User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Favorite Quotes:
Dogs smelled, and they sniffed crotches and licked their bits and breathed their bitty breath into your face. She didn’t actually know what kind of dog it was, but she was sure it did all of those things.
Your crown is crooked, drama queen…
There were enough scented candles to light a Roman Catholic Mass, but not one had been lit anywhere in the house. Someone was either romantically optimistic or had a friend who thought their house could use the extra fragrance.
How wonderful to be a bird, she thought. Except for catching live rodents and tearing them up into little pieces for dinner and living on top of the whole family in a cramped nest. Still, the flying would be nice.
‘I loved having babies, the way they’re so warm and snuggly. I craved the feeling, the smell.’ ‘That’s just the hormones your body makes so you don’t eat your baby,’ Harriet said.
My Review:
Michele Gorman is a wickedly clever, highly observant, and insightful lexicographer. I adore her wry humor and perceptive storytelling, she weaves quite an amusing tale with red herrings and unexpected tricks thrown in for added kicks. I cringed, gnashed my teeth, and giggle-snorted my way through this engaging story featuring vastly different women.
Harriet and Sophie were polar opposites in most ways, although they were both going through a similar period of adjustment and significant marital concerns while away from home during a much-needed vacation. Harriet was controlling, rigid, uptight, impatient, selfish, thoughtlessly insensitive and blunt, painfully and obnoxiously OCD and mostly likely also a high functioning Aspergers. Sophie was easy-going, loosely organized, and eager to please. I enjoyed the dichotomy although Harriet was difficult for me to appreciate as well as being uncomfortably familiar as she was a judgmental cold fish with limited social skills and not someone I would choose to spend time with as I had already suffered this unfortunate fate during my first eighteen years of life. Yet Ms. Gorman tricked me into caring for and about her, which is a testament to her mad skills.
Rating: really liked it
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
‘The Staycation’ is the latest book from American-born, British-based author, Michele Gorman. It’s a wonderfully simple idea; two families meet and casually chat at Heathrow Airport, en route to Rome. As time goes by, it becomes clear that an ash cloud has put paid to any chance of international flights taking off in the immediate future. Rather than go home, the two families decide to swap properties for a fortnight. One swaps their London home for a country retreat, whilst the other leaves their farm for the bright lights of the city.
The book is written in the third person and we see the action through the eyes of slightly chaotic stay-at-home mum of two, Sophie, and ultra-organised successful solicitor, Harriet, who has a daughter. The cover suggests the reader is in for a light-hearted frivolous read, ideal for the back garden (as, ironically, none of us are allowed to go on holiday at the moment). However, as we delve deeper into the lives of these two polar-opposite women, we find there is more going on than we first thought. Their blossoming friendship allows them each to re-evaluate their own situation and the scene is set for some major upheavals for everyone, going forward.
The characters are well-defined although possibly slightly exaggerated and we are drip-fed their backstories as the book unfolds. Sophie is completely dominated by her husband, Dan, who controls every aspect of her life, from the clothes she wears, to the volunteering roles he finds for her. His passive aggression is relentless and it seems he denigrates her in every sentence. It is down to the skill of the writing that I began to hate him with a vengeance.
I don’t feel I got to know farmer James, Harriet’s husband, very well. He comes across as a solid, dependable sort of chap who’s just happy looking after his goats. Harriet is clearly on the autistic spectrum and her anxiety coping strategies confirm this. Nonetheless, she has apparently spent her life denying it, ironically not having the ability to empathise with why the suggestion keeps cropping up.
That these two women’s lives collide is fortuitous for them both. Through text messages and conversations, they encourage and facilitate each other to implement changes that will serve them both well for the future.
This multi-layered novel has some highly amusing moments but scratch the surface and it raises all sorts of questions. I think many readers will enjoy it and by the end, I suspect most will be Team Sophie, because her evolution is the most dramatic. It isn’t easy to take everyday events and weave an interesting story around them, so I commend the author. I found it quite addictive, if a little contrived at times. I award four well-deserved stars.
Rating: really liked it
I can always count on this author if I want to read an escapist, funny, chick lit book and her latest was no different. This was such a happy little book and one I flew through in an afternoon, it definitely made me forget about real life for a few hours, and really what more could I want right now?! At it’s core it’s about making the most out of a bad situation and if that isn’t accurate currently I don’t know what is! If you’re missing out on your vacation plans this summer like so many others check this one out!
Rating: really liked it
I loved this book, it was a perfectly light but meaningful read with some humour and fun rolled in. Two families meet when they are both stranded in Heathrow airport as a result of an ash cloud causing all flights to be cancelled and their holidays to be ruined. Until... they getting chatting and the two mums, Harriet and Sophie, decide it would be a great idea to switch houses and still try to have their holidays.
The plot was addictive and the characters were fun and different. I also loved that there were two contrasting settings: the hustle and bustle of London and the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. Michele writes with fluidity and ease which makes this such an easy read, but she also addresses some important topics and themes throughout which gives the story some added depth. I personally loved Sophie's side of the story and enjoyed watching her come into her own and find her strength. A truly wonderful read for the summer.
Thanks to Michele herself, Orion and netgalley for a copy of the e-book.
Rating: really liked it
Thank you to the author and publisher for this eARC!
If you like The Holiday, you’ll like this book. The Staycation gives the same fuzzy charm as any feel-good movie. It’s heartfelt but funny, which in my opinion, is the best combination.
The chapters alternate between the lives of two mothers: Harriet and Sophie. Harriet is very straightforward. She’s a logical thinker, thrives in organisation, and enjoys life as a successful solicitor. She has a teenage daughter, Billie, and a goat-loving husband, James. Sophie is a kind soul. She’s friendly, intelligent and significantly less organised than Harriet. She’s married to James, a dominating solicitor and they have two children, Katie and Oliver.
After a cancelled flight to Italy, Harriet and her family end up staying in Sophie’s house in London. While Sophie and her family end up staying in Harriet’s house in rural Gloucestershire. Neither of the women have perfect marriages. The flame between Harriet and James is dying out, and despite the little moments they have together, there’s a still a cavity between them. Dan thinks of himself as a provider to Sophie. He pretty much arranges everything she does and wears. What he calls it “looking after”, most people would call possessiveness.
The plot is totally addictive. When I put the book down, I was still thinking about the characters and the story. I always wanted to know what would happen next. I also found myself feeling really comfortable with this book. It’s the kind of story I would reach for when the sun is shining. Despite the struggles the characters face, there’s something about Gorman’s writing that just feels warm and inviting.
The characters were so well developed. I knew who I liked and who I didn’t like from just a few pages of dialogue, which gave the book a good head start. However, I definitely feel like we could have had more from James as a character. Dan had the kind of personality that’s very easy to figure out. It doesn’t take long to dislike him. James on the other hand didn’t seem to have much of an opinion on anything, didn’t react much, and fell into the background.
The multi-layered story had both families facing trials. Harriet’s family had to reconnect and rebuild. Over the years, family bonds suffer from wear and tear, and I really like that the relationships aren’t perfect. They’re realistic and authentic. Gorman tactfully told a story that has weighty concepts with a levity that made it enjoyable.
There are little moments that definitely made me chuckle. Like the fact that Harriet becomes frustrated with James’ breathing, or Sophie’s reaction to unconventional spa treatments. It added a smooth light-heartedness and cheeriness to this summer read. I also really liked that the author established two different atmospheres between the families. They never bled into one giant group of people, even the children had their own tone of voice which was lovely.
The only reason this book wasn’t a five-star read for me, is because I would have liked more from the ending, it felt a little rushed. I wasn’t totally satisfied, and I think the circle could have been completed with an epilogue or a fuller conclusion.
Overall, The Staycation is an entertaining read. I liked the dynamic between the two families and the fact they both had to overcome challenges to grow closer. If you’re looking for a relaxing, poolside, charming read, this is the book for you.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
Rating: really liked it
*gifted eCopy from Michele Gorman, all views are my own!
The Staycation is the perfect book for your summer... staycation! Let's face it, not many of us are going anywhere anytime soon!
This book is light hearted, fun and easy to read, perfect to pick up and put down. I read it over 3 days and found myself really looking forward to picking it up everytime I wasn't reading it! However despite being light hearted, some of the issues it deals with actually run a lot deeper. I felt like Michele did a good job writing about these and bringing them to the forefront of the story, without making it too serious or depressing.
The plot is a bit mad. 2 women briefly meet at an airport and since their holidays are now cancelled due to an ash cloud, they decided to swap houses for two weeks! All I could think about is how I would never do that! Ever!!
But I loved the female characters in this story. Harriet and Sophie are polar opposites yet still build a beautiful friendship. I liked both of them and was rooting for them the whole way through. I won't say too much but I loved the ending for Sophie, it might have all been wrapped up a bit too easily but I personally wouldn't have it any other way. I liked the way both women grew throughout the story and became more aware of themselves and other aspects of their lives.
If you're looking for a bit of escapism in a time where we can't escape, this is a great read. It doesn't require tons of concentration and it's writing style allows you to easily get lost in other people's worlds for a few hours! In a world where everything feels a bit heavy right now this is a nice break from that! Will definitely be looking out for some of Michele's other books!
Ooh and if you don't like snakes, be warned, there is one small passage that may end up giving you nightmares
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Thank you to @michelegormanuk and @orionbooks for sending me a free e-arc to read and review. All opinions are my own. This book is out now!
The Staycation was a ironic book to read right now! Two families are at the airport waiting to go to their vacation in Italy. Mother nature on the other hand says NOPE, and a big volcanic ash cloud cancels the flights. Harriet and Sophie meet at this airport and decide to not let this ruin their families vacations! So, they swap houses - city vs the country.
Cue some funny scenes - there is a python in one of the houses, one woman gets some really interesting spa treatments - there are some amusing moments in this book! On the other side, this book does have some more heart and depth to it. Each woman is struggling with their husbands - the growth and realization is awesome to see by the end of the book. I will say that Dan had me so angry throughout the whole book, which was the point. But dang, he was a terrible person. I also enjoyed that Harriet and Sophie become friends and helped support one another!
Overall, a cute book and would recommend as a summer read. Has some funny moments but also touches on some deeper topics like infidelity, mental illness, autism, and abusive power.
Rating: really liked it
I was excited to read The Staycation by @michelegorman. A volcano cancels flights and vacations for two families so they decide to swap houses to have #staycations. I don’t know about you, but I miss vacationing and would kill for a staycation right about now. 😅 I really enjoyed this one and will definitely read more from this author. Just a fun, happy, escape which I think we could all use right now! It came out June 1st so go check it out!
Rating: really liked it
Special thanks to the author and Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy of this book!
I adored this book- plain and simple!
Harriet & Sophie need a holiday badly but their fight gets cancelled. Instead of failed plans they decided to swap houses for their “staycation”.
Each chapter is told by Harriett & Sophie detailing their staycation and the challenges, surprises and truths they have to learn. I truly loved both ladies.
This book is the perfect Summer read and one of my favorites by this author!
Definitely put this on your TBR for June 2020!
Rating: really liked it
Sophie and Harriet don't know each other but they're going to become acquainted soon - as soon as their flights that were supposed to take them on the much needed holidays in Italy are cancelled because of a volcanic ash cloud. Well, they already got chatting to each other, right, so why not swap houses? Harriet will get her city break in London and Sophie her spa treatments on a small goat farm in a very rural Gloucestershire - it's a win - win, right? Because what could possibly go wrong?
It quickly became clear that both characters have some secrets and troubles. Sophie's were more plain to see for us but not so for Sophie, and Harriet's were a bit more hidden and she allowed us to unpeel layer after layer of her problems. At the beginning I had huge problems to distinguish who is who and to whom they belong, to be honest, and I'm not sure whose fault it is, probably mine, as I absolutely wasn't in the mood, so apologies book.
The friendship between Harriet and Sophie blossomed somehow suddenly and unexpectedly, at least for me, once they were only swapping their houses and then, after few phone calls, they were calling each other "friend" - did I miss something here? It happened completely out of blue to be honest. But whatever. I liked both of them, Harriet and Sophie, and I think Harriet even more, because under the shell there was a brilliant, funny and clever woman hiding. They were both so very different but this is what made them so interesting. While Harriet is a successful solicitor, Sophie is a stay - at - home mum. While Harriet is über - organized, Sophie is much more laid - back, following the rule there's luck in leisure. While Harriet is brisk and efficient, Sophie is chaotic and very accommodating. Absolutely brilliant to have such different characters. Both their husbands are very much focused on their jobs, James as a goat farmer and Dan as a solicitor, but while James was much more laid - back, the more we got to know Dan, the more we were able to see that there is something wrong, that he's treating Sophie and their two children like another thing on his to - do list, all the time expecting gratefulness. He was absolutely controlling, to the point of booking all Sophie's spa treatments, without informing her what she's going to have, and making all the other decisions in a way that his family might have thought they have made them, but it was him, in fact, pulling all the strings. The more I read about him, the more I disliked him. It was not Harriet's over - efficiency and planning that annoyed me, it was not Sophie with her whatever - attitude, it was Dan that grated on me, such irritating and annoying he was. However, they all, with all their ups and downs and unexpected announcements felt authentic and realistic. And what's more lovely is the fact that the women were slowly starting to find that their attitudes change and that they started to do something, according to those changes.
But it's not only the contrast between the characters and their life - styles, it is also the contrast between the settings that is also brilliantly captured, and the author could truly put into words why it is that Harriet struggles at the goat farm, and why Sophie feels out of her depth in London and everything that Dan work brings with it.
The author put the characters through trials and tribulations, challenges and surprises that they both had to overcome. The plot was engaging and simply the idea of the swap has worked in this book brilliantly, and I loved the contrasting settings, the hustle and bustle of London and the peace and lovely community of the countryside - I may be biased, as I myself live in such a rural place, but as much as I appreciated both places, I'd choose the goat farm. Anytime. The author's writing is fluent, seamless and chatty.
"The Staycation" is a great summery read with much, much more depth than you could expect at the beginning, light but it also dealt with some heavier topics and issues and I really liked the way how skilfully the author has interwoven and integrated them in the plot. There is fun but there is also seriousness, perfectly blended with each other. It's a story about growing - up, about finding yourself and your own luck and place, packed with laughter, family relationships, and some drama. A great summery read that I truly recommend!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
A staycation is something that it looks like many of us will be having this year, whether literally at our own homes or at least staying within the UK. Sophie and Harriet’s staycation is rather impromptu. An erupting volcano and the resulting ash cloud grounds flights and ruins both families’ Italian holiday plans. They meet at the airport and after some discussion, they come to the perfect arrangement – a city break in Sophie’s London house for Harriet, while Sophie enjoys a country break in Harriet’s farm in Gloucestershire.
I can’t imagine agreeing to swap houses with somebody I had only just met at an airport. My house definitely wouldn’t be in a decent enough condition for someone to just come and move in! And this is certainly how Harriet feels when she, her husband James and daughter Billie arrive at what is to be their holiday home in London. Harriet is one of life’s organisers, a little obsessive some might say, and she sets about tackling the lack of order in Sophie and Dan’s home. She is rather perturbed to find that staying in this house also involves looking after the family pet, Spot. Can’t say I would have been too happy about that either!
On the other hand, Sophie thinks she has died and gone to heaven in Harriet’s immaculate, large farmhouse. Her husband Dan as usual starts to organise lots of things to keep her and their children busy, including some rather weird and wonderful sounding spa treatments. When she is thrown into the deep end at a Scout fundraiser, she rises to the occasion and starts to wonder why she hasn’t been doing more things for herself and making her own decisions.
As the holidays progress, both women start to find their attitudes to life begin to change and this was lovely to see. There were a lot of rather funny situations throughout the book which made me laugh but there were also some rather more serious issues addressed as well. Both Sophie and Harriet began to be better versions of themselves, helped in no small part by their growing and very supportive friendship.
I enjoyed the contrasts between the city and country settings, which also reflected the differences between the women. There were lots of interesting side characters in both settings, all of whom had something about them which changed Sophie and Harriet in some way. The author showed that in many ways, initial appearances can be deceptive and that we shouldn’t be too quick to make judgements.
I found The Staycation to be a really enjoyable and engaging read. There is so much happening for both families that you will be keen to keep those pages turning and find out how it’s all going to work out for them. You’ll definitely be rooting for both Sophie and Harriet and cheering on their friendship. This would be a great choice of feel-good fiction to see you through your own staycation, and it’s sure to leave you smiling.
Rating: really liked it
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.
THE STAYCATION by Michele Gorman is an excellent story about the ups and downs of life and marriage, and how sometimes you can find yourself when you least expect it.
Harriet is determined that this holiday with her husband and teenage daughter will get them all back on track as a family, especially her marriage. She has everything planned down to the second, itineraries for every day, and contingency plans for anything that could possibly go wrong. But when an ash cloud shuts down all of the flights, Harriet finds herself swapping homes with a fellow traveller, Sophie, who seems to have the perfect family and a husband who cares for her deeply. Harriet hopes that some of it will rub off on her family.
Sophie is so happy that Dan is willing to take time off to take care of her and the kids. Yes, Italy would have been lovely, but she is just as excited when she gets the chance to house swap with Harriet, and experience life in a country cottage. As Sophie really relaxes for the first time and begins a friendship with Harriet over the phone, she realises that Dan is working and being bossy just as much as usual. Only Sophie is beginning to rail against the idea that she cannot do anything for herself and as she begins to feel like her old self, will she view her marriage differently?
Compelling, engaging, current, and with characters that feel like friends, THE STAYCATION by Michele Gorman is a wonderful novel that gripped me from the very beginning. Harriet is very direct and controlled but I could see how much she loved her family even though she knows she drives them crazy. Sophie was my favourite, a strong and intelligent woman who had lost control over her own life and lost the spark that made her unique, and it was lovely to watch her come into her own. The country setting was my favourite and the type of place that I would love to live but it was fun to see city living too.
THE STAYCATION by Michele Gorman is my favourite book from this author so far and I look forward to more.
Rating: really liked it
Fate, in the form of a volcanic ash cloud, has determined that the much anticipated holidays to Italy by two families just won't happen. Their flights are cancelled. The families get talking and decide to do a home swap, instead, just for the holiday period...... Like the ladies concerned, their homes couldn't be more different - one in central London (with a python), the other a luxurious cottage in the countryside (with goats!). However these two ladies are both going through some stressful times and hope the holiday will help reinvigorate their marriages and their lives . . . .
There's also a huge contrast in the inherent nature of the two ladies. Harriet is so uptight about everything - wanting life scheduled to the minute, everything having a place and definitely kept in that place. In contrast, Sophie is comparatively laid back, relaxed and doesn't worry about schedules or keeping things pristine. For both ladies this holiday staycation will prove to be a revelation, sometimes shocking and sometimes empowering. The story is a fun look at life, expectations, realisations and fresh starts. It is an entertaining read with characters to love and others to at least dislike. I found it a fun and thoroughly enjoyable read and have no hesitation to anyone looking to escape into a holiday story with a huge difference and plenty of surprises and life changing consequences!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
Rating: really liked it
Necessity is the mother of invention, so when a volcano dashes Sophie and Harriet's families' vacations, they come up with a house swap for a “Plan B". The city dwellers take over the farmers’ home and vice versa. Each family is well suited to their usual habitats, but they all make do.
While the story is a little funny, it was not nearly the raucous laugh-fest I anticipated. Sophie and Harriet develop a friendship of sorts, and through their phone calls, text messages and emails, and readers learn the details behind the importance of this family vacation. Staycation is a story of what it takes to make a marriage work and what doesn’t work in a relationship. I loved the development of Sophie and Harriet's self- and relationship-awareness. It was amazing to see how a cobbled-together, two-week vacation could spark so much growth and change in both women. A charming read that I truly enjoyed.
The audiobook is expertly narrated by Karen Cass.
For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
Rating: really liked it
I really do have mixed feelings about this book. I was expecting a full light-hearted and uplifting read and wasn't prepared for the tougher subjects broached within the pages.
I found the characters a little hard to connect with, I didn't really find any emotion towards them. However, Sophie did grow on me throughout the book.
It was a quirky read with a different storyline, although it did remind me in some ways of the movie The Holiday. The idea of a house swap, albeit in your home country, was quite appealing.
I think there was quite a lot of potential with this storyline but perhaps it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
