Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook. I enjoyed listening to it, but I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I read it. The narrator made the difference.

I loved the characters so much, it was like talking to your best girl friend. It was hilarious, complicated and full of real events.

I really enjoyed the cover page and art. Multi-faceted characters, a self-journey through dramatic events and a fabulous ending.

Loved the narrating of this book, I think it was the same or similar to the narrator of Circe so it was very fun to hear a different tone. The book was also very funny

Lots of laughs in this book and I loved the unexpected friendship that happened with Nell and Cricket. This was a sweet read.

Light tone, but sometimes serious topics. Felt some parts were a bit slow, but not so much that I wanted to jump ahead in the audiobook. I found myself jotting down a few quotes of moments where life's realities were well put by the lead character.

I tried listening to this audio book but to be honest it was a DNF for me. I just couldn't connect with the narrator.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.

4.25

In a moment of weakness (and need for an audiobook), I latched onto Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up. I awoke with dowloader’s remorse when I looked at the lackluster cover and prepared for a self-published disappointment. Okay, so the narration and introduction were good, but I wondered how I could stomach hours of the pathetic tale of Nell and her life gone bad. Books are supposed to be an escape, aren’t they? Yes, there is some cringing to get through, but when Nell, who is starting over in a new/old country from rock bottom, and whose current friends are now Smug Marrieds with kids, meets a bosom friend in Cricket, things start looking up. It doesn’t hurt that Cricket is loaded with a big house and connections.

Don’t get me wrong, creating a new life in London is a long journey, but with quite a few laughs, and some interesting characters, Nell learns that other people’s lives aren’t as good as they look on Instagram. In fairness, Nell seems to still be 40 when the story kicks off, so 40 something is a bit of a stretch. And, she’s obviously beautiful enough that, throughout the book, a number of hot men have instantly fallen for her, even if she doesn’t know it at the time.

What seemed like a regrettable decision turned out to be one of the most enjoyable contemporary romcoms I’d “read” in a while. The narration was good, and I’m not as afraid of downloading in a moment of weakness anymore. Though it is often compared to Bridget Jones’s Diary, there are enough differences to make it fresh and I could easily see you this becoming a movie. Then I can say I knew Nell when…

Funny, fast, and well-narrated. A recommended purchase for collections where Bridget Jones and snarky WF is popular.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful coming of age in your forties story and I found so much of it to be totally relatable. It was witty, honest, and the writing style is fantastic. I laughed along with Nell as she tried to figure out what she wanted out of life and I absolutely adored her new older friend Cricket. We all need a friend like Cricket. It's a beautiful tribute to friendship, coming into your own, and finding what you need when you stop looking for it. I loved every minute of the audiobook and I can't wait to listen to it again. I have a new favorite book!

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up what a fun listen. When we look at our friends and think, "Why am I the only one who can’t get it together?" This one's for you. When you lose everything and have to build back up from the ground but realize more are doing it willingly. Love, friendship and laughter with a dose of competition all in one good audio book. Everyone needs a Cricket in their lives to tell you how it is that it’s ok to just say “I don’t know”.

Confessions of Forty-Something offered a humorous plot with likeable characters. It had a few laughs sprinkled throughout as the main character struggled to get her life together. However, the story didn't stay with me after I finished reading it.

I thought this would be a light fluffy read, and while it was fun, I wound up feeling really connected to the main character. I’d recommend it to anyone who is a fan of women’s fiction, especially fans is Sophia Kinsella.

CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F**K UP is a witty, candid, and authentically imperfect look at life when things don’t go as planned. Potter delights with a character struggling to figure things out even though she is in her forties.

Honestly, Nell is such a great character. The humor and emotion laced throughout her story allow the reader to feel like they are not alone in not being perfect. It is both refreshing and entertaining to have a glimpse into her life as well as those around her. The author created characters who feel like real people. They all have issues, even though some may have a picture-perfect appearance or carefully curated social media feed. It was wonderful entering Nell’s world as she and her friends navigated the ups and downs of life.

CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F**K UP made me laugh out loud as well as have some more pensive moments. This book wholeheartedly encapsulates what many people feel when their lives don’t turn out exactly as they planned when they were in their twenties.

A modern Bridget Jones-esque story for the middle-aged woman. Nell is a 40-something recently dumped woman whose life hasn't gone according to plan. Returning to live at home with her parents again and starting over as an obituary writer she befriends an octogenarian, starts a podcast and finds a new reason to appreciate life. Funny and full of heart and good on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Alexandra Potter's book is everything I wanted from "Bridget Jones's Diary" but never got. "Confessions of a Forty-Something F**K Up" follows Nell post break-up as she returns from California to London and tries to start over. Nell is certain she'd have it all by the time she reached her forties, but she's now without a job, without a fiancé/husband, and renting a room in a flat with a stranger. We watch as Nell navigates dating again, finding a job, balancing family expectations, and trying to maintain adult friendships when all her friends now have kids.

This book made me laugh out loud and cry. It's medium-paced, but so much happens to Nell as she grows over the course of a year or so, that I found the pacing to be perfect. Alexandra Potter's exploration of female friendships at all ages was incredibly heartfelt. The romance in this book takes a backseat to Nell's search for meaning, purpose, and valuable friendships, but still finds its way in the end.

One of my favorite parts of this book is that, like many women of all ages, Nell struggles with her physical appearance and looking her best. This was something that the aforementioned "Bridget Jones's Diary" also explored but did so in such a negative and harmful way that I never was able to finish the book. Potter explores these struggles with a positive view. Nell is never hateful towards her body, and never purposely starves herself. She only feels poorly because she feels she is being left behind by prettier and younger women in her social circle and society. The way this topic is handled made me feel less icky and more hopeful.

I definitely give this book at least 4.5 stars. I had such a wonderful time watching Nell's journey through healing and self-discovery.

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

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

This book had me laughing out loud, crying and everything in between. As a forty something, I could relate to relationships, friendships and careers not panning out as planned. This book encompassed all of these heartaches with such tenderness.

It’s about Nell who recently moved back to London after her relationship and business go bust in America. She moves back broke, feeling lost in old friendships and unsure about her family. She ends up writing obituaries for a local paper and connects with a widow, Cricket, a spirited woman n her 70’s finding her groove after losing the love of her life. Through unexpected adventures together, reconnecting with friends as they are now and being radically honest with herself (and podcast listeners), she finds her way through.

A great feel good read!

I loved this one! It was so funny and truthful! So much still to learn but your forties are good!! Highly recommend this one and the audio was great:

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this audio. I really enjoyed this novel as a forty-something myself. Parts of it really hit home. Nell is struggling in life. She’s no longer engaged to be married and her business has flopped. She moves to London in hopes of a fresh start but everywhere she turns is another reminder of everything she’s missing in life: her friends are married with children, everyone is happy, and it just seems to Nell that she’s missed her chance of happy ever after. Then she meets and eighty something widow. Together, they help each other figure out what’s missing from their lives and Nell discovers that you don’t have to me married, successful and with child to be happy. Parts of this novel were sweet and sentimental, while other parts were laugh out loud funny. Overall, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone over forty.

**I received an advanced listener's copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Reminiscent of the "chick lit" novels popular in the last 1990s and early 2000s, Potter's novel focuses on Nell Stevens, a down-on-her-luck woman of a certain age who has one incredibly rough year. Told through Nell's voice in small chapters highlighting each month, this novel covers humor and sorrow and what it means to pick up the pieces and move on from tragedy and loss.

I was a heavy reader of said "chick lit" novels over twenty years ago, and I immediately picked up on the similarities in style. My reading habits have changed, so while I was not necessarily fully engaged with the novel and the writing style, I could appreciate the level of growth Nell has in the novel. Potter does a really good job as Nell navigates tough choices and almost soul-searching explorations of herself, her feelings, and her overall mental health. I found I could relate to bits of Nell's life. You cannot but help cheer on Nell by the end of the novel.

The voice narration was great; I enjoyed listening to this story and probably stayed more engaged in it thanks to this audio version.