The Bad Mother's Handbook

by: Kate Long

Published by: Ballantine Books

Reviewed by Erica Marston

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Cooper lives with her mother and her grandmother in a backward little English town. Often at odds, the three women struggle to deal with life's circumstances--the growing pains of teenage years, the frustration and heartbreak of old age and dementia, and the disappointment of living with the consequences of the choices they've made.

In The Bad Mother's Handbook, first-time novelist Kate Long artfully weaves together the perspectives of three generations of women creating very real, very human characters. Her poignant and often humorous story perfectly captures the awkward and often painful dance that so typically characterizes the relationship between mothers and daughters.

Long's fluid writing style and honest portrayal of some of life's most difficult challenges make for a story that won't soon be forgotten.

Armchair Interviews says: A book that will be appreciated by mothers and daughters alike