I happened upon Alexandra Potter’s novels when her book Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up was published back in 2020. I thoroughly enjoyed it (review here) and was so excited when I learned there would be a follow up book. More Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up was published here in Canada in early October and I devoured my egalley in July. It was such a great read!

Here’s the book’s description:
There is no magical land you finally arrive at where everything is figured out, fixed and sorted. Life, like us, is a sum of moving parts, and if we’re lucky, we get to keep f**king up, figuring it out and laughing in the face of it all.
Nell’s back. Her life still isn’t going to plan. And she’s still asking the big questions and getting none of the answers. Like, for

1. Why is falling in love so easy, but staying in love so hard?

2. What do you do when your friendships are put to the ultimate test?

3. Can we ever really live in the moment and leave the past behind?

4. When everything goes tits up, do you fall apart or jump on a plane to LA with Cricket (an eighty-something widow and your BFF)?

5. And when all else fails, will celebrity-scented candles, smashed avocados and Instagram filters save us?*

But first, Nell has some more confessions . . .

* #onlyjoking #sortof #LOL

Being able to reunite with Nell was an absolute joy. I loved her when I first met her in the first book and reading this one was like when you get together with a friend you haven’t seen in awhile but you immediately pick up where you last left off.

It was interesting to read a book that was set during lockdowns, now that we’re getting further removed from that time. The first time I read a fictional story that referenced the pandemic I was completely put off - I wasn’t ready to have that time invade my reading time. I think I’m more accepting now, plus Potter did an exceptional job of making it real but not a scary reminder of what we all went through.

I find Potter’s books exceptionally difficult to review and I think part of it is because the stories mimic real life so much that it would be like trying to write a review of the last year of my own life. There are highs and lows, just like you’ve likely had in the last year or so. You have great friends whose lives have also had ups and downs and you want to be there to support them but it can be hard sometimes, especially when your life looks a lot different, and, hello, pandemic. What I’m trying to get at is, there’s a lot of heart and soul in this book. You’ll laugh, nod in agreement, cringe in embarrassment, and maybe even tear up a time or two. None of the emotions will hit you especially hard but packaged together they create a wonderful story that’ll leave you with a warm glow.

If you haven’t yet read Alexandra Potter’s books, you’re missing out. More Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up was a great read - it’s a well-written novel that’s full of characters I adore. What’s not to love? I can’t wait to read whatever Potter writes next!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor of this novel, Publishers Group Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own*

If you want a really well written novel, look no further than this. Was pleasantly surprised and impressed by how into this book I got. Well written and worth reading

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC for review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel follows Nell in the second book from this series and like many of us, she still hasn’t gotten life all figured out.

Pick this book up to feel like you’re hanging out with friends. It’s a relaxing read and more on the slow paced end of the spectrum. Nell is fun to read about even if you don’t always agree with her and of her decisions.

At times, it feels like the book is forcing you to see the ‘oh so thoughtful life lessons’, feeling like a self help book you weren’t interested in. It’s doing a lot of telling instead of showing in those moments and it hinders the pacing.

Thankfully, it balance it out with great characters and fun dialog that keeps you engaged.

I would recommend it to anyone who feels like reading a fun light book with great characters. Reading it feels like having a chat with a friend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Disclaimer: I have not read the first Confessions book. I just related to the title as a 39-year-old F**k Up. It also took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize the book was fiction. Like I actually looked for the podcast embarrassing,

I found the book entertaining and funny. It became my sorbet between chapters of a sad, disturbing book I was also reviewing. It's a book that reminds us to take life less seriously and just laugh.

Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps…from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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In the hilarious and heartfelt follow-up to Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up Nell discovers that there's no such thing as having it all figured out.
There is no magical land you finally arrive at where everything is figured out, fixed and sorted. Life, like us, is a sum of moving parts, and if we're lucky, we get to keep f**king up and figuring it out and laughing in the face of it all.
Forty-something f**k up Nell Stevens had gone from rock-bottom to ticking all the boxes: a successful podcast and West End play, a new flat and boyfriend to boot. And with it all came the realization that lots of people felt like a bit of f**k up, she wasn't alone: she'd found her tribe.
But then something happened that no one expected, turning the world upside down in a way no one could have ever imagined. Eighteen months on, life is finally returning to normal! But what is normal anymore?
With relationships tested, Nell learns that falling in love might be easy, but staying in love can be hard. And revisiting LA with Cricket is an opportunity for Nell to take a look at the life, and people, she left behind.
In the sequel to the bestselling Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, there are a lot more lessons to be learned, truths to be told, adventures to go on and joys to discover. But first, she has some more confessions...

I have not read the precursor to his book, but I am now going back and going to read it! This book is laugh-out-loud funny and I giggled so much that hubby is reading my copy of the novel as my laughing kept him awake last night. Well-written and decidedly, utterly enjoyable!
#shortbutsweetreviews