Juliet and her husband, Liam, move into Magnolia Road with their small son Charlie after Juliet’s mother dies and leaves them her house. Liam has published a successful novel, so he is the main carer for Charlie while Juliet is the breadwinner, but she feels that she still takes on much of the burden of housework and childcare as well as working full time and their relationship has taken a back seat. As they get to know the other parents on the street, it becomes clear that the demands of being a good parent take their toll in different ways, and none of the women are “having it all,” which seems to offer prime material for Liam’s next book. Then an accident puts everything into perspective….
This engaging and often funny book took me right back through the years to when I was Mum to young children, with all the joys, fears, exhaustion and lack of time for anything outside their needs and demands, making me both nostalgic and relieved that I have got past all that! Rentzenbrink really captures those conflicting feelings of desperate love for your children and trying to give them the best of everything while feeling frequently inadequate, bored with the routines and frustrated about everything you have to give up or sideline in the process. The rivalries between families and the conflicts felt between partners are well portrayed, and Juliet’s struggles as a working mother, resenting what seems to be Liam’s easy life while grieving for and missing her own mother, are realistic and relateable. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Grieving Juliet moves into her late mother’s house with her husband Liam and their son Charlie. Whilst she heads into work she leaves Liam the novelist to become friends with the neighbours of Magnolia Road. Liam is hoping the neighbours will provide the material he needs for his second novel. But before they know it, one marriage ends, suspicions are rife in others and one incident at a children’s birthday party means life will never be the same for Juliet and her family.

This is a quickly and easy read but unfortunately for me it wasn’t a satisfying one. The characters are really unlikeable and I understand that this is in part a device for redemption arcs but by the end of the book it becomes a bit twee. Everything is wrapped up in a neat package by the end. It’s not a book I would recommend but thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Everyone Is Still Alive is a moving début by Cathy Rentzenbrink. The story follows Juliet, Liam and their son Charlie who are moving into Juliet's late mother’s house. The author's characters are complex and well-drawn, and the plot is stylish and intriguing. It was fascinating reading about the other inhabitants at Magnolia Road as writer, Liam formed new friendships at the after school groups and coffee mornings. All in all a heartrending, well written. story of grief, guilt, societal issues, family life and relationships that I recommend very highly.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

A book about family life on Magnolia Road. We get to peer through the virtual windows of Juliet, Helen, Lucy and Sarah's lives and see what goes on behind the smiling facade of the school run.
The trials and tribulations of both working and stay at home mothers are well described along with the varied emotions of each of the couples.
A cleverly observed book that you want to keep reading to find out what will happen to them all.

It is summer on Magnolia Road when Juliet moves into her late mother's house with her husband Liam and their young son, Charlie. Preoccupied by guilt, grief and the juggle of working motherhood, she can't imagine finding time to get to know the neighbouring families, let alone fitting in with them. But for Liam, a writer, the morning coffees and after-school gatherings soon reveal the secret struggles, fears and rivalries playing out behind closed doors - all of which are going straight into his new novel . . .
A book which is an observational novel about family and relationships it follows the lives of those living on Magnolia road. Laugh and cry you will love reading this book.

Mostly the story off Juliet, her husband Liam and their young son Charlie. They move into her mother's house on Magnolia Road after her death. . Juliet is the main breadwinner and Liam joins the neighbouring mothers at the schoolgates and coffee mornings. He is also a writer and is thinking about using the minutae of the lives of their neighbours in his new book. This book feels very realistic, lots of detail about the lives of families with young children, the problems , worries and routines of their lives. It also touches on where the problems between partners emerge as the needs of children sometimes end up taking over. Honestly written, though was slightly suprised when the story was suddenly picked up in another family .
Grief is well dealt with and as the book progresses some of the characters come to realise what really is important., though most seem to live a yummy mummy lifestyle which is perhaps not how the majority live. I would definitely read more from this author
Thank you to Net Galley for th ARC in exchange for an honest review

t is summer on Magnolia Road when Juliet moves into her late mother's house with her husband Liam and their young son, Charlie. Preoccupied by guilt, grief and the juggle of working motherhood, she can't imagine finding time to get to know the neighbouring families, let alone fitting in with them. But for Liam, a writer, the morning coffees and after-school gatherings soon reveal the secret struggles, fears and rivalries playing out behind closed doors - all of which are going straight into his new novel . . .Juliet tries to bury her unease and leave Liam to forge these new friendships. But when the rupture of a marriage sends ripples through the group, painful home truths are brought to light. And then, one sun-drenched afternoon at a party, a single moment changes everything.

This book was a change in my usual reading of thrillers and it was welcomed.
This book is light hearted, enjoyable read which reminds us of exactly what is important.
The book was read in under 24 hours, due to how easy the writing flowed. The book is very character driven
The book made me laugh out loud at parts. Focusing on the fads of today, this book is highly recommended

Thank you for inviting me to be part of the tour

This is just a brilliant beautiful read
If you asked me what happened in the book I’d have to say nothing and everything!
This book is about life. Ordinary everyday frustrating, lovely, complicated life. Love, loss, grief, fear and all our insecurities laid bare on the pages in front of us.
I read this over two evenings and I genuinely didn’t want to put it down

What they say: It is summer on Magnolia Road when Juliet moves into her late mother's house with her husband Liam and their young son, Charlie. Preoccupied by guilt, grief and the juggle of working motherhood, she can't imagine finding time to get to know the neighbouring families, let alone fitting in with them. But for Liam, a writer, the morning coffees and after-school gatherings soon reveal the secret struggles, fears and rivalries playing out behind closed doors - all of which are going straight into his new novel . . . Juliet tries to bury her unease and leave Liam to forge these new friendships. But when the rupture of a marriage sends ripples through the group, painful home truths are brought to light. And then, one sun-drenched afternoon at a party, a single moment changes everything.

My thoughts: I thought this was well written, engaging and an interesting insight into the characters lives. There is a lot of parenting, squabbling, anxiety, whinging, anxiety. It's a sensitive and also funny book, I liked it. A good take on modern, small community life of families and all their trials and tribulations.

Everyone is Still Alive by Cathy Rentzenbrink

Julia moves into her late mother's house on Magnolia Road in London, along with her husband Liam and young son Charlie. They are soon involved in a group of other couples and their children, and the story follows them all as they navigate home, school and work.

I loved this book - it made me laugh and cry! The characters were very well drawn and the storylines extremely true to life - I cringed and laughed many times but there were poignant moments too. An excellent portrayal of modern parenting and grief, relationships, work, school. Very highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

One of my favourite books I have read this year. Grief, family life, the mundane day to day- all play out in this family life, domestic novel. Beautifully written, I whizzed through this book- moments of sheer desperation, to flashes of humour, the full spectrum of emotion. A great read.

If you enjoy beautifully written, mums-at-the-school-gate fiction, then Everyone Is Still Alive by Cathy Rentzenbrink is the perfect summer read. When Juliet’s mum dies, it makes sense for Juliet, Liam, and their young son Charlie to move into the house on Magnolia Road. But Juliet works full-time, and it is Liam, a writer, who attends coffee catch-ups and gets to know the neighbours, leaving Juliet unsure where she sits in the inevitable school-gate hierarchy.

Everyone Is Still Alive explores the highs and lows of family life, the dramas and anxieties of parenting young children. Magnolia Road is a haven for the middle classes, where competitive parenting flourishes and marriages crumble beneath the strain, yet time is still found to drink wine and make bunting. I loved its almost-gossipy feel, and subtle humour. One for lovers of early Liane Moriarty.

When Julie, a fulltime working mother, her writer husband Liam and son Charlie move into her late Mother's house, they quickly are accepted into their new neighbourhood.. With Julie at work, they decide for Liam to take over child care, which leads him to write about their new acquaintances and all the gossip that is discussed at the school gates, PTA meetings and play dates. It is only when an unexpected event leads to personal growth for all the characters that this story concludes positively.

After reading Cathy's non fiction "Dear Reader" I couldn't wait to read this, her fiction debut. This is a story that is easy to get absorbed by, drawing the reader in to the lives of the characters, and I don't mind admitting that today I will be functioning via coffee after staying up late to finish this. Time just flew by - which is definitely a sure sign of a great book! I enjoy most reads that contain writers as characters, probably because more often than not, it leads to drama, and Everyone Is Still Alive, is not any different.

Although there was small parts that seem to drag a little for my personal preferences, over all, this is a very enjoyable read to say the least!

The main concepts of this plot focus on modern family life, relationships and friendships, with grief and bereavement thrown into the mix perfectly. A recommended read to unwind with, an ideal book for the summer.

This was a really lovely and entertaining book based on the lives of residents of Magnolia Road in London. They are intertwined by their,children who attend the same school and are good friends. All,the characters were brilliantly portrayed although I would really have liked more chapters about Helen and Dan as they were expertly explored in real life situations surrounding pressure of work, fear of redundancy and how the arrival of children can play havoc with a marriage, emotionally and physically. The trauma in the second half was a real page turner and was dealt with excellently. Overall a very good read, I was sorry when it ended.

An enjoyable read with strong, relatable, interesting characters. The only thing I found a little jarring was a single great chapter told from Helen's POV, though we never returned to her. A shame because I'd have liked to have learnt more. Overall a great read.

It is summer on Magnolia Road when Juliet moves into her late mother's house with her husband Liam and their young son, Charlie. Preoccupied by guilt, grief and the juggle of working motherhood, she can't imagine finding time to get to know the neighbouring families, let alone fitting in with them. But for Liam, a writer, the morning coffees and after-school gatherings soon reveal the secret struggles, fears and rivalries playing out behind closed doors - all of which are going straight into his new novel . . .

I have to admit that I found this book really dull. The characters were unlikeable, there were pages and pages about the interaction with the children, the mothers were all stressed and felt their partners didn't pull their weight but there was very little actual plot. I got so bored reading about their day to day meet ups, their children's tantrums/issues, the constant glugging of wine whilst they complained about their lives. The only saving grace was the author's skill as a writer but sadly this just wasn't enough.

Being familiar with Cathy Rentzenbrinck’s non-fiction and her newspaper columns and participated in book events she has chaired, I was delighted to be granted a free ARC in exchange for reviewing her fiction debut. ‘Suburban fiction’ that shines a spotlight on the privileged but often insidiously harmful way of life in wealthy enclaves is very popular right now (with Louise Candlish, Sabine Durrant and B.A. Paris being just three of the authors who do this very well), and Rentzenbrinck’s debut also fits into this sub-category. Her protagonist, Juliet, combines a stressful job in public relations with fervent efforts to join the circle of ‘alpha mums’ resident in Magnolia Lane, where she has inherited her mother’s house. It appears her husband Liam (a self-employed writer) and young son Charlie are in a much better position than she is to join the exhausting carousel of coffee mornings, after-school activities and neighbourly interactions. But as the old saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt, and never is this truer than in Magnolia Lane…..astutely observed, well-written and thought-provoking, this is a novel about the twenty-first century phenomenon of ‘neighbourliness’ that I would like to recommend to many more readers.

A really nice read, yet I felt like it lacked something. Even though there are some dark events, things still felt too tidy. Every problem has a resolution, and everyone seems to get on, there's none of insidious grit of every day. However it's perfect for a lazy summer afternoon, escaping the stresses of the real world. It was nicely written though and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for an ARC
From the blurb I was really keen to read this book but it wasn't what I expected
All the characters (bar Charlie- I liked Charlie) are loathsome. Self obsessed, whinging for England and if I'm honest a bit pathetic.. The feel of a yummy mummy soap opera was way too strong for me. Lots of families go through traumas and experiences way worse than these people and are not nearly as indulgent in self pity. The book is well written and the characters are believable and well crafted . This book turning up on a Booker shortlist wouldn't surprise me but whilst I adore some Booker books I didn't adore this one which was rather sad

I really liked the character of Juliet and her adorable son but Liam I could take or leave- he came across as a bit too needy, a bit too lazy, a bit too unfocussed and a bit too full of himself!
Moving into her late mothers house on Magnolia Road seems like a dream come true, more space, more garden, great neighbours (or so she has heard, as Liam does all the socialising) but as the family get more involved in the community the cracks begin to show. I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth the thrill!