Addled mother-of-three finds her identity buried under layers of clutter in her unkempt home. Dealing with the unrelenting demands of children, the ever-growing pile of laundry, dishes and post, she finds herself having to admit she''s no longer able to cope.

Enter her very own ''listening angel'' - a supposed good Samaritan from the local charity set up to give support to ''Mums'' under pressure.

So why can''t she get a word in edgeways? And why is her husband''s mood suddenly so elevated - when a certain angel is hovering nearby?

Thus unfolds a dark and hilarious journey into the wilds of suburbia, where unforgettable characters dwell and the unexpected is never far away.

Told through diary-style musings, Notes for the Next Time explores the murky depths beneath the smooth surface of life in a hilarious, surprising and genuinely moving read.

And what looks to be the final nail in the coffin of our mum-on-the-edge''s ebbing sanity may actually provide the much-needed catalyst for change.