What a brilliant book! I raced through it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down. I became completely absorbed in the story and was so invested in it. It’s definitely worthy of 5 stars.

I know that there is a lot of skepticism within the literary criticism circles about books published by celebrities but to be honest, I’m often intrigued by them if the celebrity is someone I enjoy. So, if it’s always a marketing ploy, it works on me!

Interior designer Madison is married to everyone’s favourite, handsome TV handyman Rich and she couldn’t be happier with him and their two kids. She wasn’t expecting the bombshell that is Rich moving out and saying he needs space just a few weeks before Christmas. Madison is determined to find out what’s behind Rich’s sudden personality shift and she might just rediscover herself in the process.

At first, Madison does her best to reassure herself that the split is temporary and that her marriage really is as perfect as she always thought it was. She puts on a brave face for her family but it was clear to me that she never really believed that. It was really sad to witness but something about Madison made me feel that she really would be OK in time.

Perhaps it was the fact that she has always done the lion’s share of ensuring that the family runs properly. Like many mothers, she feels guilty for allowing herself some self-care. Even though she’s going through a hard time and her children are taken care of, it feels unnatural for her to do something for herself and is afraid of what others will think of her. So many books that talk about motherhood touch on this toxic mentality and it’s really concerning to think that school mum culture is rife with such harmful ideas but I don’t doubt it is.

Bombshell is a fun, festive but not overly festive rom-com with a bubbly heroine who you want the best for. There are also a few twists thrown in to keep the pages turning and an ending full of hope. Exactly the kind of book I’d expect from someone like Alison Hammond.

First novel from Alison Hammond.
No major surprises but likeable characters and an easy read. Enjoyable.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in return for my honest review

I loved this one. Will 100 percent be looking out for another one from Alison. It was an easy read, perfect for over the Christmas period. I loved the strong women portrayed throughout the book. It really resonated with me how the main character, Madison, lost her sense of self after having children and becoming a wife and I loved seeing her rediscover herself. It also gave me hope for myself!

Wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book. But I was pleasantly surprised. It was actually well written with a good story line and fun characters. A great uplifting read. Recommend

Love Alison Hammond and I really enjoyed Bombshell. It was well written and witty. Poor Maddison feels relatable and left me feeling that she deserved better. This was a great debut. Hope there will be more books to follow.

FAB DEBUT…

Madisons ‘safe stable’ life is turned upside down by her husband Rich.

An easy to read, fall in love with the characters story about strength, friendships, resilience and girl power!

Fun. Sassy. Big hearted.

Alison Hammond is now the queen of fiction!

Maddison is married to Rich, a handyman on television with big ambitions to host his own show. They have two children and a happy life, or so Maddison thought. She is completely thrown when Rich says he needs to move out for a while, he needs space. Maddison just wants things to go back to how they were, but will they?

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It wasn’t what I expected and that made it so much more fun. I warmed to Maddison from the beginning and was rooting for her, whilst she was discovering who she was, and what she wanted from life too.
I look forward to reading any future books from the author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

“Bombshell” is the debut novel from TV star Alison Hammond (with co-writer Lisa Bent). It’s set at Christmas and tells the story of Madison who has the perfect family. But when her TV presenter husband announces out of the blue that he needs some space, Madison isn’t sure what to think. Eventually, with the help of a new friend, she turns detective but will she find the answers she’s looking for and will she find the confidence to follow her own dreams again?

I love Alison Hammond so was excited to read this book. While it didn’t quite live up to my expectations, it’s an enjoyable easy read and perfect for Christmas time. I think it could have benefited from a closer edit as there were points that were unnecessarily repeated and details that contradicted each other. Also, it was billed as a romcom but I felt it needed a bit more of the “com” especially from someone who is as naturally funny as the author always seems to be on screen.

But overall I did enjoy it and would recommend it to others, especially those who are fans of Alison Hammond or who are looking for a festive read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Loved this. I was apprehensive as I love Alison but had never seen her as an author. It starts with a lovely picture of a family at Christmas, then lies, betrayal and the worst twist for the main character. A typical keep your friends close and enemies closer

Loved this book, it was such a nice easy read, I dont like to give anything away in reviews but anyone who gets the opportunity should read this book.

4/5 ⭐️

Honestly a delightful Christmas read, even with me clocking the reveal quite early on.
A very strong debut

I loved this book and read it within a few days because I just had to know how everything turned out for the main character! Madison, was very relatable and I was rooting for her throughout. The plot was gripping and it made a lovely, relaxing read over the festive period. The book is well written and Alison Hammond's wit and humour shines through.

I did find myself guessing the plot quite easily but this certainly didn't put me off as I still wanted to read it through and find out the ending for myself. The writing was empowering and showed how resilient and strong Madison was whilst also being set around themes of family and Christmas.

Overall a very gentle read. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

I didn't know what to expect but was suprised to find that I enjoyed reading it. I had guessed the ending near the beginning of the book so it didn't come as shock. I wouldn't say it was lit was anything like the famous author that I read a lot of that it was hinted that it was similar to but was still enjoyable to read.

I really enjoyed this debut novel. The character of Madison was relatable, her strength shone through as did her love for her family.

When Rich suddenly leaves her, she wants to know why, can’t believe it’s over and is desperately trying to pretend everything is ok for her kids. Seeing her start to believe in herself was wonderful, making new friends that really boosted her self worth and confidence.

I liked how Madisons detective work was what let her to rediscovering her love of art and interior design, and made her a few new friends along the way. The added twist right at the end was totally unseen by me, and I think my reaction might have been the same as Madisons.

I liked the budding friendship with Nathan, how her saw her talents and supported her, and whilst I could see the attraction was there between them, they never acted on, and still only at the end it’s only a date request to see if anything progresses, this made it a lot more believable for me, Madison is in a fragile and vulnerable place and needs time to find herself again and get used to a new normal.

A great, fast paced, funny and heartwarming read.

Fairly average story about finding out who you are in life when everything around you falls to pieces. It’s fine.

A fun light read at times . Madison thinks every thing is perfect then her famous husband leaves and it is a shock . I loved the opening chapter about the ice skating . That will make you laugh . She grows stronger and stronger . Her work is not making her happy either. Ended well .A nice wet Saturday afternoon read

I love Alison Hammond in Bake Off, so was excited to read her book.

It's set in the build up to Christmas, so was a little Christmas reading treat 🎄

Madison's perfect family is turned upside down when her husband walks out, saying he needs space. Embarassed, she doesn't tell anyone.
She bumps into a woman who gives her good advice about deciding what she wants to do for herself, but her friends seem to just want everything to go back to how it was before, when she tells them what's going on.

I could relate to Madison as a busy, hands on Mum, trying to juggle everything to put her children first. It was empowering to see her realise it isn't selfish to follow her own dreams.

I'd love to catch up with Madison in a sequel.

Bombshell follows the life of our main character Madison, who’s trying to navigate the complexities of her career, friendships, relationships, and self-discovery.
The writing is relatable, with the conversational style making it easy to connect with and relate to the characters. However, the story lacks any sense of real depth. The plot felt overall predictable, and some of the character arcs didn’t feel fully developed. Overall, this novel is a fun, light read, and a great bit of contemporary fiction escapism.

Thank you to NetGalley, and to Random House UK/Transworld Publishers for allowing me to read and review an ARC in exchange for my review!

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of Bombshell.

An enjoyable, easy read tackling relationships and life for Madison, a mother of two and wife of a husband who needs a break. The frustration was real while reading the book, I wanted to shake her, and him, but such feelings can only come from realistic writing.
Recommend.