#BlogTour Just Between Friends by Rosie Nixon

 

It's my turn on the BlogTour Just Between Friends by Rosie Nixon.

About the Author

Rosie Nixon lives in London and is Editor-in-Chief of Hello! magazine, where she has worked for over a decade. She is a mother of two and the author of two previous novels, The Stylist (2016) and sequel, Amber Green takes Manhattan (2017), which have been published around the world. the Stylist is in development as a major motion picture. Her third novel, Just between Friends is published by HQ November 2020.

Follow @Rosie_Nixon on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy Just Between Friends

About the book

Aisha Moore is eight months pregnant. She’s thrilled, and a little scared. Not least because her husband Jason hasn’t quite wrapped his head around the fact.

Lucy is having her first child too. She has finally got her wish – although the circumstances aren’t quite what she had hoped. Oscar will be a great dad though, won’t he?

When the two women join the same baby group, they quickly become friends and before long they’re confiding in each other. Only there’s one thing Lucy hasn’t told Aisha. And while a baby may turn your life upside-down, a secret this big will change everything.

Review

Aisha is nearing the end of her pregnancy and has decided to try and connect with other mums-to-be. Her partner Jason doesn't seem so enthusiastic about joining. Luckily she instantly makes a friend called Lucy, who is equally invested in getting to know someone also looking forward to being a mother, but also a little fearsome of what that might entail in its entirety.

They seem to have a lot in common. Absentee partners, concern about the impending births and how ridiculous the birthing course is.

For me the strongest element of the book wasn't the main plot, but rather the way Nixon brings the critical role of motherhood and how controversial each decision can be when it comes to birthing, babies and doing what you feel is best for your child. 

Women are pitted against other women like gladiators in an arena. The breast or bottle battle comes to mind straight away, but one of the most bizarre arguments has to be inane comments made by women who say only Vag-birthers are real mothers and a C-section mother isn't. Judgemental, critical to the point of being unkind, which is perhaps the saddest thing to see, hear and experience in a world where women should be supporting each other. Clearly sisterhood is just a theoretical concept to so many.

Aside from the relationship chaos of certain characters, the division between men and women as the relationship a woman has with her body changes creates conflict between a couple.

Overall it's a read that brings real issues to the table, whilst delivering conflict, betrayal and the reality of complex relationships.

Buy Just Between Friends at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ; pub date 12 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Hive. Buy at Bookshop.org.