Anti-Aging Cream: A Novel of Finding Yourself, Starting Over, and Trucks.

by Gallagher Green

Have you ever wanted to start over and begin a new life? I do. Even though I'm middle-aged, divorced, friendless, have been disowned by my children, and am a closeted lesbian. Starting over should be easy, right? Wrong! Mary packed what little she owned after her divorce--from her cheating husband--into her car, ready to start a new life... It takes less than a day to get carjacked-- Mary's too trusting for her own good --and loses everything. When Mary is offered a ride by Anna--a beautiful woman driving a semi-truck--she takes it. But not just because she has no options, but because there is something irresistible about Anna's personality. When Anna asks Mary if she wants to keep riding with her, Mary jumps at the offer and joins her. Because when she's with Anna; Mary feels brave, bold, passionate, and for the first time in her life she feels like herself. It is only after agreeing to see the United States from the seat of the big rig, does Mary realize that she may have a crush on Anna--a big one! Which forces Mary to confront feelings she has hidden her entire life. At forty-three, Mary finds herself falling in love for the first time, and to a beautiful woman. Will she ignore the feelings she has for her new friend? Or will she dare to act on her feelings to see if love is possible? The one thing Mary does know is... semi-truck sleepers have little privacy for two people. Anti-Aging Cream is a story of adventures and first times. If you enjoyed Written in the Stars , Wrong Number, Right Woman , and The Love Hypothesis then you will love curling up in your sleeper with this novel after a long day's driving. Fade to Black, Confined Space, First Time, Travel, Coming Out, First Love.

305 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2023

About the author

Gallagher Green was born and raised in rural Kansas, USA. with the freedom to learn and build whatever was interesting to them at that moment. They were encouraged to learn the skills needed to build or repair, to learn the knowledge to answer their questions, and to ask more.

After years of asking themself hypothetical questions that seemly had no answer, they started answering the questions in the only way that made sense... by writing the answers in the form of stories.

With this, they started their career as an author. A career they had never intended on. But now hope their stories will help answer the questions their readers have in their lives, in the same way other authors have helped them answer their questions.
 
Instagram: @gallagher.green.author
TikTok: @gallagher.green.author

Reviews

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary has nothing, just divorced from her long term husband and left with very little - and then she gets carjacked and loses the rest. Anna is a long distance trucker who picks up Mary and helps her. There is also Alesha, living on the road in her van, who becomes Mary’s best friend. Also Evy, Anna’s sibling and business partner in the houses they rent out. There is a wonderful cast of characters, all very well written. The story is lively, funny, quirky and romantic. The intimacy scenes are all fade-to-black, which I don’t really miss, but sometimes having a bit of steam is good. However, I prefer this rather than the opposite extreme where the whole story is built around the sex. This story has so much life and warmth and fun.

[E. Demel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc and immensely enjoyed it. I love this author. and this book was definitely a different feel but still amazing. it was a fun quick read! I love the author's writing style and authorial voice! the characters are relatable and funny. the cast is diverse and inclusive! and I can't wait to read more books from Gallager!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something about queer romance that is just so wholesome and easy to read.

Loved the vibes, but the tone and narration felt a bit off at times. I really like women owning male-dominated spaces.

Thanks for the free copy @Storygraph!

3.25⭐️ Cute and easy read

[Candace Grosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an advanced reader of this delightful Rom-Com novel. How lucky was I? Very lucky, because I love this book. As the main character in this book discovers, life can often throw us a curve ball when we least expect it. Then there we are, trying to figure out what to do and how to live the rest of our life. This is not your normal mid-life crisis type of story, it is so much more. Sometimes the author had me feeling emotional about a situation the main character found herself in, and sometimes I was laughing out loud. But isn't that the way life is? More of a wild, unpredictable roller coaster ride than an uneventful drive on the Bonneville flats. I liked this book very much. I was not surprised at how great this novel is, the author's first book, Love, Sorrow, and the In-Between, is amazing too. Anti-Aging Cream. Great title, great book.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

…because it’s never to late to reinvent yourself.

I really liked this story. The characters were fantastic. I want a friend like Alesha so badly. It is hard to find someone so irreverent and genuine. Anna and Mary still have a lot to work through, but finally they’ve figured out how to communicate. The ol’ blurt and hope method works every time.

[Naty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 ⭐️

Such a different setup! I loved the trucker background. I’m not a fan of insta love, so it took me a while to be convinced by the romance. But after the story picks up, it’s really fun and cute. Specially when Alesha appears more, definitely my favourite character 💜
I loved her journey to discover herself and how supportive her friends become.

[bruitdepluie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 ★

Gallagher's stories never fail to make me feel so many emotions all at once, their characters feel as human as my own friends. This book made me laugh out loud many times (my neighbours probably think I'm a little wonky now), it made me so sad, and so happy, and so gay, and so hopeful.

It's one of the things I love the most about this author, the hopefulness they sprout in us. Through their stories, they remind us that no matter our age, whoever we thought we have been all our life, no matter how much time we have left, it's never too late to become true to our heart, and start over.

This book is yet another proof that self-published books can be just as good as many books published the usual way, and are truly worth the shot. They can be even better than a lot of bestsellers these days (and we all know whose books I'm referring to, Mrs We-both-laughed-at-our-sons-big-balls)