Sisters Behaving Badly

by Maddie Please

Sisters Kitty and Jenny haven’t spoken since a very disappointing Carvery lunch. Kitty, sixty-two, thinks Jenny is turning grey. Jenny, sixty-six, thinks Kitty needs to grow up!

So when both sisters inherit a farmhouse in rural France, it gives them the perfect chance to heal the rift between them. Except the farmhouse is a wreck, the garden is terrorized by a flock of chickens, not to mention a donkey with a serious flatulence problem!

Kitty is determined to enjoy herself, especially when she meets gorgeous French builder, Leo. Ooh la – la! And Jenny finds the fully stocked wine cellar helps enormously with missing horrible husband Paul – hic!

And as the two sisters begin to repair their fragile friendship, they discover that being bad is actually very good for the soul.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Humor, Womens Fiction, Contemporary

308 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

About 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.

Reviews

[Holly B ( working on slowly catching up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun pool/beach read set in France! 🍷

I took a little thriller break and enjoyed this easy, breezy story. The sisters are reunited when they inherit their Aunt Shiela's charming but rundown home in France. They have been a bit estranged and must come together to make renovation decisions.

They are both in their sixties with a rudimentary knowledge of O level French.

There is an attractive contractor, Leo, who is tall, tan, dark eyed with a bright smile. "Bonjour Mesdames" We may have some wine drinking.

I had a good time reading this one. The humor is fun as they go through the reno process and deal with chickens, cats, a donkey, and basically a zoo! What will become of their Aunt's home? What surprises are found along the way? And about Leo....

Another KU pick! Came out in 2021

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming story this was! Two sisters, Jenny and Kitty are in their early sixties when they inherit their Aunt Shiela's cottage in France. When they arrive to settle the estate, they haven't spoken in a few years. As these two women renovate the house, they learn to forgive each other, that you're never too old to act a bit silly, and sometimes starting your whole life over is just the thing you need. I was expecting a bit more laughs due to the title. However, the details and the depth in this story made up for that. Kitty is my favorite character in this book and I hope that I can be as full of life as her when I get to be her age.

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Charming, Witty and Full of Humour

Estranged Sisters Kitty & Jenny have come together to travel to France, to fix up their Aunt Sheila’s farmhouse.
She passed away and they have inherited it with the plan to sell.

Things are not exactly a bed of roses between them and the snide and witty remarks from both Sisters, show there not quiet ready to forgive and forget!
But Kitty is determined to make their relationship better and move on.
She misses her sister and hopes this trip away from Jenny's overbearing and controlling husband Paul, will bring them closer together.

I loved watching Kitty and Jenny's relationship grow, both are so very different,
Kitty is carefree and not so cautious and Jenny comes across at first as obnoxious and stuck up but a lot of that has to do with how downtrodden Paul has made her without realising it.
Yet within time you could see the ice melt between them.

I absolutely loved this story it was Heartwarming, Witty, a few crazy Antics, Plenty of Humour, some loveable animals and a charming house with oodles of character, set within a stunning location, what's not to love!


Thank you to Rachel Random Resources & Boldwood Books for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.




You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/1...

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

He had also grown a really unattractive beard, which was a shame as he was a nice-looking chap. I couldn’t understand this new passion for face fungus.

The newcomer smiled, his teeth as yellow as his donkey’s… The donkey joined in with an impressive bray and Bertrand smiled broadly, showing several more impressive teeth the donkey might have envied.

It was surprising the way the younger generation had taken to tattoos; it used to be just salty old sea dogs who had them. Should I get one? I wondered. And if I did, what would it be? A Chinese proverb, perhaps, but no, I had heard of someone getting one that was eventually translated as chicken chow mein.

Hugo the Pool Boy… was probably about fifty with a grizzled beard and matching shock of hair that was held back with a pink unicorn hair band.

Sometimes, out of the blue, someone comes into your life who makes you sit up and take notice. A person who makes your heart flutter and your thoughts race. More often than not it’s a policeman behind you on the motorway, but sometimes it’s someone like Léo.


My Review:

I frequently giggle-snorted and cackled aloud as I made my way through this delightfully spirited and cleverly amusing tale of dueling sisters. I adore and covet the agile pen and sly wit of Maddie Please. Her storylines zip and zing with sparkling humor and snarky observations. I was highly entertained and resented any interruption to my perusal; I should be ashamed to say there was actual hissing involved at one point. There was one item mentioned that gave me considerable pause and consternation, and fearing the worst, I was compelled to consult Mr. Google about chocolate sardines as I’d never heard of such a thing. Sweet relief, no actual fish are involved.

[Wendy W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Sisters Behaving Badly by Maddie Please was a delightful surprise for me. I enjoyed the humor as well as the beautiful setting in France. This book is about second chances and sisterly relationships.

Kitty and Jenny are sisters, both in their sixties, who have not spoken to each other in several years. The story starts as they meet at the ferry to travel to France to go and fix up their inheritance, a lovely farmhouse in rural France, that their Aunt Susan used to live in.

This book is all about relationships with a whole lot of humor written in. The book is written from Kitty’s point of view, and the writing is full of her humor and optimistic look at life. I loved all the side characters and the farm animals! The descriptions of the charming farmhouse in rural France were lovely and made me want to sit in the garden with the sisters and sip wine and eat cheese with them.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books about sisters and relationships. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Alayne Emmett]

This was such a great book to read, it was funny and I loved all the references to the Jackie magazines which I read as a young teenager, that brought back memories. The interaction between the sisters was very interesting, the little spats and remarks going back and forth between them was great. Loved this book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows sisters Jenny and Kitty, where they have the opportunity to revitalise their deceased aunt’s French farmhouse. However, the atmosphere between the two sisters isn’t exactly overflowing with friendship; cross words in an old argument still simmer beneath the surface, meaning you know it won’t be too long before these strong-minded women butt heads together.

Yet, it is also the workmen and renovations that cause Jenny to lose herself. Seeing the opportunity to visit her son who lives in France, Kitty is left alone for several chapters. Here we see this sister literally roll her sleeves up. I enjoyed Jenny’s absence because I found her character to be irritating and cantankerous; she unfairly judges Kitty’s choices and is frequently patronising to the single, childless and several-times-divorced sister. In this way, I was glad Jenny was not around and liked seeing Kitty improve the landscape around the farmhouse and connect with the local builders.

In my opinion, this didn’t really show two older sister behaving badly, as the title suggests. Although a lot of wine is consumed, I didn’t get the sense that they were breaking any “rules”, merely enjoying the change of scenery this renovation has provided. I don’t think it helped that these characters were a lot older than myself: I struggled to relate to them and found some of the humour cliched and predictable.

When it comes to siblings, there is always going to be clashes on the horizon. This becomes the explosive turning point for Jenny and Kitty. I liked seeing how the women were finally honest with one another because I felt this was a long time coming. Furthermore, the aftermath eventually shows both women adjusting, growing up and taking the other one’s opinions into account. There was less selfish behaviour and more teamwork instead.

This is a great book for taking you away for a spring break. The characters are generally likeable and I enjoyed seeing Kitty and Jenny’s interactions with the locals. Personally, I didn’t think it was overly exciting or entertaining, but it was pleasing to see two warring sisters eventually come together for a shared, common goal.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read, reviewed and loved a few of Maddie’s books now. I love the way in which Maddie writes such feel good and fun stories. I read the synopsis for ‘Sisters Behaving Badly’ and it certainly sounded as though it was going to be another cracking read. Well it was that and so much more. I absolutely loved reading ‘Sisters Behaving Badly’ but more about that in a bit.
I loved the characters of Kitty and Jenny, who are sisters and who are both in their sixties. The sisters used to be close but for one reason and another they have had little contact with each other. Their Auntie has sadly passed away and it is left to Kitty and Jenny to sort out their aunt’s affairs and to decide what to do with her house. This forces the two sisters to spend quite a lot of time together and eventually they do start talking. Once the sisters start talking, there is a chance that they will get back to being friends as well as sisters. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
The synopsis grabbed my attention and as soon as I started reading, I knew that I was going to seriously enjoy reading ‘’Sisters Behaving Badly’. To say that reading this book became addictive is a bit of an understatement. Once I started reading, I found it difficult to stop. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the two sisters, that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. I loved the fact that the sisters were talking about old times and that despite their ages, they are still up for a laugh and in a way I sensed that they wanted to grow old disgracefully, which sounds like a plan to me! I couldn’t turn the pages of the story quickly enough as I raced my way to the end of the book. I found ‘Sisters Behaving Badly’ to be a delight to read. It was a fun and light hearted book, which was the perfect ‘pick me up’ tonic that I needed.
‘Sisters Behaving Badly’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Maddie Please. Maddie has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Maddie’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Maddie clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the way in which she describes them in the book. She describes her characters so realistically and vividly that they seem just as real as you and I. I also love the way in which Maddie makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action so to speak.
In short, I absolutely loved reading ‘Sisters Behaving Badly’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Maddie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read The Old Ducks' Club by the same author earlier this year, I remember thinking I'd be on the lookout for other books by Maddie Please, so I was very exited to get a widget form Boldwood Books for her new book.

What a breath of fresh air this book is! I love Maddie's style, her humour and her mature characters that make you realise that there's no such thing as "too old to".

Reading Sisters Behaving Badly I could see myself (not with a sister, since I only have a brother) in 10 years time, when the kids are all grown up living their own life, leaving with a friend for a crazy adventure and a new start. Dreaming doesn't hurt, right? And that's what books are for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitty and Jenny are sisters and they couldn’t be more different even if they didn’t try. After a falling out and having not spoken to one another for years they are now going to France to renovate their recently passed away Aunt Sheila’s house.

It seems that the sisters are beginning to mend their relationship reconcile their differences but life isn’t that easy and there is a lot that has been left unsaid. And yet they have a long way to go.

The book is endearing and well written although it was a tad dull in certain places and I preferred that Leó and Kitty’s friendship wasn’t the main focal point in the book it is about the sisters and their journey and that even at the age of 60+ you can still lead a fulling life and that your sell by date has expired.

There is typical British humour included here and what bothers me a bit is that the France were typically stereotyped.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read!

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered Maddie Please when I read The Old Duck’s Club and fell in love with her style. I love the idea that women are still full of life once they pass menopause and head into their later years. There’s something comforting, for me, to know that I’m not yet within touching distance of the scrap heap!
Sister’s Behaving Badly takes us to rural France and shows us the joys, and pain, of the continental lifestyle. Inheriting a farmhouse means that estranged sisters, Kitty and Jenny, are forced to communicate for the first time in years. As they arrive and assess the magnitude of the job in hand, it begins to look as though a truce is on the cards. Sadly, this is short-lived.
I particularly liked Kitty, her attitude to life was a breath of fresh air. Despite a catalogue of marital disasters, she still has a desire for finding a happy ending and has not given up on finding her perfect man. What she really needs is to fall in love with herself, but that’s a tough call when you’ve spent so many years being criticised by your closest family. Of course, there may be romance in the air as Kitty develops a gentle friendship with builder Leo.
Jenny was more annoying, to begin with, her superiority was tiring, and I really felt for poor Kitty. It was a real relief to see her leave in search of her somewhat estranged son. Those blissful weeks gave Kitty a chance to bloom. On returning, it was sad to see that she still had some way to go with her own personal development, but that realisation coincided with Kitty’s self-discovery.
As I expected, there was laugh out loud hilarity, throughout the book. From Kitty’s plunge into the bog-like pool, the pram filled with chickens, and the flatulent donkey, I found this book extremely funny. Watch out for the fate of the French designer sunglasses!
If you want to escape to France and spend a few hours laughing, this is a sure thing!

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take two sisters in their sixties, who haven't spoken for years
And have them travel together to France - will it all end in tears?
They're going to restore the farmhouse that was their Aunt's
Will they also restore their relationship now they have the chance?

With French builders and gardeners, and lots of mess, too,
To restore the property these women have lots to do!
But living together proves they're still sisters at heart
And taking chances, having fun is perhaps the best part!

What a fun read this story really proves
That age is no barrier to getting into new grooves.
A fun story with family and relationships at its heart
Will this adventure in France give them all a fresh start?

A chance to reevaluate what you want and what you've achieved
Can help making new choices just what you really need.
I also learnt some more French phrases, some colourful ones, too,
And enjoyed virtually visiting the places and people - so would you!

It is an inspirational read that shows it is never too late
To change your expectations and take new steps to change your fate.
I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into my complementary copy of this book
And hope this, my honest review, also encourages you to take a look.

[Sarah Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Light hearted read which was fun throughout. Pulled at the emotional heart strings at times but showed the depth of sibling relationships

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. At times very familiar and yet different, it definitely resonated with me now and hopefully in the future with my sister in 20 or 30 years (although hopefully not all of it). Jen if you give this one a read I think you'll love it too!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book description to this book as well as the gorgeous and colourful cover, totally had me sold on and I knew I had to read it. What an absolute joy to read!

Kitty and Jenny couldn’t be anymore different. Jenny is married with an adult son and very prim and proper. She seems to look down on her sister Kitty who is single and carefree. I warmed to Kitty as soon as we meet her and I knew things would never be dull with her around. Jenny took me a while longer to warm too.

The setting of the house in a rural part in France, even though in desperate need of some tlc, had me won over and I could see so many wonderful possibilities with this property. I wanted to pack my bags and jump on the next plane! As we get further into the story, I so enjoyed getting to know both sisters and seeing the wall that Jenny had built round herself, start to crumble.

There is so much to love about this book from the idyllic setting as well as the relationship between the two sisters. There are some colourful characters of which some come in the way of animals of which I never thought I would ever have a soft spot for chickens before but I do now!

Sisters Behaving Badly was a wonderfully light hearted read that whisked me away and transported me to rural France. It was both a fun and entertaining read with some genuinely funny moments. It was also sweet and endearing and was great to see these two sisters rediscovering who they are and what they really want from life. My first book by this author and I can’t wait to read more!

[Golfergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be delightful. Jenny and Kitty, sisters, are both finding their way through changes in their lives. They have been left a house in France which may prove to be just the thing their relationship needed. But will it be? The sisters’ personal lives are quite different and they don’t seem to view life from the same perspective. Will preparing a neglected remote house for sale draw them closer to each other or throw them further apart? Although not fraught with suspense, it was interesting to see the changes evolve in both their lives.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Maddie's writing style and storytelling. It is a perfect sunny and funny book during a flight. That way, people are not staring at you thinking you are crazy reading a sad book, crying, wondering if you have lost your marbles.. 😜

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved loved loved this book, had me properly laughing, with tears rolling down my face on more than once. Never read any of her books before, but definitely will look for more ❤️

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sisters Behaving Badly is a cute story of two sisters in their early 60s who travel to France to revitalize a run down villa that belonged to their beloved aunt who has passed away.

Each sister learns about themselves, each other, and life, in a way you can only do when taken away from your day to day mundane.

I really enjoyed watching them peel back layers and grow as people. I think it’s important to see this happen in older characters to remind us it’s never too late to go for what we want, to learn to love ourselves first, and to have adventure.

This is only 3 stars, because it was a tad slow and repetitious. Of course, it was predictable, but I don’t mind that in these sorts of books.

I will be checking out more by this British author!

[Lisa Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid, very mid

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters Kitty and Jenny, both in their sixties, haven’t spoken for some time. When they inherit their aunt's farmhouse in rural France, it gives them the perfect chance to spend time together and heal the rift. Kitty has been married three times and has not yet found the man she wants to spend her life with. She wants to have a good time though, so plans to do just that with Leo, the builder they hire to do repairs on the hours. Jenny is married to Paul, a nasty, overbearing man, but he is her husband so she puts up with it. Her son, on the other hand, is estranged from his parents because he won't put up with his dad's bullying. What they find is a cellar full of wine and a storage area full of their aunt's paintings, that are apparently in demand. As they spend time together, actually talk to and listen to one another and finally see the other's point of view they begin to heal their relationship, but it is going to take some time and a few stumbles along the way.

I really enjoyed watching Kitty and Jenny try to reconcile. At first there is a lot of snide remarks and some humor as they find their way together. They are so different, it is like night and day. Kitty is carefree and wants to have a good time, Jenny thinks she is reckless and puts her down regularly for her decisions and things that have happened in her past. I did not like Jenny much, but when I met her husband, I could see that she lived with someone who did the same thing, so she was repeating the behaviour she has come to know as normal. You know there is going to be humor in a Maddie Please story, so throw in some chickens and cats who don't understand boundaries and you have some fun. Not only did Kitty and Jenny have to reconcile, but Jenny and her son also get and opportunity. This is a book about relationships, especially family. It has themes of reconciliation, new beginnings, admitting when you are wrong, friendship and standing up for yourself. I loved all the characters, except Paul. The setting was wonderful and I can understand why Aunt Susan chose to live there. With charm, wit and care, Maddie Please has written another wonderful story that this 64 YO, loved. I wish I had an aunt who left me a house somewhere in Europe, I would be there before you could say inheritance. I definitely recommend this uplifting story to those who enjoy relationship stories, especially with older characters.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

' I couldn’t wait for my future contentment to find me; I had to make it myself'.

WELLLL, I've never read a romance with older characters before but it was full of joy! Such a refreshing read, needed after my last book, that that has left me smiling!

[Terric853 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty and her sister, Jenny, have been estranged for years after a falling out where they both criticized each other's life choices. Their aunt, Shelia, died a year ago and left her home in France to them, so they are traveling from England to France to renovate the home and sell it.

Once in France, they start to warm to each other as they work together to make decisions about the extensive renovations the house needs. Kitty encourages Jenny to travel to Nantes to visit her son, Ace, a university professor, who she hasn't seen or spoken to in years because her ultra-controlling husband had a falling-out with him and has forbidden her any contact. Jenny decides to go and has a wonderful time reconciling with Ace,

Meanwhile, Kitty is left behind (without a car) to deal with the construction crew, including handsome, hunky Leo, who seems interested in her.

The book started slowly, but I was soon engaged. Kitty is a free spirit (and narrator) who has been through some tough times, but has bounced back. Jenny has been under her husband's thumb for 35 years and is struggling to live her life on her terms, not his "requirements." There is an hysterical scene about 3/4 of the way through involving the pool that had me laughing out loud.

Very nicely done women's lit.

[Andrea Pole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters Behaving Badly by Maddie Please was the perfect tonic for a cold and blustery winter's day. Escape to rural France with Kitty and Jenny for an adventure that will alter both of their lives.

Kitty and Jenny were once as close as sisters can be, but life gets in the way and the two find themselves drifting apart and living completely separate lives. With the shared inheritance of a rural farmhouse in France, and a mutual interest in the restoration of the property, the opportunity is there for the sisters to find their way back to each other. Will they take it? And maybe, just maybe, that was the intention of their benefactress all along?

This is a story that will resonate with readers, particularly those with a familiarity of the complexities of a sibling relationship, and those who have found themselves starting over later in life. Fans of Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun will certainly want to add this one to the TBR.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

[Tanya R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two estranged sisters in their sixties inherit a French farmhouse. They decide to fix it up, together, and sell it to split the profits.

Along the way there are tears, laughs, romance, heartbreak, yummy foods and lots and lots of wine!

I loved everything about this feel-good story. MC's in their 60's is one of my new favorite sub-genres! They either don't have time for the BS or they are just so calm that they let the BS roll right off them. I love that!

The cast of supporting characters, including a smelly donkey, brought such joy and light to the book. Watching the sisters find themselves and even redefine what they want out of life may be even better than a coming of age story for me.

This is the perfect beach or weekend read for a great #readandchill. 5 lovely stars!

Thank you so much to #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. It was a pleasure!

All opinions expressed are my own.

[Guy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because I was desperate for something to read and it was no cost on Prime. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. A story about two elderly women having a family squabble didn’t sound that compelling. But this book is so much more than that.
First of all, the characters came to life as people I think I’d like to know. Secondly, I really enjoyed the humor that lightened the mood. The relationship between the two women almost follows a romance genre, though there is no romance between them. But it is the story of two people who should be together that are estranged. We see the delicate dance of them getting closer, and a final blow up before the eventual resolution. There is some romance as new people come into the picture.
This is an enjoyable story of family and resolution.

[Marie-France Leclerc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just the book I needed. Family drama, humour, big renovations, rediscovering yourself and falling in love with a new home.
Want to read or listen, more books by Maddie’s Please. The narrator was really good!

[Ginny Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this quote. Sometimes, out of the blue, someone comes into your life who makes you sit up and take notice. A person who makes your heart flutter and your thoughts race. More often than not it’s a policeman behind you on the motorway.