Member Reviews
A slightly slow start for me but it turned into an enjoyable novel although I did find the ending a bit of a let down. It felt rushed and unresolved and a few extra chapters would have done this justice. Still the plot flowed well and there were some humorous moments. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.
Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an engaging and entertaining read. Vince was unpleasant and I was invested in Kate's story.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Kate is fed up of how her life is at present, the way she’s expected to do everything and basically being taken for granted. One day as a party is going on at her house, she decides that she’s had enough and runs away before she’s asked to do something else by her husband.
Whilst she’s away from her husband and the house, she begins to think about what she really wants, and slowly is beginning to find herself.
Will Kate return to her old life or make the changes she’s thought of for herself?
The story portrayed what issues a couple go through in a marriage, their thoughts and actions and how they impact them both.
I highly recommend this book.
I thought the writing in this book was good; it was the plot that didn’t pan out. At the beginning of the book, I hated Vince. He absolutely took Kate and their life together for granted. I completely understood why she wanted to escape and deserved some time to figure things out. It just didn’t feel like she ever really did. The longer she stayed away, particularly without talking to Vince or being honest with Fergus and Alice, the harder she was to respect, the more it felt like she was hiding and pretending rather than figuring out who she was. It was Vince who showed real character growth, which surprised me. I admired how he reflected on his mistakes in the marriage, respected Kate’s need for space and determinedly worked towards becoming a better man and partner. In contrast, Kate did very little self-reflection and actively avoided thinking about how some of her decisions would affect the people she cared about. I disliked that she started into a relationship with Angus before properly ending things with Vince. And she came to really care for Alice. I hated that her lack of transparency had the potential to make Alice feel foolish. Also, the ending of the story was disappointing. [ I wanted more explanation and amends from Kate for Alice and Angus, for Kate to consider her role in the downfall of her marriage, and for her to have candid, upfront conversations with almost every character in the book about what had happened. It seemed as though she did what she wanted with little regard for other people's feelings and was never truly held accountable for it.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Fiona Gibson. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.***
Brilliant,- Fiona Gibson never fails to please. Kate runs away from her life of being taken for granted and not being consulted on important matters . She ends up in Scotland, at the place of happy childhood holidays. Few women will not identify with Kate. A really enjoyable read, hard to put down and the ending is not as predictable as you would expect .
Another great book by fiona Gibson! It has plenty of laugh out loud moments alongside some emotional parts....a perfect book to binge read by the pool!
This book struck the perfect balance between humor and heart. While the laughs were plentiful, there was also a deeper emotional resonance that left me feeling uplifted and inspired. The characters were endearing, the dialogue was snappy, and the comedic timing was spot-on. A feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after you've finished the last page.
Loved this book and characters, another good book by Fiona, it was laugh out loud funny. It would make a great holiday read, be prepared to binge read this excellent book.
not really what I was expecting. It felt alright, i just dont think I could finish it. Im mostly a mood reader, so that may been part of the problem. I did try, I just dont know if ill ever finish.
There were some funny moments in this book. But I also felt like it was a week book for Fiona and I just didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed her other books. Sorry.
This book was not for me. The characters and storyline all blended together until it was impossible to understand what was going on. Hard pass.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon UK for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Well, this was not really book for me. I don't know really why but I just didn't feel this one.
Long in the tooth re shouts of ‘Hilarious’ and ‘LOL Funny’ as often books I have started have not been..so I was more than happy to find both true within the first few pages, it really is hilarious and I really was laughing out loud
Kate leaves home via her bathroom window midway through a horrific ‘Abigail’s Party’ esque kind of neighbourhood do and starts an adventure, one she literally runs into and once started cannot get out of, more to the point she doesn’t want to
Vince is left wondering what on earth has happened and what can he do to maintain his life
Both characters are loveable but not perfect but I liked that the story didn’t vehemently favour either of them, just honest and open and not a barrage of anti one thing or another
Some very very funny moments and some poignant happenings turned this into a lovely read and it featured an old fashioned bookshop, what more could we want
Exhilaratingly feel good yet uncompromising on realities
Loved it
In her heartwarming and humorous novel, "The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything," Fiona Gibson offers a refreshing story of self-discovery and empowerment through the journey of Kate, a woman who breaks free from societal expectations to reclaim her identity. Kate, almost 50, finds herself trapped in a monotonous life in a small town, stifled by her husband Vince's neglect and the constant pressure to conform to the community's standards. Dissatisfied with her current existence, she longs for the vibrant life she once had in London. The unexpected party at her home becomes the final straw, prompting her to make a spontaneous decision to leave everything behind. Kate's journey of self-discovery begins as she embarks on a solo adventure to Scotland. Along the way, she meets a charming bookseller named Euan, who helps her embrace the freedom she has been yearning for. As she settles into her new life, Kate uncovers hidden talents and passions, rediscovering the fun-loving and adventurous spirit she had lost. Gibson skillfully portrays Kate's emotional transformation as she navigates the challenges of creating a new life for herself. She delves into the complexities of marriage, societal expectations, and the courage it takes to break free from the confines of convention. Through Kate's experiences, Gibson highlights the importance of self-acceptance and authenticity, reminding readers that it's never too late to make positive changes in one's life. "The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything" is a thought-provoking and uplifting novel that resonates with readers of all ages, particularly those seeking inspiration to embrace their true selves and live life on their own terms. Gibson's relatable characters, witty dialogue, and vivid descriptions create a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon UK for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Being middle age myself I can to relate to wanting to climb out my bathroom window and escape from my life mostly the bathroom window and at work. Although not married or in a relationship like the main character. The demands of life still sometimes can be that overwhelming for us single people. The book had a lot of humour and I found myself laughing and not feeling so alone. This was my first book by this author and will definitely be checking out her other work.
Set mostly in Shugbury and Perthshire. Kate and her husband live in a small town of Shugbury in Buckinghamshire after leaving London nine months earlier.
Kate is unhappy in her job and feels unappreciated by her husband Vince. Kate has tried to make friends but feels a failure while her comedian husband Vince is glad to be away from London and living in the house that once belonged to his parents.
At first the pace is slow, written from Kate and Vince’s points of view.
When life gets too much for Kate she climbs out the bathroom window and ends up on a train to Scotland.
I loved the scene at the railway station when Alice mistakes Kate for someone else and Kate does not correct Alice.
This was a fun easy read with some humorous incidents. Vince struggles to cope without Kate while Kate has time to find herself and relive some childhood memories of family holidays in Perthshire.
This was about families, memories and friendships. I loved the twists and turns. I loved the way the characters interacted.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for a chance to read and review this e-Book.
This is my first Fiona Gibson's book, and i must say: what a nice discovery!
Kate is tired of being treated like an invisible being, especially by her husband Vince.
The last straw was the party organized by Vince, a husband of little note who is a comedian for a living, and with that I said it all.
Vince demands that Kate be the perfect host at this party. Kate on the other hand, can't take it anymore,
and with the excuse of having to use the bathroom, runs away from home. Without a specific destination,
he arrives at the station and without thinking too much he takes a ticket to Glasgow. I won't tell you anything else,
because this story deserves to be discovered from page to page, it's a pleasant and very entertaining read.
Enjoy the reading!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Woman Who Ran Away from Everything by Fiona Gibson is a humorous and heartwarming tale of a wife who reaches her breaking point and makes her way into a new life by revisiting her childhood one via a serendipitous case of mistaken identity.
The character of Kate has allowed herself to be taken advantage of in the extreme by her husband Vince. While almost every wife will see some parts of their own relationship in Kate's marriage, she is unlucky enough to have all of those shortcomings others will recognize combined to make up her unfortunate situation. With all of those problems, the entire situation results in some comical situations.
Told from both Kate's and Vince's points of view, each of them grows throughout the book as they deal with their separation. It is a heart-warming tale of marriage, separation, romance, friendship, and family that keeps the reader chuckling right up to the end. The added point of view of her husband gives the story an extra layer, adding to the relatability of the tale.
The cover art is cute and funny, and will no doubt draw eyes to the book on the shelf.
I was pleased to receive an ARC of #TheWomanWhoRanAwayfromEverything from #NetGalley.
Kate is dependable and gets things done. Unfortunately her husband, Vince, takes that for granted and seems to treat her as a personal assistant rather than his partner and lover.
One day during an impromptu party he’s sprung on Kate, she just can’t take it anymore and sneaks out of the house through the bathroom window and runs away.
First she visits a friend in London but when on her way to head home, she’s mistaken for an actual personal assistant and goes along with it.
In the end she finds herself again and has to make a choice for what she wants her future to be.
This story was decent with some funny moments. Kate the FMC pov was 1st person, but her husband Vince's pov was 3rd person. It really threw me off, and made the story less cohesive. The story kept me engaged unil the end, though I think the last part of the book was quite weak. I don't know if it was supposed to be some kind of love triangle tension, but it made ALL the relationships seem quite weak and made Kate's supposed growth less believable. Overall, an engaging novel. *I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.