Carly and her husband Frank are happy to see their son leave home and begin to work. They have brought up their family of three children, and Carly is more than ready to explore the opportunities that arise now they are empty nesters.

However, things don’t go to plan when problems arise with Carly’s dad Kenny. An irascible old man who always thinks he knows best, becoming ill and moving in with Carly and Eddie.

Written in a friendly, heartwarming way, this is a humorous book which I thoroughly enjoyed. With vivid descriptions, Fiona Gibson brings her characters alive and you feel that you know them. I felt empathy for Carly who is helpful and lovingly trying to support Eddie while her husband isn’t being as helpful.

Character driven, the story is about families, relationships and how they work things out, with lots of humour. I enjoyed reading about the characters so much, all with their different stories, it would be great to see them turn up in other books.

This was a great read, full of laughs and comfort. Definitely a heart warming read, and I'd be keen to read more from Fiona Gibson. The characters all felt human - which is particularly tricky with so many different family members! and the story line felt like a very real situation that could happen to any family, leaving a very slice-of-life feeling.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Are you ready for a good laugh? Check out The Full Nest by Fiona Gibson. I couldn’t put it down.A five star read.

this was such a good book!! I love the big family all together, it reminds me of all the memories I have with my own big family. I liked the themes of love, growth, family, relationships, and growth together that this book had. It was so entertaining and it kept me engaged!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This story takes place across a year. Carly's three children have now all left home, so now is the time for her and her husband Frank to reclaim their lives - or so they think!

Fiona Gibson writes in a very entertaining and amusing style, very easy to read with incredibly relatable characters. I felt for Carly (her eldest child was VERY relatable!), and could understand Frank's feelings. It definitely made me think about how situations could be understood differently by different people, and how important talking actually is!

An emotive, quick read.

In their early fifties, Carly and her Portuguese mechanic partner Frank are looking forward to some 'me-time,' and when their son Eddie finally shucks off his brown dressing gown and goes to work in Edinburgh as a kitchen porter, they think they've found it. However, it's not long before they're opening their house again to more and more people, including Carly's elderly Dad, who has an unfortunate run-in with a tin of expired pilchards.

Soon, Cathy is having to hold lock-ins in her library workplace and Frank is sleeping in his old food truck just to try and get a bit of perspective on the situation. I admired how Carly was always there for her family, though she could have been tougher with them at times, and felt a little like her two daughters got short shrift in favour of the needier Eddie, and I wasn't invested in a potential romance plot for Carly with a new man, Oliver, but they all got there in the end, of course.

I found this easier to read and warmer than Fiona Gibson's most recent book 'The Woman Who Ran Away from Everything,' - I don't know what that shows, maybe that sometimes staying is funnier than going, or at any rate more realistic and easy to relate to. My thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the DRC!

Carly is a woman who goes everything for her family- a bit of a doormat even!! The reader follows Carly as she navigates an empty nest becoming full again

Carly and Frank, at last, have an empty nest- their youngest child Eddie has l eft home. Time for themselves and a holiday in Paris. But all is not well when they return home as their Nest gradually refills. Some laugh out loud moments, some sad moments- ,true to life - do we ever "get rid" of our children?

What a lovely fluffy read, an ideal read cuddled up on the sofa in winter, or in the garden or on the beach in the summer, loved the charecters and loved the story

Fiona Gibson's books explore family life in a light hearted way, particularly the impacts on women who often have to pick up the pieces when things fall apart. Carly, nearly fifty, has loved raising her children with Portuguese-born partner Frank, but is nevertheless looking forward to the day when they can have some time to themselves. Only twenty-two year old Eddie is still left at home in their Scottish seaside town, both his sisters having flown the nest, and he's showing no signs of leaving, spending most of his days lying around in a ratty old dressing gown - until he suddenly does, heading off to Edinburgh with a flat-share and a job lined up.

Carly's longed-for empty nest doesn't last long, though. First Eddie gets himself into - to put it mildly - a bit of a scrape. Then there's her cantankerous elderly father, Kenny, who won't listen to anyone's advice. It's all getting a bit much...

I'll admit the story didn't quite go where I was expecting, particularly regarding the Eddie storyline. (Maybe I just have a suspicious mind, but I felt somebody was up to something.) But like all Fiona's books, it's a highly engaging read.

Gibson’s talent for capturing the messy, sometimes frustrating, but always love-filled reality of family life shines through. The humor is sharp, the characters are endearing, and the emotional moments sneak up on you when you least expect it.
But what makes this book truly delightful is its balance of comedy and heartfelt moments. The chaos that unfolds in Carly’s home might drive her to the edge, but it also highlights the beautiful messiness of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. As she navigates the delicate balance between wanting to reclaim her independence and doing what’s best for her family, The Full Nest delivers a story that’s both uproarious and deeply touching.

Another great story from Fiona Gibson. We meet Carly and Frank, who are navigating a new stage in their lives as their youngest child Eddie leaves home.

However, being empty nesters is not as straightforward and freeing as they thought. Carly's elderly and cantakerous father Kenny is increasingly struggling to cope by himself. 22 year old Eddie finds that moving out requires a lot more responsibility than he realises and he has to grownup fast. One of their daughters is also struggling with adapting to the demands of a high-flying life in London, after growing up in a sleepy seaside town . To make matters worse there seems to be cracks in Carly and Frank's relationship...

The Full Nest has relatable characters and topics that will resonate with lots of readers. Another fab book for 2025!

The Full Nest by Fiona Gibson is a heartfelt and humorous exploration of the complexities that arise when the family dynamic shifts, particularly when children grow up and leave the home. Carly, a mother of three, has long dreamed of the freedom that would come with the “empty nest.” Alongside her husband, Frank, she fantasises about quieter meals, fewer interruptions, and holidays focused on culture rather than kids’ clubs. However, Carly’s vision of peace and tranquillity is soon disrupted when her elderly father moves in “temporarily” for extra support. As if that wasn’t enough, Carly’s adult son, Eddie, has become far too comfortable in the family home, seemingly uninterested in moving out or seeking a job, enjoying the comforts of home life without the usual responsibilities.

Just when Carly’s patience is wearing thin, Eddie drops a bombshell that threatens to turn her already precarious world upside down. As her family expands in unexpected ways, Carly finds herself facing new challenges, navigating the delicate balance of caring for elderly parents, adult children, and the demands of her marriage—all while trying to maintain her own sense of self.

Gibson provides a keenly insightful look into the different stages of family life, capturing the tension and tenderness of adjusting to changing roles as children grow older, and the impact this has on relationships within the home. The novel addresses the phenomenon of empty nest syndrome, the struggles of menopause, and the relentless demands of modern life, yet it is infused with wit and realism. Through Carly’s journey, the book presents a raw, unfiltered portrayal of the emotional turmoil many women experience when pulled in multiple directions. The Full Nest is a brilliantly relatable and deeply moving read, filled with moments of humour and heart that will resonate with anyone navigating similar life stages.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Another brilliant read from Fiona Gibson. This was such a realistic book looking at the realities of family life as children grow up, move on and your parents age. It was so insightful and relatable but told with humour and showed the love, strength and bond between family and friends.
The characters were great and I loved the relationship between Carly and her Dad and how that progressed.
I would love a sequel to see how Eddie copes with fatherhood.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Fiona Gibson for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

Carly, a librarian and husband Frank, a mechanic from Portugal, are in their early fifties. They have two daughters and a son in their early twenties, but the daughters have already flown the nest. However, Eddie, 22, is a lazy layabout and he doesn't see the need to leave the place where he gets his laundry washed and food cooked. One day though he suddenly moves in with his best friends from school in Edinburgh and finds a restaurant job, and Carly and Frank can finally walk around in their underwear at home.

The relief is short-lived though. Carly's belligerent father Kenny, 85, gives himself botulism by eating ancient pilchards from a rusty tin (They cost money, don't you dare throw them away!") and has to move in with them. Then Eddie comes back with shocking news and the number of house inhabitants goes up again. All the while, Carly longingly eyes up "The Empty-Nester’s Handbook" but its tips seem frustratingly out of reach.

I have to say, while it is funny in parts, I did not find this as funny and uplifting as the author's other books. The rapidly disintegrating marriage is sad, broken down from the strain of being in the middle and having to deal both with the younger and the older generation. It's bittersweet and realistic, and will draw you in, hoping it will all end well. There is also a sad side story with a gay colleague who feels hidden away by his partner. As is the case in a Fiona Gibson book, it's the men who cause the multi-generational drama and who can't cope while the women hold it all together. It's a well-written, easy read and if you're looking for a relatable family drama with strong women, this will be for you.

4.25 stars

Another brilliant book by Fiona Gibson. Her characters are always so normal but in brilliant situations I know I'd find myself in. Her books are always a delight to read.

I absolutely loved this book! It was so funny, relatable, and had me feeling all the feels! Definitely could relate to taking too much on and never having a chance to be able to breathe and get to know myself. It was a great take on the “empty” nest and what that means and looks like for various members in your family. Loved every minute! I loved how it went back in time also!

This book is a warm and relatable read that dives into the complexities of family life, relationships, and the ever changing dynamics of a busy household. While it took me a little while to settle into the story, once it found its rhythm, it became an enjoyable read through the mess and joy of life as a member of a household that is oh so typical today. The different view points that stepped up as different characters played more important roles was well done.

The book strikes a really strong balance between humour and poignancy. There are laugh-out-loud moments that allowed me to read via the sharp wit of the author. and there were keen observational moments of life's quirks, but also quieter, sadder moments that stayed with me for longer and made me reflect. These contrasts make the story feel authentic and relatable, capturing the messy yet beautiful reality of life.

This book made me smile, even as it had its bittersweet moments. A page turner for a quiet afternoon.

I absolutely adore Fiona Gibson and I am so excited for this book to get into readers hands! I love her relatable funny takes on life and she always has me in stitches throughout the entire book. I am so excited for the Full nest. I love the characters, storyline, and hilarious anecdotes.

The full nest is another great insightful read by Fiona!
Such an insightful look into family life and how it changes/the different stages that you go through as your children grow up and leave the family nest, the altered dynamics at home, the way it affects your relationship as a couple and then the added factor of looking after an elderly parent and grandchildren added into the mix as your family grows and you are needed more and more. Raw, unfiltered and totally relatable for so many women experiencing empty nest syndrome, the menopause, and being pulled in so many directions but hold with wit, humour and realism that will resonate with so many at a similar stage in life!
A great read that I would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read