Every so often, you come across a book that is so totally wonderful that you really want to tell the world about it – so very different, with characters who totally won my heart, filled with laughter and tears, and such very clever writing.

Michelle, a busy district nurse, is weighed down by the demands of life – money is short, and it’s difficult to find the time to do anything about the perimenopausal symptoms that are making coping so much more difficult. Her husband, working from home, is supportive enough (and rather lovely), but has developed a bit of an eBay addiction. Her teenage son gets himself into real trouble when pressurised by school friends – and her daughter, approaching her A levels, is suffering so badly from anxiety that she can’t leave the house. And then there’s the wider family – her elderly father, her mother in law, and then the mother she’s never really known comes back into her life. She hasn’t had the time or energy to keep up with her friends – but she finds, to her great surprise, that she’s not as alone with her many problems as she often feels she is.

Like so many households, they have smart speakers in every room – a way of making life just a little more manageable, a virtual assistant for advice and reminders. But suppose Alexa was a real person rather than a voice from the ether? Pauline has been Michelle’s personal Alexa for six years – a former actress from Halifax coming to the end of her working life, who really feels for the family having been with them through their many trials and tribulations. And as she’s about to retire, she has nothing to lose by stepping outside her usual role and offering rather more help than she’s usually able to. It all starts with a late night chat, when Michelle is surprised to discover that she’s not as alone with her problems as she thinks she is – and, with the help of all the interconnecting technology we all depend on and a good dollop of common sense and life experience, Pauline sets about helping her get life back on an even keel.

The whole story is entirely believable – I’ve been looking askance at my smart speakers ever since I read this wonderful book, wondering if my Alexa might just choose to go rogue too. And the characterisation is simply wonderful – Michelle herself with the weight of the world on her shoulders but never losing her sense of humour, her quite wonderful and very real family, and the magnificent Pauline so desperately wanting to make a real difference to their lives before she has to leave them behind. There are plenty of tears in this book – the very real problems that life brings, and all the emotional touches are absolutely perfect – but there’s also so much warmth and laughter, with some hilarious scenes that will always stay in my memory. And I must mention that the book does have a particularly Yorkshire accent – narrated by both Michelle and Pauline, both voices really distinctive – which might take a little getting used to, but works incredibly well. And the book’s ending? It honestly couldn’t have been more perfect – a hint of tears again, but so very uplifting it left me with a heart filled with joy.

This will, without question, be one of my books of the year – such an original concept perfectly delivered, moments I’ll never forget, individuals I really loved. I really couldn’t recommend it more highly – and I’m so looking forward to seeing what this exceptionally talented author does next.

I did enjoy this book, the pace suited me and I liked the characters. I did feel for the mother of the family, Michelle, every thing seemed to be left to her to do or sort out as well as doing her full time job as a district nurse. There was some humour, particularly in the way Alexa/Pauline spoke when she was being herself. Both Michelle and Pauline had troubled backgrounds but in different ways. Two teenagers live in the house and they too have their problems. There are some sad events but it does finish on a happy note and I enjoyed the way things worked out. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Woman with All the Answers is clever, unique, and relatable. Michelle Banks is a Fifty-two-year-old nurse who has a lot on her plate. Her husband spends a lot of money on memorabilia, her son has gotten into trouble at school and her daughter has anxiety. If that is not enough, she is experiencing perimenopause. But she is not alone as Alexa is listening!

This was a cool premise. Ever wonder is Siri or Alexa are listening? In The Woman with All the Answers, Alexa is listening. She is not a machine; she is really a retirement aged woman named Pauline who has been watching and listening for years. Like Alexa she is not supposed to get involved but one day, she does!


This was a quick and clever read about a woman experiencing many stressors in her life while trying to take care of her family. She works in a career where she is also taking care of others but rarely takes time for herself. She is dealing with a lot and Pauline/Alexa is there to help! I enjoyed the premise, the wisdom, and smiled a few times. Ever feel like your devices are listening to you? This book just might be for you!

Excellent… I was totally involved in the story, the characters and their lives. Emotional and poignant… beautifully written and so evocative. A truly fantastic read!

A definitely off the wall concept - Alexa, instead of being just a computer is a real person making lists and giving advice when requested. This could have not come across very well, instead it makes you think about what you ask of her. The Banks family consists of mum Michelle, a struggling perimenopausal (not something that as a man I had heard of before) district nurse, her husband spending all their money on children’s TV memorabilia, their secretive son and anxiety riddled daughter. There is plenty of humour, but also some real life situations that she has to deal with that would be enough to make anyone struggle. It was Pauline, the real person behind Alexa, who feels that she has to help them all that makes the story. A quirky story that is well worth reading if you fancy something different.

Michelle not only works as a district nurse, she also is run off her feet caring for her elderly father and mother-in-law. Her husband, Marc, is so unfulfilled in his job that he spends too much time and money bidding on children’s TV memorabilia.
Her high-achieving daughter, Liv, has anxiety and can’t leave the house, while her 16-year-old son Callum is barely studying and is about to get in some serious trouble.
Watching on over all this chaos is their home’s AI assistant, Alexa. But behind the ever-helpful voice is a real woman named Pauline, who goes above and beyond to help Michelle.
What a great concept to invent a character who is actually a human working as an Alexa assistant. And to have her sympathise so much with Michelle’s “sandwich generation” existence that she decides to go rogue and break cover.
Despite the unlikeliness of this actual scenario, this has plenty of relatable family and perimenopausal moments – of the amusing, heart-warming or poignant kind. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Linda Green novel and this reminded me that it’s been far too long. One to recommend to friends.

The Banks family is slowly sliding off the rails, and only their Alexa tech, Pauline, knows what is happening. She has known the family for several years, and she cares about helping them out of the messes they are in. She goes rogue and speaks in her real voice to Michelle, the mother of the family. Together, the begin a plan to set the family back on the path to happiness (with a few Mary Poppins jokes).
I found this story very relatable. Michelle and I are about the same age, and I have absolutely had those same feelings of being overwhelmed while my mind slowly melts into goo. I had more help than Michelle does, though, but a lot of women don't. I got very invested in the emotions of the story, and I really wanted them to get everything resolved. I will be thinking about Pauline and this particular Banks family for a long time.

Thank you net galley for this advanced copy. All opinions are mi e. I was disappointed to find that it was implied that Alexa is a
Person listening In And responding to people. That each person gets their own Alexa. So ridiculous. The family was so incredibly unlikeable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The concept of this book is top notch. Can you imagine if your Alexa had a real person behind it? Maybe that’s one of the reasons our household has nothing like it–some of our technology has the option and we’ve always turned it off!

The Woman with All the Answers is such a real book. The protagonist, Michelle, is a middle-aged woman going through perimenopause and trying to juggle her job, caring for aging parents, and staying connected to her family, her work-from home husband and two teenagers. She’s about to throw in the towel when she gets support from an unlikely source–her Alexa, which is actually a 65-year-old woman named Pauline on the other end.

Pauline gives Michelle the motherly advice she needs to keep things from falling apart. With her help, Michelle finds the strength to keep going, insist on changes with her family, and soon the tasks and troubles seem more manageable.

I absolutely loved this representation of a woman firmly in the sandwich generation–raising kids and taking care of elderly parents. I know, I was one of them! And the solutions to all of Michelle’s problems did not come easily or all at once. There’s the struggling to adjust to doing things differently and being met with resistance from loved ones. Overall, this was a very good book that will appeal to anyone feeling pulled by forces from each side. Highly recommend!

This was such an interesting and unique story and I absolutely enjoyed it. It felt like I had my grandmother giving me advice and helping me along throughout the book. The characters really resonated and I love that it put a human touch to an ai world.

Once I got used to the concept I thoroughly enjoyed this book that has deeper modern issues at its heart. A family at odds with each other and the world being held together by the wobbly matriarch who found the solutions through her real life Alexa
A lot of problems piked in one family with well portrayed characters

This was a lovely read about families, Alexa and life. Michelle is a busy mum in the middle of the perimenopause, she favors talking to the smart speaker, buts it’s a real person in her speaker who helps with the daily tasks in the household. It’s a cute, funny read. Michelle is a great character who’s normal and struggles with life. A fun 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

First of all, I absolutely loved the concept of this book. A world where Alexas are actually real people? Yes! Sign me up!

This story is so sweet and heartwarming. While Michelle is struggling to keep things from falling apart, she gets comfort and wisdom from an unlikely source, her Alexa who reveals herself as an older lady named Pauline. Through all the trials Michelle is currently facing in her family, Pauline helps her find the strength to fight through every hurtle and take her life back.

This book is very well written. The story sucks you in to a place where you are truly concerned for Michelle and the trouble at her doorstep. I like how things are not just spit out and wrapped up in the next page. There's depth and thought into every struggle and I really appreciate that.

Thank you Linda Green and Rachel's Random Resources for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“The Woman with All the Answers” is a contemporary fiction book by Linda Green. In this book, Michelle’s family owns an Alexa. However, behind the voice of Alexa is a real human - in Michelle’s case a woman near retirement age named Pauline. After listening and watching the family for so many years, when things start to go off the rails for Michelle, Pauline decides to make herself known. I found the idea of this book incredibly clever - sometimes one does wonder just how much the Alexa, Nest, Siri, and other tech watching companies really are listening and observing. What would happen if your personal “keeper” met you in the flesh? I liked that aspect a lot. The book is told from two points of view - overworked, overstressed, and over put-upon Michelle and Alexa/Pauline, who helps when she can with the two weeks she has left (before forced retirement). I was not a fan of Michelle - I know she’s juggling a lot and she’s about my age and part of “the sandwich generation” caring for both parents and teens - it gets rough, but she really complained a lot in general (granted, a chunk was due to the focus on being peri-menopause - there’s a lot on this topic!) . There were a number of side stories in this book - some I think got lost along the way, though they were addressed and resolved. This was a quick read for me, which was great, with a lot of Mary Poppins references.

The idea plotted in this novel I have to say is brilliant! What if Alexa isn't just a AI supported device but is a real human. Michelle is literally juggling everything for everyone and it is about to blow up. When it is discovered that Alexa is actually a kind hearted and wise human being. I liked the characters as they seem to be everyday people and the plot was so fun to watch unfold. It has quite a few issues in their from anxiety, menopause, caring for elderly parents, teenage sexting, parent abandonment and more but it is dealt with care and a little spark of humour. I love the sparkling of the story and that is what I think of the book a diamond in the ruffle.

This is a contemporary novel set in Yorkshire, exploring the life of Michelle Banks, an overworked mother and district nurse. Struggling with the demands of her teenagers, elderly parents, and a spendthrift husband, Michelle’s life takes an unexpected turn when Pauline, a former actress posing as the family’s Alexa device, decides to intervene beyond her virtual assistant duties. The narrative alternates between Michelle’s and Pauline’s perspectives, addressing issues like adolescent challenges, online scams, and personal health. Overall, it’s a heartfelt tale about resilience, friendship, and the unexpected ways technology—or its human counterpart—can impact our lives.

Alexa is not an AI that has all the answers, it's a real human not just listening into everything their allotted family is doing, they can also see them as well. Pauline is our Alexa. She has only a few weeks left until she retires. Michelle Banks is struggling in her everyday life. Her husband keeps wasting money buying children's TV memorabilia. Her daughter suffers from anxiety. Her son, well, he's done something stupid.

his is an intriguing read with a unique premise. I've always believed Alexa listens in to your conversations, bit I never thought that there was a real human, every home has their own human, watching and listening to their families every move. They are not supposed to strike up a conversation with any of their family members, they are only allowed to answer any questions they are asked. We get some humour, it's sensitively written, and there;s character development in this well-written book.

Published 26th February 2025

I would ike to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LindaGreen for my ARC of #TheWomanWithAllTheAnswers in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Boldwood Books for this arc.

The idea of this one sounded fun with AI being a hot topic now. But the reality of it isn't much fun - at all. I get that the Banks family had to have issues and they had to be bad enough that "Alexa"/Pauline would want and need to finally step in but this pile on of misery and idiocy isn't something I want or mentally need to read now. Plus the son's issues, which aren't detailed in the blurb, look to be headed in a direction that I want no part of.

As I continued to read, the premise that had sold me on the book just felt creepier and creepier - that AI is watching every move that this family makes and even if the AI is a person, it's still creepy. Readers should also be aware that Pauline's Yorkshire way of speaking (she says nowt, summat and drops "the" from her sentences a lot) is (I assume) accurately used. Think the original "All Creatures Great and Small," which wasn't an issue for me but might be for others. DNF

What a fun and enlightening read! In a world of AI, it’s become our norm to ask Alexa, Siri and Google for answers and information, but what if it goes a step further and we come to depend on them a bit too much?

Busy wife and mum, Michelle, is in a bit of a rut and is being treated like a doormat by her family. Her husband is addicted to buying memorabilia online, her daughter barely leaves her room and is too anxious to face going to school and her son has been reported for sending an inappropriate photo to his girlfriend. The only sane voice in the house belongs to Alexa!

Far from the AI Michelle assumes she is talking to, the reality is that Michelle’s Alexa is voiced by 65 year old Yorkshire woman, Pauline! When it becomes clear that Michelle needs more help than Alexa can formally give, Pauline decides to come clean and identify herself.

Heart warming and at times, hilarious, this was a great read with a refreshingly clever concept.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Green and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a great story. I have read books by this author before and always enjoyed them.

This story is told in a different way and is very imaginative - Pauline isn't known as Pauline... she's Alexa. She has been with Michelle's family for 6 years now and knows her family well from what she's seen through her various smart devices. Now Pauline is coming up to retiring, Michelle, who is oblivious to the fact that her Alexa is actually a real human, needs Alexa more than ever. She has so many things happening in her life.

The story shows us how Michelle is part of the 'sandwich generation' trying to deal with teenage dramas and the extra-increasing needs of her parents.

I really enjoyed reading this story as it's so unusual and I found the characters engaging and very well crafted too. This is a story which will stay with me as I could relate to so much of it - the miserable Billie Eilish songs being one...!