Franny is a woman of habit. She likes going out for lunch every week, she likes going to yoga and she likes her gin. She’s effectively a recluse most of the time and she loves her dogs, whisky and soda, almost as much as she loved her late husband, Frank. This has been her life for the entire 3 years since Frank’s death. Little does she know how much her life would change when a single mother with a 17 year old daughter and 9 year old son move in next door.

I picked up Happy Hour because I was heading away on holiday and wanted a nice, easy read. What I didn’t expect is to fall completely in love with Franny. She, in my opinion, is not a likeable character but the way she transforms throughout the story is fantastic. Dee & Josh are such great characters too. I love how Jacquie captures their personalities and how Franny clearly loves them dearly.

Two huge bonuses with this book for me - short chapters and it’s set in Cheltenham and the surrounding suburbs. 

I’m also a sucker for a good pet and Whisky & Soda are the goodest doggos ever 🐶 

Slight TW on this one - there’s mention of DV with one scene which is pretty descriptive. Also the underlying theme of alcoholism and mention of Frank’s death.