Having DNF’d another book by this author I doubt that I will enjoy this book. I also have no interest in park runs or running.

I will not be reading this book but to be fair to the author will provide a star rating based on the average.

3.5⭐

I purchased this book because I was interested in Park Run, although it is a fictional story.

I found I had to suspend belief with a fair amount of the book, particularly whether someone would really leave their nieces, who they had been left in charge of, with someone they barely knew? Something else that bugged me was when blood pressure was referred to as 'high' at 130/80!

My favourite character without doubt was Hilda and I did enjoy Claire's growing bond with her nieces.
This book has made me further explore Park Run options in my area.
My favourite quote:
"If you want to sleep here, I'm not some Victorian miss who's going to have the vapours."

I didn’t get on with this book. It failed to grab my attention at the start which unfortunately meant I struggled to get into it and therefore didn’t get very far with it.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Jules Wake is one of my favourite authors and this one was just left me all warm and gooey. The relationships between the characters are spot on the trials and tribulations very relatable. A gem of a book.

This book took a little bit to get going for me but I really enjoyed it once it got going. There were elements that I wouldn't have done myself but the uplifting and inspirational twist Hilda brings to the story is brilliant.

This is the type of story that you want to keep going so you can see what happens next for the family. I loved the way the characters changed throughout the book and the fact that mental health was covered within the story as well.

I think the story and characters were built up very well and would look forward to another book from the same author in the future.

The storyline was well put together and kept me interested. It was a bit drawn out and around the houses in getting to the point of the story. Some interesting characters and a look at how people dealt with lockdown

Could not connect with Claire, the main character, whom I found unsympathetic and just a tad too brash for my tastes... This instant dislike thus rendered the read not really enjoyable for me, and Claire kept showing worse aspects of herself as the book wore on... Just not enjoyable for me, sadly

The perfect Sunday morning read with a cup of coffee. Loved this one!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an honest review of “The Saturday Morning Running Club”.

This was a wonderful , heartwarming book that had well written characters that it was easy to connect with.
A non runner , married to someone who is always extolling the virtues of the benefits of getting out there .It has made me feel I might even give it a try !
A definite recommendation from me.

A truly beautiful, heart warming story that focuses on the family in which we choose.
I loved the storyline and thought it was paced wonderfully and really kept my attention throughout.
The characters were so likeable and relatable, you could truly feel a connection with them.
A beautifully written, heart warming story that I loved.

Can i just start by saying this book was everything i needed to read right now and more. It was just wonderful. Its a tale of two women, lonely women who need change and this is how their chance meeting does just that.

We meet Claire who is a complete workaholic, work is her life and she is determined to make partner. Hilda visits the park everyday - she is lonely but wont admit as much, she is just keeping fit. When Claire is signed off work with stress the pair meet and an unlikely friendship is born. On top of that, Claires sister has upped and left to find herself whilst Claire is left to look after her nieces. Oh and the dreamy man Claire had an amazing connection with? Hes gone.

This book was just so heartwarming. Hilda is determined and when she pushes Claire to see about setting up a local Park run we really start to get a feel of the community in this book. I also loved how the friendships developed, and friendship is just as important as family.

Jules has created some wonderful characters, Hilda is just something else, Claire is every changing and underneath her business layer is someone who wants to be loved and play house. Now - the park run aspect was written perfectly, as a keen park runner and semi regular volunteer i can vouch for every thing been so so accurate from the way its handled down to the experiences of people but most of all the finishing together with a stranger. I might of cried, because right now its something we cant experience but Jules had written something so strong that it really pulled my heart strings.

I honestly think this book was delightful, it was friendship, it was warmth, it was love and it was about community. Its about creating your own family and surrounding yourself with those you love. A real great read. It had me smiling, laughing and crying.

I was gifted my copy for the blog tour

This was a truly delightful story about the family you choose.
His is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely won't be the last.

☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely loved this book. I am a huge fan of Jules Wake and this book didnt dissapoint one bit. I loved most of the characters (hated the sister). This is a must read.

Life is messy, family work, and love is never a straight line. This story takes you through an unlikely friendship,a stained sister relationship, and finding out what is truly important in life. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC

The Saturday Morning Park Run by Jules Wake
Source: NetGalley and One More Chapter
Rating: 5/5 stars

If you’ve been with me for a considerable amount of time, you know how I feel about characters. The good ones really drive a book for me, the good ones can also make a lesser quality plot better. However, when a book has both a good plot and good characters, you have writing magic and that’s what I feel like I got with Jules Wake’s The Saturday Morning Park Run.

Claire: In the beginning – well, that sounds very Biblical – Claire is a driven to succeed career woman who won’t let anything, even a little anxiety stop her upwardly mobile movement. As it happens the anxiety is more than a little, and in the blink of eye, she’s placed on medical leave until her anxiety and blood pressure come back under control. With a month of nothing to do, Claire begins her leave in a total funk.

Alice: Alice is Claire’s sister and polar opposite in every way imaginable. Just as Claire begins her medical leave, her sister foists her two small daughters on Claire and expects her to keep them for a week while she trots off to the mountains to a yoga retreat. Though Claire loves her nieces, she feels completely unfit to care for them for an extensive amount of time. Unfortunately, Alice cares nothing for anyone else’s feelings and before she can vehemently object, Claire has two scared little girls staying with her.

Ashwin: Ashwin is, in the beginning, much like Claire. He is upwardly mobile and has no intention of altering his trajectory. Unfortunately, his company has other plans and they do not include Ash. Out of job and totally embarrassed by his situation, Ash retreats to his home and becomes something of a grumpy recluse.

Hilda: If every there were a fictional character I could wish into existence, Hilda would be that character! From start to finish, Hilda is really the character running the whole show. Her enthusiasm for life, her sneaky ability to manipulate others into doing her bidding, and her clear and sure focus is such a wonderfully delightful mix.

With Claire and Ash’s respective worlds in utter chaos, they need focus and a goal, and that is where the utterly delightful Hilda comes into play. By chance, both Claire and Ash meet Hilda in the park and within days, she has them back to being physically active and dancing to her music. The tune Hilda is playing comes in the form of a Saturday Morning Park run, a way to bring the community together, promote health and fitness, and encourage overall support and camaraderie. The deeper Claire and Ash get into the planning, the more important the event becomes to each of them. What’s more, each finally begins to see that there is something far greater in and to life than a non-stop work schedule and an upwardly mobile trajectory.

The Bottom Line: Far and away, the best character in this book and glue that binds everyone together is the indomitable Hilda. Hilda is kind, generous, wise, and loving, and with her guidance, Claire, Ash and the girls all realize that family is often more than just a blood tie. There is such a wonderful sense of community and spirit of friendship in this book that really resonates. While reading I found I was particularly drawn to the age discrepancies between all the characters; this really is a multi-generation read and it works every so well with the characters and the plot. In all, an excellent and spirited read that kept me turning pages from the very beginning.

A wonderful uplifting book which I started because I love a park run and I finished as I loved the story. Believable and heartwarming - this was a real pageturner.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

As usual this author's books have completely wrapped me up into a warm and cosy hug.
I loved the characters, Hilda is a complete hoot and reminded me of an old friend.
Claire is a good egg, Ash sounds amazing, although I think I prefer without the beard.
The girls are just fabulous and of course Bill, he completes the family.

What a lovely book to help get some of my lost reading mojo book.
Thank you

I loved this cross generational read. Bringing together new friends and a sense of community a Saturday morning running club gives the participants a new purpose and new beginnings.

‘Don’t you think you’re attributing quite a lot to … well, a run in the park?’

The infamous ‘Parkrun’! I was attracted to this book because my husband and daughter were doing the Parkrun before lockdown and I thought I could relate to the main theme. I have read Jules's books before, enjoying some romantic escapism, this one promised that and more.

Overall this book has many contemporary themes which lift it above your average ‘chick lit’ book. Physical and mental health are at the forefront here, especially when related to a work life that may be consuming. Then there are themes of family, loneliness and finding your purpose in life. So there is much on offer in this read.

‘There’s a fear, isn’t there? Deep rooted, submerged, but it’s there. What if it isn’t worth it? What if the hours we put in aren’t worth the stress? What’s left?’

It all centres around the worldwide organisation of Saturday morning Parkruns (if you are unsure of what this is you must Google it!) With life’s many demands (and I can vouch for this as my family have been participants) it definitely creates that supportive community, making connections and working towards goals. It is both a personal and community spirited event.

‘Running free felt so much better than being on a treadmill. It didn’t matter if I came last; no one was going to say that I’d failed. No one was going to judge me – not even me. The thought was immensely liberating.’

This is a fun read where people come together to overcome obstacles - there are lessons to be learned - for both the young and old - and a little romance as well. However, I felt that it was overly long and lost some interest in the logistics of setting up the Parkrun. I also felt that there was the cliched older generation wisdom, the workaholic singles who realise ultimately their simpler life purpose and of course, the mandatory happy ending. I felt terrible for the little girls who were abandoned and thought that was stretching it somewhat.

All up this was quite a different Jules Wake book - credit to her for trying something different - in looking beyond a straight romance to the broader community, finding real meaning and the much sought after work life balance.

The finish line loomed closer. I pushed my body harder, my lungs bursting. Then just before the finish, the woman slowed and turned. ‘We go over together.’ And, in an extraordinarily generous gesture, we crossed the line at exactly the same time. And that was the moment I fell in love with the Parkrun.’




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

A charming read from a new to me author. I enjoyed this story about career and family. It had interesting characters, a unique story and a low key romance. I had to get used to the British speak but that did not lessen my enjoyment. Definitely recommend.