What do you think?
Rate this book
A Vintage Vacation
Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he's off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes - if you can’t beat em, join em!
But is Clover brave enough to live La Dolce Vita?
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he's off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes - if you can’t beat em, join em!
But is Clover brave enough to live La Dolce Vita?
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2023
1663 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Maddie Please
26 books224 followersMaddie Please was born in Dorset, brought up in Worcestershire and went to University in Cardiff.
After a career as a dentist Maddie now lives in Devon with her exceptionally handsome and supportive husband. They have 4 adult-ish children all of whom have left home and are probably rather surprised by all this. She did warn them.
Maddie is a voracious reader, and would enjoy hoovering, defrosting the fridge and cleaning the windows but unfortunately she doesn't really have time. She is very disciplined and sensible about her writing and she likes to write every day because it gets her out of doing the ironing.
After a career as a dentist Maddie now lives in Devon with her exceptionally handsome and supportive husband. They have 4 adult-ish children all of whom have left home and are probably rather surprised by all this. She did warn them.
Maddie is a voracious reader, and would enjoy hoovering, defrosting the fridge and cleaning the windows but unfortunately she doesn't really have time. She is very disciplined and sensible about her writing and she likes to write every day because it gets her out of doing the ironing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
June 1, 2023
EXCERPT: Zoe looked astounded for a moment and then clapped her hands.
'Redundant? You? How absolutely marvellous!'
I was momentarily rather shocked. 'Well I didn't think it was marvellous when it happened, I can tell you.'
Zoe quickly composed her face into a sympathetic frown. 'No, really? That must have been awful then. But at least now, think about it, you can do anything! You could go and visit Ben after all the delays and cancellations. You're free! You can start enjoying life.'
I hadn't really considered this way of looking at it and her enthusiasm felt a bit misplaced. It certainly didn't tie into my own feelings. How could losing my job possibly be marvellous?
ABOUT 'A VINTAGE VACATION': Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he's off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes - if you can’t beat em, join em!
But is Clover brave enough to live La Dolce Vita?
MY THOUGHTS: A lovely, light and fun romance and feel-good story set largely in Italy.
I love the characters in this book. It was great to see the changes in both Clover and her mother as they learned to see life from a different perspective.
Clover was living a high pressure life in her corporate world with no time for family or friends. Her mother Eleanor was languishing, bored and unhappy, in a retirement village. Concerned that her daughter is losing the plot, Eleanor rushes off to Italy to haul her daughter back to reality, but finds herself seduced by Italian life and a charming Italian man.
I loved the scenes in the retirement village when Eleanor returns from Italy. They played out like a comic movie. I know that Clover is the main character in this book, but it is Eleanor that steals the limelight.
Maddie Please's writing is full of fun, humor and energy. Her characters are engaging, and I was swept along by the storyline. It is upbeat and enchanting with several humorous moments. I do wish that the author hadn't made Clover such a klutz. It didn't seem to fit her character, and seemed slightly overdone.
If you need a reminder that life is not entirely about work, or you are looking for a feel-good light romance, A Vintage Vacation definitely fits the bill.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#AVintageVacation #NetGalley
I: @maddieplease1 @bookandtonic
T: @MaddiePlease1 @BoldwoodBooks
#contemporaryfiction #friendship #romance #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: Maddie Please was born in Dorset, brought up in Worcestershire and went to University in Cardiff.
After a career as a dentist Maddie now lives in Devon with her exceptionally handsome and supportive husband. They have 4 adult-ish children all of whom have left home and are probably rather surprised by all this. She did warn them.
Maddie is a voracious reader, and would enjoy hoovering, defrosting the fridge and cleaning the windows but unfortunately she doesn't really have time. She is very disciplined and sensible about her writing and she likes to write every day because it gets her out of doing the ironing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
'Redundant? You? How absolutely marvellous!'
I was momentarily rather shocked. 'Well I didn't think it was marvellous when it happened, I can tell you.'
Zoe quickly composed her face into a sympathetic frown. 'No, really? That must have been awful then. But at least now, think about it, you can do anything! You could go and visit Ben after all the delays and cancellations. You're free! You can start enjoying life.'
I hadn't really considered this way of looking at it and her enthusiasm felt a bit misplaced. It certainly didn't tie into my own feelings. How could losing my job possibly be marvellous?
ABOUT 'A VINTAGE VACATION': Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he's off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes - if you can’t beat em, join em!
But is Clover brave enough to live La Dolce Vita?
MY THOUGHTS: A lovely, light and fun romance and feel-good story set largely in Italy.
I love the characters in this book. It was great to see the changes in both Clover and her mother as they learned to see life from a different perspective.
Clover was living a high pressure life in her corporate world with no time for family or friends. Her mother Eleanor was languishing, bored and unhappy, in a retirement village. Concerned that her daughter is losing the plot, Eleanor rushes off to Italy to haul her daughter back to reality, but finds herself seduced by Italian life and a charming Italian man.
I loved the scenes in the retirement village when Eleanor returns from Italy. They played out like a comic movie. I know that Clover is the main character in this book, but it is Eleanor that steals the limelight.
Maddie Please's writing is full of fun, humor and energy. Her characters are engaging, and I was swept along by the storyline. It is upbeat and enchanting with several humorous moments. I do wish that the author hadn't made Clover such a klutz. It didn't seem to fit her character, and seemed slightly overdone.
If you need a reminder that life is not entirely about work, or you are looking for a feel-good light romance, A Vintage Vacation definitely fits the bill.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#AVintageVacation #NetGalley
I: @maddieplease1 @bookandtonic
T: @MaddiePlease1 @BoldwoodBooks
#contemporaryfiction #friendship #romance #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: Maddie Please was born in Dorset, brought up in Worcestershire and went to University in Cardiff.
After a career as a dentist Maddie now lives in Devon with her exceptionally handsome and supportive husband. They have 4 adult-ish children all of whom have left home and are probably rather surprised by all this. She did warn them.
Maddie is a voracious reader, and would enjoy hoovering, defrosting the fridge and cleaning the windows but unfortunately she doesn't really have time. She is very disciplined and sensible about her writing and she likes to write every day because it gets her out of doing the ironing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
September 16, 2025
A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please
Synopsis /
Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he's off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes - if you can’t beat em, join em!
My Thoughts /
rounded up to 3.5
The first glass ceiling in life was being a woman, only broken through with a lot of hard work, persistence and determination. The second glass ceiling was age and that one seemed bullet proof.
Sadly, this exact scenario happens more than you think. A 60-something year old woman still bossing it in the corporate world and running rings around her younger colleagues - and then she is made redundant. That exact same thing happened to a friend of mine and I have to say I was completely shocked when I found out. She was at work on Friday afternoon and on Monday? Gone – desk empty – cleared out over the weekend -with absolutely no communication from any higher-ups about her finishing. Now that I'm reaching my own 60-something year I'm wondering if and when the boom will fall on me. But enough of being maudlin.
Working as a senior business manager for XS – 'Finance with Heart' for over twenty years, Clover Harrington had worked her way up through the corporate ladder during that time. Making her way into the office, Clover never in a million years thought her morning would include being made redundant and then being summarily escorted out of the building just as the rest of her co-workers were arriving. To say it was a shock was an understatement. At the conclusion of the current 'deal' she was working on, Clover was the next in line for promotion onto the Board of Directors. So when her boss, Nick Crane, called her into his office, she was not expecting the conversation to go the way it did. "Sorry, Clover," he said, in a voice that said 'I'm not sorry at all', "these things happen, there was nothing I could do"…"You're going to be such a great loss to XS".
What does she do now? Now that the life she's lived for the past twenty something years has abruptly ended?
This was a great beach read. As the story progressed it warmed my heart and made me smile. Apart from the opening few pages, the majority of the book is set in Italy. I've never been – but my imagination came to life with the brilliant descriptive text of the Italian countryside jumping out of the pages. The characters were a breath of fresh air; full of fun, vigour and life and the sense of community and friendship came through loud and clear within this narrative.
With themes like: Time was a currency that I needed to spend wisely.
I can relate to Clover and could be accused of staying well within my comfort zone – sticking to familiar activities and routines – it's a safe space. It takes guts and bravery to step outside that zone and the author address this topic wonderfully.
If, and when, I get that conversation – "I'm sorry, there was nothing I could do"; I might think to myself "What would Clover do?" and then I'll book myself a ticket to Italy.
Synopsis /
Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he's off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes - if you can’t beat em, join em!
My Thoughts /
rounded up to 3.5
The first glass ceiling in life was being a woman, only broken through with a lot of hard work, persistence and determination. The second glass ceiling was age and that one seemed bullet proof.
Sadly, this exact scenario happens more than you think. A 60-something year old woman still bossing it in the corporate world and running rings around her younger colleagues - and then she is made redundant. That exact same thing happened to a friend of mine and I have to say I was completely shocked when I found out. She was at work on Friday afternoon and on Monday? Gone – desk empty – cleared out over the weekend -with absolutely no communication from any higher-ups about her finishing. Now that I'm reaching my own 60-something year I'm wondering if and when the boom will fall on me. But enough of being maudlin.
Working as a senior business manager for XS – 'Finance with Heart' for over twenty years, Clover Harrington had worked her way up through the corporate ladder during that time. Making her way into the office, Clover never in a million years thought her morning would include being made redundant and then being summarily escorted out of the building just as the rest of her co-workers were arriving. To say it was a shock was an understatement. At the conclusion of the current 'deal' she was working on, Clover was the next in line for promotion onto the Board of Directors. So when her boss, Nick Crane, called her into his office, she was not expecting the conversation to go the way it did. "Sorry, Clover," he said, in a voice that said 'I'm not sorry at all', "these things happen, there was nothing I could do"…"You're going to be such a great loss to XS".
What does she do now? Now that the life she's lived for the past twenty something years has abruptly ended?
This was a great beach read. As the story progressed it warmed my heart and made me smile. Apart from the opening few pages, the majority of the book is set in Italy. I've never been – but my imagination came to life with the brilliant descriptive text of the Italian countryside jumping out of the pages. The characters were a breath of fresh air; full of fun, vigour and life and the sense of community and friendship came through loud and clear within this narrative.
With themes like: Time was a currency that I needed to spend wisely.
I can relate to Clover and could be accused of staying well within my comfort zone – sticking to familiar activities and routines – it's a safe space. It takes guts and bravery to step outside that zone and the author address this topic wonderfully.
If, and when, I get that conversation – "I'm sorry, there was nothing I could do"; I might think to myself "What would Clover do?" and then I'll book myself a ticket to Italy.
November 8, 2023
You should listen to the audiobook to get the full experience. Although sometimes I wished I was reading the book and listening to the audiobook at the same time because I tried looking up a few Italian words but I didn't know how they were spelled. Also I loved that there was a British lady narrating! lol
Important Note!
This is definitely women's fiction and not a romance, So it has a romance undertone or a subplot. This is a sweet romance, so it's closed door.
Loved:
I loved that this is more of women's fiction than romance! I loved that she was finding who she was and what she wanted. British narrator! Haha!
Did Not Like:
It is wrapped up rather quickly. I assumed their would be more problems and setbacks. That is one thing I think is rather strange because it isn't very realistic or at least I didn't find it very realistic, but still a wonderful book!
Quotes:
"I would embrace this new me and leave all the junk I'd been lugging behind."
Notes on quote: I think this is so true for any changes we have in our lives. We need to leave the 'junk' behind to move forward without it hindering us.
"Funny how increasing years seemed to mean a decreasing in the dancing one did."
"As long as you live you learn."
Content: mild and some moderate language, innuendo, closed door, insults in Italian (which is absolutely hysterical)
I did NOT receive a complimentary copy. I listened to this for free on Spotify.
Important Note!
This is definitely women's fiction and not a romance, So it has a romance undertone or a subplot. This is a sweet romance, so it's closed door.
Loved:
I loved that this is more of women's fiction than romance! I loved that she was finding who she was and what she wanted. British narrator! Haha!
Did Not Like:
It is wrapped up rather quickly. I assumed their would be more problems and setbacks. That is one thing I think is rather strange because it isn't very realistic or at least I didn't find it very realistic, but still a wonderful book!
Quotes:
"I would embrace this new me and leave all the junk I'd been lugging behind."
Notes on quote: I think this is so true for any changes we have in our lives. We need to leave the 'junk' behind to move forward without it hindering us.
"Funny how increasing years seemed to mean a decreasing in the dancing one did."
"As long as you live you learn."
Content: mild and some moderate language, innuendo, closed door, insults in Italian (which is absolutely hysterical)
I did NOT receive a complimentary copy. I listened to this for free on Spotify.
July 25, 2023
4.5 Stars. A Vintage Vacation is another wonderful Maddie Please novel about women, friendship, family and new beginnings. Clover Harrington might be nearing retirement age, but she is still dynamite in the business world. She is envied by others, so when the company is bought out, guess who is made redundant. At 61, Clover isn't sure what to do and when she tries to talk to her partner, Jack, he fluffs her off and heads of for a golf weekend with his buddies. Clover makes a decision to visit her cousin Zoe in the gorgeous Italian Lakes where she can rest and plan what is next in her life. Before she leaves, she tells Jack to get his stuff out of her house before she returns. For some reason, Clover's 80 year old mother, Eleanor takes Clover's redundancy as an affront to her and decides to head to Italy as well. This was not the quiet reunion Clover was thinking it would be, her mother quickly makes friends and is playing poker, drinking prosecco and having more fun than Clover. Clover meets a man of her own, and they slowly get to know each other and become friends as well. Will Clover find what she really wants in life while rethinking her priorities in Italy?
In true Maddie Please style we meet two women, mother and daughter, who don't really see eye to eye, but have a relationship that can use renewing. Clover has been so busy working and being the best employee she can be, that her personal life is pretty stagnant. When I first met Eleanor, I didn't like her one bit. She was more worried about how Clover's actions would affect her, but I warmed to her as the story progressed. Clover was very hesitant to make any decisions, but as she relaxed and got to know Gio more, she loosened up. I have to say, the relationship between Clover and Eleanor was so much fun. They were mother and daughter, but acted more like frenemies. The setting was amazing and I loved hearing about the area. With Maddie Please's trademark humor, she had me laughing one minute and then being serious the next. This was a wonderful visit to Italy with a mother/daughter duo that seemed so real. There were a few dry spots, but overall, I enjoyed getting to know these strong, independent women embark on a new chapter in their lives.
In true Maddie Please style we meet two women, mother and daughter, who don't really see eye to eye, but have a relationship that can use renewing. Clover has been so busy working and being the best employee she can be, that her personal life is pretty stagnant. When I first met Eleanor, I didn't like her one bit. She was more worried about how Clover's actions would affect her, but I warmed to her as the story progressed. Clover was very hesitant to make any decisions, but as she relaxed and got to know Gio more, she loosened up. I have to say, the relationship between Clover and Eleanor was so much fun. They were mother and daughter, but acted more like frenemies. The setting was amazing and I loved hearing about the area. With Maddie Please's trademark humor, she had me laughing one minute and then being serious the next. This was a wonderful visit to Italy with a mother/daughter duo that seemed so real. There were a few dry spots, but overall, I enjoyed getting to know these strong, independent women embark on a new chapter in their lives.
May 23, 2023
Clover has been climbing the corporate ladder for years and has suddenly been made redundant at the age of 61. She has a live in boyfriend who is a self centered jerk. Her adult son lives in Canada and she didn’t spend much time with him while he was growing up because she was always busy working and her mother is in a local assisted living facility and causing her extra stress. She is truly at a loss as to what she wants her future to look like. So Clover decides to escape it all and go visit her cousin Zoe, who runs a trattoria in Italy with her husband, and take some time to clear her head and figure out her future.
She meets hunky Gio, who is charming and swoon-worthy and offers to show her around. While they spend time together, sparks fly and it causes Clover to see that she is worthy of a much better relationship than the one she had.
Soon her mother comes to check up on her in Italy and adds to the craziness, but it also helps to restore their relationship that has been strained over the years of busyness and stress from her relationship with her boyfriend.
This was a perfect escape read that I was able to finish in one day. Very much enjoyed reading all the descriptions of the scenery and the food!
Thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
She meets hunky Gio, who is charming and swoon-worthy and offers to show her around. While they spend time together, sparks fly and it causes Clover to see that she is worthy of a much better relationship than the one she had.
Soon her mother comes to check up on her in Italy and adds to the craziness, but it also helps to restore their relationship that has been strained over the years of busyness and stress from her relationship with her boyfriend.
This was a perfect escape read that I was able to finish in one day. Very much enjoyed reading all the descriptions of the scenery and the food!
Thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
May 1, 2023
This was a fun read with enjoyable characters and a lovely Italian setting. I loved the fact that the main character was a bit older than I'm used to finding in many novels, reminding readers that it's never too late to figure out what we want in life (including love). Clover is a well-crafted character who shows wonderful growth throughout the book. Clover's mother was a fun character, and it was nice to see her develop, as well. The dynamics between Clover and her mother may resonate with some readers. There are a lot of food references, so be warned if you read this on an empty stomach! Overall, the book is a good reminder of what life's all about. (Hint - It's not work!)
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
June 26, 2023
My Interest
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: 61 year old woman finds herself unemployed from the career she loved.…. It’s MY story! lol…only in fiction, set in the UK and and and…. You can understand why I was drawn to this one, can’t you?
(I forgot to note where I learned of this book. I THINK I found it looking for an available audio book, but if I’ve forgotten to thank someone for introducing me to it, forgive me–I’m anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of a job interview and am a bit scatterbrained from the waiting).
The Story
“I was a woman with no laptop, no phone, and no job. It felt as though I had lost some vital part of myself. My shoulder yearned for the weight of my laptop bag, the security of my I-Phone XIV in my jacket pocket….I felt…fear mixed with panic…. Before today I’d felt invincible, capable, and valued.”
(Quote is taken down from the audio so punctuation may be inaccurate.)
Clover finds herself being fired and escorted out of the building just as her co-workers are arriving. This is a shock–if this new deal goes through she’ll sit on the board of directors. But here is the weaselly h.r. guy, Nick, taking away her very life and being super patronizing in doing so!
Clover has it all. A high-powered career she loves, an apartment overlooking the Thames in London, her mother is settled in a retirement home and her grown son is independent and living in Canada. Partner, Jack, is a tad full of himself, but still, he goes well with her career and the black tie events they often attend in the evening.
What does she do now? Now that her life is suddenly over and at only age 61??
She goes to Italy. She takes her first real holiday in years and gives herself permission to sort it all out.
Along the way she may just find…a…real life!
My Thoughts
I NEEDED this book! While I had nothing like Clover’s high-flying career, it was still a career and one I’d worked to build. Sadly, I can’t get off to Italy, but I can risk never being employed again and using a little of my 401(k) to live off of while I, like Clover, sort it all out.
I loved Clover’s cousin, loved the Italian friends, the countryside, the community. Swoon. If only…..
Yes, this is unabashedly a feel good book, but I love–crave even, such books. They keep me going right now. Even better that it is another kind of “seasonal” read–a “season of life” read.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more of her work. If you are a Judy Leigh fan, you will love this author, too.
My Verdict
4.0
A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please
Other Books With Women of a Certain Age “Let go,” Fired, Laid-off, RIF-ed or “Made Redundant”
Narrowboat Summer (Three Women and a Boat) by Anne Youngson
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting (The People of Platform 5) by Clare Pooley
20-books-of-summer-2019
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: 61 year old woman finds herself unemployed from the career she loved.…. It’s MY story! lol…only in fiction, set in the UK and and and…. You can understand why I was drawn to this one, can’t you?
(I forgot to note where I learned of this book. I THINK I found it looking for an available audio book, but if I’ve forgotten to thank someone for introducing me to it, forgive me–I’m anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of a job interview and am a bit scatterbrained from the waiting).
The Story
“I was a woman with no laptop, no phone, and no job. It felt as though I had lost some vital part of myself. My shoulder yearned for the weight of my laptop bag, the security of my I-Phone XIV in my jacket pocket….I felt…fear mixed with panic…. Before today I’d felt invincible, capable, and valued.”
(Quote is taken down from the audio so punctuation may be inaccurate.)
Clover finds herself being fired and escorted out of the building just as her co-workers are arriving. This is a shock–if this new deal goes through she’ll sit on the board of directors. But here is the weaselly h.r. guy, Nick, taking away her very life and being super patronizing in doing so!
Clover has it all. A high-powered career she loves, an apartment overlooking the Thames in London, her mother is settled in a retirement home and her grown son is independent and living in Canada. Partner, Jack, is a tad full of himself, but still, he goes well with her career and the black tie events they often attend in the evening.
What does she do now? Now that her life is suddenly over and at only age 61??
She goes to Italy. She takes her first real holiday in years and gives herself permission to sort it all out.
Along the way she may just find…a…real life!
My Thoughts
I NEEDED this book! While I had nothing like Clover’s high-flying career, it was still a career and one I’d worked to build. Sadly, I can’t get off to Italy, but I can risk never being employed again and using a little of my 401(k) to live off of while I, like Clover, sort it all out.
I loved Clover’s cousin, loved the Italian friends, the countryside, the community. Swoon. If only…..
Yes, this is unabashedly a feel good book, but I love–crave even, such books. They keep me going right now. Even better that it is another kind of “seasonal” read–a “season of life” read.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more of her work. If you are a Judy Leigh fan, you will love this author, too.
My Verdict
4.0
A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please
Other Books With Women of a Certain Age “Let go,” Fired, Laid-off, RIF-ed or “Made Redundant”
Narrowboat Summer (Three Women and a Boat) by Anne Youngson
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting (The People of Platform 5) by Clare Pooley
20-books-of-summer-2019
December 31, 2024
This was a ‘Prime Reading’ so it came free to borrow with Amazon Prime and I have been waiting for a chance to read it. It was a lovely story, and the main character was slightly older than usual which made a refreshing change.
Clover is over 60 and a corporate dynamo, and well respected in her company – so when she is made redundant, she is beyond shocked. When her partner, Jack, then decides he wants to go on a golfing holiday, leaving her alone at this time, she decides on a trip of her own to the Italian lakes to visit her cousin Zoe who she has been promising to visit for ages. What she doesn’t count on is her mother also coming for a visit, and meeting an extremely handsome and charming local.
A lovely story with very believable characters. Lots of family relationships, relationships between older people, gorgeous settings, and life after work. I highly recommend it.
Clover is over 60 and a corporate dynamo, and well respected in her company – so when she is made redundant, she is beyond shocked. When her partner, Jack, then decides he wants to go on a golfing holiday, leaving her alone at this time, she decides on a trip of her own to the Italian lakes to visit her cousin Zoe who she has been promising to visit for ages. What she doesn’t count on is her mother also coming for a visit, and meeting an extremely handsome and charming local.
A lovely story with very believable characters. Lots of family relationships, relationships between older people, gorgeous settings, and life after work. I highly recommend it.
June 11, 2023
* I received this ARC for honest feedback.
I so enjoyed this book! Clover is in her early 60s, just made redundant from her job, and decides to visit family in Italy. This whole story is of her finding out who she really is, and who she wants to be. She has spent her life furthing her career, while pushing friends and family to the back, and being let go was just the push Clover needed to realize what's truly important in life.
I would love to read more about Clover in the future, and keep up with her new life.
I so enjoyed this book! Clover is in her early 60s, just made redundant from her job, and decides to visit family in Italy. This whole story is of her finding out who she really is, and who she wants to be. She has spent her life furthing her career, while pushing friends and family to the back, and being let go was just the push Clover needed to realize what's truly important in life.
I would love to read more about Clover in the future, and keep up with her new life.
February 25, 2024
Loved the Italian setting and honestly a very happy story but it felt so repetitive (like she literally spilled wine and stained her shirt 3x within the first half of the book). A lot of the same things just kept happening so it dragged on a little
January 9, 2024
What a beautiful easy read. The perfect book to read when it’s cold and you want to teleport to sunny Italy. Big issue is the book made me hungry talking about all the Italian food. Really recommend if you’re in a reading slump or just need to escape the stress of life.
May 13, 2023
Planning to go on holidays to Italy in a few days by myself, this book couldn't have a better setting - the author has easily transported me to Italian Lakes and I loved all the descriptions of the places, of the weather and, of course, food. Beautifully written, really bringing the colours and smells to life.
The real star of the show was, of course, mother of our main character, especially later on, this fearless, funny woman - her descriptions of her co - residents from her assisted living facility, her antics there were hilarious and her use of italian language was spot on. Brilliant!
So altogether, it was a pleasant read about finding your own feet, your place, your happiness, but it didn't wow me so much. There was nothing special or new about it, to be honest, nothing that made it special and outstanding. A book. A story. Thank you. I don't mean that it was wrong or bad, it was nice enough and it had its moments and it was lovely to see the main character finding what she was looking for without knowing that she was looking for it, finding out who she really is, finding the courage.
The real star of the show was, of course, mother of our main character, especially later on, this fearless, funny woman - her descriptions of her co - residents from her assisted living facility, her antics there were hilarious and her use of italian language was spot on. Brilliant!
So altogether, it was a pleasant read about finding your own feet, your place, your happiness, but it didn't wow me so much. There was nothing special or new about it, to be honest, nothing that made it special and outstanding. A book. A story. Thank you. I don't mean that it was wrong or bad, it was nice enough and it had its moments and it was lovely to see the main character finding what she was looking for without knowing that she was looking for it, finding out who she really is, finding the courage.
May 31, 2023
She might now be in her sixties, but Clover is more than ready for the next step on the corporate ladder – and is devastated when, instead of the expected seat on the board, she’s made redundant, shepherded out of the building with her belongings in a small box, and facing a future she neither expected or wanted. Work was her life, her power suits and red lipstick her armour against the world, and she thought she was invincible – her private life is far less under control, with self-centred partner Jack (what a user!), an overly critical mother, and her adult son now making his own life in Canada. All she can think of is getting away – and although it’s some time since she’s made time to see her cousin Zoe, her taverna in the Italian Lakes feels like the perfect refuge for a while, with time to lick her wounds and work out what to do next with her life.
On arrival, she’s totally out of her depth. She knows that helping out (washing up, chopping vegetables, preparing tables…) might be the best way to repay Zoe for her hospitality, but she’s never been particularly practical, and her corporate wardrobe certainly isn’t the right gear to be wearing in a kitchen. But she’s gradually won over by the warmth of her welcome, lets her hair down (that tight french pleat had to go…), buys more suitable clothing (and shoes… and I just loved her joy at buying her first leather jacket!) and begins to relax and enjoy a life that’s so very different from what she’s used to. There are more opportunities to help out her hosts – that might just not go quite as smoothly as she hopes – but there just might be a new relationship in the offing too, a really lovely man, warm and gentle and just a little damaged, and so much more supportive than the awful Jack.
And then, to her horror, her mother Eleanor arrives – but she’s not the problem that Clover rather expects her to be. That retirement community was sucking the joy out of her life, and she’s determined to live life to the full, behaving badly and enjoying every moment – she’s an absolute joy, the best proof ever that it’s never too late, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed being part of her adventures too. Until, of course, they both need to make some decisions about their future – when the world of work unexpectedly beckons Clover back once more, can they both face resuming their former lives?
There was so much I loved about this book, but particularly the ease with which I could identify with Clover – and this is why I so enjoy books with older protagonists – when she’s set adrift and struggling to find her path. The story’s told in the first person, with a particularly distinctive voice, and we share all her doubts and fears – and many of them were so recognisable and very real. I grew to entirely love her, to punch the air at her small triumphs, to really feel for her when things went less well – and found her whole journey into an uncertain future tremendously uplifting and life-affirming.
There are moments of real poignancy to the story, but there’s also plenty of humour – frequently laugh-out-loud, but sometimes quite gentle, and always quite perfectly judged. The location is so perfectly drawn – I’d be very happy to spend my days at that lovely taverna – and so are the individuals who make up the surrounding community that draws them in. It’s charming, it’s moving, it’s touching, it made me quite emotional at times… I just loved it. This is a book I’d recommend without reservation, where the author just gets everything absolutely right – and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Maddie Please, very much my kind of author.
On arrival, she’s totally out of her depth. She knows that helping out (washing up, chopping vegetables, preparing tables…) might be the best way to repay Zoe for her hospitality, but she’s never been particularly practical, and her corporate wardrobe certainly isn’t the right gear to be wearing in a kitchen. But she’s gradually won over by the warmth of her welcome, lets her hair down (that tight french pleat had to go…), buys more suitable clothing (and shoes… and I just loved her joy at buying her first leather jacket!) and begins to relax and enjoy a life that’s so very different from what she’s used to. There are more opportunities to help out her hosts – that might just not go quite as smoothly as she hopes – but there just might be a new relationship in the offing too, a really lovely man, warm and gentle and just a little damaged, and so much more supportive than the awful Jack.
And then, to her horror, her mother Eleanor arrives – but she’s not the problem that Clover rather expects her to be. That retirement community was sucking the joy out of her life, and she’s determined to live life to the full, behaving badly and enjoying every moment – she’s an absolute joy, the best proof ever that it’s never too late, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed being part of her adventures too. Until, of course, they both need to make some decisions about their future – when the world of work unexpectedly beckons Clover back once more, can they both face resuming their former lives?
There was so much I loved about this book, but particularly the ease with which I could identify with Clover – and this is why I so enjoy books with older protagonists – when she’s set adrift and struggling to find her path. The story’s told in the first person, with a particularly distinctive voice, and we share all her doubts and fears – and many of them were so recognisable and very real. I grew to entirely love her, to punch the air at her small triumphs, to really feel for her when things went less well – and found her whole journey into an uncertain future tremendously uplifting and life-affirming.
There are moments of real poignancy to the story, but there’s also plenty of humour – frequently laugh-out-loud, but sometimes quite gentle, and always quite perfectly judged. The location is so perfectly drawn – I’d be very happy to spend my days at that lovely taverna – and so are the individuals who make up the surrounding community that draws them in. It’s charming, it’s moving, it’s touching, it made me quite emotional at times… I just loved it. This is a book I’d recommend without reservation, where the author just gets everything absolutely right – and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Maddie Please, very much my kind of author.
October 29, 2023
While I did enjoy the book, I was extremely tired of the main character’s supposed “clumsiness”. Every chapter seemed to detail her spilling food, wine, coffee, whatever on her clothes. If she wasn’t spilling stuff she was tripping or knocking stuff over. This woman is 61, not 6. It wasn’t cute or funny after the first few times. Why do chick-lit authors think this is a cute or funny thing to constantly add into their books? It infantilizes the female characters and is just a tired old literary device that needs to stop imho.
August 23, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. Especially when the story moved to Italy, a place I love.
Such interesting characters and so refreshing to read about mature people who still enjoy fun, romance and intimacy.
I write myself and I especially love mature feisty women with character
Such interesting characters and so refreshing to read about mature people who still enjoy fun, romance and intimacy.
I write myself and I especially love mature feisty women with character
June 7, 2025
FCDigital Library | Feels written in a rush | I've read several of Maddie Please's books this year, and since they're a genre I don't generally read they've been a very nice surprise. This was fine, but so far the most disappointing. Partly this is due to the obvious editing mistakes; Clover seems able to move back and forth through time in a surprising way. She goes clothes shopping, then notes that a week after the shopping trip she got her hair done. After the hair appointment she returns to the trattoria and Gio asks how her day was, so internally she thinks that she hadn't done anything, just gone shopping for clothes. Several errors like this crop up, and really there's no excuse. I think the main problem I had was that I didn't find Clover particularly sympathetic. The resolution with her son was unearned--she neglected him for his whole childhood, didn't bother with him as an adult, sent one chatty email and suddenly all was well? Clover herself is not clearly drawn. She's supposed to have spent her entire working life maintaining a position of top authority and respect in the business world, with a perfect tight braid, suit, and impeccable make-up, a persona that intimidates and impresses...but she can't go five minutes without pouring wine or coffee or tomatoes down the front of her shirt or falling into the mud? Gio mentioned his wife (not his "late" wife) and she neither clarified it with anyone nor worried about it at any point. They had moved on to being physically affectionate before anyone explained. And Eleanor, too, seemed to swap between personalities in a way that didn't make sense. It just gave off a sense of a book rushed to meet a deadline without much care having been taken. Not as strong as her others.
January 16, 2024
Delightful tale of a British mother and daughter finding happiness in Italy
This book is very well-written with bold characterizations, vivid settings, and natural, often hilarious, dialogue. I have enjoyed several of Maddie Please’s books, and this one ranks as highly as her others. I found myself laughing aloud while reading, especially at the main character’s 79-year-old mother’s wisecracks. (She reminds me of the lead character in “Mame,” a sophisticated, strong-willed older woman with no filter.) This book will appeal to readers who enjoy a good romcom, G-rated intimate scenes, and happy endings. Let yourself be swept away to sunny Italy and learn some Italian phrases while meeting memorable characters!
This book is very well-written with bold characterizations, vivid settings, and natural, often hilarious, dialogue. I have enjoyed several of Maddie Please’s books, and this one ranks as highly as her others. I found myself laughing aloud while reading, especially at the main character’s 79-year-old mother’s wisecracks. (She reminds me of the lead character in “Mame,” a sophisticated, strong-willed older woman with no filter.) This book will appeal to readers who enjoy a good romcom, G-rated intimate scenes, and happy endings. Let yourself be swept away to sunny Italy and learn some Italian phrases while meeting memorable characters!
January 16, 2024
Strolling round small Italian towns on holiday is such a joy. How many times have you wondered what it would be like to quit the rat race, up sticks, and just make it happen? Clover did just that. Following redundancy, her impromptu holiday to see her cousin made her question her priorities. It even improved her relationship with her mother. You’re never too old to… a great read.
June 23, 2025
DNF at 41%
It was a cute story but nothing really interesting enough to make me want to keep reading. I struggled to get to 40%. It was simple and a bit redundant. It wasn’t a book that I wanted to keep picking up and only read as far as I did because it has such high reviews that I felt like I should keep giving it a chance. 2 ⭐️ is a Goodreads accurate rating for this one because “it was okay”.
It was a cute story but nothing really interesting enough to make me want to keep reading. I struggled to get to 40%. It was simple and a bit redundant. It wasn’t a book that I wanted to keep picking up and only read as far as I did because it has such high reviews that I felt like I should keep giving it a chance. 2 ⭐️ is a Goodreads accurate rating for this one because “it was okay”.
August 23, 2023
This is an easy and pleasurable read, especially if the previous book you’ve read was intense and your head is still a mess with the complexity of how messed up the world can be in some sectors. This story is a fit for women who have retired or are about to retire. Lifestyle change for those 60+.
A “Prada” type becomes “redundant” (she is let go) from her high finance career, company located in downtown London. Clover is beside her self and had enough of her self-centered boyfriend so she takes off for holiday, Italy. How lovely - the scenery, the food, the men, the humor! Highly recommend for those who desire ease and giggles.
A “Prada” type becomes “redundant” (she is let go) from her high finance career, company located in downtown London. Clover is beside her self and had enough of her self-centered boyfriend so she takes off for holiday, Italy. How lovely - the scenery, the food, the men, the humor! Highly recommend for those who desire ease and giggles.
September 23, 2023
4 stars
I went from HS romance to senior romance… and found it was so endearing and empowering at the same time!
I went from HS romance to senior romance… and found it was so endearing and empowering at the same time!
January 14, 2024
a great great book!
I wish I could give this book 10 stars. I binge read it. It needs to be a series to follow up on everything and everyone in the village. I want to find this village and move there!
I wish I could give this book 10 stars. I binge read it. It needs to be a series to follow up on everything and everyone in the village. I want to find this village and move there!
March 23, 2024
I found this book to be very different from the description I read before downloading to my Kindle. I was pleasantly surprised and delighted. It was a lovely story with likeable characters, great descriptions of the scenery in Italy, and new beginnings for the characters. I thought it was a rom com, there was humor, but the story was so much more.
January 12, 2024
A Fantastic European Vacation!!
This book took me out of my every day and into a world of pleasure, food, wine and joy! Loved loved loved!!!
This book took me out of my every day and into a world of pleasure, food, wine and joy! Loved loved loved!!!
January 13, 2024
A fun vacation read. Seniors, Italy, food, art and love.
October 10, 2023
fun read
A true beach read. Lovely characters and delightful scenery in Italy. Having spent time around lake Garda brought back sweet memories of the mountains and the lake.
A true beach read. Lovely characters and delightful scenery in Italy. Having spent time around lake Garda brought back sweet memories of the mountains and the lake.
June 12, 2023
loved the character Clover
This book was hard for me to put down. The character felt so familiar to me. Loved the courage and reinvention of oneself that happened throughout the book, and with not only Clover but for a few of the others too. It was inspirational.
This book was hard for me to put down. The character felt so familiar to me. Loved the courage and reinvention of oneself that happened throughout the book, and with not only Clover but for a few of the others too. It was inspirational.
January 8, 2024
Great read! Made me feel like I was experiencing Italy!
Loved this book! I’m ready for my next trip to Italy! Loved the characters and their transformations in this little Italian village.
Loved this book! I’m ready for my next trip to Italy! Loved the characters and their transformations in this little Italian village.
October 6, 2023
Fun happy read
I love Maddie’s stories and lose myself In the possibility of being able to travel one day to so many places. Her vivid descriptions make me feel like I’m there. Thank you, Maddie Please
I love Maddie’s stories and lose myself In the possibility of being able to travel one day to so many places. Her vivid descriptions make me feel like I’m there. Thank you, Maddie Please
October 7, 2023
Fabulous feel good book. Loved every page
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews