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Eva Jordan

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183 Times a Year: A Witty and Heartfelt Family Drama (The Tree of Family Life Trilogy) Kindle Edition

by Eva Jordan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 806 ratings

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“A candid account of family life that we can all relate to . . . An absolutely astonishing, thought provoking, hilarious and life affirming debut novel.” —The Book Magnet

Meet Lizzie, the exasperated mother of Cassie, Connor, and stepdaughter Maisy. She gets by with good friends, cheap wine and talking to herself.

Teenager Cassie, the Facebook-tweeting, selfie-taking, music and mobile phone-obsessed daughter, hates everything about her life. She longs for a different existence and wishes her parents had never divorced.

However, the discovery of a terrible betrayal, and a brutal attack, throws the whole household into disarray. Lizzie and Cassie are forced to reassess the important things in life as they embark upon separate journeys of self-discovery . . .

Although tragic at times this is a delightfully funny exploration of domestic love, hate, strength and ultimately friendship. A poignant, heartfelt look at that complex and diverse relationship between a mother and daughter set amongst the thorny realities of today’s divided and extended families.

Mothers and daughters alike will never look at each other in quite the same way after reading this book—a brilliantly funny observation of contemporary family life.

“An emotional roller-coaster of a ride that details family life . . . [a] beautifully written debut novel from Eva Jordan that should appeal to men not just women. There are some very emotive comments contained within the story many will ring true for every reader. A highly enjoyable read.” —The Last Word Book Review

Don’t miss books two and three in the trilogy: All the Colours in Between and Time Will Tell

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eva Jordan is a published short story writer with a degree in English and History. She lives in a small town in Cambridgeshire with her partner Steve and three of their four children whom, she says, are a constant source of inspiration. Her career has been varied but storytelling through the art of writing is her passion. 183 Times A Year is her debut novel.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09C6PHBQH
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloodhound Books (May 20, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 20, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1895 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 408 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,627,279 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,354 in Women's Psychological Fiction
- #4,592 in Women's Divorce Fiction
- #7,807 in Psychological Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 806 ratings

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Eva Jordan

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Eva, who has a degree in English and History, describes herself as a lover of words, books, travel, and chocolate. She was born in Kent, has close family ties to London’s East End, but currently resides in Cambridgeshire. She describes her novels, 183 Times A Year, All The Colours In Between, Time Will Tell and A Gift Called Hope as family-based dramas that take a humorous but at times, tragic and poignant look at contemporary family life. Her fifth novel, Only You, a love story come psychological thriller, has just been released. Like her previous novels, Only You, which was inspired by a well-known and much respected celebrity, does not shy away from difficult subject matters. However, Eva always makes it her goal to leave her readers feeling uplifted and hopeful because she believes, despite the hardships of life, people can never have enough love or hope. As well as writing novels Eva also writes short stories and is a columnist and book reviewer for a local lifestyle magazine.

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4.2 out of 5

806 global ratings

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Portybelle

A very funny book which mothers of teen daughters will love!

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2015

Right from the opening part of the first chapter - which is very cleverly written, you'll know what I mean if you read it - I knew I was going to enjoy this book. I have to say that my two teenage girls are lovely but like any mother of teens I knew exactly how Lizzie felt about being almost frightened to say anything in case it was the wrong thing. If you are intrigued by the title of the book as I was, you do find out and I must say I think it may be an underestimate!

There were so many laugh out loud moments in this and one which particularly struck a chord was when Lizzie explained why she didn't like to go shopping with Cassie. She says "quite simply I have turned into my mother. Not the calm, older but wiser version of late but the one who blurts out comments like 'how short?' or 'is that a top or a skirt' or 'how much?' ". I honestly felt I was reading about myself. Or perhaps that's just what happens to all mothers of teens. It was funny reading Cassie's thoughts about her mum too and how she was so uncool, and annoying and generally so old. I remember having those thoughts too and yet here I am, the annoying old mum! I thought that the author did a great job of really capturing the voices of both her main characters.

For all it's a very funny book, it's not without its serious moments. A betrayal is revealed which threatens one of Lizzie's friendships and a serious incident makes the last quarter of the book a much more sombre read. But what comes out of this is that Lizzie's family, despite its arguments and differences, really pulls together and shows its strength. In the very last part of the novel there are some very moving and thought-provoking phrases, including this one: "If you spend your life craving the seemingly perfect lives of others you are in serious danger of missing what you actually have. Wanting deprives us of contentment and happiness". Very true, Ms Jordan, very true.

One person found this helpful

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D. Slonek

Quirky Connections

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2016

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This was a light read, filled with a wide variety of quirky, dysfunctional characters and infused with many humor filled moments. This book is about relationships and how people find each other, and their way and purpose in this world.

At the beginning, many of the characters were very self absorbed and difficult to like. In this extended and blended family, communication often suffered due to extreme busyness, self absorption and obsessions with social media and cell phones. Family members loved and yet disliked each other. A state of disharmony had become the norm.

Lizzie is a modern woman who wears many hats. She is a wife, ex-wife, mom, step-mom, daughter, friend and co-worker. As Lizzie lives her life, juggling her many roles, she and her loved ones experience happiness, sadness, routine, danger, quarrels, harmony, dependence, independence, frustration, gratitude, like, love and even a bit of magic.

This book was sprinkled throughout with many funny moments. My favorite was when Lizzie was attempting to eat a meal that had been lovingly prepared by her culinary challenged children. I so enjoyed laughing along with Lizzie, Conner and Cassie.

After a horrible tragedy struck, the whole tone of the story changed and deepened. The characters began to relate to each other in more meaningful ways and I began to care more for them.

This book was filled with funny moments, redeeming characters and moving storylines. A book worth reading.

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Kendra

A highly enjoyable read.

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2016

“Why had I been so unforgiving? Even Cassie had had the good sense to see it was just one stupid mistake.”

With a mortgage to pay, an ex-husband who is less than supportive (monetarily or otherwise), cuts being made at work, family illness and friend troubles, Lizzie has little time left to herself. Enter three children and a modern-day blended family and life becomes even more complicated. Her stepdaughter, Maisy–who prefers to be called Mania–hates her. As does her own daughter, Cassie, who refuses to so much as sit at the same table with her should they go out for coffee together, though she is more than happy to let her mother buy the drinks. Lizzie’s only consolation is 11-year-old Connor, who has yet to hit puberty, and who therefore still respects her and enjoys her company.

As the pressure at work mounts due to budget constraints, Lizzie struggles to cope. When Amber, a young, unemployed, library volunteer, confesses to Lizzie that she wants to become pregnant so she won’t have to continue looking for work (and failing to find it), Lizzie does her best to try and help. But is it possible for someone to be too caring?

Meanwhile, Cassie is struggling to pass her exams at school, and uncertain about college. With the most popular girl in school’s party coming up, and Cassie uninvited, she’ll have to do her best to appear “sick” (or “cool”, for those of us from older generations). Unfortunately, her supposed friends seem to forget all about her when she needs them most. Will Cassie have the courage to be herself for a change, and, if so, where will it take her?

183 Times a Year is a hilarious, deeply empathetic and almost uncomfortably familiar, exploration of the ins and outs of family life. Jordan does a remarkable job of capturing the relationships between teenagers and their parents and made me look at my teenage years in a very different light. A highly enjoyable read.

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Linda's Book Bag

Warm, entertaining and emotional

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2019

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Lizzie tries to be all things to all people with varying degrees of success!

I thoroughly enjoyed 183 Times A Year. Eva Jordan manages to create genuine and vivid voices for each of her characters so that I totally believed in them, especially Lizzie and Cassie. I’ve never been a mother, but the relationships between Lizzie and her extended family are just perfect. The feelings and emotions conveyed are those anyone can relate to. I laughed aloud, found myself nodding in agreement (particularly at some of Lizzie’s conversations with herself in her head) and shed a few tears too when reading 183 Times A Year.

The plot is a corker. There are so many elements that combine into a hugely satisfying read. Some aspects were really unexpected and I think this reflects Eva Jordan’s skill as a writer. Her narrative very much mirrors the unpredictability of real life which is one of her themes. This is so cleverly done.

Indeed, it is the themes in 183 Times A Year that ensure this is a perfect read for so many. Love, family, betrayal, relationships, race, gender, society, money, health, social media and so on are all part of the fabric of real life as well as this realistic and engaging story. Given that it is set near to where I live too, I found its authenticity so engaging.

I loved the literary and musical references that pepper the text. They add real colour to the writing and help develop character at the same time. I so wish I’d thought to name one of my own cats Romeow! Whilst I found some of Cassie’s vocabulary irritating, particularly the use of ‘sick’ this was also just right. She IS irritating at times. She’s a typical teenage girl. She’s also incredibly funny because of her malapropisms. Along with Lizzie she was the most appealing character for me.

There’s wit, emotion, social commentary and incredible warmth in 183 Times A Year. It both entertains and surprises and I loved it.

One person found this helpful

Katherine Sunderland

It's not life, it's an adventure!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2016

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I love how sometimes your next favourite read presents itself in the most random way and suddenly you discover a new author and a whole new world of characters for you to become lost amongst. In just one split second, I discovered a book which was hugely entertaining and gave me a lovely, relaxing, light read that was like settling down in front of your favourite sitcom with a packet of chocolate hob nobs!

I mean, how can you not resist a book which begins with the opening paragraph: "I don't like my daughters' very much. Don't get me wrong - I love them, and would lay down my life for them should the need ever arise - but right now my teenage daughters' are a pain in the proverbial backside."

Meet Lizzie. A librarian and mother to three teenagers - one of which is her step daughter - partner to Simon, who can't be bothered to propose and make it official, and ex wife to Scott who is a complete waste of space and happily ignores any responsibility for his children now he's remarried and has new babies of his own. Lizzie is a self confessed bibliomaniac and irritates her children enormously by illustrating any comment or piece of advice with a literary quote. She has a witty and often sarcastic internal voice which sometimes escapes into a real conversation. She struggles to juggle all the pressing demands of a modern day family - "I'm sure I meet myself coming on most days"- and is completely baffled by her teenage daughters who refer to her as "psychotic" what ever she tries to do and however she tries to resolve tension. "Of course it's your fault," she thinks during a row with Cassie, "Why are you surprised....her entire existence is your fault and she'll blame you forever more."

Meet Cassie. Perpetually annoyed by her mother whose sole purpose is to destroy any hope of her having a social life, boyfriend or getting any revision for her GCSEs done. A habitual door slammer with an irritating habit of over using the word "sick" in every utterance and continuous exclamation of "Oh my actual god!" Cassie is self centred, skittish and hot headed. Her inability to recall the right word is very amusing- I liked her reference to Shakespeare and his use of Islamic pentameter, or was it imbecilic pentameter?! Cassie is suitably irrational and unpredictable as she tries to navigate her way through adolescence and all its heart searing moments of first love, bullying, homework and an all consuming effort to fit in and be liked.

Together their voices, which alternate rapidly in short extracts, create a laugh out loud, engaging and entertaining read about mothers and daughters. Despite being nagged, harangued, shouted at and taken for granted, Lizzie remains calm and resilient. During one of Cassie's rants, Lizzie thinks how she sounds like a "tortured animal" and "taxidermy sprang to mind. I imagined her here but stuffed and quiet. She would stand with her arms out -welcoming, and she would smile - permanently." There's an hilarious episode where Lizzie tries to wear sexy knickers in a bid to regain a sense of self and is in such discomfort it was like watching a "Miranda" or "Bridget Jones" style comedy moment! But she is an intelligent, caring, nurturing person with a dry witty sense of humour and this saves the book from becoming either too depressing or too saccharine. Cassie too, although her teenage vocabulary is suitably repetitive, irritating and cliched, is actually quite endearing. We can all relate to the pain of "coming of age" and the absolute "unfairness" of life at that age. Her naivety and lack of self esteem make you want to either give her a good shake or jump into the pages and lamp the other characters for their unkindness. I liked the description of her "hedonistic melancholy" during the summer holidays which reminded me that actually, her plight was still within the confines of a very safe, secure and loving home which prevent things becoming too bleak. The quick and fluent switching between Lizzie and Cassie's voices also keeps the book moving at a good pace, full of vitality and life. The mood is light and entertaining. Jordan has struck a perfect balance between amusing her readers but not belittling or patronising mothers or their daughters. The writing is authentic and sensitive.

I wasn't quite prepared for the last quarter of the novel when things take a very dramatic turn of events but this gives the characters a chance to complete their emotional journeys; to mature, gain some understanding and self realisation and wrap the story up in a very satisfying resolution. Be warned though - it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster on the way there, with some much more touching, emotional and tear jerking moments to survive first!

The book is about relationships, friendships, growth, deception and grief. The characters are flawed but the novel is about being able to forgive yourself for being flawed; to accept it and move on. It is about the fragility and strength of life and that "wanting deprives you of contentment and happiness.....don't miss what you actually have.." And I'm going to finish my review with the words of Grandad - "It's not a life, it's an adventure." I hope you enjoy joining Lizzie and Cassie on theirs!

One person found this helpful

MrsWalshie

A must read!

Reviewed in Australia on February 6, 2016

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This is about a family that I think a lot of people would recognise as similar to their own. What do I mean? Well, it's about a Mum to Cassie and Connor and Step-Mum to Maisy, a Dad to Maisy and Step-Dad to Cassie and Connor, two teenage daughters and a son.

The daughters are dealing with raging hormones and your typical teenage worries and dramas.

The Mum is dealing with job security being in question, keeping her relationship spark alive with hubby, two teenage daughters that love to hate her, a son that she doesn't want to grow up because he still shows her love and affection and a house to maintain while picking up the pieces her ex husband leaves their children in because they aren't included in his new family.

The Dad is away a lot because of his job so the Mum constantly feels like she is the monster disciplinarian while he wants to keep the waters calm when he is home.

The son is existing. He seems to be upstaged by his sisters and their teenage angst.

Like I said, it is a familiar scene by many so the characters are easy to relate to, sometimes you want to slap them, other times you want to grab them and hug them tight! There will be many laughs, and OMG moments, and there will be tears. BUT, you will see a family working as a family, the bonds they have and the love they hold for each other. Enjoy.

Amazon Customer

Observational wit to die for, poignancy and pathos, in a superbly crafted debut novel; great storytelling.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2016

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Observational wit to die for, poignancy and pathos, in a superbly crafted debut novel; great storytelling.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the ‘nay sayers’ who said to me it’s not a book a man would appreciate, are completely wrong, though a man may read it differently. It is a superbly crafted novel that had me hooked from the very start.
183 times a Year is almost a stage set novel (in fact would make a good play or sit-com) that throws you into the maelstrom of what at first seems a dysfunctional family; a mother with her teenage daughter and young son, and her second husband who brings his own teenage daughter to the family home. We hear in the first person their daily lives and how they spark off each other. The first impression upon starting the book is that it is superbly observed and very funny; a family, real and vibrant, the characters splendidly drawn, and life happens around them and before you know it, a drama is being played out; intricacies of relationships, complex emotions, often poorly expressed, and the narrative, as do the characters, draws you in, and you live the story through their individual voices – it is leading somewhere, but where?
I can say little more without spoiling the plot development, but develop it does and it becomes a roller coaster that had me laughing, worried, angry, laughing, then crying, angry then crying and laughing; Lizzie the mother is adorable with her home spun absolute common sense on all of life, especially politics; her strength and bravery is a tour de force. Cassie and Maisy, wonderfully written hormone riddled teenage daughters, and the innocence of Connor the younger brother, often perplexed at all that is swirling around him. And dad, because the second husband is very much a dad, well he just loves them all and swings with the punches and rides the merry go round, always there, often totally confused as his emotions are tested, but there when needed most and you cheer him on.
There are a host of supporting characters and they all contribute to a most fulfilling novel that left me wanting a sequel, I want to know what happens. This is not a girly book, it is a book that throws life right into your face, wrings out your emotions and leaves you feeling exhausted but fulfilled; “It’s not a life – it’s an adventure” says Granddad, a character I loved, how true.
A magnificent debut novel; well done Eva Jordan.

One person found this helpful

Lois Macbeth

A great story but too many errors!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2018

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This is a good story, and as a mother I would say a fairly accurate portrayal of sometimes difficult family life. But whoever proof read it should be sacked! So many grammatical errors, misuse of apostrophes on nearly every page, misuse of capital letters, the use of 'draw ' instead of 'drawer ', 'ring' instead of 'wring' etc etc!! The list goes on! I've never written a book review before but felt compelled to do so on this occasion!

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183 Times a Year: A Witty and Heartfelt Family Drama (The Tree of Family Life Trilogy) Kindle Edition

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