I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

This looked like a very cute book, and it was!!

The main plot is the kids trying to make that secret room they found the office for their mom. She has a good job now (apparently she didn’t before), but that means that she is home ALL THE TIME. And when you only have 1 bedroom, 1 living room, 1 kitchen, and a bathroom, you can imagine that the kids go crazy. Because mom works until 5-6 and in the weekends as well. The kids just want some of their space back. I just loved seeing them think of fun solutions to solve the problem, and the best solution was them finding that storage/coal room and turning it into an office. Thinking outside of the box, thinking of solutions so they can use it, and making it cosy. It was really sweet and I was awwing the whole time I read this. A lot of kids would have giving up when they hear a no, but they stuck to the plan and got people on their side.

Next to that we read about the house’s history, about an older lady who has been here for a long time and how she needs help with some things, a dog who is way too eager and our boy MC who has to learn to say no. Though in that regard, I do feel that the owner herself should also do something, and that comes from someone who has a dog, who is now 1 year and 3 months, and who is quite enthusiastic. We are training her to not jump up. She is quite enthusiastic, wants to be friends with everyone, and slowly she is learning. If we see people are uncomfortable or find her too busy (we can only do so much haha) we hold her closer or keep her away from them. But I guess some owners just don’t want to. sighs Back to the book. I also loved learning about Mr Jeff’s past and about a certain lady he fancies. We find out who June Harriet is and how important she is. I really liked Mr. Jeff, yes, he was strict but I didn’t mind that, I loved that he took such a good care of the building and tried to help out people wherever he could, tried to see if he could do anything for the kids.

And the illustrations were just so fun and cute!

I did have to remind me all the time that Sam was mom. I so used to children’s book just saying mom/mother and not use the names of the parents.

And while it wasn’t a lot there, I am still tired of the small bits about the climate. Geez, I get that it is important, but it is EVERWHERE, I just want a free space away from it for a while. Please.

All in all, this was a cute, positive, family-filled story that I would recommend.