Whenever You're Ready

by Trish Bolton

A love letter to the lives of older women, Whenever You're Ready is a moving and perceptive novel about three women searching for a way forward in the wake of a sudden loss.

'Tender, warm-hearted and wise.' Toni Jordan


'Each of the women in this novel feels like she could be a friend.' Sophie Green




An unexpected death finds Lizzie, Alice and Margot at various crossroads in their lives, torn between looking back and moving on.

Lizzie is reeling from her discovery of a decades-old secret that changes everything she thought she knew about her friends, her family and her marriage. Alice has always been the good-time girl, as charismatic presenting the weather on television as she is working as a life model. But decades of piecemeal gigs have left her with a rapidly unravelling safety net. Meanwhile, Lizzie's perfectionist daughter Margot is realising that, despite having built herself a faultlessly curated life, she hasn't put her troubled past behind her as neatly as she thought she had.


Whenever You're Ready is a sweetly wise and gently wistful novel about the secrets and seasons of three intertwined lives.



'Bolton is a natural-born storyteller and her debut novel is a gift to us all.' Lee Kofman


'Social commentary shot through with wicked humour. I loved it.' Lucy Treloar


'Engaging, moving and full of heart.' Suzanne Leal


'Trish Bolton renders visible the complex lives of older women who are so often invisible in our culture. A page-turner of a novel.' Sian Prior

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2024

Reviews

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever You’re Ready is a tender exploration of friendship, motherhood, ageing, and grief by Trish Bolton.

This is a character driven novel that focuses on three women, Lizzie, Margo, and Alice, who are forced to reflect on their pasts, and contemplate their futures after a half written letter discovered after the unexpected death of a close friend, Claire, leads to a shocking revelation.

Lizzie is stunned to learn that the same woman who supported her after the death of her son and the demise of her marriage, and who practically raised her daughter while Lizzie buried herself in her work, betrayed her, and that Alice kept her secret. Alice is relieved to finally be free of the burden she has shouldered for decades, but Lizzie is punishing the messenger right when Alice needs her most. Shocked to realise Claire had feet of clay, Margo finds herself ruminating on the estrangement between herself and her mother, and her own drive for perfection. All three women are well realised characters, flawed but sympathetic, with relatable issues.

An emotional read, Bolton touches on several sensitive subjects including suicide, euthanasia, child death, and adultery. Regret and forgiveness are prevalent themes which affects the women’s relationships with themselves and each other.

The writing is engaging, with authentic dialogue. The story unfolds at a sedate pace, but never stalls.

A gentle, moving read, Whenever You’re Ready will likely appeal to a mature age reader who has enjoyed the works of Charlotte Wood, Liz Byrski and Susan Duncan.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t be deceived by the pretty pink cover, this book packs an emotional punch and I loved it!

Focusing on the intertwining lives of three women: Lizzie, her daughter Margot and Lizzie’s lifelong friend Alice, Whenever You’re Ready is a moving and heartfelt portrayal of the lives of older women.

Following an unexpected death, Lizzie, Alice and Margot all find themselves stuck between their past and present, struggling to move forward. As long hidden secrets and betrayals come to light with far-ranging repercussions, each of these women have difficult decisions to make.

This novel was in turns heartbreaking and hopeful and I loved the portrayals of Lizzie and Alice as older women with complex stories and lives lived which are still relevant and important. Challenging society’s perceptions of older people as irrelevant and “past it”, each of these characters is written so vividly that they feel like a friend.

Addressing challenging themes of grief, loneliness and addiction, there were points where I had tears running down my cheeks. Ultimately though it is a book about healing and hope, families reconnecting and living authentically.

Whenever You’re Ready was an utterly brilliant novel full of highs and lows and a storyline that was both thought provoking and compelling. A book for all ages, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before you pick it up, you should check the trigger warnings (especially for death/suicide and grief), as there are quite a few scenes in Whenever You’re Ready that are pretty heavy going. There was also a lot of inherent ableism that I found really concerning. It wasn’t a terrible read, but if I’m honest, I expected more from this “love letter” to post-menopausal life.

My full review of Whenever You're Ready is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.

[Jade Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Christmas present from mum. I was keen to read books from more Aussie authors and I’m so glad she chose this one. I loved the writing and found every character had so much depth. It’s rare to read stories from the perspective of older women. The first three quarters was quite heavy but gave a really good insight into the grief of losing loved ones. There wasn’t much of a storyline but I ended up liking that, it was just nice to read about their lives. A nice ending too!

[Gabrielle Summerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally deserving of 5 stars. Beautiful and real and so refreshing.

[Liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐
wasn't great, wasn't bad
easy listening 🎧
there were good moments exploring the complexity of friendship, affairs and loss of life...
however is low on my list to recommend

[Vivi Widodo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire, Lizzie, Alice - three women bonded in a friendship, and when Claire passed away unexpectedly, long hidden secret and betrayal would come up.
Lizzie lost her son, Tom, when he was just a toddler, and her mourning for Tom made her lose a relationship with her daughter, Margot.
While Lizzie was in deep grief, Claire stepped up to care for Margot. Margot moved and lived with Claire and her family. 
Alice used to work as weather presenter on television, and she's like a third-wheel in their friendship, but she actually has been burdened keeping a secret for far too long that most likely will change their view regarding their friendship.

This is an emotional story that brought up issues of suicide, child death, drug addiction, and infidelity. I don't usually like family drama books, but this one really captured me from the beginning. The setting, the characters, and the plot are just so authentic.
This is a great book that I can recommend for your book club as it'll bring up a lot of discussion about family relationships and friendship.

[Yvonne Sanders]

Whenever You’re Ready is as much a comfortable, easy read as it is a page-turner. Lizzie and Claire and Alice are lifelong friends. They’ve shared so much together—family and friends, joys and tragedies, youth and ageing. They’ve been there for each other in good times and bad, in sickness and health. They think they know everything there is to know about each other. Until one of them dies, and a long-held secret threatens to shatter their lives. Trish Bolton is an accomplished storyteller, bringing us into the world of these three old friends with natural flair, as though we have always known them. Whenever You’re Ready is a social commentary injected with wit and wisdom, humour and tenderness. A refreshing and realistic perspective on the flourishing spirit of older women.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The circle of life and the fullness of friendship in a story centred around three long term friends is unpacked in all its glory.
The richness of history and shared experiences can be unthreaded by secrets of the past.
Claire is with us briefly but many details are shared through the eyes of Lizzie and Alice.
A half scrawled note will challenge, reset boundaries and change lives.
In the pursuit of perfection and control Claire leaves a quandary for her besties, do they move forward or dredge the past.
All three women are relatable, relevant and flawed and represent an authentic cross section of society.
Healing and hope is at the core while the next generation determine the extent of the imprint left to them.
I am now at an age to know longevity in friendship and have experienced curb balls life throws so I was invested and the leads became like friends as we journeyed.
I didn’t need a trigger warning but some may.
I particularly loved how the friendships formed and were nurtured.

[pinkerkade · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are aspects of this book that I enjoyed (exploration of the mother daughter relationship) but overall the characters are far too complex and the ending far too simple. Alice is its only saving grace, everyone else is completely unlikeable.

[Deannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - evidently I did not enjoy this. Far too much going on.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

[Paulien Kok · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to read

[Liana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Liz Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful. So gentle and original and takes you in the journey of ageing in a positive way! Lovely unique characters and voice. 😊

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially found this book frustrating as it took a while for the relationships between the large cast of characters to gel in my mind. I think the reliance on dialogue contributed to this. However it was worth persevering for this moving intergenerational tale of women's lives.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is centred around three older women, all friends who've known each other for many decades.

We only meet Claire briefly but spend time with her through the eyes of her best friends Lizzie and Alice.

We also meet Jane (Claire's daughter) and Margot (Lizzie's daughter).

Claire's death unearths an old secret and we learn those privy at the time weighed the ethical benefit of revealing the truth against the hurt such action would cause. And though blame is cast in the present, the quandary remains... reveal all or let it rest?

I appreciated that Bolton is able to reflect turning points in the lives of both Jane and Margot and Lizzie and Alice here. Two women in the early throes of adulthood but well and truly needing to make important decisions about their future; and then two older women who (in some ways) feel redundant but still have much to offer.

3.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever You’re Ready
Trish Bolton
2023
4 Stars

Trigger Warning: Suicide and suicidal themes are present in this book.



Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Allen & Unwin for review of Whenever You’re Ready by Trish Bolton. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

In summary: When a dear friend dies unexpectedly, Lizzie, Alice and Margot find away to introspect their lives and learn to move on.

This is my first book by Trish Bolton.
I found this book to be slow burning in the beginning. I am glad to have pushed through the book as the payoff ending was worth it and satisfying.
Whenever You’re Ready by Trish Bolton follows Lizzie, Alice and Margot as they all take a look back at their past lives. Lizzie is full of sorrow at the loss of her son at a young age and regrets putting her career first. Margot, Lizzie’s now adult daughter has held a grudge against her mother for the longest time over the death of her brother, purposely creating distance between her mother and herself, favouring her father’s relationship over her mother.
I found I liked Alice’s life story which was well crafted and I wanted to find out all about Alice and where she would end up next. I appreciate Alice’s story and probably enjoyed her story the most.
This book does look at life and death, what kind of secrets go to the grave.
Overall I ended up enjoying the book.

[Nicki Judson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by this book and I believe you will be too.

There are so many themes in this book. One of the most dramatic opens up in the first chapter. It is heavy. It leads us to a story of three women's lives that intertwine. If you have lived a longer life many of the themes will reach out to you.

Here are a few moments that captivated such a beautiful read.

The heartache of forever goodbyes. The missed opportunity of not saying goodbye. The words unspoken. The next times that can never be.

You will reflect on how Instagram photos are staged after you read this book! Waiting for “likes” will never seem the same.

In youth we are told, you are beautiful, but yet in older age, we are asked instead, are you well? Am I not beautiful anymore?

Grief is a huge cornerstone of this book. It arrives in waves which are sometimes crashing down on you or soft that land at your feet. Life moves on. You get out of bed; you brush your teeth and everybody else simply moves on around you.

Everyone has secrets. Everyone lies.

Putting away a life. Emptying shelves. Peeling letters of a name from a door. Letting go when you’re ready.

The most moving moments of Ms Bolton’s book was her dealings with Tom….’She had heard it said you die twice; the second death when your name is never spoken again’.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of Whenever You're Ready appears in Books+Publishing.

[Jari-Ann Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much!! Other reviewers complain about characters having flaws and the complex web of characters, but isn’t that real people and real life, and ultimately one of the points of the book? Life is complex and messy and people don’t process their trauma neatly or on time.
Great story that is a snapshot of these lives at a point in time. Trish’s writing is clever and engaging - I would definitely pick up any more books she writes!

[Nora Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

The speed a number of characters were introduced at the beginning had me very confused with who is who for a very long time.

[Cass Moriarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novels that feature ‘more mature women’ (read those in their 60’s and 70’s and above) are rare (often because that demographic is ‘invisible’ in real life), so it’s lovely to read a story with the key protagonists at this stage in their lives, all experiencing different aspects of the relentless march of time. Trish Bolton has created a beautiful story in her debut novel Whenever You’re Ready (Allen and Unwin 2024), a tale that brims with heart, warmth, wit, tenderness, compassion and the knowing wisdom that comes with each passing year.

This is no saccharine sweet story of knitting grandmothers, however. As in other novels that have examined the lives of aging women (The Weekend by Charlotte Wood being one example), Bolton presents these women as three-dimensional, complex characters who might have a sting in their tail, a revenge fantasy, a long-held secret, a guilty pleasure, or an unconventional lifestyle. Bolton demonstrates that a person is usually just an older version of their younger selves, and that only real effort turns years into wisdom.

Claire, Lizzie and Alice have been lifelong best friends but, in the prologue (so not a spoiler), the only section from Claire’s point of view, she dies, and her two best friends are left to deal with the emotional fallout. Losing a dear friend at any age is difficult but years of knowing another person, their foibles and strengths, their dreams and disappointments, somehow makes their passing even harder.

Especially when that death reveals hidden secrets.

Told from the perspective of Alice, Lizzie and Lizzie’s adult daughter Margot, the narrative is at first slightly puzzling as we work out who is who and how everyone in the story is connected – there are a lot of characters. But once we understand that, we become invested in the lives of all three women and the people they love. Lizzie has already suffered one terrible tragedy in her life – perhaps the worst tragedy – and has never really moved on, despite filling her life with work and friends and family. Her daughter Margot is of the generation that Instagrams the perfect life she has curated with her two young children, but gradually begins to realise that everything is not as it seems. Alice is the maverick, the aging actress, the life model, the former famous and charismatic weather presenter who has had to adjust her work commitments as she ages and is offered less work, and a different kind of work (incontinence pad or retirement living residence advert, anyone?) She hasn’t always been honest, especially with herself, and finds it difficult to admit she’s in straightened circumstances.

But Alice is not the only one with secrets in her life, and as the narrative unfolds, it becomes obvious that Claire – and others – have kept secrets for many years; secrets that once revealed, will change how everyone feels about everyone else.

I love these lines: ‘Outside, the lights of the city glittered against a dark sky. The streets were hectic with people, everyone with a secret they’d kept, a lie they’d told, a heartache they’d caused, a promise they’d broken’, which I believe sum up the story beautifully.

The characters are delightfully complex, each with their own interesting take on the world. Men do not take a lead, although they do impact the story enormously. The book focusses on themes of friendship, aging, death and loss, guilt, ambition, betrayal, family violence, loyalty and compassion. There is more than one deep sadness in this story, but also plenty of light-hearted and joyful moments. Bolton’s humour is biting, unexpected, witty and clever.

The book felt a little rushed at the end to me, but perhaps that was because I was not yet ready to leave this story; I would have liked more time with this group of feisty women.

Filled with the minutiae of daily life (dog-walking, cups of tea, gardening) and punctuated by the larger events of relationship dynamics and practical survival (in a world where over 50’s women are a growing group of homeless because they have no safety net), the book balances the two extremes well, with a story that is easy to read, warm and companionable, but still manages to surprise with unexpected developments, and to explore current social issues. Bolton assures us that new beginnings are possible, and that age doesn’t have to limit our dreams, our pleasures, or our relationships.

[everything golden mims · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 Audio Book Review 🎧

𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖: Whenever You’re Ready

𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣: Trish Bolton

𝕄𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕦𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕟: Audiobook

ℕ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕤: Taylor Owynns

𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤: A sudden loss brings Lizzie, Alice, and Margot to turning points in their lives, forcing them to confront their pasts and decide what comes next. Lizzie is grappling with a long-buried secret that shakes the foundation of her relationships and marriage. Alice, once the life of the party and a familiar face on TV, finds her once-glamorous career slipping away, leaving her future uncertain. Meanwhile, Margot—Lizzie’s daughter—has built a picture-perfect life, but the cracks in her carefully curated world are starting to show.

As their intertwined lives unfold, past choices resurface, and long-held truths come to light. Whenever You’re Ready is a heartfelt story about love, loss, and the complexities of moving forward.

𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: This book weaves together so many themes—mother-daughter relationships, friendships, marriage, career struggles, aging, and forgiveness. What started as a seemingly simple story of grief quickly deepened into a complex exploration of how the past shapes us.

I loved how Lizzie, Alice, and Margot each had such distinct yet relatable struggles. Their emotions felt raw and real, and at times, I forgot they were fictional characters. And Claire—despite only appearing in the prologue—left such a lasting impact on the story. The way her presence lingered throughout was beautifully done, showing how people can live on through the impressions they leave behind.

A moving and thoughtful read that lingers long after the final page.

Happy reading! x

#ContemporaryFiction #WomenInFiction #FamilyDrama #BookstagramReviews #audiobooklover

[Dani Netherclift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever You're Ready gives the reader a rare glimpse into the interiority of older women, exploring themes of friendship, love, motherhood and grief. The lovingly drawn characters move imperfectly through their lives, doing their best to navigate what life throws at a woman in her 60-70s and onwards. Writer Trish Bolton notes in her acknowledgments that there seemed a scarcity of books featuring women of this age group, when it seemed, observationally, that these women could be heard to have the most interesting conversations. In her debut book, Bolton gives us access to those conversations, as well as the thoughts behind them.
I enjoyed the depth that was added to the character's stories by having different POVS. For instance, Lizzie's lifelong grief and guilt over the loss of her small child are at times considered by another character, Alice as an excuse for a "life-long pity party". Through Bolton's deft control of the storyline, the characters come to develop an understanding of the inconsistencies and failings of each other and to love and accept anyway.
Whenever You're Ready is a lovely, deeply immersive read that really celebrates women of all ages. It's the kind of book that you want to sit and devour, which is what I did! I particularly loved the clever little devices and one delicious tidbit of a twist, all of which show Bolton's enjoyment of the writing of this narrative.

[Essie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many characters, too many 'issues', too depressing, not humourous at all! By page 115 these themes were mentioned, touched on or developed- cancer, drugs, suicide, child exploitation/social media addiction, extra-marital affairs, war, religion, breast implants and their failure, joblessness/unemployment and homelessness! Not one character was nice, everyone had problems or issues! I like to read novels with characters that have some redeeming qualities! Or characters that are not so self-obsessed, who give back to society in their later years, who use their hard-earned wisdom for good! I gave an extra star because the last 10% was a bit more heartfelt and true to life. Up until then, I didn't like anyone much, except maybe Molly.
I especially disliked Lizzie for her 'holier than thou' attitude, subjugating her parental responsibilities to her friend and then wondering why her daughter doesn't like her. Lizzie, who puts on lipstick when Alice pops in but turns up dishevelled to her granddaughter's birthday! Lizzie, who tells her mother to leave things in the past but hangs on to her own issues, especially Tom, no matter what! The ghost of Tom hanging over the whole depressing novel! Is it any wonder Ed found comfort elsewhere?
There was no sense of place, apart from knowing it was set in Melbourne. Perhaps the author is ashamed of identifying anywhere specific. And the title? What's that about?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚈𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 ~ 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙱𝚘𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚗

Finally a book that features remarkable, strong, independent women in their sixties and seventies. Loving, living and dying. There is a lot of death in this book so be prepared for some heart wrenching reading, but this is not a sad book. It is about seeing women who deserve to be seen. Best friends, Lizzie, Claire and Alice are in their 70’s and have a lot of life behind them, secrets, losses, loves and regrets. This story reminds us to remember that mums and grandmas are people too. Just like us, they have lived long, interesting and amazing lives and rather than mocking them or smothering them with “old people” pity, that we should be asking them about life, listening to them, befriending them and most of all celebrating them.

There are twists and turns, as the secretes between the three friends are revealed following a tragic death.

This book felt very real to me. Lizzie’s and Ed’s son and Margot’s brother Tom dies aged 3. My brother died at the same age. I too witnessed how the death of the child impacts parents and siblings. I felt comfort knowing that when I still “see” my brother it is not an uncommon experience, and yet I’ve not come across this in a book before. Thank you @trishbolton 🫶🏽💕

This book was kindly #gifted by @allenandunwin and I applaud them for putting a book in the market that celebrates women of this age.

[Ruth Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's refreshing to read a book about older women, this one delves into friendship, grief, suicide, addiction and infidelity, yet still manages to be full of hope and celebrate the strength of older women. Part of the story also deals with Lizzie's visits to her mother who is a resident in an Aged Care facility, I have worked in Aged Care and also dealt with my mother being in care, and I found these quotes to be particularly insightful.

Lizzie understood too well the focus on the task. The bottom to be washed, the bed to be changed, human attentions lost to overwork and time management. What must it be like to work in such a place thought Lizzie, not one of her patients was ever going home, no-one would recover, or resume their lives, and when they went, another with the same fate would replace them.

It always felt strange that life outside went on, thought Lizzie, after saying goodbye to her mother. There was so much sorrow within those four walls, she wondered how it could possibly be contained, it must surely seep out under doors, escape through an open window, any chink or gap, the sadness affecting passers by, causing them to stop for a moment, and think of those hidden from view.

I look forward to seeing what else Trish Bolton writes.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

An unexpected death finds Lizzie, Alice and Margot torn at various crossroads in their lives. Lizzie is reeling from her discovery of a decades-old secret that changes everything she thought she knew about her friends, her family and her marriage. Alice’s diminishing gigs in television and modelling unravels her safety net. Meanwhile, Lizzie's perfectionist daughter Margot is realising that she hasn't put her troubled past behind her as neatly as she thought she had.

Oh, this book covered a wide variety of topics! Mother-daughter relationship, female friendships, marriage, career, motherhood, growing older and forgiveness.

It started deceivingly ‘simple’ with a death that shook the world of our characters, but the story quickly branch out into complex entanglements of past consequences. I loved how all the intricacies were handled really well, and I related to Lizzie, Margot and Alice equally. They felt real, and I oftentimes forgot they were fictional characters.

By the way, it was astounding that even though Claire only made actual appearance in the Prologue, her ‘presence’ was somehow so prominent throughout the story. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of how someone could live on through the impression they’d had on people around them.

Amazing writing from Trish, looking forward to reading more books from her!

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️ When an unexpected death occurs, friends Lizzie, Alice and Margot find themselves at a loss and at difficult stages and ages of life where they look back on their past lives and how much it impacted them and the grief, sadness and family drama they endured.

This was an Absolutely Stunning Debut that I Adored from the start of the Prologue until the last page. A Marvellous and Crucial Story that everyone should read.

Filled with heartwarming, Heartbreaking, Poignant and inspiring Themes, This was a book that featured a great deal of Attention to Detail and a Wonderful Representation and Depiction of older people. I couldn't fathom how much of a Joy it was to read.

The characters were gracefully written and depicted in the way that the story was intended to portray them and I relished hearing about their past lives and relationships which featured new unfoldings and secrets from long ago.

Highly recommend!