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Audrey's Gone AWOL
It's never too late to reinvent your life
Audrey Lamont has happily devoted herself to family life for the best part of 40 years, but lately she's become aware that she lost herself somewhere between 'I do' and the weekly shop.
Worse, her academic husband Simon has found time for romance–just not with Audrey. Feeling invisible to everyone, even herself, she flees to her aunt's home in rural France.
While waiting for her sudden absence to spark a change of heart in Simon, Audrey finds solace in the charms of the French countryside and the company of her aged aunt and a cast of eccentric Bretons.
But soon Audrey discovers going AWOL might do more than save her marriage, it might change her life …
Audrey's Gone AWOL is a funny and beautifully observed story about losing yourself, finding yourself, and discovering joy.
‘Warm, wise and wonderfully original, this book is for every woman who's given her life to supporting a husband and raising a family. Every woman who's forgotten who she is and wants to learn how to hear that quiet voice inside her, the one that says, ‘Just say no.' Shirley Valentine for the new millennium. This is my book of the year.'–Louise Allan, author of The Sisters' Song
'Deeply engaging, witty and warm, Audrey is an absolute delight!'–Louise Wolhuter, author of An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb
Audrey Lamont has happily devoted herself to family life for the best part of 40 years, but lately she's become aware that she lost herself somewhere between 'I do' and the weekly shop.
Worse, her academic husband Simon has found time for romance–just not with Audrey. Feeling invisible to everyone, even herself, she flees to her aunt's home in rural France.
While waiting for her sudden absence to spark a change of heart in Simon, Audrey finds solace in the charms of the French countryside and the company of her aged aunt and a cast of eccentric Bretons.
But soon Audrey discovers going AWOL might do more than save her marriage, it might change her life …
Audrey's Gone AWOL is a funny and beautifully observed story about losing yourself, finding yourself, and discovering joy.
‘Warm, wise and wonderfully original, this book is for every woman who's given her life to supporting a husband and raising a family. Every woman who's forgotten who she is and wants to learn how to hear that quiet voice inside her, the one that says, ‘Just say no.' Shirley Valentine for the new millennium. This is my book of the year.'–Louise Allan, author of The Sisters' Song
'Deeply engaging, witty and warm, Audrey is an absolute delight!'–Louise Wolhuter, author of An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb
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Published April 3, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
May 20, 2024
What a wonderful audio book this was! Jennifer Vuletic was the perfect rendition of Audrey. On the cusp of something big, Audrey is the voice of women I’ve been reading of a lot lately, of the age when we realise a lot about ourselves, what we’ve done, how we’ve done it, and who we’ve done it for.
This is a life affirming story about finding one’s voice, going on an adventure, and trying new things, while still maintaining the important relationship of mum. But now Audrey realises she isn’t just a wife and mother, she is no longer the role society expects her to be.
The author gives Audrey an amazing voice, a funny voice, and a serious voice. Realising the husband whom she has committed her entire adult life to has disrespected their marriage union in the worst way possible, Audrey vows to make her situation better. Fleeing to her elderly Aunt in rural France who has been involved in an accident, Audrey takes on role of carer and begins to look after the bed and breakfast there with unexpected flair.
Audrey learns so much along the way, and as she imparts all this goodness to the reader, we can’t help but fall in love with this spirited, quirky yet vulnerable woman. The writing is remarkably astute, witty, and entertaining. So much more so given the outstanding narration, slipping into Audrey’s mind and body; gifting the audience with something special. The growing awareness Audrey has with her boundaries, learning to stop doing that which does not serve.
The cast of characters in France is wonderful, fleshed out to all impart lessons on Audrey’s journey. Audrey’s children fulfill an important role also, in the communication on WhatsApp group entitled Mum’s gone AWOL was rewarding, her adult children gradually understanding their mother, and her many sacrifices over the years.
Observing Audrey’s growth and realisation in her husband’s role in her life, and hers in his, and the candour and lack of callousness she provides in the awfulness of what her husband has done made for satisfying reading, in the right readers hands, this book will be savoured, leaving a smile.
A smart and savvy story, highly recommended.
I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
This is a life affirming story about finding one’s voice, going on an adventure, and trying new things, while still maintaining the important relationship of mum. But now Audrey realises she isn’t just a wife and mother, she is no longer the role society expects her to be.
The author gives Audrey an amazing voice, a funny voice, and a serious voice. Realising the husband whom she has committed her entire adult life to has disrespected their marriage union in the worst way possible, Audrey vows to make her situation better. Fleeing to her elderly Aunt in rural France who has been involved in an accident, Audrey takes on role of carer and begins to look after the bed and breakfast there with unexpected flair.
Audrey learns so much along the way, and as she imparts all this goodness to the reader, we can’t help but fall in love with this spirited, quirky yet vulnerable woman. The writing is remarkably astute, witty, and entertaining. So much more so given the outstanding narration, slipping into Audrey’s mind and body; gifting the audience with something special. The growing awareness Audrey has with her boundaries, learning to stop doing that which does not serve.
The cast of characters in France is wonderful, fleshed out to all impart lessons on Audrey’s journey. Audrey’s children fulfill an important role also, in the communication on WhatsApp group entitled Mum’s gone AWOL was rewarding, her adult children gradually understanding their mother, and her many sacrifices over the years.
Observing Audrey’s growth and realisation in her husband’s role in her life, and hers in his, and the candour and lack of callousness she provides in the awfulness of what her husband has done made for satisfying reading, in the right readers hands, this book will be savoured, leaving a smile.
A smart and savvy story, highly recommended.
I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
April 13, 2024
Three stars.
After forty years of marriage to Simon, Audrey in her sixties, feels invisible. More so when she finds Simon is romantically involved with a colleague. When the opportunity arises, Audrey flees to her aunt ‘s home in rural France. There the reader encounters her eccentric aunt and other interesting characters. The setting is great and Audrey finds herself discovering who she is and maybe who she can be.
It is a light, feel good type of story. I was expecting to love it given all the great reviews I saw before reading it. Thanks to Better Reading for my copy which I won to read and review. Glad to have the opportunity to read it but in the end it seems I was just the wrong reader for this book. It is the first I have won for a long while, so it was a shame that though I liked it, I didn’t love it. I can’t even pinpoint why that was. No doubt many will love it though and given reviews I have seen since maybe I am the one who has gone awol😁. So don’t let me put you off if it sounds like your kind of story. Lots of people will love it.
After forty years of marriage to Simon, Audrey in her sixties, feels invisible. More so when she finds Simon is romantically involved with a colleague. When the opportunity arises, Audrey flees to her aunt ‘s home in rural France. There the reader encounters her eccentric aunt and other interesting characters. The setting is great and Audrey finds herself discovering who she is and maybe who she can be.
It is a light, feel good type of story. I was expecting to love it given all the great reviews I saw before reading it. Thanks to Better Reading for my copy which I won to read and review. Glad to have the opportunity to read it but in the end it seems I was just the wrong reader for this book. It is the first I have won for a long while, so it was a shame that though I liked it, I didn’t love it. I can’t even pinpoint why that was. No doubt many will love it though and given reviews I have seen since maybe I am the one who has gone awol😁. So don’t let me put you off if it sounds like your kind of story. Lots of people will love it.
June 5, 2024
Audrey’s Gone AWOL is the first novel by Australian author, Annie de Monchaux. The audio version is brilliantly narrated by Jennifer Vuletic. Wife of Simon and mother of three adult children, fifty-nine-year-old Audrey Lamont is already feeling rather redundant with her empty nest, and a bit invisible, when she learns her husband is probably having an affair with his brilliant, gorgeous, petitely perfect co-author, Dr Midori Crump.
Simon’s attitude is anything but contrite so, when her favourite aunt in Brittany is injured, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a break from her marriage on the chance that Simon will realise just what he’s missing. She still has hopes of redeeming her marriage of thirty-seven years. Her children, all in their twenties, are supportive and set up a WhatsApp group, mumsgoneawol, so they can all keep in touch.
In Brittany, Audrey meets friends and neighbours of her beloved Tata Pascale, who include the irrepressible, flamboyant Lilou and the rather taciturn Pascal, nicknamed No E. She lives in Pascale’s hayloft, readies the cottage for paying guests, tries to put the garden into some order, and decides that something completely different would be learning to tap-dance.
She waits for Simon to come to his senses, to apologise. It doesn’t happen. Instead, she learns from regular contact with her children that moving her personal possessions to her brother, Laurence’s, before heading to France constitutes a statement of intent that weakens her position; and that the affair with Midori might actually have begun much earlier that she had supposed. Has her whole marriage been a farce? And what now?
Audrey has been a wife and mother for thirty-seven years; she has no means of support, no job apart from volunteering at the primary school canteen, and no expertise she can market; and they’ve been living in Simon’s parents’ house, so perhaps she now has nowhere to live.
While she considers her options, she distracts herself with gardening and guests, making preserves and bedroom furniture, rescuing hedgehogs and trying to tap-dance, and seems excessively accident prone as she does so. She dreads any communication from Simon, but looks forward to calls from her children and delights in emails sent via a class teacher from sweet little Jakob, who sends sketches, the subject of which must be guessed.
Then, she needs a bit of wiring done, and Dominic, the electrician sets her pulse racing, not just with gorgeous body and his deep brown eyes, but also his kindness. But she’s still married. Isn’t she?
De Monchaux gives her characters depth and appeal, even those quirky Breton villagers, and the comments from Audrey’s children are heartening and prove that her self-sacrifice was worthwhile. Simon’s gaslighting and arrogance will leave readers gasping, and they will likely delight in the fact that de Monchaux gives his exotic lover, Midori the decidedly unlovely surname “Crump”. Much of what Audrey faces will resonate with readers of a certain vintage, and her (often self-deprecating) inner monologue is at times insightful and regularly hilarious. Very entertaining.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and W F Howes Ltd
Simon’s attitude is anything but contrite so, when her favourite aunt in Brittany is injured, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a break from her marriage on the chance that Simon will realise just what he’s missing. She still has hopes of redeeming her marriage of thirty-seven years. Her children, all in their twenties, are supportive and set up a WhatsApp group, mumsgoneawol, so they can all keep in touch.
In Brittany, Audrey meets friends and neighbours of her beloved Tata Pascale, who include the irrepressible, flamboyant Lilou and the rather taciturn Pascal, nicknamed No E. She lives in Pascale’s hayloft, readies the cottage for paying guests, tries to put the garden into some order, and decides that something completely different would be learning to tap-dance.
She waits for Simon to come to his senses, to apologise. It doesn’t happen. Instead, she learns from regular contact with her children that moving her personal possessions to her brother, Laurence’s, before heading to France constitutes a statement of intent that weakens her position; and that the affair with Midori might actually have begun much earlier that she had supposed. Has her whole marriage been a farce? And what now?
Audrey has been a wife and mother for thirty-seven years; she has no means of support, no job apart from volunteering at the primary school canteen, and no expertise she can market; and they’ve been living in Simon’s parents’ house, so perhaps she now has nowhere to live.
While she considers her options, she distracts herself with gardening and guests, making preserves and bedroom furniture, rescuing hedgehogs and trying to tap-dance, and seems excessively accident prone as she does so. She dreads any communication from Simon, but looks forward to calls from her children and delights in emails sent via a class teacher from sweet little Jakob, who sends sketches, the subject of which must be guessed.
Then, she needs a bit of wiring done, and Dominic, the electrician sets her pulse racing, not just with gorgeous body and his deep brown eyes, but also his kindness. But she’s still married. Isn’t she?
De Monchaux gives her characters depth and appeal, even those quirky Breton villagers, and the comments from Audrey’s children are heartening and prove that her self-sacrifice was worthwhile. Simon’s gaslighting and arrogance will leave readers gasping, and they will likely delight in the fact that de Monchaux gives his exotic lover, Midori the decidedly unlovely surname “Crump”. Much of what Audrey faces will resonate with readers of a certain vintage, and her (often self-deprecating) inner monologue is at times insightful and regularly hilarious. Very entertaining.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and W F Howes Ltd
August 14, 2024
Audrey’s life is at a crossroads. She is taken for granted by her children, her cheating husband is self-centered and obnoxious, and Audrey seems to have lost her self-worth. A spontaneous trip to France to visit her Aunt Tata quickly shakes Audrey out of her misery. Audrey’s gone AWOL is a witty and sweet novel that was a pleasant surprise. Thanks to Better Reading, the author, and the publisher for my copy.
March 21, 2024
Audrey's Gone AWOL by Annie de Monchaux is a work of fiction in the romance, comedy, and slice-of-life subgenres.
Immerse yourself in an absorbing contemporary tale with Audrey Lamont whose life is in a rut. She has been a devoted wife and mother for 40 years but now seems invisible especially to her husband Simon, has looked elsewhere for romance. Escaping to her aunt’s home in rural France hoping to be missed she soon discovers her life changing. But is it for the better?
The focus of the book is primarily on Audrey and her husband, but I loved the addition of her aunt and French eccentric friends. It added such a real-world dynamic to the story which made it so easy to become immersed in the plot.
The author has a knack for crafting memorable characters and has crafted a gorgeous and joyful novel where the storytelling is not just about romance, but a journey filled with laughter, sighs, and the sweet unpredictability of life itself. One must admire her skill in crafting narratives that captivate, entertain, and leave readers yearning for the quintessential successful conclusion without it ever feeling trite or predictable.
The book is a delightful exploration of love, loss, and the unexpected twists that make finding yourself stories truly enchanting, leaving you with hope and a smile on your face. I highly recommend.
Immerse yourself in an absorbing contemporary tale with Audrey Lamont whose life is in a rut. She has been a devoted wife and mother for 40 years but now seems invisible especially to her husband Simon, has looked elsewhere for romance. Escaping to her aunt’s home in rural France hoping to be missed she soon discovers her life changing. But is it for the better?
The focus of the book is primarily on Audrey and her husband, but I loved the addition of her aunt and French eccentric friends. It added such a real-world dynamic to the story which made it so easy to become immersed in the plot.
The author has a knack for crafting memorable characters and has crafted a gorgeous and joyful novel where the storytelling is not just about romance, but a journey filled with laughter, sighs, and the sweet unpredictability of life itself. One must admire her skill in crafting narratives that captivate, entertain, and leave readers yearning for the quintessential successful conclusion without it ever feeling trite or predictable.
The book is a delightful exploration of love, loss, and the unexpected twists that make finding yourself stories truly enchanting, leaving you with hope and a smile on your face. I highly recommend.
June 19, 2024
3.5 stars.
“My lovely green dress fades into the plush green velvet of a couch against a side wall”. P 17
Audrey, post-menopausal and almost sixty is invisible. She has spent the last 30 something years being the supportive wife to a superstar academic husband, much loved mum to three adult kids and competent gardener, home decorator and pet expert. Loads of skills no-one cares about anymore. And just as she’s hoping to spend the rest of her life in the slow lane with a husband she adores she finds out he’s a giant d****head.
You’ll want to both throw the book at the wall reading about Simon and then you’ll as cheer Audrey on as she gives them all the bird and goes AWOL.
I love that despite the disappointing husband this book is filled with exceptional men, and a cast of endearing characters.
I love that despite going off to what could’ve been a cliched escape to a small French village it leans towards realism rather than being twee.
I love that it shows positive mother/child relationships.
It’s the kind of book that will get you into the vibe of your next holiday. Would make a fun movie - I imagine it in the vibe of Mama Mia.
“My lovely green dress fades into the plush green velvet of a couch against a side wall”. P 17
Audrey, post-menopausal and almost sixty is invisible. She has spent the last 30 something years being the supportive wife to a superstar academic husband, much loved mum to three adult kids and competent gardener, home decorator and pet expert. Loads of skills no-one cares about anymore. And just as she’s hoping to spend the rest of her life in the slow lane with a husband she adores she finds out he’s a giant d****head.
You’ll want to both throw the book at the wall reading about Simon and then you’ll as cheer Audrey on as she gives them all the bird and goes AWOL.
I love that despite the disappointing husband this book is filled with exceptional men, and a cast of endearing characters.
I love that despite going off to what could’ve been a cliched escape to a small French village it leans towards realism rather than being twee.
I love that it shows positive mother/child relationships.
It’s the kind of book that will get you into the vibe of your next holiday. Would make a fun movie - I imagine it in the vibe of Mama Mia.
April 1, 2024
I loved this book by Annie de Monchaux. I read it slowly, savoured every word.
Audrey’s Gone AWOL is a story about a woman around the age of 60, who has lost herself in motherhood and marriage. Everyone takes her for granted; her husband, adult kids, even the women in a school canteen where she helps out. She’s been happy to play those roles but a betrayal rocks her world.
Shortly after, her beloved aunt who lives in a French village has a bad fall, and Audrey heads to the village to help. Here we meet a range of beautifully portrayed characters and we’re kept in touch with her life in Australia via a WhatsApp group, mumsgoneawol, and pictures from a young boy (a lovely touch).
There’s so much to love in this book. The opening few pages are classic; I cannot look at my beige battered handbag the same way! (No, I’m not going to tell you why! ). There’s Audrey’s quirky nature, her efforts at tap dancing, vivid portrayals of life in a French village, and so much more.
Five stars.
Audrey’s Gone AWOL is a story about a woman around the age of 60, who has lost herself in motherhood and marriage. Everyone takes her for granted; her husband, adult kids, even the women in a school canteen where she helps out. She’s been happy to play those roles but a betrayal rocks her world.
Shortly after, her beloved aunt who lives in a French village has a bad fall, and Audrey heads to the village to help. Here we meet a range of beautifully portrayed characters and we’re kept in touch with her life in Australia via a WhatsApp group, mumsgoneawol, and pictures from a young boy (a lovely touch).
There’s so much to love in this book. The opening few pages are classic; I cannot look at my beige battered handbag the same way! (No, I’m not going to tell you why! ). There’s Audrey’s quirky nature, her efforts at tap dancing, vivid portrayals of life in a French village, and so much more.
Five stars.
April 3, 2024
We need more stories like Audrey’s on the shelves. This is not just a book for women of a certain age; it’s a book for every woman who has ever felt invisible. For every woman who has ever said yes when she’s wished she could say no, who has put the needs of others before her own, and who has felt that life has somehow become an endless cycle of laundry, domestic chores, and serving others. Audrey’s Gone AWOL is a moving, hilarious, and inspirational tale about finding yourself when you’ve lost your way. We could ALL learn a little something from Audrey. If you’re a woman or you have a woman in your life, do yourself a favour and read this!
May 19, 2024
Thank you Ultimo Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
They say things happen for a reason.
It takes an empowered person to make and adapt to change.
Dedicated to a marriage and a family for 40 years is what Audrey has done and things are about to change.
An elderly Aunt in France has had a fall and needs her niece there.
The timing coinciding with emotional turmoil on the home front.
Her husband is having a fling and she feels very disconnected to her life.
She does have a soft spot for a child at the school she is about to leave.
Tenderly she pays for his lunches for the year and keeps in touch with him.
Life in France is full of hard work, friendships and a time to reflect.
The village welcomes her and she soon becomes absorbed while trying to sort out her future.
I love a story that shows older characters are still valid and relevant.
The setting conjured up nostalgic travel memories while the relationships between the cast were fabulous.
I adored the correspondence between Audrey and the pupil she left behind.
These small details leave an everlasting impression.
They say things happen for a reason.
It takes an empowered person to make and adapt to change.
Dedicated to a marriage and a family for 40 years is what Audrey has done and things are about to change.
An elderly Aunt in France has had a fall and needs her niece there.
The timing coinciding with emotional turmoil on the home front.
Her husband is having a fling and she feels very disconnected to her life.
She does have a soft spot for a child at the school she is about to leave.
Tenderly she pays for his lunches for the year and keeps in touch with him.
Life in France is full of hard work, friendships and a time to reflect.
The village welcomes her and she soon becomes absorbed while trying to sort out her future.
I love a story that shows older characters are still valid and relevant.
The setting conjured up nostalgic travel memories while the relationships between the cast were fabulous.
I adored the correspondence between Audrey and the pupil she left behind.
These small details leave an everlasting impression.
June 5, 2024
Audrey’s Gone AWOL is the first novel by Australian author, Annie de Monchaux. Wife of Simon and mother of three adult children, fifty-nine-year-old Audrey Lamont is already feeling rather redundant with her empty nest, and a bit invisible, when she learns her husband is probably having an affair with his brilliant, gorgeous, petitely perfect co-author, Dr Midori Crump.
Simon’s attitude is anything but contrite so, when her favourite aunt in Brittany is injured, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a break from her marriage on the chance that Simon will realise just what he’s missing. She still has hopes of redeeming her marriage of thirty-seven years. Her children, all in their twenties, are supportive and set up a WhatsApp group, mumsgoneawol, so they can all keep in touch.
In Brittany, Audrey meets friends and neighbours of her beloved Tata Pascale, who include the irrepressible, flamboyant Lilou and the rather taciturn Pascal, nicknamed No E. She lives in Pascale’s hayloft, readies the cottage for paying guests, tries to put the garden into some order, and decides that something completely different would be learning to tap-dance.
She waits for Simon to come to his senses, to apologise. It doesn’t happen. Instead, she learns from regular contact with her children that moving her personal possessions to her brother, Laurence’s, before heading to France constitutes a statement of intent that weakens her position; and that the affair with Midori might actually have begun much earlier that she had supposed. Has her whole marriage been a farce? And what now?
Audrey has been a wife and mother for thirty-seven years; she has no means of support, no job apart from volunteering at the primary school canteen, and no expertise she can market; and they’ve been living in Simon’s parents’ house, so perhaps she now has nowhere to live.
While she considers her options, she distracts herself with gardening and guests, making preserves and bedroom furniture, rescuing hedgehogs and trying to tap-dance, and seems excessively accident prone as she does so. She dreads any communication from Simon, but looks forward to calls from her children and delights in emails sent via a class teacher from sweet little Jakob, who sends sketches, the subject of which must be guessed.
Then, she needs a bit of wiring done, and Dominic, the electrician sets her pulse racing, not just with gorgeous body and his deep brown eyes, but also his kindness. But she’s still married. Isn’t she?
De Monchaux gives her characters depth and appeal, even those quirky Breton villagers, and the comments from Audrey’s children are heartening and prove that her self-sacrifice was worthwhile. Simon’s gaslighting and arrogance will leave readers gasping, and they will likely delight in the fact that de Monchaux gives his exotic lover, Midori the decidedly unlovely surname “Crump”. Much of what Audrey faces will resonate with readers of a certain vintage, and her (often self-deprecating) inner monologue is at times insightful and regularly hilarious. Very entertaining.
Simon’s attitude is anything but contrite so, when her favourite aunt in Brittany is injured, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a break from her marriage on the chance that Simon will realise just what he’s missing. She still has hopes of redeeming her marriage of thirty-seven years. Her children, all in their twenties, are supportive and set up a WhatsApp group, mumsgoneawol, so they can all keep in touch.
In Brittany, Audrey meets friends and neighbours of her beloved Tata Pascale, who include the irrepressible, flamboyant Lilou and the rather taciturn Pascal, nicknamed No E. She lives in Pascale’s hayloft, readies the cottage for paying guests, tries to put the garden into some order, and decides that something completely different would be learning to tap-dance.
She waits for Simon to come to his senses, to apologise. It doesn’t happen. Instead, she learns from regular contact with her children that moving her personal possessions to her brother, Laurence’s, before heading to France constitutes a statement of intent that weakens her position; and that the affair with Midori might actually have begun much earlier that she had supposed. Has her whole marriage been a farce? And what now?
Audrey has been a wife and mother for thirty-seven years; she has no means of support, no job apart from volunteering at the primary school canteen, and no expertise she can market; and they’ve been living in Simon’s parents’ house, so perhaps she now has nowhere to live.
While she considers her options, she distracts herself with gardening and guests, making preserves and bedroom furniture, rescuing hedgehogs and trying to tap-dance, and seems excessively accident prone as she does so. She dreads any communication from Simon, but looks forward to calls from her children and delights in emails sent via a class teacher from sweet little Jakob, who sends sketches, the subject of which must be guessed.
Then, she needs a bit of wiring done, and Dominic, the electrician sets her pulse racing, not just with gorgeous body and his deep brown eyes, but also his kindness. But she’s still married. Isn’t she?
De Monchaux gives her characters depth and appeal, even those quirky Breton villagers, and the comments from Audrey’s children are heartening and prove that her self-sacrifice was worthwhile. Simon’s gaslighting and arrogance will leave readers gasping, and they will likely delight in the fact that de Monchaux gives his exotic lover, Midori the decidedly unlovely surname “Crump”. Much of what Audrey faces will resonate with readers of a certain vintage, and her (often self-deprecating) inner monologue is at times insightful and regularly hilarious. Very entertaining.
January 18, 2025
This was an unexpected gem of a book! Our title character, Audrey, is a soon to turn 60 devoted mother to three adult children and wife to 1 perfectly dreadful husband of 35 years. When her life implodes, she uses the moment to pack a bag and runs away to the south of France to care for a beloved elderly Auntie!
What follows is just the most charming (and funny) story of Audrey's reawakening and her second chance at defining who and what she wants to be when she grows up!
What follows is just the most charming (and funny) story of Audrey's reawakening and her second chance at defining who and what she wants to be when she grows up!
June 8, 2024
Audrey has lived her life in service of her husband and three children. Now, approaching 60, she finds that her husband has betrayed her and she takes herself off to Brittany, France to help her elderly aunt run her B&B. Audrey spends her time processing her role in her life so far and contemplating her future, whilst connecting with other members of the close-knit community and learning new skills like tap dancing and furniture building.
This was an enjoyable book, I found it to be written in a similar style to Gail Honeyman (Eleanor Oliphant). We are drawn into Audrey’s life, experiencing things as she does. I felt that the book lacked an aspect of emotion to really connect me to Audrey and her story, but I acknowledge that there will be many women who relate to Audrey. I did really enjoy the commentary about the role women play in society, especially as they age, and how society perceives their value.
This was an enjoyable book, I found it to be written in a similar style to Gail Honeyman (Eleanor Oliphant). We are drawn into Audrey’s life, experiencing things as she does. I felt that the book lacked an aspect of emotion to really connect me to Audrey and her story, but I acknowledge that there will be many women who relate to Audrey. I did really enjoy the commentary about the role women play in society, especially as they age, and how society perceives their value.
March 8, 2024
I enjoyed this so much. We are all Audrey really, and we could all learn a lot from her. She is written so well, I felt like I knew her instantly. An Australian Shirley Valentine. The story is warm, hilariously funny, but it’s also tender and heartbreaking too. No E made me snort with laughter.
Narrated brilliantly for the audiobook. Highly recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wavesound from W F Howes Ltd for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
Narrated brilliantly for the audiobook. Highly recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wavesound from W F Howes Ltd for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
April 7, 2024
Audrey , she’s a delight. Simon , got all he deserved ! A lively ,fun and funny journey. Beautiful phrases throughout . Easy to imagine all the places and people. Would love to know what happens next.
May 1, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. Audrey is so relatable. She has spent the best part of her life caring for her husband and raising their three children. Audrey has delighted in motherhood whilst running a loving home and ensuring everyone had delicious food, clean clothes and good manners.
She has also been a huge support to her husband and his career. Things start to go awry at home, when simultaneously, Audrey gets word that her dear aunt has had a fall. Her adult children arrive home for the usual once-a-week family meal to find Audrey with her suitcase packed and waiting for the uber to take her to the airport.
Everyone is shocked at her sudden decision to leave them to look after themselves. Her daughter sets up a message group for them to keep in touch. It is a feel-good adventure. The French experience is so beautifully described. The sensuality of everyday life in France is beguiling. From the food to the garden to the small village atmosphere, it all feels divine. There are moments of sadness, and times that will bring gentle understanding, but mostly there will be a sense of unguarded joy!
She has also been a huge support to her husband and his career. Things start to go awry at home, when simultaneously, Audrey gets word that her dear aunt has had a fall. Her adult children arrive home for the usual once-a-week family meal to find Audrey with her suitcase packed and waiting for the uber to take her to the airport.
Everyone is shocked at her sudden decision to leave them to look after themselves. Her daughter sets up a message group for them to keep in touch. It is a feel-good adventure. The French experience is so beautifully described. The sensuality of everyday life in France is beguiling. From the food to the garden to the small village atmosphere, it all feels divine. There are moments of sadness, and times that will bring gentle understanding, but mostly there will be a sense of unguarded joy!
April 3, 2024
Audrey is a 60 year old woman who has spent a big chunk of her life doing everything for everyone but herself but one day Audrey happens to accidentally meet the woman her husband is having an "affair" and then shortly receives a phone call from France about her aunt having a fall and being in hospital - what else could go wrong?! It is then that she decides to go AWOL.
With her suitcase packed, her kids and hubby are shocked to find that she is leaving them albeit for a short time, that she is actually making them fend for themselves.
The story takes the reader on a journey of Audrey's self discovery and makes it heard that you shouldn't always focus all of your energy and attention on your family and forget about yourself.
This book was so easy to read and quite addictive! It was definitely one which was hard for me to put down as I felt quite connected to the main character - definitely a must read.
With her suitcase packed, her kids and hubby are shocked to find that she is leaving them albeit for a short time, that she is actually making them fend for themselves.
The story takes the reader on a journey of Audrey's self discovery and makes it heard that you shouldn't always focus all of your energy and attention on your family and forget about yourself.
This book was so easy to read and quite addictive! It was definitely one which was hard for me to put down as I felt quite connected to the main character - definitely a must read.
April 2, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. Audrey is so relatable. She has spent the best part of her life caring for her husband and raising their three children.
Audrey has delighted in motherhood whilst running a loving home and ensuring everyone had delicious food, clean clothes and good manners.
She has also been a huge support to her husband and his career. Things start to go awry at home, when simultaneously, Audrey gets word that her dear aunt has had a fall.
Her adult children arrive home for the usual once-a-week family meal to find Audrey with her suitcase packed and waiting for the Uber to take her to the airport.
Everyone is shocked at Audrey’s sudden decision to leave them to look after themselves. Her daughter sets up a message group for them to keep in touch.
This is a feel-good adventure. The French experience is so beautifully described. The sensuality of everyday life in France is beguiling. From the food to the garden to the small village atmosphere, it all feels divine.
There are moments of sadness. And times that will bring gentle understanding. But mostly there will be a sense of unguarded joy!
Audrey has delighted in motherhood whilst running a loving home and ensuring everyone had delicious food, clean clothes and good manners.
She has also been a huge support to her husband and his career. Things start to go awry at home, when simultaneously, Audrey gets word that her dear aunt has had a fall.
Her adult children arrive home for the usual once-a-week family meal to find Audrey with her suitcase packed and waiting for the Uber to take her to the airport.
Everyone is shocked at Audrey’s sudden decision to leave them to look after themselves. Her daughter sets up a message group for them to keep in touch.
This is a feel-good adventure. The French experience is so beautifully described. The sensuality of everyday life in France is beguiling. From the food to the garden to the small village atmosphere, it all feels divine.
There are moments of sadness. And times that will bring gentle understanding. But mostly there will be a sense of unguarded joy!
April 4, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. Audrey is such a relatable character. I really felt for her when, after 37 years of marriage and 3 kids, she discovers that her husband has been having an affair.
Who would blame her running off to France to take care of her aunt after a fall. It gives her time to discover who she is and what she wants from her life, instead of what she gives of herself to others, with no thought for herself.
A wonderful voyage of discovery ensues, with lots of fun times with the many characters that cross paths with Audrey during her time away.
I would love to see a sequel to this as I’ve become quite invested in Audrey, her children, aunt, and other friends she meets along the way and am curious to see where their lives take them.
Thank you to @BetterReading and @UltimoPress for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Who would blame her running off to France to take care of her aunt after a fall. It gives her time to discover who she is and what she wants from her life, instead of what she gives of herself to others, with no thought for herself.
A wonderful voyage of discovery ensues, with lots of fun times with the many characters that cross paths with Audrey during her time away.
I would love to see a sequel to this as I’ve become quite invested in Audrey, her children, aunt, and other friends she meets along the way and am curious to see where their lives take them.
Thank you to @BetterReading and @UltimoPress for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2024
Audrey, you came along at the right time honey! An immensely relatable story of a woman, who plays her own drum and marches to her own tune! Most readers will applaud Audrey’s spur of the moment decision, all readers will learn something about the innate desire to remain visible, in an ageist society. Spoiler alert, considering changing my handbag!!
May 19, 2025
A big fat 5⭐️ for Audrey. This is another new Australian author for me and now I’m wanting more. I loved Audrey from the first page and all her friends. This is a book for all women who are of a certain age and I will be recommending it.
April 7, 2024
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Despite being a story about finding yourself in a foreign country, and including moments like working in a French flower shop and shagging a hot electrician, this novel manages to avoid cliches. The characters are three dimensional, the protagonist is perceptive and tender, and her journey is one the reader is happy to share.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2024
Audrey Lamont is 59 years old and is reassessing her place in the world. She feels 'invisible' as many women her age do, as well as profoundly redundant. Her children are all adults and have left home, her husband is celebrating another milestone in his career and her best friend is her dog, Howard. To add further insult, she has just found out that her husband is having an affair.
Her need to reflect and re-evaluate takes her to a country village in France where her aunt lives. Here, she meets lots of quirky locals, learns new skills and spends a lot of time thinking about who she is or was and who she wants to become.
I really enjoyed the characters and the French setting for this story. My only criticism would be that sometimes the story felt a little flat in places and the timeline of the events wasn't always clear to me.
Her need to reflect and re-evaluate takes her to a country village in France where her aunt lives. Here, she meets lots of quirky locals, learns new skills and spends a lot of time thinking about who she is or was and who she wants to become.
I really enjoyed the characters and the French setting for this story. My only criticism would be that sometimes the story felt a little flat in places and the timeline of the events wasn't always clear to me.
June 10, 2024
Audrey is strong and funny. An enjoyable read, with a mature ending that isn't really an ending at all, but a beginning.
January 26, 2025
Loved this light hearted coming of age story, let’s all embrace leaving our fifties and heading out to new adventures 🙂
April 21, 2024
I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Go Audrey! I think we can all learn a lot from her.
March 25, 2024
It’s great, honest, funny as hell, relatable
April 24, 2024
Loved it, strongly recommend.
April 25, 2024
Great book, I was sucked in from the very start. Would love to read more about Audrey!
April 8, 2024
Audrey is happily married and been with her husband for 37years.
They have three grown children who have left the nest but still have their Labrador, Howard.
Audrey is a volunteer in the school canteen and takes special care of a little boy named Jakob. He comes to school with no food so she makes up lunchboxes for him. Jakob draws pictures for Audrey as they become friends.
Her husband, Simon is a science professor and about to launch a new book. She has taken care of everything in the family home while Simon pursues his career. Just recently found out that he has been having a romance with his assistant Midori.
She hears that her 84 year old aunt, in Paris, has had a fall and with that, that is her excuse to leave to go and look after her till she can sort her head out as to what will happen in the future between her and Simon.
Her children have set up an account for her to stay in touch and she also stays in touch with Jakob through a teacher.
When in Paris, things are so much easier and she is really enjoying HER time.
Will she stay in Paris or return to Simon??
#BRPreview @betterreadingau @audreysgoneawol @anniedemonchaux
They have three grown children who have left the nest but still have their Labrador, Howard.
Audrey is a volunteer in the school canteen and takes special care of a little boy named Jakob. He comes to school with no food so she makes up lunchboxes for him. Jakob draws pictures for Audrey as they become friends.
Her husband, Simon is a science professor and about to launch a new book. She has taken care of everything in the family home while Simon pursues his career. Just recently found out that he has been having a romance with his assistant Midori.
She hears that her 84 year old aunt, in Paris, has had a fall and with that, that is her excuse to leave to go and look after her till she can sort her head out as to what will happen in the future between her and Simon.
Her children have set up an account for her to stay in touch and she also stays in touch with Jakob through a teacher.
When in Paris, things are so much easier and she is really enjoying HER time.
Will she stay in Paris or return to Simon??
#BRPreview @betterreadingau @audreysgoneawol @anniedemonchaux
May 31, 2024
This was a fun read, I was excited by the blurb and thought it would be light hearted and warm. It has some lovely friendship developments and things. But I found the plot didn't really go anyway and I was bored. 2.5
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