Could the worst day of Sally Parker’s life be the best thing that ever happened to her?

Sally Parker had a morbid fear of big social events and it was for this reason that she was crouching down low in the shoe section of her wardrobe…

Sally Parker is struggling to find the hero inside herself.
All she wants to do is lie down.
Her husband Frank has lost his business, their home and their savings, in one fell swoop. Their bank cards are being declined. The children have gone feral. And now the bailiffs are at the door.
What does an ordinary woman do when the bottom falls out?

Sally Parker is about to surprise everybody.

Most of all herself.

A big-hearted story of a family on the brink, The Best Things is a life-affirming tale of failing, falling and finding a way back up.

Sorely Disappointing!

It has to be said that I was rather excited about this one – and sorely disappointed.

Sally Parker and her family are rich. When her husband loses all their money and life begins to fall apart, she knows that she should be the strong one who holds her family together – but how does she manage that when she can’t even hold herself together. As life around them crumbles, so does Sally – can she find her inner strength?

I expected great things for this book – not least a few good laughs according to the celebrity quotes peppering the blurb, but it wasn’t to be. Having just finished reading a book where poverty loomed large, I immediately found myself annoyed at the vast sum of money and benefits give to the au pair. I didn’t identify with Sally at all and whilst I’m no prude and don’t object to bad language in it’s place, the characters in this one all came across as thinking of themselves as a class above everyone else on the planet and tended to show their disdain by swearing – continually. I didn’t feel empathetic towards any of the characters and it was a chore to read, instead of the pleasure it should be. It struck me as a rich person’s story with rich people’s problems and it just didn’t resonate with me at all. Not one I would recommend at all and I’m struggling to give it the two stars I’ve struggled to muster.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Tags: women’s humorous fiction

• Format: ebook, hardcover, audiobook
• Size: 365 pages
• Publisher: Headline Review
• Publication Date: 01 April 2021
• Book Details:
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39808012
• https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mel_Giedroyc_The_Best_Things?id=SvBUDwAAQBAJ
• https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-best-things-the-warm-funny-life-affirming-novel-from-comedian-mel-giedroyc/9781472256218
• https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/the-best-things-the-warm-funny-lifea,mel-giedroyc-9781472256218
• https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-best-things
• https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/the-best-things/mel-giedroyc/hardback/9781472256218.html
• https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-best-things/mel-giedroyc/9781472256218
• https://wordery.com/the-best-things-mel-giedroyc-9781472256218
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Things-Mel-Giedroyc-ebook/dp/B07C2TDH25

Author Details

Mel Giedroyc has been entertaining the nation for nearly thirty years. A comedian, writer, actor and presenter, Mel is best known for her work with Sue Perkins in the double act Mel & Sue. They have presented many television shows such as multi Bafta-winning The Great British Back Off (BBC) and Light Lunch (Channel 4).

Mel has written two non- fiction books and has appeared in sitcoms and panel shows, as well as on radio and on stage, most notably in Stephen Sandheim’s Olivier Award-winning Company in the West End.

Mel and Sue reunited recently in comedy drama Hitmen for Sky TV. Mel lives’ in London With her husband and two daughters.

• Instagram: @MelGiedroyc