'This is Me' is a story of ordinary people, who are forced to look back on their lives when a pinnacle person in the family dies, unexpectedly. Denise (the mother), is grief-stricken at the loss of her husband Ray. She has devoted her life to him, and now she has no direction. Claire(the daughter) despised her father, and because of him is estranged from her mother. She chose a different path with her children, but now they're living their lives and she wonders if she should have done more to save her marriage.

This is a story of regret, hindsight and the possibility of a more positive life for both women, but first, they relive and hopefully learn from the important milestones in their lives' to date. The retro flashbacks in this book are evocative for anyone who lived through them. Youth clubs and David Soul in the late 1970s and Take That and 1999 in the late 1990s and the millennium.

The cast of characters, some of which have appeared before, add depth and interest to the plot. There is a notable disparity between the network of support Claire has, compared to her mother.

Life choices are the key theme to this story, and ones every woman who has a partner and children has to make. Denise and Claire's choices are husband or children, most people's choices are less defined and make accommodations to facilitate different times in the child's life cycle. However, the scenario's and the characters are believable and realistic.

'This Is Me' is a story of family, friends and the dynamics that are part of every family. Claire is determined to be the antithesis of her mother, but in doing so fails to find a balance in her family life. The importance of nurturing in childhood is explored in this story because it shapes the adults we become

A dramatic interpretation of ordinary lives and relationships filled with emotion, guilt, hate, humour and love, demonstrated through believable, flawed characters. It is both emotional and engaging to read.

I received a copy of this book from Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is the story of two women – mother, Denise and daughter Claire. Denise was married to Ray, a man she truly idolised to the point of putting him before everyone else, including her children. But 40 years later, Ray has died and Denise now realises that Ray was keeping big secrets from her throughout their whole marriage. Claire is the estranged daughter of Denise and Ray. Claire was determined not to be like her mother at all and put her children first to the detriment of her marriage to Sam. Who is more important – the people you marry or the people you give birth to?

I loved Shari Low’s previous books and this one was certainly no exception! I finished this book in less than a day, getting annoyed with anyone who got in my way of reading just one more chapter!! The story alternates between Denise and Claire’s perspectives, past and present and it was written so perfectly in that when one person’s story finished the other person’s picked up at exactly the right place! I loved the supporting characters of Denise’s son and Claire’s brother, Doug and Claire’s best friend Jeanna. Their relationship, not just between themselves but with Claire worked so well with a bit of humour and light-heartedness to break up the sadness of Denise and Claire’s stories.

Both Denise and Claire’s characters are written so well that I just didn’t know which one to feel sorrier for! Denise was a terrible mother, there’s no denying it, but did she pay the price for this when left on her own following Ray’s death, with all the issues that this also brought. At the opposite end of the scale, Claire was a fantastic mother with her children’s needs, physically and emotionally, being the priority, but similarly did she pay the price for this when she neglected her own husband’s needs causing the breakdown of their marriage. It’s a tough call to make, but this author has written it so wonderfully that despite the flaws and mistakes on both sides, it does leave you sat on the fence for a while pondering the questions posed! The one thing I was certain of though was how much I disliked Ray’s character. It shocked me how many people was affected one way or another by one man’s views and actions.

This was a book that is guaranteed to send you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It has made me laugh, brought tears to my eyes, given me a warm glow in my heart and made me want to throw the book away in anger. A beautiful thought-provoking story of family, friends, love and hate. Highly highly recommended.

This is the story of a mother and daughter, the different decisions they took for their families and the effect this had on their lives.

Denise is the mother and she is absolutely devoted to her husband Ray. She seemed so blinkered to his many faults which are evident to the reader. Quite often I was reading almost in disbelief. The couple had two children while they were very young and while they weren’t physically neglected, they certainly didn’t get the emotional attention they should have. For Denise, Ray always came first. After his sudden death she is devastated not only because of her loss, but because she begins to uncover a side of Ray she didn’t know and to realise just how little she has in life.

Claire is their daughter who, along with her brother Doug, over the years came to distance herself from her parents. She was determined to be the complete opposite to her parents and she put her children first to the detriment of her marriage. She was a totally clingy mother and although her sons clearly loved her, I wasn’t surprised that they both chose to leave home at relatively early ages. That kind of love must have been quite smothering.

I could to a certain extent understand Claire’s actions although when she had lovely Sam as a patient husband, I was thinking that she also was a bit blinkered as to what she had. As a mother myself, I just could not understand Denise, though did feel a bit sorry for her when Ray died and she had nothing left. Both women found themselves alone with, as they saw it, their reason and purpose for living now gone. Thankfully, Claire had some fantastic friends – three cheers for friends! I was so pleased that she had these caring people to help her and show her that she was important and valued as herself, not just as a mother.

It was great to see some characters from the author’s previous books appear although this is not a sequel. I am always pleased to see the irrepressible pair that is Val and Josie. I’m not sure if Shari Low has written a book entirely about them, I must check. But if not, it would be great to read their stories. They are always a great laugh. Despite some of the sad circumstances of this book, there is a lot of humour in this story as there usually is in a Shari Low book.

The story flicks back and forward in time telling Denise and Claire’s stories and moving in a very natural way from past to present, linking events and characters. We see two women adjusting to life events as many people have to. For me, this book was about recognising priorities but also taking time to value yourself. It was very thought provoking as I considered whether either of the women right in their decisions about their families? I think you can guess my response to that question! It perhaps took me a little longer to get into that some of the author’s previous books, took a while to get to know the characters but I am glad that I read on as it is quite a fascinating portrayal of the different choices women can make and the consequences these decisions can have.

The prologue reveals one death provoking two very different reactions from mother and daughter, Denise and Claire. The reasons why, and for their estrangement, will become apparent over the course of the book through a series of flashbacks.

Some characters from Shari Low’s book, One Day in December, make a return appearance in This Is Me and there are brief references to events in the earlier book. I particularly enjoyed becoming reacquainted with the irrepressible Val and Josie – all wine, wisecracks and wisdom. They, along with her best friend Jeanna, form part of Claire’s support network as she struggles with her ’empty nest’ feelings now her two sons have left home. Her friends also provide the pretext for Claire’s reminiscences about her troubled relationship with her mother and father, her first meeting with future but now ex-husband, Sam, and their early years together. Along the way, Claire learns a few unexpected secrets as well!

Denise has no such support network meaning, although I found her life decisions and choices a challenge to comprehend, I could sympathize with the lonely situation she finds herself in and her despair at the things she discovers.

There was one character in the book I definitely could not sympathize with; in fact, who I loathed with a vengeance. Selfish, manipulative and deceitful, I simply couldn’t understand how a person could inspire such devotion. On the other hand, Claire’s ex-husband Sam, seemed a positive paragon.

The book presents the choice the two women make – between putting their children or their partner first – in pretty black and white terms. I’d like to hope in real life there are shades in between.

This Is Me is an engaging, emotional story about motherhood, relationships and the choices we often face in our personal lives. In some respects a cautionary tale, it’s also a celebration of female friendship and the possibility of new beginnings and, just maybe, second chances.

By the now the term emotional rollercoaster has become a reviewing cliche. It seems every book you read a review on is one. God, I’m probably guilty of this too so don’t be offended by it.

To me the term emotional rollercoaster is one I don’t use lightly. I do have to be up and down and literally shook with a headache. I want my head getting smashed from side to side into the safety bars of the ride. And I want the thrill, fear, laughter, love, hate, chills, nausea and absolute honestly and truth of the wind! I want it all! There aren’t many authors who can achieve such a head smashing. Shari Low is one of those in which we can rely on to give us exactly that. The emotional rollercoaster with a side of weak bladder laughter to balance it out.

This is Me is poignant, honest, funny and thought provoking book. Not going to lie it has a slow start, but it is totally worth the time invested into it. Once you’re in, you’re in!

It's hard to write a review when you are faced with identifiable characters you know. This allows you to emerge yourself deeply into the read and the emotions of both protagonists. Whether you agree with them in heart or even morally or not. You will always be empathetic and you will always question why people choose the paths and people they do. Question priorities and why they differ from one another. It becomes real life. And when fiction becomes non-fiction then you know that's a damn good read!

Life is a balancing act that none of us ever get right at first. This is Me is proof of that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

4.5/5

I really struggled with this but was glad I persevered because the story really gains momentum at the end. Claire and Denise’s stories are complex, and we understand their actions more as we find out more about them and their familial, and romantic, relationships. An easy read, but not really a page-turner.

I have to declare it right here, right now - Shari Low is bloody brilliant!! Her writing caused waves of emotion to course through me, sometimes they were gentle, filled with love and warmth and the other, they were swirling and thrashing where I wanted nothing more than shake some sense into the characters.

Her portrayal of the characters in this book were so dynamic that the contrariness of each came into the forefront like a burst of radiance. She showed both ends of the spectrum in this story. Denise, a lousy mother who pandered to her husband Ray's wishes even at the cost of her children's well being and Claire who was the best mother but neglected her husband to the point they broke up. Denise and Claire were mother and daughter. Then Ray died and that unveiled the truth, it revealed his vileness. Ughhh... I hated that selfish boor of a man!!!

Emotions were a tempest, and I could do nothing but stand strong like the rocks with the waves beating on to me, making me feel love, anger, tears, sadness, frustration, and resignation. Whew!! Did I not tell you the author is bloody brilliant?!! And every stroke of her pen was dipped in the sheer mastery of her words. How I loved to be in the center of such raging emotions!! The last line of the book made me laugh manically and say - Here we go again.

Shari Low's book taught me one important thing. Some people don't change, and it is no use giving them second and third chances. That's one chance too many. Read the book, if you will, for the beautiful emotions with friendship and love galore.

(Review also posted on my Goodreads account!)

It was easy to establish which side I was on when I first opened This is Me.

A wife who adores her husband to death that she abandoned their children. Two kids who started taking care of themselves under the roof of their maternal grandfather without having some sorts of normalcy with their parents.

Yea, it should be obvious.

This is Me used two point of views back and forth between Denise, the wife, and Claire, the mother. Both women chose what was important in their lives, intertwined slightly during their pasts, Denise motherhood and Claire adolescent ages.

It was a stark view on both. Denise loves her husband, that much was obvious, as if his words are the prophet's words and 100% sucks at being a mother. Meanwhile, Claire dotes on her children, paying little attention to her husband to make up what she lack during her childhood.

Both are in the wrong, tbh. But I stand by the Claire.

This is Me opened with the death of Ray, Denise's husband. It could go on the route of mother-children pilgrimage to love each other, but it didn't. And for that, I'm eternally grateful.

Once again, Shari Low managed to blow me with her words, her nuance, and her characterisations. How both women, different, and yet the same, would turn your emotion inside out.

This is Me is a story of how children will mirror what they see/feel of their parents. And that history will repeats itself, if one doesn't want to address and fix it.

This was a wonderfully poignant, well written and entertaining story.
I was gripped by both women's journeys, the flashbacks set up the story in a way that helped you see how their characters and circumstances developed and provided many laughs and tears along the way.
It really left me with questions about the choices we make and the priorities we give others, and ourselves.
Thought-provoking and life-affirming.

This is a fun, sparkling read! However, as we all know, every family has it's problems...

Ray is the love of Denise's life; she has adored him for over forty years, putting him first ahead of everything - even their own children. So with his death, where does that leave her now?

Claire, Denise's daughter, has always been well aware that she doesn't count in her mother's eyes. Claire vowed to always put her own children first and foremost in life, even if it cost her her marriage. Now she's an empty nester, she misses her two sons more than words can say - but just because they're no longer under her roof doesn't mean to say she doesn't fret about them. So, how has life treated this mother and daughter with differing ideals?

This is such a great book! Every single woman - with children or without - will be able to identify with at least one character. And, trust me, there are some really lively characters in these pages! Set in Glasgow I have, as a Scot, absolutely loved the humour and have had to cease reading several times to wipe the tears of mirth from my eyes! Author Shari Low has a real gift for getting the narrative spot-on! The premise is entirely believable, and I'm not sure it's possible to complete this one without feeling empathy for both the main characters.

With more than a touch of sadness and many, many laughs, this is a really entertaining and fun read. Note to self: must read much, much more of this author's work! Really well-written with a satisfying story and fabulous characters, I raced through this one giggling my head off. Oh, to have friends like Claire's! Every woman deserves a Jeanna in her life - trust me, we'd all feel better for it. Undoubtedly, a sparkling five star read!

My thanks to publisher Aria for my copy via NetGalley, and in particular to Victoria Joss for inviting me to be a part of this Blog Tour. As always, all opinions stated here are entirely my own.

I read other books by this author and like them but unfortunately this is not my cup of tea.
I couldn't connect to the characters and found the plot a bit unrealistic.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

As I was reading Shari Low’s new book I was reminded of the first line from Philip Larkin’s popular poem, This Be The Verse, ‘They f**k you up, your mum and dad.’
We see that in action across three generations in This Is Me, going from one extreme to another - although I know the end I would prefer to be.
It is a cleverly written and fast paced tale with the feel-good friendships that Shari is so good at conjuring, along with something that felt a bit new and darker.
In fact, the chapters where we see a master manipulator at work, controlling the woman he's supposed to love, sent chills down my spine.
While we meet several new characters, we also catch up with a few old favourites from previous books, which I really enjoyed.
The story is told by Denise and Claire but Shari, as always, is great at making sure the swaps in narrator - and in years - flow perfectly. They don't distract from the story but actually make it more compelling.
Her character creation is also spot on. I was rooting for Claire all the way along but my feelings for Denise grew more confused as the story unfolded (no spoilers).
As for the ending, it actually made me say ‘hah, of course’ out loud.

Denise and Claire made very different choices about their marriages and children and now they are facing an uncertain future. Denise put her husband Ray first. Always. Now he's died and Denise has to figure out where to go next, especially since she's estranged from her daughter Claire, who has her own woes and is about to be an empty nester. This is a well written look at how much we need balance in our lives. I felt for both women, even as I didn't agree with them on their approaches to life. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Shari low triumphs again! Because her books are multi-generational they can strike a chord with everyone.
We meet characters from her previous books in this tale of controlling love and fractured families.
Denise and Claire ,mother and daughter, one who puts husband before children, the other who puts children first.
But what happens when the husband dies and when the children leave home?
This tale of love and friendship, which come in many guises, had me reading late into the night. Recommended!,

I really like the question in the blurb “Who is more important, your partner or your children?” I don’t have kids, but I can imagine it must be a tough balance to find.
This book is about two women that take that question and run with it in opposite directions. One puts her kids above her own and her husband’s happiness. The other neglects her children in favour of being the perfect wife to her husband and ensuring all of his needs are met.
It is almost as if there are four stories running parallel in this book. We have alternating chapters of Denise in the present day, then Denise’s past. We then have Claire in the present day and then a chapter on her past. I’m not sure this method of storytelling worked that well for this book. I don’t usually mind a backwards and forwards book nor one that follows multiple characters. However, the way this book was set out made it really hard to get into, and by the time you’d done a loop and were back say with Claire in the present, you’d read three chapters, and you’d forgotten what Claire was currently up to. It was Claire’s story I struggled with the most as hers wasn’t as heartbreaking nor as fascinating. So I’d find myself currently back in the present with Claire thinking how did I last leave her, oh yes she makes wedding dresses, and she’s in her shop with her friends. Due to the large gaps between each story (I saw it as four stories), it didn’t feel like the book was progressing. Nothing was really happening; the only story that had purpose were the ones in the past.
I knew this was a book of parallel stories, but I wasn’t expecting the reminiscing sections as well.
As the book went on and we got to know the characters a little better I found myself rushing through Claire’s section to get back to Denise’s. Her past was much more interesting plus we knew she was going through heartache right from the beginning of the book, so she was a little easier to relate to. Her story was still shocking, and she wasn’t the nicest of people to sympathise with.
I’ve enjoyed all of the Shari Low books that I have read so far but I found this one really hard to get to grips with, and it took me until at least 50% in to feel like I was invested in the book. It still got me in the feels as all of her books have due to her style of writing, but I just didn’t feel like it went anywhere or made me glad I’d invested my time in it. If I hadn’t been reviewing it for NetGalley, I probably would have abandoned it around 30% of the way in! It was just too slow going for my liking.

I'm ;a big fan of Shari Low's books, and this one did not disappoint. I can't imagine treating my children with the indifference shown by parents Denise & Ray in this story.. Thankfully, Claire (& her brother) grow up with supportive friends and extended family to help through the difficult times. Two women face a future alone; only one will find lasting happiness.

I have read Shari Low's books before and enjoyed them so was looking forward to this. The story of Denise and Clare and their different attitudes to marriage and children was well developed. The irony that Denise's devotion to her husband was misplaced gave a sense of poignancy to end a well written and enjoyable novel.

Oh WOW! What an emotional rollercoaster this story is.
I have read many books by Shari Low and she never fails to deliver a poignant yet funny, deep yet entertaining story.
I loved its structure with different POVs and a dual timeline which contribute to keep the suspense going and the reader's curiosity alive all throughout it.
If one side of the story is slightly predictable (but never boring or dull) the other is full of surprises right to the end.
And what a pleasure to see an appearance of many characters I had come to love in her previous books!
Totally recommended.
I had the great pleasure to be able to read this book through NetGalley, before it was published. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley. #ThisIsMe #NetGalley

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is Me poses a question with no right answer: Which role should be the greatest focus of a woman--her role as wife or her role as mother? The book follows three generations of women in the same family, and the consequences of their relationship choices. As in Low's other books, there is food for thought here, as all women play multiple roles in life, and the extent to which we immerse ourselves in each ultimately impacts every role we play.

I loved this story and I thought it was excellent!

I really enjoyed how this story was told through the different characters and dates all working together. The characters were excellent, very well developed and I loved their interaction.

I thought it was a really enjoyable read with both highs and lows and it is definitely five stars from me for this story, very highly recommended and really enjoyable!