You Be Mother
The charming novel about family and friendship from the Women's Prize shortlisted author of the bestselling book SORROW & BLISS
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4.3 • 263 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
What do you do, when you find the perfect family, and it's not yours? A charming, funny and irresistible novel about families, friendship and tiny little white lies.
The only thing Abi ever wanted was a proper family. So when she falls pregnant by an Australian exchange student in London, she cannot pack up her old life in Croydon fast enough, to start all over in Sydney and make her own family. It is not until she arrives, with three-week-old Jude in tow, that Abi realises Stu is not quite ready to be a father after all. And he is the only person she knows in this hot, dazzling, confusing city, where the job of making friends is turning out to be harder than she thought. That is, until she meets Phyllida, her wealthy, charming, imperious older neighbour, and they become almost like mother and daughter. If only Abi had not told Phil that teeny tiny small lie, the very first day they met…
Imagine the warmth of Monica McInerney, the excruciating awkwardness of Offspring and the wit of Liane Moriarty, all rolled into one delightful, warm, funny and totally endearing novel about families – the ones we have, and the ones we want – and the stories we tell ourselves about them.
'Rare and delightful ... a beautifully crafted novel about female relationships. I couldn't put this book down.' Clare Press, Fashion Editor-at-large, Marie Claire
'You Be Mother is the kind of book you pick up...and never want to put down ... you will fall in love with this book.' Lauren Sams, author of She's Having Her Baby
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Families can make you cry until you laugh, and vice versa. When young Londoner Abi meets Aussie-abroad Stu, she sees an opportunity to make the perfect family, rushing headlong into a new romance and a new life in Sydney. But things get complicated in Meg Mason’s charming, funny story. The author has a gift for sketching rich, real and thoroughly relatable characters and relationships. Abi’s sweet foibles are so recognisable, they made us laugh-wince. And the moral of the story? The family of your dreams is easier to find than you think.
Customer Reviews
A Gem
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Intelligent and engaging writing.
Love Meg Mason
The story has its origins in the cold bleakness of Croydon in London. Abi is half-heartedly completing a social work degree, when she meets Australian exchange student Stu in her job at Student Services. She welcomes him pretty thoroughly and they begin a relationship, which sort of/kind of ends when Stu goes back home. One problem: Abi is pregnant. After letting Stu know by Instant Messenger, they decide on a plan: Abi comes to Australia and they live in a flat provided by his parents. After a long flight complicated by a declined card in Singapore (where a stranger pays for nappies and snacks – this is important), Abi arrives in Australia. Her own family has been in tatters for some time, and she is willing to start afresh with her new family. But Stu’s mum Elaine is suspicious and cold and Stu is overwhelmed, retreating into the excuse of study. Abi is alone with baby Jude nearly all the time. On a walk, she meets neighbour Phil and they strike up a friendship. Phil has lost her husband and her children are scattered across the globe. Plus, she’s a sucker for strays. Together, they help each other to grow – but at what cost? Phil’s own children are suspicious of the newcomer and their problems are Way More Important. Abi’s growth may just separate her from her new family completely…
The story is told primarily in short, sharp chapters with names! (I love chapters that have names – these are titled from a quote from a character each time and can be quite funny). It’s definitely worth persevering through the early stages as the second half is wonderfully complex and dramatic with a pinch of fun.
Better to come
I read the authors latest novel first and thought it was very well written. This however, her fist, needs a good edit. It is far too long. It has the bones of a good story, and if you cut at least half, probably would be a good read. As it is it’s rather tedious. Skip this one.