The Playground by Julia Kelly

But not all games are innocent – and not all friends are true. When a terrible accident is blamed on her, Eve must forge her own independence – and realise that the playground is not a place to hide from adulthood.

Format: Paperback
Publisher:  Quercus Books
Published: 4th September 2014
Pages: 266 Pages

The Blurb
Eve is putting her life together again.

Her partner has walked out on her. She’s moved into a tiny flat on the outskirts of Dublin. She has no job. But she does have her beloved baby daughter – and there’s a little playground across the street.

It’s a tired spot for teenagers and tramps, but Eve is determined to make this new life work. Alongside her interfering lodger and a group of local mums she swings into action to make the playground the heart of the community.

Rating: 3/5

The Review
Thank you to Quercus and Midas PR for sending me a copy of The Playground to read and review.

Eve is a single Mum to little Addie and since the departure of her now ex-husband she is trying to keep her spirits high. They move to a new property in the seaside town of Bray, which is close to a playground and Eve tries her best to make new friends and to be a part of the community.

I hate to say it, but The Playground was a little lifeless and it had no real excitement. I felt it was a little disjointed where you would often find yourself wondering what had just happened and why this certain scene had appeared. However, as much as there were negatives it did highlight some interesting points.

Strong community values – Bray was a seaside town and every resident was part of the community. They got involved with one another, they were passionate about caring for the park and (ever so slightly) embraced Eve when she moved into their circle.

Addie was a happy child – considering Addie (Eve’s daughter) missed her absent father she was an awfully rounded little girl. She didn’t really cry or complain about anything – she appeared very mature for her age. Plus, this shows that Eve was more than capable of looking after her daughter, even as a single parent.