Hot Not Bothered

Absolutely bloody hilarious rage-filled voice of a hormonal generation. This book is a warm hug (but don’t touch me I’m too hot) that will fill your heart and help you feel better about shoving a lamb shoulder in the dishwasher.

Heidi has just discovered that she isn’t losing her mind, she’s going through perimenopause - which is similar to losing your mind!

When she inadvertently sends an extremely snotty email to work colleagues, she inadvertently ends up running a menopause group at work.

I don’t think there is a woman on earth who wouldn’t resonate with some, if not all of this book.

Having gone through perimenopause (and almost seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of menopause), I still learnt so much from this book.

This is information that should be taught to our children in schools - life skills. My generation has been totally unprepared for perimenopause and menopause, because it has never been deemed as important - yet it is.

A funny account, but also surprising at how much resonates.

My thanks to the author for enlightening so many women, whilst making it so we can laugh at ourselves too.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Although I am not yet at this point in my life, it was great to read a realistic story of a woman at a pivotal stage in her life. It was hilarious and I laughed out loud so many times. I truly appreciated the storytelling and the realistic view of the situation. Women endure much and this novel felt like an appreciation of that. I felt like I knew Heidi and she was a friend confiding in me as we laughed over a glass of wine. I loved that about Harper Ford’s style of writing. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh wow how I absolutely adored this book and this author, she had me laughing so hard from the beginning, commiserating throughout ( peri lady here) I loved the characters of the M & M’s made me want to be a part of the group even though it was fictional.
Well written, fab storyline and just utterly relatable!
Will be recommending to everyone!!

I liked everything about this book!
Heidi is going through menopause and mid-life. Her 'fanny' is 'atrophied',
We follow her and other women who go through life - this is an honest, hilarious and hot take on menopause, modern life, parents, love, being a woman and several other important topics.
Even the romance was done quite well (I say this because I am not a great romance reader).
Plot 4
Characterisation 5
Prose 4.75
Mood 5
Themes 5

Absolutely brilliant, truly capturing the trials and tribulations of the Perimenopause and Menopause. Wonderful characters both the main ones and those on the periphery, just ordinary women struggling with everyday problems and juggling a female's lot in life with all that it throws at us.

Many bursts of humour with a delightful heart warming feelgood element amidst the darkness and despair encountered whilst going through the 'change' and the struggles with this part of women's lives in a male heavy management workplace. A touch of romance also thrown in the mix.

An absolute must for women of a 'certain age', I wish this book had been about when I was going through this era of my life

Harper Ford does it again with a story that hits all the right notes. This time, we’re introduced to Heidi, a divorced mum of two daughters (with a serious age gap!) who's juggling the wild ride of peri-menopause symptoms including an uncontrollable rage she's dubbed "Blondie".

After receiving a condescending company-wide email offering "support" for menopausal women in the form of overpriced desk fans, Heidi, in a fit of anger, drafts an unfiltered response never intending to send it at all let alone for it to actually go out to the entire company. Oops! But, this accidental email sets off a chain of events that leads to her chairing a support group for other menopausal women in the workplace.

And that’s how the M&Ms are born. These women soon form close bonds not just through the madness of menopause, but through all of life’s ups and downs.

As if that’s not enough, enter Luke and Nate, back in Heidi’s life as their 30-year university reunion approaches.

The supporting characters? Absolute gems. They add so much flavour to the story and make this book an even richer read.

If you’re in the mood for a book that’s equal parts hilarious and heart-warming, try this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC .

Brilliant. Heart warming and inspiring, with a sprinkling of wonderful humour too. Heidi is a wonderful lead in what I think could be quite an important book to many, many women! Very quick read.

Hot not bothered is a great read, lighthearted, relatable yet with a meaningful undertone for women of a certain age!
Great to focus on the trials and tribulations that women of a certain age experience that affects them both at work and home, the reluctance of medical professionals to listen and provide HRT, the lack of workplace adaptions and breaking down the barriers to raise acceptance understanding and knowledge of the perimenopause and menopause.
Heidi aged 52,divorced single parent of 2 girls, working in an admin role, juggling work and home commitments whilst in perimenopause has had enough, provoked by a particularly bad day at work she lets rip and pours out her innermost rage into an email, one that was never meant to be sent, but somehow gets sent to all! What ensues changes Heidi’s life both at work and at home and that of her colleagues, friends and families in a way no one could have predicted!
A brilliant read that all women of a certain age can totally relate too, would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Another fab contemporary story from the new Queen of fiftysomething, badass, angsty ladies. I liked this even more than Divorced Not Dead, her previous novel.

While I love a good swear, I sometimes found the heroine’s rants in that one too abrasive and yes, there are angry women cursing a lot in this one too, but they have good reason, as you will find out.

With gorgeous depictions of Jericho in Oxford and an anxious and lovable middle-aged heroine getting her groove back as she joins forces with new pals Niki, Joy and Rhona at work and masters (mistresses)? the menopause, this is a surefire winner. Bloody brilliant!

Many thanks to Avon, UA and ‘Harper.’ A fun few days!

Harper Ford’s "Hot Not Bothered" is a witty and refreshing take on contemporary romance that will capture the hearts of readers looking for humor and heat. Ford’s sharp, engaging prose and lively characters make for an entertaining and enjoyable read. The story cleverly navigates the misadventures of dating and relationships in the modern world, combining relatable scenarios with laugh-out-loud moments and genuine warmth. The chemistry between the characters sizzles, and their banter is both endearing and hilarious. "Hot Not Bothered" is a delightful rom-com that’s perfect for those who love their romance with a side of humor.

Heidi is coparenting her two children. She’s also holding down a job struggling with the menopause.

As her symptoms increase her mood gets even darker. So when she receives an email from HR for women of a certain age, she finds the content particularly patronising and irks her fury. She types an email (a very funny one) to vent her emotions. She never intends to send it. It’s just to get her thoughts together.

However what should’ve been an email that she intended to delete she accidentally send to all within her company. The next day she is a global sensation all be it not with her boss. To make amends. She must send a global apology and form a menopause support group.

What starts off feeling like a punishment to Heidi ends up becoming one of the highlights of her life.

This is a highly entertaining read. Being of a similar age to the character Heidi I could certainly relate to a lot of the things she was going through. This is certainly a book that I will be recommending to my female friends although some of my male friends could learn from it too.

This book should be available on the NHS and given to all peri/menopausal woman !!! Very relatable for woman going through the same struggles as Heidi and her friends … informative about menopause and the many many symptoms as well as having a great storyline and characters .. loved this book !!

Buckle up for a real fun, feel-good read about women, menopause and life in general.

Heidi works at a university, is mum to two lovely girls, has her ex-husband living next door, positively involved in their upbringing. It all should be wonderful. But Heidi is hitting the menopause and is really struggling. Then she receives a patronising email from the university (I worked in one for over 20 years and could just envisage this happening!) offering help to women going through the menopause, and she drafts an email back telling him exactly what she thinks of him, his policy and his bright ideas. Unfortunately the email is sent to all staff... and Heidi faces disciplinary action, or the chance to step up and help her colleagues.

The result is heart-warming, slightly twee but offset by some real laugh out loud moments as she and her friends cope with these distressing symptoms. A great read for anyone, menopausal or not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hot Not Bothered was hysterical! Every perimenopausal woman should read this, it told me things I hadn’t heard of even though I am perimenopausal and have visited the doctor and googled!
Partners of said women should also read it to understand the rage and anxiety alone!
I have never felt so seen!!!

I absolutely loved everything about this book and was hooked from the first page. It was so true to life and the characters were totally relatable.

The story is focused on Heidi and how she is navigating life as a single mum of 2 girls while dealing with work, life in general and the menopause.
Heidi was a fantastic character who I could totally relate to and I just wanted to be her friend and part of the M&Ms.

Parts of the story had me laughing out loud, while other parts had me crying or shouting out with solidarity. The reunion chapters were fantastic and (no spoilers)the morning after was brilliant.

The book touched on some important themes but showed the importance of friendship and family.


I didn’t want this book to end and am definitely buying this for all of my friends. I am also hoping for a sequel to see what happens next for Heidi.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Harper Ford for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Not there yet, but very excited for this fun book that shows you can still kill it at any age! I find it’s going to be a fun, relatable, and book full of fun for women of all ages. Can’t wait to share more with you all soon as I recover from some serious medical issues and share it with all the fun inspiring women in my life

A great book that I'm sure a lot of women of a certain age will relate to! Really on the mark about menopause and how it affects so many women. Really funny in places and handles the subject exceptionally well. Highly recommended.

Having enjoyed Harper Ford’s previous book Divorced (not dead) very much, this is another laugh out loud story that has serious undertones dealt with in a sympathetic but funny way.

We follow Heidi through mid-life dealing with the menopause, single motherhood with 2 children and then accidentally sending a ‘reply to all’ work email which she really didn’t mean to do.

The blurb to this book gives you an idea this is going to be a fun but sweary story which is a really hilarious read. Refreshingly honest, I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming tale with genuine characters that made it such a delight to read. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Harper Ford has done it again - by which I mean, written about something that every woman will go through but with such intelligent humour that you can't help but laugh. Protagonist, Heidi, is 'one of us': a woman in the midst of menopause, single mother, loathsome job. This is a timely novel, given the drive for organisations to have 'menopause policies', but also given that what Ford does so well is pitch the humour, and the romance, at just the right point. Reading this novel is like having a conversation with a friend, and that's a really tricky narrative effect to pull off. Another excellent one from Harper Ford. My grateful thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers for the ARC. More please :).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC.

"I’m Heidi Hobbes. And I’m fresh out of f**ks."

Heidi is a busy 52 year old divorced mother of two daughters, working in a mind-numbing admin job in Oxford. She is deep in the throes of peri-menopause which doesn't just mean hot flushes but also now and then uncontrollable rage. When management send a deeply unhelpful and patronising email round about support for menopausal women by letting them buy overpriced desk fans, she lets rip in a glorious, expletive-laden 'reply all'. She doesn't mean to actually send it but somehow it finds its way into every inbox in the company. Luckily, instead of getting fired she is tasked with starting a support group for menopausal women. At the same time she reconnects with two guys from her past, Luke and Nate, prior to an upcoming 30 year school reunion.

The tone of the book is light-hearted and extremely funny, but
it is at its strongest when it tackles the problems of the five women in the Menopause Group (the M&M's), their physical but also mental issues including horrible husbands, judgy parents and loneliness. Menopause and its symptoms are discussed at length - symptoms which are more encompassing than many people realise. The problems with access to and understanding from doctors and nurses are also very realistically portrayed.

I'm 53 myself, with many menopausal symptoms and this book felt like it was written for me. I could relate so hard with those overlooked and raging women who had to fight for every little bit of HRT.

The side characters are fantastic and round the story off with interesting friends, funny family and an enigmatic cat.

I didn't care much about the second chances love triangle though, with a third-act breakup that makes no sense whatsoever. The school reunion party was a hoot though!

Altogether this is a fresh, entertaining and searingly honest account of navigating life when your hormones are all over the shop, you can't remember the word for cauliflower and have put the lamb in the dishwasher instead of the oven. When you get digestive issues and pertaining to that develop anxiety and a fear of travel. When you look in the mirror and find yourself completely unattractive. There is a strong sense of female bonding, friendship and empowerment in this story - the morale is you can and should accept help because you're all in it together.

I have put the author's other novel "Divorced Not Dead" on my library list, and if it's anything like this, I know I will enjoy it immensely.

4.75 stars

I absolutely love this author’s light hearted comical style of storytelling. She can certainly entertain and knows how to create relatable characters who have realistic and modern situations. So much in fact I want to be part of the M&Ms. I could do with them in my own life right now!

I was gripped from the very beginning and was able to read this completely within 2 sessions. The little author’s note at the end made me smile, like the label on curling tongs that says “for external use only!” (IYKYK!)

This is a highly recommended romantic comedy, blended together flawlessly with woman empowerment and would make a great bookclub read.

I am super excited to read more from this author in the future, and Harper Ford has become an auto buy author for me!

Absolutely hilarious read.
A middle age story from this fabulous storyteller.
The dreaded menopause and Heidi Hobbes is tired grumpy and hot, working in a stressful job a lone parent with two children, she's feeling like a volcano ready to erupt.
A laughed out load at some of these chapters, Absolutely brilliantly put by Miss Ford right too a T.
Reader's will love this book, it's fun, it's witty, and it's true. I loved it, certainly brightened up my reading day.