I’ve enjoyed Fiona Gibson books historically – and as I was about to start her previous one, The Mum Who’d Had Enough, I noticed this new one was available on NetGalley to download as an advanced review copy – so I jumped at the chance. However, I then didn’t love The Mum Who’d Had Enough as much as I’d hoped, so wondered if I would regret my decision……

Here’s the blurb:

“When her 18-year-old twins leave for university, single mum Nadia’s life changes in ways she never expected: her Glasgow flat feels suddenly huge, laundry doesn’t take up half her week, and she no longer has to buy ‘the Big Milk’. After almost two decades of putting everyone else first, Nadia is finally taking care of herself. And with a budding romance with new boyfriend Jack, She’s never felt more alive.

That is, until her son Alfie drops out of university, and Nadia finds her empty nest is empty no more. With a heartbroken teenager to contend with, Nadia has to ask herself: is it ever possible for a mother to get her own life back? And can Jack and Nadia’s relationship survive having a sulky teenager around?”

I am DELIGHTED to say, I enjoyed this book immediately. My sister has just waved my eldest niece off to Uni – and so the first bit of this reminded me of when they did the whole dropping off at halls thing. I LOLled. (I have a couple of years before this becomes my reality – but as it will be the first of 4, I’m not too worried about the whole empty nest thing as yet!!)

There are many different settings throughout the book. Glasgow – obviously, but also the Ayrshire coast and Barcelona – so it was good to reminisce about various trips we’ve been on (although Nadia didn’t get to see a naked bloke strolling along the beach in Barcelona, so I do feel she missed out a bit! #holidayflashbacks #notjustthesangriahonestly)

It was a really ‘nice’ book. Sometimes the characters were a bit annoying – but no one was particularly unpleasant. There were some crossed wires (and I wanted to give people a good shake!) but overall it was a lovely read.

This is a fun, easy read – which is sometimes exactly what you want / need. Nothing too taxing – but enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced review copy in exchange for a fair review.

I really wanted to like this book. I was very interested in the plot but felt myself being very frustrated with Nadia and her son, I could not fathom why someone would allow herself to be treated that way and allow a great relationship with Jack to be pushed to the side due to mis-communication (which was addressed in one sentence).. I barely finished the book.

Just when Nadia's got it together- and is in the beginning of a new relationship- her son Alfie moves home. She'd almost forgotten what it's like to have a boy around the house but now she can't seem to escape him. Her new guy, Jack, is dealing with some of his own issues, including a teen age daughter and an ex-wife. Oh, and the people in his shop. How Nadia, and Jack, navigate a mature relationship will no doubt resonate with a lot of readers. It might not be laugh out loud funny but you'll definitely have a chuckle or two. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. Light and entertaining.

Loved it, full of humour, love, family, relationships and a main character who juggles all of these things and comes out smiling. Should make all mums feel they’re heading in the right direction even though at times it takes just a little longer than usual. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A fun read but probably more relatable if you have kids who have left home, not a criticism just a fact as I haven’t. The characters were good and story was nice, a light read that’s quick and easy

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest review

This is the story of Nadia who finds love again, in her fifties, after her children have flown the nest and gone off to university. For a while, she enjoys her freedom and her new relationship with Jack. Then her son comes home, and announces that he is no longer going travelling with his girlfriend for the summer, or going back to university, and everything falls apart. Alfie is a lazy, tiresome and self-obsessed teenager and Nadia panders to him too much (his twin sister doesn’t get nearly as much attention). By the time Jack finally gets him to open up about what went wrong, I really didn’t care that much. There are some nice touches – I liked that it was set in Glasgow, and enjoyed the descriptions of the trip to Barcelona – but the rest of the story seems to fall flat and does not live up to expectations.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another lovely feelgood book by Fiona Gibson. You really can't go wrong with her books when you need an uplifting and funny story. Very relatable for empty nesters. I loved every minute of it!!

The Mum Who Got Her Life Back by Fiona Gibson a five-star read that will make you flourish. This was so funny and honest from the first page to the last. Having it set in Glasgow was great, I loved seeing the city from a different set of eyes. This one has it all, family, loneliness, passion and fun. Its and easy read and one that will appeal to many, give it a read as you won’t be disappointed.

Lots of fun but Inwish I had waited a few more years to read! Perfect for someone who is a new “empty nester” or possibly divorced! Hard to relate to when you are in the thick of parenting! Definitely recommend for those with kids in college or older!

I have come to realise that you can't go wrong with a Fiona Gibson book! They are hilarious, fun, sweet, sassy and always a joy to read! The Mum Who Got Her Life Back is no exception and I loved every single second of it!

A sweet romantic story. I liked the characters and the story moved along at a nice pace. This isn't my usual genre, but I'm glad I read this one and I'll recommend it to readers looking for a nice, gentle romance. I'm also very glad that the initial mistaken identity wasn't dragged out! A lot of novels would have kept it up and used it as a 'dramatic' reveal later on; this one treated it more the way actual human people would, which was nice.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for supplying it.

The Mum Who Got Her Life Back by Fiona Gibson is a love story about middle age people.

That is possibly what I most liked about it. It is a pleasure for once to see slightly older and more mature people fall in love and solve potential problems. There are no games, no innuendos, everything is straightforward.

When Nadia's kids go to university she is alone for the first time in ages. Faced with totally different life than she is accustomed to, she needs time to adjust and for the first time since her divorce she sees a man she actually likes. And he likes her back. And they have lovely time together. Problem arises when kids come back home for summer holiday.
Now she needs to juggle her kids and her boyfriend. And things don't go smoothly.

Many laugh out loud moments about live after kids leaving. Also falling in love at mature age is so sweet and endearing. And it's really never too late.
I appreciated a very realistically painted picture of what it actually looks like when single parents meet someone new. Well written and easy to read, it is steady paced. Characters are mostly charming while some are quite obnoxious
All in all lovely read with many funny moments whilst taking about a serious issues.

I would like to thank Avon for asking me to review this book and to be apart of the blog tour.
This a laugh out loud romance that highlights all the best bits about motherhood haha. We have Nadia who has just got her home back all to herself as her twin sons have gone to university. Freedom is what she is thinking, time for herself and for her new love life. However, as many who have children know peace often does not last long.
I adore Fiona Gibson's writing. Easy to read but with great knowledge of her characters thoughts and emotions bringing great depth to the plot.
Quite often while reading this I laughed out loud and got some very funny looks from people. Just perfect.

A really nice rom- com story from Fiona Gibson. Nadia is getting her life back after her teenage twins leave home for university. She has a new man in her life and all is going well until her son lands back on her doorstep again.
I understood how Nadia felt as when my daughter left home she kept coming back again and again, Usually just as I had redecorated her room to my liking.
Alfie is an annoying teenager. Leaving everything on the floor,not clearing up after himself and being a vegan, to name but a few things. Nadia is feeling annoyed that her space and time with new boyfriend Jack is being invaded so she over compensates by paying a fortune for vegan food for Alfie and running after him like she would a toddler.
Alfie eventually lets her down in a big way and causes a rift between her and Jack. Nadia seems just to accept this and I was surprised that she let Alfie off so easily.
I loved the relationship between Jack and Iain, a volunteer at the charity shop Jack manages. Iain made me think of a young Roy Cropper from Coronation Street.
I enjoyed this book especially as it is set in Glasgow. It's maybe doesn't have as many laugh out loud moments as some of the author's previous books but still has moments to make you smile and some tender ones too.

This book does what it says on the tin i.e. it does not offer up any surprises – it is exactly what you would expect. A light-hearted story about an empty-nest mum in her 50s. However, it does not witness all the negatives of that position, it is a more positive view in which our Mum – Nadia, is enjoying her new found liberty and release from domestic chores relating to her kids, off at university. Enter a new man in her life (Jack) and the return of her kids to the home and things get a bit wobbly.

All in all, a very easy read with some good funny bits and some very likeable characters – even her ex-husband was quite nice. No muck raking, just a gentle read that made me smile.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

A laugh out loud book that, as a mum of both teenagers and twins, felt very relatable.
Nadia is just tasting freedom and enjoying a new relationship when her son returns home. That guilty quandary between what she thinks she should feel and what she can't help feeling, really made me chuckle; there is no doubt that we all love and cherish our kids but that doesn't stop them driving us to distraction too and that was portrayed so beautifully here.
This is a great, fun read that is a distraction from the trials and tribulations of the terrifying, tyrannical teenager!

Ah, what fun to read! Being a soon to be empty nester, it was a joy to read the pitfalls and triumphs of going through this time in your life. New relationships, old problems resolved and miscommunication straightened up in various ways throughout this story keeps the reader rolling right along. It was a little slower read than I'm used to reading, but I'm delighted I finished. Wonderful humor throughout.

I enjoyed The Mum Who Got Her Life Back by Fiona Gibson. It’s a feel good book with both funny and poignant bits. Nadia’s 18 year old twins have left for uni and suddenly she’s alone. However instead of sitting at home moping, she realises she can now start putting herself first. Add in a romance with new boyfriend Jack and she’s totally embracing having an empty nest and getting her life back. However as her son Alfie drops out of uni and returns home Nadia wonders if she’ll ever get her life back.

A great uplifting read. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

Hilarious tale that captures your heart from the first page. Life after kids exists and it’s something to look forward too! I really enjoyed this book. The characters are likeable (even loveable!) and the story has a completeness about it that calms my senses. This is everything I want in a book - a high snuggle up with a hot chocolate factor. Read this, you won’t regret it.

I really enjoyed this book,especially given that it's set in Glasgow. It was full of lovely things such as being set in a charity shop, Jack's relationship with Iain and the other volunteers, Nina and her life modelling,just nice subtle differences that you don't usually come across in books. it was fresh. Enjoyed all the characters with the exception of Alex but that is only because he was so well written by Fiona. More please!