Jess is a single mum in her mid 20s, struggling to make ends meet. Her goth stepson Nicky keeps getting beaten up and her daughter Tanzie is a maths prodigy. Ed is a workaholic computer geek who naively got involved in insider trading and now faces a possible prison sentence. Jess is Ed's cleaner. In an impulsive moment, Ed offers to drive Jess, Nicky, Tanzie and their huge dog, from Southampton to Aberdeen so that Tanzie can enter a maths competition.
The story reveals the frustrations of being poor. There seems to be no escaping the local state school and the bullies who attack anyone who is different. Yet Jess is trying to be positive and teach her children that they can overcome whatever trials they may face. The book is not so gritty that it's depressing. Overall it's entertaining and heartwarming; it would make a great holiday read.
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