Natasha and Mitchell are middle-aged parents of daughters Lara and Willow, navigating their way through busy work and social lives. On the surface, everything seems perfect, but lurking underneath are doubts and lies, as Natasha tries to make a go of her fledgling interior design business and Mitchell works from home trading on the stock markets. As Mitchell becomes more and more withdrawn and the spark seems to have left their marriage, Natasha begins to question if this is really the life she wants. She finds herself dreaming about the town’s charming new locksmith, Jesse. But what does she really know about this man?

I found the first half of this book a bit slow and was often frustrated by Natasha ignoring her intuition, and I questioned some far-fetched decisions made by the couple. The second half of the book is where things pick up, as it moves into questioning Jesse’s background and motivations. This part of the story is far more compelling, and I looked forward to getting the answers. The highlight in the story is the friendship between Natasha and her girlfriends, especially Monica, who was very loyal and caring of Natasha, even when she vehemently disagreed with her decisions.

Looking Out is an easy, comforting read and I enjoyed the insight into this family’s life. Good for book clubs as it will prompt discussion.

Reviewed by Brooke Michie

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fiona McCallum was raised on a cereal and wool farm near Cleve on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula and remained in the area until her mid-twenties, during which time she married and separated. She then moved to Melbourne and on to Sydney a few years later. Celebrating 10 years as a published author in 2021, Fiona currently resides in Adelaide where she writes heart-warming stories that draw on her rich and contrasting life experiences, love of animals and fascination with human nature.

Her first novel, Paycheque, was published in 2011 and became a bestseller. In the 12 years since, Fiona has written another 14 bestselling novels. Looking Out is Fiona’s sixteenth book.

Visit Fiona McCallum’s website