This book is serious ...ly side-splitting fun.

I am still clutching my sides. I have always enjoyed Lette's wonderful humour and this book was no exception. Admittedly, I am probably her target audience.

Penny, Cressida and Tilly haven't seen their friend Jo in many years. Since their band broker up at uni they all drifted apart, their lives have been busy with careers, partners and children. But when Jo gets the four of them together for a lunch she lets them in on a secret and their friendship picks up again.

And just in time, because their seemingly perfect worlds are about to implode.

It's important not take this book too seriously - the characters are satirical, they are not real people. The men are THE WORST. The women are not always the best version of themselves. There's a lot of exaggerated dialogue and behaviour.

But there is an emphasis on sisterhood, on leaving no woman behind, of calling out injustices and bringing people along with us. I took that message seriously.

Also, if I had friends who could riff like these, I would never leave their company.

Female friendships are important to celebrate at any age, but this book argues, especially when you are older. And I whole-heartedly agree.

Plus, it's just so funny. There were so many lines I want to quote.

My favourite is when one of the characters calls 'mansplaining' 'correctile disfunction'. Hi-lari-ous.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The main character in the book is Matilda – who is an Australian born writer now living in London, with 2 children (one of whom is autistic) and is separated from their father (now, this does sound vaguely familiar when compared to the writer’s own life – but ‘write what you know’ is often said!)

Tilly reunites – after 30+ years – with 3 friends she was in a band with at University (Louche Women is a most excellent band name!) but has lost touch with since. Jo has been in the US working on movies, Penny is a news anchor and Cressy is an actress married to a high flying lawyer with 4 daughters. All 4 women – as they approach their late 50s – have experienced issues with being a woman of a certain age – and so come together – as The Revenge Club – to, as the name suggests, take their revenge!

Whilst the book is silly and funny and frequently made me laugh out loud – it also covers important topics facing women of a certain age, but in a very entertaining way.

The ‘Revenge’ plans twist and turn during the plot of the book and keep you guessing right to the end – but the development of the main characters is great and the relationships between them all. I also really enjoyed how Tilly’s kids came into their own in the book – with kids a similar age I could very much empathise with Tilly’s initial frustrations!

Overall this was a fantastic, escapist and hilarious read – and perfect for those of us 50+

A huge thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my ARC.

‘The Revenge Club’ by Kathy Lette is a witty tale of revenge, sisterhood and life as a vibrant and smart woman in her fifties. The story begins with old friends and bandmates Matilda, Cressida and Penny waiting at a table in a fancy London restaurant to meet Jo, their fourth member. The reunion takes a dark turn when the women are confronted by “the four horsemen of the female ageist apocalypse: criticism, contempt, stonewalling and invisibility.” The burning desire for revenge brings the four women together as they plot the demise of their patriarchal tormentors.
I very much enjoyed some aspects of this book. The one-liners are biting and hilarious. The plan is devious and comical. And I loved the involvement of Matilda's children. And the finale is satisfying and empowering.
I did find of the lamentations repetitive and some of the plot points are a little far-fetched. This isn't reinventing the feminist agenda or providing groundbreaking arguments and points of view. The characters are not particularly diverse either. But all in all it's entertaining and fun.

I was gifted a digital review copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

The true meanings of friendship, reconnecting and being triumphant.
Best friends at university then going their separate ways, until Jo calls them back together.
Life implodes for the quartet of friends but revenge is sweet
Plotting the exposure of the males who kicked them down.
Enjoy the twists and turns,fun and laughter.
Keep your friends close as you never know when you will need them.

#TheRevengeClub #NetGalley The title of this book and the premise behind it really grabbed my attention but unfortunately, for me, it did not live up to its promise, Whilst it was an easy read and at times quite amusing, I found it to be very slow and quite repetitive. I did not engage with the main characters and found Tilly's constant joking, even about her friends problems quite wearing. The main action happened near the end over the course of a couple of chapters during the awards ceremony and I quite enjoyed that but overall it was quite disappointing for me.

First book by this author and did find it amusing in parts
Easy to read and quick to get into I can see why this author is so popular with some
Great observational writing about people/ characters

A new book by Kathy Lette: I'm there 😊. I loved Ms Lette in the 90s and with her first books I practiced and polished my everyday English and, above all, my colloquial repartee. Her wit is simply legendary. Feminist par excellence and queen of irony. Sometimes the language is almost too crazy, I always notice that one book at a time is enough, but then I can inhale and enjoy this book. So much for the preface. The author wrote with a sharp tongue in her latest work and made me smile a lot, but of course it's always about the content. So, in short, not only Ms Lette is now over 50, her protagonists are, too. And the four friends Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressida notice it one after the other: the zenith has been passed and menopausal women are being strangled. All 4 of them are very successful in their respective professions, but all 4 of them are mercilessly discarded and replaced by younger ladies. Or deleted without replacement for semi-successful men. Best-selling author Matilda no longer gets any new book deals, award-winning reporter Penny is kicked off the show in favor of her rather simple-minded co-host, Jo is a filmmaker in Hollywood and has also just been allowed to step down, and Cressie, a former film star, catches her husband having a rendezvous with a much younger young actress. You cultivate anger and disappointment, but Ms. Lette's protagonists are fighters and found the Revenge Club. Revenge should be enjoyed coldly, and with a lot of advance notice, the ladies manage to show one adversary after the other where to go... and at the same time they also learn a lot about themselves, about their friendship, which actually lay dormant for decades (why actually ? The resolution will be exciting and extremely emotional.), and what really matters in life. So much for the content in short form. The long version lasts over 400 pages, and not a single one is boring 😊. As already mentioned, this is due to Lette's incomparable narrative style, but also to the fact that she analyzes social criticism in detail and presents it with humor. I'm the same age as the four women and can agree with almost everything that's being criticized here. I mean, the quartet offers potential for identification. Actually also for younger women, because at some point we'll all get older, right 😉? And the author never becomes anti-male (hey, on the contrary!), but she likes to hold up a polished mirror to society. And finally I have to say, it was super funny and it was fun to march with the ladies through their quest for revenge.
You have to read Kathie Lette in the original. I once read a German translation of a book by her, which was okay, but stylistically too much gets lost in translations when authors have their own unique style. So people, grab the original!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!

So poorly written that it was difficult to finish. The characters and dialogue left a lot to be desired and the story line is almost nonexistent.

Four friends from Uni days reunite, Matilda a writer, Cressida and actor, Penny a news anchor and Jo who arrives at the lunch, disguised as a man.

They all agree that it is a mans world, as Jo has discovered, and start plotting to take revenge on the men who has discarded them because of their ages.

A laugh a minute and also some cringing moments, makes the book one you will not put down!

Standard fair for Kathy Lette fans. A light read with lots of her wit and high jinks. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

3.5 stars

This is an entertaining read, I don't think I gelled well with it mostly as I'm in my twenties so I vibed more with the 'younger' female characters, I did enjoy the way the men were portrayed as it is VERY REALISTIC and really enjoyed the whole friendship groups vibe.

SPOILER;

I didn't really get why Jo ditched them towards the end then like an hour later decided to be there for them again, this wasn't very well explained I don't think but still. It's fun

I was most pleased to be given access to this book by Kathy Lette. Although I haven't read many books by her, I did thoroughly enjoy this one. Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressida are all women at the top of their game and careers. However things are about to turn for them all thanks to men and the patriarchy. However, Jo comes up with a plan to get revenge on all the men who have created havoc for them. What ensues is a great fun read that I couldn't put down.

'When the odds are against you, it's time to get even' - we follow four women in their 50-somethings who are set to take revenge against the men who wronged them.

Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressy are overlooked and pushed aside by men in their respective industries, so they create The Revenge Club - a club to take down the misogynistic men and their behaviour. We follow them as they come up with some hilarious ideas to take them down and put their plans into action.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Well, I definitely had quite a fair few laughs throughout with the dry humour. One of my favourites was the analysis of a woman wondering why her husband seemed off with her - does he not love me anymore? Is he having an affair? Have I done something wrong? No, Ireland just lost the rugby.

I've never read anything by Kathy Lette before, but this book has made me want to pick up more with the humour that was involved!

Overall, it was a really entertaining, lighthearted read with important topics weaved throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this copy. This review is voluntary.

A Hilarious Rollercoaster of Revenge and Redemption

Kathy Lette’s “The Revenge Club” is a delightfully entertaining novel that takes readers on a wild ride of revenge, friendship, and self-discovery.

The story revolves around three women who come together to form a club dedicated to seeking revenge on those who have wronged them. As the plot unfolds, readers are taken on a hilarious and unpredictable journey as the trio navigates the ups and downs of their mission for justice.

The author effortlessly weaves together lighthearted moments with deeper themes of empowerment, self-discovery, and overcoming obstacles. Through the characters’ experiences, Lette explores the complexities of relationships, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of standing up for oneself. It is a hilarious and empowering read that will leave readers laughing, cheering, and reflecting on the power of friendship and self-discovery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️

I really enjoyed this book told from Matilda's POV. A group of friends are reunited in their need for revenge!
It was a very comical and witty read. I loved all the characters and could feel their connection through the pages,
I think it's a really inspiring and powerful book for women of all ages - as well as simply very entertaining and funny!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the message behind this book! It’s a fun story about empowering women and calling men out on their bullshit behaviour, and it shines a light on a lot of things men get away with to this day!

However, I did find the dialogue jarring at times. It didn’t really read like a real conversation to me, it was more like a bunch of jokes in a row where the characters were talking over each other instead of listening to the other person. It sort of infuriated me when the protagonist kept interrupting with jokes when her friends were having emotional revelations. I just didn’t get it because the style of humour wasn’t my cup of tea!

My only other issue was the way they spoke about other women in the book. I get that they were mad at these women for the roles they played in helping the men in their lives hurt them, but it always annoys me when women get blamed for men’s bad behaviour, and worse still get bullied for it! It just didn’t feel like it lined up with the message of the book.

Overall it was a fun read and an important message!

A genuinely laugh-out-loud book featuring four 50-something women combining forces to get their own back on the appallingly misogynistic men who've done them wrong. Although it's humorous, it covers issues such as invisibility that, sadly, many women, including me, will identify with, told from the perspective of the hilarious Tilly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

I liked the premise of the novel and the title. It features the authors zany and witty observational style. Unfortunately I did not engage with the narrative and failed to finish.

Good book with a cute story inside. I really liked the main characters in this one as they played well off each other.

This book does make slightly depressive reading as you know that being overlooked when you are a women of a certain age is a thing. However, it is amusing following their story as they try and right the wrongs and show various people up for their treatment of it. There were times when it felt slightly uncomfortable but was a great read.