Frances, Parker, and Geraint are three very different people who found themselves with something unexpected in common. They are all being required to attend an anger management class. For each of them, this is their one opportunity to avoid harsher punishment after an angry reaction has gotten them in hot water. After meeting in class, they are assigned to garbage pick-up together as well and, before they know it, a friendship of sorts is born.
The story moves between the three characters, showing us how each of them ended up in anger management class – the moment when they snapped but also what brought them to that moment and why they were pushed over the edge. The basic premise is that these are three good people who have been pushed beyond their limits and reacted poorly but understandably.
As you can imagine, as Frances, Geraint, and Parker spend more time together, they learn to appreciate one another and begin to work together to solve some of their problems. While I didn’t predict everything that was going to happen, the story in general ended up the way I expected. Which certainly isn’t a bad thing for a fun, escapist novel that I read in about two days. I started it on audio but the narrator drove me crazy, particularly the voices she did for various characters, so I switched to a hard copy.
Nielsen has had a long career as both a TV writer and the author of middle grade novels and I think that is reflected in this, one of her first books for adults. Not just because there are characters here who write children’s books and work on TV sets but because it’s all so easily absorbable.
I did quite enjoy the Vancouver setting which felt realistic and nicely detailed. From Lee’s Doughnuts on Granville Island to the Safeway at Broadway & Macdonald, this is what I want from a story set in a city I know very well.
Karissa Reads Books 
I’ve actually never heard of a plot about anger management, so I’m interested, but the middle grade easiness would bother me. I recently quit a book because it felt too YA for me.
Yeah, personally I would have liked a little more oomph from the stories – the characters are all pretty black and white – but it was a quick and easy read so I didn’t have a lot of time to think about what it was lacking.
I’m also really interested in a plot about anger management, I think that’s a really unique premise for a book. And easily absorbable is the kind of book I like haha
I remember meeting Susin many years ago back when I was at Wordfest and she was a lovely human being too
I think you would enjoy this! I’m glad to hear Susin is a lovely person – somehow I get that feeling from reading her books!