Member Reviews

A lot of laugh out loud moments here as Frankie wades through the online dating platforms at 50 years old!! I’m sure many women of the same age can relate to that and all the relationship aspects of this book. Quilting & Slovakia also make up the topics in this book. #Divorced(NotDead) #HarperFord

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This book was hilarious, I sped through it so quickly - so fun and lighthearted with lots of laughs.

'Frankie, you're divorced, not dead. Or you soon will be. Divorced, that is. Not dead'.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I just loved Frankie, our 50 year old FMC who is going through a divorce and getting back into the dating world. Reading the exchanges from men on dating apps that Frankie signed up to was hilarious - and all too real in the dating world nowadays, including scammers and catfish!

I feel as though me and Frankie would get along so well with the banter, and it's great when you can get that connection to a character in a book. I'm not divorced (nor dead), but I completely understand the online dating scenarios and the weirdos you can find online!

Overall, a really great read and I can't wait to read more from Harper.

'All I want is a handsome f***boy who's halfway decent in bed and doesn't finish in five minutes or stink of fags. Is that too much to ask?'

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this copy. This review is voluntary.

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Harper Ford's book, "Divorced Not Dead," is a witty and entertaining portrayal of the ups and downs of online dating after being in a long-term marriage. With a mix of clever humour and relatable stories, Ford explores the journey of Frankie, a recently divorced woman eager to navigate the unpredictable world of dating once again.
The novel follows Frankie's journey towards taking control of her life after ending her marriage with her ex-husband, whom she calls "Twatface." Her newfound independence is further enhanced when her son starts attending university, allowing her to embrace her freedom fully. With her friend Bel's support, Frankie confidently joins two dating apps - one for serious relationships and another for casual encounters - resulting in exciting and amusing experiences. As she navigates the unfamiliar world of online dating, Frankie quickly learns that the game's rules have changed significantly. The author effectively portrays Frankie's frustrations with modern dating trends like catfishing, kittenfishing, and ghosting, making it easy for readers to relate and find humour in the absurdity of it all.
In the book "Divorced Not Dead," Ford introduces a variety of characters that Frankie meets through online dating. These encounters often result in comical disasters, with topics ranging from finding the perfect sexual encounter to meeting GILFs. Despite her apprehension, Frankie approaches each interaction with excitement, leaving readers curious about what unexpected twists may arise.
What sets this book apart is how Ford blends humour with a heartfelt exploration of love. Amidst the amusing anecdotes, the author also effectively portrays moments of vulnerability and the complex challenges of seeking companionship in the age of technology.
Frankie's romantic journey in the novel may seem predictable, but it is portrayed genuinely and from the heart, making it an engaging and relatable read. Although the occasional explicit language may take some aback, it adds a truthful dimension to Frankie's personality and the dating world she navigates.
The book "Divorced Not Dead" is an entertaining and insightful read that many readers will find relatable. Harper Ford's writing blends humour and a genuine examination of love, making it a highly recommended option for those searching for love in the digital age. This novel is a valuable reminder that being humorous and brave can be crucial in finding your ideal single, divorced, or happily committed partner.

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I am pleased to share my thoughts on this highly enjoyable and relatable book. The protagonist, Frankie, presents a refreshing and lighthearted approach to life after her divorce. Her experiences with online dating and encounters with less-than-desirable individuals are sure to resonate with many readers. The male characters are portrayed realistically, with humour, and many comical moments, adding to the authenticity of the plot.

As I read through the pages, I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity with Frankie, as she reminded me of my own best friend and our many conversations over the years. Additionally, the writing style is highly enjoyable, and the secondary characters are well-developed, adding depth to the storyline.

Ford's skilful storytelling creates a captivating and delightful reading experience, and I eagerly anticipate reading more in the future.

In conclusion, 'Divorced, Not Dead' is without any doubt, a five-star read for me!

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Grab this one or any of the author’s books at curl up and enjoy the wild ride. You won’t be disappointed.

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Frankie's starting over- starting over in life, in business, and, hopefully, in love. Well, the last might be the most difficult bit but she's using dating apps. Not so fast- this is a cautionary and funny take on dating after a long marriage and on how users of those apps don't always find happiness. Frankie's lucky because she's got her pals in her quilting group and she's got a sunny cynical outlook. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Some of this might be familiar but it's a fresh take on life as a newly single woman.

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This fun and lighthearted look at dating after years of marriage was engaging and humorous. The main character ends up a single mother and she decides to re enter the dating world but is surprised by many things that have changed since internet dating started. This is engaging and funny and made me laugh out loud several times. Truly worthwhile! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Avon books UK for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

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This novel is absolute JOY, I laughed my way from the very start to the very last page. This book is a romance and is all about community, each element beautifully written and guaranteed to pull the reader in but it combines this with whip-smart, feminist and sex-positive observation on the perils on modern dating.
Frankie has recently separated from her (heinous) husband, is post-menopausal and is having to start again from scratch. Not only does she have to set up a new business but as a newly single empty-nester, she is throwing herself back into the dating pool, into a world of websites, and apps and all the nonsense that accompanies them. I defy anyone to read this without loudly cackling as Frankie deals with catfishers, scammers and cheats in her thoroughly unique and utterly hilarious way. And as she does all this, she is the embodiment of women who know exactly what they want, exactly what they won’t tolerate any more, and who refuse to be told by anyone how they ‘should’ be living their lives. I love her!
Divorced Not Dead is fresh, funny and absolutely freaking fabulous and I CANNOT wait to see what Harper Ford writes next.

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This is certainly a no-holds-barred story of dating in the modern world as a mature lady. I liked the style, in particular the inclusion of the dating app messages. Whilst it was an easy read I never felt invested in Frankie. I know books are words but this was almost too wordy, it felt heavy rather than light hearted and wasn’t quite as funny as I was hoping for. Just not for me.

Thanks @netgalley @avonbooks for the early access.

#divorcednotdead #harperford #bookreview #canyourecommendagoodbook #bookrecommendations #bookstagram

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I understand the concept of this story but feel that the dating was just too much of the MC’s focus and took away from the story. I do like that the author showed how love isn’t easy or perfect and she really showed that in the matching of her characters.

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Oh this book made laugh. Ending a twenty year marriage to a master manipulator and starting a new business. You will cheer Frances on, from her friendship with Bel to the members of the hotbed of quilters and her online dating escapades.
The scams, schemes and lies told online.
Will she find what she ultimately wants and still be true to herself?
Enjoy I definitely did

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This is a comedy about a woman who goes through a divorce and uses on line dating to “find herself” only to discover that she already knows who she is. Her sewing shop and friends she makes through a sewing group she creates and her best friend help her navigate the world of. Learning to love and trust again. This is a great read for those who have forgotten who they are and need to find themselves again.

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Really funny, actually snort out loud and get funny looks from those around you funny. I’m slightly younger than the main character but a lot of the experience of her age group were entirely relatable. Had I suddenly become single at her ago I’d be similarly in the dark about the brave new world of internet dating with all its pitfalls, strange new traditions and unwritten rules, therefore watching her navigate all of the above from my safe distance was utterly fascinating… it really is a different world from when I was last single circa 2002, gulp.
The characters in the book are easy to engage with and buy into and the lighthearted look into life, the universe and everything and what the rights and wrongs of love are make compelling and thought provoking reading.
I was utterly invested in the main character to the point of (almost) cheering her on and celebrating when things were going her way and teared up a bit about how lovely her best friend and son are.
An absolute belter and very enjoyable and entertaining read, loved loved loved it plus I feel educated about modern dating and the related terminology to boot- bonus.

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I am kind of the demographic for this novel, I am in my 50's and a recent empty nester. However, and this is a big one, I have no desire to get into the dating game, and it is just as well, all things considered!

Frankie is a woman of a certain age who has just escaped a 20 year, less-than-wonderful marriage. She has set up a new business, a quilting shop. She has a best friend, Bel, who is a new mum, and the two of them spend a fair bit of time in Bel's shed, putting the world to rights. Everyone needs a friendship like these two! :)

Now, Frankie has had a less than great love life in recent years and she now wants to explore the world of online dating and wow, what an eye-opener that is!! She is swiftly introduced to all the ups and downs of this world and quite frankly, it sounds rather scary to me, it has to be said. She meets some interesting men and has a good time, for the most part, but then she meets Stef and he turns her world upside down. His old-fashioned views are at odds with her more casual approach but the two of them have a connection they can't deny. Unfortunately, he is engaged to be married....

There are a lot of things about this book that I really enjoyed. I loved the friendships that Frankie had; not just with Bel but also with the ladies of the quilting group. I could just imagine her in her village, surrounded by like-minded people and having a great time. Frankie is foul mouthed, true, but it suits her and I was in no way offended by this (even though my daughter makes fun of me for being unable to say the F word, myself).

Now it seems to me that this book is almost a "how to" book about online dating. Yes, it is funny and the author is one witty woman, clearly. Some of the scenarios that Frankie encounters made me cringe though, big-time. It is an unfortunate fact that even in 2023, women get the rough end of the pineapple, over and over again, when it comes to dating. And that makes me sad.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK.

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Rather Joyous..
A romcom with a difference in this breath of fresh air tale of the no holds barred Frankie, divorced and fifty but most definitely wanting to get on with life and with love and with anything that comes with it. By turns, funny and entertaining but also heartfelt and poignant. The author often successfully hits the nail square on the head with astute observations and endearing or not character traits, not to mention narrative. A rather joyous commentary of the life of Frankie - who really could be any of us.

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Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable and light-hearted read. It felt a bit different from other books of its genre. Although the characters were frustrating at times, it was entertaining.

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First of all, thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I enjoyed the writing style of this novel. There were some genuine laugh out loud moments and the almost village style setting was cute. The supporting characters were interesting and well fleshed out. My main issue with this story was the development of the relationship between our FMC and MMC. I wasn’t invested enough to truly care. From a spoiler free POV, I was never rooting for them to get together. There were also parts of dialogue that I really struggled with from a number of characters - too many cringey terms of endearment and clunky pop culture references.

All in all, it was an enjoyable, light hearted read and a solid 3 ⭐️.

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An enjoyable read … I do feel like I’ve learnt everything there is to know about the highs and lows of dating apps … a nice story about life after divorce and knowing your worth and if you wait the right one will come into your life when you least expect it

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Thanks so much Avon Books UK and NetGalley.

Frankie is 50 and divorced. She's on the apps trying to find a date or a hookup. She's dealing with the world of online dating and all its complexities.

I thought this was a funny look at how online dating is. Frankie is a bold character with a free mouth. I thought some of it was a little repetitive, but I admired Frankie for how she handled situations. An overall fun read.

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Frankie is 50 years old, has just escaped from a loveless, controlling marriage and set up her new life in a flat above her quilting shop. With the help of her friend, Bel, she starts to rebuild her love life using dating apps.

The result is very funny, and touching, and educating, particularly for those of us who have never even seen a dating app. She meets all types of men and has all sorts of sex, but none of it is fulfilling or what she really wants. Until she sets up a quilting group in the shop and Stef brings along his mother.

The story is told well; my only disappointment was the excessive use of swearing! No-one I know uses the F and C and T words quite so often, and I cannot imagine anyone Frankie's age using them with her son. But maybe I'm the one out of touch.

That aside, its an interesting, if occasionally preachy, read and a fair comment on living life today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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