Mo is a child psychologist but cannot understand her own two children. Dora is full of hormones while her brother Peter is embracing a Victorian persona. Can the family survive the dreaded teenage years?
A Tiny Bit Marvellous is a family comedy novel which made me laugh but I also found it emotional as the family try to negotiate their relationships and feelings.
Mo’s work centres around understanding children and teens but her own offspring are a mystery! I enjoyed this book as both a mum and daughter myself, remembering my hideous teen years and being shocked that my parents put up with me. Also dreading what my own kids will put me through (well, Anya mostly, attitiude and sass at 11, eek!)
There were some real laugh out loud moments in this book. Little dramas become hugely inflated catastrophes. Dawn French has such a turn of phrase and I loved her different narration styles for the three perspectives of Mo, Dora and Peter. The characters are all completely over the top but I loved them!
However, there is also a depth to the characters with their emotions and vulnerabilities. Mo is feeling middle aged and a bit lost now that her children are more independent. Meanwhile Dora and Peter are attempting to create themselves as individuals, making mistakes along the way. All of them want to have a sense of security and belonging as well as be accepted for their true selves.
A Tiny Bit Marvellous is just that: a tiny bit marvellous!
Book blurb
The hilarious number one best seller by comedian and author of Because of You and According to Yes, Dawn French.
Everyone hates the perfect family – so you’ll love the Battles.
Meet Mo Battle, about to turn 50 and mum to two helpless, hormonal teenagers. There’s 17-year-old daughter Dora who blames Mo for, like, EVERYTHING and Peter who believes he’s quite simply as darling and marvellous as his hero Oscar Wilde. Somewhere, keeping quiet, is Dad, who’s just, well…Dad.
However, Mo is having a crisis. She’s about to do something unusually wild and selfish, which will leave the entire family teetering on the edge of a precipice.
Will the family fall?
Or will they, when it really matters, be there for each other?
A Tiny Bit Marvellous is the number one best-selling novel from one of Britain’s favourite comic writers.
