⭐️: 4/5

When the city council threatens to sell the community center that houses the Senior Citizens’ Social Club, the members of the club, along with the help of the kids in the daycare next door, take on the cause to save the building, using relatively unorthodox methods.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I initially expected to. From the start, I wasn’t sure how much I’d like this, because historically, books with this tone and this comedy of errors vibe haven’t really been my cup of tea. However, as the story progressed, I became more and more invested in the plights of the characters, especially those who have POVs in the book (Lydia, Art, Daphne, and Ziggy). I loved the theme of very different people, each at different points in their lives with different priorities and backgrounds, all coming together and supporting each other and a common cause. I especially loved the intrigue surrounding Daphne, since all the secrets really propelled the story forward to keep it from feeling sluggish and low stakes. While the characters were a little bit trope-y, in the sense of “I’m not a normal senior citizen, I’m a cool senior citizen,” I still thought it was a nice theme, and I’d recommend it as a feel good, light, quick read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @pameladormanbooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Thank you to Clare Pooley, Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review How to Age Disgracefully in advance of the release.

I am always up for a story by Clare Pooley, she masterfully builds a community from strangers coming together to save the Community Center. Get ready to be swept up in the lives of Daphne, Art, Lydia and Ziggy as they join together in support of the community and one another. It will make you laugh, cry and cheer.

Clare Pooley has once again created quirky lovable characters that end up helping each other and saving the day. An enjoyable weekend read, perfect for Summer.

Daphne just turned 70, and she's feeling lonely. She spots and advertisement for a local senior citizens group, so she decides to investigate. The local Mandela Center is a mixed-use building, with a daycare on one side, and seniors and other groups meeting on the other. Lydia, the leader of the seniors group, doesn't really know how to deal with these seniors, and their stories: Daphne, a woman with a mysterious past; Art, a struggling actor; his friend Walter, a former paparazzi photographer; Ruby, a knitter/yarn bomber; and Anna, a widow with five husbands who all came to mysterious demises. You'll also meet Ziggy, a high-schooler, whose infant daughter attends the daycare. When the Center is faced with closure, these characters work together to save the Center, for multiple reasons! Mix in a dog named Maggie Thatcher, and you'll get a great novel with lots of humor!

This new title comes out on June 11th, so don't miss it! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book!

I absolutely adored this one! ‘How to Age Disgracefully’ is a quirky book featuring found family, wild characters, and some truly laugh-out-loud moments. Presented using four unique POVs, we get to know (and love) a cast of characters who have so much more to them than it first appears.

The cast is wonderfully diverse in personality and life, and I don’t know that I could pick a favorite. Initially, I wasn’t wild about Daphne as a person (so aggressive!) or Ziggy’s chapters, but I got over that quickly. Daphne was a fascinating individual, and I was so curious to know what her past held. Lydia was such an endearing character, and I was desperate for her to find confidence in herself. Art made my heart hurt because of his tragic past and present-day struggles. Ziggy’s difficulties in navigating being a teen dad stuck in a tough spot had me rooting for him to find his footing and freedom from the local gangs. His love for Kylie was adorable, and I loved how desperately he wanted to do what was best for her. I can’t imagine being in his shoes! These four, plus many others, rally together despite their differences to try to save their local community center.

I highly recommend this book if you have any interest in laughing a lot, an eccentric bunch of individuals coming together as a found family, or silly escapades.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was fun and cute! In classic Clare Pooley fashion, we have a cast of quirky and funny characters- but also with substance. I did feel as though it was one in the same with her previous books- but I guess if it's not broke don't fix it? It's just something I think about in regards to authors switching things up...do we even want them to? Clare does this style of writing well. And it works. If you're looking for big changes and differences in her previous novels, you won't find that here. I still think IONA IVERSON'S RULES FOR COMMUTING is my favorite of hers but, all the same, I really enjoyed this one.

An absolute DELIGHT. Loved the characters. Loved the multiple storylines.. Loved how it made me laugh and the pacing was excellent. Truly a delight of a book. You will laugh & cry!

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Group Viking for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐️

Y’all this made me feel some type of way.

It’s like…I know that older generations have their own experiences and wishes, but this really drove it home.

This made me think of the song “used to be young”

And I liked that everyone was figuring out their own lives while being good friends to one another.

How to Age Disgracefully is a brilliant read if you are looking for:
- Older characters portrayed as vibrant, wise, complex, and resourceful people.
- A lighter story that still has urgency and value.
- Ordinary people working together for a cause.

I was looking for all three when this book came to me, and I am forever grateful to the author for giving me a wonderful respite from the real world.

Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

Pooley along with a few other authors are putting “senior” characters back on the map as being resourceful, wise, active, funny and all around interesting people and I’m here to thank her. Loved this story of a senior center community group and the friendships that developed, along with a little intrigue and a lot of ingenuity. Loved the little shout out to Iona Iverson within its pages.

Maybe the author was just trying to cash in on the current craze for "old people" novels, but this worked for me. I loved the multi-generational cast, unlikely friendships, and wacky situations. Anyone looking for a hilarious, upbeat novel to cleanse the palate after a downer book - this is the one. It's sheer fun from beginning to end!

Thank you, NetGalley for the early copy of this book from one of my favorite authors. These quirky characters were a joy to spend time with. I was surprised in the end to find Lydia was the impetus for the story. I wish we had spent more time with her. As always, Clare Pooley can make me smile and laugh - which is such a breath of fresh air.

"How to Age Disgracefully" is a charming novel that follows Lydia as she manages the Senior Citizens' Social Club. She expects a group of mild-mannered seniors, but these members are anything but the sort. From a possible black widow to a klepto actor, these seniors will change Lydia's life whether she likes it or not.

Several POVs told this book, and it was a fun ride. It is a very predictable storyline but hilarious. It is a lighthearted read that explores themes of community and the unexpected resourcefulness of individuals often overlooked by society. The characters have their quirks and backstories that add to the narrative. I enjoyed the characters' banter and, of course, M or Margaret or Maggie, whichever you assume is correct. IYKYK! The book was entertaining and inspiring, making this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories about unlikely heroes and the power of community.

In exchange for my honest review, I received an ARC copy of the audiobook from Netgalley and Penguin Group, Viking. Thank you for the opportunity.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley is book about a community of characters that unite to keep their local senior center/child care center funded. The cast is charming, but Daphne stole the show with her witty candor and cunning schemes. This book is a non-murdery addition to the "old people proving they're still pretty cool" genre if you like "The Thursday Murder Club" or "The Marlow Murder Club". Pub Date: June 11. Thank you, Penguin Group Viking (@Vikingbooks) and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This was so much fun and I truly have not ever read anything like it before. I adore the authors sense of humor and I look forward to reading more of their books.

How To Age Disgracefully can only be described as a quirky, super fun read! The story follows five different characters, Lydia, Daphne, Art and Ziggy. Lydia is the brand new leader of a community center seniors group. When disaster strikes and the community center is at risk of being shut down, the group of seniors band together with the nursery next door to find a way to save it. The story is extremely character driven and full of unlikely friendships. I had such a good time reading this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in return for my honest feedback.

Sweet and funny little story of a group misfits banding together to find purpose and community. I absolutely loved this.

1 star
The beginning of this book is just ridiculous. I couldn't even make it past the first chapter.

Daphne is turning 70 years old, faced with the looming reality of her life. She has no friends, no family and no love interest. She decides to change that by strategizing a new approach to life by joining a senior citizens center. This decision catapults her life into an entirely different direction alongside Lydia and Art. Daphne is forced to surrender to her old ways while trying to maintain a low profile for a secret past no one knows of.

Pooley’s writing is very reminiscent of Sally Rooneys in Anxious People. It’s chaotic at times, fast paced and hilarious. The beginning made me immediately drawn to the characters and emotionally connect to their life. I’ve never read a book like this but I throughly enjoyed it. Everyone in my life teases me because Ive always made friends with much older people than myself but once they read this they’ll understand why.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for this ARC.

This was such a fun book. The author has a real knack for character development. Loved the senior center… I laughed and I cried! Great read.