She might now be in her sixties, but Clover is more than ready for the next step on the corporate ladder – and is devastated when, instead of the expected seat on the board, she’s made redundant, shepherded out of the building with her belongings in a small box, and facing a future she neither expected or wanted. Work was her life, her power suits and red lipstick her armour against the world, and she thought she was invincible – her private life is far less under control, with self-centred partner Jack (what a user!), an overly critical mother, and her adult son now making his own life in Canada. All she can think of is getting away – and although it’s some time since she’s made time to see her cousin Zoe, her taverna in the Italian Lakes feels like the perfect refuge for a while, with time to lick her wounds and work out what to do next with her life.

On arrival, she’s totally out of her depth. She knows that helping out (washing up, chopping vegetables, preparing tables…) might be the best way to repay Zoe for her hospitality, but she’s never been particularly practical, and her corporate wardrobe certainly isn’t the right gear to be wearing in a kitchen. But she’s gradually won over by the warmth of her welcome, lets her hair down (that tight french pleat had to go…), buys more suitable clothing (and shoes… and I just loved her joy at buying her first leather jacket!) and begins to relax and enjoy a life that’s so very different from what she’s used to. There are more opportunities to help out her hosts – that might just not go quite as smoothly as she hopes – but there just might be a new relationship in the offing too, a really lovely man, warm and gentle and just a little damaged, and so much more supportive than the awful Jack.

And then, to her horror, her mother Eleanor arrives – but she’s not the problem that Clover rather expects her to be. That retirement community was sucking the joy out of her life, and she’s determined to live life to the full, behaving badly and enjoying every moment – she’s an absolute joy, the best proof ever that it’s never too late, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed being part of her adventures too. Until, of course, they both need to make some decisions about their future – when the world of work unexpectedly beckons Clover back once more, can they both face resuming their former lives?

There was so much I loved about this book, but particularly the ease with which I could identify with Clover – and this is why I so enjoy books with older protagonists – when she’s set adrift and struggling to find her path. The story’s told in the first person, with a particularly distinctive voice, and we share all her doubts and fears – and many of them were so recognisable and very real. I grew to entirely love her, to punch the air at her small triumphs, to really feel for her when things went less well – and found her whole journey into an uncertain future tremendously uplifting and life-affirming.

There are moments of real poignancy to the story, but there’s also plenty of humour – frequently laugh-out-loud, but sometimes quite gentle, and always quite perfectly judged. The location is so perfectly drawn – I’d be very happy to spend my days at that lovely taverna – and so are the individuals who make up the surrounding community that draws them in. It’s charming, it’s moving, it’s touching, it made me quite emotional at times… I just loved it. This is a book I’d recommend without reservation, where the author just gets everything absolutely right – and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Maddie Please, very much my kind of author.

A Vintage Vacation lost me with its slow start and the endless tropes with no originality.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

This is a perfect summer read. A great picnic companion or for lazy days by the pool.

One morning Clover walks into work expecting the promotion she’s worked so hard for. Instead, she finds out that her company is being taken over by a firm overseas and as a result, she’s being let go. At sixty-one, Clover has no intention of retiring, but she has no idea what to do next. Her partner Jack offers zero support leaving her to sort through her feelings alone.

In an attempt to get away and clear her head, she decided to spend some time with her cousin at her trattoria in Italy. In the picturesque Italian countryside, Clover has the chance to process her emotions and plan her next steps. But when her 81-year-old mother crashes her vacation and seems to be having more fun than she is, Clover starts to question if she was truly content with the fast-paced, career-focused life she was used to.

A Vintage Vacation is light, predictable fun and very sweet. Like a Lifetime or Hallmark movie without all the cheese.

Clover's expecting being offered a seat on the board
Her hard work for years, she's ready for the reward.
What she never expected was to be made redundant instead
Being escorted off the premises, she's filled with dread!

At sixty-one she's not ready to make a fresh start
And her partner's selfish reaction means she wants to part.
She decides to get away from it all
And to her cousin Zoe she places a call.

The Italian Lakes and her cousin's taverna there
Is where she'll go now she has time to spare.
She'll have time to think and sort out her plans anew
All goes well till her mother comes too!

What a brilliant, hilarious read involving starting anew
As both ladies consider what they should do.
A story about making the most of your life
And not putting up with anyone causing you strife.

Age is no barrier to having fun somewhere new,
Making new friends, finding new things to do!
An inspirational read with community and romance
Showing you never know what'll happen if you take a chance.

I really enjoyed this hilarious read
And hope you'll find it is also a book that you need.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I love all of Maddie Please's books. They have a special charm; the lead character is always on a learning journey and the reader quickly and happily agrees to go along. There is such positivity and kindness about the storyline and the writing is invariably fresh and funny. Maddie's personality shines through and each new story is uplifting and inspirational.

I love rom-com set in Italy as they're a good way to see your own country in a postcard-perfect way and I always wish I could live in one of those places.
That said I'm not so younger than Clover this book hit near home and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I was really looking forward to this book. On the one hand, I love Italy, and on the other hand, I thought it was great that a not-so-young woman is finally in the leading role. Clover is 61, so I'm still missing a few years, but she definitely has more identification potential for me than the standard heroines, some of whom are very young, that are usually found in love stories and RomComs.
And here comes Clover: successful businesswoman, smart, attractive, on her way to the last big breakthrough at "XS - Finance with Heart" - and instead of actually moving up to the senior management, she is one of the first to be fired during a business takeover. Her world comes crashing down, Clover is in complete shock. Her partner Jack isn't exactly helpful either, thinking more or less only of himself, and so Clover spontaneously decides to take some time off. She visits her cousin Zoe in Italy, and completely reorders her life.
And while Clover completely shuts down, a new man enters her life and is about to completely turn her emotional world upside down once again.
I found this topic totally intriguing. Clover is forced to do a complete reboot for really all areas of her life, and that's harder to do at a certain age. And, of course, you have to reevaluate a lot of things here. What do I actually want to do in life anymore? What is important to me? The protagonist deals with this, and I found it authentically portrayed. Everything falls apart, but there is also lot to win. I actually found this aspect of the novel more interesting than the love story. This was beautifully written, too, very romantic, no doubt about it, but the parts about Clovers new identification process had me more gripped. Whereby it was all woven together wonderfully.
Before I forget; theres a great subplot in the last third od the novel: that's when Clover's nearly 80-year-old mom Eleanor enters the scene. Bored with her life in the retirement community, she also mixes things up in Italy, and falls in love with Franco, who is over 80. That was the fun part of the novel for me: Eleanor and Franco in a sports car on tour, that had real charm 😉.
The novel is written from Clover's first person perspective, and I found the mental comments Clover makes to her fellow humans often hilarious; just my sense of humor 😉. In general the book is written very warmly, funny, and even as a non-native English speaker I could fly through the pages.
I conclude: this was a wonderful novel with charming protagonists, serious themes, but also wonderfully ligh-hearted love stories, and an ode to the true values in life: Friendship and family. All set against a beautiful, mostly wintry backdrop in Italy. I recommend this one with great pleasure!
Many thanks to Boldwook Books for this wonderful ARC!

As the weather here had turned rather chilly and distinctly wet, I was more than happy to accept a trip to the Italian Lakes. Previous books had taught me that I was going to have a fun-filled trip and I couldn’t wait.
Clover Harrington was the epitome of how I would imagine an older version of a helpless workaholic. Addicted to power in all forms, boardroom and dressing alike, she took her redundancy to heart. I’m not quite the same age but would certainly panic if I had to start again. I don’t buy into the power side of work, but as I age, I know it’s a harder sell when competing with younger candidates.
Losing patience with her partner, Jack, she tells him that they are over and packs a bag for a trip to the Italian Lakes. The part of the story that centred around Clover’s relationship with Jack was highly amusing. His inability and unwillingness to accept her decision spoke volumes about his commitment to Clover, or rather, his lack of commitment.
Arriving at her cousin’s taverna, it doesn’t take long for Clover to realise that there is more to life than power dressing and red lipstick. She soon learns that there is joy in getting dirty, working hard, and relaxing with a glass of something nice. She also learns that not all men are the same as Jack. Just as she’s beginning to see an opportunity for some fun, her octogenarian mother appears and has definite plans to live her best life.
Eleanor, Clover’s mum, is an absolute force of nature. She doesn’t feel that the decision to move into a retirement community was the right one for her and soon sets about proving that she has plenty more years of fun still to enjoy.
I am struggling to choose the best part of this book and really believe that it’s all pretty wonderful. I found joy, most of all, in seeing Clover’s metamorphosis from boardroom titan to the relaxed, fulfilled woman she became. Her story arc was triumphant and wholly uplifting.
You may not be surprised to learn that I am recommending this book, unreservedly and looking forward to the next treat from this fabulous author.

A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please is an absolutely delightful contemporary novel that warmed my heart and made me smile.
The leading characters are all over sixty and full of fun, vigor and life, proving that life is for living whatever your age. The characters are a breath of fresh air as they breeze through the novel.
Much of the book is set in Italy. The landscapes spring into life under the artistic pen of Maddie Please. The vim and vigor of Italy contrasts sharply with London which squashes the life out of the characters.
There is the theme of what defines us. “There’s more to life than your job.” We are so much more than what we do. Our lives are there to be lived. We witness the natural landscape drawing the life out of the ladies. Life is to be grabbed, seized and lived. Put away the corporate and embrace the natural.
Family and friends – old and new – are important. We need to enjoy our time together while we can. Life is short. Eternity is long. No one on their deathbed ever says “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” We need to re-order our priorities and live right.
Maddie Please writes with much humor. There were times when I laughed out loud. Whether you are eight or eighty, enjoy life. Laugh while you can. Take time to have fun – and never take yourself too seriously – especially if you fall in the mud!
The resident cat was delightful too as his personality came through the book.
I adored A Vintage Vacation and will share my favourite quote:
“Time was a currency that I needed to spend wisely.”
Live. Love. Laugh.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As a woman who is close in age to Clover, I could relate to a lot of what she was feeling (although I have never been the business suit wearing type).

Clover is a kick-ass employee and she enjoys the cut and thrust of the business world, until suddenly it has no use for her. She goes and stays with her cousin, Zoe, in Italy to lick her wounds and discovers what life is like without having to work so many hours and whether all the sacrifices she has made over the years, were actually worth it. She also makes some friends, some of the male variety.....

I like all the characters in this book, so much. They all have their place - I even liked Jack (well, his characterisation, not actually HIM, to be fair). It made me want to go to Italy! My son-in-law is Italian and I can tell you from first-hand experience that his family's default is to embrace and include everyone in the family. I love it and I can see why Clover loved it too :)

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

A Vintage Vacation opens on boss lady, Clover Harrington, being made redundant from her corporate job of 20 odd years. When she tells her totally unsympathetic boyfriend, Jack, what's happened she realises she needs to get away, and fast. Clover decides a visit to her cousin, Zoe, in a little taverna in Italy is in order. There she can take some time for herself and plan the next stage of her life.

I read 50% of this book in a day, that's how bloody good I found it. Clover and her mum were both such loveable and interesting characters, each with their own distinct personalities and quirks. The side characters were amazing also; Gio especially won me over - I can't resist a charming, handsome older man!

The humour in this book was also on point - there wasn't large amounts of it but definitely enough to make this an enjoyable read. One of my favourite quotes had to be 'Apparently, as ferocious predators and scavengers, Tasmanian devil's could eat 40 percent of their body weight in a day. I sighed. Same, Tasmanian devil, same.'.

I honestly think I'm just a sucker for a wholesome story, and as soon as a group rallies together to save a business I'm invested and want everyone to succeed. This story had it all for me; excellent characters, a gripping storyline, humour and things/people that make me smile, and a love interest. What's not to love?

Clover has been climbing the corporate ladder for years and has suddenly been made redundant at the age of 61. She has a live in boyfriend who is a self centered jerk. Her adult son lives in Canada and she didn’t spend much time with him while he was growing up because she was always busy working and her mother is in a local assisted living facility and causing her extra stress. She is truly at a loss as to what she wants her future to look like. So Clover decides to escape it all and go visit her cousin Zoe, who runs a trattoria in Italy with her husband, and take some time to clear her head and figure out her future.
She meets hunky Gio, who is charming and swoon-worthy and offers to show her around. While they spend time together, sparks fly and it causes Clover to see that she is worthy of a much better relationship than the one she had.
Soon her mother comes to check up on her in Italy and adds to the craziness, but it also helps to restore their relationship that has been strained over the years of busyness and stress from her relationship with her boyfriend.
This was a perfect escape read that I was able to finish in one day. Very much enjoyed reading all the descriptions of the scenery and the food!
Thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

This book is a story with such a good feeling.
Clover is let go from a career that was her life and now she’s at loose ends. She decides to also ditch her six year dead end relationship and visit her cousin in Italy.
She blossoms in Italy, helping out in ways she never imagined and meeting handsome Gio.
I liked Eleanor, her snarky senior mother, and how she blossomed in a new environment as well.
Clover learns that it is never too late to begin truly living and also to find contentment.
Work to live not live to work.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Another fabulous book from Maddie Please.

Clover, is unexpectedly made redundant and then breaks up with her partner, who doesn’t think it’s that bad that she’s lost her job.

Now with no job, she’s got no excuse not to go and stay with her cousin in Italy.

I absolutely loved the descriptions of the places in Italy, the food, which will make you hungry and wish you was there eating and drinking the wine.

I recommend this book.

I felt sorry for Clover on meeting her. She feels like her life is all sorted until the rug is ripped from under her and she is made redundant. Not knowing what to do with herself next, she goes to stay with her cousin Zoe at her taverna in the idyllic Italian lakes.

Not only does Clover fall for the charms of the area but so did I. It had me wanting to book the next flight over. I could easily envisage the stunning surroundings. As much as I loved Clover in the story, her mum Eleanor does still the limelight. She is just hilarious and I wish I was more like her now never mind when I am nearly eighty! She brings a lot of humor into the story and I couldn’t get enough of her.

Gio is the love interest in the story and it wasn’t long before the author had me swooning over him. Not sure if it was the accent that was playing out in my head or just his wonderful charm but either way I was very smitten and I couldn’t help but hold my breath as to whether this couple could find a happy ever after with living countries apart.

A Vintage Vacation was a gorgeous read and a lot of fun. It will have your mouth watering with all the mention of the fabulous food and wine that Italy is famous for. Eleanor is a character that will certainly make an impact on readers and she definitely deserves a book of her own as I just know it would be hilarious. Maddie Please in an author who never fails to transport her readers to somewhere picturesque that leaves the reader uplifted and feeling happy. A story that is good for the soul!

Planning to go on holidays to Italy in a few days by myself, this book couldn't have a better setting - the author has easily transported me to Italian Lakes and I loved all the descriptions of the places, of the weather and, of course, food. Beautifully written, really bringing the colours and smells to life.

The real star of the show was, of course, mother of our main character, especially later on, this fearless, funny woman - her descriptions of her co - residents from her assisted living facility, her antics there were hilarious and her use of italian language was spot on. Brilliant!

So altogether, it was a pleasant read about finding your own feet, your place, your happiness, but it didn't wow me so much. There was nothing special or new about it, to be honest, nothing that made it special and outstanding. A book. A story. Thank you. I don't mean that it was wrong or bad, it was nice enough and it had its moments and it was lovely to see the main character finding what she was looking for without knowing that she was looking for it, finding out who she really is, finding the courage.

I love Maddie's books. They are always so warm, cosy and inviting
This one is no difference. It has a great storyline and cast of characters and I enjoyed reading it.

I love Maddie's books and this one was brilliant! When Clover was trying on clothes at the market and such a disaster happened I had tears of laughter streaming down my cheeks. Aside from that, the characters and the story flowed so well and was full of love and friends and wellbeing

Thank you for this preview. I enjoy Maddies books so was looking forward the reading this one. It didn’t disappoint, it follows a mid 60’s very corporate lady who suddenly finds herself without a job after years of dedication. Her partner is unresponsive to the situation, she finds herself packing a bag to travel to friends in Italy. The story unfolds as she really finds herself, joined by her mother the two of the really start to enjoy life again.
An enjoyable read, with likeable characters and very descriptive images of Italy.

A Vintage Vacation
By Maddie Please
Pub Date: May 30, 2023
Bold wood
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved this book! Clover is in her early 60’s and I could really relate to her. I found this book very refreshing as Clover examines her life and what is truly important.
This was a book I’m glad to recommend. Sign me up for her next book please!,
5 stars