Product Description

Is it better to forgive and forget, or should you just get even? Is it possible to live in the country and not lose your mind completely? Do chickens really make good pets? And what exactly is a hardy perennial? Alice Mayhew, part-time architect and full-time mother to Alfie, is to gardening what Alan Titchmarsh is to deep-sea fishing. So finding she's been volunteered to design a new garden for the village comes as a bit of a shock, because apart from anything else she's far too busy trying to convince Alfie that wearing green trousers doesn't make you Peter Pan, and that flying is best left to the experts Molly O'Brien is finding it hard enough coping with Lily (aged four and likes washing up) and Matt (aged thirty two and doesn't) before she discovers she's pregnant. And then there's Lola Barker, who causes havoc wherever she goes, and brings a whole new meaning to the word high-maintenance. Toddlers, jelly, bad behaviour, romance and gardening tips all loom large in Gil McNeil's hilarious and heartbreaking new novel. Stand By Your Man turns prejudices and assumptions upside down with humour and passion, telling it like it really is. Sometimes it's hard to be a woman...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12120 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'Thinking of moving to the country with your kids? Read this book instead.' Phil Hogan 'A funny and touching novel. I wish I'd written it.' Arabella Weir

Synopsis
Is it better to forgive and forget, or should you just get even? Is it possible to live in the country and not lose your mind completely? Do chickens really make good pets? And what exactly is a hardy perennial? Alice Mayhew, part-time architect and full-time mother to Alfie, is to gardening what Alan Titchmarsh is to deep-sea fishing. So finding she's been volunteered to design a new garden for the village comes as a bit of a shock, because apart from anything else she's far too busy trying to convince Alfie that wearing green trousers doesn't make you Peter Pan, and that flying is best left to the experts Molly O'Brien is finding it hard enough coping with Lily (aged four and likes washing up) and Matt (aged thirty two and doesn't) before she discovers she's pregnant. And then there's Lola Barker, who causes havoc wherever she goes, and brings a whole new meaning to the word high-maintenance. Toddlers, jelly, bad behaviour, romance and gardening tips all loom large in Gil McNeil's hilarious and heartbreaking new novel. Stand By Your Man turns prejudices and assumptions upside down with humour and passion, telling it like it really is. Sometimes it's hard to be a woman...

About the Author
Gil McNeil is a consultant at Brunswick Arts International and works with Sarah Brown on PiggyBank Kids. She lives in Kent.

Customer Reviews

formulaic
Gil McNeil's first book The Only Boy for me is one of my favourite books & I was really looking forward to reading Stand by Your Man. Unfortunately there has been no thought put into this new book it seems to have tried to follow the succesful formula of the first book, unfortunately she has followed it too closely. Both are stories of single mothers living in rural kent where all the characters work in advertising & architecture and in both books there are central characters called Alfie, Charles, James etc. This is a fun book if you haven't read the other, but if you have read it don't waste your money buying it again

I couldn't put it down!
I have only recently discovered reading for relaxation and pleasure as appose to studying.
This book has reaffirmed my love for reading, and helped me escape the worries of each day.
The characters are blissful and realistic, the storyline, although it has a common backbone, is riveting and funny. I found myself relating to the characters and some aspects of the story which hops and bounces along easily.
I love the twist, although I did scowl and shout at the book at one particular moment, which I won't give away.
I really think this book would suit anyone, particularly those who enjoy witty, but sensitive books about real life situations with idyllic twists.
I read it in the car (i wasn't driving), on the bus, in the bathroom, in bed, in the kitchen, in the park, at work (probably a bit too much at work) everywhere! i really found it hard to put it down and felt at a lose when i finished it, so much so i went and found another book by the same author - the only boy for me, which I'm working through now!

Stand By Your Man
I have read all three novels by Gil McNeil and have thoroughly enjoyed them. They are laugh out loud books that if you have young children or yours have grown up you can really relate to. Her heroines are like most of us, flawed and believable and I just wish I had great friends like them. I would highly recommend reading these books for a chance to escape into someone else's world, just don't read them on your own on a crowded train or you might clear the carriage on the other hand perhaps that's a good recommendation!