Franny Calderwood is an eccentric 65-year old widow who lives alone with her dogs Whiskey and Soda, numerous portraits of her deceased husband, Frank, and an extensive liquor collection. Frannie used to be a children’s author and an artist, but following Frank’s sudden and tragic death, she’s now a recluse, avoiding friends and family who want to talk about Frank, or just be friendly and sociable. Her world is turned on its head when single mum, Sallyanne, angsty teenager Dee and eccentric eight-year-old Josh, move in, fleeing domestic violence, and she becomes ever more involved in their lives.
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What I loved:

Frannie and all her Franks. Truly, I could see myself in Frannie as the eccentric recluse, making ever more elaborate and outrageous excuses to avoid socialising with people who she felt obliged to socialise with. Her conversations with laundry Frank, kitchen Frank, lounge room Frank, studio Frank and the other Franks were original and entertaining.

I’ve seen some reviews describing Frannie’s efforts to avoid contact with friends and Frank’s persistent sister as ‘selfish’ but I disagree. Frannie came across as someone a little lost, but someone who enjoyed her own company, and deep down, was comfortable in her own skin.

Jacquie Byron handles Frannie’s drinking of alcohol to cope with the pain she couldn’t process in the sophisticated and mature way - and it was this (along with the characters of Dee and Josh) that I enjoyed most about the book. When Fannie's drinking got out of control in the story, Byron did not take the (abhorrent) moral purity route and have Frannie join AA or abstain from drinking. Instead, we have a character who learns moderation instead of the prohibition that I suspect many other authors would have chosen. But then, Byron is an Australian and this book is very much a book that gives an enthnographic and charming snapshot of middle class urban life. If you're an overseas (non-Australian) looking to get a glimpse of what life is really like in 2020s Australia, this is an excellent place to look.

I enjoyed the relationship Frannie, Sallyanne, Dee and Josh built, destroyed and then rebuilt. Dee and Josh with their authentic and lovable quirks really made me want to babysit them, too.

The only thing I wanted more of were Whiskey and Soda. There were not enough funny pupper moments.

Here's cheer's Big Ears (this is an Aussie drinking toast, for which the answer is: In your bum, chum! and this is NOT in anyway homophobic so please don't get your bra in a twist). I look forward to Jacquie Byron's next book.

Many thanks to @allenandunwin for the ARC copy.

There’s a lot to enjoy in this novel that is primarily about grief and coping with loss. There were a few laugh out loud moments amid the serious issues. The main character Franny Calderwood’s husband died in an accident three years earlier and has pretty much cut herself off from family and friends, even acquaintances (she changes where she walks her dogs) just to avoid the memories of her husband. Then a single parent family moves in next door and almost without her knowing it she becomes involved in their lives. She also has a major drinking problem which gets worse around anniversaries. There’s a light touch to the writing and the characters are believable. I loved Franny’s attitudes to lots of things and the kids are great too. I did think it dragged a little about two thirds of the way in and perhaps could’ve been shorter but still an excellent read.

Two Busy Bookclub November 2021 pick
Well if a novel about a prickly lonely older lady who is grieving for her husband, and hitting the gin and cocktails more regularly then she should, can be described as delightful then this is it.
Loved listening to this one. The Narrator is Nell Campbell, or Little Nell of Rocky Horror Picture fame. She hits all the notes just right.
I think I'm going to miss not being in Frannie's head.
Recommended.

Delightful