I sometimes hate the labels that people apply to books. I had seen several mentions of How to Age Disgracefully as a "Chick-Lit" book. I think that limits the number of people who might experience this book. This is a very good book that everyone - not just" chicks" should pick up and read. I enjoy books with multiple points of view. However, I actually think that is one of the few things I would change about this book. I think there may be too many different points of view. This can result, at times, in less character development. That one small quirk aside, there is a lot to like about the book. The setup is very well done. I almost defy people to read the start of the book and then put it down because they are not interested. With a cast of characters that you may not initially like, the story, told by jumping back to reveal back stories, eventually arrives at a satisfying conclusion, with laughs and heartwarming moments along the way. I guess if this is indeed "chick-lit" then I should be reading more of that genre - because I really liked this title a lot.

Such a fun book that both kept me guessing but had me engaged from the beginning. Absolutely recommend.

I just adore the way these characters were brought to life. There's something to be said for changing how you view life as you age. Lots of great recommendations here for making new friends, trying new things, not taking yourself so seriously, trusting more. A lovely read!

This was my first book from Clare Pooley. The beginning of the story was slow for me, but by the middle of the story I was engaged and smiling. The book deals with some hard truths about aging, and I hope to age disgracefully myself. The characters were well written and had a sense of authenticity to who they were. The story was funny, charming, and overall, a fun read. I wonder if there will be a sequel?

I absolutely loved this author's previous book, The Authenticity Project, so I was looking forward to reading this book! I loved how the wide range of characters, from young children, to middle age/menopause (to which I can relate!), to the elderly all interacted together to create a moving, hilarious, suspenseful story! I couldn't put it down and laughed out loud MORE than once! The best part was getting to know each character and their back stories, to realize each of us has worth, no matter our origins, upbringings, faults or fears. It encourages us to bring our strengths together to fight for what is important as the characters join together to against poverty, loneliness, bureaucracy, ageism, sexism, misogyny, and scams. The characters embody the idea that one should NOT judge a person based on first or outward appearances. I loved that the ending wrapped things up satisfactorily, giving the readers a glimpse into their more hopeful futures.

How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

Clare Pooley strikes again. Similar to Fredrick Backman’s style of creating quirky characters and placing them in everyday settings, Pooley has managed once again to create a fun and entertaining story of septuagenarians defying stereotypes.

Lighthearted yet community driven, her third novel revolves around a group of people drawn together in friendship through the local Senior Center that also houses a daycare. Mixing the personalities and extreme ages together may not seem like a likely combo, but when the aging building faces impending closure, they all join forces to work to keep it open and prove that age is merely a number and an easy way to become invisible to unsuspecting eyes. With Daphne as the recluse who morphs into the ringleader, you’ll tear through this in a matter of days to keep reading and find out how they all grow, change, and unite. I’ve enjoyed all her books and will continue to jump at anything she publishes.

Clare Pooley is an auto-read/buy author for me and this one did not disappoint. It was such a fun, feel good book. I need more books like these in my life!

This was such a fun book! If you are a fan of Richard Osman books, you will love this! I do wish this was a little bit longer and the characters were a little more fleshed out, but overall, I loved it!

A tale of a unique group of senior who have just joined the Senior Citizens Social Club at the Mandel Community Centre. Daphne, Art, Lydia, and Zippy have each concerns. Daphne has just turned 70 and is just joining the club for social interaction [she has a secret]. Art is a would be actor who has no money. These two characters have a conflicted relationship. Lydia is the facilitator of the social club,, a lack of confidance, and an unsteady marriage. Zippy is a teenage father of Kylie [8 months old] who desperately wants to complete school so he can go to uni. What brings these people together is the threat of the council destroying the community building to sell it to developers for money.
What happens? What brings thes people together.? Definitely read.

This was so fucking funny I was cackling in my bed the whole time. I love the cast of characters who are all so wholesome and human!

Review: How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley 4

When the city council threatens to sell the doomed community center building, the members of the Senior Citizen Social Club join forces with their tiny friends in the daycare next door to save the building. Together, this group’s unorthodox methods may actually work, as long as the police don’t catch up with them first.

Clare knows how to write a book full of quirky characters that, against all odds, become a community. The unlikely friends find themselves in crazy predicaments that made me giggle out loud. How to Age Disgracefully restores your faith in humanity. A heartwarming book about people looking out for others but it still has spunk and humor.

I love the premise of older characters that don't play by the rules and even with all their flaws are 'bossing it' (as Clare herself put it in the author's note). It did take me a while to get into with all the characters and their back stories but I loved the ending even if the lead up was lackluster at times. I think one of the reasons I didn't love this one as much as Iona Iverson was there was no 25-45 year old character for me to relate to. But there was an empty nester that finds her own, a geriatric rescue dog, silly tiny tot, and teen dad about to turn his luck around to round out the community center crew.

This was a really enjoyable book. I always love to read books with found family and this one had it in spades! The characters were all so lovable while also being totally flawed. I especially enjoyed the author’s note as I am approaching a similar stage of life and could really relate.

I was very confused about the beginning of How to Age Disgracefully. In fact, I put it down and waited a couple of weeks to start it again. Once I got into the storyline, I enjoyed the book. There is a complete cast of characters ranging from a baby to preschoolers to a teenaged father to a middle-aged woman to a group of senior citizens. There are other minor characters in the book too. The story is about a community center that houses several groups including a daycare and a senior group. One (or more) of the characters have a checkered past. By the end of the book, I was completely invested in all of the characters. Thank you, Net Galley, for an ARC of How to Age Disgracefully.

This was such a heartwarming, wholesome novel with a fun ensemble of multi-generational characters. We see a group of people of different ages and backgrounds come together to save their community center but they find friendship and help each better their lives in the process. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quick, uplifting read. 5 stars.

Clare Pooley was an unknown author to me before this book and now, I am a big fan. How to Age Disgracefully has been one of my favorite books this year. If I grow old into half the feisty woman Daphne is, I still will barely have lived. So many parts of this book were laugh-out-loud funny, you will not regret picking this one up.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book! It did feel a little slow at times but picked up towards the end. I really did love the different points of views of the characters, it made it easy to follow when the story felt slow. I was a little confused by so many characters at times.

I thoroughly enjoy a story with different age groups coming together. This was my first Clare Pooley book and won't be my last. Daphne was a hoot and I didn't want the story to end!

This was an entertaining read with a bunch of cool characters. Being much, much younger, I don't relate to any of the characters, and from what I've seen around me, I don't know how realistic their stories would be. Ziggy and Daphne were the characters I had the most fun reading about, and their interactions were great too. This isn't something I would highly recommend, but it was pretty fun.

Great book by Clare Pooley! She has become a feel-good, comfort author for me. I thought this one had stronger character development than her previous two (Iona Iverson and Authenticity Project), but I have enjoyed each of her books. I liked the multiple points of view. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What a delight this book is. How to Age Disgracefully follows the members of the Senior Citizens Club, aimed for 70 plus people looking to make new friends. We get to know the different POVs of some members of the group as well as their lead, Lydia. The writing is very funny and heartwarming, I especially loved Daphne, a perfect example of how women can still be energetic, clever and empathetic beyond their age. I enjoyed Art's and Lydia's character growth, and their endings were perfection. I'm very excited to read more of this author's work.