As Good As It Gets? by Fiona Gibson

review by Maryom
16 years ago, pregnant Charlotte was abandoned by her boyfriend Fraser and left to bring up their daughter Rosie alone. Since then she hasn't seen Fraser once, but found love and happiness in a new relationship with Will to whom she's now been married nearly 15 years. Recently though things have hit a dull patch, companionship has replaced romance, and recently redundant Will seems to be having a mid-life crisis. All fun seems to be reserved for the younger generation, particularly Rosie who's just landed a modelling contract with a top agency. Charlotte feels that somewhere, somehow, she's missing out and life is passing her by. Is this as good as it gets? When Fraser suddenly turns back up on the scene, Charlotte begins to wonder if life with him would have worked out better ....

I first discovered Fiona Gibson last year with Take Mum Out a laugh out loud look at dating for the slightly more mature, and although I didn't find as many laughs in As Good As It Gets? this is still a light-hearted chick lit style tale for the mid-life crisis age group. After all the romance and happy-ever-afters of romantic fiction come the long years of juggling housework, jobs, childcare, with no time any more for romantic dinners for two - and this is where Charlotte and Will find themselves. With a husband who is alternately moody and secretive or trying to live it up by partying all hours with the new neighbours, it's not surprising that Charlotte might start to wonder about the choices she's made in life! Poor Will certainly comes in for some prat-fall moments - 'dirty dancing' at the neighbours' party, dusting down his leather trousers to appear young and hip - and then having them eaten, in strategic places, by an escaped rabbit. How can he hope to compete with Fraser who, by his absence has remained forever young in Charlotte's imagination?


Maryom's review - 4 stars
Publisher - Harper Collins (Avon)
Genre - adult, romcom/chick lit, humour

Take Mum Out by Fiona Gibson

review by Maryom

Alice is happy enough as a single mum - she has two teenage boys to run around after and share pizza or watch dvds with, a job to pay the rent and a just-starting out meringue business. Why would she need the added complication of trying to find a new man? Her three best friends think they know best and decide to set her up with three blind dates - all to be eligible, attractive men. All Alice needs to do is pick Mr Right....
Who would you prefer? - 
- Giles, a 27 year old with a liking for older women,
- Stephen, dentist and caring father to 8 year old Molly,
or maybe
- Charlie, freelance journalist who whisks Alice off to Paris?
Alice meanwhile has her eye on a fourth option - handsome Frenchman Pascal from her local deli.

Follow Alice's hilarious attempts to balance having a social life with being a single mum. She's suddenly discovering that she's not too old to have first date nerves, or worry about what to wear but might look old enough to be confused for her date's (Giles') mother! She also has to cope with her two teenage boys, who can't see why she needs a boyfriend, and an elderly mother who's ready to jump at the first chance to pair Alice up.
Take Mum Out is my first Fiona Gibson book and I really enjoyed it. An excellent read if you're looking for something light and fun.

Maryom's review - 4.5 stars
Publisher - Harper Collins (Avon)
Genre - adult, romcom/chick lit, humour