Annie Beaton's Year of Positive Thinking by Mink Elliott is the first book that I have read by this author, and it was nothing short of a delight. Annie is a likable and relatable protagonist whose antics had me laughing out loud more than once. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a lighthearted and feel good read to brighten a dreary winter's day.

Annie Beaton ('Beaton in name, not in nature') gets a shock when her husband announces that he wants out of the marriage. Yes, going without sex for years might have been a red flag, but Annie finds herself totally unprepared for this turn of events. So, without a job and with two young kids in tow, Annie is off to the country to stay at the home of her aunt who is away travelling. While many would crumble under the strains of her new reality, Annie seems to roll with the punches through challenge after challenge, and even manages to put a positive spin on her new circumstances.

I enjoyed the breezy conversational style of this novel, and would be happy to read more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC.

Annie wanted to speak to her husband about something however he got in first and much to her surprise said he wanted a divorce. As she no longer has a job (the something she wanted to speak to him about) where to live is solved when an aunt says that she and the children can live in her house as she is going travelling. Whilst there Annie spots her aunts collection of self help books and the year of positive thinking stands out. At the end of each section she does her best to think of three positives about the day- maybe something we all should do especially when life gets us down, She is determined to do right by her children and herself even though she was totally unprepared for this role alone. Beaton by name but not Beaton by nature is one of her phrases and she is determined to tackle the world head on. I really enjoyed this, from the outset it has that upbeat feel about it and is easy to sit back with and enjoy. I liked Annie . A role model, a no nonsense woman. Yes she had her moments (don’t we all?) when life got too much but so tenacious to see it through. A wonderful uplifting read.
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This was a new author for me but the description drew me in as I turned 50 this year too!
Annie finds out her husband wants to leave her, so decamps to a relatives old decrepit cottage in the country with her two children to embark on a new life! Country life isn’t quite as Annie expected but she battles on trying to parent the children, make friends, find a job and keep the cottage habitable! We experience the ups and downs of Annie and her children’s lives often told in a humorous manner that is easily relatable and light hearted! A fun wick easy read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cute book, we should always think positive!!! I loved this book! Mink Elliot has caught on to something good and I look forward to more of her books in the future.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review. I really enjoyed reading this in a tough season - it was lighthearted and full of comedy. There was a fair amount of swearing and innuendo, but the story was relatable and enjoyable.

A quick read with a fun character. I found the writer's style really enjoyable and liked this story more than I expected. Change and moving forward are central themes

Annie Beaton isn't having the best start to her fiftieth year-she is dumped both by her husband and her job on her birthday. However, she doesn't let that get her down and, instead, moves to the countryside with her two children to live in her aunt's cottage. Annie has a lot of things go wrong with her through this transition, but she perseveres in order to define a new life for herself and her family. While I did find Annie to be a bit of an annoying character at times (she does create quite a bit of her own problems), this book was hilarious in places and a great way to escape for a few hours.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Poor Annie! Imagine reaching a milestone birthday only to have your whole life come crashing down around your ears. I have to say that Annie’s outlook on life and her attitude in general, I have to salute her. I would certainly have had a melt down and be feeling sorry for myself.

Even though she is finding adjusting to her new life without her ex and financially in dire straits a new learning curve, Annie does her best to try and pick the positives out of each day. Some days she really has to look very hard with the odd day there being nothing at all! What I loved though is how the author show us the humorous side of living as a single parent and all the worries and problems that goes along with it.

Annie does seem to have a habit of getting herself into some right situations. My favourite had to be after a certain awards ceremony. I was cringing on the inside but couldn’t help laughing at her drunken shenanigans. Am sure a few of us can relate with Annie and feel her pain when the morning after comes and events from the night before come to light.

Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking is a fun and light hearted read of which I’m sure most women will be able to relate to. It’s a good reminder to not take life so seriously and try and focus on what is good in our lives instead of the negatives. If anything, Annie’s life will make your own feel quite sane and normal. Am sure we could all learn something from Annie.

***I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***

This book had me laughing because it is so relatable and down to earth. It is a great read for learning to move forward and accept who you are. Within the first few pages, I found myself chuckling at Annie’s brutal honesty about her self image and life. Highly recommend this read.

A brilliant, enjoyable and entertaining book that make me smile and laugh. It also made me reflect on how a positive outlook on life can help to succeed.
The books is well written, I loved the humour and the well thought and likeable cast of characters.
The plot is well crafted and heart warming.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Annie Beaton is turns 50 on the day her husband asks for a divorce. The novel is a hilarious account of Annie reclaiming her life. A fun read!

A wonderful read Annie had me laughing hysterically falling in love with her,her thoughts life her go get it attitude.So entertaining so well written.#netgalley#herabooks

This was a great book to start the year on, it was full of laughs and really removes the tension from a couple with children splitting up. I think there still, even now, is a lot of stigma around being a divorced single mum and I love that this tackled it head on and shows readers that sometimes its actually the start of a better life and not a terrible life ending drama!

I really liked the character of Annie Beaton and would love to see what else she gets up to in the future. I also enjoyed the writing style as the author has the character speaking directly to you, it made it engaging and fun.

Thanks to Sarah/ Book On The Bright Side Publicity, Hera Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchanges for an honest review.

This was a great book to start the year on, it was full of laughs and really removes the tension from a couple with children splitting up. I think there still, even now, is a lot of stigma around being a divorced single mum and I love that this tackled it head on and shows readers that sometimes its actually the start of a better life and not a terrible life ending drama!

I really liked the character of Annie Beaton and would love to see what else she gets up to in the future. I also enjoyed the writing style as the author has the character speaking directly to you, it made it engaging and fun.

Thanks to Sarah/ Book On The Bright Side Publicity, Hera Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchanges for an honest review.

Annie has just reached fifty when Joe decides their marriage is over. With nowhere to live and little money, Annie and her 2 children are offered Aunt Audreys run down cottage in the country as a bolt hole.
This funny story follows a year in Annie's life as she battles life with little money, no job, poor tolerance to alcohol, 2 friends from afar that are not good role models and a mad puppy with a mind of his own.
A really easy, feel good read which is particularly relatable for those of us of a certain age!!!

Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a light and fun read, I enjoyed the humor of the protagonist - although I could have done without the veer toward slapstick at times - but was a bit disappointed at the lack of forward movement in the plot. Overall, a satisfying if not very deep read.

Ah, life!! And it got to Annie on her 50th birthday, fired from work and husband wanting a divorce... Sheesh, not a good way to start the new decade, was it? She moved out to the country to her aunt's home to start anew. Along came her resolution to start positive thinking.

My first book by author Mink Elliott, and a fun read it was. One of those lighter ones that worked to soothe the mind. The writing had a bit of humorous self-deprecation in it which made me smile. Annie's actions had me warning her, but she quite never heard me. A few of them made me feel - been there, done that.

The writing was quite different, it felt I was having a live conversation with her, without me needing to give my opinion...like ever... 😂 The only niggle I had was the daughter got away with calling her mom - fat cow - and other names without being reprimanded or taking to task. Which 9 year old kid ought to be allowed to say that?

The rest of the book, mainly Annie's antics had me smiling and groaning at times. The book was a fun light read which I could finish in a couple of hours.

This book is hilarious! I have not been able to put it down. Poor Annie, hits a big milestone birthday and then her world begins to crumble.
This is a new author for me, which always makes me a little nervous but this one definitely has not disappointed.
I have been pulled into the story from the very beginning and I have literally belly laughed on a number of occasions. This is such a fun and happy read, I finished the whole book quickly.
This is a book guaranteed to not disappoint.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, when Annie turned fifty she thought it would mark a moment in her life, she was right, she was fired from her job and her husband Joe said he was leaving and wanted a divorce. I really felt sorry for Annie but as the story of her and her husband unfolded it became understandable. When Annie's aunt offered her and her two young children her place to stay at, in the countryside while she was out of the country, she jumped at the chance.
So begins Annie Beaton's year of positive thinking where she would turn something negative into something positive. Annie is, let me say, a little dippy, which gave the book some pretty hilarious situations. She continually moaned about the lack of money and I continually shouted get a job.
She has little common sense, getting a pedigree dog that she had time to train, a son that lacked reassurance and a daughter that needed to be treated like a nine-year-old, not an older sister. I had to laugh as the situations were very funny that she got herself into, she was learning, she was changing and she was finding herself.
The story spans over a year, everything has changed. It just took a lot of 'positive thinking' and a lot of hard work. There was more to Annie Beaton than I ever thought there was.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Thank you to #netgalley for letting me read and review “Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking”. This was such a cute book and so fun to read. It reminded me of Bridget Jones Diary (for 50 year olds!). She definitely turned her life around and had fun doing it. Highly recommend!

I tend to read a lot of dark, creepy and thought-provoking novels so a bit of light relief is always welcome. I knew that this feel-good book would fit that bill perfectly so I was really happy when I was accepted for it on NetGalley. It’s also my first foray into the fantastic list by the brand new female-led independent digital publisher Hera Books.

Annie Beaton has just turned 50 but the big day itself brings an abrupt sacking and a divorce request from her husband Joe. So Annie packs up her stuff, her two kids, sassy nine-year-old Izzy and boisterous five-year-old Ben and moves an hour outside of the city to her aunt’s beautiful country home. But navigating unexpected single motherhood in a new town comes with more than a few speed bumps and potholes. How on Earth is Annie supposed to channel the sunny outlook that her aunt’s self-help books bang on about?

Izzy has one of the foulest mouths I’ve ever read in a nine-year-old but she still somehow feels realistic. I have no doubt that pre-teens are extremely rude to their parents, especially when they’re dealing with huge upheaval. Annie deals with a huge amount of self-hate, which is what triggers her positivity journey. This is perpetuated by her own ingrained judgements of single motherhood. To her, the divorce means she has failed on some level and she has to teach herself that there are other ways of living a happy life.

She has more than a few setbacks on the way but she’s mature enough to know that things will get better, which reassures the reader that they will. However despite being an older woman who has been through a lot, her self-awareness isn’t great. She somehow manages to speak her mind without meaning to or without even realising! I did question the authenticity of this but Annie comes across as such a bumbling, clueless middle-aged woman that it isn’t entirely unbelievable. My mum is only a little bit older than her and she occasionally says things under her breath that she didn’t mean to, so I can definitely buy it!

The fact that Annie is learning about self-love and letting go of the past at 50 is so refreshing. I’ve not read many books with middle-aged protagonists at all but stories that carry a message of positivity normally centre around young fledgling adults. When I think about it, the self-love movement is a pretty recent thing and is mostly embraced by younger generations. There are probably so many women of Annie’s age who have never really taken the time to be single and give themselves and each other some well-deserved credit for everything they’ve managed to achieve.

I also loved the fact that it ends on a note of self-sufficiency. I thought I’d be able to predict a romance towards the end but it leaves the reader on a very strong feminist high. Annie can stand on her own two occasionally-wobbly feet and make a new life for herself, which is bound to give everyone the hope and inspiration that they can too.

Funny, sweet and in some ways undeniably unique, Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking is a great read for those looking to make positive changes to their life this year. I’d say it’s also a must-read for every older woman who is still to discover the magic of self-acceptance and living her best life.

This is such a fun read .. with more than a few strands of truth!

Annie Beaton heads to work on the day of her 50th birthday, only to get fired. Can the day get any worse? Well, actually, yes it can .. when her 5 year old mentions her hairy chin then her husband drops the 'I want a divorce' bombshell. When you're at rock bottom, there's only one way to go . . but it's hard, so very hard.

Annie's story is both heartbreaking and entertaining; I've been a single mother although, in my case, it wasn't that much different as my then husband was absent for six days each week anyway. But for anyone used to two parents raising their children, it's a big shock to the system to suddenly be solely responsible for absolutely everything! Mink Elliott has her finger on the pulse with this one, and packs so much into this book. Annie, like most of us, isn't perfect but she does love her kids and does her best for them. Full of humour and crazy situations - which most of us can identify with - and an honesty which few are capable of, Annie kept me entertained, causing me to (yet again) disturb my other half as I shook with laughter in bed whilst he was asleep! Not only funny, but with a good story to boot, this is a novel I'm happy to recommend and give four stars to.

My thanks to publisher Hera for my copy via NetGalley, and to Book on the Bright Side for my spot on this blog tour. As always, this is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking was a really cute, lighthearted read. Reading like a mixture of Bridget Jones and Shopaholic, the book features a lot of internal (although sometimes not so internal) dialogue from the main character, Annie, along with a mixture of text message threads, quizzes and articles. I did struggle with the character of Annie’s daughter l, however, as she just seemed far too old for her age and way too disrespectful to her mother. I thought this would be a perfect book to read at the start of the new year, and it was enjoyable and didn’t end in the typical wrapped-up-in-a-now sort of way a lot of similar novels do.

I was invited to take part in the blog tour for 'Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking' and the synopsis certainly shouted 'you need to read this book as soon as possible' at me. It actually sounded like just the sort of tonic that I needed at that particular time. I was feeling a bit fed up and in need of a good chuckle and this book certainly made me chuckle. I flipping well loved 'Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking' but more about that in a bit.
I loved the character of Annie Beaton and I warmed to her from the start. In fact by the time I got to the end of the book, I felt that I made a good friend. Annie is feeling a bit frazzled and pulled in all sorts of directions. On the day of her 50th birthday, Annie's husband tells her he wants a divorce and her son tells her she is growing a beard. What a way to make somebody feel special on their birthday.........not. Annie decides that enough is enough and she needs to make some positive changes. She moves to her eccentric aunt's house out in the country and after she discovers a pile of self help books, she decides that she will put into practice the positivity that she reads about in the books. She is determined that this year will be her year and that she will kick the crappy year into touch. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
'Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking' was a delight to read from start to finish. I haven't laughed as much as I did whilst reading this book in a long long time. Reading this book was a hoot. Part of me admired Annie for what she was doing and because I needed to know how she fared, I just had to keep reading. This book was certainly addictive reading. I would pick up the book only intending to read a couple of chapters and fill in the odd half hour or so but I would still be sat there well over an hour later and many chapters later. I lost all track of time whilst I was reading this book. I seemed to fly through the story and then all of a sudden I was at the end of the book and I had to say goodbye to Annie Beaton, which I was disappointed about.
This book is superbly written. I was drawn to the character of Annie from the start. The author certainly knows how to draw you into the story and keep you there. Once she has your attention she will not let it go until the moment you close the back cover as it were. Through Mink Elliott's fantastic and vivid descriptions I did feel as though I had become part of the story myself and that I was just another character in the book. This book certainly cheered me up and then some so thank you to the author for providing the tonic that I needed.
In short, 'Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking' was a delightful and uplifting book, which I definitely recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more of Mink's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

4☆ A Fun, Light Hearted, Humorous Women's Fiction.

Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking is a heart warming story which had me giggling out loud and turning the pages.

Poor Annie thought she had it all. The signs were there but she never expected that turning fifty would mean the end to her marriage and the start of a new chapter!
But dusting herself off She moves to the countryside with her two children. Who don't always respect her or give her an easy time despite what she's going through!

Annie doesn't always have the best of luck And she certainly gets herself into situations without thinking which is what makes her so relatable.
I admired Annie as she didn't let what happened to her pull her down, her positive thinking and strength shone through.

Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking is a light hearted, fun, women's fiction about moving on, positive thinking, family life, ups and downs of single parenthood, starting over and making the most out of life.
It had me giggling, sighing and at times wanting to shake Annie but I thoroughly enjoyed being privy to her inner thoughts and personal journey.
I really enjoyed the conversational style writing style, it flowed along nicely and definitely had me giggling at Annie's opinions.
This is my first book by Mink Elliott and I'm excited to read more!

Thank you to Book On The Bright Side Tours and Hera books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A thoroughly enjoyable laugh out loud read that is sheer fun from start to finish, I raced through Mink Elliott’s fabulous new novel Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking.

Whoever said that life begins at fifty has clearly never met Annie Beaton. Rather than flowers and chocolate, poor Annie gets the sack, a divorce and a son who charmingly points out that she is growing a beard. Her self-confidence has been getting one heck of a battering lately and a move to her eccentric aunt’s house in the countryside could very well be just what she needs. Annie is looking forward to some much needed rest and recuperation and she is sure that her aunt’s house will be just the ticket for her to lick her wounds and figure out what she is going to do next. But little does Annie realise that help is about to come from the most unexpected of sources…

The discovery of a stack of self-help books makes Annie realise that she might just have found the tools she needs to stop wallowing in the past and start to become the mistress of her own destiny. Who needs therapy when she’s got Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Secret to set her on the right path to happiness and get her life back on track? Annie is going to take every single word of wisdom her books impart to heart and emerge a completely different woman who is secure and successful – it’s just a shame that she’s got a daughter with a PhD in backchatting and a six year old son to worry about!

Annie is determined to have a great year regardless of what life decides to throw her way. But will all the positive thinking in the world lead her to finding the happiness and fulfilment which she is desperately seeking? Or is she setting herself up to take yet another fall?

Mink Elliott is an absolute comic genius who will have you roaring with laughter on almost every page with her hilarious page-turner Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking. A riotous romp it is impossible not to love, Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking is a book that should come with a warning not to read in public as you will be chuckling so much that you will end up getting plenty of funny looks!

Annie Beaton is a fantastic heroine who is brilliant, relatable and someone you can imagine have a long gossip with over a couple of drinks. A mix between Bridget Jones and Miranda Hart, Annie Beaton is a fun character readers are going to absolutely love.

A fabulous read guaranteed to brighten up your day, if you’re looking for a fun and feel-good tale, look no further than Mink Elliott’s Annie Beaton’s Year of Positive Thinking.

What a great character for a book, Annie makes you laugh out loud, and see yourself in her life and antics. She had the shock of her life when her husband says that he wants a divorce and this book takes you through her trying to understand and then heal. The book is light and fluffy and I believe that it was intended to be that way. While I enjoyed it, I usually read books that have more meat to them. This book did exactly what it was supposed to do and it did it well, it just wasn't to my preference.

Funny, but a bit too slapstick in parts. I liked Annie, but her ramblings did irritate me from time to time. Her daughter, though 9, was far too mean to her mother. Things seemed to go a bit too well for Annie until near the end, so perhaps a tad unrealistic. I didn't like talk of the dog being re-homed - Annie should have thought things through! But it made me laugh in parts, it was great to read about an older woman (who had kids later in life too), and by the end I was eager to find out what happens next. The way this has been written, and it is a little light on plot, leads me to believe there'll be a sequel. Thanks NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m thrilled to be here on the first day of the blog tour for this funny and uplifting book by Mink Elliot!

Annie Beaton is turning 50 – it’s a momentous day! She doesn’t realise just how significant it’s going to be, because by the end of it, she’s been fired from her job and her husband Joe has asked for a divorce! Quite how someone asks their partner for a divorce after making them a lovely birthday dinner that they’ve shared with their two young children, I’m not sure, but that’s exactly what Joe does … rather flippantly too, if you ask me!

And so Annie Beaton is forced onto an entirely different path to the one she expected she’d be taking at this stage of her life. And we, the readers, get to take it with her! Her Aunt Audrey is off travelling and offers Annie her ramshackle house in the countryside. So she and 9-year-old Izzy and 5-year-old Ben move in, and attempt to make the best of things. It’s not easy! She has no idea when her aunt last took a feather duster to her house, and it’s quite clear that a ‘handyman’ has never crossed its threshold!

But what she does have is loads and loads of self-help books, and Annie’s determined to use these to transform herself from the miserable, useless, snivelling heap that she’s become, into a semi- functional human being again. She aims to find three positive things in each day regardless of how awful she feels her life has become, and believe me, there are some truly terrible times in store – many of her own making. For Annie is quite the bumbling, clumsy individual, and she has two children on standby to laugh and point at every tiny mishap she has.

In the beginning, I struggled to like Annie. Although I did feel extremely sorry for the way her 50th had turned out (NOBODY should have that happen to them on their birthday!!), she was just so bloody helpless! But then I quickly started cheering her on as she shifting things up a notch or two and realised that she needed to get everything ship shape if she wanted to get on with any sort of decent new life for her and her kids.

Speaking of which … her daughter Izzy must be the worst girl-child every written into creation. She is the brattiest brat of note! I couldn’t bear her. She was just too horrible for words! And the more Annie justified her behaviour, the more annoyed I got. She’s a really dark little cloud in Annie’s attempts at positivity.

But other than that, this is such a delightful read. I felt it was like a gentle shake of the shoulders, reminding us to pull ourselves towards ourselves when things go haywire. It’s up to us to get it together. Nobody’s going to do it for us. They might help, offer advice, and do what they can to be there for us, but they can’t actually do what needs to be done. Only we can do that for ourselves. And Annie does that admirably.

This is a lovely 4-star read. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Annie Beaton's Year of Positive Thinking by Mink Elliott.

Annie Beaton’s 50th birthday should be about celebrations but instead she loses her job and her husband, Joe, in one day.
Annie’s Aunt Audrey offers Annie her country home, which she accepts in a jiffy, along with 9-year-old Izzy and 5-year-old Ben.

Learning how to be a solo Mum in a strange town is not what Annie bargained for. Izzy is a challenge, constantly rude to her mother, due no doubt to the strangeness and sadness she is experiencing from the upheaval caused by her father’s despicable action. Annie isn’t helped by the number of challenges she faces, which lead her to experiencing a sense of failure and self-blame from her marriage breakup, and uprooting her children.

When Annie discovers Aunt Audrey’s self-help books, they spark her into a year of positive thinking and acting. Annie looks for three positive things in every otherwise usually miserable day. The reader soon discovers that being 50 doesn’t by itself give one wisdom. Annie is constantly saying the wrong thing. Shea is not always being with the action and not ‘with’ what’s going on around her. Annie has enough life experience and maturity to believe that she will turn the corner. That things will improve. I had to admire Annie’s gumption; and kept reading to find out how things turned out for her.

In the middle of the Me-Too movement, it is refreshing to read about a middle-aged woman taking control of her life. To take being single by the horns and really own her achievements. I liked the positive ending, the underlying theme of a woman’s autonomy and self-reliance.

Annie Beaton's Year of Positive Thinking is a funny, uplifting book. It is Bridget Jones’ diary about an older protagonist, who however, is not self-pitying. The novel is well written, Annie’s character is aptly drawn by Mink Elliott, drawing you into the story until the end. The book is satisfying, the character relatable and worth rooting for. I recommend Mink Elliott’s Annie Beaton's Year Of Positive Thinking.

#AnnieBeatonsYearofPositiveThinking #NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley, Mink Elliott and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review.
This review also appears in Goodreads.com and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com

Thinking back, it was one of those unusual summers when Emily and Alice were 12 and carefree – extremely warm, which in the UK is never guaranteed. This ultimately led to kids having water fights and adults socialising over BBQs and cold glasses of wine. That was until the night of August Bank Holiday; the night when Alice disappeared.

The parents of Pear Tree Close never thought something like that would happen on their street. It was a sleepy but safe, up and coming estate; a highly-sort-after estate in fact. When the adults wanted to socialise together, they didn’t worry about babysitters, there really was no need. They instead took it in turns to wander back to their own homes every hour or so to check on their little, sleeping cherubs. Back doors were never locked and everyone knew everyone so what harm was there?

Then the unimaginable happened: one of them literally disappeared without a trace and Pear Tree Close would never ever be the same again.

Will anyone ever find out what happened to Alice, or is it destined to remain a mystery forever?

Alice’s best friend, Emily, hasn’t been back to the street for more than 20 years. Shortly after Alice went missing her parents moved the family away and she made the choice never to return.

But now something has happened. Another child has gone missing and Alice’s magazine editor is sending her back to try and get the scoop of the year, but whether this is a wise decision is unclear.

Emily gets in touch with Helen, Alice’s mum, hoping to gain the opportunity to sit down with her to discuss that awful night in more detail but never expected that she would insist that she stay with her, in her missing best friend’s house. Will it help both Emily and Helen or bring back too many heartbreaking memories?

Emily’s editor also wants Helen’s thoughts on what is going on with the latest abduction. Are the 2 cases, even though 25 years apart, linked in some way?

When Emily starts to dig further into the past though, it seems that it’s not just Alice and another little girl that have gone missing. Five years ago, Alice’s dad walked out on Helen, never to be seen again, where is he now and does he have anything to do with his daughter’s disappearance?

This time, Emily is determined to finally find out what has happened to her childhood friend and if she stumbles upon answers for the other disappearances along the way then her boss will be happy as well.

It soon becomes clear that she is upsetting some people however when one evening, the house is broken into and her laptop and childhood diary are taken. Someone wants the secrets to remain deeply buried and they appear to be willing to go to any length to achieve it.

Slightly uncomfortable and uneasy with everything that is going on, Emily enlisted the help of her brother Adam, but can she find out the truth without ending up dead herself? Will uncovering the answers to this big mystery really help her move on with her own life?

Damaged by Dan Scottow,a crime thriller book review via @tbookjunkie
Damaged by Dan Scottow

My Thoughts on Damaged
Dan Scottow’s narrative is in places frighteningly close to other true new stories of the past few years. As soon as I opened the pages of this novel I wondered whether it was in part based on the Madeline McCann mystery but I think the similarities only really go as far as the children being left alone while the parents socialise in the evening over a glass of wine and a nice meal. What I do however believe is that this story is loosely based on several different abduction cases that have happened over the years, giving it a very authentic feel.

At times the plot of Damaged is quite distressing to read, perhaps because there is a real implication to it. We read about how not just a family, but a whole community fall apart following the disappearance of a young child, and I can only imagine that the feelings explored here and the guilt felt is actually very real for those going through something similar.

It is not a story that will appeal to everyone because of the nature of the content, but if you enjoy crime thrillers and can cope with the subject matter, this is a tense, dark and dramatic novel with occasional horrific descriptions of what a cruel psychopath is capable of. It is an unsettling read that you will struggle to put down.

I really enjoyed this book and loved Annie! She’s a great real character (chin hairs and all) who goes through quite a few awful experiences resulting in moving her two kids to the country to start her new life as a single mum. I enjoyed how realistic the book seemed especially with the eating your feelings away! Not having any kids of my own, it was hard to relate to a lot of the book especially dealing with a 9 going on 39 year old. This book is definitely great for someone who feels like their life isn’t going well especially if they’re a newly DSM (divorced single mum)! And I think everyone will absolutely adore Annie and her hilarious antics.

I really enjoyed this feel-good read featuring Annie Beaton who finds her life changes dramatically on her fiftieth birthday.

Not only does she lose her job because she has fallen behind the times, her husband suddenly announces that he wants a divorce. She finds herself and her two young children living in a run-down country cottage owned by her aunt. Although the cottage is in need of some tender loving care, Annie finds that it does have one redeeming feature, and that is a plethora of self-help books!

As Annie begins to rebuild her life, she uses the content from the books to move forward in a positive way. For someone in Annie's position, a jobless single parent with aching knees and a craving for tea cakes, this is easier said than done! However, Annie is such a warm and endearing character who sees the funny side of everything and soon things look much better.

Annie's voice comes over really strongly in this humourous, warm and charming story. Many women will relate to her and the problems she faces, making the most of things and muddling through, doing the best she can!

This is the perfect read for January blues. If you have started the year full of good intentions but are faltering already, sit down with this book.

Annie is turning 50, she is married with children and for her birthday, her husband wants a divorce! At this stage of her life she thinks she should be sorted but what with her family and husband everything is turned on its head.

This book really made me laugh as Annie hits the self help books to try and turn her life around.

I think everyone cab take something from this book, it is a lovely read.

Lovely eye-catching cover. Well written and executed story. Good characters, very engaging. An author I would read again, a book I'll be recommending.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

t’s Annie Beaton’s 50th birthday! But instead of getting roses and perfume, she gets sacked, her son, Ben, tells her she’s growing a beard and her husband Joe tells her he wants a divorce.

Moving to the countryside to stay in her eccentric aunt’s house, Annie must find her mojo again – and fast. So when she discovers a stack of self-help books, Annie vows to use their advice – from Chicken Soup for the Soul to The Secret – to get her life back on track. Never mind that her 9-going-on-19-year-old daughter, Izzy, is currently engaging Annie in psychological warfare and her adorable 6-year-old son, Ben, spends more time wetting the bed than making friends at his new school…

But now, armed with a load of affirmations/inspirational quotes/positive vibes, Annie’s determined to kick her Crappy Old Year to the curb and have a brilliantly Happy New Year. Just as soon as she’s had her chin waxed…

I enjoyed the book. It had such funny moments. I admit I did laugh out loud in public. You will love this.

Witty, relatable chaos in the shape of newly single mum Annie. Absolutely hilarious, sweet and real. Perfect with a Tunnocks tea cake and an Aldi Earl Grey.

A delightful and delicious read. I throughly enjoyed this book , how it was set out the plot everything,
There wasn’t anything that I did not enjoy about it,
Thank you to both NetGalley and Hera books for giving me the opportunity to read this book

Annie has her whole life swept from under her on her 50th birthday. Still in shock but with two young children to support she puts on her big girl knickers and gets on with it! The result is a proper laugh out loud book which as a woman in my fifties I can really relate to.

It’s Annie Beaton’s 50th birthday! But instead of getting roses and perfume, she gets sacked, her son, Ben, tells her she’s growing a beard and her husband Joe tells her he wants a divorce.

I really loved this book! Annie is such an loveable and relatable character that you feel like you’re taking this journey of self discovery along with her.

Even if your circumstances are different to Annie’s, as a parent I think there is so much of her story that is relatable. This book gave me back a bit of my reading mojo, I loved it, it’s emotional, funny and at times hilarious. I would love to be friends with Annie! Five stars from me!

I wish I could say this year I will get all my reviews out before the scheduled publication date of the book, but that's clearly not happening. That said, Annie Beaton's Year of Positive Thinking by Mink Elliott was a surprisingly fun romp through the hot mess that its protagonist, Annie Beaton, has become in the aftermath of a divorce.

The divorce leaves Annie, a Londoner with two children, in the awkward position of being forced to relocate to the countryside and live with her kids in her aunt's dilapidated cottage. Even though Annie is apprehensive of country living and terrified by what this forced life change means for her, she decides that the last thing she needs to do is make it worse with a negative outlook. Consequently, she tries to come up with three positive take-aways from each day. While she's at it, Annie meets Charlotte, a beautiful woman who publishes a newsletter. Charlotte takes a chance on Annie and asks her to write an advice column for recent divorcées.

As Annie works on her column, she finds new confidence in herself by formulating the "Ten Commandments" for women in her situation.

Annie Beaton's Year of Positive Thinking chronicles Annie's imperfect journey through self-improvement. While the concept of the person most in need of our advice is usually the person we see in the mirror every morning isn't a new one, Mink Elliott's narrative is compassionate, sassy, and humorous.

Having just survived a particularly hellish week, this novel was a welcome relief for me, and I'm sorry to see it end. Is this great literature? No, but if you're looking for a quick pick-me-up, I definitely recommend this.

Relateable and hilarious I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice easy read and had me laughing out loud at many points.

Annie Beaton is stunned to learn her husband wants out of the marriage. She takes their two children to live in the country property of a relative. Annie feels like a total failure--marriage down the drain, no job, and it seems she bungles every attempt she makes at helping her children. Determined though, Annie tries to be positive and upbeat about the curve balls she is constantly being thrown. Eventually, Annie begins to make friends in her new town and gets to write a bit (her former career). She feels like she's making headway and then, after getting blitzed, manages to insult most everyone in town. Is there a way back for her? Or has she doomed the possibility of friends for herself and her children?

A light, enjoyable, quick read. Tapping into that moment of hitting a major milestone in your life and needing to make some decisions that happen to be thrown at you, this book embraces where we are in our lives and delights us with how Annie chooses to proceed. We quickly care about her, and even though we have our own ideas about bratty kids, female friendships and broken relationships, we get to explore what it's like to keep your head up and keep going. This was a lovely story, and I'll definitely read more of Mink Elliot's books.

If you're a fan of Gilmore Girls, you'll love Annie too! Great read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun read and I could relate to it on so many levels. The writing style was very good and I loved (needed) the humor. I look forward to more of this author’s work.
Many thanks to Hera Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

My thanks to Netgalley and Hera books for a copy of “ Annie Beaton’s Year Of positive thinking “

In the stressful times we all find ourselves in at the moment we really need positive thinking !
I was able to empathise with the character of Annie , being of a similar age and going through some of the same trials in life..The book was an easy , lighthearted read and acted as a perfect escape from all the doom and gloom we are having this year.
I would definitely recommend

This was such a wonderful, positive book. Warm, funny and totally relateable , it had me laughing and crying along with Annie as she negotiated her new life as a single mum.

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.