The School Gates by Nicola May @nicolamay1

Book Description:

WINNER OF BEST AUTHOR READ AWARD – FESTIVAL OF ROMANCE

At 3.10pm every weekday, parents gather at Featherstone Primary in Denbury to collect their children. For a special few, the friendships forged at the school gates will see them through lives filled with drama, secrets and sorrows. When Yummy Mummy Alana reveals the identity of her love-child’s father, she doesn’t expect the consequences to be quite so extreme. Ex Czech au-pair Earth Mummy Dana finds happiness in her secret sideline, but really all she longs for is another child. Slummy Mummy Mo’s wife-beating husband leads her down a path she never thought possible, and Supper Mummy Joan has to cope when life deals her a devastating blow. And what of Gay Daddy Gordon? Will he be able to juggle parenthood and cope with his broken heart at the same time? Four very different mothers. One adorable dad. And the intertwining trials and tribulations that a year at the primary school gates brings.

My Thoughts:

We are introduced to quite a few characters of which the connection is their children all go to the same school. They all live quite different lifestyles with Dana and Alana having wealth on their side where as for Mo she has to watch the pennies. Daddy Gordon is both a mum and dad to twins of which I loved the parts that featured him as they were never dull!

All four characters are facing various issues in their personal lives. Whilst overall it is a light-hearted read, it very much focuses on relationships. It was interesting to see each character and how their relationships changed throughout the story. With Mo, not only are things changing with her husband, we also get to see a lot of her and her best friend and whilst I loved, I did find myself questioning some of her actions.

The School Gates was a fun and entertaining read that made me quite happy that my own life is relatively boring compared to what the characters get up to in this book. It felt a bit like catching up with friends and having a good gossip! The stork flicks between each of the characters and they had me that hooked that before I realised it, I was already halfway through. The second half went quickly as well and I felt a bit deflated when I got to the end as I had so enjoyed these characters and didn’t want to say goodbye. An engrossing page turner!