Notes for the Next Time

An Adrian Mole for the Hormonally Challenged Mum

Addled mother-of-three – no name given – finds her identity has been buried under layers of clutter in her unkempt home, and the unrelenting demands of children. When she admits to no longer being able to cope, her very own ‘listening angel’ enters her life in the guise of Prentiss Prine, a supposed good Samaritan from the local charity set up to give support to those in need of a friend.

So why can’t she get a word in edgeways, as Prentiss regales her with tales from her exotic life? And why is her husband’s mood suddenly so elevated – especially when a certain angel is hovering nearby?

Thus unfolds a dark and hilarious journey into the wilds of suburbia, where unforgettable characters dwell – such as ‘Shouting Barbara’, and Trevor, the family-values spouting local politician with a secret life – and the unexpected is never far away.

Told through diary-style musings, Notes for the Next Time explores the murky depths beneath the smooth surface of life in a hilarious, surprising and genuinely moving read.

And what looks to be the final nail in the coffin of our mum-on-the-edge’s ebbing sanity may actually provide the much-needed catalyst for change.

Eirin Thompson is a mum of three and worked as a newspaper journalist before turning to novel writing. She has recently completed a masters degree from the Open University degree programme at Queen's University, Belfast. She now lives in County Armagh.