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Onwards and Upwards
A retitled alternate cover edition of this ASIN B0D2JFP3WH can be found here A New Lease of Life
A laugh-out-loud story of fun and friendship, for women of a certain age!
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
A laugh-out-loud story of fun and friendship, for women of a certain age!
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2024
2698 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Celia Anderson
34 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
November 17, 2024
Ingrid is recently widowed and having found that her gregarious, life and soul of the party husband had left her with as much debt as memories, embarks upon a task to sell off some of the accumulated junk from her married life, so she can downsize and live a simple life.
She takes on a temporary let of her aunt's shop in order to accomplish this, and though she initially thinks she is alone, an entire village is there to help her.
I loved the Saga Louts, a group of older, independent women, each widowed, and trying to live their best lives. They take Ingrid under their wings and assist her with the shop set up, and I have to say I loved Winnie!
Josh, divorced carpenter with a teenage daughter also ends up helping, after being her removal driver, and finds that he has more reasons for volunteering to assist the lovely Ingrid.
Along with the above, there were so many great characters. There was a real eclectic mix of people, giving the book a wonderfully inclusive feel.
Ingrid may have had her doubts and problems, but she works out ways to overcome them with her new friends and faces up to age-old demons along the way. She even finds time to help some of those new friends with their own conundrums.
I really enjoyed reading this. A lovely feel-good story with an eclectic mix of characters supporting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
She takes on a temporary let of her aunt's shop in order to accomplish this, and though she initially thinks she is alone, an entire village is there to help her.
I loved the Saga Louts, a group of older, independent women, each widowed, and trying to live their best lives. They take Ingrid under their wings and assist her with the shop set up, and I have to say I loved Winnie!
Josh, divorced carpenter with a teenage daughter also ends up helping, after being her removal driver, and finds that he has more reasons for volunteering to assist the lovely Ingrid.
Along with the above, there were so many great characters. There was a real eclectic mix of people, giving the book a wonderfully inclusive feel.
Ingrid may have had her doubts and problems, but she works out ways to overcome them with her new friends and faces up to age-old demons along the way. She even finds time to help some of those new friends with their own conundrums.
I really enjoyed reading this. A lovely feel-good story with an eclectic mix of characters supporting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
June 14, 2025
Not very good writing and very cheesy but actually perfect for an easy read. First book on my kindle completed + completely obsessed with it 🤩🤩
June 9, 2025
A light read to break up my usual historical fiction. I found the story a little unbelievable but it was a decent read.
December 10, 2024
Sometimes being forced to change your life, can bring you to a life you never dreamed possible. That is what Ingrid found when she was forced to do that, when her husband died and left her with a lot of debt, and a big house that was filled with his treasures. She sold the big house, and packed up the treasures and moved to Willowbrook because her aunt had a shop that she had just closed up, and she was going to rent it for a year, to sell all the treasures.
The friends she found there, the things she discovered, helped her see what she could accomplish, the things she could do, and she could move on with her life. The community was there for her, and she was there for all of them. There were challenges, and things that surprised her, but she kept letting life unfold, and kept stepping into it and moving along, and seeing where it was going to take her. This story has people from children to people in their nineties, and they all got along, learned from each other, have lots of laughs, and it was nice seeing how together, they grew.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley, and this was an amazing read.
The friends she found there, the things she discovered, helped her see what she could accomplish, the things she could do, and she could move on with her life. The community was there for her, and she was there for all of them. There were challenges, and things that surprised her, but she kept letting life unfold, and kept stepping into it and moving along, and seeing where it was going to take her. This story has people from children to people in their nineties, and they all got along, learned from each other, have lots of laughs, and it was nice seeing how together, they grew.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley, and this was an amazing read.
December 30, 2024
Ingrid's husband died and left her with loads of debt and a bunch of stuff cluttering up their big house so she decides to sell the house and take all the stuff to the store her aunt is closing in Willowbrook and try and sell off some of the stuff to payoff the debt. In the process, she makes some lovely friends who help her to see all she really is and what she is capable of which helps her lo move on with her life. There are 3 very valuable women that she becomes close to and really show that found family can be just as good, if not better in some cases, than blood family. These eclectic women help Ingrid to confront her past and move on to her future. And then of course she meets a handsome love interest. Josh who finds more and more reasons to volunteer to assist Ingrid with the store
There's loads of humor in what could be an otherwise depressing story and the plot moves along at a great pace. This was a feel good story with lots of great supporting characters. A truly fun way to spend the time Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
There's loads of humor in what could be an otherwise depressing story and the plot moves along at a great pace. This was a feel good story with lots of great supporting characters. A truly fun way to spend the time Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
June 24, 2025
Predictable romance plot, but I very much enjoyed the feel good story.
January 20, 2025
Ingrid’s life after the loss of her auctioneer husband is going to be rather different – having been on his arm at every social event when he was the life and soul of the party, she’s decided she’d rather like a fresh start, a smaller and quieter life. But that’s from necessity too, because he’s left so many debts there’s little left – other than a mountain of surplus stock he’s amassed over the years. Her Aunt Sylvia giving up her shop in Willowbrook gives her the perfect opportunity – use it to sell all the stock, then move on. She had no plans to become part of the community – but, seeing her struggling to get things up and running, the community has other ideas.
First there’s a meal in the pub with Sam – he helped her move – and his lovely young daughter Elsie. And Joel – and she has no idea how both he and his teenage daughter Leo will become part of her life. And on a walk in the country to the farmers’ market, she meets the Saga Louts while visiting Kate’s cafe – Beryl, Winnie and Anthea – who decide she really needs their help and energetically throw themselves into getting the shop ready for opening day. They make the whole experience tremendous fun, and also help Ingrid move on from her loss and face the uncertain future. They’re also all there for her when a few other challenges from her past uncomfortably raise their heads. And in return, she finds the opportunity to offer her help and support too – to Joel who’s struggling with single fatherhood, to one of the Saga Louts facing a particularly difficult time.
This was a quite wonderful story about fresh starts and second chances, full of the most supportive friendships to ease Ingrid’s difficult personal journey. It’s a book with such a strong sense of community, and every single character is so beautifully drawn – especially the very real older characters, but young Leo and Elsie equally won my heart. It’s also very much Joel’s story – told from both their perspectives – with all the support he provides, always there when she most needs him, despite the many challenges in his own life. And the growing attraction between them was beautifully handled – unexpected for them both, something neither of them was looking for, and a particularly lovely and gentle romance that I became entirely invested in.
The humour sparkles throughout – sometimes gentle, at other times laugh-out-loud, especially where the Saga Louts and younger characters (all of them without filters!) are involved. But there are also plenty of serious, emotional and more dramatic moments – especially when those secrets from the past emerge, the whole book quite perfectly paced and balanced. And I must add that I also very much enjoyed meeting again some of the key characters from the author’s last book, seeing how their lives had moved on – nothing that would make this one in any way difficult to read as a standalone, just rather a treat for those of us who so enjoyed their stories. And the ending? Well, I thought it couldn’t have been more perfect…
Filled with warmth and hope, a real testament to the strength to be found through friendship and connections, and so beautifully written – this was a book I really loved, and would very much recommend.
First there’s a meal in the pub with Sam – he helped her move – and his lovely young daughter Elsie. And Joel – and she has no idea how both he and his teenage daughter Leo will become part of her life. And on a walk in the country to the farmers’ market, she meets the Saga Louts while visiting Kate’s cafe – Beryl, Winnie and Anthea – who decide she really needs their help and energetically throw themselves into getting the shop ready for opening day. They make the whole experience tremendous fun, and also help Ingrid move on from her loss and face the uncertain future. They’re also all there for her when a few other challenges from her past uncomfortably raise their heads. And in return, she finds the opportunity to offer her help and support too – to Joel who’s struggling with single fatherhood, to one of the Saga Louts facing a particularly difficult time.
This was a quite wonderful story about fresh starts and second chances, full of the most supportive friendships to ease Ingrid’s difficult personal journey. It’s a book with such a strong sense of community, and every single character is so beautifully drawn – especially the very real older characters, but young Leo and Elsie equally won my heart. It’s also very much Joel’s story – told from both their perspectives – with all the support he provides, always there when she most needs him, despite the many challenges in his own life. And the growing attraction between them was beautifully handled – unexpected for them both, something neither of them was looking for, and a particularly lovely and gentle romance that I became entirely invested in.
The humour sparkles throughout – sometimes gentle, at other times laugh-out-loud, especially where the Saga Louts and younger characters (all of them without filters!) are involved. But there are also plenty of serious, emotional and more dramatic moments – especially when those secrets from the past emerge, the whole book quite perfectly paced and balanced. And I must add that I also very much enjoyed meeting again some of the key characters from the author’s last book, seeing how their lives had moved on – nothing that would make this one in any way difficult to read as a standalone, just rather a treat for those of us who so enjoyed their stories. And the ending? Well, I thought it couldn’t have been more perfect…
Filled with warmth and hope, a real testament to the strength to be found through friendship and connections, and so beautifully written – this was a book I really loved, and would very much recommend.
January 19, 2025
This was the perfect feel good read that offered an endearing storyline, featuring new found family, second chances and heart warming romance.
The storyline of the book was good as it allowed a good insight into Ingrid and her life, as we follow her journey to move on and build a new life for herself. From being so independent and wishing to lead a simple life, you could see the development in her character as the story progressed and she opened up more, with the characters of Willowbrook making a huge impact on her life.
The additional characters in the book were all so well written and integral to the story and the additional story lines along the way were also tied in well. I adored the Saga Louts and they seemed like an amazing group of women, who offered witty one liners, friendship and support when it was needed the most.
The slow burn romance between Ingrid & Joel was nice to read and the ending for them and everyone else was just perfect. I would love to read more and catch up with the characters of the village again.
The storyline of the book was good as it allowed a good insight into Ingrid and her life, as we follow her journey to move on and build a new life for herself. From being so independent and wishing to lead a simple life, you could see the development in her character as the story progressed and she opened up more, with the characters of Willowbrook making a huge impact on her life.
The additional characters in the book were all so well written and integral to the story and the additional story lines along the way were also tied in well. I adored the Saga Louts and they seemed like an amazing group of women, who offered witty one liners, friendship and support when it was needed the most.
The slow burn romance between Ingrid & Joel was nice to read and the ending for them and everyone else was just perfect. I would love to read more and catch up with the characters of the village again.
January 22, 2025
📚 PUBLICATION WEEK BOOK TOUR BOOK REVIEW 📚
Onwards and Upwards By Celia Anderson
Publication Date: January 20, 2025
Publisher: Boldwood Books
📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚MY REVIEW:
Celia Anderson has done it again! Onwards and Upwards is such an uplifting read -- I just love how Anderson expands on the basic rom-rom storyline to add inspiration about second acts, starting over, and moving on after a significant loss. Her books are always so much more than what I expect - and this one was no exception.
After her husband's untimely and unexpected death, Ingrid finds herself with a lot of her husband's trinkets and treasures, as well as a lot of his secret debts. Ingrid makes the decision to take on a short-term rental of her Aunt Sylvia's general store in Willowbrook, an idyllic English village, in the hopes of selling all of her husband's things. Then she plans to downsize and live on her own. However, she quickly learns that the village of Willowbrook and its residents might just convince her to change her plans and open her heart to love again and a better plan than she ever could have imagined.
The characters in this rom-com were absolutely loveable! They were quirky, funny, endearing, and people I wanted to be friends with -- especially the Saga Louts, who were a raucous trio of older women with zero filters and all the loyalty a friend can hope for. The building romance between Ingrid and Joel was a slow burn that had me rooting for them in the end. Sam, Elsie, and Leo added such cute airlines in this read too! There's zero spice in this one, though you will find lots of humor and a pretty inspiring and uplifting message!
Onwards and Upwards is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys stories about second acts in life, the power of friendship, and the beauty of starting over. Thank you so much to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this book tour -- and thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
#OnwardsAndUpwards #CeliaAnderson #BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbookclub #booktour #RachelsRandomResources #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #romcomreads #bookworm #booklover #booknerd
Onwards and Upwards By Celia Anderson
Publication Date: January 20, 2025
Publisher: Boldwood Books
📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚MY REVIEW:
Celia Anderson has done it again! Onwards and Upwards is such an uplifting read -- I just love how Anderson expands on the basic rom-rom storyline to add inspiration about second acts, starting over, and moving on after a significant loss. Her books are always so much more than what I expect - and this one was no exception.
After her husband's untimely and unexpected death, Ingrid finds herself with a lot of her husband's trinkets and treasures, as well as a lot of his secret debts. Ingrid makes the decision to take on a short-term rental of her Aunt Sylvia's general store in Willowbrook, an idyllic English village, in the hopes of selling all of her husband's things. Then she plans to downsize and live on her own. However, she quickly learns that the village of Willowbrook and its residents might just convince her to change her plans and open her heart to love again and a better plan than she ever could have imagined.
The characters in this rom-com were absolutely loveable! They were quirky, funny, endearing, and people I wanted to be friends with -- especially the Saga Louts, who were a raucous trio of older women with zero filters and all the loyalty a friend can hope for. The building romance between Ingrid and Joel was a slow burn that had me rooting for them in the end. Sam, Elsie, and Leo added such cute airlines in this read too! There's zero spice in this one, though you will find lots of humor and a pretty inspiring and uplifting message!
Onwards and Upwards is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys stories about second acts in life, the power of friendship, and the beauty of starting over. Thank you so much to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this book tour -- and thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
#OnwardsAndUpwards #CeliaAnderson #BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbookclub #booktour #RachelsRandomResources #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #romcomreads #bookworm #booklover #booknerd
December 9, 2024
Ingrid, recently widowed, faces the task of dealing with her husband's death and the mountain of debts he left behind. She makes the brave decision of starting anew. The plan? Rent her Aunt Sylvia's shop, open up a pop-up store to sell off her husband's collectibles from his years as an auctioneer and then find a quiet place to live a simple, uncomplicated life. What she doesn't expect is to meet three vivacious women known as the Saga Louts - Beryl, Winnie and Anthea - the charming Joel, the very kindhearted Sam and their daughters, Leo, as she likes to be called and Elsie.
The wonderful crew helps her to set up The Treasure Trove and become the key to helping Ingrid execute her plan.
Onwards and Upwards is not only a story of starting life over but a testament to the power of connections and friendship. It portrays the beauty of finding one's place in people's lives at the perfect time. All the characters are so lovable and it was refreshing watching Ingrid come out of her shell to accept this eclectic group of people. As she slowly and gradually moves on from Tommy's death, Ingrid confronts certain secrets and past nightmares. And through it all, she is never alone.
Celia Anderson's writing is exquisite, perfectly portraying Ingrid's thoughts and inner conflicts. Not to mention, the sense of humour of the characters are absolutely golden. I found myself bursting out into laughter especially in scenes with the Saga Louts.
The only issue I have with this book is that the plot is not nearly engaging and interesting enough for me to want to reread it. Although this isn't inherently a bad thing, it does affect the ratings for me.
Nevertheless, it is good enough for those seeking a light-hearted, hopeful and slice of life read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
The wonderful crew helps her to set up The Treasure Trove and become the key to helping Ingrid execute her plan.
Onwards and Upwards is not only a story of starting life over but a testament to the power of connections and friendship. It portrays the beauty of finding one's place in people's lives at the perfect time. All the characters are so lovable and it was refreshing watching Ingrid come out of her shell to accept this eclectic group of people. As she slowly and gradually moves on from Tommy's death, Ingrid confronts certain secrets and past nightmares. And through it all, she is never alone.
Celia Anderson's writing is exquisite, perfectly portraying Ingrid's thoughts and inner conflicts. Not to mention, the sense of humour of the characters are absolutely golden. I found myself bursting out into laughter especially in scenes with the Saga Louts.
The only issue I have with this book is that the plot is not nearly engaging and interesting enough for me to want to reread it. Although this isn't inherently a bad thing, it does affect the ratings for me.
Nevertheless, it is good enough for those seeking a light-hearted, hopeful and slice of life read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
June 7, 2025
The book has two names and I thought I should mention both since one is the version I read and ARC of thanks to Netgalley and the publishers and the other seems to be the actual published title.
I sometimes stumble on books with older lead protagonists which does not show lives that I struggle to imagine older women lead ( based on my own circle of knowledge). I know it is not a rational thing, but when I encounter certain characters having outlandish lives, it prevents me from enjoying the book. This is obviously a me problem, and not one I technically needed to mention in this review, but it seemed a good enough place to start.
Ingrid has a semi-unique problem. She is recently widowed and is strapped for cash. She decides to sell her husband’s random collection to make enough money to settle somewhere small. The town Ingrid chooses does not seem to want her to limit her dream to something small. The plan to set up a shop becomes more extravagant by the day with more than a little help from people.
The romance is understated and straightforward, as is most of the content. There is a simple manner in which the narration flows. I may have thought the book was a tad too long but overall it was a good read. There are more books before and after the events in this one. I don’t think it’s a series exactly, but the recurring characters and the town seem to appear in other books.
I would recommend this to fans of the genre.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
I sometimes stumble on books with older lead protagonists which does not show lives that I struggle to imagine older women lead ( based on my own circle of knowledge). I know it is not a rational thing, but when I encounter certain characters having outlandish lives, it prevents me from enjoying the book. This is obviously a me problem, and not one I technically needed to mention in this review, but it seemed a good enough place to start.
Ingrid has a semi-unique problem. She is recently widowed and is strapped for cash. She decides to sell her husband’s random collection to make enough money to settle somewhere small. The town Ingrid chooses does not seem to want her to limit her dream to something small. The plan to set up a shop becomes more extravagant by the day with more than a little help from people.
The romance is understated and straightforward, as is most of the content. There is a simple manner in which the narration flows. I may have thought the book was a tad too long but overall it was a good read. There are more books before and after the events in this one. I don’t think it’s a series exactly, but the recurring characters and the town seem to appear in other books.
I would recommend this to fans of the genre.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
January 21, 2025
Onwards and Upwards by Celia Anderson
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
My Opinion
Onwards and Upwards was such a delightful book to read. Celia Anderson has created some charming characters and whilst they are older, they definitely do not disappoint. This is a heart-warming tale about friendship. Willowbrook has such a great community spirit that it sounds like a delightful place to visit.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
My Opinion
Onwards and Upwards was such a delightful book to read. Celia Anderson has created some charming characters and whilst they are older, they definitely do not disappoint. This is a heart-warming tale about friendship. Willowbrook has such a great community spirit that it sounds like a delightful place to visit.
Rating 4/5
January 31, 2025
Ingrid is a middle-aged woman who is keen to make a fresh start after the sudden death of her husband, Tommy. She lands in a little village called Willowbrook and takes over an empty shop, owned by her aunt, to sell some of the "stuff" that her husband hoarded over the years. He left her with a lot of debt.....and another surprise is coming her way!
Along the way, Ingrid meets the Saga Louts, a trio of interesting women a few years older than Ingrid, who are living their lives to the fullest. She also meets Joel and his daughter Olivia and these two will have a big impact on her life :)
This was a very enjoyable read. Everyone was living their lives and interacting with each other in a way that warmed the cockles of my heart. It wasn't one of those stories where everything is perfect and the main characters fall into each others arms and they ride off into the sunset. No, this is a modern story about modern issues and a woman who is trying to come out from under the shadow of her larger-than-life husband. Recovering from grief takes time too, and the book goes into that in a very sensitive and kind way.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
Along the way, Ingrid meets the Saga Louts, a trio of interesting women a few years older than Ingrid, who are living their lives to the fullest. She also meets Joel and his daughter Olivia and these two will have a big impact on her life :)
This was a very enjoyable read. Everyone was living their lives and interacting with each other in a way that warmed the cockles of my heart. It wasn't one of those stories where everything is perfect and the main characters fall into each others arms and they ride off into the sunset. No, this is a modern story about modern issues and a woman who is trying to come out from under the shadow of her larger-than-life husband. Recovering from grief takes time too, and the book goes into that in a very sensitive and kind way.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
March 10, 2025
In this fun new novel from Celia Anderson, readers meet recently widowed Ingrid as she plans her future and what to do with the debt and treasures left to her by her late husband. Downsizing to the charming village of Willowbrook and preparing to open a short-term pop-up shop, Ingrid has no idea what new friends -- the extroverted local ladies known as the Saga Louts -- and possible romantic partners -- particularly the helpful local craftsman Joel -- are willing to help her, and she can even help them out as well. Following her work in preparing for a new life and a second chance at happiness in Willowbrook, readers will love the cast of characters in this charming village and their growing friendships and relationships over the course of this novel. Funny, charming, and romantic, the characters are really lively and draw readers into the story, especially since they are so central to Ingrid’s own growth as a character. The setting is detailed and charming as a backdrop to her new life, and readers who love cozy second-chance novels will really enjoy Anderson’s latest book. Heartwarming, entertaining, and charming, this is a fun new novel that is excellently written, emotional, and immersive.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
February 23, 2025
Recently widowed Ingrid decides she needs to start afresh and get rid of the ‘stuff’ that her debt ridden Husband has accumulated over his years of being an Auctioneer and bringing home boxes of things in the hope a hidden valuable gem would be amongst it. To assist her to do this her Aunt lets her empty shop to her and Ingrid just wants to sell the items, clear the debt and move on. She doesn’t account however for the friendly locals, the Saga Louts amongst them who are a group of widowed ladies making the most of life. Ingrid starts to be friends with them all as they assist her in getting the shop open ready, along with Josh who helps her move in and his teenage Daughter Olivia who has just moved in with Josh for a while.
This story is about community, friendships, issues that happen to the young and older people and love. I fount the characters loveable, funny, touching and people I would want by my side. I enjoyed this book and it’s a reminder that no matter what love and friendship can change your life in so many ways. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in return for this review, the opinion of which is all my own.
This story is about community, friendships, issues that happen to the young and older people and love. I fount the characters loveable, funny, touching and people I would want by my side. I enjoyed this book and it’s a reminder that no matter what love and friendship can change your life in so many ways. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in return for this review, the opinion of which is all my own.
November 27, 2024
Ingrid has just moved into Willowbrook on a temporary lease in order to sell her late husband's things and move on quietly. Her husband was an auctioneer and hence she had lots of boxes of things he couldn't sell at auction to try and get rid of, so she thought she would rent a shop, make a little money and then find elsewhere to live. Willowbrook however has its own ideas and the Saga Louts soon welcome her into their fold as does Joel, a local handyman who helped her move in. She soon finds herself ensconced in new friends and more.
This is an endearing read, one perhaps to restore faith in human nature. There is no great drama about it other than one thread which is dealt with by Ingrid in a very matter of fact way despite seething under the surface at first, it’s a story of the goodness of strangers who quickly become friends. A different, very enjoyable read. A calming hug of a book.
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January 8, 2025
Ingrid is widowed and left with a large house full of treasures / tat that her auctioneer husband had accumulated - and a large amount of debt. She sells the house and takes advantage of renting a small shop in a village to try to sell off the "treasures" before starting her life again.
I didn't realise that this book by a new to me author is part of a series, although it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book and I will have to read the other one sometime. It is set in a small village with that community feel, I especially love the Saga Louts, a group of three older ladies who come to Ingrid's aid. There is a romantic interest in Joel, the divorced local handyman with a teenage daughter. This is a lovely feel-good book to read, with humour and that romantic interest. I will certainly be reading more books by this author and can recommend it for a relaxing read.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
I didn't realise that this book by a new to me author is part of a series, although it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book and I will have to read the other one sometime. It is set in a small village with that community feel, I especially love the Saga Louts, a group of three older ladies who come to Ingrid's aid. There is a romantic interest in Joel, the divorced local handyman with a teenage daughter. This is a lovely feel-good book to read, with humour and that romantic interest. I will certainly be reading more books by this author and can recommend it for a relaxing read.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
January 20, 2025
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
At the start of the book, we meet Ingrid, who moves to Willowbrook in search of a fresh start after losing her husband, Tommy. Amongst others in the village, she befriends Joel and his teenage daughter. Ingrid isn't sure what to do with all the things that Tommy left behind, but with the help of the other villagers, she opens her own shop, The Treasure Trove.
Ingrid was a lovely protagonist; I found her kind and compassionate, and I really enjoyed following her journey. I also thought Joel and Leo were wonderful characters; they made me smile. The characters who made me laugh the most were The Saga Louts. I enjoyed the bonds of friendship between the characters, which deepened as the story progressed.
This was a sweet, heartwarming story that speaks to new beginnings, and it left me smiling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
At the start of the book, we meet Ingrid, who moves to Willowbrook in search of a fresh start after losing her husband, Tommy. Amongst others in the village, she befriends Joel and his teenage daughter. Ingrid isn't sure what to do with all the things that Tommy left behind, but with the help of the other villagers, she opens her own shop, The Treasure Trove.
Ingrid was a lovely protagonist; I found her kind and compassionate, and I really enjoyed following her journey. I also thought Joel and Leo were wonderful characters; they made me smile. The characters who made me laugh the most were The Saga Louts. I enjoyed the bonds of friendship between the characters, which deepened as the story progressed.
This was a sweet, heartwarming story that speaks to new beginnings, and it left me smiling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
July 24, 2025
A Sweet Story of Midlife Beginnings
Though this one deals with losing a partner later on life and everything you have to deal with, for widow Ingrid, who lives in a mansion, things are about to change.
Her husband Tommy, it turns out, had lots of debts and she's left with his random antiques and bric a brac to sort.
Joel and his friend Sam help her move to their village where she's to temporary rent her aunt's flat and shop to set up The Treasure Trove to sell Tommy's stuff.
This is where it gets fun as we meet the Saga Louts, a trip of older women who are lovely and lively busy bodies and pull Ingrid into their circle to help her set up shop.
Then there's Joel himself, who begins to become friends with Ingrid when she steps in to let his teenager Leo move into her flat for a while to reduce family angst.
There's some emotional side stories involving difficult subjects, but it's Beryl, Winnie and Anthea who make the book.
It's a low spice romance, friendly banter, a sense of community and supportive friendship.
Though this one deals with losing a partner later on life and everything you have to deal with, for widow Ingrid, who lives in a mansion, things are about to change.
Her husband Tommy, it turns out, had lots of debts and she's left with his random antiques and bric a brac to sort.
Joel and his friend Sam help her move to their village where she's to temporary rent her aunt's flat and shop to set up The Treasure Trove to sell Tommy's stuff.
This is where it gets fun as we meet the Saga Louts, a trip of older women who are lovely and lively busy bodies and pull Ingrid into their circle to help her set up shop.
Then there's Joel himself, who begins to become friends with Ingrid when she steps in to let his teenager Leo move into her flat for a while to reduce family angst.
There's some emotional side stories involving difficult subjects, but it's Beryl, Winnie and Anthea who make the book.
It's a low spice romance, friendly banter, a sense of community and supportive friendship.
July 17, 2025
Sorry...
I'm going to sound mean now.
The story itself is lovely, the characters are great and I do think that Celia is very good at storytelling but...
It was far too boring! Far too much 'play by play' stuff! We don't need to read that Beryl walked to the shop while Winnie got the taxi! Etc etc..
I know that scenes need to be set when writing a story but there was just far too much of it..unnecessary! I skim read a lot in order to get it read. It started off well and I became invested in the story which, overall, is a lovely, quirky, rom - com/ family drama with lots of humour and emotion but it soon became far too boring and I just didn't have the patience for it.
I loved the Saga Louts, they were brilliant and they deserve to be in an another book but this book should have had more editing and proof reading before being published.
I'm going to sound mean now.
The story itself is lovely, the characters are great and I do think that Celia is very good at storytelling but...
It was far too boring! Far too much 'play by play' stuff! We don't need to read that Beryl walked to the shop while Winnie got the taxi! Etc etc..
I know that scenes need to be set when writing a story but there was just far too much of it..unnecessary! I skim read a lot in order to get it read. It started off well and I became invested in the story which, overall, is a lovely, quirky, rom - com/ family drama with lots of humour and emotion but it soon became far too boring and I just didn't have the patience for it.
I loved the Saga Louts, they were brilliant and they deserve to be in an another book but this book should have had more editing and proof reading before being published.
July 21, 2025
Newly widowed Ingrid moves to a small village where her aunt has a vacant shop to rent that has a large apartment above it. It's just right for her purpose. She needs to sell off all the "stuff" her late husband, an auctioneer, had accumulated over the years and hopes to have enough money left to purchase a small home for herself. Upon his death she finds he had large debts and some secrets he kept from her.
This is a slow moving story that's not very well written and I didn't find any humor in it. There's lots on relationships that's pretty good but not enough to make this a great read. If it had been promoted as being about that then perhaps I wouldn't have been disappointed. There's nothing unusual about these relationships. It's just the day to day lives of these people and how they support each other.
If you want a book that will put you to sleep fast, this is it.
This is a slow moving story that's not very well written and I didn't find any humor in it. There's lots on relationships that's pretty good but not enough to make this a great read. If it had been promoted as being about that then perhaps I wouldn't have been disappointed. There's nothing unusual about these relationships. It's just the day to day lives of these people and how they support each other.
If you want a book that will put you to sleep fast, this is it.
December 16, 2024
Recently widowed Ingrid decides to take a temporary lease of her aunt's shop in Willowbrook to sell off items collected by her husband to settle his debt and obtain money to start a new life. She receives unexpected help from three elderly ladies known as the Saga Louts as well as the two local men, Joel and Sam, who moved her possessions. As she gets drawn into the lives of the people helping her, she learns about a secret from her husband's past. Will she be able to let go to the past and step into a brighter future?
Wonderful characters who draw the reader into their lives and rooting them on.
#OnwardsandUpwards #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
Wonderful characters who draw the reader into their lives and rooting them on.
#OnwardsandUpwards #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
January 25, 2025
This is the second book I have read by this author.
Like the first, this book features the colorful older women crew of the village.
The story is engaging anf funny. The Saga louts crew are inspiring and encourage us all to keep living no matter what our age.
In this story, a woman moves into the village temporarily after she loses her husband. Of course, she does not expect some of the funny and moving situations she finds herself in.
I enjoy this author for her dedication to featuring women of all ages living life to the fullest or picking up the pieces after unexpected set-backs.
Like the first, this book features the colorful older women crew of the village.
The story is engaging anf funny. The Saga louts crew are inspiring and encourage us all to keep living no matter what our age.
In this story, a woman moves into the village temporarily after she loses her husband. Of course, she does not expect some of the funny and moving situations she finds herself in.
I enjoy this author for her dedication to featuring women of all ages living life to the fullest or picking up the pieces after unexpected set-backs.
January 20, 2025
I love stories with the older generation as the main characters. This book definitely fit that criteria. The characters each have different personalities and are wonderfully created. The plot held my interest in a very busy time in my life, which says quite a bit.
I want to thank Boldwood Book and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I want to thank Boldwood Book and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
August 3, 2025
Promising start, plateaued in the middle, and tanked in the end.
The Saga Louts are likable and well developed. I liked Ingryd for the first half of the book. Spoiler alert. The love relationship developed way too abruptly. Ingryd had only been there a very short time when all of a sudden Leo knew he was madly in love with her. Looking at her background, you would’ve thought Ingryd would’ve run in the other direction. Timing was just off. Very predictable as these kinds of novels tend to be, but still under developed.
The Saga Louts are likable and well developed. I liked Ingryd for the first half of the book. Spoiler alert. The love relationship developed way too abruptly. Ingryd had only been there a very short time when all of a sudden Leo knew he was madly in love with her. Looking at her background, you would’ve thought Ingryd would’ve run in the other direction. Timing was just off. Very predictable as these kinds of novels tend to be, but still under developed.
August 20, 2025
What? Another book about a woman who's reinventing herself in a new community? Why not? This is by no means great literature but was a nice place to escape to for a while. Ingrid's husband just died and she's moving on from her old life in a small English town and plans to open a thrift shop to sell all his old crap (he was an auctioneer). Quirky people jump in to help and there's a possible suitor thrown in as well. I would refer to this is as a junk food type of novel. Decent while being consumed, but will be soon forgotten. (This book is also listed as A New Lease of Life).
November 14, 2024
Quite a lovely book, the cast of characters being feisty, yet flawed and sometimes unsure of themselves.
And a very big plus: I was happy to see, without this being emphasized, this book was inclusive. I feel like adding an exclamation mark to that: diversity! Yay! It is always a treat to read books with lots of flavors of the human kind. All we need next time is a character being a chronic or disabled :)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
And a very big plus: I was happy to see, without this being emphasized, this book was inclusive. I feel like adding an exclamation mark to that: diversity! Yay! It is always a treat to read books with lots of flavors of the human kind. All we need next time is a character being a chronic or disabled :)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
December 19, 2024
Ingrid is recently widowed so she decides to downsize and move. She opens up the treasure trove to sell all her husband’s collections and help pay off the debt he left her. I loved the Saga Louts as they took her under their wing and helped her. She finds friends, community, and love in this small town. This is a beautiful story of second chances and moving forward.
Thank you Boldwood books for copy.
August 25, 2025
An OK book for an easy read.
The story overall was OK with a few surprises but also rather predictable in places. It was a bit to romantic for my taste, even with the constant descriptive words regarding food and drink - Steaming hot drink, crusty this aromatic that and so on. Most of time totally unnecessary, adding nothing to the story. Definitely not a story to stretch the mind.
The story overall was OK with a few surprises but also rather predictable in places. It was a bit to romantic for my taste, even with the constant descriptive words regarding food and drink - Steaming hot drink, crusty this aromatic that and so on. Most of time totally unnecessary, adding nothing to the story. Definitely not a story to stretch the mind.
September 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 After the death of her husband leaves her broke and full of questions. Ingrid moves to the small town of Willowbrook, where she tries to get rid of all of the hoards of treasures he had accumulated. She meets a group of women who become her friend and helps her set-up and operate this pop-up shop. Of course she accumulates friends, and surprise family in this feel good read. Some humor in this quick and easy read.
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