I am delighted to share my review today for Time Out by Emma Murray. I really enjoyed this book and I wish to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this book.

Let me show you what it’s about…

‘It’s just a phase,’ they said. ‘These are the happiest years of your life,’ they said…

Mother of one and professional writer Saoirse (pronounced Seersha, not Searcy – thanks a bunch Game of Thrones!) is still adjusting to the demands of motherhood, four years after the birth of her daughter, Anna.

Living in the claustrophobic London suburb of Woodvale, and being surrounded by passive-aggressive mum-wars, isn’t helping. Neither is her increasingly pent-up anger at her once-perfect husband. Her only comrade in arms, best friend Bea, is the one thing keeping her sane.

When Saoirse’s agent asks her to pitch for a book, she is horrified to discover the topic is motherhood. How can she possibly write a ‘warts and all’ account of being a mother without giving away what it’s really like?

Laugh-out-loud funny, painfully well-observed, but with an unmistakable warmth and unforgettable characters, this is the perfect antidote to all those parenting bibles that bear absolutely no relation to real life. The novel may or may not have been inspired by real life…

Purchase Link – Amazon

What a wonderfully honest book about motherhood and the stresses and strains it has on a relationship Time Out was to read. Saoirse has been a ghostwriter and is suddenly asked to pitch for a book about motherhood, this means she will finally get to put her name on the cover of a book. The catch is that it needs o be an honest look at motherhood.

Saoirse often looks at Facebook posts from other mums about how well their children are behaving, how the meals are always cooked from scratch and how they often appear to look down on any parent who deigns to give their child a sweet, white bread sandwich or a processed meal.

The social media brigade put additional pressure on new mums to fit in. It has turned into a competition as to who can be the best mother. Saoirse is finding the stress of her “little horror” very trying to say the least. Her marriage is stuck in a rut and she is given a reprieve with a break in Ireland to have a Time Out and concentrate on her writing.

While in Ireland it gives her the chance to look at her life, her marriage and how she feels like she is failing. She meets another Mum and they are able to let off steam. But it is the meeting with an old school friend and Saoirse’s Mum visiting that make her look at the bigger picture.

This is such a great book that does such a good job of looking at parenting in today’s society. It shines a light on the competitive nature of being seen to do the right thing. I really enjoyed how the author tackled the parenting insecurities with the stresses on a marriage and some of the inappropriate and unpredictable things that children can say or do.

A fabulous read that had me hooked and also made me feel glad that my children were born prior to the arrival of Facebook and social media. But a refreshing read and one I would definitely recommend.

Emma Murray is originally from Co. Dublin and moved to London in her early twenties. After a successful career as a ghostwriter, she felt it was high time she fulfilled her childhood dream to write fiction.

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Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx