Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Retirement Plan.

I liked the premise but didn't like the story as much as I had hoped.

It was too cozy for me, though initially I liked the setup with four BFFs planning to off their husbands.

Then the narrative became too silly, full of coincidences, corny cliches and stereotypes and devolved into a series of misunderstandings and assumptions better suited to a YA novel.

I liked the BFFs more than the men but I think the women were just better developed and we spent more time with them as a reader.

I don't mind humor or dark humor and I thought the plot would be in the latter category.

The only character I loved was Elmer, of course.

This was such a fun, quirky, unexpected comedic thriller! Loved the cast of characters, voice, and plot twists.

Put 4 couples that have been friends for over 40 years together through better and worse and you have "The Retirement Plan". Sue Hincenbergs take on the true meaning of how relationships between spouses and friend change throughout our lives and what each would do for the other. This is a laugh out loud crazy adventure that will leave you asking for more. The last 2 chapters were quite a surprise, great job Sue HIncenbergs. It's very rare to read a book and not be able to predict the ending chapter. I was delighted to have a opportunity to read this and would recommend to my bookclub to read.
I would like to thank William Morrow Books, NetGalley and Sue HIncenbergs for the advanced copy of this book for review.
#Netgalley #TheRetirementPlan #SueHincenbergs

This book is totally wild, and I mean wild in the best way! It’s like a chaotic mashup of over-the-top antics, dark humor, and seriously ridiculous misunderstandings. The plot centers around three middle-aged besties who, instead of sipping margaritas by the pool, decide to off their husbands for a little insurance payout boost. Classic move, right? 😂 But, plot twist, the husbands are also plotting against the wives with their own sketchy plans. I mean, it's like the ultimate game of one-upmanship. And let’s just say, everyone’s communication skills are a mess. If the couples had just talked—but then we wouldn't have this gem of a story, right?

Honestly, the amount of times I laughed out loud was insane. The whole thing kind of reminded me of one of those 80s rom-coms where everyone’s running around like headless chickens and you’re just sitting there like, “What’s going to happen next?” And it’s honestly so much fun to read because of that. There's a lot of lol moments, even if sometimes the coincidences and misunderstandings are too much (like, how many hitmen can one town really have??). 😆

The alternating points of view kept the story fresh, though sometimes it felt like a lot of moving parts. And while I had my moments of frustration with certain characters, like Padma (ugh, she was such a mess), I couldn’t help but be entertained. The situations were just too over the top, but in the best, most addicting way.

The bottom line is that if you’re into totally absurd situations, laugh-out-loud moments, and a little suspense with your dark humor, this book is a total ride. I mean, seriously, what’s not to love about some hitmen, a sketchy barber, and an epic tale of marital mischief?

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I absolutely loved this book. Golden girls meets Clue.

Pam, Nancy, Shalisa and Marlene were on track for retirement until their husbands lost their savings on a bad investment deal. When Marlene's husband Dave dies, they find out their husbands each have seven-figure life insurance policies. Question is what do they want more, the money or the men?


Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 6, 2025
#TheRetirementPlan #NetGalley

I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting going into this book but I had a great time. The premise of the book is pretty wild. Three friends plot to murder their husbands but quickly find out the tables have been turned when the husbands are running a scam of their own using the same hitman. It books dark and funny. Strange as it may seem I adored the hitman Hector and his wife Brenda. This book had so many fun twists and turns. This would be a perfect vacation or beach read! This is my first book from Sue Hicenbergs but I would happy pick up more.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t a good fit for me, but I could definitely see it finding its audience. Lots of miscommunication and hijacks when a group of wives decide to take out a hit on their husband.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming tale that perfectly balances humor and heartfelt moments. The story is packed with quirky, relatable characters and unexpected twists that keep you turning the pages. Hincenbergs masterfully explores themes of friendship, reinvention, and finding purpose, proving that it’s never too late to embark on a new adventure.

The witty dialogue and clever situations had me chuckling throughout, but what truly stands out is the book's ability to blend comedy with depth, leaving you feeling inspired. If you’re looking for a feel-good story that will brighten your day and leave you rooting for the characters, The Retirement Plan is a must-read. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a mix of humor, heart, and a touch of wisdom!

This book is a Hallmark movie with a heavy dose of murder/hitmen shenanigans, but also a little bit of a Lucy and Ethel vibe thrown in just for fun. If you are a fan of Richard Osman or Benjamin Stevenson then this book is for you.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs was such a fun read! It’s about four women in their 60s who decide they’ve had enough of their husbands and come up with a crazy plan to off them for the insurance money. The twists kept me on my toes, and while some parts were a little far-fetched, it was an entertaining and totally unexpected ride from start to finish.

This was absolutely entertaining. Centered on a group of 4 couples, it is a comedy of errors and unexpected twists and turns. The wives are bitter towards the husbands for making a bad financial decision, but after the death of one and subsequent insurance payout, the wives decide to take matters into their own hands for happiness. Meanwhile, the husbands are looking over their shoulders after the death of their friend, taking it as a murder and they're next on the list. Add in an overwhelmed casino boss, a barber that doubles as a hitman and his totally badass wife and you have an entertaining read that you don't know where it's going.

I honestly cannot tell if I liked this book… it was full of characters that were both semi-likable and unlikable and quite a few that you just were never 100% sure which they were. This was almost to a fault, one or two would be good, but the whole cast being in the grey wasn’t something I enjoyed.
The writing was good- consistent, multi POV, fast paced. It was giving rom-com trying to be more serious- but it wasn’t more serious.
The end felt unsatisfying. After going back and forth the whole book it was trying to be the best happy ending for all, but sure what I would have rather had but it just wasn’t my favorite.
Overall it was an ok and fast read.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is a fantastic novel.
There were so many laughs out loud moments.

The story was so fun, and the plot is crazy! Three women in their midlife are angry when their husbands have lost their life savings in a scam.
What do they do? Kill them that's what! HA!

Honestly, a lot of miscommunication makes for a fun, engaging read.

The characters also explore friendships, marriage and life at an older age, all of which I related to.

Highly recommend!

“The Retirement Plan” by Sue Hincenbergs is a witty and heartfelt novel. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just love a well-crafted story about reinvention and resilience, The Retirement Plan is a delightful and inspiring novel worth picking up

This was a cute story with a lot of miscommunication, mixed messages, mistakes, and some organized crime. Four couples are nearing their retirement and have fallen on hard times after the husbands invested their nest eggs and lost it all. One of the husbands, Dave, ends up dead, and this sets off a chain reaction that changes the remaining seven's lives forever.

Dave worked as a mechanic on the slot machines at the local casino. He hatched a plan to skim money from the machines when he discovers a defect. The four husbands join together to ensure they can get $10 million over the next four years. However, Dave is found dead when they are so close to achieving their goal. Hank, who also works at the casino, finds Dave and immediately believes the casino knows what they did and now the remaining husbands have to run.

Meanwhile, the wives see how Marlene, Dave's widow, has come into a windfall following his death. Marlene spills that each of the husbands has a one million dollar policy. The remaining wives decide that they are so unhappy in their lives that they should hire a hitman to kill their husbands, collect the insurance payout and move down to Boca to be close to Marlene.

Of course all sorts of hijinks ensue. The ending of the book was satisfying and you find out what happened to all of the couples. This was a fun read to close out the year.

The Retirement Plan was so fun! I loved seeing these women take the reins in their lives and how it all played out!

I wanted this book to be funny but instead, it was just sad. It was a harsh look at what life could be like without the spin of humor I was antcipating. Not for me.

Witty, fun, entertaining....I am a quiet reader but several times throughout the book I caught myself laughing out loud.

I knew from the picture on the cover and the blurb about the book that I had to get my hands on it, and let me tell you, I am so glad I did. There were a few times at the beginning I felt that the plot was a little slow unfolding. but once it does, strap in because you are about to go for a wild ride!

A book about 4 couples who are close friends and had planned their retirement together, but when an investment deal by the husbands goes wrong, those plans are a dream of the past. Suddenly one of the husbands dies in a freak accident and his widow is surprised to find out that he had taken out a large life insurance policy before his death. Not only had he, but the other husbands had taken out policies as well. Now the only thing standing between the other 3 women and a million dollars each is.......their husbands. One hit man later they are on their way to their retirement dreams. Little do the wives know that their husbands too have a plan which leads to quite the series of events.

It is so hard to say too much without giving the plot away, but what I can say is that this story is fun, vibrant and refreshing with a cast of characters that you will both love and root for but also shake your head at. If only they would just communicate with each other. And the ending. How I so loved the ending. But why.....well I guess you will have to read it to find out.

This book was wickedly delightful and entertaining, and I walked away feeling like I had just watched a big screen movie. It did not surprise me when I read later that the author was a former television producer!

The Retirement Plan is due to release on May 6, 2025. Be sure to get your copy....heck, pre-order your copy. You don't want to miss this one :)

I would like to thank William Morrow Books, NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy of this book for review. It was on the top of my wish list, so this was quite the treat and did not disappoint.

Hilarious witty story of four lifelong friends wanting a new life. Various twists and turns throughout make for an entertaining read. I could see this story line turning into a movie someday.

Highly recommend if you are looking for a fun read!

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review-this was a fun caper to read-set in a casino with quirky middle aged characters. There were lines that had me laughing, and despite the unbelievable ending, I enjoyed the escapades and the escape!