BOOK REVIEW: The Rest of Me by Katie Marsh

They say ‘write what you know’ and that is exactly what Katie Marsh has done with her new novel. The Rest of Me.
It’s the story of Alex, a woman who organises the lives of her ailing husband Sam and their two daughters, lurching from to-do lists to wall planners without ever finding time to be kind to herself. She works full-time and is always under pressure, dashing from work to pick-ups to home without ever having time to breathe.
Alex is also a “self-bully”. She constantly sets herself new targets and berates herself when she doesn’t meet them. She focuses on what’s going wrong, never giving herself credit for anything that has gone well. Her inner voice is permanently set to critical.
When Alex gives her husband Sam a kidney to save his life she opens herself up to complications she didn’t foresee, which strains her marriage and her relationship with her daughters- eventually forcing her to stop running and to face up to a past she has buried for years.
The Rest of Me is about what happens when Alex confronts the mistakes and secrets that shaped her, and learns to be kinder to herself.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 392

The Rest of Me is Katie Marsh’s fourth novel but the first of hers that I have read. I found it to be a very up-lifting read, Katie Marsh is warm and witty and not afraid to explore emotive subjects.

Alex is a driven and focused career woman; she’s had to be recently as her husband Sam has been very ill so she has had to support the whole family physically and financially. The book begins with Alex making a huge sacrifice, in order to save Sam, she donates her own kidney. In her head, getting Sam better will solve everything. But after the operation, Alex suffers some complications and everything is under strain again, her marriage, family and career. Alex’s troubles lead her to confront her past and most importantly to realise just how critical she is of herself. She is her own worst enemy, setting herself unrealistic targets and then ultimately punishing herself when she fails to meet them. If Alex wants a better future for her and Sam and their daughters Jenna and Izzy then she must learn to be kinder to herself.

I found the relationship between Alex and her daughters particularly interesting. I could identify with the complex relationship between a mother and daughter and how sometimes when you are trying to help your child, you inadvertently push them away.

The front of this proof copy suggested that fans of Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse would enjoy this and I agree. The story is emotive and touching without being overly sentimental. I think this will be a very popular summer read.

Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of the book to review.