Geraldine and her apricot poodle are usually reluctant to leave her pretty little mews house in St John’s Wood.

But what with her sister moving in with two pugs, and her daughter unexpectedly appearing on her doorstep – both the victims of dumping by their partners – Geraldine and her bijou home can barely take the strain.

#AwayWeekend #LesleyFernándezArmesto @BooksQuadrant @GracePublicity #blogtour

So it’s hard to resist the invitation from the handsome, enigmatic Ellis to accompany him for the weekend to his old university – All Saints, Indiana. Especially when the trip includes travel on his friend’s private plane. Of course, she knows nothing about American football, or anything about his friends. She doesn’t even know that much about him. But who cares? With her bag perfectly packed, she’s jet-set ready for a wonderful few days. What can possibly go wrong? 

Hilariously satirical about English and American manners, Lesley Fernández- Armesto is Nancy Mitford in the time slot of Ocado. She’s Absolutely Fabulous meets Alexander McCall Smith. 

My Review

Geraldine is divorced. Her military ex-husband Jonty has run off with Sally, leaving Geraldine with only her apricot poodle Bolly. She now lives in a tiny mews house in St John’s Wood. Then she meets Ellis, smooth, handsome, American, and a dead ringer for Cary Grant. He invites her to go to Indiana with him for the All Saints football match. As her sister and her two pugs, her daughter Cassie and God knows who else, are coming to stay, it couldn’t be better timing. But little does she know what she’s let herself in for. It would be my worst nightmare.

This was so funny. Geraldine’s observations about the Americans she meets at the football match are hilarious. The yanks (apart from functioning alcoholic Barb) all find her a bit weird. That’s because they have no idea what she’s talking about, but put her eccentricity down to her ‘Englishness’. Not that I think Geraldine is that wonderful herself. She’s a terrible snob, who does basically nothing except go to the theatre and lunch with her friends. My favourite bit is when she quotes Lord Byron, ‘The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold and his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold (the colours of the All Saints team). ‘Brian?’ says Hal, ‘Is he here?’ ‘Byron, Lord Byron.’ Hal took another bite….’The Syrians? Where do they come into it?’

Then there is the scene when a group of Jonty’s friends are in France including Giles and Phyllida, and Jonty’s mother Mrs Acton-Payne who talks openly about how wonderful ex-wife Geraldine was in front of boring second wife Sally. It was so hilarious, I literally laughed out loud. Grandson Rupert’s comments add to the hilarity. Shame we didn’t see him again.

But back to Ellis. I’m not keen on him either. He’s a bit of a prat and all the terms of endearment he uses like ‘my love’ and ‘sweet dream’ (puts fingers down throat in imitation of vomiting) or whatever, are worse than ex-husband Jonty calling her ‘old thing’ (my husband wouldn’t dare). It’s all a bit politically incorrect at times, so please don’t be offended. It’s part of what makes it so funny.

Don’t expect a suspenseful mystery or a thriller, or a murder (though you may want to kill a few of the characters by the end). This is a character-driven book full of brilliantly written observations from either side. It will have you crying tears of laughter and of course there are dogs. Lots of them.

Many thanks to Grace Pilkington Publicity @GracePublicity for inviting me to be part of the #blogtour.

About the Author

Lesley Fernández-Armesto read War Studies at King’s College, London. She has written for The Times, ghosted an African president’s autobiography, and adapted Shakespeare’s As You Like It for an opera. She is never seen without her dachshunds. Away Weekend is her first novel.