Excellent… I was totally involved in the story, the characters and their lives. Emotional and poignant… beautifully written and so evocative. A truly fantastic read!

A definitely off the wall concept - Alexa, instead of being just a computer is a real person making lists and giving advice when requested. This could have not come across very well, instead it makes you think about what you ask of her. The Banks family consists of mum Michelle, a struggling perimenopausal (not something that as a man I had heard of before) district nurse, her husband spending all their money on children’s TV memorabilia, their secretive son and anxiety riddled daughter. There is plenty of humour, but also some real life situations that she has to deal with that would be enough to make anyone struggle. It was Pauline, the real person behind Alexa, who feels that she has to help them all that makes the story. A quirky story that is well worth reading if you fancy something different.

Michelle not only works as a district nurse, she also is run off her feet caring for her elderly father and mother-in-law. Her husband, Marc, is so unfulfilled in his job that he spends too much time and money bidding on children’s TV memorabilia.
Her high-achieving daughter, Liv, has anxiety and can’t leave the house, while her 16-year-old son Callum is barely studying and is about to get in some serious trouble.
Watching on over all this chaos is their home’s AI assistant, Alexa. But behind the ever-helpful voice is a real woman named Pauline, who goes above and beyond to help Michelle.
What a great concept to invent a character who is actually a human working as an Alexa assistant. And to have her sympathise so much with Michelle’s “sandwich generation” existence that she decides to go rogue and break cover.
Despite the unlikeliness of this actual scenario, this has plenty of relatable family and perimenopausal moments – of the amusing, heart-warming or poignant kind. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Linda Green novel and this reminded me that it’s been far too long. One to recommend to friends.

The Banks family is slowly sliding off the rails, and only their Alexa tech, Pauline, knows what is happening. She has known the family for several years, and she cares about helping them out of the messes they are in. She goes rogue and speaks in her real voice to Michelle, the mother of the family. Together, the begin a plan to set the family back on the path to happiness (with a few Mary Poppins jokes).
I found this story very relatable. Michelle and I are about the same age, and I have absolutely had those same feelings of being overwhelmed while my mind slowly melts into goo. I had more help than Michelle does, though, but a lot of women don't. I got very invested in the emotions of the story, and I really wanted them to get everything resolved. I will be thinking about Pauline and this particular Banks family for a long time.

Thank you net galley for this advanced copy. All opinions are mi e. I was disappointed to find that it was implied that Alexa is a
Person listening In And responding to people. That each person gets their own Alexa. So ridiculous. The family was so incredibly unlikeable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The concept of this book is top notch. Can you imagine if your Alexa had a real person behind it? Maybe that’s one of the reasons our household has nothing like it–some of our technology has the option and we’ve always turned it off!

The Woman with All the Answers is such a real book. The protagonist, Michelle, is a middle-aged woman going through perimenopause and trying to juggle her job, caring for aging parents, and staying connected to her family, her work-from home husband and two teenagers. She’s about to throw in the towel when she gets support from an unlikely source–her Alexa, which is actually a 65-year-old woman named Pauline on the other end.

Pauline gives Michelle the motherly advice she needs to keep things from falling apart. With her help, Michelle finds the strength to keep going, insist on changes with her family, and soon the tasks and troubles seem more manageable.

I absolutely loved this representation of a woman firmly in the sandwich generation–raising kids and taking care of elderly parents. I know, I was one of them! And the solutions to all of Michelle’s problems did not come easily or all at once. There’s the struggling to adjust to doing things differently and being met with resistance from loved ones. Overall, this was a very good book that will appeal to anyone feeling pulled by forces from each side. Highly recommend!

This was such an interesting and unique story and I absolutely enjoyed it. It felt like I had my grandmother giving me advice and helping me along throughout the book. The characters really resonated and I love that it put a human touch to an ai world.

Once I got used to the concept I thoroughly enjoyed this book that has deeper modern issues at its heart. A family at odds with each other and the world being held together by the wobbly matriarch who found the solutions through her real life Alexa
A lot of problems piked in one family with well portrayed characters

This was a lovely read about families, Alexa and life. Michelle is a busy mum in the middle of the perimenopause, she favors talking to the smart speaker, buts it’s a real person in her speaker who helps with the daily tasks in the household. It’s a cute, funny read. Michelle is a great character who’s normal and struggles with life. A fun 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

First of all, I absolutely loved the concept of this book. A world where Alexas are actually real people? Yes! Sign me up!

This story is so sweet and heartwarming. While Michelle is struggling to keep things from falling apart, she gets comfort and wisdom from an unlikely source, her Alexa who reveals herself as an older lady named Pauline. Through all the trials Michelle is currently facing in her family, Pauline helps her find the strength to fight through every hurtle and take her life back.

This book is very well written. The story sucks you in to a place where you are truly concerned for Michelle and the trouble at her doorstep. I like how things are not just spit out and wrapped up in the next page. There's depth and thought into every struggle and I really appreciate that.

Thank you Linda Green and Rachel's Random Resources for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“The Woman with All the Answers” is a contemporary fiction book by Linda Green. In this book, Michelle’s family owns an Alexa. However, behind the voice of Alexa is a real human - in Michelle’s case a woman near retirement age named Pauline. After listening and watching the family for so many years, when things start to go off the rails for Michelle, Pauline decides to make herself known. I found the idea of this book incredibly clever - sometimes one does wonder just how much the Alexa, Nest, Siri, and other tech watching companies really are listening and observing. What would happen if your personal “keeper” met you in the flesh? I liked that aspect a lot. The book is told from two points of view - overworked, overstressed, and over put-upon Michelle and Alexa/Pauline, who helps when she can with the two weeks she has left (before forced retirement). I was not a fan of Michelle - I know she’s juggling a lot and she’s about my age and part of “the sandwich generation” caring for both parents and teens - it gets rough, but she really complained a lot in general (granted, a chunk was due to the focus on being peri-menopause - there’s a lot on this topic!) . There were a number of side stories in this book - some I think got lost along the way, though they were addressed and resolved. This was a quick read for me, which was great, with a lot of Mary Poppins references.

The idea plotted in this novel I have to say is brilliant! What if Alexa isn't just a AI supported device but is a real human. Michelle is literally juggling everything for everyone and it is about to blow up. When it is discovered that Alexa is actually a kind hearted and wise human being. I liked the characters as they seem to be everyday people and the plot was so fun to watch unfold. It has quite a few issues in their from anxiety, menopause, caring for elderly parents, teenage sexting, parent abandonment and more but it is dealt with care and a little spark of humour. I love the sparkling of the story and that is what I think of the book a diamond in the ruffle.

This is a contemporary novel set in Yorkshire, exploring the life of Michelle Banks, an overworked mother and district nurse. Struggling with the demands of her teenagers, elderly parents, and a spendthrift husband, Michelle’s life takes an unexpected turn when Pauline, a former actress posing as the family’s Alexa device, decides to intervene beyond her virtual assistant duties. The narrative alternates between Michelle’s and Pauline’s perspectives, addressing issues like adolescent challenges, online scams, and personal health. Overall, it’s a heartfelt tale about resilience, friendship, and the unexpected ways technology—or its human counterpart—can impact our lives.

Alexa is not an AI that has all the answers, it's a real human not just listening into everything their allotted family is doing, they can also see them as well. Pauline is our Alexa. She has only a few weeks left until she retires. Michelle Banks is struggling in her everyday life. Her husband keeps wasting money buying children's TV memorabilia. Her daughter suffers from anxiety. Her son, well, he's done something stupid.

his is an intriguing read with a unique premise. I've always believed Alexa listens in to your conversations, bit I never thought that there was a real human, every home has their own human, watching and listening to their families every move. They are not supposed to strike up a conversation with any of their family members, they are only allowed to answer any questions they are asked. We get some humour, it's sensitively written, and there;s character development in this well-written book.

Published 26th February 2025

I would ike to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LindaGreen for my ARC of #TheWomanWithAllTheAnswers in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Boldwood Books for this arc.

The idea of this one sounded fun with AI being a hot topic now. But the reality of it isn't much fun - at all. I get that the Banks family had to have issues and they had to be bad enough that "Alexa"/Pauline would want and need to finally step in but this pile on of misery and idiocy isn't something I want or mentally need to read now. Plus the son's issues, which aren't detailed in the blurb, look to be headed in a direction that I want no part of.

As I continued to read, the premise that had sold me on the book just felt creepier and creepier - that AI is watching every move that this family makes and even if the AI is a person, it's still creepy. Readers should also be aware that Pauline's Yorkshire way of speaking (she says nowt, summat and drops "the" from her sentences a lot) is (I assume) accurately used. Think the original "All Creatures Great and Small," which wasn't an issue for me but might be for others. DNF

What a fun and enlightening read! In a world of AI, it’s become our norm to ask Alexa, Siri and Google for answers and information, but what if it goes a step further and we come to depend on them a bit too much?

Busy wife and mum, Michelle, is in a bit of a rut and is being treated like a doormat by her family. Her husband is addicted to buying memorabilia online, her daughter barely leaves her room and is too anxious to face going to school and her son has been reported for sending an inappropriate photo to his girlfriend. The only sane voice in the house belongs to Alexa!

Far from the AI Michelle assumes she is talking to, the reality is that Michelle’s Alexa is voiced by 65 year old Yorkshire woman, Pauline! When it becomes clear that Michelle needs more help than Alexa can formally give, Pauline decides to come clean and identify herself.

Heart warming and at times, hilarious, this was a great read with a refreshingly clever concept.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Green and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a great story. I have read books by this author before and always enjoyed them.

This story is told in a different way and is very imaginative - Pauline isn't known as Pauline... she's Alexa. She has been with Michelle's family for 6 years now and knows her family well from what she's seen through her various smart devices. Now Pauline is coming up to retiring, Michelle, who is oblivious to the fact that her Alexa is actually a real human, needs Alexa more than ever. She has so many things happening in her life.

The story shows us how Michelle is part of the 'sandwich generation' trying to deal with teenage dramas and the extra-increasing needs of her parents.

I really enjoyed reading this story as it's so unusual and I found the characters engaging and very well crafted too. This is a story which will stay with me as I could relate to so much of it - the miserable Billie Eilish songs being one...!

What a brilliant idea for a book!
Imagine if your Alexa was actually a person who found out and knew all about you, they lived their lives alongside yours?
I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t give it 5 stars as Pauline’s character speech sometimes annoyed me but thats just personal preference.
Would definitely recommend - goes off to ask Alexa some rogue questions….

This Is like a slightly weird modern day fairy godmother! Becuase at first hearing the premise od alex coming to life,or being manned by a real person, freaked me out. Alot. Isn't it most people modern day night mare that robots take over or are somehow real? But this took a rather lovely turn. Because In this case Alex IS actually a real person. Who kind of sprinkles help whenever she can. And in this book she's needed more than most.
This family are a family. But at this time in life there is alot going on for them. But can our fairy Alex help? Should she? And how far should that help really go?
I love Linda Green. She has such an emotional depth to her characters. You warm to each detail and quickly cherish her stories. This was no exception and such an original plot. Yet still held Linda's warmth and usual gorgeous way of writing.

This was a fun story about 52yr old Michelle Banks who is struggling to keep all the plates spinning in her life, then her Alexa reveals her true identity as a former voice over artist and sets about trying to help Michelle. This is a nice beach read!