Synopsis
Longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2021
Have you ever felt as if you're losing your grip? Then you will love Sally Parker...
Sally Parker is struggling to find the hero inside herself.
All she wants to do is lie down.
Her husband Frank has lost his business, their home and their savings, in one fell swoop. Their bank cards are being declined. The children have gone feral. And now the bailiffs are at the door.
What does an ordinary woman do when the bottom falls out?
Sally Parker is about to surprise everybody.
Most of all herself.
A big-hearted story of a family on the brink, The Best Things is a life-affirming tale of failing, falling... and finding a way back up.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
- ISBN: 9781472256218
- Number of pages: 432
- Dimensions: 236 x 162 x 42 mm
- Weight: 660g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Loved it!
I was sent a copy of The Best Things by Mel Giedroyc to read and review by NetGalley. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if I would like this novel, with it’s... READ MORE
Promising but ultimately not for me
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.
I love Mel Giedroyc , have done for a long time, so when I ... READ MORE
Not for me, I’m afraid
I was kindly gifted an advance copy of this book by Headline Review via Netgalley in exchange for a review.
I was really looking forward to this book. Mel... READ MORE
A slow burner
I felt this book was very much a slow burner and one I really struggled to get into. I didn’t really like Sally or Frank, the way they were portrayed and ... READ MORE
The Best Things
I have been a fan of Mel for ages so was very much looking forward to reading her debut novel.
This is warm, interesting, clever and funny, as well as poi... READ MORE
Not for me....
Sadly this book did not live up to my expectations. I didn't feel any empathy with the main characters and found myself not really caring what befell them.... READ MORE
Warm and engaging.
Not what I expected but very entertaining none the less.
It took me a little while to warm to the characters but they soon found a place in my heart, espec... READ MORE
For a debut book, it was wonderful!
Well what can I say? For a debut book, this was thoroughly enjoyable!! Not many characters to like, but you're not meant to like them! Any of them! But the... READ MORE
DNF at 6%, didn't engage with the characters at all
I am embarrassed to say that I could not even get past 6%.
I really like Mel Giedroyc and was delighted to receive an ARC of her new book but despite seve... READ MORE
Liked it but didn't love it
I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine
A combination of light and dark
A mix of quite a few characters which made the boo... READ MORE
Funny
Just what I needed right now, a book with meaning and with humour. I was fascinated in the story also because of the setting in Leatherhead, Surrey. It tel... READ MORE
I had high hopes as I have loved everything from Mel’s career, but sadly, this book was not for me.
I had high hopes as I have loved everything from Mel’s career, but sadly, this book was not for me.
This is not to say it would not be wonderful for othe... READ MORE
A really easy book to get on with
I love a book that points out familiar places, throughout this book places are mentioned like Fetcham, Epsom, and leatherhead that are all near to me, I fe... READ MORE
The Best Things
Sally and Frank Parker have it all until they lose it all! They have led almost separate lives but need to work together as a family to sort their mess out... READ MORE
Thoroughly entertaining
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley. A thoroughly entertaining book which, although predictable in parts, had many twists and turns. The first part wa... READ MORE
Enjoyable fun read
Sally Parker lives in the stockbroker belt in Surrey, she’s married to Frank a wealthy hedge fund manager. Frank is a generous alpha male, a tour de force... READ MORE
A fun and light read for an afternoon.
The Best Things by Mel Giedroyd tells us about the seemingly perfect lives of the Parker family – Sally and Frank with their children, Stephen, Chloe, Emil... READ MORE
For a debut novel, it was wonderful!!
Well what can I say? For a debut book, this was thoroughly enjoyable!! Not many characters to like, but you're not meant to like them! Any of them! But the... READ MORE
Very average book
I found this a very average book, peopled with unsympathetic characters whose lives, whether rich or poor, I cared very little about. I also felt the autho... READ MORE
Relaxing read, family dynamics
A bit of a slow start but sets things up for later in the story. I became invested in the characters and loved the family dynamics. A relaxing read to leav... READ MORE
3 1/2 stars - some good laughs
This is very much a book of two halves! I struggled a bit with the first half of the book. I was frustrated by Sally and I actively disliked Frank. Their e... READ MORE
OK read
I was expecting something special from Mel Giedroyc and The Best Things is just OK. The storyline isn't very original but it would be perfect for an easy, ... READ MORE
For a debut book, it was wonderful!
Well what can I say? For a debut book, this was thoroughly enjoyable!! Not many characters to like, but you're not meant to like them! Any of them! But the... READ MORE
Worth persevering with
Sally Parker’s life would seem to be perfect - a loving husband, 3 children a large house with people employed to do all the work for her, and more money t... READ MORE
For a debut book, it was wonderful!!
Well what can I say? For a debut book, this was thoroughly enjoyable!! Not many characters to like, but you're not meant to like them! Any of them! But the... READ MORE
Not enjoyable!
I’d like to thank Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Best Things’ by Mel Giedroyc in exchange for my honest and unbiased rev... READ MORE
A satisfying romp of a read
I'm always wary when a well-known face turns their hand to fiction as I think it can go either way. I've read good and bad examples, and the latter tends t... READ MORE
Nothing that really got me going
I was so excited to read this book, the first novel from funny lady Mel Giedroyc - I hoped it would be like her, warm, witty and full of laughs.
Sorry to ... READ MORE
Sorely Disappointing!
It has to be said that I was rather excited about this one - and sorely disappointed.
Sally Parker and her family are rich. When her husband loses all the... READ MORE
Suspend reality and enjoy the absurdity
So firstly, I think to enjoy this book, you need to suspend reality and read for the sheer absurdity. The author is skilled in her use of language to enter... READ MORE
ARC
Sally and Frank Parker have it all. Then one day, because of Frank, they don't. As the bailiffs move in and the money runs out, Sally realises that she and... READ MORE