The Misadventures of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow
Published: 11th September 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 300
Available on Kindle
Blurb
New term. New dramas. New friendships. And that’s just the parents…
After a year of country living, Rachel Young is finally getting into the swing of things. Her four kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy (shark-infested) waters of the playground mafia.
Or… so she thought.
When playground mum Penelope Kensington moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering husband Rupert has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer.
As Rachel tries to deal with Penelope, she also meets new school mum Melanie. Melanie is a breath of fresh air, but her arrival sends ripples of gossip through the playground. Melanie has a few secrets in her closet, and it seems she’s not the only one…
After a year of country living, Rachel Young is finally getting into the swing of things. Her four kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy (shark-infested) waters of the playground mafia.
Or… so she thought.
When playground mum Penelope Kensington moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering husband Rupert has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer.
As Rachel tries to deal with Penelope, she also meets new school mum Melanie. Melanie is a breath of fresh air, but her arrival sends ripples of gossip through the playground. Melanie has a few secrets in her closet, and it seems she’s not the only one…
Review
The Misadventures of a Playground Mother is Christie Barlow’s
second novel featuring mum of four Rachel Young and her adventures in the
playground in the village of Tattersfield. If you read the first novel then
like me you will have been longing to find out what happened after Rupert was a
little too honest on New Year’s Eve. Luckily for me I already had a copy of the
second novel already to go so I could dive straight in. Don’t worry if you
haven’t read the first book (but you really should its brilliant!) Christie
gives us enough background information in the first couple of chapters so you
can work out who is who and what happened previously.
I think I loved this one even more than the first book.
Penelope has become even worse for Rachel to deal with, subjecting her to tacky
speed dating, airport hysterics and meltdowns at the school fair. I really liked
the introduction of new character Melanie and liked that Rachel was able to
make a normal friend to counteract Penelope’s craziness. It was also good to
read about the little romance blooming between Melanie and the hunky farrier.
The Misadventures of a Playground Mother is a book which
echoes the reality of the playground and vamps it up making for a thoroughly enjoyable
read. All the way the book you’re just longing for Rachel to tell Penelope No!!
As the book comes full circle back to New Year’s Eve Penelope finally gets her comeuppance
and it’s just perfect for her!
As a sequel this is just as good as Christie’s first novel and
one I enjoyed immensely. I love her to revisit Rachel’s life again, but if not
I’m sure her next novel will be just as brilliant and one I can’t wait to read.
I’d like to thank Bookouture for sending me a review copy
though Netgalley and give this book 5 out 5.
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