You Be Mother by Meg Mason
The only thing Abi ever wanted was a proper family. So when she falls pregnant by an Australian exchange student in London, she cannot pack up her old life in Croydon fast enough, to start all over in Sydney and make her own family. It is not until she arrives, with three-week-old Jude in tow, that Abi realizes Stu is not quite ready to be a father after all. And he is the only person she knows in this hot, dazzling, confusing city, where the job of making friends is turning out to be harder than she thought. That is, until she meets Phyllida, her wealthy, charming, imperious older Neighbour, and they become almost like mother and daughter. If only Abi had not told Phil that teeny tiny, small lie, the very first day they met…
Imagine the warmth of Monica McInerney, the excruciating awkwardness of Offspring and the wit of Liane Moriarty, all rolled into one delightful, warm, funny and totally endearing novel about families – the ones we have, and the ones we want – and the stories we tell ourselves about them.
Review: Newly minted mother Abi arrives with literally the bags on her back and the newborn in her arms in Australia, in pursuit of her exchange student boyfriend Stu. After a desperately sad childhood in London, all Abi wants is a family. But Abi quickly realizes that Stu isn't ready to be a father. Her only solace is her wealthy, charming, and much older neighbor Phyllida who quickly becomes her only friend, mentor, and a mother figure.
This is the second novel I've read by Meg Mason and her writing and the characters she creates are delightful. I felt the deepest sympathy for Abi in this novel. She really is treating rather horribly by everyone in this novel yet is resolutely kind and quietly goes about doing her best. In more rotten luck, her occasional lapses in judgement have severe consequences. But Phil is the true standout star. It's clear that people are drawn to her, as her children reference multiple times. I loved her complex family dynamics, the depth and nuances to her character, and the bond she shares with her daughters and also Abi, who becomes almost like a daughter to her.
Everyone in this novel has suffered loss and a lot of pain. But they also have beautiful, tender moments. Mason is particularly adept at showing the connection between women. Ultimately this is a novel about two women, both of whom are going through a very dark and lonely time in their lives, who find solace and support in each other, even if they do so imperfectly. A moving story that I truly enjoyed.
Stars: 4
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