I really liked Joni from the off (although *potentially* this is because there were some similarities between us! I did a maths degree and Joni is a maths teacher. I like to be organised and plan, and I have been known to suck the fun out of things by trying to do them *right*. My kids still haven’t forgiven me for turning various historic art trails around Birmingham into military operations to ensure all exhibits were seen and photographed.) But I digress – back to Joni! Her lovely Nana has passed away, and has left a series of tasks for the family to do in order to release her ashes and will. Joni feels she ‘has’ to join in and do it – even when her waste of space boyfriend of 10 years, Lewis, bails on attending at the last minute. Joni clearly isn’t close to her Dad, step Mum and step siblings – so isn’t looking forward to it at all.

The book follows their week of family bonding – and various twists and turns. I LOVED the WhatsApp group messages. Nana’s friend Sue is fundamental to these – and was brilliant (in my head, she is very similar to Joyce from Richard Osman’s ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series). I also enjoyed the relationship between Joni and her step brother’s adopted son Stan (and his friend Bilbo) – I felt this was fundamental to the whole book.

Whilst there is a potential new love interest for Joni in the hunky instructor Tim – the complex blended family relationships are far more important to the storyline, and you begin to understand how decisions made many years ago have affected everyone’s lives. Whilst the truth is difficult – I was pleased for everyone that it came out (honestly, I sound like they’re my personal friends rather than characters in a book!)

This book had a lot to live up to, as I’d just finished a Mhairi McFarlane book that I’d adored – but I need not have been concerned, Sarah has written a book equally as fantastic. Her eloquence on family life and grief was beautifully portrayed – with clever wit and humour right through it too. Not often I give 5 stars on Net Galley – let alone back to back 5 star reviews for 2 books – how spoilt I feel at the moment!

Thank you to the aforementioned Net Galley, the publishers and, of course, Sarah for a really lovely book.

I really enjoyed the author's debut fiction, so I was eagerly anticipating this new release. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the same mark for me.

The charm that made the first novel so captivating just wasn't present in this one. The book is filled with tropes and elements that have been done before, many of which felt very similar to others I've read.

Additionally, the humor seemed a little try-hard and fell flat in many places. The pacing also didn't work well, leading me to skim through parts of the book.

While I appreciate the effort, I apologise that this book just wasn't for me.

I absolutely loved Turner’s debut, Stepping Up, so knew I had to give this one a go, and I can gladly say it did not disappoint! This to me felt like a more upbeat, modern twist on PS I Love You.

Turner is great at creating really likeable characters, who you feel like you really get to know during the course of their story, Some not so likeable too, of course, but they all feel 3 dimensional and genuine,

I particularly loved the WhatsApp group messages - something I feel we can all relate too. Where’s the mute button!!

Don’t let the subject matter of the loss of a loved one concern you - this isn’t an emotional read about loss, it’s a hilarious story of family and reconnection, I loved it,

Warm and comforting, I loved the concept of this story and could not put it down. I was rooting for Joni to feel the love of her family and to reconnect, I really felt her sense of being the outcast in her blended family and how the loss of her family members had affected her. I kept wanting to pick the book back up to keep reading, which is a really good sign for me, normally mainly a bedtime ready, if my kindle makes it downstairs then it means I’m hooked! I loved Sarah’s previous book so has high hopes, and it did not disappoint. A really lovely story

Thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Sarah Turner's debut novel was in my opinion a brilliant book so I had high expectations for this book, and it did not disappoint!
From the beginning I felt I could connect with the characters, some more than others but I felt that they were described perfectly.
Although the story is based on the family losing the one person who brought them all together, it wasn't a sad emotional read. The way they used humour throughout the story felt realistic for me, in my family we deal with loss in a similar way so it helped me to understand them better.
The story had plenty of unexpected twists that I would never have guessed which made it all the more interesting. Overall a great read!

I was extremely lucky to be able to read an advance readers copy of On the Edge and I can honestly say its just as good as Sarah Turner’s debut novel Stepping Up.

The whole story flowed really nicely and was full of such good humour I was just laughing through most of it. I adored the family what’s app messages from Nana’s friend Sue and the whole family writing back just how I would imagine my own family would reply to messages.
My favourite character has to be Joni’s step sister Cate! She was so funny and reminded me of Alexis from Schitt’s Creek.
I could relate to the main character Joni having also lost my own Granny, who was the heart of my family too.
This story was a funny feel good book with a ever so slight twist towards the end which I did thoroughly enjoy. I loved it and can’t wait to read more from Sarah Turner!

Well what I can say…..another triumph from Sarah! I thoroughly enjoyed On the Edge and devoured it once I started reading. The characters are so likable and relatable and how lovely Gran brought them back together with her week of activities was such an interesting way to watch their relations evolve. Joni’s relationship with Stan is one of the loveliest in this book……that kid is just amazing! I love how the story shows us how all families are different but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a family.
A truly lovely read that sucks you in and leaves you wanting more so you can’t put it down. Well on Sarah on another cracker.

I enjoyed this book, it’s an easy read with an interesting premise and characters. Joni thinks is her life is planned and sorted then she is forced to spend a week completing tasks with her family as per her grandmother’s dying wish. Secrets are revealed and relationships mended. An enjoyable read for outside on a sunny day.

Thanks for the opportunity to read a preview copy.
I loved this story of Joni, her dad and the 'blended family'. Nana has died but before her ashes are released and her will can be accessed, she has a mission for them.
I cried more than I want to admit. Having said that, I really loved the book and Joni's character.

This is the second novel from the Unmumsy Mum and I really enjoyed it. It touches on families, love, friendships and grief. Sarah Turner really knows how to draw the reading in and make you a part of the family. I was really rooting for Joni and wanted her to get her happy ending.

Joni’s mum died when she was young and soon after her dad moved his new partner and her children in to the family home, making Joni feel as though she was being pushed out. Fast forward to present day and her Gran has just passed away and her dying testament was for the whole family to spend a week together completing a series of tasks. If they manage the week they get her ashes and the will.

This book is written in the present day through Joni’s view. I really felt I knew her well by the end and wanted to give her a big hug. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written book and I couldn’t put it down. This is a great summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and author for this digital arc.

I loved On The Edge so much! Great writing and story, with relatable characters I could picture as if they were in the room with me. A heartwarming read with some twists along the way- I finished this super quickly as couldn’t put it down. An easy 5🌟.
Many thanks for the ARC.

This is a very enjoyable read about a crazy, disjointed family who meet to carry out their late Nana’s last wishes, not long after her passing.
It is torture for Joni in particular, who feels she has no real part in the family, most of them being her step- family. However she agrees, against her better judgment, to go along with it in tribute to her beloved Nana, who she misses dreadfully. Joni feels that Nana seemed to have been the only family member who ever understood her.
As the week progresses, with the bizarre tasks Nana has set up for them, Joni isn’t the only family member who begins to have more insight into herself, and how she interacts with the family.
There is lots of humour, black and otherwise, amongst the chaos. The daily WhatsApp updates that the family share are very funny.
This author is clearly a great observer of life, in all its craziness, and a skilled reader of people and their interactions. All of the characters come alive on the page, and the narrative never flags.
A thought provoking story about the meaning of family, it is heartwarming and charming, despite being a ‘warts and all’ depiction of this particular family. I finished reading with a big smile on my face.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this novel.

Once I picked this book up I couldn’t put it down and read it in less than 24 hours (sorry kids)

Forced by her recently deceased grandmother, to spend a week participating in activities in order to release her ashes and will, with her father, step-mother and step siblings. The only thing Joani tries to avoid in life.

Will Joani be able to last the week in or will her grandmothers ashes and will remain locked away.

The story has lots of laugh out loud moments. But as expected from Sarah Turner, it has such beautiful and tear jerking parts that make your heat warm.

Overall, another great book from Sarah! Definitely one to add to your read list! You won’t be disappointed

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Joni is nearly 40 and is engaged to be engaged to her boyfriend of 10 years Lewis. They’re ready to take the next step and start a family. Then Joni’s nana dies and she’s thrust back amongst her estranged family. He dad and step mum, and step siblings Nick and Cate. Nana has planned activities for that week that will slowly reveal a code to a safe where her ashes are stored. Joni is increasingly uncomfortable with things and some family secrets are revealed.

Oh this was not warm and cosy but just a feel good, promise of a happy ending, kind of book.

Joni as a main character was so relatable. She could be me, also a teacher and hating change. It was lovely to read her character development and see the family dynamics reveal themselves. The whole idea of the this one made me laugh. Nana was a wise old owl! Such a unique storyline, fun, sad, nostalgic, angry, fair to say it covered all the emotions.

While this is not my usual genre, I love this author’s sense of humour, always apparent in social media posts, so I couldn’t wait to read this. I was not disappointed. A fantastic read that I have thoroughly enjoyed, no devoured!

I loved On the Edge. I have enjoyed all of Sarah/Unmumsy Mum books and was really excited to read this. The characters and story were great - Joni was very relatable! Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the invite to read this eARC.

I really enjoyed On The Edge and think it is a beautifully written, heart warming and feel good read. It is told through Joni who I liked. Joni and her blended family are forced to spend a week together doing activities organised by their mum/nana before her death in a last attempt to try to get the family to reconnect. There is a lot of light hearted humour in this book which really complements it and I was drawn in right from the start and became quickly invested in the story and its characters. Joni starts the week reluctantly, not wanting to be there and ends it in a very different place and sees her blended family in a new light and reevaluates her own life and what she wants. I absolutely adored Stan and really enjoyed seeing his relationship with Jodi develop as the week progressed. The inclusion of the family whats app group messages is a lovely touch and I think the pacing of the story is perfect.

Overall this is a lovely humourous read, I did like some characters more than others and those I wasn't too keen on initially slowly grew on me as the story progressed. I really liked how the book ended.

4 stars

I have to be honest this took some getting into but I loved the second half. It was a family dealing with the loss of a grandmother and her last final wishes. I loved the character Stan and his pretend friend Bilbo . The main character Joni was a complicated character and it took time to warm to her. The love element did not go as I thought. Nice ending.

A great read perfect for holidays or just light relief from the daily grind!
Full of humour, family dynamics and emotion!
On the edge shows that no two families are ever the same and each has their own backstory, recollections and dynamics which aren’t always an accurate representation of what actually happened but memories are so individual and different for everyone involved!
Great characters loved the interaction between Nick and Joni, little Stan was a wonderfully quirky boy and added so much to the story!
A wonderful concept of a loved one leaving instructions from beyond the grave in order to bring the family together through activities and staying together, which worked with amazing results!
Would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

What a wonderful story! The characters were superbly crafted and had real depth. There were very few that it was hard not to like (other than Jason) and you could see and identify with the different perspectives in the family conflict.

There were a lot of laugh out loud moments, as well as some serious issues. I loved Stan and his imaginary friend and his developing relationship with Nick and Joni.

I loved Nana and her plotting, you can see what she was trying to achieve and you can see why it took so long to get the family together.

There is real warmth and humour in this book and it made me smile. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this story and became interested in all the characters.
Joni feels an outsider in her family, struggling with her stepmum and step-siblings. When her nan dies, the family are thrust together in a series of activities and they get to know each other better and uncover hidden truths
Really enjoyable read.