charm- just like Mel herself. A good entertaining story about a family and how their lives were turned upside down. The Parkers are a strong family led by Sarah and Frank, with Sarah eventually taking the helm.

I wanted to like this book and had looked forward to reading it but I struggled with it.
I found it hard to get into and disliked the characters, which didn't help. Not engaging with the characters meant that I didn't engage with the storyline either and found myself flicking through the pages more and more.
Sadly this book was not for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline books for a copy of “ The Best Thing” for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading this book ,as a fan of Mel Giedroyc, but sadly this book just wasn’t for me.
I struggled to get into the book and couldn’t warm to any of the characters.
Unfortunately I can only give this an average star rating.

Based on the blurb, the gushing quotes from other authors, and of course the fact that this is written by the lovely, funny, warm Mel Giedroyc, my expectations for this debut novel were sky high.

Sadly, it didn’t take long for them to be shattered.

The Best Things is the literary equivalent of sitting down to a feast, only to discover that the chef has forgotten the seasoning. There is no enticing aroma, no delightful bursts of flavor, As John Torode would say, this is a bland and confused plate of food. I sent it back to the kitchen half eaten.

The premise was sound — a rags to riches story in reverse. But everything about the execution was off. The pace was agonizingly slow, the laborious scene-setting mind-numbingly dull, and the structure chaotic. It could have been saved by a cast of sparkling, engaging characters, but the Parkers and their acolytes (with the rare exception of granny Bronwyn) were the least likable bunch I’ve ever come across. Almost all attempts at humor were facile and cringeworthy.

The story needed to be more focused, the characters more sympathetic, less stereotypical. And the bankruptcy — the trigger to the Parkers’ downfall — needed to happen far, far sooner.

I really, truly hate to write a negative review, as I have enormous respect for the effort that goes into writing a novel, and I do love Mel and her TV persona. I rarely DNF a book, but by the time I’d waded my way through the first third of this, I’d completely lost interest and really didn’t give a hoot about what happened to the Parker family.

So, sorry, but this one just wasn’t for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the digital ARC.

Sadly I was disappointed by this book. I am a big fan of Mel Giedroyc and really wanted to love it, but whilst Mel's voice is strong, and I could hear her telling the story, overall the plot was lacking and the characters unsympathetic - although I wonder if this was deliberate and if we were supposed to revel in their misfortune.

Not what I expected but very entertaining none the less.
It took me a little while to warm to the characters but they soon found a place in my heart, especially Mikey and Sally. I'd love to see a follow up book with the family's progress.

Sally lives the life of a wealthy suburban housewife - cosseted, and bored. Until that all suddenly changes....
Some likeable characters, a bit confusing at times, and the timescale towards the end was so odd - Llanfairfechan isn’t actually at the other end of the world, only a four hour drive!
A bit of silliness, sometimes annoying and completely far fetched, but fun all the same!

What a sad little life, Jane!

I absolutely adore Mel and think she comes across great on TV. So this is hugely, hugely disappointing. Lazy prose, plot holes all over the shop (WHY did she leave the car at the side of the road and not sell it for quick cash?and why did she only get £2k for it when she did sell it??), and actually employing some very harmful fatphobic stereotypes for a quick laugh. Added to that the way mental illness and burnout is portrayed, and racist elements... this was a very implausible and frustrating book, and I really did have high hopes.

I've always been a fan of Mel Giedroyc so when I saw this book I just had to read it.

I found the pace very slow to begin with and it didn't really pick up until the halfway through. The characters started out to be very unlikeable, the kind of people you would avoid. There are also lots of characters to get to know which was a little confusing to begin with. However as the story developed I found I began to warm to some of them. I particularly like the character of Bronwen. She is only a side character but provided a lot of comedy.

This book is filled with the wit and humour you would expect from Mel with some fantastic one liners. Although I did find at times some of the situations the family got into were completely ludicrous to the point of being unbelievable and sometimes a little pointless as it didn't move the story forwards.

I was entertained throughout the book but was hoping for a little more.

This was a fun read, a riches to rags storyline, but peppered with Mel's fabulous sense of humour. I could hear her voice as I was reading and see that cheeky expression on her face. It's full of great one-liners, but it is a bit of chaotic story with many characters to keep track of and things resolving themselves in a way that does defy belief. I used to live in the area of Wales where the story ends and the geography, as described, just doesn't exist, so that marred the ending for me. A great bit of light entertainment!

Whilst I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t what I had expected Mel to write and adjusting those expectations made me lose enjoyment in the read. A good enjoyable read but just not for me, I’m afraid.

This book is a fun read. It made me smile & laugh If you are looking to pass a few hours away than this is the book for you

Sally Parker has lived a pampered, lavish life wanting for nothing thanks to her husband Frank. She has “staff” and exists in a blissful haze of pill popping, charity auctions and top-dog rivalry with other trophy wives. However, her world is about to come crashing down. Brash and boastful Frank has not only lost his business empire, their savings are gone and even their house has to go as unbeknown to Sally it is a rental. Frank is a broken man so Sally must find the strength to put her fractured family and their lives back together. I really enjoyed this book, believable characters and laugh out loud the humour of the author comes through!

I found this a very average book, peopled with unsympathetic characters whose lives, whether rich or poor, I cared very little about. I also felt the author's desire to try and be very contemporary in some of the dialogue will date very quickly and become even more cringeworthy. 2.5 stars
Thank you to netgalley and headline for an advance copy of this book

A mediocre read which didn’t quite match expectations for me. Felt very disjointed. A disappointing two stars ⭐️ ⭐️

This was a perfect distraction read during homeschooling/feeling bereft of social situations.

I'd say the first 25% of this book, is like pulling up a chair in the corner of a busy family home, and mindlessly being able to watch the comings and goings, from Sally the ever frustrated wife ,the larger than life husband, stereotypical children, a niece gifted to them by Sally's wayward sister , a house keeper,,,..etc etc....
No offence to Mel in saying that it doesn't take much brain power to read this book.....which for me, was perfect. Mr brain was being muddled enough during lockdow. It's a bit of cliche, a bit of escapism and a lot of a laugh!

Firstly I have to say that I think Mel Giedroyc is an absolute star on the TV - I think she's both hilarious and sincere.

Unfortunately I didn't get the same vibe from this book. I found it quite chaotic with so many characters and the story seemed to jump around a lot which was quite confusing at times.

The basis of the story being a riches to rags story, with the family losing everything that their previously privilaged life provided for them. I found the characters in this book so unbelievably selfish and spoilt to start with, but was glad the author provided her characters with a bit of humility in the end. The main character I really liked was Bronwen the Welsh Grandmother!

There were some funny parts to the story and it was told with warmth especially with the sweet message at the end that Family is the most important thing you can have.

Enjoyable enough but not the book for me.