Middle Rage

by Mollie Kendrick

Three women who have lost themselves and one who wants to be lost spend a life-changing weekend at a wild retreat on Bodmin Moor.

Talking about feelings is Emma’s idea of hell. Annoyingly, she’s bottling up a lot of them. According to her husband, she’s been in a bad mood for the last five years.

But Emma needs to open up to help her struggling daughter. The family therapist suggests a wellness retreat, so she’s picked the maddest one she could find.

Which is how she has found herself on Bodmin Moor with two strangers and a retreat leader called Clover urging her to get in touch with her ‘dark feminine divine’.

But Clover doesn’t know just how much Emma is hurting, and the more she pushes, the more Emma resists. Can she finally accept the anger she feels, and what will happen when she finally lets it all out?

Relatable, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, Middle Rage is a rallying cry for women everywhere.

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

Reviews

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows 3 women booked onto a wellbeing retreat to help them gain understanding on the issues in their life. There they meet Clover the retreat leader who has her own troubles from the past.
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did and was crying by the end. The stories were wholesome, relatable and so well written I completely fell for them all. The descriptions of the time at the retreat made me feel like I was going through it with them all. I loved the subtle plotline of motherhood woven into each and every narrative.
The ending is lovely and open and I feel that we were made to feel the women will be ok because of their engagement with the retreat. I appreciated that we didn’t have it all spelled out to us to tie things up.
If this is a debut novel I can’t wait to read what Mollie Kendrick does next. A big recommendation from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that I was expecting a Chick Lit book but this is much, much more than that. In fact, given one woman is 73 and another is in her 50s, they’re the wrong age for Chick Lit. It’s good to read something about older women.
The story revolves around three women and a retreat leader. The retreat itself is used as a way for their backstories to come to be told. Each involves trauma of one sort or another. I won’t detail what they are, in case I spoil the surprise, but each is truly harrowing. That said, don’t let this put you off reading such a funny, engrossing book.
My only complaint is that we were left with an open ending so will there be a follow up? I hope so.

Maggie’s daughter died, a cot death. She went mad and blamed her eight year old son. Emma had had a three year affair and had missed her daughter self harming. Her lover died just after they split up because the girl, and she was unable to share her grief with anyone. Fleur had had a controlling, jealous boyfriend, by whom she was pregnant and wasn’t sure whether to keep it or even go back to him. Clover, the leader, had been brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness and had escaped her marriage there. Emma told her husband where she was and he tried to kidnap her, which the others stopped.





Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as funny as the blurb suggests, but a much more thoughtful and engaging read than I expected. Four very different women meet on a Bodmin Moor retreat, their stories unfolding with depth, surprising twists and excellent characterisation. The self-reflection suits the setting and the pacing kept me hooked throughout.

[Georgina Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and read it really quickly over one day. It's a story of three women who go on a Wild Woman retreat lead by Clover. All of their stories unfold during the book giving you an insight into why they have chosen to attend the retreat.

Having been on similar retreats (without the naked dancing!) myself, I found the emotional roller coaster they find themselves on entirely believable. Each has their own personal tragedy they are dealing with and each is trying to cope in their own imperfect ways. As the layers are peeled away and we find out more of their stories I found myself empathising with all of them in different ways, not least Clover, the retreat leader, who has her own challenging story to reveal too.

I'd really like Mollie Kendrick to pick up these characters again so we can find out how they get on after the retreat. There is ambiguity in the ending as we aren't entirely sure what the next steps will be for some of them. I'd really like to know how they get on and see them flourish.

I laughed out loud at times and also felt the prick of tears at others, definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[minaal.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t want to read about four women living in the forest releasing their inner wild woman?

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d been having a hard time and this book was the first time I’ve laughed out loud for bloody ages. There are parts of the story that covers coercive control and religious trauma which is something some people might appreciate being aware of. It’s well written with sensitivity and measured.

The story starts with 4 women, each chapter being told from one of their perspectives, with a range of ages, preparing for a retreat. Been there done that but definitely not this type of retreat which focuses on embracing the dark feminine. Some characters were more relatable but all their stories were interesting, there is a range of ages and different types of personalities. I do feel there is a full comedy book here and would love to read that, possibly just based during the retreat without the backstory added.

Once the retreat set up is finished, characters add their back stories. Within this section there was one character who had a long paragraph of uninterrupted monologue. I disliked this and on reflection that might be more about his character than a problem with the writing.

I read the book very quickly, even for me, when I picked it up I so struggled to put it down. I felt the ending to be rushed and wondered if another few chapters could have been added. Not so much to tell us what happened after the retreat because I liked that you could use your imagination, rather I would have liked the women’s relationships and the retreat to continue beyond the crisis for a bit longer. Maybe that shows how well the characters are written and how invested I was.

I will definitely look out for more novels from this author and while it looks like this is their first it does not feel like it.

Thank you to HQStories for providing this book for my consideration via NetGalley this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinions.

[Miriam Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

*With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book*

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Middle Rage and it surpassed all of my expectations. Set at a “Divine Feminine” women’s retreat on Bodmin Moor, the stories of 3 women of different ages intersect over the length of the retreat, as they enter into activities like sound baths, meditation and wild swimming with varying degrees of cynicism.

Clover, who runs the retreats, is an enigmatic goddess-type woman of 22 who has a bigger back story of her own than anyone initially guesses. Maggie, aged 73 and recently widowed, is dealing with a tragedy in her past that she can’t move on from. Emma, a spiky 53-year old with teenagers at home, booked the retreat on a whim and doubts it can help her. And Fleur, who has been before and adores Clover and everything the Divine Feminine stands for, has a decision to make.

So far, so typical chick lit, but this book is much deeper. It’s very funny, but it feels like there’s real knowledge behind the descriptions of things like coercive control, the power of religion, and rage. The characters are all very believable and I began to really care about how their stories ended. Having done similar retreats (eg yoga) myself, the structure was bang on too, and nothing was jarring or seemed “off”. A great book that I’ll recommend widely.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wilderness retreat in the middle of Bodmin Moor has attracted a disparate group. Emma struggles with her feelings after the death of her secret lover, Fleur has discovered that she is pregnant by her psychologically controlling ex and Maggie is struggling with grief after the death of her husband. The retreat is led by Clover, escaping a religiously restrictive background. Over four days of vegan food, mediation and lots of naked dancing, all four will come to terms with their lives.
Although verging a little towards chick-lit, I found myself really loving this book. The humour is broad but it is balanced with pathos and sympathy. Each woman has her own story to tell and this makes it reflective on our lives so, whilst I would find the activities really cringe-worthy, I appreciated with development of each woman.

[Liv Rutherford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure what to expect from this book, I think maybe something along the lines of a Jane Fallon type book. Humorous and light.
My go to genre is crime/murder/thriller, if there hasn't been a murder by chapter 4, then it is lacking , in my eyes.
This book, did not have a murder by chapter 4, or by the end, and yet it did not lack.
I found it humorous, dark, yet light in places and the varying POV's were intriguing and really brought the book to life.
This book illustrated what many women go through on a day to day basis, shutting thin gs away, bottling things up, putting so much pressure on themselves that it is hard to live, to experience life and to love those around us.

I enjoyed this book, the writing style flowed, it was a nice easy, comfortable read.

I would have given 5 stars apart from the ending was lacking, very open ended, and a cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest. Everyone dies from cardiac arrest (it means the heat has stopped), cause of death is what caused the heart to stop.

[Coco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle Rage contains both heartbreak and humour, yet somehow I couldn't raise any enthusiasm in the plot. This is one of those books other reviewers seem to enjoy, but left me irritated.

I found it incredibly arrogant that Clover, barely out of her teens, should consider herself qualified to guide older women with long standing and severe problems, towards 'solace, enlightenment and discovering their dark feminine side.' No, I didn't find out what that meant. There were times when I wanted to wring Clover's neck.

After falling asleep while reading, an obvious sign of disinterest, I deleted. No doubt it was at that point when the book dramatically improved.

With thanks to HarperCollins UK and the author for the eARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion

[Nicola Mackenzie-Smaller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a retreat where 4 women spend a weekend shaking off the shackles of being good and allow themselves to reconnect with their wild selves.
The women on the retreat are the leader, Clover, who is only 22 but has a past which nobody knows about, Maggie, a woman in her 70s who is recently widowed, Fleur,who is on her second retreat after leaving an abusive partner, and Emma, who has been advised to open up to her feelings.
I found myself invested in the women’s stories, and enjoyed seeing them come to terms with past events and embrace their inner wildness. Sad in places and gently funny in others, this is a warm and thoughtful read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of diverse women are looking to change their lives when they meet at an empowering retreat. The women are complex, engaging and relatable. Their narrative is emotional, immersing the reader in their recognisable lives. The evocative Bodmin Moor setting is easy to visualise and complements the fierce emotions revealed at the retreat. It has a believable authenticity and explores sensitive issues. I appreciated the balance of humour and poignancy, as well as the women's connection despite their differences. It's emotional and entertaining to read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lesley McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three women go on a retreat, not so much to find their inner goddess, but to get through and move on in their relationships. There are some lighthearted moments in among some heavy hitting subjects. Cot death, motherhood, coercive behaviour, bereavement, religion, and crumbling marriages all get an outing. The chapters are short so it should be easy to skip though despite the subject matter, but I found myself putting it off. It just didn’t quite gel for me and it was a bit repetitive. Thanks to @netgalley though for the drc to review though.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read this via #NetGalley. The front cover didn't jump out at me but once I read the blurb, I couldn't wait to read it and I wasn't disappointed!
This is a little dark but tells of a tale of 3 women who end up at a well being retreat ran by Clover. As you read the book, it reveals fascinating information about the 4 ladies. I found myself at times laughing out loud and was left feeling I would like to read a sequel!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darkly hilarious tale of 3 very different women who go to a wellness retreat to hopefully help them to heal emotionally. The retreat is run by Clover, a young woman who is dealing with some issues of her own. The stories of these 4 women unfold over the course of the weekend and each one of them was fascinating, and often laugh out loud funny. I didn’t want it to end and I would’ve loved to know what happened next in their lives as they left the security of the retreat. Hopefully there are plans for a sequel!

[Hasina Begum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle Rage by Mollie Kendrick

I’ll admit this isn’t my usual kind of book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s hilarious in a dark, twisted way yet somehow still wholesome. I never quite knew where the story was heading, which made me want to keep reading even more. It’s such an easy, satisfying read, and honestly, it would make for an awesome series- I’d love to see a sequel.

[Samantha Tonge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this compulsive novel that is moving and funny, and a reminder of the journey women have taken - and the lives that still need to change. The characters and their stories slowly wrap themselves around you and hold on oh so tight. A must-read for *good girls* everywhere.

[Katherine Dobkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting and all the better for it. I loved this plot and the way it was written. Gorgeous.
I loved the unveiling of the stories and the variety of the character. The ending was brilliant. Hopeful and positive. Loved it.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book a lot. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in and I think I’d still struggle to determine the genre it fits into - that isn’t a criticism, it’s just got elements of lots of genres. There’s female aging, domestic abuse, relationships and family, a bit of mystery, a touch of mysticism, the big life questions we all want answers to…I could continue but you get the drift.
The stand-out quality for me is the characters. I loved all of them and their individual neuroses and nuances, their flaws and fragilities, their strengths and substance.. I adored their interactions, they felt genuine and deep. The madness of the retreat gave excellent comic relief and emotional beats. It’s a book simultaneously about women like me and women I’d like to be.
The only reason this isn’t a four-star review is that it felt a bit rushed in the second half, I wanted another 50 pages or so to give the story space to breathe.
Apart from that, it was an emotional and ultimately uplifting riot.

[Helen French · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever title that might give the wrong impression.

It's not chick-lit, and it's not a thriller about serial killer middle-aged women, either.

Instead, Middle Rage is a slowburn contemplation of life as a woman in four different forms. There's Clover, the retreat leader, emotionally smart but running from something, and three women who've come seeking solace and/or change at the retreat. Fleur, with the controlling ex-boyfriend, Maggie who lost a daughter decades ago, and Emma, who's just angry at everything.

It's humorous, dark, real, with stories that feel natural, not forced in for plot. I wanted a little extra from the ending, but that's just me being a greedy reader. Would definitely read Kendrick again.