A very nice read. Scabble in the Afternoon is one I can and do relate to as the caregiver of my own mom. a sweet book and sometimes a bit too close to home.  Felt real,  and real is what I wanted. Thanks for this

I'm sorry to say that I really struggled with this book, it gave very little background or depth to what I was reading despite being a memoir, it appeared to be a letter type book complaining about her mother without actually giving much more information. I notice this author has done other books so perhaps its just her writing style and I've struggled to connect with it but I'm sorry I just didn't enjoy it at all. All I'm left with is questions, what was her mother's disability, has this had an impact on their relationship? What exactly is the relationship with David, I know he's a romantic partner but that's about it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Parthian for allowing me to review Scrabble in the Afternoon.
It describes the relationship between a daughter and her elderly mother when due to her mother’s sudden illness and deterioration there is a reversal of roles. The daughter now undertakes looking after her mum during recovery.
It explores  a previous tenuous relationship and how much should you step back and allow independence regardless of the repercussions.
I gave the book a 3 star rate because personally I felt that a more pro active approach in similar circumstances would have been more prudent.. Generally a good read.

Biddy Wells delivers a poignant recollection of the complexity of her relationship with her aging mother. She strives and achieves to relay the many feelings and challenges from both perspectives. 

In one excerpt, the question is raised, “at what point should the children of elderly parents intervene and put an end to independent living”?   This is a theme that so many have and will continue to face and struggle with. For folks on the cusp of, or actively living with these tough decisions, Wells’ book could provide some insight and solace. 

Wells’ also tackles how she dealt with her personal demons with her mother in a compassionate and well thought out way. She delivers her own familial story in a way that will resonate with so many. How to repair what’s been broken? Should we try? How far do we go at the price of hurting a parent or oneself? 

Scrabble in the Afternoon provides an honest look into the vulnerabilities that exist between mothers and daughters and gifts readers the opportunity to reflect on theirs.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"Biddy Wells’s elderly mother is suddenly struck down with a mysterious illness, Biddy moves her into the spare bedroom, little knowing how long the period of convalescence will last."

A lovely tale of mothers and daughters. I'm sure the author found writing this to be cathartic.

2.75☆

Wells writer a touching and forthright memoir about elder care. Her mother was feeble and needed assistance so Biddy put her life on hold for almost a year to care for her. They become closer, but also friction occurs, especially when her mother allows her love interest to dominate her. This is a topic that is very relevant as children find themselves responsible for their elderly parents’ care. It was short book and it offered insight into the draining, yet rewarding experience of caring for her mother.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I loved getting to see the relationship between the author and her mother. It was honest and at sometimes hard to read. The author was open about the relationship, as hard as it was for her to explain these things to random people. The cover and title is what originally drew me in to the story and I am so thankful I read this book.

This was a charming, insightful book about the relationship between a sick mother and her caretaker daughter. Biddy talks about the trials and joys of learning to take care of her elderly mother. There are themes of family, mother daughter relationships and love. A delightful afternoon read.

A wonderfully written memoir about repairing the broken bond between mother and daughter. Through the power of memories, a unforeseen illness, harsh truths and Scrabble, Biddy Wells shares her touching tale of reconnecting not only with her mother, but the woman behind her mother; a woman who loves writing, yearns for independence and still has a flirtatious twinkle in her eye. This story has inspired me to take steps to heal the relationship between myself and my dad. Maybe Cluedo might work for us, ha-ha. Thank you so much, Biddy Wells.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley and the cover is beautiful.

Scrabble in the Afternoon is a memoir of Biddy Wells and her difficult relationship with her mother.  Her mother is stricken with a mysterious illness on New Years Day.  Her mom will need assistance in recovering and that job falls on Biddy.   The book covers the recovery over the next year, plus, showing the back and the forth of their relationship.

I really enjoyed this exploration of a mother and daughter's relationship, When the roles have been reversed finding our feet can always be a challenge. Between our feelings of should, and our feelings from past hurts, to who we are as adults, can provide a challenging backdrop when caring for an elderly parent. So many things come out to play in this landscape and I enjoyed reading it.  I rated this book a 4 star, because I wanted to know more, I felt that the author, while giving us her feelings and her take on the situation could have delved a little deeper. I t felt like she was skimming the surface and the complexity of both her mothers nature and herself. Saying that, I still really enjoyed it, and maybe its not fair to rate a book on what it didn't do compared to what it did, which was allow me space and time to read when I had been struggling to concentrate on any type of fiction. To read something set in the real world, with with real people and follow how they managed through their new terrain was both delightful, inspiring and calming for my soul. 
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An insightful account of the complexity of a mother/daughter relationship when the roles become reversed and an adult daughter becomes the carer for a mother whose own mothering was inadequate. A brave and poignant book with some darkly humorous moments.

NOTE: Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Scrabble in the Afternoon chronicles Wells' relationship with her aging mother when the latter has to move in with her due to an illness. The women bond and clash, as mothers and daughters often do, and Wells weaves these experiences into an engaging and introspective narrative that feels like a window into her mind during those times. Both women have distinct personalities and reading about their relationship was immensely interesting.

The book is short and written in simple language but has a strong voice of its own. I finished the entire read in one sitting. Would recommend to those who are interested in reading about mother-daughter relationships through a realistic lens. 

RATING: N/A to autobiographies and memoirs. The rating has only been filled as it is a required field to publish my Netgalley review.

Scrabble in the Afternoon is a thoughtful memoir describing the author’s relationship with her mother as she experiences it and understands it over the course of one of the last years of her mother’s life. The story feels open and honest and deeply personal. I love that she tells us about letting her mother read the manuscript – and I love it that she shares her mother’s reaction with us. The story is relatable for those who have had a parent in hospice, requiring care, moving to an assisted living home, and changing in behavior. Her story is also unique describing their individual relationship and history. I enjoyed it a lot though it didn’t always feel organized and I would have preferred some chapter breaks. The cover and title were what initially drew me in and I appreciated the time I spent with this book. Thanks to Net Galley and Parthian Books for the advanced copy to read and review; all opinions are my own.

Very well written. It got to be a little slow in places but I loved the relationship of mother and daughter. The rockiness, how it hasn’t always been perfect, how even in the end it was perfect but they found their routine. They figured out a way to both get what they wanted and needed.

Once upon a time ....I pointed a finger at my mother. The emphasis is on "once"  since it was the last and only time I aimed this sign of disrespect in her direction. Perhaps it is a generational thing, but I can't imagine being able to write this story. If a finger pointing, mother bashing catharsis is the voice of now, the wave of the future, or your personal preference,  then Scrabble in the  Afternoon is for you.

Scrabble in the Afternoon is the emotional journey of Biddy Wells as a caregiver to her sick mother. Often the world notices only the suffering of the one who is sick, and the challenges faced by the caregiver go unnoticed. Wells has journaled her fears, anxieties, resentment and challenges with utmost honesty.

Thank you, Parthian Books, and Netgalley for providing me with the digital ARC.
3.8/5

This was a quick read about a woman who is transformed by the process of taking care of her elderly mother. There are themes of of course family and mother/daughter relationships, but it also discusses the deep holes that childhood longing leave. You see this through both the mother and the daughter. Their story is bigger than them - it is the story of how generations of trauma, hurt and disappointments keep a cycle going. And in this story, the daughter attempts to reconcile her feelings and memories with her otherwise pleasant current life.  It's about the path to acceptance. How hard and difficult and impossible it seems sometimes, acceptance and facing the reality head-on is the only way to peace. 

Thank you to Netgalley and to Biddy Wells for the digital ARC.

4/5 stars.

This book meets the expectations if you are into reading books that explore filial relationship. 

The narrator and her 30 years older mother share an ambivalence relationship. At first the book left me in awe then started going in circles. Some fragments of the past then coming back in talking about present then past then again the same present. I usually like this kind of narration style, back and forth in time but only when the present time also moves forward with the telling. But here the narration about the present and the narrator’s monologue felt too repetitive.
I genuinely started enjoying the book in the second part and the rest of the book. The overall writing style is reading-friendly. Nothing bombastic about it. I preferred it that way. 
I liked this book, overall speaking. The concept of the book, precisely. Clearly the author had put a lot into this piece of work. Conveying tangled human emotions and putting them in words isn’t an easy job but the author had done well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publishers for providing this ARC.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.