This is a book that I was super excited about as soon as I heard about it, and I only wanted to read it more when I saw the cover. I set it aside for a few weeks while I got through all of my scary reads, and before I picked it up, I read a few reviews and was surprised to find they were pretty mixed. Several said the book was confusing and disjointed, and it jumped around too much. Some folks said they had a tough time following it. I was skeptical when I started it, but I’m happy to report that I ended up really liking it.

The story follows Grace Adams, a woman who, at the age of forty-five, finds herself wondering how she got where she is. She was once youthful and vibrant, and now she’s pre-menopausal, her skin is sagging, and her teenage daughter, Lotte, hates her. She may not be able to do much about her age, but Grace is determined to fix things with Lotte – so long as she can make it to her birthday party in time.

When the book starts, Grace is stuck in traffic. It’s hot as hell; she’s annoyed, and the clock is ticking. Grace decides she could probably make it to the bakery to pick up the cake and to the party quicker if she walked, so she abandons her car on the highway and sets out on foot. Thus began her crazy adventure, and I was happy to be her companion.

The narrative jumps back and forth between different periods in Grace’s life, giving us a glimpse at who Grace was when she was younger, how she met her husband, and how she – a young woman uninterested in having kids, found herself pregnant with a daughter who is now her complete world. We also go back a few months when the tension between her and Lotte comes to a head, causing Lotte to move in with Grace’s estranged husband. These alternating timelines are structured to give the reader a complete look at who Grace used to be and how she got to where she is. While this non-linear storytelling seemed to annoy some readers, I felt it added depth to the plot and kept me engaged throughout.

One of the standout elements of this novel is the humor infused into the storytelling. Littlewood has a knack for finding the funny moments in the most mundane situations, and her wit shines through in every chapter. I found myself audibly laughing at some of the things Grace did and said, and several times I winced when she completely lost her shit on some unsuspecting folks who dared cross her. The lighthearted moments provided a wonderful contrast to the more serious themes explored in the book.

Speaking of serious themes, the author doesn’t shy away from addressing the more difficult aspects of life. She delves into topics such as loss, grief, regret, and the challenges of motherhood with sensitivity and authenticity. Grace’s journey is not without heartbreak, and the emotional depth of the story adds a layer of realism that makes the characters and their struggles feel incredibly relatable. When all was laid out on the table, I completely understood why Grace was so hell-bent on reconnecting with Lotte. Littlewood does a fantastic job of capturing the intricacies of human relationships and the complexities that come with them.

Character-wise, Grace is a complex and compelling protagonist. As the story unfolds, we witness her transformation from a disheartened woman to a determined and empowered individual who would do anything for her daughter. Lotte possesses all of the angst and stubbornness that most teens experience, and Ben – Grace’s estranged husband, helps round out the dysfunctional family in his own endearing way.

Overall, I thought this was a beautifully written novel that seamlessly weaves together humor, heartbreak, and hope. This book serves as a reminder that no matter how lost we feel, there is always the possibility of finding our way back to ourselves.