Two years after this was published, I finally got around to reading this. I wish I hadn't waited so long! This was the perfect book for a long plane ride to London.

40something year old moves back to London after breaking up with her fiancee in the US. Her personal and professional life are in tatters and her only option is to rent a room in a stranger's house. While all her friends are married, having kids and generally being fabulous, she is a big fat failure.

For every person that feels like a screw up, you are not alone! Everyone has moments where they feel like nothing is going right and everyone else is more successful.

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter was the inspiration for a short-lived American sitcom, Not Yet Dead, that lasted two seasons. I never watched the show, but based on the synopsis of it I'm fairly confident in saying it diverges wildly from the book - other than some of the characters sharing the same names and the obituary writing job thing.
Nell is on the other side of forty and her life has imploded. Her business (a bookstore / café) went bust right along with her engagement. She's now single, broke, and with no other option that to tuck tail and head back to London. A couple of problems with that is she has no prospect of a job, she's broke, and rents in London are through the roof. All her friends are happily married with a couple of kids meaning not only is she a fifth wheel, she can't impose on them by couch surfing until she gets her shit together. Nothing for it, she answers an ad to rent a room from a wound-tight eco-warrior wannabe who controls the thermostat like the Gestapo, borrows a little money from her parents, and tries to work her contacts to find a job. Which she does - writing obituaries. That's how she meets Cricket, an 80-something widow with her own challenges. The two become fast friends and naturally help each other heal and commiserate along the way.

I came back to the romance genre in the late 1990s through Chick Lit, and that's what this is. Chick Lit with a 40-something heroine. She wants a husband and children, and well life hasn't exactly turned out the way she's planned. Having been in the States (New York, then California) for the last several years, she's now back home to lick her wounds and has discovered life (along with her friends and family) has kept on moving along without her.

It's a very character driven read and you're inside Nell's head for the duration. If you don't find her funny and interesting from the jump, save yourself some time and DNF early. I've always been one of those readers who can find Chick Lit great fun so long as I don't consume a steady diet of it, and this book largely worked for me - but like a lot of romantic comedy stuff these days, readers should be warned there's some heavy themes underpinning the story that, even with foreshadowing, still pop out to slam the brakes on the overall fluffy mood. That said, the author does say some interesting things about the expectations placed on women by themselves and society that still stand out even with the lighter tone. I had a good time with this and it's a crackin' good listen on audiobook, which I highly recommend.

Content warning: infertility, miscarriage

Final Grade = B+

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Confessions of a Forty Something F**k Up in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Such a fun, light read and cracked me up at several times throughout the book. I absolutely enjoyed this book and have been referring it to all my friends.

REVIEW: Confession of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter

This book is like a breath of fresh air in a world of Instagram-perfect. Okay, so our main character, Nell, is a hot mess. She's pushing 40, her life's falling apart, and she's moved back in with her parents. Sound depressing? No, it's hilarious. Potter nails that perfect mix of cringe-worthy moments and laugh-out-loud humor that'll have you cackling like a maniac on public transport.

But here's the thing - it's not just funny—this book's got a lot of heart. Nell's journey is so accurate it hurts sometimes. If you've ever felt you're falling behind or questioning your choices, this book will hit you immediately. The cast of characters is top-notch. From Nell's ridiculously lovable elderly neighbor to her social media influencer nemesis, every person feels fully fleshed out and genuine. And don't even get me started on the dog. I'm not a dog person, but damn if I didn't fall in love with that furry little plot device.

Potter's writing style is chef's kiss. It's sharp, witty, and flows so smoothly that you'll look up and realize you've just devoured half the book in one sitting. The pacing is spot-on, too - there's never a dull moment.
What sets this book apart is how it tackles heavy themes - like societal expectations, self-worth, and what "success" really means - without ever feeling preachy or losing its sense of humor. It's like having a deep conversation with your funniest friend.

"Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up" is an absolute gem. It's hilarious, heartwarming, and honest. Whether you're twenty, forty, or ninety, there's something here for you. This book is the literary equivalent of your best friend showing up at your door with wine and takeout when you're having a crap day. I loved it.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read that will also provide a few laughs, whether or not they're in their forties. It has a bit of a Shopaholic series vibe.

I laughed so hard I cried. I'm in my mid-30s, so I am slightly out of the target age demographic, but I still found this full of a lot of heart.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I listened to this on audio while also reading it and I enjoyed the wittiness and dry humor! I also don't see enough books about 40+ characters, and it was so fun to not only see that, but to see them struggle with finding themselves. It gives you a bit of a chance to take it easy on yourself because we're all just trying our best to find ourselves

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up" is a lighthearted and often funny read that tackles relatable themes. If you're looking for a humorous and uplifting story about a woman navigating her 40s, you'll likely enjoy it. However, if you prefer deeper characters and a more complex plot, you might find it lacking.

I loved this laugh out loud book. Confessions of a 40 Something F*** Up is a 21st century Bridget Jones, and I loved how Alexandra Potter made Nell come to life on the pages. As a 40 something year old, I really appreciated this book. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very relatable fun, "vacation read". I'm glad Nell for hey HEA. It was a fun and light trek of hope and happiness. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review

A funny but slightly draggy novel about getting your life together at the age of 40-something. Cricket was my favorite character! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

There's something about a book with a main character that embraces being a hot mess - this book channels Bridget Jones's Diary and brings it into the 21st century.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. This was such a fun read. Considering I'm in my forties it was fun to relate. Lots of laugh out loud moments.

As someone in their early 20's, I'm looking forward to re-reading this once I'm in my 40's, and maybe better relating to the story. With humor and emotion that hits hard, the question of "how did I even get here?" is one that every middle-aged person on earth will probably ask themselves at least a hundred times in their life. Honestly, even just in thinking about my future, this book has made me feel less alone, and less afraid, of what my life might hold.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Avery funny read that will have you laughing out loud. This book will make you wonder how life turned out the way it did and you will realize that your life is good. This would be a great book club read and the discussion would be endless. Nellie happy and writes obituaries and meets a wonderful 80 year old friend Cricket. A great celebration of true friendship.

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**ck Up takes a bit to get going but once it is, it's a delightful romp through the misadventures of a mid-lifer. It gave me vibes of Eleanor Oliphant and Where'd You Go Bernadette?, with wacky Crickett leading the way through her chaotic life.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

As someone who landed a part time job (at near 40) writing obituaries, when I saw this book up for review, it felt like kismet.

What is there to say except I plan to share this book with everyone else I know.

Nell is funny and relatable, and is the perfect character to remind us that even when plans fall through we can find something to make us happy until we can figure out where we're headed to next.

Thank you to Harper Perennial for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. As a forty-something myself who sometimes feels more alone than I’d like, this humorous read was right up my alley. I think anyone who has a good sense of humor and can relate to feeling a bit out of place in their own life will find this read enjoyable. The main character has moved home to the UK after a breakup with her Californian fiance. She finds a room in a house with a man (sharing a bathroom!) and tries to get back into her old girlfriends circle. Feeling like she's in an entirely different place than they are, Nell bonds with an 80-something widow, her "client" from whom she is writing the husband's obituary. Attempting to find love again while also complaining about feeling old, but being reminded she isn't actually old by the widow, Nell has a fun journey to creating a podcast about her life. I did a mix of the book and the audio, which had a great narrator. The book was adapted for the ABC series Not Dead Yet, which I’m going to have to check out.

Penelope or Nell as she prefers has moved back to the UK after breaking up with her American Fiancée. Nell is a forty something single woman without a job and accommodation unlike her friends who are all married and have kids and have their own houses. Her father lends her money and she looks for a shared accommodation and starts a job as an obituary writer to pay for bills.

When she goes to meet the widow of a recently deceased playwriter, she meets the eighty something widow, Catherine or she is knows lovingly as Cricket. Cricket turns out to be quite different from what Nell had imagined and they become friends. They both end up teaching each other a great many things.

Nell's housemate or landlord, Edward only stays at the house few days a week as he is married and has kids and visits them in the country over the weekends. He also owns a dog, Arthur who also becomes Nell's companion in a way as Nell spends a lot of time with Arthur and takes him on walks.

Nell's best friend, Fiona doesn't have time for her as she has a new friend of her own. Basically, any of Nell's friends don't have time for her unless they want her to babysit their kids and I felt for Nell.

I loved Nell and everything about her character. From feeling like a failure to her trying to fit in and find her place in her family and her friend's lives to her self-pity to her resilience and picking up the pieces and trying to get back on track rather a new track. She was so relatable in every which way. I was rooting for her all the way. This book was such a testimony of women's lives when they have to start over at forty. I for one loved this book and hope that lots of people read it.