TITLE & AUTHOR: 183 Times a Year by Eva Jordan
I got this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. WHAT'S IT'S ABOUT PUBLISHER: Troubador
EDITION: Kindle
OPENING RELEASE DATE: 15 September 2015WHAT I THOUGHT
PAGES: 268 Mothers and daughters alike will never look at each other in quite the same way after reading this book-a brilliantly funny observation of contemporary family life.
Lizzie-exasperated Mother of Cassie, Connor and Stepdaughter Maisy-is the frustrated voice of reason to her daughters' teenage angst. She gets by with good friends, cheap wine and talking to herself-out loud.
16-year-old Cassie-the Facebook-Tweeting, Selfie-Taking, Music and Mobile Phone obsessed teen-hates everything about her life. She longs for the perfect world of Chelsea Divine and her 'undivorced' parents-and Joe, of course.
However, the discovery of a terrible betrayal and a brutal attack throws the whole household into disarray. Lizzie and Cassie are forced to reassess the important things in life as they embark upon separate journeys of self-discovery-accepting some less than flattering home truths along the way.
Although tragic at times this is a delightfully funny exploration of domestic love, hate, strength and ultimately friendship. A poignant, heartfelt look at that complex and diverse relationship between a Mother and daughter set amongst the thorny realities of today's divided and extended families.
I don't like my daughters very much. Don't get me wrong - I love them, and would lay down my life for them should the need ever arise - but right now my teenage daughters are a pain in the proverbial backside.
193 Times a Year is a touching account of the relationship between a mother and her teenage daughters. I really felt for Cassie, who's devastated by the fact her father prefers his new family and new daughter and lashes out. Her behaviour is perfectly understandable. I wanted to give her a good hug and tell her things will work out in the end. There is a lot of disruption and arguments in the home, mainly because of the broken marriage and fragmented relationships. My relationship with my mother is nothing like the relationship between Lizzie and Cassie. I'm close to my mother but I don't think I've ever had a crossed word with her. Then again I never went through what Cassie did. My parents are still married and I'm an only child. That said, I found the relationship very believable. 183 Times a Year is funny, touching and incredibly sad at times. I went through a whole spectrum of emotions reading this wonderful novel. I felt sorry for Lizzie's son Connor, caught in the middle of it all. 183 Times a Year is hilarious, empathic, sad and very moving. I loved it.
