I bounced back and forth between the book and the audiobook. This was an entertaining story that covers a day in the life of a mother. A little farfetched that all these events occurred in one day. Still, a book a working mom can relate to. The audiobook narration was not anything special--but it was easy to listen to the narrator. Thank you to Severn House, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the complementary ARC's. This review is my own opinion.

Claire is a character who will likely resonate with many readers. However, I did expect more character development. There was a bit too much focus on her former lover, and that did stall the plot at times. The timeline and set up of the book was a bit unusual. The book is split into sections based on date and time versus traditional chapters. There were some places in the book that things didn't seem to match up, making it confusing as to whether it was happening in the past or present.

I could sympathize with Claire and how she had enough. So many of us fell this way from time to time. I was on the ride with the ups and downs that Claire goes through. I was hoping for a ending that Claire could live with and the ending did not disappoint. Well written and I would read a sequel if Ms. Alterman wrote one.

Here is a book to keep your eye out for in June. It will make your hectic days seem more like a piece of cake, unless you are like me and recognize some of your own life in Claire Casey’s Had Enough by Liz Alterman.
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Casey gets home from a business trip and her husband isn’t there to pick her up, he doesn’t answer his phone, and she can’t get in the house until the next morning after sleeping in a hammock and getting soaked by the sprinkler. He was asleep on the couch in his boxers, he and their boys have left the house a mess. Claire has had enough of being everyone’s last priority. Her marriage is over, maybe, it’s complicated.
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When Claire starts talking to an old flame she feels that spark of who she used to be. What follows is a whole day of Claire juggling work, three boys, community expectations, family expectations, and struggling with what might be.
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It was funny, frustrating at times when I just wanted Claire to be better organized, but I am not, so I am not one to judge. It was very entertaining and quick to read.

Rating 3,25 ⭐

Claire has three kids, a husband who leaves everything to her, and a job she can't stand.
The night he forgets to pick her up from the airport is the final straw.

The pacing is fast, the writing direct, and the characters feel realistic.
Claire feels like she's lost herself in the chaos of everyday life. She’ll try to regain her balance and figure out what it is she truly wants.

What I liked:
The themes explored in the book—self-esteem, personal growth, and the struggle to balance career and relationships.

What I didn’t like:
I had some trouble with the story's timeline, as it shifts between the present, the past, and Claire’s memories in a way that was occasionally confusing.

Would I recommend it?
Yes. If you enjoy emotional novels and stories that explore human relationships, self-awareness, and personal development, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read an ARC of Claire Casey's Had Enough by Liz Alterman, in exchange for my honest review.

Humorous, relatable, and thought-provoking. One very hectic (but somewhat normal) day of being a mother, wife, and employee, while also trying to figure out what or who you want to be when you "grow up". Sometimes, we need to step back or step away to see our own big picture.

I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Liz Alterman.

3.5 Stars

I have never read a Liz Alterman book before, and this was such a treat. I had never heard of the term mom-com before either, but that’s what the publisher is calling this one. I think any mom could relate to Claire Casey. Claire has kids, a hubby and a job, plus most of the responsibilities that go into running a home and family. One day her husband forgets to pick her up from the airport, and she decides she’s had enough. Claire decides to take a break and prepares for her College reunion. That’s when she reconnects with her old boyfriend, Alex. This story is told to across one day in the life of Claire, with flashbacks of her former self. Will Claire leave her 16-year marriage for good, or will she and her hubby, Paul, rekindle what they once had? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

The book shows an interesting look at the life of a mother and wife who is pushed to her limit. The story is real and oh so relatable. The descriptions of routine mom and wife duties and Claire’s resentment shone through, and even made her breaking point make me feel sympathy towards her. I didn’t find that she was whiny and complaining just to hear her own voice; she had reason to. I like that her flirtations were via email and not an out-and-out affair. It made Claire feel young again at a time when she was hurt and angry. Overall, this was a thought-provoking read that will make you ask yourself, Have I had enough?

Thank you Liz Alterman and Severn House for letting me read this ARC via NetGalley.

Genre: Women's Fiction
Vibes: 💔🍷🧘‍♀️😂
Rating: 3.25⭐
Tropes: midlife crisis / emotional affair / dual timeline / self-discovery

It's crazy that this whole story takes place over the course of one day. I'm not a mother, but I can only sympathize with all the struggles that Claire has to deal with in a typical day -- the demands of her three kids, a job she doesn't enjoy, and a disengaged husband. Definitely had some humor, which was much needed to keep me engaged.

Claire and Paul are the parents of 3 boys. Paul works in IT and Claire at 46 writes online as an Influencer for a company that discusses and compares numerous products and items that relate to children. Claire is always trying to meet her deadlines.

Coming home from a conference where Paul promised to meet her at the airport, she is furious when she cannot reach him to come get her. Taking a Uber, she finds him asleep on the sofa with headphones on. His phone is obviously dead. She didn’t take her keys knowing Paul would pick her up. She had no choice but to sleep in the hammock outside. The next morning, she tells Paul she has had enough of his irresponsibility and that he has to leave. Four months later, he is still gone staying at his parents’ house.

When Claire went to a recent college reunion, she ran into Alex with whom she had a brief relationship. He tells her that when he is next in her town, perhaps they can meet up for a drink. Well, that day has come and he wants her to meet for a drink at a nice hotel. Does she do it?

This is a story of a busy Mom get her sons to their activities and keep up with all the demands of her own school volunteer activities. All this combined with the demands of her job, the house and caring for her parents. There are some really funny incidents that all Moms can laugh at and commiserate with. The big question is do you leave the marriage that you’ve worked so hard for or do you stick it out? I’m glad how it ended. For me that was the perfect choice. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for an advanced copy of Claire Casey’s Had Enough.

Claire is a mother of three and has been married to her husband for 16 years. She is stressed out and she is tired of doing everything for everyone. One day she wakes up and decides to make a change. She kicks her husband out. She also sees the one who got away. What will she do?

This was just a little bit too much of a chaotic read for me. I was not really a fan of the characters so it made it hard to connect to the story. This one was not for me.

This book offers a relatable glimpse into the life of a mother juggling work, family, and personal doubts. Set over the course of one day, with moments from the past woven in, it follows Claire as she questions the direction her life has taken. Her encounter with an old flame brings buried thoughts to the surface, making her reassess everything from her marriage to her daily routine. The mix of chaos, humour, and emotion in her story makes it an engaging read. While some of her choices were frustrating, they felt real and added depth to the narrative. A light, thoughtful read perfect for your summer stack.

4.5/5 ⭐️
Third Person POV, Single narrative
Dual timeline

This is a clever “mom-com” that takes place over the course of a day, following Claire around and hearing her internal thoughts and struggles of being a mom, employee, partner, friend, and community member. The narrative hops to the past quite often and then sometimes even does it again while we’re already in the past. So the timeline hopping can be a little confusing to follow along with at first.
Claire’s story is so relatable. The constant societal pressure, the relationship struggles, and the never ending demands from wearing so many hats.

Thank you Severn House for providing a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Master storyteller Liz Alterman (favorite author) returns following her thriller, The House on Cold Creek Lane (top audiobook of 2024), with her sixth novel, CLAIRE CASEY'S HAD ENOUGH

A forty-something wife and mother of three has had enough and is tired of being taken for granted in this charming, sassy, and witty mom-com.

Claire is seeking validation from someone. Someone who reminded her she was once a confident, fun, and engaging woman.

About...

In the familiar setting of New Jersey suburbs, we meet Claire Casey, a forty-six-year-old mom of three boys (Max 14, Henry, 12, and Joe, 8) and a wife to Paul for sixteen years (sometimes she feels like he is a fourth son).

Her life, like many of ours, is a delicate balance of love, chaos, and the constant struggle to be seen and heard.

Things are hectic, and she feels ignored and disregarded. The last straw was when her husband failed to pick her up at the airport, so she decided she wanted a separation.

It has been four months since she told Paul to leave, and she had been angry that day. She had told only one person, Bea (age 78), her friend Julie's mom. (loved Bea). Claire was not sure whether this was permanent or temporary.

Then there was Alex. A former boyfriend, she had seen at a recent college reunion. They have been flirty emailing. What if? They had both married someone else, and now he is divorced, and she is separated. When she finally decides to meet him, she is nervous.

Is this what she wants, or is she just looking for a time when she felt beautiful, alive, and loved?

My thoughts...

Cleverly told over thirteen hours in September, we get to see all of Claire Casey's emotions up close and personal. She feels she has lost herself and spends all her time caring for everyone else.

When she reconnects with Alex, she must make a decision. To risk her current marriage and life for one she left behind years ago? It had been eighteen years since she was with another man.

I love the popular "mom-coms," a type of romcom (romantic comedy) that often focuses on the challenges and joys of motherhood.

Liz's narrative is a delightful blend of humor and heart, a perfect reflection of the rollercoaster that is motherhood. She skillfully weaves in the struggles and triumphs of parenting, work-life balance, and relationships, keeping us entertained.

Hilarious, laugh-out-loud, thought-provoking, and heartwarming, the author keeps you laughing as you follow Claire's journey. Highly relatable. If you are a mom, we all remember those days of raising families and feeling like we weren't appreciated. Of course, as a nana, we hear about the drama from teen grandchildren (from afar).

As I mentioned in our upcoming interview, Liz could be a stand-up comedian. Check out my QA to find out more about this.

Moms will appreciate. I raised two sons and three stepsons, and often there were 10-12 boys at the house on the weekends, but it was fun. However, there's a lot of work involved in attending all their sports activities, practices, homework, playing taxi, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and more. So highly relatable.

I love how Claire uses humor as her go-to strategy when defusing conflict. However, sometimes we have to take a step back to appreciate what we have and let others respect us.

The characters in the book are not only relatable, but also lovable. From the wild viral video to the endearing Casey, and the hilarious dynamics with Alex's ex and kids, friends, as well as Paul and the kids, readers will find themselves deeply invested in their lives. I love the ending.

"If I may be so bold, dear, are you hoping to reconnect with an old love or with an old version of yourself?"—Bea to Claire

Whether Liz is writing mom-coms, thrillers, literary, comedy, or a memoir, she is funny, upbeat, and a fabulous storyteller, keeping you glued to the pages! Readers are going to devour CLAIRE CASEY.

I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next! I look forward to reading her memoir.

Interview...

Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries QA with Liz on June 3 (pub day) for behind-the-scenes of the book and this talented author.

Recs...

CLAIRE CASEY's HAD ENOUGH is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Elle Cosimano, Laurie Gelman, Sophie Kinsella, and Fiona Gibson.

Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
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What will Claire do? She's in a relatable situation of feeling overworked and ignored but then a reunion brings an old flame. This is a familiar plot but Claire's got a good voice and it might well make you smile. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

As someone who isn’t married and does not have kids, this book still resonated with me- there’s just not enough hours in a day to do what needs to be done!

Poor Claire is really going through it- every single thing that could go wrong in this one day of hers, does. On top of that, she’s separated from her husband and is contemplating going for a drink (and maybe more!) at the end of the day with an old flame, Alex. The book is her entire day leading up to that point, as well as flashbacks to fill in the gaps of just exactly how Claire got to this point in her life. It does get a tad confusing at times keeping up with the back and forth, but overall, a quick and enjoyable read.

The premise of this book had me eagerly anticipating it, unfortunately it is so poorly written that it was a struggle to finish.

Claire Casey has reached breaking point with her husband.. Is the grass greener on the other side?? Does a few months apart make them see things differently or will college reunion and reconnecting with Alex be to much to resist.
This book was brilliant from start to finish. I did have to reread some bits where the timeline jumped but that was a me problem being tired rather than the book itself.

Claire is struggling with her husband and sons. Being a mother myself, I can relate to her in so many ways. I like that this book was funny and very well plotted. If you’re a mom, this is a must read! I’ve enjoyed Liz Alterman’s other novels, but this one was very different in the best way!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Claire’s frustration is relatable. Liz Alterman writes the struggles of motherhood so well! Her latest takes place over the course of a day in a fun mom-com! If you like realistic & fun womens fiction, read this!

This book had me laughing out loud more than once. Every email, text, and phone call seems to crank up Claire’s stress—and it’s relatable AF. The witty, "mom-com" tone and clever domestic humor make this a perfect palate cleanser.

But there’s also emotional depth as Claire stumbles through the chaos of her present. She’s forced to reflect on the dreams she abandoned, the choices she made, and all the “what ifs.” Would a different path have made her feel less stuck?

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Claire’s story is sharp, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. It captures the messiness of midlife, marriage, and self-discovery in a way that feels honest and cathartic. If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing yourself while trying to do it all, this one’s for you. It's a perfect summer beach read!