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Editorial Reviews
2022 Chick Lit Cafe - CLC Book Excellence Award Winner
2022 Indie Book Awards Finalist - Chick Lit (Fiction)
2022 Maxy Awards Winner - Literary & Humor
2022 Readers' Choice Book Awards - Finalist - Best Adult Book
2022 Readers' Favorite - Finalist - Humor/Comedy
"Carolyn Clarke's skillful and subtle storytelling in And Then There's Margaret, a playful coming-of (middle)-age novel, navigates a path that is funny without being absurd while creating a relatable narrator who encounters a magnificent little-old-lady menace." -Indie Reader
"And Then There's Margaret by Carolyn Clarke is a captivating debut with a strong appeal for fans of literary and Women's fiction, a story that explores the relationship between two women as they navigate life after a painful loss." -The Book Commentary
"Funny and sharp...An often entertaining story of a middle-aged protagonist who finds a new connection with her in-law and a new lease on life." -Kirkus Reviews
"Rife with witty banter, Carolyn Clarke's debut laugh-out-loud family dramedy, And Then There's Margaret feels like a much beloved night out with friends. -ChickLit Cafe
Carolyn Clarke is founder and curator of Henlit Central, a blog focused on 'life and lit' for women over 40. And Then There's Margaret is her first novel. She has been an ESL teacher for over sixteen years and has co-authored several articles and resources with Cambridge University Press, Macmillan Education and on her award-winning blog ESL Made Easy. She lives in Toronto, Canada with Tony, her two daughters, and bulldog, Sophie.
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
And Then There's Margaret by Carolyn Clarke is an entertaining story of midlife and mothers-in-law. Alison Montgomery has received the news that her father-in-law has passed away and now her mother-in-law is moving in - temporarily, she says. Alison should be glad to give her grieving mother-in-law, Margaret, a home but the truth is, she doesn’t like her. Margaret is manipulative and controlling and, while Alison tries her best, things come to a head when Margaret takes over her kitchen and her life, even giving Alison's daughter money to get away and throwing tantrums in public. Alison can only get through this with the help of her best friend and a bottle or two of Chardonnay. She has to juggle it all - her marriage, her adult children, midlife, and a meddling mother-in-law - it's enough to drive anyone to drink! Can Alison keep her temper? Will she and Margaret ever get on? Or should Alison just give up and walk away?
And Then There's Margaret by Carolyn Clarke is a hilarious tale that I'm sure many people can relate to. We've all heard the jokes and stories about mothers-in-law and, while some of them are perfectly nice, some are Margaret. This is an entertaining story that will have you in fits of laughter, although there is the bittersweet side of a woman coming to terms with the loss of her husband too. It's a well-written story with crisp, clear dialog that engages you from the start and characters that you can't help but relate to. It deals with real-life issues in a way so that you can understand and empathize with each character but I guarantee you one thing - you will pick sides in this story! With plenty of action and no small amount of humor, this is a great story to while away a few hours on a rainy day or on the beach.
