Emily just wants to keep the world away.
She doesn’t want anyone to know all the ways her life is messed up.
Going to anger management every Saturday, talking to strangers, was not part of the plan.
Jake just wants to keep his family together.
He’s also messed everything up.
Going to anger management is now his best hope for bonding with his six-year-old Alfie.
Emily can’t understand why Jake – who seems to have it all – is even there.
Jake can’t understand why Alfie – who never likes strangers – lights up around spikey Emily.
Everything they think about each other is about to change.
But can they change how they feel about themselves?
My thoughts:
The first time I saw this book advertised was at the Waterstones in Cirencester – an author event at the start of 2020 (I believe) which I was unable to attend.
After seeing great reviews, I treated myself to an ebook copy and settled down to read this during the Easter holiday.
Loved the opening – the is the first time I’ve seen a book start in a weekly anger management class. Jake, Emily and Alfie are great characters but Rachel Marks brings all the characters to life so well. I loved the small details included about how to help Alfie achieve happiness and contentedness. Having worked with children over the past 17 years, they all need to be treated as individuals and to be listened to.
This is a book I struggled to put down, wanting to know what what was going to happen next and I devoured it in a day. Well written and thought provoking, covering some difficult issues but also providing some laugh out loud moments too. Definitely a 5 star read for me.
Karen K is reading 
1 comment