This Family: Your perfect summer read

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Absorbing and unexpected. It took some turns that I really didn't see coming, but which nonetheless felt plausible and satisfying." - Rebecca Wait The end of summer, but still a hot, humid day. All are gathering to celebrate the wedding of the matriarch of the Roberts family, Mary. Over the years there have been fallings-out, estrangements and arguments, but the bride has requested that everyone be on their best behaviour for her special day. An ambitious new novel of family life past and present from the author of the Costa Book Awards shortlisted The Stranding.

Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information. Subtle, intelligent, and so deeply moving…people who just feel so achingly real. Extraordinary’ – A.J. West

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A truly decadent read that is atmospheric, stirring, insightful, nuanced and enthralling, This Family is an absolute must-read from a literary star. How will it all play out? Will we find out how these sisters, that we will come to care so much about, fell apart so completely? Will they be able to restrain themselves for just one day? Will Mary get harmony for her wedding day? A novel that has stayed with me for weeks afterwards . . . Perceptive and unflinching’ JESSIE BURTON

But the news is about to catch up with Ruth, and her problems are going to be swept away…along with the rest of the world. We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed. For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin. Absorbing and unexpected. It took some turns that I really didn't see coming, but which nonetheless felt plausible and satisfying.' REBECCA WAITCaptures the ebb and flow of family dynamics in Chekhovian detail . . . makes you want to call out, "wait for me!" as the end approaches and the characters depart -- Susannah Wise It reminded me of a few books I’ve read in recent years - the reflective tone and tenderness of Nothing But Blue Sky, the quiet, humming prose of Tessa Hadley’s Free Love and the immersive family saga The Paper Palace, which was a little too cynical for my taste, something happily absent here. I started this novel with great hopes but at some point I became disconnected. I regret that and the fact that I found it impossible to rescue myself. This was in part due to the switching between timelines and narratives which I am afraid to say confused me, and in part simply because I felt a total disconnect with these characters. This is a family with a difficult past and the tension between them was tangible and totally to be expected but at points this just made me feel rather uncomfortable. Lyrical, literary and luminous ... buy it and treat yourself to writing at its finest." - Bethany Clift

Kate has such a beautiful writing style that I’d probably enjoy reading her shopping list. Prose is eloquent and descriptive, but almost poetic in its nature as it weaves around each character to tell their story. The characters themselves were interesting, and felt like real people, even though they are fictionalised. The intimacy of a family with all its complications is a quietly devastating read. Loved it." - Julie Owen Moylan Told by a chorus of characters, it is an exploration of the small moments that bring us to where we are, the changes that are brought about by time, and what, despite everything, stays the same. I would recommend the book to those who live a relationship novel there are similarities to the writing of David Nicholls Us and starter for tenIt isn’t all doom and gloom, far from it, there are some moments of humour, often courtesy of Irene and there’s joy, especially on the wedding day. The ending is good, in fact, it’s a bit of a stunner, which raises it to four stars for me. I also like the way the author gives really good context to the past timelines with references to actual events. The vibrant, complex members of This Family are still alive and well in my imagination, weeks after I finished reading it. The rich, precise prose drew me into their world and held me there from beginning to end.' JO BROWNING WROE Messy, complicated joyful characters and relationships that sneak into your heart and make you care ... a bittersweet, deftly woven, captivating portrayal of a mother and daughters." - Jennifer Saint Emma was a wonderfully complex character. From the outside everyone has an opinion of her, and a perception, that she seems to take some joy in perpetuating. She is feisty and speaks her mind, sometimes causing arguments (which are particularly explosive with Phoebe) and touching the nerves of those around her.

Mary is getting remarried, in the house where she raised her children and stepchildren, where she watched her family grow up and then ultimately grow apart. Messy, complicated joyful characters and relationships that sneak into your heart and make you care … a bittersweet, deftly woven, captivating portrayal of a mother and daughters’ – Jennifer Saint The return to their childhood home evokes memories in Mary’s daughters, which reveal the deep-seated love they have for each other amongst all their sibling rivalry and which make them realise that they have something quite precious and important that is worth protecting. Subtle, intelligent, and so deeply moving ... people who just feel so achingly real. Extraordinary." - A J WestThe wedding celebrations have brought fractured family together for the first time in years: there’s Phoebe and her husband Michael, children in tow. The scattered members of Mary's close family are coming together to celebrate her marriage. Her one wish is that they can lay aside their differences for one day, to make one happy memory in the house that has meant so much to them all over the years.