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Chris Manby
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Chrissie Manby
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A Proper Family Holiday: A heartwarming and laugh-out-loud page-turner of the ups and downs of family life Kindle Edition

by Chrissie Manby (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,893 ratings

'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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Proper Family
  2. Print length
    401 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Hodder & Stoughton
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    5 Jun. 2014
  7. File size
    3.3 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

'The perfect summer escapist read' ― www.chicklitcentral.com

Praise for WHAT I DID ON MY HOLIDAYS ― -

An absolute beaut for the deckchair . . . Manby's writing is effortlessly funny, but it's the warmth behind the comedy that kept me glued ― Saga

'Smart and entertaining, beach reading doesn't get much better than this!' **** ― Closer

'Manby's novels are made for holidays - light enough to pick up and put down, but entertaining enough to keep you happy by the pool.' ― Glamour

'A gloriously delicious read! ... Packed with warm characters and hilarious situations' ― www.handwrittengirl.com

About the Author

Chrissie Manby is the author of seventeen romantic comedies including A PROPER FAMILY HOLIDAY, THE MATCHBREAKER and SEVEN SUNNY DAYS. She has had several Sunday Times bestsellers and her recent novel about behaving badly after a break-up, GETTING OVER MR RIGHT, was nominated for the 2011 Melissa Nathan Award.

Chrissie was raised in Gloucester, in the west of England, and now lives in London. Contrary to the popular conception of chick-lit writers, she is such a bad home-baker that her own father threatened to put her last creation on www.cakewrecks.com. She is, however, partial to white wine and shoes she can't walk in.

You can follow her on Twitter @chrissiemanby, or visit her website www.chrissiemanby.co.uk to find out more.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00B8TBUTW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 5 Jun. 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 0
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.3 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 401 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1444742749
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Proper Family
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,893 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Chris Manby

    Chris Manby

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    C.J. Wray is a pseudonym of bestselling British romcom writer Chrissie Manby. Writing under several names, she is the author of more than 40 books. She’s written features (and obituaries) for several newspapers and had a long-running column in The Independent Online. More recently, she has worked as a ghostwriter, helping a variety of people from WW2 veterans to soap stars to tell their true stories.

    You can follow her on Instagram and Threads as @authorcjwray and @chrissiemanbyauthor

    See more on the author's page
  2. Chrissie Manby

    Chrissie Manby

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,893 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an enjoyable holiday read with a light-hearted feel, and they appreciate how the story unfolds. Moreover, the book features well-developed characters and is written with humor, making it a relaxing read. However, customers note that the book is very predictable.

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94 customers mention ‘Readability’94 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable for holiday reading, particularly noting it's great for beach reading and serves as excellent light summer reading.

"...The whole book was absolutely brilliant, the main storyline was really happy, but had some touching moments too, the scene between Jack and Chelsea..." Read more

"I loved this easy to read book! The story is very relatable with a touch of romance! A bit girly at times, but also funny and sad!..." Read more

"...This was a perfect summer read; light and engaging but not too dramatic and with a little sprinkling of humour!..." Read more

"...The parts with Chelsea and her nephew were really enjoyable and I did laugh out loud a few times, particularly with the kids club olympics!..." Read more

34 customers mention ‘Storyline’34 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, appreciating how the story unfolds and the unfolding life stories, with one customer noting its good pace.

"...brilliant, the main storyline was really happy, but had some touching moments too, the scene between Jack and Chelsea on their last night sharing a..." Read more

"I loved this easy to read book! The story is very relatable with a touch of romance! A bit girly at times, but also funny and sad!..." Read more

"...This was a perfect summer read; light and engaging but not too dramatic and with a little sprinkling of humour!..." Read more

"...I also liked how there was a more serious side to the story with the secret the parents were keeping and I would like to find out how that ends...." Read more

21 customers mention ‘Humor’21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, describing it as a wonderful and relaxing read.

"...A bit girly at times, but also funny and sad! A good book to read during a holiday!" Read more

"...read; light and engaging but not too dramatic and with a little sprinkling of humour!..." Read more

"...Jack was very funny and just totally typical of a tot on holiday wanting to cram as much excitement into his holiday abroad as he possibly could...." Read more

"Funny in places and not a bad read in general but the sisters were too annoying for me to empathise with them much...." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Character development’13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one mentioning they are easy to read and likeable.

"A really great read with good characters who you could care about...." Read more

"The storylines are interesting, and the characters are credible, described well and developed throughout the book...." Read more

"...This book is fun with great characters and just when you think you know how the ending is going to pan out. It doesn't. You guessed wrong!..." Read more

"...literature but it's a very nice readable romantic novel with likeable characters. And it all ends happily!" Read more

13 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and light-hearted, though some mention it is sad in parts.

"...A bit girly at times, but also funny and sad! A good book to read during a holiday!" Read more

"This was an easy to read holiday book. It was feel good and it didn't take me long to read it...." Read more

"...Kind and caring book ...... Good to read and relaxing to read. Good to read and relaxing to read too" Read more

"Don't usually go for this type of book but glad I did. Light hearted, though sad in parts. Worth a read." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Predictability’0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book very predictable.

"...The book is riddled with clichés, blatant stereotyping and predicability...." Read more

"It became a very predictable and eventually quite boring read, disappointing and not up to author’s usual standard" Read more

"Good holiday reading material. This is a nice easy read although a little predictable. I would recommend this book to others." Read more

"Easy read found it a bit predictable." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Rachale's Reads
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous beach read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 September 2014
    Verified Purchase
    OMG! Where do I even start with this? I have loved Chrissie Manby’s book ever since I read Deep Heat ages ago. Her last book ‘What I did on my holidays’ was amazing, and was published in 2012, so I had a looooong wait till this one was published and it was so worth the wait! This book is such a great read, you instantly get absorbed into the story, and with Chrissie’s descriptive writing you can perfectly imagine Hotel Volcan and Playa Bravas.

    The Benson Family are your typical working class family and they are wonderful. All individual and easy to relate to. I think Chelsea was my favourite Benson, she seemed really misunderstood. Everyone seemed to think that she thought she was better than everyone else, but inside she had struggles of her own. I really loved her story with Jack and how they became close, 2 unlikely allies! Jack himself was hilarious, absolutely adored him!

    I felt really sorry for Ronnie, she has a lot on her plate with money troubles and other family issues, and you can really see it all get on top of her. I was wishing she gave her sister some slack though, She resented Chelsea, though it was understandable why she reacted like that, it must have been hard seeing our sister live (in Ronnie’s view) a more successful life free of worry and responsibility.

    The whole book was absolutely brilliant, the main storyline was really happy, but had some touching moments too, the scene between Jack and Chelsea on their last night sharing a room bought a tear to my eye! On the other hand one of the side stories, Bill and Gloria was hilarious, their final scene meeting the whole family was so funny, one of the most memorable moments in the book, and definitely the funniest.

    I’ve seen a few book bloggers comment that this was Chrissie’s best yet. I had my doubts, surely nothing could topple ‘What I did on my holidays’ from the top? However, I was happily proven completely wrong, this really is the best yet and I cannot wait till the Christmas installment (2 books in 1 year, a real treat!). This book is simply fabulous!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • I Kovbel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt and captivating!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this easy to read book! The story is very relatable with a touch of romance! A bit girly at times, but also funny and sad!

    A good book to read during a holiday!
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  • Alt_kt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Summer Read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I've read What I Did On My Holidays by Chrissie Manby and thought it was hilarious so when i saw A Proper Family Holiday i couldn't resist! This was a perfect summer read; light and engaging but not too dramatic and with a little sprinkling of humour! I loved Chelsea's character development from Stiff London Lass to Cool Auntie Chelsea to little Jack. I have to say, Jack was actually my favourite character! He was so adorable and he managed to give Chelsea a change of heart in a week!

    Would recommend to anyone who loves a chicklit book!
    One person found this helpful
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  • C Saunders
    3.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I've never read a Chrissie Manby book before but as this was recommended if you enjoy Sophie Kinsella (which I do) I decided to give it a go.

    What happens when a family all go on holiday together? That's what happens with the Bensons. It's far from plain sailing but might they just learn to get along and, shock, actually like each other?

    This is your typical book of this genre but I actually enjoyed it and found myself wanting to know what would happen. The parts with Chelsea and her nephew were really enjoyable and I did laugh out loud a few times, particularly with the kids club olympics! I also liked how there was a more serious side to the story with the secret the parents were keeping and I would like to find out how that ends.

    Enjoyable and perfect for reading on the beach or for light entertainment. I notice there are two further books about the family and I am looking forward to reading them.
    Helpful
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  • j
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story dodgy ending
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A really great read with good characters who you could care about. However the ending tried to tie everything up neatly and almost seemed an afterthought or the author had run out of time. A shame because I really enjoyed the rest of it!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jude Faulkner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book. Related to the common seeming family who have a holiday in a dog rough hotel complex in Lanzarote and are joined by one of the daughters who lives in London and thinks she's above them all as she's left her working class background far behind. Full of life's ups and down sand the problems families hide as well as the fights and quarrels which happen after sibling misunderstandings. Could have been my family in this book. The author doesn't skimp on the length of her books either and this is at least 100 pages longer than a lot of books I have read lately.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Lupaul
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delivery of my amazon package.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My order was delivered today and was delivered with care. Really pleased, both with the delivery and with the product.
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  • Ann L
    4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This was an easy read, fairly predictable but I enjoyed it. Only thing I didn't like was the constant use of "bored of". I know it's pedantic but surely a well published author could write "bored with". Just a small thing but I found it really irritating. Having said that I shall buy her next book when it is released as it continues the story of this family and I am not yet bored with them!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • girl about town
    2.0 out of 5 stars Ziemlich anspruchslos und öde
    Reviewed in Germany on 30 April 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Als ich bei ca. 25% des Buches angekommen bin, musste ich aufhören. Man kann 10 Seiten darüber schreiben, wie die Gespräche einer Familie im Urlaub ablaufen (im Stil von "hab ich nicht", "hast du doch", hab ich nicht", hast du doch" etc. etc.), man MUSS es aber nicht.
    Habe dann ein paar Seiten übersprungen, um zu sehen, ob noch etwas interessantes passiert, dem war aber nicht so.
    Report

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