Book Review: Who Do You Think You Are Maggie Pink? by Janet Hoggarth

I am pleased to be welcoming back Janet Hoggarth to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, Who Do You Think You Are Maggie Pink

Maggie Pink is a lot of things to a lot of people, but does she know who she really is?

Maggie is a mother to a stroppy teenager, a wife to a befuddled husband, and a daughter to two very different women. She has always known she’s adopted, but has she ever understood what that means? Not really.

Following the death of her mother, Maggie finally feels able to go in search of her birth mother Morag, and heads to the Highlands of Scotland with her disgruntled daughter Roxie in tow, leaving her crumbling marriage to worry about another day.

The family reunion is bittersweet, but everything is blown wide open when Roxie unearths Morag’s explosive teenage diaries. Why did Morag give Maggie away? What really happened all those years ago, and how have the echoes of the past resounded through the generations, like ripples in a puddle?

And when all the secrets and promises are out in the open, will Maggie finally have an answer to the question – who do you think you are Maggie Pink?

*****

Maggie Pink is a wife to Adam and a mother to teenager, Roxie. Mother and daughter do not have the best relationship.

Maggie has also always known that she was adopted.

When her mother dies, Maggie feels that it’s time to go looking for her birth mother, Morag.

However, the secrets and revelations are only just beginning.

I have previously had the opportunity on this blog to share an extract from Janet’s novel, The Single Mums Move On, and so when I was invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel, Who Do You Think You Are Maggie Pink?, I jumped at the chance and couldn’t wait to get started.

I knew from the books description that this novel was going to be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and I wasn’t wrong.

I did like the multiple viewpoints as it gave a real overall picture of what all these women were going through and thinking.

Maggie was someone I could relate to, having lost my own mother in my 30’s. To start with, she’s a hard character to get to know. She’s a closed book but as the plot progressed, you begin to understand why.

Roxie is a typical teenager but, like with Maggie, empathy for her builds throughout the novel as you see things from her point of view.

The plot, in my opinion, moves well and the characters are well rounded. The supporting characters, Fiona, Issy and Angus especially are wonderful.

This description of this Scottish town by the sea reminded me of where I grew up and I felt as though I was there. I could see the shops, smell the sea.

As usual, my aim is to give minimum spoilers. I found this novel had plenty of heart, warmth and many moments where I laughed out loud. It was a poignant, thought-provoking story that I will be thinking about for a long time yet.

Who Do You Think You Are Maggie Pink? is about identity, roots and family. It explores multiple generations of women who all come to realise that we all have secrets and experiences that have the power to either bring us together or pull us apart, if we allow them to as well as how we all have the capacity to misinterpret, misunderstand and have an incorrect perspective on what other people are going through.

I really enjoyed this novel. I hope you do too.

About Janet Hoggarth:

Janet Hoggarth is the number one bestselling author of The Single Mums’ Mansion and the highly successful Single Mums’ subsequent series.

She has worked on a chicken farm, as a bookseller, a children’s book editor, a children’s author, and as a DJ (under the name of Whitney and Britney!).

She lives with her family in East Dulwich, London. Her first book for Boldwood was published in 2022.

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Who Do You Think You Are Maggie Pink? was released by Boldwood Books on 16th June 2022. Click here to buy on Amazon and Waterstones.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.