From the second I discovered this book existed, I had a feeling I was going to love it, and I wasn't wrong, although love isn't a strong enough word - it's a wonderful book.
I always enjoy reading books featuring young families and seeing how they cope and within the first few pages I was laughing with that opening, and then as we meet Stan, I found him incredibly endearing to start and very loveable.
In fact I'm really really hoping this may be the start of a series, because I already need another fix of Stan, and I love baby Jack too, and seeing just what may happen next with Lucy and Ed. I enjoyed seeing their ups and downs, and also the various situations Lucy gets herself into.
There is a lot of humour to be had with this book, as well as a heart meltingly perfect finale that was unexpected in its nature but just worked for the characters.
It is also though a look at parenthood when one of your children is clearly a bit different from the average child. It was fairly obvious to me what the diagnosis would be for Stan, but he is just a loveable boy, and Lucy is doing her best to understand him, that he really is just Stanley.
From having worked with some children a bit like Stanley I get the feeling that this is rather authentic, and all the concerns Lucy expresses are realistic and valid. I find all of this made them very relatable too, and something that parents will especially enjoy reading, as I suspect they will see elements of their own experiences reflected in this.
This is one rather special family that has wormed its way into my heart, and I really want more from them, A very entertaining debut novel, from an author I will certainly be keen to read more from.