I love Judy Leigh’s books. They sparkle with wit, but they are also so fresh and exciting, whilst being honest and real.

As always, the characterisation is superb, and it’s what makes this book extra special. I grew to love Fliss and Shirley and their French hosts. I have to admit that my comedic favourite was Bernard, who as well as being a sweet character, gave me many a laugh with his archaic and very formal phrases.

This book has many funny moments but it’s touching and thought-provoking too, with moments of reflection and sadness.

Overall though, the main atmosphere of the book is one of joy and appreciation for life. Friendship is so important in this book, and for the main characters the world is still full of hope and possibilities.

Sheer pleasure to read, this joyous and heartwarming book was one that I didn’t want to end.

I totally felt whisked away to the south of France, and at times I was utterly convinced I was reading a Jennifer Bohnet novel, purely as the descriptions of the local area, felt reminiscent of her ability to conjure up the feel of the place.

But this is definitely a Judy Leigh book and another fine one at that.

I loved Shirl's no nonsense type of character, and her love of her family is great to see. Her granddaughter, baby Macey Roux is adorable too.

And Fliss is let's say rather unique, but once she is in France , making new friends, she becomes a whole different person, one that I wanted to see more and more of.

Between the mellowing of Fliss, the local people that Fliss and Shirl get to know, this is no ordinary holiday and they get swept up in the French lifestyle.

I adored every moment of the book, and once again love how Judy Leigh proves that age is just a number and that you can still live life to its fullest at a more advanced age!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Whenever you are in need of an uplifting book, Judy Leigh is an author to turn to, every time. The author writes about women who are in their sixties and seventies, rare to be seen as protagonists. Fliss is wealthy after retiring from a successful business, but is lonely and bored. Shirl is employed by Fliss to clean her house, drive her after drunken nights at the bar looking for companionship. They become friends, and Fliss proposes a vacation in Brittany. As they become meshed in the friendly community, the two make heartfelt connections. The Brittany scenery is also a great feature of the story. Recommended for women like myself, of a certain age. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a hoot and a half! I adore these ladies and had the best time with them!! This book has real substance, it is heartwarming and has such a great message! It’s never too late to live your dreams and have a blast.

This is a charming contemporary novel that I absolutely loved The story is about two completely opposite English women who find themselves on holiday in France, there are many lessons in life for everyone. This is a lovely story told with great sensitivity and a deep observance of human behaviour. I loved every minute of it.

Sixty-nine-year-old Fliss is lonely. She sold her business, so has money, but lives alone and doesn't have any friends. She spends her nights picking up men in bars. Sixty-six-year-old Shirl works for Fliss, but wasn't expecting to be at her beck and call. She also didn't expect to be looking after a baby, but seems to have become the caregiver of her granddaughter while her daughter Gemma figures out her life. When Fliss gets the opportunity to vacation in Brittany, she asks Shirl to come with her. Fliss, Shirl and her granddaughter head to Plouvannec-Sur-Mer for a vacation that will change all their lives.

I really enjoy Judy Leigh's books, as they star women my age. I like reading about mature characters not giving up, but going out and having fun, adventure and maybe even romance. Fliss was a bit hard to like at first, but she grows on you as the story progresses. She is a bit judgmental, but eventually Shirl rubs off on her and she relaxes a little. Shirl is open, kind, and caring, which is how she ends up taking her granddaughter with her to France. This book had lots of fun characters, some a bit eccentric, but all wanting to live life to the fullest and have fun. Each of the women find something that they enjoy about the small town and reasons to enjoy their trip, even to the point of maybe staying after their time is up. There is fun, humor, found family, friendship, finding what you really want out of life, new beginnings and more all wrapped up in a well written story. I enjoyed this light hearted women's fiction story and look forward to Judy Leigh's book.

I normally love Judy’s stories and although I did enjoy this story I wasn’t desperate to continue reading or listening to it. Perhaps I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters and unlike with some of Judy’s other books, I wasn’t continuously saying to myself, I hope I can be just like that when I get older.

This was a good story about older women (over 60) still making the best of their lives and forming new and stronger friendships and maybe even giving romance a chance and overall just making the most of every day.

Every once in a while, you just need an escape, and The Golden Gals' French Adventure provides this getaway in the form of a trip to France, specifically Brittany.

I enjoyed reading about these two older women, Fliss and her erstwhile helper, Shirl, who in the course of the book go from employer/employee to fast friends. Fliss is a rather selfish wealthy woman and she's accustomed to Shirl looking out for her every need. Shirl is hard working and loyal, and perhaps because of this, people take advantage of her. This includes her daughter, who leaves the raising of her baby largely to Shirl, the grandmother. Then Fliss decides to visit an old friend in France and that she will take Shirl along.

I enjoyed meeting the cast of characters in the little French town and the author did a good job of making them come alive on the page. This is a feel-good book where everyone ends better than they started.

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone looking for light-hearted and heart-warming fun!

Thanks to NetGalley, Judy Leigh, and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this ARC iin exchange for an honest review.

Effervescent, entertaining and hugely enjoyable, The Golden Gals’ French Adventure is the latest surefire hit from the fabulous Judy Leigh!

At sixty-nine, Fliss has the world at her feet. She’s lived a full life and has a successful business, a beautiful home and a designer wardrobe most people would give their right arm for. However, even though Fliss has everything she has always wanted, lately she has been feeling lost, listless and lonely. Meanwhile, her fellow sexagenarian Shirl is also going through a tough time. With her daughter Gemma struggling to look after her baby, Shirl has found herself doing the lion’s share of caring for her grandchild and with her boss Fliss relying on her to run her life, she barely has a moment to herself.

Seeing how stressed Shirl is and keen to try and inject some fun and excitement into her life, Fliss decides to grab the bull by the horns and books a jaunt to Brittany for them. From the second they set foot in Plouvannec-Sur-Mer, Fliss and Shirl feel like they’ve been reborn. Free from the stresses of their daily lives, the two women begin to indulge themselves and realise that there is more to life than the hustle and bustle of the every day. Will Plouvannec-Sur-Mer give the women everything that’s been missing from their lives? Or will their French adventure end up causing them more heartbreak and headaches?

Judy Leigh’s books just keep on getting better and better. The Golden Gals’ French Adventure is a scintillating read that fizzes with wit, pathos and humour and will have readers roaring with laughter and wiping away a tear or two. With characters who will feel like old friends by the end of the book, a gloriously realized setting that whisks readers away and a story imbued with drama, hope and heart, The Golden Gals’ French Adventure is the unmissable new novel by Judy Leigh.

The Golden Gal’s French Adventure is a terrific book. Lots of laughs reading this book. I throughly enjoyed it. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

A very uplifting and funny book. I really enjoyed this oneand read it in a day. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I love a book about women of a certain age and this doesn't disappoint. Great characters lovely location and a great story line. Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy

I just love Judy's books!

WoW..........The Golden Gals' French Adventure by Judy Leigh was so good I ended up reading it in one day! it was a book that just grabbed me from the beginning till the end and a great pick me up book. Judy wrote this book from the heart and it was just beautifully written.

Sixty-nine-year-old Fliss has lived a life! a great life as a career running her own successful business, she has a beautiful home, a wardrobe full of designer clothes – Fliss has everything she ever wanted. But, So why does she feel so lonely?

Sixty-six-year-old Shirl didn’t expect to be looking after a baby again, she had done all of that with her daughter!!!! But her daughter Gemma struggling to adapt to motherhood, and her boss Fliss increasingly reliant on Shirl to run her life, and Shirl never gets a moment to herself.

So, when the chance for holiday to France’s beautiful Brittany comes Fliss 's her way, she decides it’s just what she and Shirl needs. A holiday to the beautiful town of Plouvannec-Sur-Mer with Fliss's friends and she begins to work its magic on the Shirl to go with her. But, Gemma, Shirl's daughter has other plans of her own! and it does not include her baby daughter!

For a relaxing holiday for both Fliss and shirl and her grandchild in tow.But, once they are there they both realise there’s another way to live.

But, do they both embrace a new adventure and look forwards to a totally different future.

It was a lovely cosy happy read and a great holiday read and a great holiday read.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

Great premise but a monumentally awful book. There was no rhyme or reason to any of the storylines and the characters were awful.

3.5 Stars

The Golden Gals' French Adventure is entertaining, light women's fiction that women of a certain age will appreciate. We are introduced to two colorful and very different characters. Fliss is more difficult to relate to. She drinks heavily, chases men of any age, drives a sports car, throws her money around, and is unhjappy and lonely. Shirl is her house cleaner and often picks up the pieces of Fliss's life. Shirl is dependable, responsible, grounded, and kind. She juggles her demanding job as house cleaner with helping her adult single daughter raise her baby.

Fliss is invited to France by an old friend. She thinks it would be fun to bring Shirl (because Shirl is her only true friend). Complications arise when Shirl's daughter takes a vacation with her boyfriend and leaves the baby with Shirl. Not to be deterred, Fliss convinces Shirl to bring the baby. Of course, Fliss had no idea what bringing a baby might entail. But off the three go on their French vacation.

Their host and the setting (coastal France) is lovely and once they meet his friends, Fliss and Shirl (and baby) each find different reasons to enjoy their vacation and extend their stay.

Fans of Judy Leigh will love this new release. If you enjoy colorful characters and themes of found family, friendship, finding new reasons to enjoy life, and later-in-life romance, you might enjoy The Golden Gals French Adventure.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheGoldenGalsFrenchAdventure upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I loved the characters in this book, Fliss and Shirl!!! It was so well written and everything developed. The way you could imagine all the places, especially in France, was awesome. Definitely a recommend from me and will be looking for more in the future!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

start to finish!
I totally love the way Judy uses characters of a certain age to demonstrate that life goes on when you reach a certain age and that fun,adventure,romance and friendship are still very possible and actively embraced and encouraged!
Fliss and Shirl are so very different but during their time in France their friendship blossoms as they stay with Manu and spend an idyllic summer in France, relaxing, trying new activities,dining out and sightseeing, whilst making new friends, new plans and totally reevaluating life as they know it!
Loved how multigenerational the book was, descriptions of the food and the general camaraderie!
A great read that I would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

I am a huge fan of Judy and her work and have been for a few years now. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed each and every book that she has written to date. When I heard that Judy was due to release another book I knew that I had to grab a copy and hibernate until after I had read the last word on the last page. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because Judy's new book is called 'The Golden Gals' French Adventure' and it was released on 4th June 2024. I couldn't wait to dive in and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for what proved to be a fun afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Golden Gals' French Adventure' but more about that in a bit.

It didn't take me long at all to get into 'The Golden Gals' French Adventure'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the synopsis, I was hooked on the story. As soon as I started reading the book itself, I realised three things - firstly that I was reading something special, secondly that I was going to become addicted to the story and thirdly that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down for any length of time. Guess what? I was spot on with all three predictions. I warmed to the two main characters of Shirl and Fliss. In fact they ended up feeling more like friends than characters in a book. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. Besides I had to keep reading to see if the story was going to turn out in the way in which I thought it would. I was so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the two ladies that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'The Golden Gals' French Adventure' and I had to say goodbye to Shirl and Fliss. I found 'The Golden Gals' French Adventure' to be a delight to read from start to finish with lots of laughs, love and life!

'The Golden Gals' French Adventure' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Judy Leigh. Judy has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Judy's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Judy's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. Judy's characters seem just as real as you and I. As I mentioned earlier, I ended up feeling more like friends rather than characters in a book. I love the message that Judy sends out in her stories, which is that the fun doesn't have to stop just because you reach a certain age! I love the way in which Judy makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Golden Gals' French Adventure' and I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I hope to read much more of Judy's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I loved getting lost in the pages of this book with two older adult females who head to France for a vacation. They end up having a wonderful experience and grow in their friendship and in developing in their personalities and priorities. While there were some things that I assumed would happen by the end of the book, there were some surprises too. All of the characters were well developed and I found myself chuckling at some of the quirky individuals that appeared as I devoured the book. The feeling of community and belonging was a prevalent theme and it thrilled me to see how each person grew and had me cheering them on as I journeyed with them through the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Brilliant story. Fliss is a lonely women filling her time drinking champagne alone and getting her employee to pick her up bring her home and mske sure she’s safe. Shirley is a one woman machine looking after Fliss her daughter Gemma and her granddaughter Marcie Roux.
Fliss comes up with an idea of a holiday in France to the house of an old friend and Shirley and baby Marcie come alone for the ride. Together they discover there is more to life than they’ve been living.
Great feel good book and fantastic characters making you laugh and cry at the same time.
Loved this book and have now found a new author to read.