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Aged to Perfection
'Dating in your 60s? This is what you need to know' The TelegraphAt sixty, Sophia Stone outdoes Bridget Jones in this deliciously daring romcom!
Sophia is determined to grow old disgracefully and refuses to be invisible. She craves fiery passion and steamy romance, not targeted ads for funeral plans. After a heart-shattering breakup, she ditches love to date a new man each week for a year.
As she flirts, fumbles and sips fizz through an array of encounters, from an opera buff in a cape to an orgasm whisperer, she discovers it's never too late to rewrite your own love story, even if it's not the one you expected…
Why readers have fallen in love with Sophia 'Refreshing, witty, and thoroughly entertaining… Aged to Perfection is a brilliant reminder that age is just a number, and there’s no limit to living life to the fullest.'⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Sophia shows that a sex life and adventure can still be found in later life and that it’s not slippers and knitting just because you reach a certain age … a brilliant read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Sophia is 60 and single .Why shouldn't she date a different man every week for a year? … Laugh out loud moments, brilliant reading for the older woman or, indeed, women of any age.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Absolutely brilliant, loved it. I will definitely be recommending.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I really enjoyed this novel … Niloufar Lamakan has a strong writing style and I am excited for more.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Loved this story … fun and full of enjoyment.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐
More praise for Aged to Perfection:'It’s refreshing to see an older heroine portrayed with so much spirit, vulnerability and unapologetic glamour. This is the perfect book to take on holiday, or savour in the garden in the sun with a glass of sangria.' Sixtyplusurfers
'Bold, daring, and gloriously funny.' Helen Lederer
'A fabulous read! I LOVED IT!' Amanda Prowse, International Bestselling Author
'At last, a heroine who proves passion has no age limit!' Kathleen Whyman, Bestselling Author
'Sassy and audacious!' Julietta Henderson, Richard and Judy Book Club author of The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman
Niloufar Lamakan celebrates the pursuit of passion in later life. Sophia’s … adventures on the mature dating circuit are hilarious. I recommend Aged to Perfection to anyone who enjoys a rude belly laugh! Paterson Loarn, author of Up the Community Centre
Sophia is determined to grow old disgracefully and refuses to be invisible. She craves fiery passion and steamy romance, not targeted ads for funeral plans. After a heart-shattering breakup, she ditches love to date a new man each week for a year.
As she flirts, fumbles and sips fizz through an array of encounters, from an opera buff in a cape to an orgasm whisperer, she discovers it's never too late to rewrite your own love story, even if it's not the one you expected…
Why readers have fallen in love with Sophia 'Refreshing, witty, and thoroughly entertaining… Aged to Perfection is a brilliant reminder that age is just a number, and there’s no limit to living life to the fullest.'⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Sophia shows that a sex life and adventure can still be found in later life and that it’s not slippers and knitting just because you reach a certain age … a brilliant read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Sophia is 60 and single .Why shouldn't she date a different man every week for a year? … Laugh out loud moments, brilliant reading for the older woman or, indeed, women of any age.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Absolutely brilliant, loved it. I will definitely be recommending.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I really enjoyed this novel … Niloufar Lamakan has a strong writing style and I am excited for more.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Loved this story … fun and full of enjoyment.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐
More praise for Aged to Perfection:'It’s refreshing to see an older heroine portrayed with so much spirit, vulnerability and unapologetic glamour. This is the perfect book to take on holiday, or savour in the garden in the sun with a glass of sangria.' Sixtyplusurfers
'Bold, daring, and gloriously funny.' Helen Lederer
'A fabulous read! I LOVED IT!' Amanda Prowse, International Bestselling Author
'At last, a heroine who proves passion has no age limit!' Kathleen Whyman, Bestselling Author
'Sassy and audacious!' Julietta Henderson, Richard and Judy Book Club author of The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman
Niloufar Lamakan celebrates the pursuit of passion in later life. Sophia’s … adventures on the mature dating circuit are hilarious. I recommend Aged to Perfection to anyone who enjoys a rude belly laugh! Paterson Loarn, author of Up the Community Centre
401 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2025
About the author
Niloufar Lamakan
2 books8 followersNiloufar Lamakan is an Iranian-born author and artist. She moved to the UK as a child and has lived in Islington, London most of her life. She came to writing after careers in tech, design, art, and property. Her debut novel, Aged to Perfection, won the Commendation Award at the Comedy Women in Print Prize and was a finalist at the Page Turner Awards.
She writes bold, spicy, romantic comedies that are unapologetically age-defiant. Her art also explores the connections between age, identity, and society’s perceptions of beauty. When she’s not painting or writing, you’ll find her on the dancefloor.
She writes bold, spicy, romantic comedies that are unapologetically age-defiant. Her art also explores the connections between age, identity, and society’s perceptions of beauty. When she’s not painting or writing, you’ll find her on the dancefloor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 18, 2025
DNFing at 15%. I was excited to read a FMC of a mature age navigating the chaos of the dating scene. I was intrigued by the diary entry format. It made it easy to get right into Sophia's headspace. However, her Sex and the City privileged and wealthy problems are not a story I feel compelled to spend more time with. Also, the author made a deliberate choice in portraying Sophia's housekeeper as a racist caricature. Will not recommend.
February 24, 2025
I really liked the idea of finding yourself again at a mature age (Sophia is sixty), navigating single life and learning to love again. Our FMC is fun, funny and pushes back, staying true to herself.
The dear diary set up was interesting but got extremely repetitive, although for this type of book setup it worked well - helping with the flow and scene setting, it was a really good way to set out her dating exploits; very good for visual readers like me :)
Overall it gave older Bridget Jones vibes.
I did think it was a little too long.
The dear diary set up was interesting but got extremely repetitive, although for this type of book setup it worked well - helping with the flow and scene setting, it was a really good way to set out her dating exploits; very good for visual readers like me :)
Overall it gave older Bridget Jones vibes.
I did think it was a little too long.
December 14, 2024
3.5⭐️
Disfruté mucho de la lectura. Me cayó muy bien Sophia. El libro trata sobre una mujer de 60 años que no se ha rendido en el amor. A lo largo de su vida, tuvo varios amores, pero ninguno terminó de la mejor manera, especialmente su última relación, que culminó en una doble traición. Durante la historia, tiene citas con diferentes personas, pero no solo se trata de eso; también se explora su dinámica familiar, social y laboral.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Disfruté mucho de la lectura. Me cayó muy bien Sophia. El libro trata sobre una mujer de 60 años que no se ha rendido en el amor. A lo largo de su vida, tuvo varios amores, pero ninguno terminó de la mejor manera, especialmente su última relación, que culminó en una doble traición. Durante la historia, tiene citas con diferentes personas, pero no solo se trata de eso; también se explora su dinámica familiar, social y laboral.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2024
I really enjoyed reading about Sophia's romantic adventures. Sixty somethings want to have sex, fun and good times too! It's a delicious romp through her sixtieth year in search of a fulfilling relationship with no holds barred and everything to play for.
November 23, 2024
I loved this witty book about the horrors and hilarities of Sophia's dating spree, aged 60. Great characters and great fun. I also thoroughly enjoyed the sneaky peek into the fascinating world of interior design. Just brilliant. Highly recommend.
April 21, 2025
to follow
March 10, 2025
A debut novel from Niloufar Lamakan, this mix of Bridget Jones’s Diary and How Stella Got Her Groove Back highlights that age is nothing but a number and life is what you make of it. While this book may not be for everyone, it certainly pays homage to women in their late fifties and early sixties who find themselves post-breakup, post-divorce, and unexpectedly back in the world of dating. It’s messy, it’s scary, and, in some cases, it’s downright hilarious!
Sixty is the new fifty - maybe even the new forty? Either way, Sophia Stone couldn’t care less. As long as she’s breathing, living her best life, and savoring her newfound freedom after a trip to recover from “The Traitor” who shattered her heart, she couldn’t ask for more. She’s perfectly content being single - or so she thought. At a New Year’s party, Sophia suddenly realizes that something’s missing. While she isn’t necessarily looking for a relationship, she’s definitely craving some adventure and excitement with the opposite sex. Enter the Dating Challenge, a brainchild of her best friend Leila. But this isn’t about finding love - Sophia is determined to date a new guy every week for the entire year. How hard could it be, right?
This book started out with plenty of promise. Written as a series of journal entries, we quickly learn that Sophia is recovering from a broken heart. Fresh off a trip around the world, and encouraged by her serial monogamist friend Leila to give love another shot, she embarks on a bold adventure: dating a new guy every single week for an entire year. As this is written as a journal, we’re also given glimpses into her relationships with friends, family, and her career.
While this method of writing has been a tried-and-true style in the past, one persistent issue throughout the book was the way characters were introduced. Since Sophia is writing in her own journal, new individuals often appear haphazardly, leaving the reader momentarily confused. For instance, a character named “Joy” suddenly shows up at Sophia's house. “Who is Joy?” It’s only later that you discover she’s the cleaning woman. This pattern repeats often with friends, making it difficult to keep track of who’s who until they start having defining moments that help you differentiate them. For a while, I thought the "Traitor" and her ex-husband were one and the same; but, as Sophia shared more about her past, the timeline didn’t quite add up - until she finally clarified and clearly distinguished between the two.
I absolutely loved each of Sophia’s dating endeavors. While they became less funny and slightly more bizarre as the story progressed, the initial poems recounting her exploits were thoroughly entertaining. What stood out the most, however, was the way we were given a glimpse into her parents’ lives - a touching reminder that even at 80, it’s never too late to try something new, embrace adventure, follow your dreams, and love with your whole heart.
Niloufar did a fantastic job using the secondary characters to reflect the diverse challenges faced by others in the same age group. She created a narrative where anyone in this age demographic can find a character to connect with, following their journeys through Sophia’s perspective.
With that being said, when Sophia mentioned she was going to go on a date a week, I didn’t realize we’d be getting daily (or semi-daily) updates on practically every aspect of her life. While it provided incredible insight into her personality and relationships, it made the overall story feel unnecessarily long. It also sent mixed messages about who Sophia really is.
Around the 67% mark, the story took a turn for the worse. I get that we all have our moments, but somewhere along the way, Sophia seemed to regress from 60 to 17. It felt like watching a major disaster unfold in real time. You’re horrified, but you can’t stop looking. The secondhand embarrassment from that point on was palpable.
By then, I found myself running out of patience and had to skip to the end just to see where it was all heading. Thankfully, the ending saved it. It took the book from a three-star read to four stars for me. The nonsense finally subsided, fractured relationships were mended, feelings were revealed, and you could at last see what all of this chaos had been leading to. It made the remainder of the story enjoyable and worth finishing.
This book pushed the boundaries of being steamy without crossing over into spicy territory. There were plenty of “horizontal” moments, and while some were vividly described, they were still presented in a cleaner, more refined manner compared to the explicit detail found in spicier books.
Aged to Perfection serves as a powerful reminder to women that being menopausal doesn’t mean they are any less attractive, sexual, or desirable. Throughout the story, we see Sophia struggle with this concept. One moment, she’s confident in her looks, her body, and her age; the next, she’s self-conscious and overly mindful of her actions. Adding to her internal battle is the constant judgment from those around her, who seem fixated on her age - believing that being in her sixties should dictate how she dresses, how she dates, and who she is as a person. I applaud that she constantly fought back against the box she was being forced into, but I found myself falling into the same narrow-minded judgment when some of her behaviors felt more adolescent, thinking to myself, “How old are you?!”
Overall, this book is likely to be a hit or miss. Women who can directly identify with Sophia - whether they’re in the same age group or have faced similar experiences - will probably adore it. Others may struggle to connect, as Sophia’s conflicting views and values can make her difficult to understand at times. You have to squint a bit to see the true growth in her character. It’s there, but with how often she flip-flops on her views of herself, love, and life, it’s hard to tell if she’s genuinely grown or simply reverted to who she was before her heart was broken.
That said, it’s always refreshing to see authors step away from the typical twenty- or thirty-something protagonists and venture into the “mature-age” realm. Dating, love, and heartache happen at any age - and it’s about time we celebrate that.
Sixty is the new fifty - maybe even the new forty? Either way, Sophia Stone couldn’t care less. As long as she’s breathing, living her best life, and savoring her newfound freedom after a trip to recover from “The Traitor” who shattered her heart, she couldn’t ask for more. She’s perfectly content being single - or so she thought. At a New Year’s party, Sophia suddenly realizes that something’s missing. While she isn’t necessarily looking for a relationship, she’s definitely craving some adventure and excitement with the opposite sex. Enter the Dating Challenge, a brainchild of her best friend Leila. But this isn’t about finding love - Sophia is determined to date a new guy every week for the entire year. How hard could it be, right?
This book started out with plenty of promise. Written as a series of journal entries, we quickly learn that Sophia is recovering from a broken heart. Fresh off a trip around the world, and encouraged by her serial monogamist friend Leila to give love another shot, she embarks on a bold adventure: dating a new guy every single week for an entire year. As this is written as a journal, we’re also given glimpses into her relationships with friends, family, and her career.
While this method of writing has been a tried-and-true style in the past, one persistent issue throughout the book was the way characters were introduced. Since Sophia is writing in her own journal, new individuals often appear haphazardly, leaving the reader momentarily confused. For instance, a character named “Joy” suddenly shows up at Sophia's house. “Who is Joy?” It’s only later that you discover she’s the cleaning woman. This pattern repeats often with friends, making it difficult to keep track of who’s who until they start having defining moments that help you differentiate them. For a while, I thought the "Traitor" and her ex-husband were one and the same; but, as Sophia shared more about her past, the timeline didn’t quite add up - until she finally clarified and clearly distinguished between the two.
I absolutely loved each of Sophia’s dating endeavors. While they became less funny and slightly more bizarre as the story progressed, the initial poems recounting her exploits were thoroughly entertaining. What stood out the most, however, was the way we were given a glimpse into her parents’ lives - a touching reminder that even at 80, it’s never too late to try something new, embrace adventure, follow your dreams, and love with your whole heart.
Niloufar did a fantastic job using the secondary characters to reflect the diverse challenges faced by others in the same age group. She created a narrative where anyone in this age demographic can find a character to connect with, following their journeys through Sophia’s perspective.
With that being said, when Sophia mentioned she was going to go on a date a week, I didn’t realize we’d be getting daily (or semi-daily) updates on practically every aspect of her life. While it provided incredible insight into her personality and relationships, it made the overall story feel unnecessarily long. It also sent mixed messages about who Sophia really is.
Around the 67% mark, the story took a turn for the worse. I get that we all have our moments, but somewhere along the way, Sophia seemed to regress from 60 to 17. It felt like watching a major disaster unfold in real time. You’re horrified, but you can’t stop looking. The secondhand embarrassment from that point on was palpable.
By then, I found myself running out of patience and had to skip to the end just to see where it was all heading. Thankfully, the ending saved it. It took the book from a three-star read to four stars for me. The nonsense finally subsided, fractured relationships were mended, feelings were revealed, and you could at last see what all of this chaos had been leading to. It made the remainder of the story enjoyable and worth finishing.
This book pushed the boundaries of being steamy without crossing over into spicy territory. There were plenty of “horizontal” moments, and while some were vividly described, they were still presented in a cleaner, more refined manner compared to the explicit detail found in spicier books.
Aged to Perfection serves as a powerful reminder to women that being menopausal doesn’t mean they are any less attractive, sexual, or desirable. Throughout the story, we see Sophia struggle with this concept. One moment, she’s confident in her looks, her body, and her age; the next, she’s self-conscious and overly mindful of her actions. Adding to her internal battle is the constant judgment from those around her, who seem fixated on her age - believing that being in her sixties should dictate how she dresses, how she dates, and who she is as a person. I applaud that she constantly fought back against the box she was being forced into, but I found myself falling into the same narrow-minded judgment when some of her behaviors felt more adolescent, thinking to myself, “How old are you?!”
Overall, this book is likely to be a hit or miss. Women who can directly identify with Sophia - whether they’re in the same age group or have faced similar experiences - will probably adore it. Others may struggle to connect, as Sophia’s conflicting views and values can make her difficult to understand at times. You have to squint a bit to see the true growth in her character. It’s there, but with how often she flip-flops on her views of herself, love, and life, it’s hard to tell if she’s genuinely grown or simply reverted to who she was before her heart was broken.
That said, it’s always refreshing to see authors step away from the typical twenty- or thirty-something protagonists and venture into the “mature-age” realm. Dating, love, and heartache happen at any age - and it’s about time we celebrate that.
April 16, 2025
Wonderfully entertaining book. Going to give it to all my single girl friends of a certain age because I'm sure they will enjoy reading it as much as I did. It amusingly illustrates that age is no barrier when it comes to feeling sexy and having lots of fun!
February 21, 2025
In her very funny debut novel Aged to Perfection, Niloufar Lamakan celebrates the pursuit of passion in later life. When Sophia Stone finds herself single at sixty, a friend dares her to seek her soulmate by going on one date a week for a year. Having had her fill of faithless men, Sophia chooses to ignore the soulmate bit. Instead, she resolves to have lots of meaningless but thrilling sex. Her adventures on the mature dating scene ring true. Characters like Premature Paul, the Opera Buff and the Orgasm Expert are hilarious and totally convincing.
Many humorous novels about older women are dominated by their relationships with former partners or adult children. In contrast, there is a refreshing sense of liberation in Aged to Perfection. Sophia’s sex life is nobody’s business but her own. Also, being a successful interior designer, she can afford to travel abroad on her quest for sensual pleasure. Her career also provides a stream of comical anecdotes about her quirky clients.
Lamakan narrates the story in diary format. Most of the entries are witty and casual, but others are more thoughtful. When Sophia is not engaged in bawdy carousing, she cares deeply for her close circle of friends, her lively eighty-year-old parents and her difficult sister. When she says ‘I kept my feelings inside with a giant stopper of nonchalance’ it perfectly sums up her personality.
I recommend Aged to Perfection to anyone who enjoys a naughty giggle. I was given a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Many humorous novels about older women are dominated by their relationships with former partners or adult children. In contrast, there is a refreshing sense of liberation in Aged to Perfection. Sophia’s sex life is nobody’s business but her own. Also, being a successful interior designer, she can afford to travel abroad on her quest for sensual pleasure. Her career also provides a stream of comical anecdotes about her quirky clients.
Lamakan narrates the story in diary format. Most of the entries are witty and casual, but others are more thoughtful. When Sophia is not engaged in bawdy carousing, she cares deeply for her close circle of friends, her lively eighty-year-old parents and her difficult sister. When she says ‘I kept my feelings inside with a giant stopper of nonchalance’ it perfectly sums up her personality.
I recommend Aged to Perfection to anyone who enjoys a naughty giggle. I was given a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
In this funny and charming new romance novel, readers follow Sophia Stone, who is not letting turning 60 stop her from enjoying her life and the dating scene. Recovering from a devastating break-up, she decides to date a new man each week and chronicle the many wild results and dates from her experiment. In her search for a happy ending to her love story, Sophia might learn more about herself along the way, and maybe the love story she’s looking for has been right there the whole time. Funny, steamy, irreverent, and entertaining, Sophia is a complicated and charming romance heroine whose struggles will speak to a branch of the audience, while the rest of the readers will stick around for the many entertaining scenarios Lamakan has dreamed up for Sophia. Wickedly funny and pushing the boundaries of everyone in her life, Sophia undergoes some fascinating character development in this novel, and readers will love the many rotating side characters that are quickly and successfully brought to life in this novel. With so much going on, readers will love the quick pace, epistolary, diary-entry structure, and confessional tone of this book for its insights into Sophia’s mind and what she wants in her happy ending.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the advance copy.
February 6, 2025
I was excited to read a romantic comedy featuring a mid-life protagonist. Older female main characters, especially those over 50, are difficult to come by in the romance genre and, as a woman in mid-life herself, I always try to pick those books up when I see them.
Unfortunately, Aged to Perfection did not work for me. We follow a year in the dating life of Sophia, a 60 year-old successful designer, who is ready for fun after being badly hurt in her previously relationships. Except she's not, not really. Any hopes I had of an empowering, mid-life, sex positive story quickly went out the window. Sophia is riddled with anxiety, low self-esteem, and a number of other personality traits that make her feel more like a character in her twenties. At no point did I feel connected to her or her story. The book is written in a diary format which hindered the depth of storytelling and emotional connection to the character even further. I never felt Sophia's growth as a character either. Even worse, undercurrents of fatphobia throughout the book and a racist portrayal of her Filipino housekeeper pushed this story firmly into "would never recommend" territory.
Readers looking for an empowering story of a women in mid-life who knows herself and is ready to take on the dating world should look elsewhere. Only lovers of very, very flawed characters floundering through life might be satisfied with this story. Unfortunately, Aged to Perfection was less sexy or funny and more cringey for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy. Aged to Perfection releases February 7, 2025.
Unfortunately, Aged to Perfection did not work for me. We follow a year in the dating life of Sophia, a 60 year-old successful designer, who is ready for fun after being badly hurt in her previously relationships. Except she's not, not really. Any hopes I had of an empowering, mid-life, sex positive story quickly went out the window. Sophia is riddled with anxiety, low self-esteem, and a number of other personality traits that make her feel more like a character in her twenties. At no point did I feel connected to her or her story. The book is written in a diary format which hindered the depth of storytelling and emotional connection to the character even further. I never felt Sophia's growth as a character either. Even worse, undercurrents of fatphobia throughout the book and a racist portrayal of her Filipino housekeeper pushed this story firmly into "would never recommend" territory.
Readers looking for an empowering story of a women in mid-life who knows herself and is ready to take on the dating world should look elsewhere. Only lovers of very, very flawed characters floundering through life might be satisfied with this story. Unfortunately, Aged to Perfection was less sexy or funny and more cringey for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy. Aged to Perfection releases February 7, 2025.
February 20, 2025
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
Sophia is not looking for love but a year of fun and sex or at least she thinks she is. Can lots of dates and dealing with her friends and family help her find what she truly wants.
Wow this was such a good read. I will admit there were a couple of sections i had to skip because well they grossed me out. Feet related antics are not my thing, plus another scene which was too much. Beyond that the story is funny, heartwarming and joyful. There is a fair amount of sex mentioned in this but its not overly graphic and often quite humerous. I loved how it was divided up into months and built to a perfect ending. The poems were hilarious too. The fact she is an older woman, trying to live her best life just added to the story. The ending was so good and exactly how i was hoping it would end. A brilliant fun read.
Sophia is not looking for love but a year of fun and sex or at least she thinks she is. Can lots of dates and dealing with her friends and family help her find what she truly wants.
Wow this was such a good read. I will admit there were a couple of sections i had to skip because well they grossed me out. Feet related antics are not my thing, plus another scene which was too much. Beyond that the story is funny, heartwarming and joyful. There is a fair amount of sex mentioned in this but its not overly graphic and often quite humerous. I loved how it was divided up into months and built to a perfect ending. The poems were hilarious too. The fact she is an older woman, trying to live her best life just added to the story. The ending was so good and exactly how i was hoping it would end. A brilliant fun read.
February 21, 2025
Aged to Perfection is a beautiful and fun story about finding love in less conventional ways. We follow our main character, Sophia, as she decides that she wants to find love (or at least maintain an active sex life), which, as she finds out, is not as easy for a sixty year old woman like her, as the men she meets are often very rude and dismissive of her age.
She has a variety of experiences with men from all walks of life, and faces a conflict within her own family (as well as her friend group) for this ‘new Sophia’, but ultimately she has a tight-knit circle of friends to stand by her, which I loved.
I thought the story was really interesting as older women aren’t often represented in the romance genre, so it was great to see Sophia’s experiences and how she handled things in her life. I loved her friends and how certain conflicts were handled throughout. It was a beautiful story of finding love and being true to yourself and I’d recommend it to any other romance fans.
She has a variety of experiences with men from all walks of life, and faces a conflict within her own family (as well as her friend group) for this ‘new Sophia’, but ultimately she has a tight-knit circle of friends to stand by her, which I loved.
I thought the story was really interesting as older women aren’t often represented in the romance genre, so it was great to see Sophia’s experiences and how she handled things in her life. I loved her friends and how certain conflicts were handled throughout. It was a beautiful story of finding love and being true to yourself and I’d recommend it to any other romance fans.
March 20, 2025
Aged to Perfection
by Niloufar Lamakan
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women's fiction
I loved the sound of this, romance isn't just the province of the young, and Sophia sounded such fun.
Its a decent story, well told and interesting but...I just couldn't really engage with the characters. I found Sophia a bit shallow, and her friends were a strange bunch. Mind, so are mine but I like to think they are there for me when I need them. I didn't feel that with Sophia and her gang though. I ended up skim reading just to see the end.
Its not a book for me, its personal choice, we all want different things and this is perfect for many readers. I didn't dislike it, I just didn't find it held my attention, didn't let me get “lost” in the story.
Stars: Three, a great read for others but just an OK read for me :-(
ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers
by Niloufar Lamakan
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women's fiction
I loved the sound of this, romance isn't just the province of the young, and Sophia sounded such fun.
Its a decent story, well told and interesting but...I just couldn't really engage with the characters. I found Sophia a bit shallow, and her friends were a strange bunch. Mind, so are mine but I like to think they are there for me when I need them. I didn't feel that with Sophia and her gang though. I ended up skim reading just to see the end.
Its not a book for me, its personal choice, we all want different things and this is perfect for many readers. I didn't dislike it, I just didn't find it held my attention, didn't let me get “lost” in the story.
Stars: Three, a great read for others but just an OK read for me :-(
ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers
February 14, 2025
I loved having an older female character challenging societal assumptions about dating in later life.
Sophia is a successful businesswoman with a fabulous friendship group but she's avoided romance after a terrible betrayal. At a NYE party she vows to start dating again, but on her terms and just for fun. And to end the dick drought.
But dating becomes exhausting. There's opera man with a strange kink. Banana man, cement man and orgasm man who might fulfil her sexually, but whose conversational abilities leave much to be desired.
And then there's the Hot One. Who screams red flag, but who reels her in and makes her realise that deep down she longs for a deeper connection.
A light hearted story about being true to yourself, defying society's ageist stereotypes and being sexy and sassy at any age.
Sophia is a successful businesswoman with a fabulous friendship group but she's avoided romance after a terrible betrayal. At a NYE party she vows to start dating again, but on her terms and just for fun. And to end the dick drought.
But dating becomes exhausting. There's opera man with a strange kink. Banana man, cement man and orgasm man who might fulfil her sexually, but whose conversational abilities leave much to be desired.
And then there's the Hot One. Who screams red flag, but who reels her in and makes her realise that deep down she longs for a deeper connection.
A light hearted story about being true to yourself, defying society's ageist stereotypes and being sexy and sassy at any age.
December 23, 2024
2.5⭐️
This was a fun read! Though it didn’t all the way work for me.
I LOVED our FMC. Sophia is sixty and sexy and fun! We follow her through a year of dating as she navigates single-dom after betrayal (and some mild infidelity paranoia!). She is so fun and funny.
I think what didn’t work for me was the formatting. It’s written in diary style entries following the year and I felt like that prohibited us from really understanding the side characters that are crucial to her story. BUT! I think if I’d listened on audio I would think differently. I think this will lend itself quite nicely to an audiobook.
I love a mature lead character, especially when they push back on what’s expected of characters and people of a certain age.
Thirty, flirty and thriving? Try sixty, sexy and soaring!!
This was a fun read! Though it didn’t all the way work for me.
I LOVED our FMC. Sophia is sixty and sexy and fun! We follow her through a year of dating as she navigates single-dom after betrayal (and some mild infidelity paranoia!). She is so fun and funny.
I think what didn’t work for me was the formatting. It’s written in diary style entries following the year and I felt like that prohibited us from really understanding the side characters that are crucial to her story. BUT! I think if I’d listened on audio I would think differently. I think this will lend itself quite nicely to an audiobook.
I love a mature lead character, especially when they push back on what’s expected of characters and people of a certain age.
Thirty, flirty and thriving? Try sixty, sexy and soaring!!
January 21, 2025
I really liked the idea of an older woman romance. However, i just didn't gel with Sophia as the main character.
I liked how it was written in the daily diary type format. That was a really good way to set out her tales of her year of dating exploits. It's a format that I think works really well in this genre.
There were some really tough themes for the side characters, including cancer and cheating. They didn't add masses to the story of Sophia and could have been left out without much detriment to her. I did appreciate how the author showed that Grace's mental health was impacted after her treatment, though. I thought the side characters were really good and much more relatable than Sophia to me.
It felt like quite a long read, though it is not a hugely long story. I did have a cold when reading it, though, so perhaps it was just me!
The writing is done well, and most of the characters are interesting, so i would pick up more by this author.
I liked how it was written in the daily diary type format. That was a really good way to set out her tales of her year of dating exploits. It's a format that I think works really well in this genre.
There were some really tough themes for the side characters, including cancer and cheating. They didn't add masses to the story of Sophia and could have been left out without much detriment to her. I did appreciate how the author showed that Grace's mental health was impacted after her treatment, though. I thought the side characters were really good and much more relatable than Sophia to me.
It felt like quite a long read, though it is not a hugely long story. I did have a cold when reading it, though, so perhaps it was just me!
The writing is done well, and most of the characters are interesting, so i would pick up more by this author.
February 13, 2025
While I loved the premise of this book and the first few chapters, the diary style set up got extremely repetitive and extremely difficult to sit through.
The characters are also not really nice people or even good people in a lot of cases.
Despite being 60 (as she keeps repeating over and over again) the main character acts like a 21 year-old girl who’s never been on a date before and that just kind of made me sad. She is rather insufferable and not a little delusional….
I love the idea of the main romance but you don’t get that until the last few chapters.
I skimmed from 40% to 95% and I didn’t feel like I lost much of the story. I probably could have skimmed at 25% to 95%.
This book was too long
February 18, 2025
This has very Bridget Jones meets SATC vibes😍. Told in a sort of diary entry format, we join Sophia as she navigates the big 60 with a year of romps, fun, and good times as she searches for a fulfilling relationship. It was really nice to see a female MC of a mature age for a change. She was flirty, quirky and clearly still had it in her😅 The dating scene nowadays is definitely a mindfield in itself and this was a truly witty, entertaining and accurate take of the horrors, the mishaps and everything in-between that singletons will likely face on our journey to love. She was borderline delusional at times, but aren't we all?! I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a rom-com read alongside your Bridget boxset!
February 22, 2025
So there’s a lot of buzz about Bridget Jones at the moment and here we have a book written in diary format, about a singleton embarking on a dating adventure. Sounds pretty usual right? Wrong. The heroine of this tale (and mark my words, she really IS a heroine) is not in her early 20s or even 30s. Shes 60. Yes, you read that right. Guess who else is 60? And single? Me. Well, almost. I will be 60 in November and let me tell you, Sophia is so relatable to me. This is a warm, witty novel with a great cast of supporting characters. I absolutely raced through it because I was enjoying it so much. It would make a fabulous movie, one I would definitely go and see. If you love a strong, independent female protagonist then you need this book in your life. What are you waiting for?
March 23, 2025
I liked the idea of a 60-year-old woman diving into the dating world again. I didn't care for the diary format, a la Bridget Jones, plus taking it by the time of day, who writes a diary that way. I never connected emotionally with Sophia which made it impossible to get into the plot. If you don't care about the characters you can't care about the story. I picked up the book and put it back down a few times, I skipped around the story hoping to find a spot that held my interest. I guess the premise of sex and the single woman wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Aged to Perfection #Niloufar Lamakan #NetGalley #One More Chapter #Harper Collins Publishers #late in life romance #dating at 60
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Aged to Perfection #Niloufar Lamakan #NetGalley #One More Chapter #Harper Collins Publishers #late in life romance #dating at 60
February 5, 2025
I must admit that I struggled with this book. The main character is Sophia, a sixty year old struggling after her relationship finished. She decides to have a date every week for a year with the aim of having fun, rather than a relationship. Cue a series of sexy escapades, although these weren't too explicit for me I couldn't see myself doing the same. It does show how failure of any relationship can damage you, and, for me at least, it's missing the close companionship more than anything else. Although this book wasn't for me I'm sure many more will enjoy it.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
January 1, 2025
This is written like a diary of Sophia, who is in her sixties, who has decided to embark on a date a day for a year. This did have some laugh out loud moments and I loved the way she gave names to some of the men she met like Cement Man. Sophia shows that a sex life and adventure can still be found in later life and that it’s not slippers and knitting just because you reach a certain age. Friendships and fun made this a brilliant read. Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book with reviews all my own.
February 9, 2025
Sophia is sixty, single, and sad. She is recovering from a messy relationship break-up that the reader soon realises involved more than one betrayal. This emotional love story explores complex familial and friend relationships. Sophia's dating quest provides an enticing mix of humour tinged with sadness. It's an easy, entertaining read with believably vibrant characters and scenarios. I like the immersive writing style that draws you into Sophia's emotional journey.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 13, 2025
Aged to Perfection
by Niloufar Lamakan
I was eager to dive into this romantic comedy featuring a woman over 60, particularly because it was presented in the engaging format of diary entries. While I found the book didn’t resonate with me personally, as someone approaching that same age, I appreciate what it offers. The story centres on Sophia and her year-long journey through the dating scene after overcoming a betrayal. Although it may not have been my cup of tea, I have no doubt that many readers will find joy in it. wasn't for me I'm sure many more will enjoy it.
by Niloufar Lamakan
I was eager to dive into this romantic comedy featuring a woman over 60, particularly because it was presented in the engaging format of diary entries. While I found the book didn’t resonate with me personally, as someone approaching that same age, I appreciate what it offers. The story centres on Sophia and her year-long journey through the dating scene after overcoming a betrayal. Although it may not have been my cup of tea, I have no doubt that many readers will find joy in it. wasn't for me I'm sure many more will enjoy it.
February 18, 2025
I struggled a bit at first with Aged To Perfection though I admired the central character, Sophia Stone, who, at sixty, is determined to revamp her virtually non-existent sex life but without the complication of either a relationship or any romance. It was refreshing to see a woman of almost my age on the page as a central character and fun watching her go through her body checks and her various dates. There are plenty of light moments but there is also a sense of insecurity about Sophia. Her journey was entertaining and enjoyable.
March 4, 2025
I loved reading this book, loads of fun, Sophia is such a wonderful character.
I shall be buying this book for a couple of friends who I know will love it as much as I did, the descriptions of her dates was hilarious I don’t think I’ll listen to Carmen the same ever again 😂
In a serious world we all need a bit of romcom escapism and this book does just that.
Looking forward to reaching my sixties if I’m as cool as Sophia 🥰
Thank you @lovebookstours @nlamakan and @onemorechapterhc for having me on the tour and for a copy of the ebook.
I shall be buying this book for a couple of friends who I know will love it as much as I did, the descriptions of her dates was hilarious I don’t think I’ll listen to Carmen the same ever again 😂
In a serious world we all need a bit of romcom escapism and this book does just that.
Looking forward to reaching my sixties if I’m as cool as Sophia 🥰
Thank you @lovebookstours @nlamakan and @onemorechapterhc for having me on the tour and for a copy of the ebook.
Read
April 20, 2025As someone who has dipped her toe into the online dating pool, I found this interesting, if perhaps a tad unrealistic. That said, of course London, England, is totally different to Australia. At first, I thought it was amusing, but inevitably it became a bit repetitive. Her goal to meet a new man each week is pretty well unachievable as you get older. So, good for light reading, but don’t take it too seriously!
January 11, 2025
This book could of been for any age not just for a woman celebrating her 60th year..
A year of dates just for sex. Meet usual suspects, losers and one night stands abound. Friendships fracture along with sisterly relationships.
Read and enjoy, smile at the encounters and roll your eyes at the self deception.
A year of dates just for sex. Meet usual suspects, losers and one night stands abound. Friendships fracture along with sisterly relationships.
Read and enjoy, smile at the encounters and roll your eyes at the self deception.
February 14, 2025
Sophia Stone shows passion has no age limit!
Sexy, self-assured, and sixty. Sophia Stone shatters aging stereotypes with wit and sensuality. At last, a heroine who proves passion doesn't have an expiration date!
A fantastically original and witty read and a more than worthy Comedy Women in Print prize winner.
Can't wait to read more from Niloufar!
Sexy, self-assured, and sixty. Sophia Stone shatters aging stereotypes with wit and sensuality. At last, a heroine who proves passion doesn't have an expiration date!
A fantastically original and witty read and a more than worthy Comedy Women in Print prize winner.
Can't wait to read more from Niloufar!
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