Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was not familiar with Freya Kennedy's previous works but the description of this book and the title immediately caught my attention.

Becca, a divorced mother, is adrift in her life. She is alone, an empty-nester, living with her canine companion who is the source of all her cuddles. Maybe this is a case of the right book for the reader at the right time. But man, except for the divorced part, I could totally relate to this book. At times, I felt like I was reading a story about myself. Empty nester, going through hormonal changes, and efeeling adrift in her life. Me, me, me.

I found myself laughing out loud at times and I could completely relate to Becca. I will definitely be watching for new releases from Freya Kennedy and will be checking out her previous releases.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Becky; Niamh and Lauren; childhood best friends until Lauren made a choice when Becky’s husband was unfaithful that meant the end of their friendship. when Becky and Niamh hear that Lauren’s mum had passed they are incredibly upset; Kitty was a huge part of their teenage years and they go to pay their respects. Grief pulls them together and their friendship is resurrected; whilst they support each other through their 40’s. A really great read. .

My Review
Sometimes life doesn't turn out how you hoped it would does it. We have all these expectations but sometimes we fall short.
A funny, uplifting story that will warm your heart.
We meet Becca, Niamh & Lauren in this story.
Perimenopause is happening and Becca's boys have flown the nest.
She has come to a point in her life where she is wondering is this it, what is next? What is it all about?
Perimenopause can cause havoc for us and it is a struggle to understand it and navigate our way through it.
Grief can also hit us at any time but when it is unexpected, it can be so very difficult.
When the mother of one of Becca's closest school friends at the time Lauren passes away, she attends the funeral with Niamh where they reconnect with Lauren.
It feels like old times between them. They look back to a time capsule they made when they were sixteen and see how ambitious they were with all their hopes and dreams for the future.
What I loved most about this story was the friendship that unfolded again between the girls as they are older now and see the trials and tribulations as they navigate their way through life.
I loved the characters the author created. They seemed to connect with each other so well almost like picking up where they left off.
I wonder will we see more of them in another book maybe.
A heartwarming read, one I think you will really enjoy. Remember age is just a number..
Feel what you feel, do what you do but live your life, experience it all...
Well worth your time...

In this fun women’s fiction novel, readers join Becca Burnside and her friends, both close and estranged, as they all attempt to redefine their lives in their forties. Discovering a time capsule, rebuilding her relationship with an old friend, and making new memories with her mother and kids are all on the list, but life always has something to add to the mix. Determined to turn her life around for her sixteen-year-old self -- who went by Becki with an ‘i’ -- Becca embarks on a new chapter in her life. Here, relationships are at the center of the story, particularly Becca’s friendships, her relationship with her mother and children, and her relationship with herself (both past and present), and this focus is particularly powerful for readers of this book. Becca is a complicated, human, and flawed protagonist, and she encounters relatable incidents throughout the novel. With its charming location in Ireland and the realistic circumstances that Becca undergoes, this novel is heartwarming and honest, a fun and enjoyable read for fans of women’s fiction and other Boldwood titles. Proof that it is never too late to rebuild one’s life, friendships, and identity, Becca’s journey is a fantastic read and a wonderful adventure.

Honestly this book is hilariously great to read plus I get the derry girls accent in my head whilst reading this. All the characters have real charisma and wit and they build within the story. I've laughed and cried with this book as well as knowing Im heading towards the forties mark myself I wonder if I will be anything like this book haha
If you want a book with just real personality as well as some cracking one liners then this is a must to read.

Friends from school Becca and Niamh, now in their forties, share their journey through the frecking fabulous period.
Divorce, empty nest syndrome, menopause, and the worst of all, their parents passing away.
Becca single mom lives with her beloved dog Daniel, her loyal companion while the twins are studying in Manchester.
Niamh with four children of their own and about 20 pupils of year 11, her life is not easy.
Becca visits her mother constantly one day, back in her own room she discovers a time capsule that that they stashed when she and her friends hide when they were 18. When they open the box and they find out what the young versions of themselves wished for their future, mixed feelings emerge, including the estranged third member of their group.
Maybe this discovery can heal their broken circle and. Ring back their old club.
I really enjoyed the story, I loved the characters and I can relate with most of the issues they are going through. Is a relatable tale for women of certain age.

This book was much heavier than I expected while still having moments of lighthearted fun. I struggled a bit with getting into it at the beginning if I’m honest but overall it was a good read. I do enjoy a good ability to laugh at myself and that as strong in the main character. I read an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I’d say more like a 3.67/5 then a 4 but rounding up since you can’t do partial stars.

I loved the premise but unfortunately the book was lacking in every way possible. Poorly written, weal plot and unsympathetic characters make this a hard pass.

Though there is a bit of humor going on within the story, there is also so much more. Many relatable moments that many of us can relate too.
Middle age issues
Friendship
Divorce
Humor
Romance
Menopause
Grief
Empty nest syndrome


Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club' by Freya Kennedy.

This may be the first book I have read about this author but I cannot wait to read her next one!!

Well done and Thank You to Freya Kennedy for a hugely successful and stunning read!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly. Fantastic and unique!!

OMG!!!!! I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely addictive and truly unique book!!! Honestly this book has just hit my top 3 books and considering how many books I have read that is an epic success!!! I'll be honest and tell you know don't waste your time reading my review as there is no way I can tell you how amazing this book is in words so instead of wasting your time reading this just grab your copy and get lost in this funny, page turning, addictive and uplifting book now!! I can promise you will not regret it! Freya's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic book dropping you straight into Becca's life with these absolutely amazing characters that I will not be forgetting for a very long time, if I ever do!!! This book really has been one of the best books I have ever read!!! It is ram packed with friends, romance, fun, heartbreak, love, laughter, finding yourself, female friendship, second chances and absolutely everything you could ask for in an unputdownable must read!! Told you, you should have just grabbed the book instead of reading this!!!There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed, each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and was absolutely ram packed with so much going on that you will just fly through the pages!!! It is multi layered with all the fantastic characters backgrounds and personalities coming out and each and every character has their own personalities. It was a very compelling and addictive read!!! I genuinely could not praise this book enough as words just will not give it justice so grab your copy today, you won't regret it!!!!

Clear your schedules and pick up grab the tissues as this book will have you laughing until tears are streaming down your face!!!

I loved meeting all the characters who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. I have never met a group of characters like this before and I've never loved a group of fictional characters as much as I did with this gang!!!! The only downfall is that they aren't real which is gutted as I would definitely get along with this gang!!!! I can't remember the last time I laughed so much!!! Our 3 main characters are Becca, Niamh and Laura, with Becca being our main protagonist. These amazing women were brilliant friends and supported each other and helping each other out through thick and thin, it was just beautiful to read!! I fell in love with them all and I was absolutely devastated to come to the end and have to say goodbye!!! I am just absolutely landed to say that this is just the first book in Freya's 'The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club' series and I CANNOT wait to read the next book in this amazing series. This book was an absolutely perfect introduction to these fantastic characters and I am looking forward to seeing them all again and again!! I am also pleased to say that book 2 which is called 'The F*cking Fabulous Forties Club 2' is available to preorder now ready for its publication date on the 6th May 2025!! What are you waiting for?? Grab your copy of this amazing book and preorder the next one now!! That is exactly what I am off to do now!! Such a bunch of fantastic quirky characters!!! Without going into too much detail as you really need to 'meet' these characters yourself!!! As always there are characters that you won't like, especially a certain one who I wanted to strangle the way he treated one of the amazing characters but where would be the fun if you liked all the characters?? Freya's amazing evocative writing skills really has brought each of these characters to life throughout this book and it is really sad to say Goodbye but gladly it won't be too long until I meet them all again!! An amazing group of realistic, strong, hilarious and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in this amazing book and that will stay with me for a very long time!!!!

Congratulations Freya on an absolutely stunning successful book, an absolutely brilliant, unique, hilarious must read and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your amazing books!! Welcome to my favourite authors club Freya and here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!!!

Overall an absolutely fantastic, hilarious and stunning page turner with absolutely fantastic and memorable characters!!!

#TheFeckingFabulousFortiesClub #FreyaKennedy #ClaireAllan #BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers #theboldbookclub #Boldwood #BookAndTonic #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

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I related to so much of this book! Being in my 40s I recognised myself in becca far too much! It was fun to read about how these women wanted to change up their lives after being stuck in a rut. It inspired me to do some of the same!
The characters dynamics were tricky and it was an emotional time for them all, their journey was a difficult one and I enjoyed seeing it play out.

Sometimes something acts as a wake up call,
Reminding you to make the most of life and it all.
For Becca Burnside it is the death of a childhood friend’s Mum
Making her wary of what is to come.

The friendship ended a decade gone by
But rekindling it she and Niamh will try.
Together they'll go to the family wake
And find out what next moves to make.

A story where friendship is at the heart of it all
With life experiences when menopause comes to call.
Looking back on dreams from their sixteen year old selves
Deciding which are best left on the shelves!

Looking back at what happened in the past
With new understanding to heal things at last
Maybe there's hope for the future, too,
New opportunities and things to do!

A heartwarming read sharing hope and much more
With serious issues and laughter at its core.
A great read filled with Irish humour, too,
That I don't hesitate to recommend to you!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I loved this book! Becca finds herself at an unexpected crossroads in her forties. She’s single, stuck in a rut, and her life feels a bit too routine….
That is until… she discovers a long-forgotten time capsule from her teenage years. This little blast from the past sparks a desire for change, and Becca sets out to prove that life can still surprise her.

Freya Kennedy’s writing beautifully celebrates female friendship, with a perfect mix of comfort, humor, and those moments that tug at your heart.

I found the characters within this book to feel like my old friends, and then the story dives into real-life challenges…. Eg divorce, raising teens, caring for aging parents, and finding yourself again.
Kennedy’s wit and relatability shine through, making the narrative both engaging and touching.

*The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club* is a lovely reminder that life’s second act can be just as vibrant as the first. 📚💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books!

The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club by Freya Kennedy

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Becca Burnside isn’t sure where it all went wrong. How did she end up single in her forties, with the highlight of her weekend being a trip to Big Asda with her mum and the only chance of cuddles coming from her dog?

It’s fair to say that Becca’s life isn’t quite where she’d hoped it would be. She already knew that, deep down, but when she finds the time capsule she and her friends made as teenagers and remembers the hopes and dreams sixteen-year-old Becki (with an i) had for the future, she knows she has to do something, and fast.

Refusing to be controlled by her hot flushes and Unexplained Waves of Sadness, Becca is determined to turn things around – for Becki’s sake. But what will it take to prove there’s life in the old girl yet?

My Opinion

Becca and her friends have had a rude awakening about how short life can be. When they discovers letters they had written aged 16 for their future selves each of them find that things haven't quite worked out how they planned. This is not a light-hearted read, it covers some serious topics but it is still an entertaining read. The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club will inspire you to do whatever you feel like doing.

Rating 4/5

This is me to an extent! I am Becca’s age (at the time of writing). I’ve got two sons (not twins mind). How could this be about me?!? Well it isn’t; it’s about Becca !!

Becca and her two childhood besties are brought back together at a sad time telling them that life is short. The trio at 16 wrote their future selves a letter which hits home for each in very different ways. The journey they go on together and individually was fun, heartwarming and addictive!

I love the use of the word fudging. I use frigging but they both mean the same when you are trying your hardest not to swear!! I might have to introduce fudging and its varieties into my vocabulary!!

This whole book resonated with me. It told me to grab life by the horns and take chances. To reconnect with people and to sod what people think! Some life lessons for me! Loved it!

I’m considerably older than Becca and her friends, but this wonderfully written book took me straight back to the trials and tribulations of being in my forties – that awareness that life perhaps hasn’t worked out the way you wanted it to, the changes that suddenly make you realise you’re actually on the verge of being past it, and all those preoccupations with family that keep you awake at night.

But this is Becca’s story, told in her own clear and consistent voice – laced with lots of humour, but with so much depth to the emotional content that it really touched me to the heart. Having suddenly lost her beloved father, her mother’s wellbeing is often foremost in her thoughts – and that’s when she’s not worrying about her twin sons, away in England at university, one giving her little cause for concern, the other lurching from one crisis to the next (and depleting her savings along the way). Thank goodness for best friend Niamh – she might be prone to her own crises at times, but she’s always there, watching her back.

But there was a time when there was a trio of friends – and, their relationship severed around the time of Becca’s divorce, Laura comes back into their lives after they hear about the death of her mother, very fondly remembered from their teenage years. And that makes Becca remember the time capsule they put together thirty years before – including letters written by their younger selves, setting out their hopes and expectations for the future. In her case, there’s a considerable gulf between her plans and what she’s actually achieved in her life – and it becomes a major catalyst for trying to recover her spark and change her future.

The way female friendship is captured in this book is just wonderful – although I could really feel the deep hurt caused by the betrayal that brought about the rift between Becca and Laura, and the struggle to find forgiveness when the elephant was always lurking in the corner of the room. While I was often in tears of laughter, there’s so much (very real…) poignancy to the whole story that there were moments when I had a lump in my throat at the same time – those times when I really wanted to give Becca a hug, reassure her that life won’t always be this difficult and that her best years aren’t necessarily behind her.

Of course, there are also the very real issues of being perimenopausal, not just the hot flushes, and whether HRT might be the way to make everything in life feel better – there was so much there that rang true, and took me right back to those really difficult years. And I must mention her relationship with her mother, which was something I really loved – that trip to the big Asda with the trolley dash to buy all the Christmas bits and pieces brought back so many personal memories, but so did Becca’s occasional frustration at the many demands that made her life even more difficult.

Filled with warmth and love, tackling the issues of the sandwich generation with humour and honesty – essential reading for anyone in or approaching their forties and feeling life might have passed them by, but with so much that can’t fail to ring true whatever your age. This was a book I really loved, with the most delightful characters that it was a joy to spend time with – one for every woman’s reading list, very highly recommended, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the series develops.

Freya Kennedy's The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club is a delightful and relatable journey of self-discovery, perfectly capturing the bittersweet humor and unexpected turns of midlife. Becca Burnside's character resonates with anyone who has ever found themselves questioning their life choices, wondering how they ended up far from the dreams of their youth. Kennedy does a brilliant job of balancing humor with heartfelt moments as Becca navigates her forties, determined to prove to her younger self that it's never too late to chase those long-forgotten dreams. The quirky cast of supporting characters adds depth and warmth to the story, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.

While the plot is somewhat predictable, it's the charm of Becca's character and the witty, honest narrative voice that elevates this novel. The exploration of midlife challenges, from grappling with unrealized dreams to the humorous yet poignant struggles with aging, is handled with both sensitivity and a light touch. The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club is a feel-good, uplifting read that reminds us that it's never too late to reinvent ourselves, and for that, it earns a well-deserved four stars.

Ne'er has a book been so relatable, this was so me going back ten years! I'm still being controlled by the hot flushes mind, but hey ho...

Unleashing a plethora of emotions Kennedy takes Becca and us on a journey of rediscovery, friendship and life as a single, middle aged woman.

By the end of the book, Becca, Laura and Niamh felt more like friends as we'd gone through so much together.

I Adored the Fecking Fabulous Forties Club and I'm keeping everything crossed that this is only the beginning and there's more to come from Becca and Co?

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club is the latest hilarious novel by Freya Kennedy.

We get to meet Becca, who is a 46 year old divorcee in Derry, Northern Ireland whose most exciting thing is a visit to Big Asda with her elderly mum who shouts “do you want size 18-20 big pants?” in the middle of the store! Her life hasn’t gone quite as her 16-year-old self dreamed. Can she and her friends do anything about it?

To finish reading and writing my review on my 59th birthday seems rather appropriate. Although a little over 10 years their senior, I connected with all three women!! I feel this could’ve been written for me and should’ve been titled fabulous fifties instead of forties! I have laughed out loud so many times during this book but I also shed a tear or two once or twice.

Grab your copy here:
https://mybook.to/fabfortiessocial