Lucky Day by Beth Morrey

 

Clover Hendry, wife, mother, and TV producer, is constantly on the go, doing everything for everyone, it's the only way she can guarantee that things are done correctly. When her morning routine seems to go from bad to worse she tells her boss exactly what she thinks of him and his meeting and takes off for a day of "What ifs?".

Beth Morrey has written some of my favourite heart-warming books in recent years so I was keen to read her latest novel, Lucky Day. In her previous two novels, Beth Morrey focuses on a central character who, through the help and support of a wider community, is able to find their place in society. This time around the central character, Clover, uses her own knowledge and skills to finally say "Enough is enough".

Clover's day doesn't start well, her husband has put the forks the wrong way up in the dishwasher. As with many of this kind of story, it's something utterly trivial that is the catalyst, the final straw. The dishwasher saga, combined with a headache, means Clover just knows it's going to be a bad day. Her tendency to catastrophise things results in her getting a bump to the head as she flees her train. When her boss holds one of his interminable meetings Clover can't take anymore and walks out of work.

With her newfound honesty and assertiveness Clover sets off on a day of adventure, one in which she refuses to accept any bullshit. We follow Clover through some hilarious situations where she speaks her mind. I admired Clover and her brutal honesty, along with her refusal to be patronised. The swimming pool scene was side-splittingly funny, the reactions of the staff were just so believable. As for the dress shop, I had "Pretty Woman" vibes as I cheered Clover on.

The old Clover was a doormat, sometimes it was easier to do things herself, rather than delegate, because she knew that the task would be done correctly. At other times, it was simply because she was too nice to be assertive. Her boss took advantage of these characteristics by piling extra work on her. Combined with members of her team not pulling their weight it was always going to lead to one thing and it was brilliant to witness Clover's epiphany.

By the end of the day Clover is able to settle a few scores and realises that going forward, she needs a mixture of the old and the new Clover.

Lucky Day by Beth Morrey will be published on 20th June 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Previously Creative Director at RDF Television, Beth Morrey now writes full time. Her debut novel, Saving Missy, was a Sunday Times bestseller and longlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award. Beth lives in London with her husband, two sons and two poodles.