Rating: 3 STARS Genre: Women's Fiction/Spy/Crime Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from Bonnier Zaffre via NetGalley Please note: This review does feature more quotes than usual but I've done my best to still keep it spoiler free! Every working mum has had to face it. The guilt-fuelled, anxiety-filled first day back in the office after maternity leave. But this working mum is one of a kind. Meet Alexis Tyler. An elite covert agent within Her Majesty's Secret Service. Her first project back is a high-stakes hit of global significance and the old boys network of government espionage is far from ready for the return of an operational mother. But woe betide anyone who ever tells Alexis Tyler 'you can't'. She will have it all. Or she'll die trying . . . And yes, she damn well will be home for bath time. Okay, so I don't typically read this genre, and that's probably reflected in my review. However, I'm always open to trying new things and when I spotted this title on NetGalley I loved the sound of it. I have a three-year-old little menace and whilst I'm sadly not a spy, the synopsis made me laugh and was still relatable. I love Lex, she's feisty, strong-willed and determined to prove herself in a very masculine world. I love her humour but I do feel that the comedy is specifically aimed at mums and so might not be relatable to a broader readership. "My enemies have got it wrong if they think that becoming a mother has made me weaker. I stare down at her as she holds my little finger. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her. Climb mountains. Fight tigers. Track down and kill every single fucker trying to tear us apart. I will show them all." I liked the initial plot idea but did find myself struggling with the pace a little and I was pushing myself to keep reading after 50%. It was the underlying story of motherhood and Lex's character that kept me going through some of the 'slower' plot moments, and is truly my favourite aspect of the book. The book is a very strong advocate for feminism as the author honestly portrays sexism in the workplace. It was eerie how familiar some of the lines from the male characters in the book felt from personal experience. "'Good. I just had to check. As you know. Hormones.' He twirled a finger round next to his head." I also really enjoyed some of the spy/mum crossover moments such as a scene featuring Lex talking about the strain having a baby can put on the parents' relationship.
"Once a full bottle of expressed milk slipped out of my hand. Upon seeing it pour all over the place I'd collapsed to the floor sobbing. Will's jovial, 'There's no use crying over spilt milk,' had me mentally loading an automatic machine gun and spraying him with bullets." "I may have every now and then thought about killing the father of my child but I never actually did it. Which had to count for something." Overall, I really enjoyed the twist on the traditional male-led spy novel and found the humour realistic and relatable. Recommended for lovers of crime fiction and any mum who needs a little reminder that she's amazing! "...a woman could do anything she put her mind to. And that a mother should never be written off. But put on a fucking pedestal." Comments are closed.
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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