Sam Baker (1) (1966–)

When Eve falls in love with Ian, a widower, she understands he’s a package deal — but doesn’t quite realize what that means until three living, breathing, scowling children are before her, resolutely telling Eve she’s not their mum.

Not that she’s trying to be, mind you. She’s not quite sure what she’s doing — other than loving their father. It’s through these difficulties and reaching out to Clare, Eve’s best friend, that she begins to realize how common it is for women show more to be thrust into unconventional family situations, playing stepmother to children who may or may not be prepared to welcome them.

Clare herself is wrestling with the sudden reappearance of Will, her teen daughter’s father — a man who has been MIA for the past 14 years of Louisa’s life. Add to this mix Lily, Clare’s younger sister, dating a man with a daughter; Melanie, a successful business woman dating an IT professional with a child of his own; and Mandy, an overtaxed mother struggling to blend her teens with her boyfriend’s brood. Together, the ladies form an impromptu support group — and reach out to one another, especially when life gets tough . . . then tougher.

Samantha Baker’s The Other Mothers’ Club was an entertaining, often poignant look at what it means to form a family, create new friendships, become a parental figure (even when skeptical) and form attachments where you didn’t think possible. If you can get past the approximately 1,000 characters in this story — perhaps by drawing a map, as I contemplated — it’s an enjoyable read.

Set in present-day London, Baker’s characters are all incredibly different women with one thing in common: a stepmother link. Either they are one, want to be one, had one, will soon become one — whatever it is, that stepmother persona is lingering over them. Eve’s story kicks us off and, through the novel, is the plot we most return to — and the one in which I was most invested.

The thing holding me back from giving The Other Mothers’ Club a glowing review is, as I mentioned, all the people. Honestly, I think Melanie and Mandy’s storylines could have been cut completely and we wouldn’t have missed a thing. I guess it’s not much of a “club” if it only includes three members — two best friends and a sister — but hey, that would have cut down on the page count . . . and my confusion levels. No matter what they said or did, I never got close to Mandy or Melanie. They felt severely undeveloped as characters and only distracted me from the more interesting, compelling plotlines.

What kept me reading were the poignant moments, like when Clare realizes having her first love back in her life means actually having to share her daughter — their daughter, the one Will wanted nothing to do with, for the first time in her life. As the years have passed and Clare has thrown herself completely into motherhood, she realizes what’s given up in order to give Lou everything she needs, and without any help. And it’s a lot. That’s a familiar trope, sure, but Baker’s writing elevates it to a different level.

With so many families having stepdads and stepmoms, stepgrandparents and stepchildren, it’s amazing to me a book like this hasn’t already been written (or have I just missed it?). And by the close of it, I really cared about Eve, Clare, Lou and Lily — and was actually sorry to see it end. No need to be a stepmother to enjoy this story of friendship, change and love. Fans of women’s fiction, stories of motherhood and pregnancy and British chick lit will find plenty to enjoy in this one — just keep a homemade character map handy. show less

Eve has fallen in love with widower Ian, but his three children aren't as smitten as their father is. Navigating the hazards of stepparenting is an uncomfortable experience for Eve, particularly the outright hostility of 12 year old Hannah. Needing advice, Eve's best friend Clare suggests she meet with her younger sister Lily who's a part time stepmother to a three year old. Melanie has yet to meet her potential 10 year old stepdaughter but lonely and hoping for friendship, she joins the show more informal group, followed by Mandy who seems to have been successful in creating her blended family. The five women bond over their shared heartbreak, fears and joy.By bringing together Eve, Clare, Lily, Melanie and Mandy, Baker explores the modern minefield of relationships, parenthood and friendship and is able to provide multiple perspectives to the issues the characters face. Baker skilfully navigates the complex themes by creating a realistic cast.Eve and Clare are the dominant protagonists in the book, both facing very different challenges. Eve is the less sympathetic character, I felt she was quite self absorbed and there is a bitter edge to her that I never understood. I was more firmly on Hannah's side than hers, despite recognising that Eve was perhaps doing the best she could.I found Clare more likeable, I can empathise with her financial struggle and the difficulties of negotiating life with a teenage girl. I also find it much easier to understand Clare's fear of Will coming back into her daughters life. I think I might have been even less rational than Clare in the same situation.Despite my honest admiration for Baker's ability to develop sophisticated, multi faceted characters I just wasn't drawn in to the story the way I wanted to be. Partly I think because of my indifference towards Eve, and also because the issues don't relate to my experience. I think perhaps the story would be more appealing to someone who has been on either side of the stepparenting situation. show less

I’ve been on somewhat of a trend lately - reading two books almost back to back about stepmothers. The latest, The Stepmothers Support Group (aka The Other Mothers Club), centered on five women, in various stages of a stepmother’s life (with the exception of one character, but that too winds up changing).

Each woman has their own complexities. Eve is trying hard to be a friend to her oldest (almost) step-daughter, to no avail. Clare (although not quite a stepmother) is trying to forgive show more a former boyfriend for deserting her during her pregnancy and trying to understand why he’s returned after 14 years. Mel is trying to have a relationship with her company’s web-master who is also the father of a little girl. Mandy, the oldest of the group, brings wisdom and experience, after tons of stepmother experience. And finally, Lilly (Clare’s sister) is a young comedian trying to have a relationship of her own. These women come together in friendship and coffee to understand how to be stepmothers.

I enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were well developed. I developed strong opinions on each of them (which to me meant great writing). I can’t say I truly liked each of them, but I was able to see their point and empathize with their place in life. Though I’m not a stepmother, not even a mom – I enjoyed the perspectives in this book, and could have easily been in one or two of the characters’ shoes. show less

Helen Graham has come to live at Wildfell House, a dilapidated and huge house in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. She's seen as a mysterious person by gossips in the village and is keen to keep it that way but Gilbert Markham, a recently retired journalist, is very interested in her and her story.

There's a very clear nod to The Tenant of Wildfell Hall here, in both storyline and characters. I do wonder if trying to fit a story around another one actually hindered the author a little show more too much. Mostly this was a book that kept me turning the pages and it's an easy read in that respect, but it did lack something for me. There was very little suspense, yet there should have been quite a lot. There are a lot better psychological thrillers out there but nevertheless it was a reasonable read. show less