Member Reviews
At 70 Constance Fitzgerald has lived a full life, travelling around the world, her sole focus her son and ensuring he is happy and loved.
Now she finds herself newly engaged and about to be a Grandmother.
Then a chance reading of a magazine brings back memories that can’t be pushed aside any more and Constance finds herself on the road to the Highlands.
Will heading back to the past give Constance the answers she needs or will it put her whole future in jeopardy.
This is just a glorious joyous book. Full of love, friendship, and the healing power of forgiveness.
A road trip to remember. Connie, nearing 70 but a free spirit, flees to Scotland during a fit of pre-wedding nerves. She's also been told she's about to become a grandmother, but is unsure how much her daughter-in-law will let her be involved with her new grandchild. The draw in Scotland is Alex, an artist she once knew very well, who is currently holding an exhibition. So off she goes in her (t)rusty old camper van, Ruby.
Her son Simon is lovely but her prospective husband Leo seems a stick-in-the-mud and is not keen on Connie's beloved Ruby, so off she goes on a journey of self-discovery. An enjoyable read with some important points to make about relationships.
What a great book. It was such a great read I got hooked in straight away. Constance is a free spirited kick ass lady, mother of her lovely son Simon and owner of Ruby her vintage camper van. Recently engaged to Leo and newly announced Grandma to be via her slightly prickly daughter in law Diana. Her free spirited nature is slightly being hindered by Leo who is very hesitant to introduce her to his daughter and also to travel with her. She’s got a past and at 70 is not ready to let it go.
She ends up having to confront her past so she can carry on.
Really recommend this to everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved The Second Chance Holiday Club so jumped at the opportunity to review the latest offering by Kate Galley. The Golden Girls Road trip is a heartwarming feel good read with characters you can’t help but fall in love with.
The easiest of 5⭐️ recommendations. I’m looking forward to the next book Kate Galley writes and I hope she sticks to writing about the more mature characters.
Thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries for an advance copy of this wonderful book
At the age of seventy Connie has a lot of unfinished business in her life. Family and friendships
are all in for a reshuffle. in this
uplifting story.. A road trip with
Ruby, an old camper van is the catalyst and wake call for a new start. I enjoyed this book so much. It's full of surprises and
optimism..
I love the golden girls, love the quirky characters and the stories they have. Loved the narration of the novel.
Absolutely charming, sweet book. The main character is so gentle, warm, and charming herself. Though it is bothersome how allowing and silent she is with the horrible men in her life. Adorable concept and enjoyable read.
Somehow i knew from the very first page that i was going to love this story. It was a beautifully written, heartwarming love story. It just goes to prove that its never too late!! Connie and Alex have a wonderful bond and enjoy a fantastic adventure together. All the other characters contributed to a great storyline too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and devoured it within a day. I will undeniably pick another book by this author.
Thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.
I LOVED Kate's previous book, The Second Chances Holiday Club, and so was super excited to receive a digital copy of her new book. And the fact that it has 'The Golden Girls' in the title makes me extremely happy, as I automatically assumed there would be a Rose, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia in it. Side note: The Golden Girls is one of the greatest sitcoms ever made.
I love how passionate and capable Kate Galley is at writing older characters. They rarely get their time in the spotlight but she continues to give it to them and in such a perfect way. They're not secondary characters, they're not characters to whom things happen. They grab life by the wotsits and do what they want to do. I was going to say they don't just sit there with their knitting patterns, but that wouldn't be quite true where this story is concerned - it's not really a spoiler, but Connie does a lot of knitting.
It really is a beautiful story. Connie is a fabulous main character in so many ways, and the second main character of Alex does wonders working off of Connie. Together, they make for a really entertaining, warming, and inspirational story. There are a number of other characters, some of more importance than others, but for me, this is Connie and Alex's story and that's where my focus remains.
It is exactly what it says on the tin: it's a road trip. The setting and the camper van become as much of the story as the plot and the characters. The trip takes in everywhere from Inverness down, and it's just so lovely, and I can really see the appeal of just taking to the open road, ending up where you end up.
I know there's only been two books so far, but Kate has very quickly become one of my go-to authors for happy, warming, cosy and very real stories. It is very real, the characters are flawed, they all have their pasts and their secrets, relationships are fraught, and friendships are tested, just like in life, nothing is ever perfect.
It isn't 100% happiness though. In order to see the sunshine, we need to get through the rain. And Kate has done that here. There is a lot of rain in this book, and this sometimes means Connie is not the happiest main character you could have. But that then makes the happier moments even better.
I read it in less than 24 hours. It flows so well and it is just seamless to read. When it comes out I will be buying copies for friends of all ages. It is more than jut a fun road trip novel of two old friends. It has got so much more depth than that. It may focus on people in their later years, but I think it's a universal story of lost love, friendships, passions, and joy.
2 stars
I was really enjoying this until I wasn't. It starts off so strong and pulled me immediately, as I love a strong, independent woman. But, this just slides down hill after about 33% into the book. I finally gave up and skimmed to the end to see if it would end satisfactorily. It did not.
I loved the other book by Kate Galley, this one was a huge miss for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first of this authors books I have read and I think I have found a new favourite author. This was a wonderful read full of multigenerational characters and also showed that you are never too old to make changes in your life and that life is for living
This grabbed me from the start and I read it in one sitting and almost felt like I was with the characters on their road trip and reading this makes you want to buy a camper van and set off on your own adventure.
A truly lovely book that just shows how you are never too old to make a change. I loved the characters and the descriptions of the places visited on the road trip were amazing. Highly recommended.
Connie has just celebrated her 70th birthday. She's due to marry Leo and works in a charity shop.Life seems to be going well.
Soon, her world is turned upside down. She's let go from volunteering in the shop to make way for younger people. Then Leo has to dash to help his daughter after she splits with her husband. Connie is fed up.
After discovering an art exhibition happening in Scotland by her old friend Alex, she sets off in her campervan Ruby.
After an initial frosty start, the two get together to deliver Alex's paintings around the country.
What a great way to spend your retirement travelling and sightseeing.
These two really needed their heads banging together at times, but what a journey and what a story.
This had some sadness but not morose.
I was really glad that Connie and Diana were able to come together.
It is a very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the ARC in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed Kate Galley's previous book, and "The Golden Girls' Road Trip" is equally readable. This is definitely a feel-good novel with themes of family, love, aging, and secrets. Recommended to those who enjoy life-affirming, pleasant reads about women and friendships. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.This was an enjoyable, fast, summer read about women, friendship, love, and family. This was a different type of story for me to read, I generally read more historical fiction, but I have to say I enjoyed the interaction between Connie and Alex, all in all it was a pleasant book to read.. I would recommend this story for anyone interested in reading alight, but very thought provoking book.
An easy to read fun book following Connie a single 70 year old lady as she goes on an adventure in her camper van called Ruby. Con seeks to find an old friend Alex who takes her on a road trip across the UK. They have several stop start moments as they travel but what will be the outcome.
Thanks to Kate Galley and her publisher and thanks also to NetGalley.
Constance is almost 70, about to be married for the first time and finds she is also about to be a grandmother. She has not had a conventional life, being very much a free spirit, bringing up her son in a forward-thinking and loose sort of way. But Simon has married Diana who really does not like Connie. Then Connie spots a magazine article and realises there are issues from her youth that she really should resolve before she finally settles down.
This takes her to Scotland and her real love, but the path to true love is not smooth, and Connie has quite a bit to take on board and deal with before she can find happiness.
Its a good read - I was expecting some sort of fun, 'oldies' road trip and it really is much deeper than that. It makes you think - about relationships, aging and life choices - the 'what ifs'. I enjoyed it very much.
This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. A quick fun read. Characters are quirky. The story moves quickly. I was not enthralled with the story of Connie and the men in her life.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read, The Golden Girls Road Trip, by Kate Galley. What a wonderful story. You’ll fall in love with the main character, Constance and get totally wound up in her story. This is a fast, easy and uplifting book about first and last loves. I highly recommend it! I will read anything this author writes!
This is absolutely one of the best books I've read for being the most memorable! I loved this! I could not put this down! I absolutely loved it!
I just reviewed The Golden Girls' Road Trip by Kate Galley. #TheGoldenGirlsRoadTrip #NetGalley
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