I liked the idea of a 60-year-old woman diving into the dating world again. I didn't care for the diary format, a la Bridget Jones, plus taking it by the time of day, who writes a diary that way. I never connected emotionally with Sophia which made it impossible to get into the plot. If you don't care about the characters you can't care about the story. I picked up the book and put it back down a few times, I skipped around the story hoping to find a spot that held my interest. I guess the premise of sex and the single woman wasn't for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#Aged to Perfection #Niloufar Lamakan #NetGalley #One More Chapter #Harper Collins Publishers #late in life romance #dating at 60

This was a cute read, and I really appreciated how it highlighted a mature woman still open to finding love. At sixty, Sophia decides to throw caution to the wind and dive into the world of online dating. Fresh out of a relationship, she’s not looking for anything serious—just a few no-strings-attached flings.

The book had me giggling at the hilarious situations Sophia found herself in—I will never look at opera the same way again! While the ending was predictable, it was still satisfying and wrapped the story up nicely.

That said, I wasn’t quite prepared for the journal-style format. The entire book is written like a diary, and personally, that made it a bit harder for me to stay engaged.

All in all, this was a fun, feel-good story with relatable characters living their best lives later in life.

Aged to Perfection by Niloufar Lamakan is a witty, heartwarming journey of self-discovery and romance. Sophia, determined to grow old disgracefully, ditches love after a painful breakup and embarks on a year of thrilling, short-term flings. With quirky encounters and plenty of laughs, the book shows it’s never too late to rewrite your love story. Lamakan’s sharp humor and empowering message make this a fun, uplifting read for anyone seeking a bold, feel-good escape.

love to see an older fmc, we love reading abt women in their 60s being fun and flirty! i wish i could have related more to her, however— there was just something about our lead that didn’t fully click with me and did mess with my enjoyment of the book a little. overall a fun time though!

Really enjoyed this, I liked it was an older woman as our main character and that she wasn't a stereotypical grey haired feeble woman!

It has a very Bridget Jones feel with the dear diary style.

Overall really enjoyed it, it was very refreshing.

A great book loved the characters and so nice to see a more mature lead female in a romantic role (should be its own Oscar category 😃)
Well written and very funny
Loved it one for all age groups I think and certainly a book I will recommending to all my friends

Aged to Perfection is a funny romantic comedy following sixty year old Sophia Stone on a year of dating, well, escapades!

I absolutely loved the character of Sophia, she was so relatable.

The book is written in a diary format which makes it easy to read. It flows really well and has you flicking through the pages at speed.

A great read for any romcom lovers

I really liked the idea of finding yourself again at a mature age (Sophia is sixty), navigating single life and learning to love again. Our FMC is fun, funny and pushes back, staying true to herself.

The dear diary set up was interesting but got extremely repetitive, although for this type of book setup it worked well - helping with the flow and scene setting, it was a really good way to set out her dating exploits; very good for visual readers like me :)

Overall it gave older Bridget Jones vibes.

I did think it was a little too long.

Aged to Perfection is a beautiful and fun story about finding love in less conventional ways. We follow our main character, Sophia, as she decides that she wants to find love (or at least maintain an active sex life), which, as she finds out, is not as easy for a sixty year old woman like her, as the men she meets are often very rude and dismissive of her age.

She has a variety of experiences with men from all walks of life, and faces a conflict within her own family (as well as her friend group) for this ‘new Sophia’, but ultimately she has a tight-knit circle of friends to stand by her, which I loved.

I thought the story was really interesting as older women aren’t often represented in the romance genre, so it was great to see Sophia’s experiences and how she handled things in her life. I loved her friends and how certain conflicts were handled throughout. It was a beautiful story of finding love and being true to yourself and I’d recommend it to any other romance fans.

Sophia is not looking for love but a year of fun and sex or at least she thinks she is. Can lots of dates and dealing with her friends and family help her find what she truly wants.

Wow this was such a good read. I will admit there were a couple of sections i had to skip because well they grossed me out. Feet related antics are not my thing, plus another scene which was too much. Beyond that the story is funny, heartwarming and joyful. There is a fair amount of sex mentioned in this but its not overly graphic and often quite humerous. I loved how it was divided up into months and built to a perfect ending. The poems were hilarious too. The fact she is an older woman, trying to live her best life just added to the story. The ending was so good and exactly how i was hoping it would end. A brilliant fun read.

In her debut novel Aged to Perfection, author Niloumar Lamakan celebrates the pursuit of passion in later life. When Sophia Stone finds herself single at sixty, a friend dares her to seek her soulmate by going on one date a week for a year. Being a woman who likes to push the limits, Sophia chooses to ignore the soulmate bit. Instead, she resolves to have lots of meaningless but thrilling sex. Her adventures on the mature dating circuit are hilarious and often ring true. Characters like Premature Paul, the Opera Buff and the Orgasm Expert are totally convincing.
Many humorous novels about women in later life focus on relationships with former partners or adult children. In contrast, Aged to Perfection gives a refreshing sense of liberation. Sophia’s ex is out of the picture and she is childless. Although this is not by choice, it does mean she has no boomerang kids to cramp her style, no bossy offspring telling her to act her age and no judgemental grandchildren. Sophia’s sex life is nobody’s business but her own. In addition, she is a successful interior designer. She can afford to travel on her quest for sensual pleasure, sharing comical anecdotes about her clients along the way.
Lamarkan narrates the story as a diary kept throughout a year. Most of the entries are casual and witty, but others are more serious. When Sophia is not engaged in bawdy carousing, she cares deeply for her close circle of friends, her lively eighty-year-old parents and her grumpy sister. When she says ‘I kept my feelings inside with a giant stopper of nonchalance’ it perfectly sums up her personality.
I recommend Aged to Perfection to anyone who enjoys a rude belly laugh.

I struggled a bit at first with Aged To Perfection though I admired the central character, Sophia Stone, who, at sixty, is determined to revamp her virtually non-existent sex life but without the complication of either a relationship or any romance. It was refreshing to see a woman of almost my age on the page as a central character and fun watching her go through her body checks and her various dates. There are plenty of light moments but there is also a sense of insecurity about Sophia. Her journey was entertaining and enjoyable.

This is the book i need being a Bridget Jones' Diary fan, this has scratched the itch that i have had since then. I love Sophia and how she gives her a new outlook into her life and dating status. We follow her as she set herself a challenge which a friend has suggested and how this goes over the year. We follow her as she meets new men and starts to find out what she likes and love. The author has created a main character who the reader is able to imagine and is realistic to read about. This is something which can sometime be missing in a romance .... Well Done

I loved having an older female character challenging societal assumptions about dating in later life.

Sophia is a successful businesswoman with a fabulous friendship group but she's avoided romance after a terrible betrayal. At a NYE party she vows to start dating again, but on her terms and just for fun. And to end the dick drought.

But dating becomes exhausting. There's opera man with a strange kink. Banana man, cement man and orgasm man who might fulfil her sexually, but whose conversational abilities leave much to be desired.

And then there's the Hot One. Who screams red flag, but who reels her in and makes her realise that deep down she longs for a deeper connection.

A light hearted story about being true to yourself, defying society's ageist stereotypes and being sexy and sassy at any age.

Aged to Perfection
by Niloufar Lamakan

I was eager to dive into this romantic comedy featuring a woman over 60, particularly because it was presented in the engaging format of diary entries. While I found the book didn’t resonate with me personally, as someone approaching that same age, I appreciate what it offers. The story centres on Sophia and her year-long journey through the dating scene after overcoming a betrayal. Although it may not have been my cup of tea, I have no doubt that many readers will find joy in it. wasn't for me I'm sure many more will enjoy it.

This is my first book by this author and I think I am a fan.

I need more romances for this cohort of age. I need to see love again later in life. Or this kind of romance at this point in a woman's life. I also LOVE to see older woman THIS glamorous.

It had some funny moments too, as these very real world and relatable moments happen so often, no matter your age.
Overall a great romance read!

Loved it! A Bridget Jones for the more mature woman! And no, not for those in their 40s… for those in their 60s!

It’s brilliant to see characters like this—finally, women of this age aren’t invisible. They know what they want, they’re beautiful, wise, and still open to new experiences.

The book is really well-structured, following the protagonist’s year filled with adventures—dating (with very mixed results!), messy yet meaningful family relationships, lifelong friendships, and unexpected new connections that add richness to life.

Funny, charming, and wonderfully insightful—a heartwarming reminder that age really is just a number!

Sophia is sixty, single, and sad. She is recovering from a messy relationship break-up that the reader soon realises involved more than one betrayal. This emotional love story explores complex familial and friend relationships. Sophia's dating quest provides an enticing mix of humour tinged with sadness. It's an easy, entertaining read with believably vibrant characters and scenarios. I like the immersive writing style that draws you into Sophia's emotional journey.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I wanted to like this so bad but I couldn’t get past the first few pages. Maybe it’s because I don’t relate (yet). But the character was really annoying.

I really enjoyed this book. It was nice reading a romance book that focused on more mature adults. Age is just a number, just because you are older doesn't mean you have to stop living your life or looking for more. Having a sex life isn't just for the young and I love how this novel highlights that through the fur and charismatic Sophia.