The Carer by Deborah Moggach

From the bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Tulip Fever, a deliciously funny, poignant and wry novel, full of surprising twists and turns: James is getting on a bit and needs full-time help. So Phoebe and Robert, his middle-aged offspring, employ Mandy, who seems willing to take him off their hands.

But as James regales his family with tales of Mandy’s virtues, their shopping trips and the shared pleasure of their journeys to garden centres, Phoebe and Robert sense something is amiss.

Then something extraordinary happens which throws everything into new relief, changing all the stories of their childhood - and the father - that they thought they knew so well.

Deborah Moggach, OBE is an English novelist and an award-winning screenwriter. She has written nineteen novels, including The Ex-Wives, Tulip Fever, These Foolish Thing, Heartbreak Hotel and Something to Hide. She lives in London.

Review

This was a heartwarming, empathic and just a lovely book to read. The author was really aware of their subject matter. I too had the same feelings when people were coming into to care for my family. Also how beautiful is that cover people?!

The characters were great. I especially liked the brother, Nicholas, as the trying author! Phoebe was great with her romp in the woods.

I did feel as if it was a book of two halves though. Without giving away spoilers I feel a characters development could have continued a little bit longer to ramp up the tension and build to a greater impact about 3/4th of the way through.

I did however like the ending. Poignant, joyous and heartwarming at its best. It’s a very good light read that gives you the feels! Well done!