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Nell Stevens #1
Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up: A Novel
A funny and heartfelt novel for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here and why life isn't quite how she imagined it was going to be.
Meet Nell. Her life is a mess.
When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell's happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, a sky-high real estate market forces her to rent a room in a stranger’s house, and everyone has seemingly perfect Instagram-ready lives. Starting from scratch she feels like a f**k up . . . a forty-something f**k up.
Landing a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an 80-something widow with challenges of her own. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and joy. With Cricket’s help, Nell is determined to turn her life around. First, though, she has a confession . . .
Meet Nell. Her life is a mess.
When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell's happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, a sky-high real estate market forces her to rent a room in a stranger’s house, and everyone has seemingly perfect Instagram-ready lives. Starting from scratch she feels like a f**k up . . . a forty-something f**k up.
Landing a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an 80-something widow with challenges of her own. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and joy. With Cricket’s help, Nell is determined to turn her life around. First, though, she has a confession . . .
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2020
3000 people are currently reading
37060 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Potter
27 books2,334 followersAlexandra Potter is the best-selling author of fourteen romantic comedy fiction novels including Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up (which is now the basis of a major US TV show, NOT DEAD YET on ABC, Hulu and Disney+) MORE Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up and One Good Thing. These titles have been published in twenty-five territories and have sold millions of copies worldwide (making the bestseller charts in the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia).
Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she's not writing or travelling, she's getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.
https//www.instagram.com/alexandrapotter
https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Po...
Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she's not writing or travelling, she's getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.
https//www.instagram.com/alexandrapotter
https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Po...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,325 reviews
January 10, 2021
I wanted to love this book, I really did. As someone who is forty without the husband and children I’d always thought I’d have (and no real prospects on the horizon), I thought I’d finally found something I could relate to. There is nothing out there that’s I’ve found so far in literature for women like us and when I saw this book, I thought ‘about time!’ I thought I would laugh, cry and take comfort. But this book really triggered me.
It made me incredibly angry and I thought, presumptuously, that other women in my position must be hating it - that the author totally missed her target audience. But then I saw that a few women who reviewed this were childless and single in their forties and loved it. Jody Day has given it a really positive review (I have just ordered her book and found it very comforting), so I stand corrected.
I wonder if I am alone in my feelings on this book or whether there are other women out there who feel the same way as me?
First of all, to be fair to the author, she doesn’t go down the whole probably won’t have children, but might just save it at the last minute (!) and pop one out route. And you have to respect that.
But there are two main things I have a problem with in this book. The first is the main character’s grief. Now I know this is a humorous book, I totally get that. But humour and pain can co-exist quite nicely, especially in fiction. My gripe is the main character feels pain, but not quite enough. This is not to say that the pain of the childless can’t be overcome, not at all. All I’m
saying is that the pain of the childless is real. But Nell gets over her predicament so quickly that it makes you wonder whether it was ever really a problem to begin with.
As a childless, single woman, there are days when I’m fine and there are days when I feel like I can’t face the world and an ad on telly makes me cry. But when I try to explain this to my mum friends, they just don’t get it. My worry is that, having read this book, mums will say things like ‘just be positive!’ Or ‘just get out there!’ Or maybe, ‘you have to read this book’ when their childless friends to try to talk to them about their struggles. And perhaps those childless women just want to be heard. They just want someone to acknowledge their pain.
This is what we all want and this is what I try to do when my mum friends talk to me about their problems. I don’t give advice (what would I know about raising a child?), I don’t act as if it’s
not a big deal and I don’t say, ‘it’s just a question of perspective, just be positive!’ Because it’s not helpful.
The other main issue I have is with Nell. Now, I wrote something about the horrors of dating in your late thirties which I doubt will ever see the light of day. This was reviewed by an author who is married with children. (I didn’t see as a problem, surely she would see my point of view.) Well, her comments affected me for days. The main changes she suggested were to make my protagonist more likeable (she should use her time as a single woman to help her mum friends) and to make it a book that explores what is it to be a woman. This meant a closer look at two of the mum characters. Her feedback depressed me and it feels like someone has given the same advice to this author.
Whenever the reviews talk about the characters in the book, they mention Cricket. Cricket is full of life, eccentric and fun. Nell on the other hand is like a blank canvas, but she is kind, so kind and helpful, that no one could possibly find fault with her. She babysits her friends’ kids, she picks them up from school. She drops everything for her parent friends. Great. What do they ever do for her? Cricket is the only one who ever gives her any support. Her best friend treats her like total crap and there isn’t even an argument over it. It’s as if the book is pleading for society to accept this childless woman who can be a rock to the lives of others whilst expecting nothing in return. I don’t know anyone, parent or childless who wants to live their life like this.
The book tries to give a balanced view, it shows the plight of struggling mums. Fine. But when it became about women everywhere (we are all f*ck ups, we’re all in this together), I felt disappointed. I have read countless books about mothers - post natal depression, mums struggling to cope, mums struggling with society’s expectations to be perfect. Mums get brilliant TV series like ‘Motherland’ (which I’m considering watching for the 3rd time this lockdown). What do childless women get? This is the one book I’ve found which is supposed to be about women like me, only to find out that it isn’t.
It’s probably no surprise (if anyone’s still with me :)) that I found the ending disturbing and symbolic. Yes I know it’s supposed to be funny and tongue in cheek, but seriously?
As an Asian woman who’s suffered from anxiety for several years, I’ve experienced all kinds of prejudice throughout my life. But what affects me most these days, is society’s reaction to the childless. It seems to be the last taboo and this book only confirms this.
It made me incredibly angry and I thought, presumptuously, that other women in my position must be hating it - that the author totally missed her target audience. But then I saw that a few women who reviewed this were childless and single in their forties and loved it. Jody Day has given it a really positive review (I have just ordered her book and found it very comforting), so I stand corrected.
I wonder if I am alone in my feelings on this book or whether there are other women out there who feel the same way as me?
First of all, to be fair to the author, she doesn’t go down the whole probably won’t have children, but might just save it at the last minute (!) and pop one out route. And you have to respect that.
But there are two main things I have a problem with in this book. The first is the main character’s grief. Now I know this is a humorous book, I totally get that. But humour and pain can co-exist quite nicely, especially in fiction. My gripe is the main character feels pain, but not quite enough. This is not to say that the pain of the childless can’t be overcome, not at all. All I’m
saying is that the pain of the childless is real. But Nell gets over her predicament so quickly that it makes you wonder whether it was ever really a problem to begin with.
As a childless, single woman, there are days when I’m fine and there are days when I feel like I can’t face the world and an ad on telly makes me cry. But when I try to explain this to my mum friends, they just don’t get it. My worry is that, having read this book, mums will say things like ‘just be positive!’ Or ‘just get out there!’ Or maybe, ‘you have to read this book’ when their childless friends to try to talk to them about their struggles. And perhaps those childless women just want to be heard. They just want someone to acknowledge their pain.
This is what we all want and this is what I try to do when my mum friends talk to me about their problems. I don’t give advice (what would I know about raising a child?), I don’t act as if it’s
not a big deal and I don’t say, ‘it’s just a question of perspective, just be positive!’ Because it’s not helpful.
The other main issue I have is with Nell. Now, I wrote something about the horrors of dating in your late thirties which I doubt will ever see the light of day. This was reviewed by an author who is married with children. (I didn’t see as a problem, surely she would see my point of view.) Well, her comments affected me for days. The main changes she suggested were to make my protagonist more likeable (she should use her time as a single woman to help her mum friends) and to make it a book that explores what is it to be a woman. This meant a closer look at two of the mum characters. Her feedback depressed me and it feels like someone has given the same advice to this author.
Whenever the reviews talk about the characters in the book, they mention Cricket. Cricket is full of life, eccentric and fun. Nell on the other hand is like a blank canvas, but she is kind, so kind and helpful, that no one could possibly find fault with her. She babysits her friends’ kids, she picks them up from school. She drops everything for her parent friends. Great. What do they ever do for her? Cricket is the only one who ever gives her any support. Her best friend treats her like total crap and there isn’t even an argument over it. It’s as if the book is pleading for society to accept this childless woman who can be a rock to the lives of others whilst expecting nothing in return. I don’t know anyone, parent or childless who wants to live their life like this.
The book tries to give a balanced view, it shows the plight of struggling mums. Fine. But when it became about women everywhere (we are all f*ck ups, we’re all in this together), I felt disappointed. I have read countless books about mothers - post natal depression, mums struggling to cope, mums struggling with society’s expectations to be perfect. Mums get brilliant TV series like ‘Motherland’ (which I’m considering watching for the 3rd time this lockdown). What do childless women get? This is the one book I’ve found which is supposed to be about women like me, only to find out that it isn’t.
It’s probably no surprise (if anyone’s still with me :)) that I found the ending disturbing and symbolic. Yes I know it’s supposed to be funny and tongue in cheek, but seriously?
As an Asian woman who’s suffered from anxiety for several years, I’ve experienced all kinds of prejudice throughout my life. But what affects me most these days, is society’s reaction to the childless. It seems to be the last taboo and this book only confirms this.
December 28, 2022
Actual Stars 4.5 Rounded Up
Told with laugh out loud humor and the perfect wit Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up is the perfect book for any woman (or man) whether young or old that feels like she isn’t enough or in the right place in her life.
Nell thought she’d had her whole life together and planned out, living in California and running a new a cafe-cum-bookshop with her fiancé Ethan. He is a fantastic chef who took care of the kitchen and Nell a previously successful book editor in charge of the bookshop. They were going to get married, have babies, and spend the rest of their lives together, until they weren’t. The cafe/book shop fell on hard times and Nell and Ethan couldn’t make forever come true.
Nell now back in London is starting her life from square one and first order of business is a place to live. Unfortunately rents had went up drastically since she was in America so Nell has to give up her dream of a quaint one bedroom apartment. Instead she find’s a room for rent with a married landlord named Edward. Edward stays in the city during the week and leaves for the weekend to stay with his family and Nell figures the 3 days of freedom make up for the never ending furnace, electricity and toilet paper roll wars. That and she gained an adorable dog named Arthur that she’s responsible for when her landlord is gone, that loves to chase squirrels.
Next up is a job. Nell being out of the book editing business for several years has to take a job at the bottom. Being desperate for a paycheck leads to her new occupation as an Obituary Writer. Seriously can things get any worse for Nell? All her friends have their lives together, married with children and/or terrific careers. And here she Is single, childless, renting a room from the crazy man who tries to leave NO carbon footprint by counting toilet paper squares etc., and she has a job writing about dead people!
Nell decides to pull herself up by her boot straps and do something to make her situation bearable. She sets out by writing 5 things she’s grateful for (well just one for now, she’ll have to work her way up to 5). She also decides to start an anonymous podcast and talk about what it’s like to start over at forty something and not have her life be where she thought it would be at this stage in her life. It’s also the perfect place to vent on how she hates her oldest friends seemingly new bestie.
But the most unexpected surprise is when Nell strikes up a friendship with an eighty something year old widow whose husband she’s writing an obituary piece about. Cricket has the energy level and an adventurous streak of a woman much younger. As they increasingly spend time together Nell and Cricket help other heal through the struggles as they both move on in their new places in life.
Thoughts:
I loved this book in every way! The writing, the title, the characters. It’s engaging and fun! AP takes serious subjects and handles them with superb humor so not to feel heavy. Nell is the perfect character and who I want to be when I grow up! She took a negative and turned into a positive. And she did it with grace (sometimes at least) and comedy that cracked me up throughout the book.
I loved Nell and Cricket’s friendship! It was so refreshing to see 2 women with pretty large age gaps be able to help each other cope with their struggles and really enjoy spending time together. It gave me the perfect warm and fuzzies with a side of fun. So kuddos AP this was a brilliant story line!
Even with the slight negatives this book was fantastic and I can see myself doing a reread one day. I originally picked it up because it had a title that resonated with me. I’m right around Nell’s age and honestly I sometimes feel like I’m battling life while others around me are smooth sailing along. If anyone else feels like this (or just looking for a few good laughs) I highly suggest COAFSFU because it gives you a new outlook on things with laughter, connection and stellar writing as a soothing balm.
Told with laugh out loud humor and the perfect wit Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up is the perfect book for any woman (or man) whether young or old that feels like she isn’t enough or in the right place in her life.
Nell thought she’d had her whole life together and planned out, living in California and running a new a cafe-cum-bookshop with her fiancé Ethan. He is a fantastic chef who took care of the kitchen and Nell a previously successful book editor in charge of the bookshop. They were going to get married, have babies, and spend the rest of their lives together, until they weren’t. The cafe/book shop fell on hard times and Nell and Ethan couldn’t make forever come true.
Nell now back in London is starting her life from square one and first order of business is a place to live. Unfortunately rents had went up drastically since she was in America so Nell has to give up her dream of a quaint one bedroom apartment. Instead she find’s a room for rent with a married landlord named Edward. Edward stays in the city during the week and leaves for the weekend to stay with his family and Nell figures the 3 days of freedom make up for the never ending furnace, electricity and toilet paper roll wars. That and she gained an adorable dog named Arthur that she’s responsible for when her landlord is gone, that loves to chase squirrels.
Next up is a job. Nell being out of the book editing business for several years has to take a job at the bottom. Being desperate for a paycheck leads to her new occupation as an Obituary Writer. Seriously can things get any worse for Nell? All her friends have their lives together, married with children and/or terrific careers. And here she Is single, childless, renting a room from the crazy man who tries to leave NO carbon footprint by counting toilet paper squares etc., and she has a job writing about dead people!
Nell decides to pull herself up by her boot straps and do something to make her situation bearable. She sets out by writing 5 things she’s grateful for (well just one for now, she’ll have to work her way up to 5). She also decides to start an anonymous podcast and talk about what it’s like to start over at forty something and not have her life be where she thought it would be at this stage in her life. It’s also the perfect place to vent on how she hates her oldest friends seemingly new bestie.
But the most unexpected surprise is when Nell strikes up a friendship with an eighty something year old widow whose husband she’s writing an obituary piece about. Cricket has the energy level and an adventurous streak of a woman much younger. As they increasingly spend time together Nell and Cricket help other heal through the struggles as they both move on in their new places in life.
Thoughts:
I loved this book in every way! The writing, the title, the characters. It’s engaging and fun! AP takes serious subjects and handles them with superb humor so not to feel heavy. Nell is the perfect character and who I want to be when I grow up! She took a negative and turned into a positive. And she did it with grace (sometimes at least) and comedy that cracked me up throughout the book.
I loved Nell and Cricket’s friendship! It was so refreshing to see 2 women with pretty large age gaps be able to help each other cope with their struggles and really enjoy spending time together. It gave me the perfect warm and fuzzies with a side of fun. So kuddos AP this was a brilliant story line!
Even with the slight negatives this book was fantastic and I can see myself doing a reread one day. I originally picked it up because it had a title that resonated with me. I’m right around Nell’s age and honestly I sometimes feel like I’m battling life while others around me are smooth sailing along. If anyone else feels like this (or just looking for a few good laughs) I highly suggest COAFSFU because it gives you a new outlook on things with laughter, connection and stellar writing as a soothing balm.
April 13, 2020
Ohhh guys, do you want to read a book that’s a TONIC for the times we are living in? Then you need to read Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up by Alexandra Potter because it sizzles with life. And made me laugh at least once a page.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.
FIRST LINE OF CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP
“Hi, and welcome to Confessions of a Forty-Something F##kUp, the podcast for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here, and why life isn’t quite how she imagined it was going to be.”
MY THOUGHTS ON CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP
OK, first off I said it’s a laugh a page. It mostly is, but lurking in the humour are heart-rendering, lump in the throat moments too. Basically all human emotions beat loud and strong from this book.
And ohhh did I relate. I too am a Forty-Something F##K Up. As much as I wanted it all, I didn’t get to tick all the boxes of perfect marriage, gorgeous kids, and successful career that I lusted over as at Twenty-Something dreamer. OK, I got some, but like so many others I linger longer over those I didn’t get, than those I did.
Nell makes herself write a gratitude list to help her survive her life, and gradually her list goes from breathing to achievements that she is really proud of. But mostly she becomes proud of herself, f##k up's and all, which is so lovely not to mention empowering to watch.
I’M GRATEFUL FOR
- this book for making me belly laugh, snort and giggle my way through the pages
- the friendships that Nell has in her life, they flounder and flourish, and reminds me that friendship needs to worked at to keep alive
- the adventures that Nell has sharing a flat. It makes me glad that I don’t have to fight with a landlord about my house thermostat. Just my husband!
- the podcast theme within this book. So relevant, funny and inspiring.
In case you haven’t guessed I loved Nell and I loved this book.
WHO SHOULD READ CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP BY ALEXANDRA POTTER?
Listen if you need a laugh, then buy this book. If you are a Forty-Something F##K Up (or any decade F##K UP), then buy this book and discover you are not alone. Fans of Bridget Jone’s Diary or Sophie Kinsella’s Shopoholic series should also enjoy this one.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.
FIRST LINE OF CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP
“Hi, and welcome to Confessions of a Forty-Something F##kUp, the podcast for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here, and why life isn’t quite how she imagined it was going to be.”
MY THOUGHTS ON CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP
OK, first off I said it’s a laugh a page. It mostly is, but lurking in the humour are heart-rendering, lump in the throat moments too. Basically all human emotions beat loud and strong from this book.
And ohhh did I relate. I too am a Forty-Something F##K Up. As much as I wanted it all, I didn’t get to tick all the boxes of perfect marriage, gorgeous kids, and successful career that I lusted over as at Twenty-Something dreamer. OK, I got some, but like so many others I linger longer over those I didn’t get, than those I did.
Nell makes herself write a gratitude list to help her survive her life, and gradually her list goes from breathing to achievements that she is really proud of. But mostly she becomes proud of herself, f##k up's and all, which is so lovely not to mention empowering to watch.
I’M GRATEFUL FOR
- this book for making me belly laugh, snort and giggle my way through the pages
- the friendships that Nell has in her life, they flounder and flourish, and reminds me that friendship needs to worked at to keep alive
- the adventures that Nell has sharing a flat. It makes me glad that I don’t have to fight with a landlord about my house thermostat. Just my husband!
- the podcast theme within this book. So relevant, funny and inspiring.
In case you haven’t guessed I loved Nell and I loved this book.
WHO SHOULD READ CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP BY ALEXANDRA POTTER?
Listen if you need a laugh, then buy this book. If you are a Forty-Something F##K Up (or any decade F##K UP), then buy this book and discover you are not alone. Fans of Bridget Jone’s Diary or Sophie Kinsella’s Shopoholic series should also enjoy this one.
March 22, 2022
Another rewarding and light enjoyable offering. An excellent quality audio; it's always refreshing to pick up the book and look forward to the voice, as well as the story as it continues.
I had not heard of this author, and it was a 'stumble across' as I browsed an interstate catalogue (the perks of working in a library, and knowing where to look for the location of a book, Australia wide). BorrowBox is great!
A common theme, hashtag 'live your best life' hashtag 'gluten free brownies rock' etcetera etcetera (I take some poetic license there). Nell is fed up, she's failed at her business, failed at an engagement. Returning home to London after setting up a new life in The States, her life ended up far from swimmingly. In her forties and feeling like a failure and so far removed from all these bullocky and unrealistic bloody hashtags, she is childless and feeling more than less than. The one mantra repeated many times was being in her forties and childless. This may offend some! But it was humorous and she was a funny gal.
The childless slant was quite relentless in this story, but as all light reads it wasn't meant to be taken too harshly, and all sides ended up being explored.
Even though I knew from the start what may have been happening romance wise, it was still a satisfying read. Female friendships, the way some are domineering and will always show the 'my life is perfect', look at my Insta and look at my fancy wardrobe and stylised persona.
Nell was broke and house hunting, ending up renting in a shared situation with Edward, who rented in the city during the week, and went home to the suburbs to his family on the weekend. This suited Nell as he was stuffy and had too many rules, aka, one square of toilet paper per bathroom visit and a caveat not to touch the thermostat. Eeek! On the plus side to this was the lovely Arthur the dog, who Nell looked after. They became firm friends.
An editor, Nell secured a job with an old colleague crafting epilogues, and this is how she found a firm friend in Cricket, a newly widowed octogenarian. This was a wonderful friendship.
All in all a light read, nothing heavy was expected and all taken in the manner in which [I] expected. It was sweet and lovely.
I had not heard of this author, and it was a 'stumble across' as I browsed an interstate catalogue (the perks of working in a library, and knowing where to look for the location of a book, Australia wide). BorrowBox is great!
A common theme, hashtag 'live your best life' hashtag 'gluten free brownies rock' etcetera etcetera (I take some poetic license there). Nell is fed up, she's failed at her business, failed at an engagement. Returning home to London after setting up a new life in The States, her life ended up far from swimmingly. In her forties and feeling like a failure and so far removed from all these bullocky and unrealistic bloody hashtags, she is childless and feeling more than less than. The one mantra repeated many times was being in her forties and childless. This may offend some! But it was humorous and she was a funny gal.
The childless slant was quite relentless in this story, but as all light reads it wasn't meant to be taken too harshly, and all sides ended up being explored.
Even though I knew from the start what may have been happening romance wise, it was still a satisfying read. Female friendships, the way some are domineering and will always show the 'my life is perfect', look at my Insta and look at my fancy wardrobe and stylised persona.
Nell was broke and house hunting, ending up renting in a shared situation with Edward, who rented in the city during the week, and went home to the suburbs to his family on the weekend. This suited Nell as he was stuffy and had too many rules, aka, one square of toilet paper per bathroom visit and a caveat not to touch the thermostat. Eeek! On the plus side to this was the lovely Arthur the dog, who Nell looked after. They became firm friends.
An editor, Nell secured a job with an old colleague crafting epilogues, and this is how she found a firm friend in Cricket, a newly widowed octogenarian. This was a wonderful friendship.
All in all a light read, nothing heavy was expected and all taken in the manner in which [I] expected. It was sweet and lovely.
March 24, 2020
Nell is at rock bottom, she has split up with her fiancé after their business went bust and has moved into a shared house with Edward, who has a long list of rules .. but on the positive side he won’t be home at the weekends!!
When Nell celebrates her 40th birthday it makes her realise this is not the life she had planned, friends around her are settled down with children and have new friends that enjoy play dates together.
Nell lands up writing obituaries, she meets Cricket an 80 year old widow and they soon make friends and become close. Together they help each other with adventures and laughs along the way!!
This book did make me laugh!! It made me realise life is not always perfect and you have to make the most of it!! It was nice to take my mind off the Corona Virus.
This should be a must read book for every woman.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When Nell celebrates her 40th birthday it makes her realise this is not the life she had planned, friends around her are settled down with children and have new friends that enjoy play dates together.
Nell lands up writing obituaries, she meets Cricket an 80 year old widow and they soon make friends and become close. Together they help each other with adventures and laughs along the way!!
This book did make me laugh!! It made me realise life is not always perfect and you have to make the most of it!! It was nice to take my mind off the Corona Virus.
This should be a must read book for every woman.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
July 24, 2020
This book is in my top five books that I have read this year. It has everything, love, loss, friendship and enemies. You can’t help but love Nell and want her to have her happy ever after.
Laugh out loud funny in some places but also heart wrenching in others
Laugh out loud funny in some places but also heart wrenching in others
June 9, 2021
Highly unrealistic, hugely predictable, medium dose of clichés, mostly readable, with a few good lines, if you have the patience for the above. If it wasn't audio book, wouldn't stay for the ending.
October 22, 2024
This read memoir~ish to me. On the longer side with 127 short, titled chapters. RTC
Nell
What to expect:
~ single 1st person POV, present tense
~ London setting
~ a bunch of swearing, as expected
~ end of chapter lists of things she’s grateful for
~ not super supportive best friends
~ some funny bits
~ no steamage
Nell
What to expect:
~ single 1st person POV, present tense
~ London setting
~ a bunch of swearing, as expected
~ end of chapter lists of things she’s grateful for
~ not super supportive best friends
~ some funny bits
~ no steamage
July 29, 2025
I don't think I've read anything as relatable as this book for a while.
This book is for everyone whose life hasn't turned out how they'd expected.
From the first chapter, I felt connected to our main character, Nell. She is in her forties, a past full of misadventure and failed relationships, and is now renting a room from Edward and feels like a forty year old f@#% up.
We follow Nell as she navigates her first single year in her forties after her breakup with Ethan.
There's a lot of humour here and compassion too. I loved her friendships with both her immediate friendship group but also her developing friendship with Cricket, a woman in her eighties, recently widowed.
There's fun, there's trauma, there's grief, there's community. I was all in.
Five stars.
This book is for everyone whose life hasn't turned out how they'd expected.
From the first chapter, I felt connected to our main character, Nell. She is in her forties, a past full of misadventure and failed relationships, and is now renting a room from Edward and feels like a forty year old f@#% up.
We follow Nell as she navigates her first single year in her forties after her breakup with Ethan.
There's a lot of humour here and compassion too. I loved her friendships with both her immediate friendship group but also her developing friendship with Cricket, a woman in her eighties, recently widowed.
There's fun, there's trauma, there's grief, there's community. I was all in.
Five stars.
March 20, 2022
Funny, witty and heart-warming. Yes, it glosses over certain issues, yes, it might be very 'middle class' in places but it's a good story with enough depth to have kept me engaged throughout. And I could relate to Nell quite a lot which is a credit to Potter writing her character really well. Really enjoyed it.
September 24, 2024
! This was hilarious - laugh out loud witty but also very relatable. It’s a blend of self help and fiction that came out really well. If you’ve ever felt like your life wasn’t in line with the plans you had for yourself ( who hasnt?) You will relate to this book. Highly recommend not just for forty something years old but for women of all ages
November 2, 2022
This book, which I didn’t know I needed right now, was perfection.
September 19, 2022
Well, as a forty something myself, I was quite curious about this book. At first I found the book funny and relatable, refreshing and even wise at times. But then it became too predictable and frankly quite boring too.
attempted
November 10, 2021Оказывается, Бриджет Джонс и Кейтлин Моран — это не муж и жена, а четыре разных человека. Если хоть один из них вам дорог, не читайте эту книгу.
August 6, 2023
I think this booked is a missed opportunity to write an empowering, interesting, fun book about being single and child free for a woman in her forties.
Positives first. I love Nell friendship with a 80yo woman she meets when writing her husband’s obituary. It’s fun, and we don’t often have old women represented as strong, interesting women still having fun at their age.
Negatives:
So many cliches😫 literally from the moment she mentioned the landlord I knew she was going to end up in love with him. No doubt about that. And he of course had to say the most cliche phrase of all “I loved you from the moment I met you” 🤢
The book is filled with moment like that, including the orribile woman -Annabel - who is awful for 70% of the book but at the end miraculously realised she’s been a complete bitch and become friends with Nell..
CMOOON!
Finally, the hashtags- I know the title of the book is basically an hashtag so I should have known it, but I can’t help but to roll my eyes every time I came across another one in the book.
It’s an easy read but not for me
2 ✨
Positives first. I love Nell friendship with a 80yo woman she meets when writing her husband’s obituary. It’s fun, and we don’t often have old women represented as strong, interesting women still having fun at their age.
Negatives:
So many cliches😫 literally from the moment she mentioned the landlord I knew she was going to end up in love with him. No doubt about that. And he of course had to say the most cliche phrase of all “I loved you from the moment I met you” 🤢
The book is filled with moment like that, including the orribile woman -Annabel - who is awful for 70% of the book but at the end miraculously realised she’s been a complete bitch and become friends with Nell..
CMOOON!
Finally, the hashtags- I know the title of the book is basically an hashtag so I should have known it, but I can’t help but to roll my eyes every time I came across another one in the book.
It’s an easy read but not for me
2 ✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2024
A good book concerning Nell (Penelope) coming back from America with a failed relationship broken engagement and failed business returns to the UK to find that rents have sky rocketed whilst she was away so she rents a room from Edward, who is controlling the thermostat and very environmentally friendly. He is not in the house weekends, so she looks after his dog for him whilst he visits his wife and children in the country in exchange for a cheaper rent. She gets employment by writing obituaries initially meeting Cricket, who is my favourite character in the book, who is grieving the loss of her husband. Some very lovely moments between the friendship of Nell as a forty something year old and Cricket in her 80s. Nell also starts a pod cast rebelling against the women having it all and #soblessed brigade. She does list positives each day, which whilst funny are also contrite. Her friends are all married with children, and her relationships with them changed, especially with Annabel, being new in the group, a power mum who dislikes Nell. Nell does drop everything to assist her friends, which did seem one-sided, especially when the group dynamics changed. I didn't like the hot dad character as that needed more explanation/ development and how this and the rivalry between Annabel and herself was solved neatly at the end of the book. I thought both should be more messy rather than being tied up in a neat bow. So it was funny, but the previous points brought the rating down.
April 6, 2021
Overall this is funny and heart-warming. I did like it even though there is a certain amount of cheese!
I did have some issues with the portrayal of childless women but it is comedy/light entertainment and I don't want to discuss my views here. If I could put those things aside it would be a 5 star read for pure entertainment (and a few emotional tears).
I did have some issues with the portrayal of childless women but it is comedy/light entertainment and I don't want to discuss my views here. If I could put those things aside it would be a 5 star read for pure entertainment (and a few emotional tears).
August 30, 2023
Who hasn't thought at some time that life just didn't turn out the way you imagined? I think we all do. This book looks at that very situation with a good deal of humor and some insight into finding happiness.
Description:
Meet Nell. Her life is a mess.
When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell's happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, a sky-high real estate market forces her to rent a room in a stranger’s house, and everyone has seemingly perfect Instagram-ready lives. Starting from scratch she feels like a f**k up . . . a forty-something f**k up.
Landing a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an 80-something widow with challenges of her own. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and joy. With Cricket’s help, Nell is determined to turn her life around. First, though, she has a confession . . .
Laugh-out-loud funny and painfully relatable, Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up is a celebration of friendship and a reminder that while life doesn’t always go according to plan, it doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness.
My Thoughts:
I picked the book up because, of course, the title caught my attention. Then when I read the blurb I just had to read it. I found Nell to be relatable and likeable. The friendship with 80+ Cricket was heart-warming and upbeat (I liked Cricket immediately). The story kept me engaged and it certainly wasn't boring. I loved the humor. The characters were well written and so was the plot. The book helps with viewing life as never perfect, but there is still happiness to be found.
Thanks to Harper Paperbacks through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 5, 2023.
Description:
Meet Nell. Her life is a mess.
When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell's happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, a sky-high real estate market forces her to rent a room in a stranger’s house, and everyone has seemingly perfect Instagram-ready lives. Starting from scratch she feels like a f**k up . . . a forty-something f**k up.
Landing a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an 80-something widow with challenges of her own. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and joy. With Cricket’s help, Nell is determined to turn her life around. First, though, she has a confession . . .
Laugh-out-loud funny and painfully relatable, Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up is a celebration of friendship and a reminder that while life doesn’t always go according to plan, it doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness.
My Thoughts:
I picked the book up because, of course, the title caught my attention. Then when I read the blurb I just had to read it. I found Nell to be relatable and likeable. The friendship with 80+ Cricket was heart-warming and upbeat (I liked Cricket immediately). The story kept me engaged and it certainly wasn't boring. I loved the humor. The characters were well written and so was the plot. The book helps with viewing life as never perfect, but there is still happiness to be found.
Thanks to Harper Paperbacks through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 5, 2023.
May 21, 2021
Have you ever read a book where things happen, but nothing happens? Or a book that a lot is happening but it is all over the place? That’s how I felt about this book. There are a lot of things I could say, but alas, I do not have the energy. What started out as a promising book, ended with more frustrations for me than not. As a “forty-something” (aka forty year old) woman who often asks, “WTF am I doing?” I could relate to a lot of the main character’s thoughts (is it bad that I don’t remember her name?); however that is not enough for me to give this book more than two stars. I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish, but in the end, it just wasn’t for me. 🤷🏻♀️
October 1, 2023
I LOVED Nell, but can we have a full series dedicated to Cricket! I hope I'm half as awesome in my 80s.
This one was relatable, hilarious, and also too realistic sometimes.
I laughed, cringed, commiserated, cheered, and emphasized.
At the end of all of these books, there is still someone for the MC. Maybe that can be my one day.
An excellent time.
So many wonderful moments and one-liners.
Solid 5 Stars.
This one was relatable, hilarious, and also too realistic sometimes.
I laughed, cringed, commiserated, cheered, and emphasized.
At the end of all of these books, there is still someone for the MC. Maybe that can be my one day.
An excellent time.
So many wonderful moments and one-liners.
Solid 5 Stars.
May 21, 2025
Penelope or Nell as she prefers, has moved back to the UK after breaking up with her American Fiancée. Nell is a forty-something single woman without a job and accommodation, unlike her friends who are all married and have kids, and their own houses. Her father lends her money, and she looks for shared accommodation and starts a job as an obituary writer to pay for bills.
When she goes to meet the widow of a recently deceased playwriter, she meets the eighty-something widow, Catherine, or she is known lovingly as Cricket. Cricket turns out to be quite different from what Nell had imagined, and they become friends. They both end up teaching each other a great many things.
Nell's housemate or landlord, Edward, only stays at the house a few days a week as he is married and has kids, and visits them in the country over the weekends. He also owns a dog, Arthur, who also becomes Nell's companion in a way, as Nell spends a lot of time with Arthur and takes him on walks.
Nell's best friend, Fiona doesn't have time for her as she has a new friend of her own. Basically, any of Nell's friends don't have time for her unless they want her to babysit their kids and I felt for Nell.
I loved Nell and everything about her character. From feeling like a failure to her trying to fit in and find her place in her family and her friend's lives to her self-pity to her resilience and picking up the pieces and trying to get back on track rather a new track. She was so relatable in every which way. I was rooting for her all the way. I remember the plans that I had for my life ten years ago and not even one thing has happened as per that plan but my life took a completely different turn and I am still loving it. But this book definitely reminded me of the things that I had laid out and thought back to where I used to think I'd end up ten years later and then ended up laughing because now I can't even imagine going by that plan. Life is funny that way.
I also loved Cricket as she ended up helping Nell in so many ways and also Nell helped her as well. I absolutely loved their friendship and it shows that you can make new friends when you get older and also friends don't really have to be the same age.
I loved Edward and all his annoying nagging but I also knew where the story would go with him. I didn't like any of Nell's friends because they only wanted her when they needed something from her and Fiona wouldn't even listen to her until she finds out that her daughter Izzy is being bullied by Annabel's daughter. Yeah, they patched up and everything but it was unfair to Nell and I was mad on her behalf I guess because Nell forgave too quickly. Bits of this also reminded me of the movie, Bridesmaids but I didn't care because I love that movie.
I also loved Nell's relationship with her family especially her father and that bit towards the end scared me to bits. There were some awkward conversations at the beginning with her mother as expected because her mum was still holding out hope for Nell to patch things up with her fiancée. It was all believable and I loved how it all came to be.
I am not sure if my words are doing justice to how much I loved this book but I loved this book and everything about it. I think we need more of these kinds of books. I felt so many different emotions on each page like I laughed, cried (actual tears), felt sad, felt annoyed and related that I feel such a mess writing this review. My emotions are all over the place. I wanted to read it quickly and at the same time didn't want to finish it.
It's gone on my all time fav book shelf and I am grateful for:
1. This book.
2. All the plans that were laid out once but didn't actually happen.
3. Nell.
4. Family.
5. Friends that I used to have but don't have anymore and didn't even think about them for years until today and all I remember is all the fun that we used to have and nothing else.
6. That podcast that's really inspired me.
7. Did I mention this book?
Thank you Alexandra Potter.
5 stars
When she goes to meet the widow of a recently deceased playwriter, she meets the eighty-something widow, Catherine, or she is known lovingly as Cricket. Cricket turns out to be quite different from what Nell had imagined, and they become friends. They both end up teaching each other a great many things.
Nell's housemate or landlord, Edward, only stays at the house a few days a week as he is married and has kids, and visits them in the country over the weekends. He also owns a dog, Arthur, who also becomes Nell's companion in a way, as Nell spends a lot of time with Arthur and takes him on walks.
Nell's best friend, Fiona doesn't have time for her as she has a new friend of her own. Basically, any of Nell's friends don't have time for her unless they want her to babysit their kids and I felt for Nell.
I loved Nell and everything about her character. From feeling like a failure to her trying to fit in and find her place in her family and her friend's lives to her self-pity to her resilience and picking up the pieces and trying to get back on track rather a new track. She was so relatable in every which way. I was rooting for her all the way. I remember the plans that I had for my life ten years ago and not even one thing has happened as per that plan but my life took a completely different turn and I am still loving it. But this book definitely reminded me of the things that I had laid out and thought back to where I used to think I'd end up ten years later and then ended up laughing because now I can't even imagine going by that plan. Life is funny that way.
I also loved Cricket as she ended up helping Nell in so many ways and also Nell helped her as well. I absolutely loved their friendship and it shows that you can make new friends when you get older and also friends don't really have to be the same age.
I loved Edward and all his annoying nagging but I also knew where the story would go with him. I didn't like any of Nell's friends because they only wanted her when they needed something from her and Fiona wouldn't even listen to her until she finds out that her daughter Izzy is being bullied by Annabel's daughter. Yeah, they patched up and everything but it was unfair to Nell and I was mad on her behalf I guess because Nell forgave too quickly. Bits of this also reminded me of the movie, Bridesmaids but I didn't care because I love that movie.
I also loved Nell's relationship with her family especially her father and that bit towards the end scared me to bits. There were some awkward conversations at the beginning with her mother as expected because her mum was still holding out hope for Nell to patch things up with her fiancée. It was all believable and I loved how it all came to be.
I am not sure if my words are doing justice to how much I loved this book but I loved this book and everything about it. I think we need more of these kinds of books. I felt so many different emotions on each page like I laughed, cried (actual tears), felt sad, felt annoyed and related that I feel such a mess writing this review. My emotions are all over the place. I wanted to read it quickly and at the same time didn't want to finish it.
It's gone on my all time fav book shelf and I am grateful for:
1. This book.
2. All the plans that were laid out once but didn't actually happen.
3. Nell.
4. Family.
5. Friends that I used to have but don't have anymore and didn't even think about them for years until today and all I remember is all the fun that we used to have and nothing else.
6. That podcast that's really inspired me.
7. Did I mention this book?
Thank you Alexandra Potter.
5 stars
January 1, 2021
Cu siguranță cartea mea preferată în 2020 și, așa cum mi se întâmplă adesea cu privire la cărțile preferate, îmi vine greu sa găsesc cuvintele potrivite pentru a identifica ce anume m-a impresionat așa de mult. Mi-a plăcut ideea că viața nu este niciodată perfectă așa cum pare de pe rețelele de socializare, indiferent că ești single, căsătorită, cu copii, stay at home mom, cu o carieră de succes sau muncind te miri ce pentru a-ți plăti chiria.
Că fericirea nu e ceva ce îți dau alții, că îți poți îndeplini obiectivele din tinerețe (soț, casă ca în reviste și copii la școli private) și tot sa nu fii fericită. Că societatea îți impune un anume model chiar dacă nu ți se potrivește și, de-a lungul timpului, te face să te îndoiești de tot ce crezi tu că ai realizat. Că trăim într-o cultură în care a fi ocupat e un modus vivendi, suntem mereu așa de ocupați ca nu mai avem timp de prieteni, de întâlniri, de comunicat real cu oamenii, comunicare înlocuită cu mesajele pe whatsapp (la un moment dat Nell își sună o prietenă sa refuze o invitație pentru că i s-a părut aiurea sa refuze prin mesaj și prietena o întreabă dacă a sunat din greșeală).
Că cel mai important lucru este sănătatea și viața și că nu-ți dai seama de asta până nu ești pe punctul de a le pierde. Că în ciuda faptului că în jurul tău se petrec tragedii, care te emoționează, tot e ok sa te văicărești și să fii nemulțumit de neplăcerile mărunte din viața ta, pentru că așa e firea umană.
Deși cartea urmează un an din viața lui Nell, proaspăt despărțită de logodnic, fără copii, fără job, fără casă, recent mutată înapoi din însorita California în ploioasa Londra, cartea e mai puțin despre ea si mai mult despre presiunea socială care apasă viața unei femei trecută de 40 de ani, presiunea de a fi sau macar de a părea perfectă. Probabil că de aceea podcastul lui Nell, care spune lucrurilor pe nume, are un asemenea succes: pentru că femeile se regăsesc în cuvintele lui Nell despre cum ai tendința de a trage linie și de a calcula doar eșecurile, despre cum te compari mereu cu alții și ieși în dezavantaj, despre faptul că uneori n-ai chef de avocado și yoga ci de băut gin tonic la doză și de stat în pat, și despre cum te întrebi mereu: eu ce naiba fac cu viața mea?
Pentru că, din postura ei de ”fată bătrână”, Nell își invidiază toate prietenele măritate și cu copii, cu case aranjate ca în reviste, cu petreceri elegante și cu vieți care par mai așezate decât ale ei, însă podcastul ei scoate la iveală faptul că, dedesubtul strălucirii, se ascund aceleași îndoieli, anxietăți, depresii, sentimente de ”nu sunt suficient de bună”, ca și în cazul lui Nell.
Nell e amuzantă nu pentru că se pune singură în situații stânjenitoare (și chiar mi-a plăcut asta, faptul că lipsesc situațiile a la Stan și Bran care abundă în Bridget Jones, de ex), ci pentru că știe să mânuiască excelent o unealtă salvatoare: autoironia.
Cred că o să păstrez cartea asta și o s-o mai recitesc, pe măsură ce înaintez în vârstă și am momente când simt că nu mă pliez pe cerințele societății și social media de la mine. E o carte care m-a dus cu gândul la Bridget Jones, dar mi s-a parut mult mai bună, iar protagonista mai autentică.
Că fericirea nu e ceva ce îți dau alții, că îți poți îndeplini obiectivele din tinerețe (soț, casă ca în reviste și copii la școli private) și tot sa nu fii fericită. Că societatea îți impune un anume model chiar dacă nu ți se potrivește și, de-a lungul timpului, te face să te îndoiești de tot ce crezi tu că ai realizat. Că trăim într-o cultură în care a fi ocupat e un modus vivendi, suntem mereu așa de ocupați ca nu mai avem timp de prieteni, de întâlniri, de comunicat real cu oamenii, comunicare înlocuită cu mesajele pe whatsapp (la un moment dat Nell își sună o prietenă sa refuze o invitație pentru că i s-a părut aiurea sa refuze prin mesaj și prietena o întreabă dacă a sunat din greșeală).
Că cel mai important lucru este sănătatea și viața și că nu-ți dai seama de asta până nu ești pe punctul de a le pierde. Că în ciuda faptului că în jurul tău se petrec tragedii, care te emoționează, tot e ok sa te văicărești și să fii nemulțumit de neplăcerile mărunte din viața ta, pentru că așa e firea umană.
Deși cartea urmează un an din viața lui Nell, proaspăt despărțită de logodnic, fără copii, fără job, fără casă, recent mutată înapoi din însorita California în ploioasa Londra, cartea e mai puțin despre ea si mai mult despre presiunea socială care apasă viața unei femei trecută de 40 de ani, presiunea de a fi sau macar de a părea perfectă. Probabil că de aceea podcastul lui Nell, care spune lucrurilor pe nume, are un asemenea succes: pentru că femeile se regăsesc în cuvintele lui Nell despre cum ai tendința de a trage linie și de a calcula doar eșecurile, despre cum te compari mereu cu alții și ieși în dezavantaj, despre faptul că uneori n-ai chef de avocado și yoga ci de băut gin tonic la doză și de stat în pat, și despre cum te întrebi mereu: eu ce naiba fac cu viața mea?
Pentru că, din postura ei de ”fată bătrână”, Nell își invidiază toate prietenele măritate și cu copii, cu case aranjate ca în reviste, cu petreceri elegante și cu vieți care par mai așezate decât ale ei, însă podcastul ei scoate la iveală faptul că, dedesubtul strălucirii, se ascund aceleași îndoieli, anxietăți, depresii, sentimente de ”nu sunt suficient de bună”, ca și în cazul lui Nell.
Nell e amuzantă nu pentru că se pune singură în situații stânjenitoare (și chiar mi-a plăcut asta, faptul că lipsesc situațiile a la Stan și Bran care abundă în Bridget Jones, de ex), ci pentru că știe să mânuiască excelent o unealtă salvatoare: autoironia.
Cred că o să păstrez cartea asta și o s-o mai recitesc, pe măsură ce înaintez în vârstă și am momente când simt că nu mă pliez pe cerințele societății și social media de la mine. E o carte care m-a dus cu gândul la Bridget Jones, dar mi s-a parut mult mai bună, iar protagonista mai autentică.
September 13, 2023
Man gan vēl ir tikai trīsdesmit ar kaut ko, bet kā f**k up (neveiksminiece būtu adekvāts latviskojums?) esmu sajutusies ne reizi vien. Savā ziņā šī grāmata ir kā slavenā Amerikas Fereras tēla runa no filmas " Bārbija" par to, kādas ir sabiedrības (un tevis pašas) ekspektācijas un cik reizēm sāpīgi ir tām neatbilst. Jā, šis ir vieglais gabals, un sižets ir pozitīvs un paredzams, bet es tiešām pāris reizes iesmējos un sirds sažņaudzās vienubrīd, bet izrādījās, ka autore izvēlējās iet gludāko ceļu. Tiešām jauka grāmata, kas atgādina visiem zināmo, ka visiem mēdz sāpēt un tas, ka dzīve neizklāj paklāju uz tevis gribētās takas ir tikai normāli.
July 3, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Hi and welcome to Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, the podcast for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here, and why life isn’t quite how she imagined it was going to be.’
Romantic comedy novelist Alexandra Potter returns with a brand new sharp, in touch and genuine novel in Confessions of a Forty Something. Following the poignant and relatable journey of a lead that you just can’t help but root for, we bear witness to Nell Stevens’ disaster movie of a life. As Nell strives to gain control of her career, finances, love life and friendships, plenty of laughs and moments of clarity come to light in this wholly enjoyable contemporary fiction title.
Facing a downward spiral all too quickly, Nell Stevens must deal with the demise of business, her impending marriage and the loss of her life in sunny California. Back home in the UK, Nell is flat broke, a newly single woman and homeless. Worse still, all Nell’s friends seem to have moved on and settled down into marriage and motherhood. Nell feels left behind and drastic measures see her taking up residence in a small flat in a shared house arrangement. Nell’s life feels like it is going absolutely nowhere fast and the perfect social media feeds she follows makes her feel even worse. But things slowly begin to look up for Nell, who is determined to gain the upper hand over her changed life arrangements. Nell begins a new job and she becomes acquainted with the enigmatic Cricket, an eighty year old with an infectious zest for life. Despite their age difference, Cricket and Nell bond over their shared loss. This brings about a solid form of support and friendship, along with some interesting outings! Nell begins to see that her life isn’t so bad at all, in fact, she might even be a successful forty something!
Well, what a sheer surprise this book turned out to be! It just goes to show that sometimes you should not judge a book by its genre classification. I haven’t read an Alexandra Potter book before, but I was aware of her writing. I boxed Potter in the chick lit category and my not so wonderful experiences of this genre of late immediately had me offside. But I decided to give Confessions of a Forty Something the benefit of the doubt and I started to read the Prologue. The opener was definitely readable and worth continuing and I finished the book with a big smile on my face!
Confessions of a Forty Something has a great structure. The novel follows a year in the life of Nell Stevens. The book is divided in terms of months of the year and significant moments in time in Nell’s life, such as New Year’s Day, Sunday Lunch, Easter Monday, Mothers Day and so on. I really enjoyed this format and I think it worked well to situate the reader in the unfolding story. Interspersed between the narrative are references to Nell’s entertaining podcast, along with her notebook entries on what she is grateful for each day. There are also snippets of conversations via communication channels such as Whats App. I found these inclusions funny, authentic and enlightening.
Nell is a truly wonderful lead and I genuinely enjoyed following her life story. It was great to oversee Nell’s ups and downs, which was very true to life. I despaired with Nell as she dealt with a number of common problems faced by forty somethings, there were funny moments, but also areas of pure understanding. Nell is loveable, well-drawn, relatable and a little flawed. I could sympathise with Nell’s lack of confidence and sheer dissatisfaction with the direction of her life. It is easy to feel sorry for Nell, but at the same time we want her to develop some resilience and inner strength to rise above it all.
Alexandra Potter is an experienced novelist of over eleven romantic comedy titles. I think this shows in her writing and this particular novel. Potter does a good job with the love story aspect of her new novel. We see a possible love interest develop through friendship and support, we cringe as Nell is taken for a ride with a poor love match and our hearts break as she works to understand what went wrong with fiance. Alongside the love story is the wonderful unlikely friendship that sparks between Nell and Cricket, an elderly lady who is just a marvelous character! If only we had more Cricket’s in our life to guide us! Potter also explores some family dynamics as Nell must deal with a crisis that hits close to home. This was carefully handled by the author, again linking in to the overall message that this book seems to convey we must embrace life and do with it what we can, with what we have.
A life affirming, insightful, savvy and meaningful contemporary fiction piece, I am very happy to send my full recommendation to Confessions of a Forty Something by Alexandra Potter.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Hi and welcome to Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, the podcast for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here, and why life isn’t quite how she imagined it was going to be.’
Romantic comedy novelist Alexandra Potter returns with a brand new sharp, in touch and genuine novel in Confessions of a Forty Something. Following the poignant and relatable journey of a lead that you just can’t help but root for, we bear witness to Nell Stevens’ disaster movie of a life. As Nell strives to gain control of her career, finances, love life and friendships, plenty of laughs and moments of clarity come to light in this wholly enjoyable contemporary fiction title.
Facing a downward spiral all too quickly, Nell Stevens must deal with the demise of business, her impending marriage and the loss of her life in sunny California. Back home in the UK, Nell is flat broke, a newly single woman and homeless. Worse still, all Nell’s friends seem to have moved on and settled down into marriage and motherhood. Nell feels left behind and drastic measures see her taking up residence in a small flat in a shared house arrangement. Nell’s life feels like it is going absolutely nowhere fast and the perfect social media feeds she follows makes her feel even worse. But things slowly begin to look up for Nell, who is determined to gain the upper hand over her changed life arrangements. Nell begins a new job and she becomes acquainted with the enigmatic Cricket, an eighty year old with an infectious zest for life. Despite their age difference, Cricket and Nell bond over their shared loss. This brings about a solid form of support and friendship, along with some interesting outings! Nell begins to see that her life isn’t so bad at all, in fact, she might even be a successful forty something!
Well, what a sheer surprise this book turned out to be! It just goes to show that sometimes you should not judge a book by its genre classification. I haven’t read an Alexandra Potter book before, but I was aware of her writing. I boxed Potter in the chick lit category and my not so wonderful experiences of this genre of late immediately had me offside. But I decided to give Confessions of a Forty Something the benefit of the doubt and I started to read the Prologue. The opener was definitely readable and worth continuing and I finished the book with a big smile on my face!
Confessions of a Forty Something has a great structure. The novel follows a year in the life of Nell Stevens. The book is divided in terms of months of the year and significant moments in time in Nell’s life, such as New Year’s Day, Sunday Lunch, Easter Monday, Mothers Day and so on. I really enjoyed this format and I think it worked well to situate the reader in the unfolding story. Interspersed between the narrative are references to Nell’s entertaining podcast, along with her notebook entries on what she is grateful for each day. There are also snippets of conversations via communication channels such as Whats App. I found these inclusions funny, authentic and enlightening.
Nell is a truly wonderful lead and I genuinely enjoyed following her life story. It was great to oversee Nell’s ups and downs, which was very true to life. I despaired with Nell as she dealt with a number of common problems faced by forty somethings, there were funny moments, but also areas of pure understanding. Nell is loveable, well-drawn, relatable and a little flawed. I could sympathise with Nell’s lack of confidence and sheer dissatisfaction with the direction of her life. It is easy to feel sorry for Nell, but at the same time we want her to develop some resilience and inner strength to rise above it all.
Alexandra Potter is an experienced novelist of over eleven romantic comedy titles. I think this shows in her writing and this particular novel. Potter does a good job with the love story aspect of her new novel. We see a possible love interest develop through friendship and support, we cringe as Nell is taken for a ride with a poor love match and our hearts break as she works to understand what went wrong with fiance. Alongside the love story is the wonderful unlikely friendship that sparks between Nell and Cricket, an elderly lady who is just a marvelous character! If only we had more Cricket’s in our life to guide us! Potter also explores some family dynamics as Nell must deal with a crisis that hits close to home. This was carefully handled by the author, again linking in to the overall message that this book seems to convey we must embrace life and do with it what we can, with what we have.
A life affirming, insightful, savvy and meaningful contemporary fiction piece, I am very happy to send my full recommendation to Confessions of a Forty Something by Alexandra Potter.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
July 2, 2024
Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up
I, a 44 year old man-child, picked up this book after reading such headlines as “Feisty and funny” and “Absolutely Hilarious”. Or even “Captures exactly what it’s like to be in your 40s”.
Ok, sure.
I mean, it’s not. Not at all. It’s for a very select group of people. The Holly and Phil crowd. The people that think Michael McIntyre is the peak of comedy genius.
I didn’t laugh once. Not once through its 500 pages. It was very clear early on that this book is very much aimed at a particular group of women, and that’s fine and maybe I should have stopped reading early doors when I got to: “So I went to therapy…. Of the retail kind. As I hit the high street I feel immediately cheered up.”
But I didn’t. I wanted to read it all so that I could review it in the knowledge that I’d read every word. To its credit, that was something that was easy to do. The chapters are mostly written as bitesized diary entries of sorts which makes getting through the book pretty easy. There is nothing to challenge the reader at all, and that’s fine.
It is however, stuffed full of cliches. If you’ve got any sense whatsoever, you’ll know exactly what’s coming page after page. Maybe, for some, that’s the point. For me, it just meant another eye roll. Another sigh of desperation.
It’s the story of a childless, husbandless (GASP) woman with elbows who starts a podcast (though you wouldn’t know because it’s never f##cking mentioned), reconnects with old mates, meets an old lady, and walks a dog a bit.
This is the McDonalds of books. Apparently hugely popular with certain people, but completely devoid of any nutritional value whatsoever.
It’s not for me, Clive.
I, a 44 year old man-child, picked up this book after reading such headlines as “Feisty and funny” and “Absolutely Hilarious”. Or even “Captures exactly what it’s like to be in your 40s”.
Ok, sure.
I mean, it’s not. Not at all. It’s for a very select group of people. The Holly and Phil crowd. The people that think Michael McIntyre is the peak of comedy genius.
I didn’t laugh once. Not once through its 500 pages. It was very clear early on that this book is very much aimed at a particular group of women, and that’s fine and maybe I should have stopped reading early doors when I got to: “So I went to therapy…. Of the retail kind. As I hit the high street I feel immediately cheered up.”
But I didn’t. I wanted to read it all so that I could review it in the knowledge that I’d read every word. To its credit, that was something that was easy to do. The chapters are mostly written as bitesized diary entries of sorts which makes getting through the book pretty easy. There is nothing to challenge the reader at all, and that’s fine.
It is however, stuffed full of cliches. If you’ve got any sense whatsoever, you’ll know exactly what’s coming page after page. Maybe, for some, that’s the point. For me, it just meant another eye roll. Another sigh of desperation.
It’s the story of a childless, husbandless (GASP) woman with elbows who starts a podcast (though you wouldn’t know because it’s never f##cking mentioned), reconnects with old mates, meets an old lady, and walks a dog a bit.
This is the McDonalds of books. Apparently hugely popular with certain people, but completely devoid of any nutritional value whatsoever.
It’s not for me, Clive.
March 23, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me an eARC of this book.
I actually read the first look of this over on Readers First and thought it was such an uplifting and fun book; and I felt that way for perhaps the first half, but then i just began to feel very cliche and the ending was just really disappointing for me. I thought this was going to be a story about her finding herself and I was hoping the ending would follow suit but then it just felt like such a let-down for me.
I wish this was more focused on the podcasts and what she actually says on them; we are told that she's getting these insane amount of followers but it's barely mentioned apart from as an anecdote and just doesn't feel well thought out. The rivalry between her and Annabel again just felt so cliche and so unnecessary in this book.
I feel like this book could have been so well done because there were some really good moments and i like the message that we're all told we're fuck ups and we're not, I just wish it came across more in the whole book.
I actually read the first look of this over on Readers First and thought it was such an uplifting and fun book; and I felt that way for perhaps the first half, but then i just began to feel very cliche and the ending was just really disappointing for me. I thought this was going to be a story about her finding herself and I was hoping the ending would follow suit but then it just felt like such a let-down for me.
I wish this was more focused on the podcasts and what she actually says on them; we are told that she's getting these insane amount of followers but it's barely mentioned apart from as an anecdote and just doesn't feel well thought out. The rivalry between her and Annabel again just felt so cliche and so unnecessary in this book.
I feel like this book could have been so well done because there were some really good moments and i like the message that we're all told we're fuck ups and we're not, I just wish it came across more in the whole book.
June 1, 2022
I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m struggling to find the words to do it justice but it was honestly just perfect. I loved Nell and I loved her take on the world. Cricket and Nell’s relationship was such a joyful one to read. Cricket was an absolute tonic. One of my favourite chapters of the book was ‘It’s Complicated’, I felt that the author perfectly described how so many people feel about the world that we live in.
This book felt like such a true representation and depiction of life for so many women of all ages. I’m 25 and I felt like I related to it so much. It was funny, witty, honest, deep, and soul baringly real. An amazing book to start the month with!
This book felt like such a true representation and depiction of life for so many women of all ages. I’m 25 and I felt like I related to it so much. It was funny, witty, honest, deep, and soul baringly real. An amazing book to start the month with!
December 30, 2022
Viena iš tų knygų, kur atrodo, skaitai ir visai mėgaujiesi, bet vis nepalieka jausmas, kad vien to negana. Pradėjau šį romaną gana gerai suvokdama, ko tikėtis – viršelis žada šiuolaikinę Bridžitą Džouns, pats pavadinimas imponuoja „netipinės“ moters gyvenimo istoriją su šlakeliu humoro. Visa tai gavau, bet skaitant neapleido mintis, kad jau skaičiau tai kažkur kitur. Nors ir nesu keturiasdešimtmetė, visgi turiu nemažai panašių baimių kaip knygos herojė, o ir bendras visuomenės požiūris į moteris puikiai suprantamas nepaisant amžiaus, todėl problema nebuvo, kad negalėjau susitapatinti, veikiau kad neišgirdau nieko naujo, ko nebūtų pasakiusios panašaus tipo knygos, kurias esu skaičiusi. Norėjosi kitokios perspektyvos, šviežio žvilgsnio ar požiūrio taško, ypač turint omeny, kad knyga parašyta vos prieš tris metus, o pasaulis taip greitai keičiasi.
Vėlgi, suvokiu, kad gal ne man kalbėti, bet skaitant erzino pastovus pagrindinės veikėjos požiūris į savo išvaizdą. Ne kartą kartojama, kaip ji pastebi visas savo raukšleles, senstantį kūną ir visus kitus trūkumus, ir galbūt taip mąsto daugelis keturiasdešimtmečių, bet man šalia vartoti žodžius „sena“, „viskas jau prarasta“ ir „keturiasdešimties metų“ kažkaip sunkiai apsiverčia liežuvis. Galbūt aš taip optimistiškai tikiuosi, kad požiūris į panašius dalykus keičiasi. O ir apskritai, pagrindinė veikėja pasirodė šiek tiek be asmenybės – ji visiems paslaugi, gera ir atlaidi, taip, turinti tam tikrų savo keistenybių, bet jos pakankamai švelnios, o daugiau... daugiau joje nieko ir neatradau. Įdomesni pasirodė veikėjai aplink ją, nors ir čia be galo daug klišių – šeimas sukūrusios, bet visos savaip nelaimingos draugės, geriausia draugė, kurią nori pasiglemžti kita draugė, atitolę jų vyrai... Manau suprantat, ką turiu omeny, kai sakau, kad viskas jau girdėta. Todėl nors ir nesikankinau ir visai džiaugiuosi perskaičiusi, nes ir juokiausi, ir pritariamai linksėjau, turbūt būčiau tokia knyga labiau pasimėgavusi prieš kokius du-tris metus, kai nebuvau skaičiusi jos pradininkių.
Vėlgi, suvokiu, kad gal ne man kalbėti, bet skaitant erzino pastovus pagrindinės veikėjos požiūris į savo išvaizdą. Ne kartą kartojama, kaip ji pastebi visas savo raukšleles, senstantį kūną ir visus kitus trūkumus, ir galbūt taip mąsto daugelis keturiasdešimtmečių, bet man šalia vartoti žodžius „sena“, „viskas jau prarasta“ ir „keturiasdešimties metų“ kažkaip sunkiai apsiverčia liežuvis. Galbūt aš taip optimistiškai tikiuosi, kad požiūris į panašius dalykus keičiasi. O ir apskritai, pagrindinė veikėja pasirodė šiek tiek be asmenybės – ji visiems paslaugi, gera ir atlaidi, taip, turinti tam tikrų savo keistenybių, bet jos pakankamai švelnios, o daugiau... daugiau joje nieko ir neatradau. Įdomesni pasirodė veikėjai aplink ją, nors ir čia be galo daug klišių – šeimas sukūrusios, bet visos savaip nelaimingos draugės, geriausia draugė, kurią nori pasiglemžti kita draugė, atitolę jų vyrai... Manau suprantat, ką turiu omeny, kai sakau, kad viskas jau girdėta. Todėl nors ir nesikankinau ir visai džiaugiuosi perskaičiusi, nes ir juokiausi, ir pritariamai linksėjau, turbūt būčiau tokia knyga labiau pasimėgavusi prieš kokius du-tris metus, kai nebuvau skaičiusi jos pradininkių.
January 7, 2026
Šįsyk knygos pavadinimas labai iškalbingas ir kai pačiai po truputį artėja keturiasdešimtmetis, pavadinimas tiesiog gundė nusipirkti❤️
Nelei Stivens nepasiseka, po penkerių metų santykių, išsiskyrė su savo sužadėtiniu, žlugo verslas, o taip pat iš Niujorko teko grįžti į Didžiąją Britaniją. Net nebūtų kada pagalvojusi, kad taip atsitiks, neturės daug pinigų, o Londone teko suktis - pradžiai išsinuomavo kambarį ir apsigyveno su buto šeimininku.
Nusipirkusi tik pastebėjau, kad šios knygos herojė Nelė tapatinama su klasiška Bridžita Džouns ir pati tikrai pritarsiu. Veikėjai taip pat dažnai nesisekė, patekdavo į kuriozines situacijas, bet svarbiausia, kad Nelė nenuleido rankų, tikėjo tuo, ką daro. Skaitydama dažnai šypsojausi, o skaitydama vieną vietą spėjau net labai susigraudinti. Taip pat, kūrinys gali pasirodyti apie paviršutinius dalykus, bet žinokite, tas rožinis viršelis gali ir klaidinti, savyje talpina ir rimtesnes temas. Labai gera metų pradžia❤️ Praeitais metais pirma knyga, kurią buvau perskaičiusi buvo "Aštuntas gyvenimas" (Nino Haratischwili), šiemet ši pirmoji, bet pačiai jos vienodai geros, nors skirtingos jose temos. Po šio kūrinio jau bent ko skaityti nenorėjau, ilgai ir labai atsakingai teko rinktis kas bus sekantis kūrinys❤️
Nelei Stivens nepasiseka, po penkerių metų santykių, išsiskyrė su savo sužadėtiniu, žlugo verslas, o taip pat iš Niujorko teko grįžti į Didžiąją Britaniją. Net nebūtų kada pagalvojusi, kad taip atsitiks, neturės daug pinigų, o Londone teko suktis - pradžiai išsinuomavo kambarį ir apsigyveno su buto šeimininku.
Nusipirkusi tik pastebėjau, kad šios knygos herojė Nelė tapatinama su klasiška Bridžita Džouns ir pati tikrai pritarsiu. Veikėjai taip pat dažnai nesisekė, patekdavo į kuriozines situacijas, bet svarbiausia, kad Nelė nenuleido rankų, tikėjo tuo, ką daro. Skaitydama dažnai šypsojausi, o skaitydama vieną vietą spėjau net labai susigraudinti. Taip pat, kūrinys gali pasirodyti apie paviršutinius dalykus, bet žinokite, tas rožinis viršelis gali ir klaidinti, savyje talpina ir rimtesnes temas. Labai gera metų pradžia❤️ Praeitais metais pirma knyga, kurią buvau perskaičiusi buvo "Aštuntas gyvenimas" (Nino Haratischwili), šiemet ši pirmoji, bet pačiai jos vienodai geros, nors skirtingos jose temos. Po šio kūrinio jau bent ko skaityti nenorėjau, ilgai ir labai atsakingai teko rinktis kas bus sekantis kūrinys❤️
April 28, 2025
Titlul îți dă o idee destul de buna despre cum e cartea. Poveste despre o femeie care nu s-a aliniat la standardele sociale impuse ca criterii de împlinire, și modul ei de a naviga prin viață. Penelope e o protagonistă simpatică, are adesea îngrijorări, regrete și anxietate, dar este o persoană capabilă să învețe, sa ajute, își dorește să fie mai buna, și dovedește de multiple ori că își dorește să aibă relații bune cu toți cei apropiați, in ciuda dificultăților apărute. Învață mult din greșelile sale, iar pe final face acel act suprem de curaj menit sa ne inspire - se accepta pe sine.
Deși cartea e de multe ori previzibilă, dau 5 stele fiindcă e o poveste simpatică chiar și așa, protagonista are momente delicioase de umor și de autoironie, și apreciez că reușește să își redefinească succesul după propriile reguli. În plus, perspectiva personajului Cricket e foarte drăguță și a fost presărată cu câteva idei foarte faine despre viață.
Deși cartea e de multe ori previzibilă, dau 5 stele fiindcă e o poveste simpatică chiar și așa, protagonista are momente delicioase de umor și de autoironie, și apreciez că reușește să își redefinească succesul după propriile reguli. În plus, perspectiva personajului Cricket e foarte drăguță și a fost presărată cu câteva idei foarte faine despre viață.
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