Book Review: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

I have recently read The Bride Test by Helen Hoang and wanted to share my thoughts on it.
This is a sweet and fun story that is told with a lot of heart, and I adored the two main characters (for different reasons that I will elaborate on later in the review).

Khai Diep is the main male character. He is 26 years old, lives in California, is a successful businessman and is autistic.
Khai thinks that he is defective, and so he tries to avoid situations that he is uncomfortable in. He doesn't cope well with big emotions like sadness, grief, and love. 
His family (including his brother Quan, and his mother), are supportive and understand that Khai processes emotions differently than others.
But when he adamantly avoids relationships, his mother decides to take matters into her own hands and heads to Vietnam with the hopes of finding a bride for Khai.


Esme Tran is a young woman living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City with her mother, grandmother, and young daughter. She is a cleaner in a hotel and makes an hour long journey on foot twice a day to get to and from her job.
She is of mixed-race, and doesn't know much about her father - only that he was from America, and had green eyes that Esme inherited. 

After a chance meeting when Khai's mum arrives at the hotel where Esme works, Esme is offered the opportunity to go to America to meet Khai, and spend the summer living with him.
Esme knows that this could be the chance that her family needs in order to live a better life, so she agrees to go to California. She also hopes that while sh is in the USA, she can uncover some more information on her father. 

But things don't go to plan after she meets Khai and discovers that he will do whatever it takes to keep himself from falling in love.
Whilst she is instantly attracted to Khai, Esme knows that it certainly won't be easy to win his heart. 
But she won't give up easily!

Esme is such a great character; she is determined to provide a good life for her family, especially her young daughter. (I did find it a bit odd that she didn't communicate much with her daughter when she went to the USA; and whilst I know the story focused more on the relationship between Esme and Khai, I felt that the story would've benefited from some more contact between Esme and her family back home). 
Esme is headstrong and hard-working. Even when she arrives in California, she works as a waitress in Khai's mum's restaurant  and enrols in night school. 
She is passionate and kind, and empathetic towards Khai, refusing to give up on him even when he chooses to give up on himself. 

Khai is also a character I adored. His idiosyncrasies weren't stereotypical, they just added to his personality. 
I felt for him as he struggled with expressing his emotions, particularly love, and was hard on himself in many instances throughout the novel. 


In conclusion, this is a really sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The Bride Test is available now through Allen & Unwin Australia, RRP $29.99
For further info on this title, head here

Beauty & Lace Book Club Book Review: The Land Girls by Victoria Purman 

I've heard a lot of good things about Victoria Purman but have only managed to read one of her novels so far, so when I was given the opportunity to read Victoria's latest novel, The Land Girls, I was more than happy to get on board.

The story is set in Australia, in the 1940's during the war, with Australians fighting for their future.
There are three women who decide to become members of the Australian Women's Land Army - Flora, Betty, and Lily.

Flora is a spinster in her thirties and works in an office in Melbourne. She is the only female in her family; having lost her mother years ago. She lives with her beloved father John, and brother Jack. Her other brother Frank is away at war. 

Betty is 17 years old and lives in Sydney. Her next door neighbour Michael is her best friend, and also her first love. When he joins the army, she decides to leave her job at Woolworths and become a Land Girl.

Lily is from Adelaide and her love interest is a man named David, who is away in the air force. She wants a break away from her overbearing family.

The story is told in alternating sections, but the majority of it is told from Flora's perspective. 
As it unfolds, we discover the reasons behind the women wanting to join the Land Girls. 
Each of them embrace their new roles, even though the work is hard and tiring. 
They also get to make some fantastic friendships with other members as they travel over Australia to contribute towards combating labour shortages on rural properties.

Whilst the three women don't work together until towards the end of the story, there are chance meetings throughout the story where they cross paths. 
By becoming Land Girls, these three women get to grow into the women they hope to be, and work towards living the life they want.


I adored this story. The females all showed a lot of bravery and resilience. They were hard working and dedicated to helping farmers with their crops, even in stifling weather conditions. 
They each had their fair share of heartbreak and their courage is something that I admired.
Flora in particular really grew from the start to the end of the story; she managed to fulfill a lot of things for herself that she thought would never be more than wishful thinking. 
I enjoyed reading about her time on the Nettlefolds farm at Two Rivers in Mildura. Owner Charles Nettlefold is widowed and lives at the property with his two adorable young daughters and his mother. 
She forms a strong relationship with Charles and is welcomed and respected by the family.

I learnt a lot about what that period of time must have been like for Australians. I have read many wartime novels but they have mainly been set in European countries, so this made for a different reading experience. 

I would gladly recommend The Land Girls.
Thank you to Beauty & Lace and Harlequin Books Australia for the opportunity to read and review The Land Girls. (You can read my original review on The Beauty & Lace post here: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/book-club-the-land-girls) 

Book Review: Little One by Peter Papathanasiou 

It's been a while since I've read a memoir, so when I was given the opportunity to read Little One, I was happy to get involved.

Peter Papathanasiou grew up in Australia as an only child to two loving parents, Elizabeth and Bill.

His parents migrated from Greece in the mid 1950's, and they tried for a number of years without success to have a baby. 

The couple had always envisioned having a big family, but sadly, after three miscarriages, it didn't look as though they would even be blessed with one child, let alone many.

It bought shame and sadness for them among their family and the Australian Greek community. 

They were desperate to become parents; they even tried to adopt a child but sadly, it wasn't a success.

Finally in 1973, Elizabeth's brother Savvas and his wife Anna, who lived in Greece, offered to have a baby and then give it to Elizabeth and Bill to raise as their own in Australia. 

The couple was so grateful to them; they had waited so long to become parents. 

Anna and Savvas already had two boys of their own, Georgios and Billy, and they reassured Elizabeth and Bill that they had finished their family and wanted to do this for them.

Fortunately, Anna and Savvas were true to their word, and when baby Peter was born, they handed him over so that finally Elizabeth and Bill could be the parents they had always dreamed of.

Peter was in his  mid 20's when his mum told him the truth about his parentage. 

It was 1999, and Peter was about to embark on PhD in genetics, after completing 6 years of university. 

Sadly, his biological mother Anna had passed away by then, but Peter was happy to discover that he had two brothers alive and well in Greece.

The story spans over the years, tracing back to his parents struggles as migrants, the dedication for a better life, and an act of kindness and love.

It also looks at Peter's career as a geneticist, and his wish of meeting his brothers.

I thought that this was a very well told story. There were moments of sadness, but also happiness and hope.

I really enjoyed reading about Peter and his family. The family photos included helped form a visual connection to the story.

I am married to a man of Greek heritage, and so the traditions and culture surrounding the Greek nationality discussed in the story felt familiar to me. 

I felt that the book may have benefited from a glossary included for the Greek phrases and/or words that are mentioned throughout the story (I personally had no issue at all with it as I can understand Greek, but those that are unfamiliar with the language may have found it handy).

I would recommend Little One to those who enjoy memoirs, and stories about families, heredity and love.

Little One is available now through Allen & Unwin Australia

RRP $29.99

For further information on this title, head here

Book Review: How It Feels To Float by Helena Fox 

Please note: Trigger warnings - potential distressing content, mental health, suicide


How It Feels To Float is a novel that I was sent recently to read and review. I didn't know much about it (but that is how I like it).  :)
I was immediately drawn in when I read the attached author letter that was sent along with the book. Helena Fox explains how a few short years ago, she lost someone close to her, and wanted to give up on everything.
Thankfully, she is still here and penned this story, drawing from her experience of that time.

Elizabeth, or Biz as she is better known, is a teenage girl who lives with her mum and her younger twin siblings.
When Biz was 7 years-old, her father passed away, and she has been grieving and dissociating since.
She misses her dad immensely, and she feels his presence around her a lot of the time, but she doesn't tell anyone, not her mum, or even her best friend Grace.
She is also trying to find her place in the world, not knowing if she is attracted to males or females. When she spontaneously kisses Grace one day, it is awkward and Biz is embarrassed and confused.
Then a new kid, Jasper, starts school and Biz finds that she wants to know more about him.

As the story unfolds, Biz struggles with managing her runaway thoughts; her mental health issues increase, and she is on the verge of a breakdown.
She experiences suicidal thoughts, and the reader discovers that Biz has never fully dealt with her father's death, and carries a lot of sadness and pain within herself. 
I really felt for her, and I could relate to some of her experiences.
As someone who has had mental health issues myself, I felt that I wasn't just reading this book, but connecting. 

There isn't a whole heap of action throughout the story, it is more of an unraveling of who Biz is, and a journey of her struggles. 
I loved all of the characters in the novel - Sylvia, (an elderly lady that Biz befriends in a photography class) is such a sweetheart, and Biz's mum is also kind, caring, and desperate to help in any way she can. 
Helena Fox has used her own experiences with mental illness and she portrays such an accurate picture of it in this novel in a sensitive and beautiful way, and that is just one of the reasons that I would gladly recommend this book.


How It Feels To Float is available now through Pan Macmillan Australia and has an RRP of $17.99

Book Review: Just Add Love by Irris Makler

Just Add Love is a beautiful book filled with stories and recipes from Holocaust survivors. 
These admirable and adorable Jewish survivors are grandmothers (and two grandfathers), and the recipes they share are the same that they carried with them in their hearts and their heads when the war ended.
For most, they had lost their entire families, their homes, and their childhoods. 
So these recipes are more than just words on paper. They are memories of happier times, of sharing meals with loved ones,  and a connection to their families.

All of the recipes have been made and shared with love, and the stories are both heartbreaking and inspirational. 
Some of the recipes have been modified to include gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options to accommodate for different diets. All have been tested many times over, not only by the grandparents, but also in test kitchens. 

The recipes include a wide range of dishes including soups, meat, fish and poultry, breads, baked goods, and sweets. 

I would highly recommend this book as it has delicious recipes, and the historical side of it is very touching. 

Just Add Love is available now, RRP $49.99
For further information on this title, head here 

Book Review: Gravity Is The Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty

I was recently given the opportunity to read Gravity Is The Thing, and I have to admit that the first 25 or so pages didn't really grab me.
Looking back, I think the reason is that it was just so different to anything I have read in a while, but I am SO glad that I persevered, as I absolutely loved this book!
Yes, it is different and unique, and that is what makes the story so captivating.
I read this within a matter of days as I couldn't stop thinking about it every time I put it down.


Abigail Sorensen is 35 years-old, divorced, and a single mum to her son, Oscar.  A former lawyer, she now owns and manages The Happiness Cafe in Sydney.
In 1990, Abigail's brother Robert went missing. 
The two were close in age, and close siblings; they shared everything and supported each other.
His disappearance came as a big shock to Abigail and her parents.
She has never stopped looking for him, and the impact of his absence has affected all areas of her life.

About the time of Robert's disappearance, Abigail started to receive random chapters from a self-help book called The Guidebook. 
She wonders whether her brother's disappearance and the guide are connected in any way.
So when she receives an invitation for an all-expenses-paid trip to a retreat to learn about the truth behind The Guidebook, Abigail decides to accept.
When she gets there, she meets some other people who have also accepted the invitation, and it turns out to be an intriguing weekend.
Upon returning home, she is invited to weekly seminars to further discuss The Guidebook.
It quickly becomes much more than that, as Abigail starts to connect with the others in the group, making friends and discovering herself.

The story is told in parts, and it reverts back in time on occasion, so the reader gains a deeper understanding of Abigail, and a look into the world around the time of Robert's disappearance, and also around her relationship with her ex-husband. 
All these intricate little pieces that may seem insignificant at the time all come together, and it just works. Beautifully.
I have to say that this book made me cry; I was sobbing so much in one part that I needed to stop as I couldn't even read the words on the page! So if you're prone to tearing up whilst reading a good book, then have the tissues handy!
This story touched me on a personal level, and I think that is why I enjoyed this book so much. 
I would highly recommend Gravity Is The Thing. 

Available now through Pan Macmillan Australia, RRP $29.99
For further information on this title, head here 

Book Review: 52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor 

This is a very sweet tale set in the 1960's in Melbourne. Author Anna Ciddor draws on her own childhood experiences to give it an authentic feel that will entertain readers both young and old. 
The story spans across a year in the life of Anna Lewison and her two younger sisters, Mirabelle and Bubby and their parents, who are of Jewish heritage.
Anna develops a love of antique dolls after reading a book about Hitty, an old wooden doll.
Her mother takes her to an auction at an antique store one Monday to see if she can find any dolls, but sadly, Anna doesn't find any.
She begs her mum to take her back, and as the weeks go by, her love for dolls grows.
When she isn't thinking of dolls, she is busy playing with her sisters, visiting her grandparents, and learning at school (whilst my school years didn't include bottles of milk at recess like Anna's, I do remember dusting the blackboard erasers like she mentions in the story!)
It was lovely to read about a childhood with an abundance of imagination and creativity, without the use of technology. 
This is a really delightful and easy to read tale, and I really enjoyed it. 

52 Mondays is available through Allen & Unwin Australia and has an RRP of $14.99  
Recommended for readers aged 8-13 but I am sure adults and teens will enjoy this too.

Book Review: I Thought I Knew You by Penny Hancock

Jules and Holly are best friends and have known each other since university.
Together, they have shared the highs and lows of their lives. Holly is the only one who knows that Jules once had an affair behind her husband Rowan's back, and Jules was there to support Holly when her husband Archie died suddenly from a heart attack four years ago.
Holly even shifted house to be closer to her best friend.
The ladies have a very special bond, and have always been there for one another.

Holly is mum to a 16 year-old son, Saul, who has grown up alongside Jules' daughter Saffie, aged 13. 
One night, the ladies go out for birthday drinks, and the two teens are left together at home. 
Then, a couple of weeks later, Saffie accuses Saul of an unforgivable act on the night that they were left home alone, and it comes as a huge shock to all involved.
Holly refuses to accept that her son could ever commit such a terrible crime, and although Jules doesn't want to believe it, she takes Saffie's word.
The repercussions of this claim damages not only their friendship, but their families. 

I thought that this was a well-written story, and I didn't know who to believe - the suspense of that had me turning the pages.
There were a few parts of the story that I felt didn't add all that much and perhaps could've been left out, and I would've liked a bit more of a background story, particularly about Jules and Holly's friendship (I think it would've benefited to revert back to their relationship in an earlier time, but that's only my opinion). 
I was torn on taking sides between each of the characters, and I finished it within a few days as I was curious to see how it all played out.

I Thought I Knew You is available this month, and has an RRP of $29.99, from Pan Macmillan Australia. 
For more on this title, head here

Book Review: Home Fires by Fiona Lowe

Home Fires is Fiona's third novel (it follows Daughter Of Mine, released in 2017, and Birthright, released in 2018).
I haven't read her other titles but am really keen to after reading Home Fires.

The story is set in the Otway Ranges in Victoria, in a town called Myrtle, which was destroyed by a terrible bush fire.
The surviving residents are trying to deal with the aftermath of the tragic day that ruined so many properties, businesses, and lives.
In particular, three of Myrtle's female citizens - Claire, Bec, and Sophie, are finding it tough.
When an older well-known local named Julie decides to run a craft class to bring back a bit of stability and to plan events that may attract business and tourists back into Myrtle, she invites the three women along.
Although reluctant at first, the women come together, and along with a couple of other group members, their meetings soon become the highlight of their week; a place where they come to share the hurt of their past, the struggles of the present, and the hopes for their future. 

As the story unfolds, the reader learns more about each of these women and their families.
Claire is a community nurse, who is in a relationship with Matt, and sadly lost her parents in the fire.
Bec is a stay-home mum of two who supports her domineering husband Adam in his building company.
And Sophie is forced to return to work after her husband Josh lost his job after the fire.
They are all very believable, genuine characters and Fiona created a real sense of community spirit and the emotional support shared between them was convincing and heartfelt. 
She also touched on topics like depression, abuse and violence in a delicate and informed manner.
At just under 500 pages, it is a long novel, but the advantage of that is the way the reader gains a real connection to the characters as they are described in depth.

It also touched me on a personal level, as I have relatives that were involved in the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, and have seen the tragic stories on the news, even in the past weeks with fires raging in parts of Victoria. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Home Fires and would recommend it particularly for fans of Australian contemporary novels.

Home Fires is available now RRP $32.99 through Harlequin Books. 

Lonely Planet Kids - Sticker World

Lonely Planet Kids have recently released three new titles in the Sticker World series. 
These books allow children to create and customise a castle, a farm or an airport of their dreams, with over 500 stickers included in each book!
Each one has a lot of information included too, and plenty of pages that children can decorate, design, and draw on. 
For example, the farm book includes information about crops, animals, milking and bee-keeping.

The books are aimed at readers aged 6-8, and both of my younger daughters (aged almost 9, and 11 years old) enjoyed these books.
Each book has 40 pages, plus 6 full sheets of stickers included, and I consider these books to be great value as they have a lot of entertaining activities included. 
They are available through https://www.lonelyplanet.com/kids/books/






Sticker World: Airport | Sticker World: Farm | Sticker World: Castle
Released February 2019 | AU$9.99 / NZ$11.99 each
270mm x 216mm | 40 + 6 sticker sheets | Paperback

Book Review: Stranger Country by Monica Tan 

Monica Tan is a former reporter for The Guardian, and in 2016, at age 32, she decided to leave her job and travel solo around Australia.
The 30,000 km journey took Monica 6 months, and Stranger Country documents her experience. 
The majority of her trip was spent in the central and northern parts of Australia, before making her way to the tropical north of Queensland, then finally heading home to her mum's place in a north-west Sydney suburb. 
Monica recorded her travels in a total of 18 journals, along with several hundred photographs. 
Stranger Country is broken up into seven parts; each for a region of Australia that Monica visits. 
Along the way, we are introduced to many landmarks and interesting locals who, for the most part, seem to be helpful, kind and accommodating to Monica. 

We get to know more about who she is as a person as the story goes on, and when I read that she picked up a male hitchhiker in the middle of nowhere, I thought that she was really brave - it's not something I'd ever consider doing!
I also admired her determination in completing a 72-kilometre hike over the course of nine days, and for camping out in remote locations, often in freezing temperatures at night (the trip began in June - wintertime in Australia).
Unbelievably, she had no SAT phone, toolkit, car snorkel, air compressor or even a proper spare tyre! Some would say she was asking for trouble being so unprepared, but her happy-go-lucky attitude, teamed with common sense, definitely helped her along the way. 

Her love of the land is evident, and she shares a lot of information about Aboriginal culture and history throughout her story.
She also talks about her own culture, being born to Chinese Malaysian parents, and uncovers her sense of belonging in Australia. 
This story has a lot of factual information, and a lot of heart, and I would recommend it, especially for those with an interest in Australian history and travel.
And on a final note, I must mention the book cover - the stunning hues of red earth and watermelon sky are so captivating!

Stranger Country by Monica Tan (Allen & Unwin $32.99) available now. 

Quitting Plastic by Clara Williams Roldan and Louise Williams

Quitting Plastic is a fantastic guide that has many tips for reducing your plastic footprint. 
I read it recently and I learnt so much from it.
The book has really made me think about the way my family and I live, and how we can implement changes to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our household. (I'll elaborate more on that later).
Single use plastics (straws, water bottles, coffee cups and plastic bags, etc) are things that we should all be avoiding wherever possible. 
I was shocked to learn a staggering 5 billion plastic bags were distributed in Australia prior to the bans that were implemented in most of the states in 2018. 
And wait for it - worldwide, that figure is estimated at ONE TRILLION!!! Can you believe it?!

There are many more facts like these included in the guide, and the book is set out in easy-to-follow chapters.
It covers topics including tips and advice for the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, toys, clothes, and entertaining.
It also explains the differences between types of plastics, and which ones to avoid if you plan on cutting back.

Were you aware that plastic production has increased 20 fold in the last 50 years, and that it is set to double again over the next 20 years?! 
Or that 50-80% of debris found along shorelines is plastic?!
I personally didn't realise that the figures were that high. This book really opened up my eyes, and after reading it, I have since made some changes and had a chat about it with my husband and kids so we all, as a family, can reduce plastic use.
Whilst I have been using reusable bags when shopping, and reusable food wraps and zip lock bags for quite some time, I knew that there was more that I could be doing, so after reading this book and learning more about the ways I could make our household more environmentally friendly, I decided to make changes  including:
- using a reusable bread bag so when I purchase bread and/or rolls from my local bakery, the items can be placed in the bread bag instead of plastic bags.
- using reusable bags for fruit and vegetable shopping
- using Velvet soap in place of bottled stain removers, etc

I also plan on purchasing shampoo/conditioner bars in future (once my stash of bottled hair products has been used), changing our cat's kitty litter to a biodegradable one, and looking for products without plastic packaging when shopping.
There are a great range of reusable products available online and in stores around Australia.

4myearth is an Australian owned and operated company that sell a fantastic range of reusable products, including: bread bags, sandwich wraps, snack pockets, food cover wraps (I have been using these for years and they are great!), lunchboxes and net bags. Check out https://www.4myearth.com.au/products/ for the full range. 

Food Bag
(Ideal for storing food/stationery/toiletries)

Bread Bag
(Easy zip-close design for storing rolls/bread)

Organic Cotton Produce Bags
(Ideal to use in place of  plastic bags for fruit, veg, nuts)

Snack Pocket
(Velcro tab makes it easy to open/close, expendable sides) 

         



I was fortunate enough to be sent some of their products, and I am delighted that by using these products in place of plastic alternatives, I will be reducing my environmental footprint. 
Whilst it is a bit of a work in progress, it is quite simple to make small changes like I have.
I think that it is very important for each of us to begin thinking about ways in which we can lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

How do you minimise plastic usage in your home/work environment? I'd love to hear your tips below!


Quitting Plastic is available through Allen & Unwin Australia, and has an RRP of $19.99 
For further information on this title, head here 



Special thanks to Julia from https://www.4myearth.com.au/products/ for providing images and products for me to use. 

**Special offer: enter code: inthegoodbooksblog to receive 20% off orders from 4myearth **

Book Review & Giveaway: The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

The Mother-In-Law is due for release on the 29th January, and I was fortunate enough to be given a copy to read and review prior to its release date. 
And I am so excited to announce that I will be giving away TWO copies of The Mother-In-Law to two lucky followers!
If you haven't heard of Sally Hepworth, I urge you to check out her work, particularly if you enjoy novels about family, women's health, and relationships. 

I have just finished reading The Mother-In-Law, and I personally think that it is Sally's best novel so far!
I read it within a few days, and I loved it. I simply had to know how it ended (I was secretly chuffed when the kids decided they wanted to hang out at home the other day instead of going out as we'd planned, as it meant I could finish my book!)

The story centres around the two main female characters - Lucy, and her mother-in-law Diana.
Lucy is married to Ollie, and together, they have three young children. 
Diana is a social justice advocate, and has been married to her husband Tom for over 30 years.
Along with her son Ollie, she has a daughter Nettie, who is married to Patrick.

The story is told in two alternating timelines; the present day, and the past. 
As it unfolds, the reader discovers that right from their first encounter, Lucy is desperate to make a good impression, however, it isn't long before she realises that Diana isn't the most welcoming person.

Skip to ten years down the track, and Diana has been found dead in her luxurious home, with a suicide note close by.
However, the autopsy reveals that there is evidence of suffocation and her death is treated as a potential homicide.
Someone wanted Diana dead, but who? 

I love how the story is told from two points of view, that of Lucy and that of Diana. It shows that there are always two sides to every story, and also that being judgemental is of no benefit to anyone. It also depicts how a situation can be interpreted completely differently by two separate people. 
Sally has done a brilliant job with this book. The characters all have their secrets, and the mystery surrounding them makes for a real page-turner.
It is difficult to say more about it without spoiling it for others,  but I can't fault this book, and would gladly recommend it. 
As mentioned earlier in the post, I have two copies of The Mother-In-Law to give away.

TO WIN: simply comment below (or on the Facebook/Instagram competition post), and tell me who would you trust in your family with a secret, and why?

Terms & Conditions:

1. This giveaway is open to residents of Australia only. 

2. Giveaway closes on 8th February 2019. Winner/s will be contacted via email within 24 hours. Failure to receive a response from the winner/s will mean the prize is forfeited and a new winner/s  will be chosen.

3. Prizes will be sent direct from the publisher.

4. The prizes are not redeemable for cash.

5. In  The Good Books blog will not be responsible for items that go missing through Australia Post postal services.

6. This promotion is not associated or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram.

7. Those who 'unlike' or 'unfollow' after the giveaway ends will be disqualified from entering future giveaways

The Barefoot Investor For Families by Scott Pape 

I was recently reading a Facebook post by a woman in a forum who wanted advice on how to teach her kids about finance, and a lot of the comments she received made reference to The Barefoot Investor For Families book.
As a mum of three, I was interested in the advice offered, and jotted down the title before contacting the lovely people at Harper Collins Australia to discuss my interest in the book.
I was fortunate to receive a copy, and began reading it shortly after.
Having not read Scott's first book, The Barefoot Investor, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I did know that I would gain some valuable information about teaching my children about money.
And I have to say that I have learnt so much from Scott's guide, and I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Basically, Scott sets out 10 money milestones that children need to achieve before leaving home as adults. 
Obviously, every family is different and what works for your family may not work for your sister's, or neighbour's, etc. 
But the tips are invaluable and I feel a lot more prepared after reading it.
Some of the topics that Scott covers include teaching your children how to cook from scratch, selling some of their things that are no longer being used, or that they may have grown out of, saving money on bills, and the dangers and risks involved with owning a credit card. 
He also explains how the Barefoot Money Meals work (this was one of my favourite parts of the book!)
If you are unsure about the topic of pocket money, Scott has a brilliant strategy.
In a nutshell, you give your kid/s three jars (for storing their pocket money in), and three jobs (they get to choose the jobs, within reason). The money is paid every week on the same day, and divvied up. Best of all, it takes just 3 minutes every week.
I have implemented this in our home in the last few weeks, and I am pretty happy with how it has all turned out so far. I look forward to using more of Scott's tips in our home as my children grow (including his tips on getting a first job). 


The book is available now at all good bookstores, and has an RRP of $29.99
For further information on The Barefoot Investor For Families you can head here