“I used to be quite fit, once upon a time. In fact, I once ran a 10k without abject humiliation. Now I get out of breath just contemplating a run, and my gym gear lies sweating in a plastic bag. My stomach muscles haven’t just separated — they’re filing for divorce.”
For 8 years, Clare Mackintosh wrote for Cotswold Life about the ups and downs of life with a young family in the countryside. In this memoir she brings together all of those stories – and more – for the first time. From keeping chickens to getting the WI drunk, longing for an Aga to dealing with nits, Clare opens the door to family life with warmth and humour and heart.
For those following my reviews, it is no secret I am a huge fan of Clare Mackintosh’s books. I discovered her writing in 2019 when I received a copy of her debut novel, I Let You Go, in the HT Brunch Gift Hamper. I read three of her books that year and have been keeping up with all her releases ever since.
A Cotswold Family Life was the only title I was unable to read because this was not available in India in physical format, at that time, and the kindle version was too expensive. (With the amount of books I buy, I simply do not have the budget to pay import price on books which is approx. four times the regular price.)
She posted a story about this book last August and I wrote to her this was her only book I hadn’t read. Generous as she is and always a big supporter of my bookish craft pairings, she immediately offered to send me a copy. I chose to save it for a special occasion and picked it up on the 1st of March because it is my birthday month.
A Cotswold Family Life is an intimate glimpse into the author’s life with her husband, three children, and the myriad assortment of pets and farm animals they had while they lived in Chipping Norton.
“I have always loved the Cotswolds. I think I loved them even before I found them, in that half-formed ideal one has of where to put down roots. Somewhere peaceful, green, where the road meanders between drystone walls and from town to town, and a strip of blue bursts from brook to river and back again.”
Written as a collection of essays/short stories, this memoir is divided into the twelve months of the year with each month giving you a seasonal tour of the Cotswolds. The author covers a host of topics that make up their life, such as marriage, parenting, PTA, community, social endeavours, sport, fashion, feminism, holidays.
A far cry from the gripping psychological suspense thrillers she is best known for, this reads like a personal diary. The author makes astute observations of life around her and reflects on her thoughts as she draws you in with different emotions. Whether its humour, dealing with grief, frustration at losing control, or counting unexpected blessings, she makes it more relatable than one could imagine.
I’d originally planned to read this over the weekend, covering a few months every day. Halfway through the January section I realised I wasn’t going to stop until I’d read it cover to cover.
Written in Clare Mackintosh’s spell-binding style, this is an insightful peek into the life of a young family in the country, replete with love, laughter, and chaos that makes up their heart and soul. Reading this book felt like catching up with a friend I hadn’t heard from in ages. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a memoir as much as this. And I am positive, you will, too.
A Cotswold Family Life by Clare Mackintosh. This edition published in 2023 by Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown Book Group UK.
Book 7 of 2024.
Aquamarine Flavours Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.
Available on Amazon*.
About the Author: Clare Mackintosh is a police officer turned crime writer, and the multi-award-winning author of six Sunday Times bestselling novels. Translated into forty languages , her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, have been New York Times and international bestsellers and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart.Find her on Twitter/X, Facebook, or Instagram and join the Clare Mackintosh Book Club.
*Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link which means, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Aquamarine Flavours 