Grace Foreman never expected to find herself widowed before she turned sixty – but when she packs her bags for a summer on a gorgeous Greek island, the last thing on her mind is a holiday romance. Grace would rather take a chance on a tan … or maybe a new summer wardrobe…
But then Grace meets ex Special Forces soldier Will Lancing – and although Grace isn’t looking for love, she soon finds out she’s still got it when it comes to playing the dating game…
Still Got It is a light, feel-good read that follows Grace, a 60-year-old widow rediscovering herself on a beautiful Greek island. I really appreciated seeing an older female lead at the heart of a romance, which felt refreshing. The romance with Will is sweet, and the setting adds to the escapist charm. While the story follows a familiar path and didn’t completely hold my attention, it’s an easy, pleasant read for those looking for a warm, second-chance love story.
This book follows a woman, Grace, who is in her sixties. I think this is definitely something new (for me atleast) and I was intrigued to read the book.
I will admit that it is a bit hard to imagine a sixty year old woman being naive. There are times where I have to ask myself if I was still reading the same book because it felt like it was a twenty year old rather than a sixty year old.
However, I did enjoy Grace's story. Her personality is quite quirky and she is not afraid to do the right thing. GO GRACE. She is incredibly honest and caring no matter what or who. I absolutely love the body positivity too. Her going out in a bikini!! HELL YEAH.
There are quite a few male love potentials. Every man that popped up.. I went "Him?". Nope. "Him?" Nope. When we did get to the right man, oh boy. He is a treat. At first, it's easy to dislike him but it is even easier to fall right in love with him. He's a charming guy with an amazing physique (Grace said it.. not me).
Congrats on your first book release Claire!
💐Thanks to NetGalley and Claire Carver for early access to this book! 💐 🎀This review was all honest!🎀
This book was a wonderful, later-in-life comedy and the most perfect beach read and it pulled me into it’s pages right from the very beginning and did not let me go again until i had read every last page and devoured it all!
It was the perfect slow-burn story and had a small-community full of wonderful characters and the more i got to know them all the more i became entwined in their stories. The setting on a beautiful Greek island was amazing and the descriptions of Greek food made me constantly hungry!!
Still Got It was beautifully written and was such a wonderful adventure, it was funny and moving, had amazing banter, hot hot hot chemistry, a second chance love story, a gorgeous romance, it was uplifting and so full of love and laughter too. A perfect book for the Summer and a definite hit from this debut novel, i loved it…….
The whole book kept me engrossed....sensitively written with details of her work,I the island land her relationships with many of the charactets. Above all the book engages with the main characters aged over 60 but able to start a new life together.A thoroughly wonderful book!!!😁is
Still Got It is like slipping into a perfectly worn-in sundress, sipping ouzo at sunset, and remembering...oh right, I am still a total catch!.
Claire Carver gifts us a radiant, fizzy, and wonderfully cheeky story about rediscovering yourself and your mojo on a stunning Greek island, long after the world thinks your story is “supposed” to slow down.
Grace Foreman: sixty, recently widowed, and frankly not here for the clichés. Instead of wallowing, she books herself a ticket to an island dripping in blue skies, ancient ruins, and the kind of beach bars where nobody knows your backstory (unless you tell them over a cocktail). She's here for sun, sea, shopping… and absolutely zero romance. (Because who needs that hassle, right?)
Enter Will Lancing — ex-Special Forces, charmingly rugged, and the kind of man who looks like he could rescue you from a shipwreck or cook you breakfast, depending on your mood. Grace wasn’t looking for love, but Will doesn’t exactly give her a choice, what with all his meaningful glances and general “I could bench-press you and your emotional baggage” energy.
Their chemistry? Instant. Their banter? Sharp enough to slice a halloumi kebab.
But what really makes this story interesting is how real Grace feels! She’s not a dewy-eyed ingenue; she’s wise, witty, sometimes messy, and deeply human. Watching her navigate the awkwardness, excitement, and terror of falling for someone again feels genuinely refreshing and way more relatable than another twenty-something “meet cute.”
The island setting is lovingly described with all the smells, tastes, and sun-drenched romance you could hope for. (Warning: you will want to impulsively Google flights to Greece while reading.)
If I had one tiny quibble, it’s that parts of the story wrap up a little too neatly. I would have loved just a pinch more slow-burn conflict before the final swoon but honestly, that’s like complaining there’s too much baklava on your plate.
Still Got It is for anyone who's ever thought their best adventures were behind them and needs a reminder that life (and love) has absolutely no expiration date. Flirty, uplifting, and heartwarmingly honest, this is your next perfect vacation read , no matter where you are.
Still Got It by Claire Carver is a breathtaking debut romance that proves love knows no age, and that healing can bloom in the most unexpected moments.
Grace and Will are both at a crossroads in their lives, where grief and change force them to reassess their futures.
The result is a tender, deeply emotional journey that explores second chances and the quiet magic of finding love later in life.
From the outset, the humour in this book is a true delight.
It’s witty, sharp, and consistently lightens the mood, making the characters’ emotional struggles feel all the more impactful.
I felt like I was transported to a Greek island and could practically feel the sun on my back and the sand beneath my toes.
While it took me a little while to fully connect with Grace’s story, the dynamic between her and Will is undeniably touching.
Their bond strengthens over time, reminding Grace that love after loss is not a betrayal of the past but rather a continuation of life’s ever-changing narrative.
What makes Still Got It stand out is its raw, unflinching honesty.
Carver captures the experience of grief in all its forms - how it lingers, reshapes memories, and sometimes makes the idea of moving forward feel impossible.
But this book isn’t just a love story - it’s a tribute to resilience, to the courage it takes to open one’s heart again, and to the enduring, transformative power of love.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and its ability to blend humour with profound emotional depth is what truly makes it special.
Claire Carver has crafted a story that celebrates the quiet beauty of life’s second chances, and I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a heartfelt and uplifting read.
With thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Still Got It by Claire Carver is a beautiful, life-affirming story about second chances, healing, and finding love later in life. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of a Greek island, it follows Grace, a widow in her 60s, as she spends a summer teaching English abroad — not looking for romance, just a fresh start. Enter Will, a grumpy (but charming) ex-Special Forces soldier with his own emotional scars. What begins with awkward encounters and misunderstandings slowly, tenderly, blossoms into a genuine connection.
I loved how naturally their bond unfolded — no insta-love here, just slow trust, shared vulnerabilities, and small moments that gradually stitched two broken people back together. Grace’s inner struggle with grief and guilt was raw and beautifully portrayed, and Carver didn’t shy away from the complicated emotions that come with starting over later in life.
The gorgeous setting added so much heart too — from the beaches to the tavernas to the warm island community, it felt like a hug wrapped in sunshine. Yes, the beginning was a little slow and I would’ve loved even more glimpses into Grace’s teaching life, but once the emotional layers started peeling back, I was completely hooked.
Still Got It is a warm, witty, quietly powerful read that reminds us love has no expiry date — and that it’s never too late to live bravely again. Highly recommended for anyone who loves heartfelt, hopeful stories set in beautiful places❣️
Oh, I loved this one! It was absolutely perfect sitting in the sun and reading it - it almost felt like I was in Greece with them.
The story is told from one POV - that of Grace - who was widowed three years ago, and decides to take a summer teaching job on a small Greek island. The island sounded absolutely beautiful, with blue-domed buildings, sandy coves and a blue, blue sea.
When Grace meets Will, sparks fly but the course of true love never runs smoothly. Feelings of guilt seem to crush Grace, but she also finds herself taking a front seat when a fellow colleague finds herself in trouble and a few things go wrong in the village. Her strong sense of morals sometimes appears to get her in trouble but she just wants what’s best for everyone.
I loved Sophia, her best friend from home, who says it how it is and lives each day as if it is her last. I loved the way the Greek way of life was portrayed, with food playing a main part. My mouth was watering as a plethora of dishes were described and I felt like hopping over there to join in.
I loved that the FMC was the same age as me so all those old sayings that Grace kept coming out with are what I’m familiar with too. There’s plenty of life left for Grace to live, but how does she choose to spend it? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I was sent a copy of the book by the author in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
Okay, Still Got It by Claire Carver totally surprised me—in the best way. It’s not often I pick up a romance with a 60-year-old lead, and honestly? I’m more inclined to pick them up more often. Grace is out here proving that life doesn’t stop after 60, and I was absolutely rooting for her the whole way. It took me a minute to really connect, not gonna lie. But once I started vibing with Grace’s journey, I was invested. There’s something so quietly powerful about a woman rebuilding her life, learning to be okay with happiness again, and finding love that doesn’t erase the past but honors it while still moving forward. And then there’s Will. Tall, broody, ex-special forces Will who just gets her without trying to change her. Their relationship is soft and tender, and the emotional intimacy? Beautiful. Not overly dramatic, just real. The whole book feels like a sun-soaked escape—you can practically hear the ocean and smell the salty air. If you love stories about second chances, grief, growth, and love that arrives when you least expect it… this one’s for you. Also, this was my first Claire Carver book but not my last. Her writing is honest and warm, and now I want to read whatever she writes next.
As a massive fan of all things Greece, I was instantly attracted to this book. Add the fact that the lead character is a woman of a certain age and I was in!
Grace has been widowed for a few years now. Her marriage to Phil was great, they had two daughters who are now grown up and living their own lives. Grace has made a decision that has even startled herself. She's taken a summer teaching job on a Greek island. The novel begins as she arrives.
Claire Carver obviously loves Greece too! Her descriptions of this beautiful island, and it's people, the food, the landscape is just perfect and I wanted to Google my next Greek getaway immediately!
This is a love story, it's romantic but it's a little different. Grace is older, she has experience. She has a nice life already and is not sure that she needs to alter that. However, when her old friend Sofia visits her on the island for a week, she realises that there is life out there for her after all.
This is a warm, uplifting read that deals with some serious issues as well as being very funny in places. Grace is a wonderfully created character who I really enjoyed getting to know.
It's full of romance and sunshine and is recommended by me. Perfect for your holiday reading list.
60 year old Grace has taken a role in a language school in Greece. She’s not looking for a relationship and then she meets Will. Is it time for Grace to move on?
One of the things I sometimes look for in a book is a destination story because it means I can spend time in a completely different place. When I read the synopsis I couldn’t wait to escape to Greece with Grace.
I really enjoyed the story. It's about new chances, choices and new starts. Moving on can be difficult and this story reflects that aspect perfectly. I immediately took to Grace because she is someone who is such a kind person and that came across in the story so well. She decides to teach at a language school in Greece which is completely out of her comfort zone. She has to communicate with not only students but also her fellow teachers. One of the things I loved about Grace is that she pays close attention to those around her and if she sees someone struggling she tries to help them. But that does mean that she gets pulled into drama inadvertently especially drama at the language school.
I couldn't help but laugh during the first meeting between Grace and Will. They definitely had that grumpy sunshine vibe especially because during their first encounter Will seemed extremely grumpy. But then they bond especially when they realise that their names are the same as those from a popular sitcom. Grace and Will do initially clash and get on each others nerves. But eventually they find common ground and become friends that starts to turn into something more.
Both characters have gone through quite a lot in their personal lives. They have both loved and lost someone. Grace lost her husband and that’s something she’ll never get over. He was and still remains the love of her life and is always in her thoughts. He went through a debilitating illness that took him away from her piece by piece. Will’s relationship with his ex-wife and son broke down because of his job role. The turning point for Grace and Will’s relationship is when they have a very frank and honest conversation about their pasts and they open up to each other when they've never done that before. They are in essence strangers but they find comfort in each other and share their experiences.
In Claire Carver’s debut novel Still Got It, sixty-one year old Grace is in love with the landscape, cuisine and lifestyle of Greece. For years she has been overwhelmed by life-changing experiences: caring responsibilities leading to early retirement, the death of her husband, an adult child settling abroad. Grace misses teaching, so she takes a job at a language school on a Greek island. There she meets age-appropriate Will, a charming ex-forces security manager who appears to be suffering from commitment phobia. The fact that at least two of Will’s ex-girlfriends live on the small island does not deter Grace, and they embark on a romance. Will is a convincing and likeable character. Not only is he capable of having mind-blowing sex on the beach, but he can also cook and do his own laundry. Grace’s colleagues at the language school provide a mixture of companionship and breathtaking scandal to move the story along. Still Got It is an easy read with a feel-good ending. Its blending of later-life romance with beautiful locations and delicious food make it an excellent holiday read. I was given a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and HarperCollins UK for the chance to read Still Got It.
Still Got It follows Grace’s journey in the aftermath of her husband’s death. When she accepts a job teaching English on a Greek Island, she is scared but excited to do something out of her comfort zone. This book is perfect for summer.
Still Got It is more than a romance. It is a story of strength and the courage to open up after loss. It took me a bit to really latch onto the story and the characters, but I’m glad I did. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re getting older and that’s a lesson I think we could all use.
I loved Grace and Will. They are funny and have lived very unique lives. Their relationship felt real. It started as a friendship and bloomed into something neither of them expected. Specifically, Grace felt as though a relationship with Will meant that she was forgetting her husband. In the end, she realizes that there can be life and love after a significant loss.
I think Still Got It read more as women’s fiction than a true romance so it was different from what I expected. While it was different from books I normally read, I still enjoyed it.
Pack your suitcase with all those lovely beach clothes, either in reality or metaphorically, and place this lovely , escape from it all book on the top. Still Got It is one of those perfect holiday reads when you just want to escape from reality for a while and enjoy an easy read set under blue skies on warm sandy beaches. Obviously there is a lovely heroine in Grace and a gorgeous hunk of a guy in Will with a huge smattering of “Will they , won’t they “ thrown in to keep you turning over the pages.
There are some moments when you may find yourself welling up , or shedding a tear, when Grace remembers her husband and what a lovely life they had together and one moment in particular is very poignantly written and moving.
There is a wide variety of characters to keep you amused and quite a lot of small sub plots within this idyllic Greek community that supports the main storyline. There are friendships, misunderstandings, jealousies and romances to keep you engrossed from the very first page until the last .
A perfect light hearted holiday read and a lovely debut novel from Claire.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an early release.
"Still got it" is a breathtaking romance that proves love knows no age and that healing can bloom in the most unexpected moments. Grace and Will, find themselves at a crossroads where grief and change force them to redefine their futures. What unfolds is a tender, deeply emotional journey of second chances and the quiet magic of finding love later in life.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's witty and I loved the humor throughout the whole plot.
It took me a little while to get into Grace's story but with Will their bond strengthens and reminds Grace that love after loss is not a betrayal of the past but a continuation of life’s ever changing story.
What makes this story truly special is its raw honesty. Clarie captures grief in its many forms, how it lingers, reshapes memories, and at times, makes moving forward feel impossible. This book is not just a love story it’s a tribute to resilience, to the courage it takes to open one’s heart again, and to the quiet, enduring power of love.
Still Got It is a delightfully warm and uplifting story that makes you want to head straight for the airport and jump on a plane to a sunny Greek island. It's a captivating later-in-life love story that tells the tale of Grace Foreman, a widow and mother of two grown-up daughters, who grabs the opportunity to escape the daily grind and work as a teacher at a language school on a little-known Greek island for a whole summer. I didn't immediately warm to Grace, but she definitely grew on me, and in the end, I was cheering her on as she bravely explores new beginnings and opportunities. This debut novel is the perfect summer read. The author, Claire Carver, clearly loves Greece, and her book is full of details about the people, the culture, the food, and the sun that help make this book such an easy and enjoyable read. You can almost feel the sunshine on your face. With thanks to NetGallley and the publishers for an ARC
Claire Carver is a new author for me but I loved Still Got It and devoured each page over the course of a weekend. Grace Foreman is heading to a beautiful Greek island to teach English for the summer. Her husband recently passed away and her daughters have flown the nest so it’s high time she did something for herself. She may have turned sixty but this summer promises to be a fun experience for her, especially when she meets ex special forces soldier Will. This book was a joy to read. I loved the characters and how Grace built friendships with her colleagues and Will. You feel as if you’re on the island with them and the plot unfolds nicely. It’s a tale of friendship, new beginnings and experiences. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.
A pleasantly engaging read with a Greek island setting. As I love Greece, that captured my interest - along with the older than usual heroine and hero. It’s rare to see older couples as the h/H in women’s fiction let alone ones around the 60 mark!
I struggled with Grace initially as at times, she behaved and thought like a silly adolescent rather than a mature widow. I also found the friend a little predictable and unbelievably selfish. How thatbfriendship had lasted over 40 years was a mystery. I also disliked the OW character Celine because she was so much a cardboard cut-out character serving as an obvious plot device rather than contributing meaningfully and credibly to the story.
I liked the author’s voice and overall, I appreciated her writing skills. I would read more by this author. 😉
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
I love any book set in Greece and so on seeing the cover of this book I knew I had to read to it!
Still Got It is a brilliant romance novel that follows Grace, a woman in her 60s on a journey to find a fresh start. Grace travels to the Greek Islands to spend a summer teaching English abroad where she meets Will, the charming but frankly grumpy ex Special Forces Solider.
What unfolds in this novel is a beautiful, warm, uplifting story that reminds you it is never too late for love, age is just a number and that living bravely might just be the best reward of all.
My favourite part of the story? Feeling like I was sitting on a Greek Island - soaking up the sun, listening to the ocean waves, smelling the salty air and enjoying a cocktail or two.
This read looked really quite good until around chapter 5 when Graces' friend Sofia arrived. After travelling all the way to Greece to see Grace, all she seemed to do was try and encourage Grace to get herself a 'no strings attached ' type of affair. In today's modern age, surely a woman of her age 60+ would be the last person to advise this to her best friend who was a widow, for lots of reasons. Fair enough, so I read on, what interested me the most about this book was the setting, Greece and Graces' job teaching English, as my brother did that in Athens for years, and the research on it by the writer was pretty spot on. However, when the two women went for something to eat and all the ' tapas' was laid out, I thought, nope that should be meze, tapas is definitely Spanish.
Set on Greek Island, this is a story about Grace's emotional journey in the aftermath of her husband's death. She uses her teaching skills and applies for a job teaching English on the island. It's a brave move, but she's lonely and wants to make something of it for the rest of her life. Coming to terms with loss makes this a poignant tale, but Grace's sense of humour defines the story and balances the darker, sadder moments. There is also the beginning of romance, a rollercoaster of emotions for both participants. I like the protagonists, insightful storytelling, lovely friendships, humour, and romance. It's an immersive read that is perfect to escape with. I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I’ll be honest—I wasn’t totally sure what to expect when I was chosen to read this as an ARC, but by the end, I was completely won over. I adored Grace! Her character was such a breath of fresh air—strong, funny, relatable, and full of life. She made me want to channel that same confidence and joy in my own life. Her journey was exactly the kind of uplifting, feel-good story I didn’t know I needed.
And the setting? Let’s just say my desire to visit Greece skyrocketed. The vivid descriptions and cultural charm had me daydreaming the entire time. I’m so glad I gave this book a chance—it’s heartwarming, empowering, and the kind of story that stays with you after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommend!
Loved this book I literally couldn’t put it down . The book was gifted to me by the author and we read it in my cosy corner book club channel on instagram. I was thrilled to receive it and I thoroughly enjoyed it . Grace had me laughing out loud cringing and crying through the chapters moments of please Grace don’t do it !! One of those books that hooks you from the start and you can’t wait to see where the characters take you . It was a fabulous summer read that also dealt with the sadness of loss and happy summer romance equally . I’m desperate to holiday in Greece now . Highly recommend this book especially if your sitting on a beach in the sunshine but equally as good in the back yard deckchair
Widowed Grace hits the restart button on her life by taking a summer teaching job on a Grecian island. She loves teaching and her classes are filled with a variety of children or adults eager to learn English. Beautiful weather, beaches, and great food give her times off of work plenty of relaxation. She meets a variety of characters and jumps right in to friendships and pet rescues. She is uncertain of her future in the upcoming autumn and has a crisis on the third anniversary of her husband's death. This was a heartwarming later in life book with comedic and romantic moments. Sophia and Karen are outstanding characters.
This is a heart warming and funny book about later in life romance. The author tackles serious themes of grief and loss so that the book has depth as well as being really easy to read and enjoyable. Grace is a relatable main character who as one reviewer put it has a "super power" of being to read people really well. There are some interesting sub plots and the author clearly has a good knowledge of Greece as the setting are always well described. This book is a perfect holiday read or a brighten a gloomy day at home read and I'm excited to read the next book which I believe is out next month (Too Glam to give a Damm!)
Still Got It is the story of Grace, who goes to a Greek island to teach English after retirement. Her daughters are grown up and have their own lives and her husband passed away a few years earlier and she is enjoying a new life in a beautiful location. Whilst there she meets Will who is also nearing retirement age and they build a friendship which progresses into a second chance of love later in life. A light story with enjoyable characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC!
First of all I went into this blind. Didn’t know the author at all and I honestly love that! This book hit! I loved the age gap. I loved Grace everything about her! This book was Graces journey of grief really and finding herself after the loss of her husband Phil. She took a job teaching over and Greece to really find herself and find herself she did. I loved it and would highly recommend it.
This is a really feel good read. A refreshing novel which has the perfect amount of cheesy romance without being too much. It is a great second chance style story that follows a well love and familiar style of plot. Its raw, its feel good, its beautifully written. Highly recommend!
📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Claire Carver and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter📚 📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚
This is a beautiful book about love, self exploration and letting go of what used to be.
Grace, a widower, takes on a job at an English Language School on a Greek Island. We follow her adventures during the summer and are on the side when she makes friends along the way, leading to the special friendship with Will. As the 3 year anniversary of her husband's death comes closer, she has to make a choice. Is it time to move on or stay stuck in yesterday?
Claire Carver’s 'Still Got It' is a heart-warming, witty, and uplifting story that proves age is just a number. The characters are wonderfully relatable, and the humour had me smiling throughout. I especially recommend this for anyone who is a fan of the glorious Greek islands. The vivid descriptions of idyllic sandy coves, refreshing wild swims, and mouth-watering Greek food transport you to the Mediterranean. A perfect feel-good read that nourishes the soul and stirs the wanderlust!