A Proper Family Holiday: A heartwarming and laugh-out-loud page-turner of the ups and downs of family life (Proper Family)

by Chrissie Manby

'I loved the characters in the book. It sums up the chaos of each family holiday except I wanted to be there with the Benson family' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🏖️ 🐚 🏖️ 🍹 🏖️ 🐚 🏖️

Could you survive a week-long holiday with your entire family?

Newly single magazine journalist Chelsea Benson can't think of anything worse...

Your grubby small nephew torpedoing any chance of romance with the dishy guy you met on the plane.

Your eighty-five-year-old granddad chatting up ladies at the hotel bar.

Getting nothing but sarcastic comments from your older sister, who's always been the family favourite.

And all this is before your parents drop their bombshell.

Is a week enough time for the Bensons to put their differences aside and have some fun? Or is this their last ever proper family holiday?

Heartwarming, funny and fabulously frank, this is the perfect summer read for fans of Why Mummy Drinks, Alexandra Potter and Fiona Gibson. And provides a great excuse for ignoring your annoying family members...

Readers love A Proper Family Holiday:

'I finished it in a day!!... This book is 100% about family bonding and friendship' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I started reading this book on Thursday evening and finished it Friday... Loved the down to earth characters and their unfolding life stories. Very enjoyable' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Brilliant - perfect easy read for my holiday' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The perfect summer read... recommended for a lazy summers day or holiday read' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'It literally was like going on holiday with your average British family. It was funny, it was cringe-worthy, but it was proper... A wonderful read' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If you're looking for some great summer reads, definitely add this one to your beach bag!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I could not put this book down! It was a fun story which was hilarious and had lots of ups and downs throughout. I tried to predict what was going to happen next throughout each chapter only to be proved wrong' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Such a fantastic read! The characters had such personality and individuality... Absolutely recommend! Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• ISBN10: 1444742744
• ISBN13: 9781444742749
• Publish Date: 5 June 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Leah]

Chrissie Manby has long been a favourite of mine – her books have been making me laugh for years and she very rarely disappoints. So it was a very nice surprise when it was announced not only was she writing a new book, but it was the first of a new series! It’s actually her first series – all about the Benson family, and it starts with A Proper Family Holiday which is actually the perfect book to take with you on your holidays. It’s taken me a little while to read it, but reading it has had me wondering why I waited so long…

whatiloved

The Bensons are pretty much your average British family. They row, they fight, they argue, but at the end of the day they do love each other (even if they don’t admit it) and it’s so refreshingly nice to see a family holidaying together en masse. Because it provided a lot of hilarity, being your typical British holiday – all inclusive, more beer than you can keep up with, the ubiquitous footie shirts, and a spot of well-timed food poisoning and it was just great, the holiday spirit was really there.

I was a bit concerned at the start that Chelsea was a stuck-up so-and-so, but I eventually warmed to her – even if she was slightly dismissive of the islands I live on. I found myself quite ensconced with the Bensons actually, and I could quite happily join their little clan for their next adventure. Life would never be dull as a Benson, lemme tell you. I loved that the book just let me forget where I was for a few hours as I journeyed over to Lanzarote and I really, really loved the Bensons. I escpecially loved the little sub-plot with Chelsea and nephew Jack, they were so cute bonding together, despite Chelsea not really wanting to bond; I love that Jack won her over.

thenotsogood

I feel very bad, because I’m being picky but there were a couple of things that bugged me and there are SO finicky, but so annoying (to me). First up: When you’re flying with EasyJet these days, you do not pick your own seat. That’s Ryan Air, if I’m remembering correctly. EasyJet assigns seats and you sit in ‘em. (And I know, I flew with them in November.) Secondly: Lanzarote is not a third-world country. Toilets flush, and you can certainly put toilet paper down them. It also takes 4 and a half hours to fly to the Canaries. Not three.

See, SEE how picky I am? But those three inaccuracies bugged the life out of me, because a simple search would tell you how EasyJet seats passengers and whether or not Lanzarote has toilets capable of toilet paper. But that’s all and I only didn’t love it because I am finnicky, and picky, and pedantic.

verdict

I loved A Proper Family Holiday. It literally was like going on holiday with your average British family. It was funny, it was cringe-worthy, but it was proper. It was British. And while I would have preferred the Bensons came to Tenerife, I’m still happy Manby chose one of the other Canary Islands. I may complain about where I live a lot, but there’s no denying they are beautiful islands and it was nice to see it being appreciated (kind of, when Chelsea wasn’t insulting it). A wonderful read and I can’t wait to get stuck into A Proper Family Christmas. Considering what they’re like on holiday, I can’t wait to see the mayhem that unfolds with a Benson family Christmas…