I got through Adele Parks new book Whatever it Takes as quickly as my schedule allowed. It is a wonderfully paced book, full of flawed characters and brilliant observations. Some of the characters are not likable, and become less so further on, I like that. The book captivates. 
As a Londoner the story of Elosie Hamilton, who moves to Dartmouth for her husband after living her whole life in London is interesting to me, and the book even made me long for the seaside and a large country house. Well, for a while anyway.
Whatever it Takes is a story of family, friendship and marriage. It is also a story of fertility. Sara is almost driven mad for her longing for a child. She becomes bitter and difficult to be around. While Sara is childless, Eloise has three children. Eloise is nice, far too nice. She tries to be perfect and have a perfect life as one thing after another nearly makes her world, and her families implode.
Spoiler Alert
Another thing about the book is that I also found it painful to read. The reason being is how well Parks writes about the character, Margaret descending into dementia. My grandfather had Alzheimer’s and the the book is so well written that I knew this was happening to the character before it was revealed. I recognised my own grandfather in the character of Margaret, all of the little things she does and that happen to her; painful to read but it does not make the book less enjoyable to read.
The characters sometimes make you want to shake them or slap them, love them or hug them. This book is a triumph for Adele Parks. She should be very proud.
