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.