Every new Fiona Gibson novel is always on my must read list.

Always a light and easy read with a heartwarming ending and this one was no exception.

Slightly predictable and unbelievable in a few places but the characters were strong and the plot kept me reading until the end.

Very fun and empowering read!!! Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a little courage in their life! It hit hime, flowed well, and made me laugh and cry at points. There was a good development of characters and they were relateable and likeable. A very solid read!

I've always found Fiona Gibson's books light enjoyable reads and this one was no exception.

Main character Kate reaches the end of her tether when her husband Vince throws an imprompto party for the neighbours and expects her to cater for his guests as soon as she gets home from work, after a long shift at a hotel. Its the last straw for Kate and in a moment of madness she climbs out the bathroom window of their bungalow to escape the party and ends up walking to the station and jumps on a train heading for Glasgow.

I really liked the characters in this book. I felt a little sorry for husband  Vince as he meant well, but was set in his ways and a bit thoughtless. Kate was brave not to settle for this, though, to put herself first and go in search of her own dreams.

I have mixed thoughts on the story. I liked how brave Kate was and how she took a stand about how unhappy she was in her current situation; though I didn't like how she went about it and it turned me off a bit. I suppose I had thoughts of how the book was going to go and more disappointed that it didn't go that way. But I did like following along with Kate's journey of opening up to her true self.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars

I was really enjoying this book and it was headed for 4 stars, until I got to the end. All of the chemistry and build up bottomed out and the book took a turn. It felt like a rush to the end when a few more chapters were needed to resolve everything in a meaningful way.

Great story about self-discovery, after being consumed by all the needs of others. Inspirational book for all women that seem to have lost themselves.

I must admit it was a bit difficult to read through the beginning of the chapters. I wanted to be able to go through the pages and slap a certain character, and that is not in my normal action in life, I assure you. He just really needed to be given a good slap to wake him up.

I really did not know where the plot was leading me. I was so hoping for the ending I wanted, and I won’t say whether or not I received it, since I do not want to give any spoilers at all. I was on the edge of my seat reading, waiting to find out what would happen.

I definitely recommend this witty, unique, motivational story!

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

3.5 ⭐️ (Rounded up to 4)

A sweet, if not slightly predictable, tale of a fed up, middle-aged wife. Kate, who has finally had enough of her husband's next level cluelessness and total lack of support, leaves him by climbing out the bathroom window in the middle of a dinner party.

This book is a very particular kind of escapism - put upon wife runs off and begins a magical new life. And there's nothing wrong with that, but there's also nothing particularly compelling about this take.

What I liked:
- I always love a book with older protagonists
- Kate's struggles are very relatable
- Fergus (and the backstory there)
- Kate's friendship with Alice

What didn't work for me:
- I've never been a fan of shifting between first and third person narratives
- Vince is just next level clueless, to the point of unbelievability at some places in the book
- Kate's clearly been a doormat for years, something I feel would warrant more time to work through. Instead, she seems to almost immediately be a different person once she leaves her husband.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

The idea of walking out of your life and just disappearing for some time does sound appealing but having a place to go is the hard bit! I loved this book and wanted to be in the Scottish town with her clearing the house and mooching in the book shop. All sounded like bliss but with the backdrop of what to do about her life and how she could achieve it.

We all get swept along with others ideas and the book shows how important it is to not lose sight of youself.

This one was a slow start for me, but once I was a few chapters in, I was really invested in the main character, Kate. Her story had me laughing out loud in several parts of the book. Although her husband Vince seemed despicable at first, he redeemed himself by the end of the story, and the other secondary characters, Alice and Fergus, were delightful. This is a light read that nevertheless explores some serious issues, like the necessity for give and take in relationships and the heartache that results when things are out of balance there. I would recommend this novel for anyone looking for an enjoyable story that entertains rather than challenges the reader.

This one started strongly, but the second half seemed to be from a different book altogether with too many romantic coincidences - it was a sort of mash-up of domestic real life in the first part and pastoral fantasy in the second. I enjoyed the details of Kate and Vince's life together, particularly the details about Vince's stand-up comedy career, but after a great dinner-party scene in the first few pages, the book seemed to steer clear of opportunities for fun set-pieces (when Vince is finally asked by the neighbours if Kate has left him, he just tells them the truth and makes another guest feel bad - I'm not seeing the fun in that). I wasn't invested in the second half's romantic relationships so I found myself skipping to the end two-thirds of the way through. I usually root for the original couple in these sorts of romances and this wasn't an exception, so I was glad I'd saved myself the last third. Having seen the titles of the author's other books, and having enjoyed at least another one of them (The Woman Who Did Something)?! it might be time for her to take a new tack. Good writing though, so I'm rounding up to a 4.

I loved Fiona Gibson's latest novel, 'The woman who ran away from everything'.

Life just gets too much for Kate who is treated as a doormat by her comedian husband. When one of his parties gets out of hand, she climbs out of the bathroom window and runs away from it all.

This book is perfect if you are someone who is juggling too many balls at the moment, be it cooking, cleaning, holding down a job, caring for others or even walking the dog. At times it made me laugh out loud, at others it made me want to do the same!

I really enjoyed this book and raced through it, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Fiona Gibson book never disappoints, a simple but lovely story with a very happy ending. This is a perfect book to curl up with any time of the year, you become fully immersed in the story as soon as you start it with likeable characters, interesting locations and stories you can relate to. There are funny moments and other snippets that make you want to cry, just perfect!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Your semi famous husband up roots you to his old childhood home. Leaving behind a job you love and good friends. Feeling as if you are unseen, taken for granted and ridiculed by your husband you run away.
What was a night away turns into weeks by way of a fortunate mistake.
Finding peace, friends and contentment. Why should she return?
A book about finding yourself and being true to yourself

The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything was a sweet story perfect for whiling away a cold winter’s day. Kate has left her life and a job she loves to follow her husband from London to the small town he grew up in. Kate quickly comes to realize that this is the pattern of her marriage. She juggles all the work and responsibilities of home life to support a husband who doesn’t appreciate her. One night she ups and leaves and ends up in Scotland. In true rom com fashion she meets new people and rediscovers the person she used to be. The plot was predictable but I did not mind as I found Kate and her friends in Scotland to be believable, likable characters. This is the first book I’ve read by Fiona Gibson and look forward to reading others.
3.5* rounding up to 4*

Thanks so much Avon Books UK and NetGalley.

Kate is sick and tired of being taken for granted by her husband. At a party in her home room, she sneaks out through the bathroom window and finds herself soon helping a woman empty out a house in Scotland. She has to figure out who she is.

This book is told in alternating POVs between Kate and her husband Vince.

I liked the first half. It was humorous, relatable, and made me really root for Kate. However, I thought the rest of the story was a mess. I don't think Kate answered the question about who she is. I really wanted to root for her, but it was difficult. Same with Vince. I thought that Vince actually grew more as a character, however. The ending felt rushed and unresolved. Still, there were moments that were laughable and I think a lot of people will like the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️From the publisher Avon Books: Kate is sick of being taken for granted by her husband Vince. It’s bad enough that she allowed herself to be dragged away from the London life she loved, but now she’s constantly compelled to keep up with the (very smug) Joneses in this small home counties town. She hates it here. What happened to the fun-loving woman she used to be? At almost 50 Kate feels lost, overlooked and like nothing is ever going to change. That is, until she comes home to an unexpected party – one that she has to cater.
And that’s it. The final straw. Breaking point.
She has no plan, but a chance encounter at Euston station sees her following her own heart for once – to beautiful Scotland where a crumbling mansion and a handsome bookseller could be just what she needs . . .
As Kate discovers, sometimes you have to feel utterly lost to find out who you truly are.
*********************
My review: Kate has hit a wall: in her marriage, her career, her social life. Taking off (even if she's the "wrong Kate") seems like a great idea. Predictably, she ends up in a place she adores, taking care of things as if she was meant to, and being appreciated. As I said, predictably. I have read a few books like this: middle aged women set in the UK, mid life upset, she finds herself.
It's a sweet tale, I wanted Kate to grow a spine and get what she needs and deserves. Very PG and lovely secondary characters. you can cheer for Kate in this quick, light read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

Kate is married to Vince, and expected to do everything. She is devastated when he decides to move to Shugbury, a village in the home counties, disregarding her wishes to keep the job she loves and friends in London. But when she finishes her demanding job, and discovers a party going on in her home with Vince expecting her to cater - it’s the last straw!

This is a warm hearted story about a woman’s journey to find herself and explore what has been missing from her life. From becoming her husband’s dogsbody, she is determined to make time for herself and find the fun loving person she used to be. Hilarious at times, but also sensitively written.

I liked most of the characters, from Alice whom Kate begins to work for, to Fergus, a handsome book seller with whom Kate becomes involved. The interplay and friendships develop as the story unfolds. Settings in the Perthshire village where the story takes place are described so beautifully, you wish you were there.

It was also interesting to gain insight into Vince’s mindset, showing his selfish arrogance in a humorous way. I found this to be an enjoyable read with great characters set in beautiful Scottish countryside.

Not all those who wander are lost, they say. But in a world that seems determined to make us fit into neat little boxes in order to satisfy the needs of others (while our own needs often go largely unheard or unaddressed), there are undoubtedly times in life when you have to wander pretty far off the beaten track in order to find yourself again...

Kate is discovering this for herself, after approaching her fifth decade only to discover that she has gradually changed so much in order to tailor her presence to the wishes of people like her self-absorbed spouse, Vince, that she barely recognises - let alone likes! - herself anymore.

Not. For. Long.

Not for a minute longer!

After one unreasonable demand too many, Kate literally *escapes* from her home with the sole intention of being anywhere but there, slowly suffocating in someone else's version of life in the Home Counties.

Following her instincts leads her, surprisingly enough, to beautiful Scotland and a very different lifestyle, however temporary it may be. Mind you, that's not the only surprise in store for Kate in this new avatar of hers...

This is a delightful story, and one where at least some of the elements will be relatable to many women of a certain age and stage in life. It is a pleasure for readers to journey alongside Kate on this mid-life voyage of discovery, replete with humour and unexpected revelations. It gets 3.5 stars

I do love a good Gibson novel - I know exactly what I am getting each time: a cast of well written, well rounded characters, some smiles and laughs, some poignant bits, and some cracking writing. This is no different.

A positively delightful way to spend a few hours reading - highly recommended.

I like Fiona Gibson's books, which are fun and warm and relatable. Kate, fed up of being taken for granted (the Oat Milk Incident was the final straw), walks out on her home and husband on the spur of the moment, but life takes an unexpected turn when she is mistaken for a different Kate at a railway station.

We see subsequent events both from the point of view of Kate and the abandoned Vince. Both manage to get themselves into hot water of varying degrees. There's a fun and largely believable - if slightly exaggerated - cast of characters in both stories.

Kate's frustrations that led to her walking out seemed entirely justified, and my jaw dropped more than once at the sheer cloth-eared effrontery of not only her husband but the various ghastly neighbours.

A highly enjoyable read.