Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone

by Harper Ford

LIVE, LAUGH, LEAVE ME ALONE is a hilarious and relatable exploration of what it really means to 'live your best life', perfect for anyone who has rolled their eyes at a wellness influencer, and then wondered if they should drink that green juice anyway…

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Lucy is fifty, frazzled and fed up. After spending half her life working, she’s tired, and her idea of inner peace involves a sofa, wine and a takeaway.

But when her boss announces his retirement, Lucy gears up for a well-earned promotion – that is until Tara, her annoyingly perfect colleague, swoops in, dazzling the CEO with her #BossBabe energy and commitment to a wellness bootcamp so hardcore it sounds like a cult.

Desperate to compete, Lucy lies about joining the same program — even though her body feels more landfill than temple. Now she’s trapped in five weeks of ice baths, crystals and green juices… not to mention jade eggs in unspeakable places.

As the wellness madness escalates and rivalries flare, Lu starts to wonder if she actually might be growing as a person – or if that’s just the kombucha talking? And why can’t she shake the feeling that maybe Tara isn’t as perfect as she seems?

LIVE, LAUGH, LEAVE ME ALONE is a hilarious and relatable exploration of what it really means to 'live your best life', perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Alexandra Potter and Fiona Gibson.

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 24, 2026

Reviews

[Jamie Josephson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing and ARC of Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone by Harper Ford in exchange for honest feedback.

This was such a fun and refreshing read. It was super sharp and witty and full of relatable moments that make you laugh out loud. The humor landed perfectly - snarky without being mean or overdone - and the situations are so relatable that you can’t help but root for the FMC as she fumbles, grumbles, and finds her way through life.

I loved how light-hearted and bingeable it was…just the kind of book you want to text your friends about mid-read because the commentary is just that good. If you’re in the mood for something hilarious and relatable that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is absolutely worth picking up.

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was refreshingly honest and raw, and uplifting.
I absolutely loved Lucy's humourous approach to life, her witty inner monologue, and seeing her vulnerability, loneliness and hope was relatable.
With a work rivalry and competition for a promotion at work, Lucy hastily signs herself up for a wellness retreat. She experiences 3 sessions with mixed feelings, but the final wins her over. With regular sessions now booked in with Clio, her new alternative therapist, she feels like she's getting the insights she needs to better helself, even if it's costing her a fortune.
Soon she's swept under the intoxicating journey that Clio offers, and even suggests her as a keynote speaker at her workplace in the hopes to inspire others and also boost her promotion chances.
But alarm bells start ringing when she speaks to other clients and realises there are inconsistencies that make her doubtful.
She embarks on an investigative journey to uncover the truth behind this wellness sales pitch, and the women she's put her trust into. Even working with her rival, and risking her job and reputation.
It's a poignant journey that takes a deep dive into alternative treatments, the risks and rewards, and the societal pressures to be perfect or better yourself.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right. Where do I start with how much I loved and related to this book?
Lucy is a 53-year-old woman. She's got a great job, is single, and is working on her next steps in life, specifically a promotion at work, which looks likely.
Until she's surprised by a new colleague, Tara, not much younger than Lucy, but filled with the glamour and perfection of one of those women who have Instagram-worthy perfect diets/families/lives.
And so she finds herself in a position of competition, and that competition pulls her into a wellness frenzy.
Okay, so the book had me laughing out loud at the various wellness techniques Lucy ends up signing up for, and I rolled my eyes several times, recalling similar services constantly touted on social media as the next big thing. Especially those diets and meds for perimenopausal women, and the different 'Zen' activity apps that claim to have you looking 10 years younger in 4 weeks and 15lb slimmer, too...
But it wasn't just a funny ride, this read.
Through the competitive element, Lucy gets to know her arch-nemesis, Tara. She uncovers aspects of a particular 'wellness guru' who is being lauded as remarkable that raise alarm bells.
And that's when a deeper element of this story kicks in. Midlife insecurities, and a constant bombardment of claims to 'banish this' and 'cure that' that I know most of us women of a certain age feel, show themselves, and the ugly side of 'wellness', along with it.
Fantastically written and a hard recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper Ford is back!!
Single fifty three years old Lucy Lu Cooper is tired of working and about to have a massive rant.
Jumping for a well earned promotion after finding her boss is retiring, Bossbabe Tara Harryman snatches it but she's not all she seems.
Beane&Co family insurance in Tunbridge Wells Kent has been Lu's life job for many years, and she wants to work her way up not leave and start all over again.
A lovely uplifting, funny,with added wellness, that i love, and this author has hit my buttons.
But life is to short to carry on in old patterns, so will Lu take a new road?
Absolutely fabulous, well written, with feelgood advice.
Loved it.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about work, revelry and wellness and the things people will do to get ahead. When Lucy finally stands a chance to get the much sort after promotion she has worked years for there Is only one problem, Tara! The new girl is also up for the job and in a moment of madness Lucy claims she is also doing a months wellness challenge so as to not be out done by Tara. When Lucy meets Clio is seems her whole world seems to change for the better but are some things to good to be true. This is a funny ready about life and getting older!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is a witty, warm and relatable look at midlife chaos and the absurdities of wellness culture. Lucy is a flawed but loveable main character, and Ford balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heart. Overall it’s sharp, funny and surprisingly moving. A great pick if you want humour with a dose of real life.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be a funny read but, unfortunately it quickly got tedious, unfunny and boring. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that gives the wellness industry a bad name, totally justified in my opinion.
Clio was a scammer, telling everyone she’d had the same cancer as them or a family member, to entice them into spending money on her treatments

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone was just the most brilliant and hilarious read, that made me smile and laugh out loud and had me agreeing with so much! I am laughing now as I start to write my review as it is just the most fabulous book!

The main character is Lucy (Lu), 53 and single. I loved Lucy and was rooting for her the whole time! Lucy really enjoys her job as a HR Manager and is a great team leader. Her mum, sister and family live in New Zealand. Her Dad passed away seven years ago and understandably, she misses him every day. Grief and missing your family were woven into the story and handled very sensitively. Issues affecting the workplace environment were addressed too which I do not often see in novels, a very important inclusion.

Many of us would be able to relate to Lucy. This is a fabulous story about trying to hold onto self-worth while navigating the chaos of modern life. Life is so different now. We are constantly bombarded by social media with what we should do to keep well, physically and mentally. We are told what we should and should not eat, how we should use all these different apps, and how we should practice mindfulness. According to social media, we should absolutely fly through everything that comes with life in your fifties. For most of us, it is hard enough to keep on top of everything, without making sure we do everything we are told to do through our phones, the television and through self help books! There is so much pressure on everyone to be perfect, when underneath the surface there is so much going on, that this is so far from reality.

Lucy is just the best - her idea of wellness is relaxing on the sofa with a glass of wine, and a takeaway! Perfect! However, when she starts competing for a new role in work, her rival is Tara, the wellness Queen! And Lucy cannot let her get the job so Lucy needs to change her wine and takeaways for a more healthier lifestyle! The rivalry between Lucy and Tara was just so brilliantly entertaining. You could feel the tension, you could feel how much each of them wanted the promotion and that they would do all they could (within their own financial limitations) to secure the career milestone which they both wanted so much.

So Lucy starts seeing Clio, the same wellness guru as Tara! If Clio is good enough for Tara, then Lucy feels Clio is going to help her secure the promotion, so with one very expensive click, Lucy signs up. Tara goes on a retreat, has many sessions with Clio and signs up for her app. At first, she’s completely immersed and feels Clio is going to change her whole life for the better.

I have to say at the start I was thinking the wellness culture described in the book certainly included some good ideas! That is how well Harper Ford describes the wellness ideas. But as time went on I started, like Lucy to become more resistant to some of the ideas and alarm bells were ringing. Lucy was very grounded and as much as she loved some of the wellness treatments, she did also, rightly so, question some of them and deep down Lucy knew something was not right. Clio could not have been through everything she said she had - it just did not make sense.

So Lucy starts investigating, not just to uncover the truth, but to expose Clio’s lies and to find out why. So many people are placing their faith in Clio, believing she might be the change they need, when it is only themselves who can make that change.

Towards to the end of the book, Lucy became to shine. Her shine was always there, but it was hidden. Lucy knew what she wanted out of life and she was determined to achieve it. Friends and family are very important to Lucy and she is going to make sure the old and new friendships she has made will remain firm friends forever.

Social media can be helpful in many ways, but often misleading in others. You know what you need, you know what you are capable of and what you can achieve. The choices we make allow us to write our next chapter.

I would love a sequel of this book - that would be amazing! So with no kombucha in sight, I would like to raise a glass to Harper Ford for this super entertaining, wonderful read - thank you!

Thank you very much to Avon Books UK for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advertised as “hilarious” I personally didn’t find it so. I did smile occasionally but I didn’t find it laugh out loud. The writing style was light and constantly broke the fourth wall which was fine and perhaps made the reader more involved. However, being directly addressed by the first person narrator, made me feel, after a while that the author had had some bad experience with “wellness” and was on a rant trying to “educate” me as a reader. A lot of what she says is, I think, common knowledge and I felt a bit “matronised”!

Having said all that it is certainly a very entertaining read and despite being completely predictable, even the “twist” at the end, which was predictable from more or less the start, it had me quite gripped. I loved the dynamics between two of the main characters. Tara, the newbie in the office. Competing with Lucy, the narrator, for a job within the firm that Lucy has been working 24/7 for. Tara, Ms Perfect Hair, Ms Perfect Poise…just perfect. And Lucy, although much of a muchness in terms of age with Tara, feels herself inferior, clumpy, doing the same old things for 30 years at the firm. She desperately wants a change of rôle.

Another dynamic is with her “bestie” Jacqui. They’ve been friends forever and totally trust each other. She’s an investigative journalist also fed up with being patronised by her newspaper boss, being given light weight investigations not worthy of her talents. I found the description of their friendship a bit cloying but it was a good thing for Lucy to have such a loyal fun friend. And hey, an investigative journo to boot. You can probably guess where this thread goes.

Then there’s Lucy’s relationship with Clio. The wellness “guru” who more or less takes over Lucy’s every thought. Despite Lucy being sceptical about such things Clio provides a practice which Lucy finds helpful, life changing even. And so she is drawn into Clio’s sphere. Gradually, Lucy realised all is not well at all. Who is Clio. Is she all that she seems?

As I said, it’s all very predictable but it’s a fun read finding out how the characters arrive at where you know they will end up. If you want an enjoyable easy read I recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a copy for my kindle. This is my honest review after a complete read of the book.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fabulous funny read!! And a book that many women will relate to so much - if you're 50 and frazzled then you need this book in your life!! We are all Lucy!!

Lucy has been working at the same place for many years. She loves her job and knows she's good at it, but the workplace is changing and she's struggling to keep up with office politics and the latest goings on - especially that of wellness! Her main work rival, Tara, is all into the wellness craze - all Lucy sees is the BS and she's at that stage in her life where she's less tolerant of it all!

So she finds herself wrapped up in the wellness world, going in with an open mind and ready to call out people if she thinks she and others are being taken advantage of, as many wellness fads appear to be nowadays. The more time she spends with people running the courses, the more she finds herself connecting with them as real people, just sharing their different ideas and wanting to help others. Maybe she's been too quick to diminish them in the past?!

I really loved Lucy and her outlook on life - she's dealing with family issues too with her mother and sister living on the other side of the world, and missing her Dad who passed. This new chapter of her life sees her willing to maybe step outside of her comfort zone, and try things to help her embrace different sides to herself - and that's when you can become a little more vunerable to those who may want to take advantage of people and their kindness, and it's how you react to that which proves quite telling!

This was one of those books that I just lost myself in as you could imagine yourself sitting and chatting so easily with Lucy - there's a cynic in me too and it's nice to find people who aren't easily led, but will still give others a chance to prove themselves... or to be proved right in your initial hunch!! Full of laughs - highly recommended!!

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title called to me, and I had to read this. I found this book to be a combination of snark and heart. It takes a look at the wellness industry and how it targets vulnerable people. There's also quite a bit about work environments and how the few women who make it up to higher management positions in male dominated areas are often pitted against each other.

Mid-life is bringing forth a host of challenges for Lucy. She has the dream job she's longed for in her sights when Tara is brought in by the replacement CEO who also has her eye on the coveted position. Despite decades at the company Lucy has to compete with Tara. Tara has an Instagram perfect life with lots of focus on wellness and health. Green juice and smoothies galore. She's singing the praises of an intense wellness bootcamp she's signed up for with all sorts of off the wall treatments. In an attempt to keep up Lucy tells her co-workers that she's also signed up. In reality Lucy is more couch potato than yogi and would rather have delivery with wine than kombucha but she's willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. A little ice bath isn't going to deter her.

Is any of this stuff real or is it all a grift?

This book has some hilarious moments, but it also deals with heavier topics. The back and forth sometimes slowed the pace a bit. I liked how Lucy was shown to be overwhelmed with so many parts of life. I think a lot of people can relate to that. She's in her early fifties and is childless by choice making her a different kind of character than we usually see in this age range. I appreciated the unique take on what her challenges and focus would be from a personal and professional standpoint.

3.5 ✨ rounded up

Thank you to Avon Books UK for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one whilst on holiday in Corfu last month. More than once, I snorted out loud with absolute glee at the story, this earned me more than one side-eye from other people around the pool. However, like our heroine Lu, I am in my fifties (nearer to sixty if I'm truthful), and I just don't give a damn. I'll snort if I want to!


Not only is this novel incredibly funny, it is also extremely relatable if you are a woman of a certain age. It is one of the best examinations of middle age for women that I've come across for a very long time.


Lu is knackered. She's worked her way up in the same firm for many years and is now in charge of HR. She hates having to deal with people, she knows that the staff don't see her as a friend, she's just the person who enforces rules that make life harder for them ... in their eyes anyway. However, when her boss announces his retirement Lu is determined that she will be promoted. Enter Tara - the woman who appears to be perfect in every way, a hard person to like, let alone to even consider having to work for. When Tara talks about a wellness programme, Lu knows that she has to compete and she joins up too.

This is where the novel gets even more hilarious. We've all seen the wellness gurus on line, those people who can promise everything, as long as you hand over the dosh. Lu experiences so many ridiculous sounding treatments that my snorting laughter went overboard!

The novel does take a serious turn though and although it is still funny, the author deals with wellness fakery excellently. She looks at the development of friendship in middle age along with rage, flushes and how bloody annoying people are!

Wonderfully written with characters to shout for and a plot that is utterly entertaining. Highly recommended.

[Katie Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing an ARC of Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone by Harper Ford in exchange for my honest feedback.

Lucy, desperate to prove she deserves the promotion she’s been working toward her entire career, throws herself into a wellness journey to show she’s the right person for the job. Along the way, she falls into, and eventually out of, the trap of wellness culture, uncovering a major fraud that she must expose to make things right.

This book was marketed as “a hilarious and relatable exploration,” but while it was an interesting read, I didn’t find it particularly hilarious or relatable. At times, it felt like I was reading Lu’s personal journal, especially when she broke the fourth wall and spoke directly to the reader, which pulled me out of the story.

The first half of the book was extremely slow and took me a long time to get through. If I weren’t committed to providing an honest review, I likely would have DNF’d it at that point. Once the truth about Clio came out, though, I was pulled back in and invested in seeing how it ended, even though the conclusion felt predictable to me. The storyline reminded me of the real-life scammer Amanda Riley, which may be why I saw the twist coming.

I would have liked deeper character development for Lu regarding her relationship with her sister and mother. Seeing Lucy grow within those relationships would have added more emotional weight and depth to the story and main character.

I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed Tara and Lu’s united speech about wellness and self-care, as well as their shift from competitors to friends. Their dynamic was one of the highlights of the book for me and if Lu would've stayed at her job I could accept that they'd remain good friends and coworkers.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the eCopy of this title.

Some books feel like a group chat with your funniest friend Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is exactly that. Harper Ford delivers a sharp, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt story about midlife reinvention, wellness culture, and the power of saying “no thanks” to perfection.

🍷 Plot Summary
Lucy is fifty-three, divorced, and quietly exhausted. Her idea of inner peace involves wine, a takeaway, and not being bothered. But when her boss retires and a new CEO arrives with his wellness-obsessed sidekick Tara, Lucy’s long-anticipated promotion is suddenly at risk.

To compete, Lucy fakes her way into a wellness bootcamp that’s more cult than self-care. Cue four weeks of ice baths, green juices, and jade eggs in places they absolutely shouldn’t be. As the madness escalates, Lucy begins to question not just the program, but her own life choices and whether growth really requires kombucha and crystals.

💬 What I Loved
Lucy’s Voice: Witty, relatable, and refreshingly honest. She’s the kind of heroine you root for and want to have a drink with.

Satirical Edge: Ford skewers wellness culture with precision, but never loses sight of the emotional truth beneath the laughs.

Unexpected Depth: Beneath the comedy lies a story about grief, ageing, workplace politics, and rediscovering self-worth.

Brilliant Dialogue: Every conversation sparkles. It’s like eavesdropping on your cleverest friends.

🧘‍♀️ Final Thoughts
Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is a joy from start to finish, perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, or anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at a #BossBabe post. If you’ve ever felt like the only person not drinking celery juice at 6 a.m., this book is for you.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is at something of a personal cross roads, still waiting for that special promotion at work which will finally give her the dream role she craves only for the chance to be diminished by the arrival, into the company, of Tara, who also has her sights set on the same job. When Tara enrols on a wellness boot camp, Lucy has no choice but to try and keep up with her rival so she also joins the wellness group with no real interest whatsoever in any of the therapies.

What then follows is a great story which looks at the whole idea of wellness and the often fickle nature of an industry which doesn’t always meet expectations. Lucy is a great character, the story brings her to life so well, that she could be any fifty-something woman with all the angst that goes with this particular time of life. The story is funny in places and had me laughing out loud but there’s also some really serious issues as well, about the disappointments and hangs ups that so many of us carry around like baggage and also the minefield that is the wellness industry which can have both a positive and negative effect.

There is no doubt that what this talented author does so well is that she can be lighthearted one minute and make you chuckle out loud, and then, in the next, be deadly serious and move you to tears. She wraps every thing up so beautifully in a story which grabs your attention from the very beginning and which doesn’t stop being entertaining until the very last page.

If there is anything guaranteed to get you out of a reading slump it is the work of this lovely writer whose stories are the perfect antidote to reading ennui, Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone didn’t stop making me smile until the story was finished.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy, the seasoned head of HR, knows how to manage people—but she’s worn out. When her boss finally retires, she dares to hope that the incoming CEO might offer her the promotion she’s long dreamed of. But with the new leadership comes fierce competition, and Lucy finds herself enrolling in a wellness bootcamp to prove her dedication. As the program unfolds, she begins to feel like it is actually working—though an unsettling sense that something isn’t quite right lingers beneath the surface.

This was an entertaining read, though it took a little while to find its rhythm. I initially struggled to connect with Lucy, who didn’t strike me as the most charismatic protagonist. That said, she grew on me as the story progressed, and I found her workplace frustrations relatable and well portrayed.

Once the plot picked up, the book delivered a good dose of humor—I even found myself giggling a few times. Despite touching on darker themes, the tone remained light and amusing. I particularly appreciated Ford’s nuanced take on the wellness industry, exploring its murky ethics while acknowledging that even questionable figures can sometimes offer genuine help.

My main critique is the predictability. I kept hoping for a twist or a moment that would break away from the expected path. That lack of surprise is what ultimately kept me from rating it higher. Still, I enjoyed the read and would definitely consider picking up more of Ford’s work in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

After working for an insurance company for years, Lucy is excited when it’s looking like she will finally get the promotion of her dreams … until Tara walks in.

Being informed that the dream job will be between Lucy and Tara, Lucy has to put out all the stops to enable her to still be in the game. When Tara talks about Wellness Bootcamp, Lucy decides that even though she’s a cynic, she’ll give it a go.

When Lucy meets Clio, it’s like an epiphany. Past-life regression therapy is helping Lucy to understand those around her, as well as the fraught relationships with family. Lucy starts to rely on Clio, she understands how Lucy feels, she’s been there herself with family and health issues. Lucy feels as though she has made a good friend, until little things start to niggle at her after attending Clio’s wellness weekend.

What is the truth and how can Lucy deal with it? Her best friend, Jacqui, is there for her the whole time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I wasn’t too sure about Lucy to start with, but as time went on, I came to love her character.

I found myself rooting for Lucy, I had respect for her character. My heart went out to Lucy as she went on a journey of discovery about herself.

The characters in this story were all well-thought-out, as well as thought-provoking. Certain aspects of the book made me sit up and think.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[M Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is both a takedown of the wellness industry and an exploration of the pull between real satisfaction in life and the things we are told we should want to give our lives meeting.

Lucy is head of HR and living a lonely life she can ignore in her goal to become COO of her company. I must say it was pretty funny that the head of HR generally hated all her coworkers - including her CEO (who really did deserve it) but is stepping down, allowing for Lucy to propose the COO position to the new CEO. Unfortunately the new CEO brings with him a right hand woman, Tara, who is Lucy’s competition for the spot. When Tara says she’s joining a wellness challenge Lucy auto lies that she’s already joined and the hijinks begin.

Some of the wellness sessions were utterly ridiculous (and good on Lucy for calling them out) but what happened with the last one is truly what people fear when getting into anything niche. Still, what was even more compelling was the overarching storyline for Lucy of really diving into her past and what she wanted her future to be. If you’re into a little more serious take on otherwise lighter themes in fiction, I found this to be a great option.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a Harper Ford book, and this one gave me all the giggles at a time when I really needed them.
The author perfectly blends humour with thought-provoking moments. I laughed out loud at her dismissal of so many 'wellness' practitioners peddling their dubious treatments, citing 'anecdotal evidence ' as proof of their healing powers.
Main character Lu is determined to bag herself a major job promotion, but she is up against the cool-as-a-cucumber Tara, and the stage is set for 'may the best woman win.' Except… in order to succeed, Lu needs to step out of her cynical comfort zone and embrace the wacky world of wellness. In the process, she is blown away by the charismatic Clio who allows her to delve into her past and find solace in old memories. But is everything as it seems?
Some funny lines:
Everybody's looking at me like I've interrupted their favourite show with an advert about laxatives.
He is wearing a crisp white shirt and ironed jeans, with creases so sharp they could chop crudités.
But… electrical charges healing my wounds? Her cheapest pair costs £170. I could stick my toes in a plug socket for free.
The ship analogy — you'll need to read the book to find out — struck a note with me. As did the importance of family, friendship and exploring new possibilities. Be true to yourself and always remember to live (and laugh) a lot.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Described by her dad as a "foul-mouthed bitchy cynic," Lucy has worked her way up the corporate ladder at Beane & Co and is now HR director, but a little jaded with it all. The prospect of a new CEO brings with it the opportunity to be promoted to COO. But the new CEO also brings a rival, Tara, who is also competing for the COO job.
If this sounds a little dry don't worry, it's about far more than office politics. It's also a treatise on the Wellness industry as seen on Instagram, where there are charlatans a-plenty.
Lucy decides to go on a rejuvenation course after seeing from social media that rival Tara has signed up for it. She encounters a couple of ludicrous practitioners, one who uses fossils to determine where the body is blocked. But then she encounters therapist Clio, and it's a life changing encounter.
But soon Clio stands between Lucy and her coveted COO role. She has fallen out with her best friend, and hasn't seen her mum and sister in New Zealand for several years.
Ultimately very uplifting, this is a cracker of a plot. It passed the true test of keeping me burning the midnight oil. It's fresh and contemporary with humour and cynicism. I'm keen to read more from this author.

[Soozee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being extremely sceptical of all these 'wellbeing' fads, I was instantly attracted to this book which manages both to debunk the charlatans and to imply there may be some credence in some of the options available out there.

Our heroine, Lucy, is a successful HR manager, who has been in post at the same company for most of her working life, but who dreams of a job not dealing with people - she wants the post of COO. Her moment is arriving as the current CEO is retiring, but then she finds another woman has been brought onto the board and is vying for the same role.

Desperate to impress, she signs up for a wellness 'boot camp' - four 'treatments' that she will use to promote wellbeing to the company at their annual conference. However, the treatments vary considerably until Lucy finds 'Clarity with Clio' which seems to fulfil her every wish and help her to deal with the death of her beloved father, the estrangement of her mother and sister and to cope with every day living. Or does it?

Its a real rollercoaster, having the reader laughing one moment and inutterably sad the next. We can all identify with elements of Lucy. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an entertaining and intriguing story with some laugh out loud moments sprinkled throughout.
Lucy is a workaholic, she puts her everything into her career to combat the loneliness in her life now her family is thousands of miles away and her marriage has ended. Desperate to impress and to achieve the promotion that she has been striving for, Lucy signs herself up to a Wellness boot camp to compete against an unexpected rival.
Three of the four wellness experiences fail to impress Lucy, we get to experience the ridiculous side to this industry. However the final one makes her feel that her life is changing and we witness Lucy going all in with this new way of living her life, despite the costs both financially and with her friendships.
All is not how it seems with this wellness program and soon I was completely absorbed into the story, trying to see how it would end for Lucy and if she could resolve the doubts that she had with the situation.
As always, brilliant characters and amusing occurrences kept me hooked. Loved the way it was all tied up, with such a wonderful and uplifting finale.
I loved, laughed and couldn’t leave this book alone until I had finished the final page.

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy has worked her way up to director level and at 53 is Head of HR. She longs to become COO of the insurance company she has worked at for over half her life, however this post doesn't currently exist. Spotting an opportunity when the CEO retires, she pitches her idea of COO to his replacement who is very much in favour of creating this new position. Perfect thinks Lucy, until she meets Tara the new CEO's right hand woman who also covets the role of COO. Stalking Tara online, Lucy discovers she has signed up for a Wellness Challenge and lies saying she has already joined the same challenge. However Lucy's idea of wellness is wine, takeaways and long leisurely weekend breakfasts in bed. So starts an often hilarious journey into the many bizarre treatments promising cures for all of her midlife insecurities.

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is a wonderful and uplifting tale of navigating the miracle cures touted on social media to keep middle age at bay. Some of the challenges Lucy undertakes are hilarious. Initially she seems to love the treatments but soon becomes sceptical and starts questioning the claims made by the practitioners. Relatable and full of wit, this is a perfect read for anyone who doesn't have an instagrammable perfect life and body (isn't that most of us!). What I love in amongst the humour and rivalry, is the powerful message that you don't need to spend fortunes on pills, potions, app and gimmicks, wellness is all about small positive changes and being kind to yourself and others.

Funny, relevant and entertaining!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone by Harper Ford.

Lucy is 53, amicably divorced, intentionally childless, and striving for professional achievement. Enter newcomer Tara and a fierce rivalry for the promotion that Lucy feels she's earned. Lucy and Tara, in an effort to prove who's the best woman for the job, engage in wellness warfare.

This book, while amusing and lighthearted, also showcased tremendous character growth and personal connection. The author dealt gracefully with some difficult topics without being too depressing. Honestly, this was a much more thought-provoking book than I expected. And the wellness industry truly is a disaster, so I appreciated that the author poked a little fun at it while also being sensitive to the fact that a lot of us have gotten duped by some of these scams.

4/5 stars. Without giving away any spoilers, I'll just say that I appreciated the perspective that positive things can come from a bad circumstances, and that even if you fall for one of these wellness rackets you can always learn something about yourself (and your loved ones) in overcoming difficult situations. Recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Ford, and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this book was a surprise! To be honest, the beginning of the book had me thinking cynically that I might not finish it. I didn’t enjoy the first few chapters much at all. But then it took off and I was hooked.

Lucy, the protagonist, is a usual one - divorced, no kids, no romance……..and no interest in any of those things…..perfectly happy alone. Refreshing!
I won’t précis the story, you can get that from the blurb on the back of the book from better writers than me. All I would say is that humour is clearly a personal thing and I would definitely class myself in the ‘easy to make laugh’ group. Marian Keyes and Mhairi MacFarlane have me with tears running down my cheeks. However, while I smiled a lot at the content of this book, I didn’t laugh out loud once. Hence three stars and not four, mostly because it irritates me when books are promoted as laugh out loud funny when they are more mildly amusing. That’s a criticism of Harper Ford’s publishers not her.

The storyline was clever, really clever and I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. I’d definitely read more of this author.

[Miki Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy has been working in the same company for many years and has worked her way up to HR Director. She has her eyes on being COO but so far the CEO has ignored her pleas for this role to be created. Now he is retiring and fresh blood is being injected into the company. The only problem is that she has a rival in the form of Tara for the COO role.
After stalking Tara on-line, she ends up on a wellness bootcamp. Most of it is woo-woo, but when she does Clarity with Clio, something clicks and she is almost evangelical about it. She tells the bosses that she has booked Clio as star speaker on the company conference and carries on seeing Clio for therapy.
She attends a retreat organised by Clio, at considerable cost, and a few things there start to cast doubt on what she has been led to believe about Clio.
On her return she shares her doubts with Jacqui, her best friend, who just happens to be a Journalist. But the main problem is will she be able to cancel the speech at work.
This book centres on Lucy's life, but highlights several things that we could all suffer from.
Interesting and fun

[Lisa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant read from Harper Ford, this time we meet Lucy who's in her 50s and used to soldiering on solo - work is her life.
Her dad died 7 years ago, which prompted her mum to emigrate to New Zealand with her sister's family - she also separated from then divorced her husband and is quite happy to be single.
As Head of HR at Beane & Co she's worked with people all her career and now feels ready for a change. With the current CEO due to retire, the new CEO is planning on creating a COO role which is the opportunity she has been waiting for. The job's hers - if she can prove herself more worthy than arch rival Tara,
This is a fun, easy read that captures the female 'middle era' really well - no longer considered a young thing and not yet a pensioner, it's an odd time of a lot of turbulence and changes physically and mentally.
It did not at all rely on obvious tropes or cliches, the wellness journey was really nicely done and believable - the wellness space is an interesting one to look into and the author has tapped into this in a believable way.
Very enjoyable, something a bit different with an older protagonist which is great to see

[Emily Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lu is in her fifties and desperately wants a promotion at work. She's also single and lonely. She gets introduced to the world of wellness in search of her promotion and, at first, the book is absolutely hilarious. I found myself crying because I was laughing at the depiction of wellness so hard. But then, Lu gets sucked in and the book becomes less funny and more relatable. Who hasn't worried that themselves or someone they love might get sucked into a scam? Especially those of us who aren't in our twenties anymore. This is an enjoyable read that has a unique writing style that switches back and forth between first person (I did this, I think that) and second person narration (the main character talks directly to the reader using the word 'you.') Normally, I would be skeptical that mixing first and second person would work, but this writer absolutely pulls it off in a way that had me searching for my Christmas gift list and wondering who else might like this book! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based off the cover of "Live Laugh Leave Me Alone," I thought it was going to be a book akin to Bridget Jones Diary. A book about a 50 something woman and the messiness of her life and career. I was reading this book concurrently with another one and I put it this one off because I wasn't really engaged until after the first quarter.

Interestingly, that's when the plot started to change and I became hooked. From the description, this book seemed to be about competition, about who was smarter and could outlast the other through stamina and endurance. Instead, it was more of a polemic about how much our lives are shaped by societal influence and how much emphasis we put not only on looking and feeling good, but also the gratification it gives by looking down on others.

This book was also an indictment of grifters who imbue a particular market that, unfortunately, take advantage of the most vulnerable under the auspice of healing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC