Synopsis
A marriage on the rocks. A family in disarray. A weekend in the sun at a luxury, all-inclusive hotel. What could possibly go wrong?
Jo and Dave haven't had a holiday in years. They've had other things on their plate: failed IVF, the death of Dave's mother, doing up the bathroom.
So when Dave’s flashy brother Teddy offers to fly in from Dubai and take them – along with his gorgeous young girlfriend and their curmudgeonly father – to a beachfront resort in the Med, the couple can hardly refuse.
But while romance might be on the cards for some, Jo and Dave soon find that tensions don't disappear in paradise. In fact, they might just get worse...
Set over the course of one scorching weekend, All In is a compulsively entertaining and bittersweet novel that asks: when life gets choppy, how does love stay afloat?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Vintage Publishing
- ISBN: 9781784746087
- Number of pages: 320
- Dimensions: 224 x 145 x 29 mm
- Weight: 436g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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All In
We start with Jo and Dave setting off on their first holiday in years. They have had a lot on their plates, what with the failed IVF, the death of Dave's m... READ MORE
Family in close quarters and a trip away do not all ills repair
All In by Claire Powell kept me transfixed throughout. It is a step away from my usual genre choices but I am so glad that I did not pass this one up, it i... READ MORE
Tense
This was such a tense book, which maintained this level throughout.
This demonstrates how much people will relying on ‘keeping up with the Jones’ and ho... READ MORE
All In.
Teddy has invited his girlfriend, his brother, sister in law and dad to join him on an all inclusive weekend as a treat.
A story about family dynamics and... READ MORE
Funny heartfelt and emotional novel
All In by Claire Powell is a contemporary romantic and humorous novel that blends wit with emotional honesty in a way that feels incredibly relatable.
Fro... READ MORE
A knack for finding the humour and drama within the mundane
It's a rare book that I read from cover to cover in one sitting, but with All In I was, well, all in. Powell really grasps both the humour and the drama th... READ MORE
Moving, funny, poignant and hopeful
4.75 stars
Thank you to Vintage for access to the Netgalley eArc of this novel which comes out on 4th June.
Here’s a brief summary:
Jo and Dave haven't ... READ MORE
Not everything is as it seems
Jo and Dave have been together since they met at university. To outsiders, they appear to be a rock-solid couple in a happy and stable marriage, but for Jo... READ MORE
Interesting family dynamics
When family members are thrown together for a holiday weekend in Spain anything can happen. We have five characters who could not be more different. They c... READ MORE
A beach read with a punch
I absolutely flew through All In, reading it in less than a day and happily neglecting everything else while I did. At first glance, this feels like the pe... READ MORE
A beautiful and well observed novel
Sometimes life can just throw too much at people - Jo and Dave are at breaking point, the death of Dave's mother and too many years of failed IVF have brou... READ MORE
I couldn’t put it down
I devoured this book within a day as I couldn’t put it down. I’m still shocked this is the author’s debut novel. I really enjoyed reading “All In” and the ... READ MORE
A must have for a beach read
I really enjoyed All In (Kindle Edition) by Claire Powell. This is the book you need to take on a beach holiday as it tugs at your heart strings, made me c... READ MORE
Great Summer Read
Give me messy family drama and I'm "all in"! So All In was one I knew would be a must read this summer - and it certainly didn't disappoint.
Dave and Jo... READ MORE
I loved the style of writing
I was drawn into this book straight away - loved the style of writing. The characters were totally believable as were the various scenarios.
This is the f... READ MORE
Holiday read
An enjoyable holiday read. I enjoyed this book for the most part and found the characters to be very believable especially Dave. In places I found myself r... READ MORE
A marriage in crisis
Sometimes life can just throw too much at people - Jo and Dave are at breaking point, the death of Dave's mother and too many years of failed IVF have brou... READ MORE
Highly recommended!
Jo and Dave have been invited on an all expenses weekend in the sun by Dave’s brother Teddy. Dave’s dad is also joining them as Teddy has something huge to... READ MORE
I look forward to reading more by this author!
This was my first book by this author, but definitely not my last.
Claire’s writing style draws you in from the very first page, and her insight into r... READ MORE
All in by Claire Powell
All In by Claire Powell is the story of an ordinary couple who have been married for years, been through failed IVF, the death of Dave’s mother and doing u... READ MORE
A relationship on the rocks
Jo and Dave have been together for 20 years but having struggled, unsuccessfully, with IVF and with Dave grieving the death of his mother, their marriage i... READ MORE
Easy to read but hard to take - this 'simple' tale of a family holiday has a lot going on.
Jo and Dave are invited on a flash family holiday paid for by Dave's brother Teddy and included their widowed Dad and Teddy's latest girlfriend. This gives... READ MORE
Mixed feelings about this novel
I was expecting a blockbuster novel ideal for reading whilst on holiday.
Instead I quickly read a story of a marriage holding on by a thread after numero... READ MORE
Sun, Stress and Surprising Honesty
All In is a sharply observed, quietly gripping portrait of a family holiday where the sunshine does little to warm the tensions beneath the surface. Powell... READ MORE
Great read, good characters, very funny in places
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
3.5 up to 4.
All In - different meanings of the same phrase, 2 brothers, thei... READ MORE
great holiday read
Really enjoyable poignant novel covering relationships, marriage, family and their associated trials and tribulations. Often lighthearted and sad but a won... READ MORE
Absorbing family tale
This is a well-written, careful study of family and intimate relationships. Jo and Dave have had a tough few years, so when Dave’s much richer brother offe... READ MORE
..
All In is a wonderfully observant, bittersweet novel that captures the chaos, tenderness, and unspoken tensions that simmer beneath even the closest famili... READ MORE
A family holiday that doesnt go according to plans
A weekend away for a family: Dave and Jo, who have been married for many years but the relationship is very fractured, and Dave’s brother, Teddy, who has a... READ MORE
A family holiday that should be relaxing
This is the story of Jo and Dave, they are off on holiday with his brother, girlfriend and Alan, Dave and Teddy's dad.
The brothers are very different.... READ MORE
The sea isn't the only thing, hitting the rocks.....
Jo and Dave are a, middle aged, married, couple who have, metaphorically speaking, been through the wars, in recent years.
When the opportunity for a b... READ MORE
Real, flawed and completely lifelike
Set over one scorching weekend at a beachfront resort in the Med, all in is a quick read packed with exactly the kind of family drama you want with a cold ... READ MORE
Family summer holiday drama
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc of All In.
What a deceptively easy book to read - I managed it over two days! This was such an en... READ MORE
Brilliant!
All In by Claire Powell
A family trip to an all-inclusive luxury hotel in the sun. Wealthy Teddy who lives in Dubai brings his beautiful young girlfrien... READ MORE
Light read
A very light read that did not leave me fully satisfied. A family holiday away in the sunshine revealing all is not what it seems on the surface.
Enjoyable Easy Read
I was gifted All In through Net Galley in return for an honest review. I found the book well written and an enjoyable and easy read. The characters had my ... READ MORE
Enjoyable read
A very readable story if slightly depressing. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable but I did get invested in the story - it’s one of t... READ MORE
Family dramas in the sun
Jo and Dave are about to set off on an inclusive luxury holiday in the Med with Dave’s grumpy Dad, his brother Teddy and Teddy’s glamourous new girlfriend.... READ MORE
Perfect summer reading!
Dave’s older brother Teddy lives in Dubai. Teddy has got enough money to splash it about and take his family to an all-inclusive resort for a long weekend.... READ MORE
Steady read
I don’t know how to describe this book, I guess I’d say it explores real life, no bells and whistles, it’s a realistic view of marriage after 20 odd years,... READ MORE
Beautifully observed novel
Set over a long weekend, this is a beautifully observed drama where the older richer brother invites his younger less well off brother plus their respectiv... READ MORE
Perfect beach read
This was a perfect beach read - I can imagine sitting on a sunlounger reading this and I suspect the setting had a lot to do with this as it was set in a f... READ MORE
Four stars!
Set over one sun soaked weekend at an all inclusive resort, the story quickly proves that beautiful surroundings cannot hide unresolved grief, strained rel... READ MORE
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