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Graffiti Girls
A sharp, empowering novel about a group of women who refuse to go quietly when society tells them they’re no longer valuable beyond the age of 40, from the author of Ginger and Me.
Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan have been best friends since school. Back then they couldn’t wait for the future, for the amazing lives they’d have.
But things haven’t worked out how they expected. Now in their forties, they’re fed up with being taken for granted by their families, being passed over for promotions at work and being told that they’re past their best. And they’re not going to go quietly anymore.
Fuelled by female rage and their charismatic leader Amy, the four embark on a campaign of graffiti in their hometown of Hamilton, scrawling feminist slogans on the walls of local buildings.
But is Hamilton ready for the feminist revolution the Graffiti Girls have in store?
Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan have been best friends since school. Back then they couldn’t wait for the future, for the amazing lives they’d have.
But things haven’t worked out how they expected. Now in their forties, they’re fed up with being taken for granted by their families, being passed over for promotions at work and being told that they’re past their best. And they’re not going to go quietly anymore.
Fuelled by female rage and their charismatic leader Amy, the four embark on a campaign of graffiti in their hometown of Hamilton, scrawling feminist slogans on the walls of local buildings.
But is Hamilton ready for the feminist revolution the Graffiti Girls have in store?
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Hardcover
Published March 13, 2025
13 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 27, 2025
3.5
This is definitely a feel-good book. If you're feeling a bit fed up with the way your life is going then I'd recommend this one.
Amy, Lenore, Susan and Carole have been friends since their school days. They still live in the small town and even though their lives have diverged they're still a support for each other.
But as Amy's plumbing business suffers because customers don't think a woman can be a plumber, Lenore struggles to get teenage son, Erasure, to take responsibility for himself, Carole is feeling like a dogsbody for her 4 boys and husband and Susan is passed over for promotion. They all feel that life is not just passing them by - its actively working against them. It's time to take charge.
And thus the Graffiti Girls are born. They want the rest of the town to know that it's women are sick and tired of being pushed around, abused, taken for granted and ignored. It's time to paint the town (or just bits of it) red or blue, maybe with a splash of dayglo green.
This novel manages to steer clear of being overly cute because of the characters. They're very likeable and engaging. This isn't a "we hate men" sort of book at all. Its just an entertaining book about women realising that they're capable of much more than they think.
Very readable and enjoyable. A great light read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HQ for the advance review copy.
This is definitely a feel-good book. If you're feeling a bit fed up with the way your life is going then I'd recommend this one.
Amy, Lenore, Susan and Carole have been friends since their school days. They still live in the small town and even though their lives have diverged they're still a support for each other.
But as Amy's plumbing business suffers because customers don't think a woman can be a plumber, Lenore struggles to get teenage son, Erasure, to take responsibility for himself, Carole is feeling like a dogsbody for her 4 boys and husband and Susan is passed over for promotion. They all feel that life is not just passing them by - its actively working against them. It's time to take charge.
And thus the Graffiti Girls are born. They want the rest of the town to know that it's women are sick and tired of being pushed around, abused, taken for granted and ignored. It's time to paint the town (or just bits of it) red or blue, maybe with a splash of dayglo green.
This novel manages to steer clear of being overly cute because of the characters. They're very likeable and engaging. This isn't a "we hate men" sort of book at all. Its just an entertaining book about women realising that they're capable of much more than they think.
Very readable and enjoyable. A great light read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HQ for the advance review copy.
March 13, 2025
Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧
Having absolutely loved Ginger and Me by the author I practically broke a nail in my rush to request Graffiti Girls, and I wasn’t disappointment,
In what feels like a rarity, I could relate to every one of this group of old friends in one way or another, each of them brought something I knew to the table. I really loved the premise of a group of old friends reuniting to put the world to rights. Dripping with the feminine rage and rejection that this wonan over 40 knows well, the graffiti girls are sending a message to all others like them in their area, and further afield when they hit the news, in the fight against misogyny, of being overlooked and undervalued, yet among all of this the author has managed to keep the story funny, relevant and really warm. I was reminded a lot of Shari Low’s character building, within the women, Elissa Soave also drops in a lot of memories and places in a Low type style.
Sharp, funny, relatable. 3.75 🌟
The audio narration by Angela Ness was excellent 🎧
Huge thanks to Harper Collins Audio UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Having absolutely loved Ginger and Me by the author I practically broke a nail in my rush to request Graffiti Girls, and I wasn’t disappointment,
In what feels like a rarity, I could relate to every one of this group of old friends in one way or another, each of them brought something I knew to the table. I really loved the premise of a group of old friends reuniting to put the world to rights. Dripping with the feminine rage and rejection that this wonan over 40 knows well, the graffiti girls are sending a message to all others like them in their area, and further afield when they hit the news, in the fight against misogyny, of being overlooked and undervalued, yet among all of this the author has managed to keep the story funny, relevant and really warm. I was reminded a lot of Shari Low’s character building, within the women, Elissa Soave also drops in a lot of memories and places in a Low type style.
Sharp, funny, relatable. 3.75 🌟
The audio narration by Angela Ness was excellent 🎧
Huge thanks to Harper Collins Audio UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
April 25, 2025
Lighthearted fun read, but have to admit the gay female character was like every cliche that I assume a straight woman thinks a lesbian is..as a gay woman in my 40s too I felt like I was reading a straight woman's version of a lesbian. Shaved head, plays rugby, no relationship, daddy issues, hates all men, constantly complaining or being the downer for most of the conversations and in love with her straight best friend , and of course has a cat lol. Which she doesn't even mourn for more than a second before ranting about the patriarchy(timing?).
If all the characters were as thought out as the straight characters and they all had something to say about the men in their life's without it always being left to the only queer character that would be great but it felt like she was just a token to further the other characters stories. And the fact that the queer character has nothing to say when the women were being homophobic and possibly transphobic towards the kid Thomas and his friend baffled me too tbh and was kinda just thrown in there randomly.
I still mostly enjoyed the book but did wince at the gay woman's character a bit too much.
If all the characters were as thought out as the straight characters and they all had something to say about the men in their life's without it always being left to the only queer character that would be great but it felt like she was just a token to further the other characters stories. And the fact that the queer character has nothing to say when the women were being homophobic and possibly transphobic towards the kid Thomas and his friend baffled me too tbh and was kinda just thrown in there randomly.
I still mostly enjoyed the book but did wince at the gay woman's character a bit too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
This is a tale for women who are a bit fed up with life. It serves as a reminder that we are in charge of our own lives, but sometimes we need a kick up the butt from a friend to remind us how amazing we are and make the changes we want to happen.
The friendship between the 4 women is a lovely relationship, spanning 20+ years. They've been there through it all. Through relationships, breakups, childbirth, careers, a true friendship group.
There's some darker things mentioned or referred to, which I wasn't expecting, but did give you some clarity around why they were the way they were.
My only criticism is the book is split into sections, each focusing on one of the friends, there aren't chapters within those sections, so there's no natural stopping places and when you are like me and must complete a chapter before putting the book down at night this is frustrating.
There was a lovely ending, which completed a story I really enjoyed.
The friendship between the 4 women is a lovely relationship, spanning 20+ years. They've been there through it all. Through relationships, breakups, childbirth, careers, a true friendship group.
There's some darker things mentioned or referred to, which I wasn't expecting, but did give you some clarity around why they were the way they were.
My only criticism is the book is split into sections, each focusing on one of the friends, there aren't chapters within those sections, so there's no natural stopping places and when you are like me and must complete a chapter before putting the book down at night this is frustrating.
There was a lovely ending, which completed a story I really enjoyed.
May 12, 2025
I wanted to love this book and I really did like the first part...then it went downhill for me
I felt that the characters were very one dimensional and easy to mix up. They had some pretty stinking attitudes towards other women, especially younger women. For characters meant to be about my age, I didn't buy it. The Spice Girls taught us better than that
I also found that I just could not get past the inaccuracies surrounding how local authority employees are paid. Public sector pay is not the same as private and this annoyed me so much (my hobby overlapped with my day job here)
Also, why did there have to be the death of a cat?
I think I'm being kind with my eating because I loved Ginger and Me but I think I hated this one
I felt that the characters were very one dimensional and easy to mix up. They had some pretty stinking attitudes towards other women, especially younger women. For characters meant to be about my age, I didn't buy it. The Spice Girls taught us better than that
I also found that I just could not get past the inaccuracies surrounding how local authority employees are paid. Public sector pay is not the same as private and this annoyed me so much (my hobby overlapped with my day job here)
Also, why did there have to be the death of a cat?
I think I'm being kind with my eating because I loved Ginger and Me but I think I hated this one
May 5, 2025
I went in to this book thinking it would be similar to the writings of Kirsten Miller. It’s perhaps a bit unfair to already hold expectations, particularly with a new author, but I think this was what drew me to the story in the first place. However, I struggled to engage with the narrative and didn’t warm to the writing style.
Rather than chapters, this is divided into parts and they are all very long! This doesn’t help when you want to reach a natural narrative break. Furthermore, there are flashbacks within the chapters and I thought this could have easily created their own sections. Instead, each part felt a bit never-ending and I was frustrated by this structure.
I thought the first half of the book moved quite slowly and then I became familiar with the format as the Graffiti Girls all have an axe to grind. This book is all about female suppression and Lenore, Susan, Amy and Carole have all found themselves recently wronged by the other sex. Unable to vent their frustrations and feeling their voices are silenced, the four women turn to spray painting significant buildings in the area, showing that women will not be dominated any more. As such, each part starts by introducing the character’s current circumstances (usually with a fair amount of unnecessary padding), followed by a flashback to their past, concluding with the act of vandalism. This made the story too predictable for my liking.
Not only this, it seems like all the good guys have gone in this story! I feel like this is hyperbolic, but I was frustrated by how one-sided this made Soave’s narrative. I don’t wish to believe we live in a society where all men are misogynistic rats and the decent ones are so few and far between, you rarely find them. I would have preferred Soave to have re-addressed this because, perhaps naively, I think this story gives men a bad reputation. Yes, I completely agree in equality in the workplace and in the home, but what about those examples of good behaviours?
As a result, I thought the book a bit of a downer that lacked optimism. Yes, the characters themselves evolve and they admit that their law-breaking has actually changed the way they view life. In this sense, I really enjoyed watching them move from the underdog to strong, more independent women. However, the memories that resurface and the repeated references to how men have stopped their opportunities meant I thought this was more dominant than the positive messages in the novel.
Overall, I liked the feisty nature of the women and how they grow to stand up for themselves. There are some sensitive subjects addressed in this story that feed in to the characters but I would have preferred if the author had portrayed a more balanced society to show that not all men should be the enemy.
With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rather than chapters, this is divided into parts and they are all very long! This doesn’t help when you want to reach a natural narrative break. Furthermore, there are flashbacks within the chapters and I thought this could have easily created their own sections. Instead, each part felt a bit never-ending and I was frustrated by this structure.
I thought the first half of the book moved quite slowly and then I became familiar with the format as the Graffiti Girls all have an axe to grind. This book is all about female suppression and Lenore, Susan, Amy and Carole have all found themselves recently wronged by the other sex. Unable to vent their frustrations and feeling their voices are silenced, the four women turn to spray painting significant buildings in the area, showing that women will not be dominated any more. As such, each part starts by introducing the character’s current circumstances (usually with a fair amount of unnecessary padding), followed by a flashback to their past, concluding with the act of vandalism. This made the story too predictable for my liking.
Not only this, it seems like all the good guys have gone in this story! I feel like this is hyperbolic, but I was frustrated by how one-sided this made Soave’s narrative. I don’t wish to believe we live in a society where all men are misogynistic rats and the decent ones are so few and far between, you rarely find them. I would have preferred Soave to have re-addressed this because, perhaps naively, I think this story gives men a bad reputation. Yes, I completely agree in equality in the workplace and in the home, but what about those examples of good behaviours?
As a result, I thought the book a bit of a downer that lacked optimism. Yes, the characters themselves evolve and they admit that their law-breaking has actually changed the way they view life. In this sense, I really enjoyed watching them move from the underdog to strong, more independent women. However, the memories that resurface and the repeated references to how men have stopped their opportunities meant I thought this was more dominant than the positive messages in the novel.
Overall, I liked the feisty nature of the women and how they grow to stand up for themselves. There are some sensitive subjects addressed in this story that feed in to the characters but I would have preferred if the author had portrayed a more balanced society to show that not all men should be the enemy.
With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 19, 2025This is a feel good book that deals with the reality of life. At some point we all reach a point where we wonder what if , why is our life so mundane compared to someone else. This is your inner voice let loose within a close knit group of long term friends who actually challenge you to take control back of your life, not always by legal means. The raw emotion filters through the story and everoyne grows. If only my life was that simple. Thank netgallery, publisher and author for this cracking 4 star read perfect for anyone needing a pick me up.
April 3, 2025
I hate to say it but I hated this book on multiple levels. The intro was incredibly cluttered. I struggled to differentiate the women by name and did not care for the lengthy physical descriptions of each one, not least because the way it reduced them irked me. For an ostensibly feminist book, it felt weird to put such a heavy focus on their appearances. And because there were so many descriptions, none really left an impression.
Every little detail, facial expression, background info gets over explained. Info dumps for the ages, truly. As a result, the scene felt stagnant and never ending. Eventually I gave up.
If the one queer woman named her plumbing business "Plumber XX" because of chromosomes in cis women I am FURIOUS!!
There is a lot of hypocrisy (one says "I don't take crap from any man" but dresses to please the male gaze), I don't know how much of is addressed later on in the story.
The approach to "women rising up" this book takes feels incredibly outdated. I don't mean that because it's about older women, as well. No, the phrases they use, it's all very clichéd, stuff you might've read ten or fifteen years ago, if not more. There are fresher books, including about septuagenarians who've had enough and take matters into their own hands, which they feel more timely. Clare Pooley's HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY, a recent title, comes to mind.
Thank to you Netgalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Every little detail, facial expression, background info gets over explained. Info dumps for the ages, truly. As a result, the scene felt stagnant and never ending. Eventually I gave up.
If the one queer woman named her plumbing business "Plumber XX" because of chromosomes in cis women I am FURIOUS!!
There is a lot of hypocrisy (one says "I don't take crap from any man" but dresses to please the male gaze), I don't know how much of is addressed later on in the story.
The approach to "women rising up" this book takes feels incredibly outdated. I don't mean that because it's about older women, as well. No, the phrases they use, it's all very clichéd, stuff you might've read ten or fifteen years ago, if not more. There are fresher books, including about septuagenarians who've had enough and take matters into their own hands, which they feel more timely. Clare Pooley's HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY, a recent title, comes to mind.
Thank to you Netgalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 28, 2025
“Graffiti Girls” is a light-hearted and somewhat relatable story about midlife reinvention and the power of female friendship. While it offers an uplifting take on rebellion and self-discovery, as an almost 40 year old, I felt it reflected and suits an older generation than is written to be - more the 60+ age range, and I did also find its exploration of feminist themes a bit surface-level.
Despite the back of book blurb I sadly didn’t get the feminist revolution described. It lacked the complexities and diversity of feminism in 2025.
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Thanks to net galley and the publisher for the audio ARC.
Despite the back of book blurb I sadly didn’t get the feminist revolution described. It lacked the complexities and diversity of feminism in 2025.
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Thanks to net galley and the publisher for the audio ARC.
March 13, 2025
Four friends have a bit of a moment, are in their 40s, have a career, family or the lifestyle they want. Or so they think. The women had big dreams when they were at school together, they discussed the things they wanted to achieve, but now as they look back they feel they are missing out on something. They have become unseen as such, they are not the young things of a few years ago, instead, they feel they are missing out.
The story is told from the perspective of each of the women, Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan, one starting a business, another is a librarian, one a divorcee and the other a stay-at-home mum. Not the glamorous lifestyle they envisioned, the big dreams a different memory and the future, well it doesn't look that bright. So, together they become the Graffiti Girls, they write slogans that are important to them and they gather some support.
While the story is about the women and their side-line, the graffiti is just that, a side-line to the story. This is a story about each of the women as individuals as well as part of their group. The author brings individual perspectives and at times these do tiptoe into being honest but with the best interests.
It is like a coming-of-age story for the women hitting mid-life, the realisation that as children grow up and leave home their own lives become stationary. Or that they have been doing the same thing week in and week out for years and are stuck in a rut. It makes the characters relatable. There are some interesting and fun moments, but also some serious, more personal or soul-searching ones as well.
This is a story that I enjoyed, it is one for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction and one that I would be happy to recommend.
The story is told from the perspective of each of the women, Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan, one starting a business, another is a librarian, one a divorcee and the other a stay-at-home mum. Not the glamorous lifestyle they envisioned, the big dreams a different memory and the future, well it doesn't look that bright. So, together they become the Graffiti Girls, they write slogans that are important to them and they gather some support.
While the story is about the women and their side-line, the graffiti is just that, a side-line to the story. This is a story about each of the women as individuals as well as part of their group. The author brings individual perspectives and at times these do tiptoe into being honest but with the best interests.
It is like a coming-of-age story for the women hitting mid-life, the realisation that as children grow up and leave home their own lives become stationary. Or that they have been doing the same thing week in and week out for years and are stuck in a rut. It makes the characters relatable. There are some interesting and fun moments, but also some serious, more personal or soul-searching ones as well.
This is a story that I enjoyed, it is one for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction and one that I would be happy to recommend.
March 12, 2025
Forty and fabulous – but fading into the background and possibly the future … four friends have reached a stalemate in their lives and realise their talents are ignored and to a great extent wasted. A wild idea sets them free, awakens their independence at this milestone in their lives.
A fast read, a fun read, with plenty of ammunition to keep one’s attention. Plenty of ‘wake up’ calls for men, women, young and old. Bit of a predictable ending – but enjoyable and satisfying.
Pub. 13th March, 2025
A fast read, a fun read, with plenty of ammunition to keep one’s attention. Plenty of ‘wake up’ calls for men, women, young and old. Bit of a predictable ending – but enjoyable and satisfying.
Pub. 13th March, 2025
June 5, 2025
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC of the audiobook.
Being from the same part of the world as Elissa Soave (sort of) and of a similar vintage to the characters in this novel, I fully expected this to resonate for me strongly: and how.
The flashbacks to the women in their school years and early adulthood reminded me of several of my own experiences, and either the author has a fabulous memory or did a solid amount of research, as the specific 90s references are pretty accurate!
I do have some notes, though, that take the shine off the nostalgia and claims at feminism within. The women are surprisingly critical and dismissive of younger women and girls, who are noted by their appearances and interest in selfies and (it's hinted) Instagram. Girls and women who are into that aren't necessarily vapid and lacking interiority, and it's low-key misogynistic to say as much with no challenges. Amy is something of a lesbian stereotype, down to her Doc Martens. One of the characters has a teen child who might be queer, and is close friends (or in a relationship with?) a non-binary kid. So far - with 2% of the book left - Jax and Thomas have uniformly been dismissed as going through a phase and inviting bullying and harassment. Apparently Gay Amy is either a terf or so used to the casual homophobia of her friends that she doesn't react anymore. It is actually possible to be mid-40s and live in the West of Scotland, and accept that queer kids are queer! I hope that this turns around by the end, but I don't hold a lot of hope.
If I was writing the ending; I'd have Amy discover that Emma's drunk-driving death was, in fact, a murder by a recently-dumped abusive ex - and the saviour cop would reopen the investigation and bring some justice for the deafening and lethal misogyny we all live in; that the women are reacting to. Speaking of legalities, I'm not that fussed about minor property damage versus systemic (and as previously mentioned, lethal) misogyny. One person with a power washer would probably clean up the graffiti in a couple of hours. Maybe the publishers don't want to have any potential liability for inspiring real life graffiti?
I suspect that the story is going to end with Lenore getting together with Saviour Cop, and Amy is finally going to admit to her 40 year crush on Carol, while Susan is going to continue to not be like other girls and refuse to use lip balm anything like regularly.
I'm somewhat frustrated with the book (as you can likely tell by now) because I strongly suspect that it's going to end with some personal changes (Susan's promotion, for example) but the wider system is unchanged, and the natural progression of society merely plods on.
Maybe younger women should be leading the charge for change, but middle-aged women can certainly still join in. We definitely won't help by telling kids they're just going through phases and dismissing influencers as vapid.
Lastly: it's interesting that all the children that the characters have are AMAB. The two mothers appear to be raising them all to be exactly the types of boys who grow into selfish, entitled men. Coddled, spoiled and unable to so much as make a sandwich without leaving a tornado of mess behind them, expecting a woman to pick up and never tell them no!
Feminism isn't just going for job promotions uninvited and occasionally yelling (or tweeting) a slogan, and I'm tired of people thinking that in the year of 2025. With the exception of Amy, if she is in fact a terf, I don't think any of the Graffiti Girls would pick up a novel so loudly proclaimed feminist on the cover.
Take the claims of feminism off the blurb, and it's a great novel about 4 women facing down middle age and what that means in modern society; not as invisible as past generations, but still routinely dismissed and overlooked, and pigeonholed by everyone else around us as simply not mattering that much as our male counterparts. Fed up with their lots in life; lost dreams and unfulfilled potentials (denied because, in part, they were girls) and the drudgery of everyday life in small-town Scotland, they decide to do something that people will notice. #metoo comes to Hamilton. Something like that.
Ultimately, I don't regret reading this book - and it's
clear that there needs to be more about female friendship and middle-age and navigating coming into our middle years in a period of so much social flux. I guess I just want it to be better?
Oh; and the audiobook narrator pronounces it "lie-berry" so if that bothers you, be warned. Also; when I was younger, the word "anorak" was not what we called our coats. Maybe Hamilton was the town that time forgot?
Being from the same part of the world as Elissa Soave (sort of) and of a similar vintage to the characters in this novel, I fully expected this to resonate for me strongly: and how.
The flashbacks to the women in their school years and early adulthood reminded me of several of my own experiences, and either the author has a fabulous memory or did a solid amount of research, as the specific 90s references are pretty accurate!
I do have some notes, though, that take the shine off the nostalgia and claims at feminism within. The women are surprisingly critical and dismissive of younger women and girls, who are noted by their appearances and interest in selfies and (it's hinted) Instagram. Girls and women who are into that aren't necessarily vapid and lacking interiority, and it's low-key misogynistic to say as much with no challenges. Amy is something of a lesbian stereotype, down to her Doc Martens. One of the characters has a teen child who might be queer, and is close friends (or in a relationship with?) a non-binary kid. So far - with 2% of the book left - Jax and Thomas have uniformly been dismissed as going through a phase and inviting bullying and harassment. Apparently Gay Amy is either a terf or so used to the casual homophobia of her friends that she doesn't react anymore. It is actually possible to be mid-40s and live in the West of Scotland, and accept that queer kids are queer! I hope that this turns around by the end, but I don't hold a lot of hope.
If I was writing the ending; I'd have Amy discover that Emma's drunk-driving death was, in fact, a murder by a recently-dumped abusive ex - and the saviour cop would reopen the investigation and bring some justice for the deafening and lethal misogyny we all live in; that the women are reacting to. Speaking of legalities, I'm not that fussed about minor property damage versus systemic (and as previously mentioned, lethal) misogyny. One person with a power washer would probably clean up the graffiti in a couple of hours. Maybe the publishers don't want to have any potential liability for inspiring real life graffiti?
I suspect that the story is going to end with Lenore getting together with Saviour Cop, and Amy is finally going to admit to her 40 year crush on Carol, while Susan is going to continue to not be like other girls and refuse to use lip balm anything like regularly.
I'm somewhat frustrated with the book (as you can likely tell by now) because I strongly suspect that it's going to end with some personal changes (Susan's promotion, for example) but the wider system is unchanged, and the natural progression of society merely plods on.
Maybe younger women should be leading the charge for change, but middle-aged women can certainly still join in. We definitely won't help by telling kids they're just going through phases and dismissing influencers as vapid.
Lastly: it's interesting that all the children that the characters have are AMAB. The two mothers appear to be raising them all to be exactly the types of boys who grow into selfish, entitled men. Coddled, spoiled and unable to so much as make a sandwich without leaving a tornado of mess behind them, expecting a woman to pick up and never tell them no!
Feminism isn't just going for job promotions uninvited and occasionally yelling (or tweeting) a slogan, and I'm tired of people thinking that in the year of 2025. With the exception of Amy, if she is in fact a terf, I don't think any of the Graffiti Girls would pick up a novel so loudly proclaimed feminist on the cover.
Take the claims of feminism off the blurb, and it's a great novel about 4 women facing down middle age and what that means in modern society; not as invisible as past generations, but still routinely dismissed and overlooked, and pigeonholed by everyone else around us as simply not mattering that much as our male counterparts. Fed up with their lots in life; lost dreams and unfulfilled potentials (denied because, in part, they were girls) and the drudgery of everyday life in small-town Scotland, they decide to do something that people will notice. #metoo comes to Hamilton. Something like that.
Ultimately, I don't regret reading this book - and it's
clear that there needs to be more about female friendship and middle-age and navigating coming into our middle years in a period of so much social flux. I guess I just want it to be better?
Oh; and the audiobook narrator pronounces it "lie-berry" so if that bothers you, be warned. Also; when I was younger, the word "anorak" was not what we called our coats. Maybe Hamilton was the town that time forgot?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! Something a bit different.
I related to it, laughed out loud and just generally enjoyed the style in which it was written.
We follow the lives of four 40 something year old women, all in different stages of marriage, relationships, children and work. When they all realise life isn’t quite what they expected it would be in their 40s they decide to try and make a difference, to their lives and others in their local area.
I really liked the way this book was written. How we follow each lady in turn, find out about their past, what got them to where they are today. Then seeing how they make changes, move on, while all pulling together and helping each other.
There’s lots of different vibrant characters in this, from quiet and considerate, to speaking your mind and not worrying about the consequences. As you dive in further the character development is great and you will start to feel for all the main characters.
All in all a fun, interesting read. It deals with a lot of real life issues, a lot revolving around inequality between men and women but told in an intriguing way.
I listened to the audio version of this. It took me a little while to get into, but then got used to the narrators style. I would definitely recommend this book and its audio version.
I related to it, laughed out loud and just generally enjoyed the style in which it was written.
We follow the lives of four 40 something year old women, all in different stages of marriage, relationships, children and work. When they all realise life isn’t quite what they expected it would be in their 40s they decide to try and make a difference, to their lives and others in their local area.
I really liked the way this book was written. How we follow each lady in turn, find out about their past, what got them to where they are today. Then seeing how they make changes, move on, while all pulling together and helping each other.
There’s lots of different vibrant characters in this, from quiet and considerate, to speaking your mind and not worrying about the consequences. As you dive in further the character development is great and you will start to feel for all the main characters.
All in all a fun, interesting read. It deals with a lot of real life issues, a lot revolving around inequality between men and women but told in an intriguing way.
I listened to the audio version of this. It took me a little while to get into, but then got used to the narrators style. I would definitely recommend this book and its audio version.
May 18, 2025
2.5 stars
Promising start but ultimately falls flat
The book begins with a strong premise: four school friends entering their 40s with high hopes of living their best, most fabulous lives. But reality quickly sets in it’s less "fabulous 40s" and more "fading 40s." In a world still largely shaped by male dominance, these women find themselves shortchanged at every turn. Whether never married, divorced, juggling motherhood, or raising kids alone, each woman ends up playing second fiddle to bosses, husbands, sons, colleagues, even customers.
This could have been a powerful coming-of-age story for grown women, and the plot holds great promise. Unfortunately, the execution falls short. The writing is plain and lacks depth, and the characters are disappointingly one-dimensional. You get to know them in the first 30 pages, and the remaining 300 simply reinforce those initial impressions, with little to no growth or complexity.
The constant back-and-forth between their school days and present lives quickly becomes repetitive and tiresome. About halfway through, the narrative starts to feel monotonous and predictable, losing the emotional impact it initially promised.
Promising start but ultimately falls flat
The book begins with a strong premise: four school friends entering their 40s with high hopes of living their best, most fabulous lives. But reality quickly sets in it’s less "fabulous 40s" and more "fading 40s." In a world still largely shaped by male dominance, these women find themselves shortchanged at every turn. Whether never married, divorced, juggling motherhood, or raising kids alone, each woman ends up playing second fiddle to bosses, husbands, sons, colleagues, even customers.
This could have been a powerful coming-of-age story for grown women, and the plot holds great promise. Unfortunately, the execution falls short. The writing is plain and lacks depth, and the characters are disappointingly one-dimensional. You get to know them in the first 30 pages, and the remaining 300 simply reinforce those initial impressions, with little to no growth or complexity.
The constant back-and-forth between their school days and present lives quickly becomes repetitive and tiresome. About halfway through, the narrative starts to feel monotonous and predictable, losing the emotional impact it initially promised.
March 12, 2025
Amy, a 40-something plumber is angry. Called out to a job, she’s refused entry and patronised because she’s a woman and clearly knows nothing about plumbing. Irked by the blatant sexism, she calls together her best friends for a drink, because she has a plan.
Susan is a librarian with little confidence, doting on her 16 year old son who she does everything for. Teacher Lenore is a gym-bunny after being overweight and invisible as a teen. Frustrated that her ideas are ignored at work, her former partner left her for a younger woman, her solution is to bury herself in exercise and calorie counting. Glamorous Carole has a wealthy banker husband and 4 sons and her “work” is the home and the family. From the outside, she has it all, but incensed by the treatment of Amy, she examines her own life and finds something is lacking.
Living in the Scottish town of Hamilton where they all grew up and went to school, the 4 women share in Amy’s anger, all feeling invisible, unfulfilled and under-appreciated. And so they meet up late at night and graffiti messages on the walls of the Miners Institute that had refused to allow Amy to do her job. And so starts the Graffiti Girls.
The novel then dives into the story of each of the women in turn – their growing up, their lives now, the injustices each have faced. For each of them, this small moment of rebellion ignites something big, forcing them to look at their lives and what has been making them unhappy, and make changes. Screaming about the injustices in spray paint somehow empowers them, and other women who read their words.
I loved this inspiring tale, how such different women have stuck by each other and back each other up always. The story is hilarious and sad in equal measure, but carries a message of hope. It’s also empowering to see the women take back control of their lives, not just letting life happen to them, no longer accepting the cards they’re dealt.
This uplifting novel is beautifully written and narrated, with such warmth, and I loved the friendship between the women, the acceptance that each of them is different, but the bonds they have are strong and lasting. The audio is brilliantly read with everyone well characterised, and I couldn’t stop listening once I started!
Susan is a librarian with little confidence, doting on her 16 year old son who she does everything for. Teacher Lenore is a gym-bunny after being overweight and invisible as a teen. Frustrated that her ideas are ignored at work, her former partner left her for a younger woman, her solution is to bury herself in exercise and calorie counting. Glamorous Carole has a wealthy banker husband and 4 sons and her “work” is the home and the family. From the outside, she has it all, but incensed by the treatment of Amy, she examines her own life and finds something is lacking.
Living in the Scottish town of Hamilton where they all grew up and went to school, the 4 women share in Amy’s anger, all feeling invisible, unfulfilled and under-appreciated. And so they meet up late at night and graffiti messages on the walls of the Miners Institute that had refused to allow Amy to do her job. And so starts the Graffiti Girls.
The novel then dives into the story of each of the women in turn – their growing up, their lives now, the injustices each have faced. For each of them, this small moment of rebellion ignites something big, forcing them to look at their lives and what has been making them unhappy, and make changes. Screaming about the injustices in spray paint somehow empowers them, and other women who read their words.
I loved this inspiring tale, how such different women have stuck by each other and back each other up always. The story is hilarious and sad in equal measure, but carries a message of hope. It’s also empowering to see the women take back control of their lives, not just letting life happen to them, no longer accepting the cards they’re dealt.
This uplifting novel is beautifully written and narrated, with such warmth, and I loved the friendship between the women, the acceptance that each of them is different, but the bonds they have are strong and lasting. The audio is brilliantly read with everyone well characterised, and I couldn’t stop listening once I started!
March 10, 2025
I really enjoyed spending time with The Graffiti Girls, also known as good friends Susan, Amy, Lenore and Carole.
I thought the author chose a really good way of telling her story and allowing her readers to get to know her characters. There’s a set-up chapter and a final chapter and in between, each long section focusses on one of the women and the issues she has faced but also includes the other three in the narrative. Gradually we come to know each character and find out what particular struggles they face in life. I’ll let you find out for yourself what they are, as finding out is part of the enjoyment of the book.
There’s a strong focus on friendship in the book with the four women having been best friends since school. Now in their forties, as is the way of things, the friendships have ebbed and flowed depending on life events but they have a lot of history and shared experiences. It was great to read about how supportive they were of each other but the author doesn’t shy away from the niggles and challenges that even close friendships face.
The book raises a lot of serious issues through the experiences of the women and I’m sure many readers will recognise the casual everyday sexism the women encounter. Whether that’s being valued simply for their looks, being paid less than male colleagues, being expected to do everything around the house or being the victim of unwanted attention or worse, we see that there is still a long way to go before there will be anything like gender equality. I was cheering the women on as they went about their campaign to raise awareness of the problems although, like Susan, I would be a little uneasy about the way the went about it!
What I particularly liked about this book is that the graffitied slogans really raised awareness of the issues and got the local community talking. But it also changed the lives of all of the women as they began to stand up for themselves and realise that they deserved more in life.
A most entertaining read: feisty, funny and warm with a powerful message for women everywhere. Hooray for the Graffiti Girls!
I thought the author chose a really good way of telling her story and allowing her readers to get to know her characters. There’s a set-up chapter and a final chapter and in between, each long section focusses on one of the women and the issues she has faced but also includes the other three in the narrative. Gradually we come to know each character and find out what particular struggles they face in life. I’ll let you find out for yourself what they are, as finding out is part of the enjoyment of the book.
There’s a strong focus on friendship in the book with the four women having been best friends since school. Now in their forties, as is the way of things, the friendships have ebbed and flowed depending on life events but they have a lot of history and shared experiences. It was great to read about how supportive they were of each other but the author doesn’t shy away from the niggles and challenges that even close friendships face.
The book raises a lot of serious issues through the experiences of the women and I’m sure many readers will recognise the casual everyday sexism the women encounter. Whether that’s being valued simply for their looks, being paid less than male colleagues, being expected to do everything around the house or being the victim of unwanted attention or worse, we see that there is still a long way to go before there will be anything like gender equality. I was cheering the women on as they went about their campaign to raise awareness of the problems although, like Susan, I would be a little uneasy about the way the went about it!
What I particularly liked about this book is that the graffitied slogans really raised awareness of the issues and got the local community talking. But it also changed the lives of all of the women as they began to stand up for themselves and realise that they deserved more in life.
A most entertaining read: feisty, funny and warm with a powerful message for women everywhere. Hooray for the Graffiti Girls!
October 8, 2025
Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave is a powerful contemporary novel that consumed me from the start.
Graffiti Girls is set in Scotland and surrounds four female friends in their forties. The book is about sisterhood and supporting each other. The four have felt marginalised all their life but now they are in their forties, they seem invisible too. “The feeling of being useless as a shadow, and as insubstantial as one too, had crept up on her.” Together they highlight some of the wrongs in society.
Society has always been a patriarchal one. Even as children, they were exploited by a male teacher, feeling that they had to do as he said without question. “The way old Mouldy put it, it felt like we had no choice.”
Graffiti Girls is about having a voice and using it. “It is about striking back, making our voices heard.” They want to break out of society’s traditions and be free to be themselves. “We’re worth something, our lives matter.”
Each of the women is unique and with a very different home set up. What unites them is the way that they are all treated by the males they come across. “We’re here, we’re over forty but we’re still here. We won’t be ignored; we won’t be airbrushed out of the picture.” Graffiti Girls is about taking control – and as they do this, their lives are enriched. “It’s taken Graffiti Girls to wake me up and make me realise I need more from life.” The friends empower each other, and the wider female population too.
There are some very moving scenes where the women individually touch the lives of others. They see the lost and the hurting. They do not walk on without stopping and touching lives whatever the personal cost to them.
Graffiti Girls is about friendships and family; and healing any rifts that appear.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and extremely likable.
Elissa Soave is a new author to me. She writes with sensitivity, and with humour too. I absolutely loved Graffiti Girls. It was an extremely relatable book.
Graffiti Girls is set in Scotland and surrounds four female friends in their forties. The book is about sisterhood and supporting each other. The four have felt marginalised all their life but now they are in their forties, they seem invisible too. “The feeling of being useless as a shadow, and as insubstantial as one too, had crept up on her.” Together they highlight some of the wrongs in society.
Society has always been a patriarchal one. Even as children, they were exploited by a male teacher, feeling that they had to do as he said without question. “The way old Mouldy put it, it felt like we had no choice.”
Graffiti Girls is about having a voice and using it. “It is about striking back, making our voices heard.” They want to break out of society’s traditions and be free to be themselves. “We’re worth something, our lives matter.”
Each of the women is unique and with a very different home set up. What unites them is the way that they are all treated by the males they come across. “We’re here, we’re over forty but we’re still here. We won’t be ignored; we won’t be airbrushed out of the picture.” Graffiti Girls is about taking control – and as they do this, their lives are enriched. “It’s taken Graffiti Girls to wake me up and make me realise I need more from life.” The friends empower each other, and the wider female population too.
There are some very moving scenes where the women individually touch the lives of others. They see the lost and the hurting. They do not walk on without stopping and touching lives whatever the personal cost to them.
Graffiti Girls is about friendships and family; and healing any rifts that appear.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and extremely likable.
Elissa Soave is a new author to me. She writes with sensitivity, and with humour too. I absolutely loved Graffiti Girls. It was an extremely relatable book.
April 1, 2025
Rounded up to 3.5🌟
This was a really easy, enjoyable listen. Full of various aspects you can imagine from 4 different women who have been friends since they were at school together and now in their 40s.
We meet Amy, Susan, Leonre, and Carole, who have simply had enough of their lives in one way or another, and so they get together for an emergency set the world to rights meal. This is where Amy takes the lead and explains how she has had enough of misogynistic men treating her differently in her job as a plumber as if she isn't capable simply due to the fact she is female.
So they all decide to begin their adventure with spraypainting their own individual unique messages to tell these men and anyone else who reads just what they think, this is their way of standing up for themselves. It begins with the job Amy was shunned from to leave a message on the building, letting them know this behaviour isn't OK and women are capable.
Of course it continues with more twists and additions from all the women, of their lives and how they feel they are being dismissed by others around them including their own family so together they gain strength in each other even if there are some testing times between them.
It's humourous and fun, lighthearted and enjoyable, I haven't had the pleasure of reading / listening to Ginger & Me as yet so having listened to this audiobook I've now added to my TBR list. Definitely similar feels to one of my favourite authors, Shari Low. However, Elissa has her own style and is a great author from this experience. This was well narrated, and all characters were brought to life so well that I felt like I got to know them and their lives individually.
With thanks to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK Audio for this ELC in return for an honest review 🙏🏼📚🎧❤️
This was a really easy, enjoyable listen. Full of various aspects you can imagine from 4 different women who have been friends since they were at school together and now in their 40s.
We meet Amy, Susan, Leonre, and Carole, who have simply had enough of their lives in one way or another, and so they get together for an emergency set the world to rights meal. This is where Amy takes the lead and explains how she has had enough of misogynistic men treating her differently in her job as a plumber as if she isn't capable simply due to the fact she is female.
So they all decide to begin their adventure with spraypainting their own individual unique messages to tell these men and anyone else who reads just what they think, this is their way of standing up for themselves. It begins with the job Amy was shunned from to leave a message on the building, letting them know this behaviour isn't OK and women are capable.
Of course it continues with more twists and additions from all the women, of their lives and how they feel they are being dismissed by others around them including their own family so together they gain strength in each other even if there are some testing times between them.
It's humourous and fun, lighthearted and enjoyable, I haven't had the pleasure of reading / listening to Ginger & Me as yet so having listened to this audiobook I've now added to my TBR list. Definitely similar feels to one of my favourite authors, Shari Low. However, Elissa has her own style and is a great author from this experience. This was well narrated, and all characters were brought to life so well that I felt like I got to know them and their lives individually.
With thanks to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK Audio for this ELC in return for an honest review 🙏🏼📚🎧❤️
May 20, 2025
Graffiti Girls was trying to be a fun, empowering story of four 40-something women reclaiming their lives. Instead, it's a slightly pedestrian feminist manifesto, with little in the way of story or character.
Essentially, our four protagonists realise their lives are rubbish, identify the patriarchy as the source of a lot of the rubbishness (which is fair enough) and decide that the best way to retaliate is by... graffitiing questionable slogans on vaguely connected buildings. And, somehow, this lawbreaking reignites their friendship and gives them the courage to stand up for themselves in their relationships and workplaces.
The problem is, the patriarchy isn't the issue in most of the women's lives. The single mom with the teenage son who literally can't make a sandwich? Whose responsibility was it to teach him? The underappreciated librarian who badly needs a raise? Nothing was stopping her from applying for a better job (and, when she does apply, she's instantly promoted). Even with the woman whose husband seemed to be cheating, it appears that literally all that needed to happen was a single honest conversation, and suddenly they're madly in love again. And, in the end, their graffitiing accomplishes exactly nothing, other than making them all feel better about themselves.
There was some fun along the way, of course. I did appreciate the variety of the women's lives, and the book does certainly make some valid points about the ways society overlooks women of a certain age. It's definitely not a bad book; it's just not as clever as it could have been.
Essentially, our four protagonists realise their lives are rubbish, identify the patriarchy as the source of a lot of the rubbishness (which is fair enough) and decide that the best way to retaliate is by... graffitiing questionable slogans on vaguely connected buildings. And, somehow, this lawbreaking reignites their friendship and gives them the courage to stand up for themselves in their relationships and workplaces.
The problem is, the patriarchy isn't the issue in most of the women's lives. The single mom with the teenage son who literally can't make a sandwich? Whose responsibility was it to teach him? The underappreciated librarian who badly needs a raise? Nothing was stopping her from applying for a better job (and, when she does apply, she's instantly promoted). Even with the woman whose husband seemed to be cheating, it appears that literally all that needed to happen was a single honest conversation, and suddenly they're madly in love again. And, in the end, their graffitiing accomplishes exactly nothing, other than making them all feel better about themselves.
There was some fun along the way, of course. I did appreciate the variety of the women's lives, and the book does certainly make some valid points about the ways society overlooks women of a certain age. It's definitely not a bad book; it's just not as clever as it could have been.
March 8, 2025
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was invited to read this ARC from the publishers themselves, which I truly appreciated.
Closer to reality than fiction - 4.5*
I'm going to be honest...I didn't think I was going to like this book - but I was wrong. I consumed this book. I truly think I set a record on how fast I read this book on my Kindle. Guinness World Records, I'm here. There was something about this book that meant I couldn't stop reading it. Perhaps, it was actually seeing well-thought out 40-year-old females, who play more than a supporting role in a book and are actually complex people and just really cool characters. Maybe it was my anxious mind; I literally could not commit a crime. I would start to panic, even in the planning stages. Perhaps, it was the plot that truly hooked me in. I loved the whole setup and steps leading up to it. I enjoyed how the plot continued to develop through each character's point of view.
Now unfortunately, I've either experienced the misogyny and clear sexism in this book or I've witnessed it. I hate that this book is so relatable but I love the hopeful nature of this. That maybe things can change. Not drastic change. This book isn't a magic wand but maybe it's a start.
This is a definite must read and I can definitely see this as a future Netflix drama or Reece Witherspoon film.
I was invited to read this ARC from the publishers themselves, which I truly appreciated.
Closer to reality than fiction - 4.5*
I'm going to be honest...I didn't think I was going to like this book - but I was wrong. I consumed this book. I truly think I set a record on how fast I read this book on my Kindle. Guinness World Records, I'm here. There was something about this book that meant I couldn't stop reading it. Perhaps, it was actually seeing well-thought out 40-year-old females, who play more than a supporting role in a book and are actually complex people and just really cool characters. Maybe it was my anxious mind; I literally could not commit a crime. I would start to panic, even in the planning stages. Perhaps, it was the plot that truly hooked me in. I loved the whole setup and steps leading up to it. I enjoyed how the plot continued to develop through each character's point of view.
Now unfortunately, I've either experienced the misogyny and clear sexism in this book or I've witnessed it. I hate that this book is so relatable but I love the hopeful nature of this. That maybe things can change. Not drastic change. This book isn't a magic wand but maybe it's a start.
This is a definite must read and I can definitely see this as a future Netflix drama or Reece Witherspoon film.
March 17, 2025
Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave is a timely book that celebrates female friendship while deftly skewering the everyday sexism encountered by women with humour, honesty and a lot of insight.
The book tells the stories of four women in their forties who have been friends for decades and are absolutely willing to go to bat for each other whenever one of them faces a problem. Each of the women leads very different lives and faces different problems and while they might not always understand exactly what another of their group is going through they are always willing to lend an ear and offer practical support and advice. When they decide to take a stand the Graffiti Girls are born and before long they see that so many of the other women in their town are going through the same problems. The graffiti goings on are really secondary to the wonderful characters that drive this story, each of the women feel very real and have such distinct voices and back stories that they really came to life on the page. It feels rare to have a book focussed on women of this age but I loved seeing them adapting to the changes in their lives and becoming stronger and more determined with the help of one another.
I really enjoyed this feel good empowering read and will be recommending it.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
The book tells the stories of four women in their forties who have been friends for decades and are absolutely willing to go to bat for each other whenever one of them faces a problem. Each of the women leads very different lives and faces different problems and while they might not always understand exactly what another of their group is going through they are always willing to lend an ear and offer practical support and advice. When they decide to take a stand the Graffiti Girls are born and before long they see that so many of the other women in their town are going through the same problems. The graffiti goings on are really secondary to the wonderful characters that drive this story, each of the women feel very real and have such distinct voices and back stories that they really came to life on the page. It feels rare to have a book focussed on women of this age but I loved seeing them adapting to the changes in their lives and becoming stronger and more determined with the help of one another.
I really enjoyed this feel good empowering read and will be recommending it.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
May 4, 2025
When friends will do anything for you
—
It’s said that your best friends will drop whatever they’re doing and help you, no matter what it is: moving house, taking you to hospital, moving a dead body… In Soave’s uplifting ode to female friendship, Amy, Lenore, Susan and Carole keep finding their lives out of step with their hopes and dreams, until one day Amy’s had enough, and she suggests that they take some radical action and, as the title suggests, show the world that they matter, that their voices need to be heard, and all through the medium of graffiti. As they find new targets for their ire, they also find that life can get better, but that you have to speak up for yourself.
There was a moment when I thought that the book would take off, but it stays firmly rooted in the relationships between these four friends, which is not a bad place to be; a lost chance but the book explores their relationships thoroughly, and everyone gets a happy ending. I never felt that its setting was important which is a shame as it could have demonstrated a stark contrast between a benign (or even humdrum) place and the shock of graffiti, but that’s just a garnish to a book that would make a great book club read.
—
It’s said that your best friends will drop whatever they’re doing and help you, no matter what it is: moving house, taking you to hospital, moving a dead body… In Soave’s uplifting ode to female friendship, Amy, Lenore, Susan and Carole keep finding their lives out of step with their hopes and dreams, until one day Amy’s had enough, and she suggests that they take some radical action and, as the title suggests, show the world that they matter, that their voices need to be heard, and all through the medium of graffiti. As they find new targets for their ire, they also find that life can get better, but that you have to speak up for yourself.
There was a moment when I thought that the book would take off, but it stays firmly rooted in the relationships between these four friends, which is not a bad place to be; a lost chance but the book explores their relationships thoroughly, and everyone gets a happy ending. I never felt that its setting was important which is a shame as it could have demonstrated a stark contrast between a benign (or even humdrum) place and the shock of graffiti, but that’s just a garnish to a book that would make a great book club read.
December 12, 2025
I bought this on impulse on the basis that it is set in the town where I live, then I realised that it was by the same writer as Ginger and Me (which was set in the place I grew up), about which I had mixed feelings. This one is a fairly stodgy critique of the patriarchy, with the characters drawn heavily from stereotypes. The writer likes to set her books in real places, using real place names and geographically accurate descriptions. I'm not sure what that adds, and at times it could be problematic (like using the name of an actual well known local pub then saying it is a haunt of underage drinkers and known for sexual assaults. Why not make up a pub name?) Some plot details are just unbelievable (Cameron, the new start at the library who does nothing much, is two pay grades higher than her: surely that would be some sort of managerial role and not the same job as her. But that wouldn't illustrate the pay gap so well). Everyone was there to prove a point or illustrate an issue, every bit of dialogue was focused on the issues. And what on earth happened to Amy's cat? How can a house cat (she lives in a flat) bleed to death like that? I spent more time thinking about that than its owner did!
April 3, 2025
Set in Hamilton, Scotland, it follows Amy, Carole, Lenore, and Susan who are lifelong friends tired of being dismissed. Instead of quietly accepting their place on the sidelines, they pick up spray cans and start making their voices heard, literally, through graffiti. What begins as an impulsive act of rebellion turns into something much bigger, forcing them to confront what they really want from life and how far they’re willing to go to claim it.
What I loved most about this book is how real it feels. Their lives and friendships are messy and complicated but full of warmth, the humour is sharp without trying too hard, and the story never falls into clichés about midlife reinvention. It’s about frustration, yes, but also about the power of solidarity and finding new ways to take up space.
If you’re looking for a quick, engaging read that doesn’t sugar coat the realities of getting older but still feels uplifting, this is well worth picking up.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the arc.
What I loved most about this book is how real it feels. Their lives and friendships are messy and complicated but full of warmth, the humour is sharp without trying too hard, and the story never falls into clichés about midlife reinvention. It’s about frustration, yes, but also about the power of solidarity and finding new ways to take up space.
If you’re looking for a quick, engaging read that doesn’t sugar coat the realities of getting older but still feels uplifting, this is well worth picking up.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the arc.
May 7, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Graffiti Girls, especially as I'm a woman of a certain age and could relate to the characters so well.
Amy, Lenore, Carole and Susan have been friends since their school days. Now in their forties, they're living very different lives, but all experiencing some level of dissatisfaction, whether it be at work or in their personal lives.
Amy has always been the most outspoken of the group and she has an idea. A way to vent their frustrations.
And so the graffiti girls start their campaign of spray painting slogans onto buildings around their town. It gets people talking and overhearing snippets of conversation, they realise they have started a movement.
But it has a more profound effect on them personally. They let go of their hangups and find a new sense of confidence and self-belief. They call out inequalities at work and at home and find their too long silenced voices.
Uplifting, empowering and most certainly feel good, Graffiti Girls is a reminder to stop making yourself small and to live boldly and unapologetically.
Amy, Lenore, Carole and Susan have been friends since their school days. Now in their forties, they're living very different lives, but all experiencing some level of dissatisfaction, whether it be at work or in their personal lives.
Amy has always been the most outspoken of the group and she has an idea. A way to vent their frustrations.
And so the graffiti girls start their campaign of spray painting slogans onto buildings around their town. It gets people talking and overhearing snippets of conversation, they realise they have started a movement.
But it has a more profound effect on them personally. They let go of their hangups and find a new sense of confidence and self-belief. They call out inequalities at work and at home and find their too long silenced voices.
Uplifting, empowering and most certainly feel good, Graffiti Girls is a reminder to stop making yourself small and to live boldly and unapologetically.
Read
March 30, 2025Set in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, the four main characters of the book (Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan) have been friends since school. Now in their early forties they are reconsidering their lives and particularly being taken for granted. by family and looked at in a different way by society as they age. After a particular incident the women turn to graffiti in a local public spot to get their message across. As they view the reaction of other women within their community the Graffiti Girls use this medium to post more comments. In a humorous way Soave looks at the attitude to women as they age and grapple with changes in family and society. You find yourself rooting for all four of them as they face their own challenges.
I hope Soave considers revisiting these ladies again in years to come, I'd like to see them deal with Menopause too!
Thanks to the publishers (HQ) and NetGalley for an ARC of this title for review.
I hope Soave considers revisiting these ladies again in years to come, I'd like to see them deal with Menopause too!
Thanks to the publishers (HQ) and NetGalley for an ARC of this title for review.
April 8, 2025
Basically this is a story of 4 women friends who are all sick and tired of being controlled, looked down upon, abused and belittled and they take a stand, using graffiti to send a message to those who have done them wrong.
There was some relatability that came with this story, with being a working woman in a man’s world and each of the individual friends reminded me of women in my friend circle.
The main message in the end is that we are capable of more than we think and of course I am all for this, but the story that took place to get to this, just didn’t do anything for me - I wasn’t humoured and the graffiti side of it wasn’t something I could go along with. In the end also, there just ultimately wasn’t much that changed or progressed for each of the women, I just expected more with what could have been a powerful story and message.
Thank-you NetGalley, Harper Collins and Elissa for the Audio Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.
There was some relatability that came with this story, with being a working woman in a man’s world and each of the individual friends reminded me of women in my friend circle.
The main message in the end is that we are capable of more than we think and of course I am all for this, but the story that took place to get to this, just didn’t do anything for me - I wasn’t humoured and the graffiti side of it wasn’t something I could go along with. In the end also, there just ultimately wasn’t much that changed or progressed for each of the women, I just expected more with what could have been a powerful story and message.
Thank-you NetGalley, Harper Collins and Elissa for the Audio Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the 4 best friends were great characters. I found the writing style to be great and I liked the way it flipped between present day and back when they were younger. I liked each character’s personalities and whilst the book had something to say about womanhood it was also heartwarming. The ending was perfect as well and brought a close to the story perfectly.
Set in the Scottish town of Hamilton this is the story of Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan who have been best friends since school. When they were younger they couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead for them. Now in their forties they are fed up and feel like they are taken for granted. So they decide to do something about it and they start graffitiing prominent places in their hometown with feminist slogans. The Graffiti Girls are born and are taking no prisoners.
Set in the Scottish town of Hamilton this is the story of Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan who have been best friends since school. When they were younger they couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead for them. Now in their forties they are fed up and feel like they are taken for granted. So they decide to do something about it and they start graffitiing prominent places in their hometown with feminist slogans. The Graffiti Girls are born and are taking no prisoners.
May 18, 2025
Graffiti Girls is a warm, quietly empowering novel that balances a feel-good tone with important themes of feminism, women’s voices, and the right to be heard. Elissa Soave creates a cast of relatable, resilient women whose lives intersect in meaningful and often surprising ways. The story captures everyday moments with honesty and humour, allowing space for serious undertones without becoming heavy-handed.
What makes this book stand out is how it celebrates the strength in ordinary women – their friendships, their struggles, and their refusal to be silenced. There’s a gentle but firm message about ownership of space, identity, and voice, all wrapped up in a pacey, enjoyable read.
It’s not revolutionary, but it doesn’t need to be. Graffiti Girls is a satisfying, empowering novel with heart – perfect for readers looking for something light yet thoughtful
What makes this book stand out is how it celebrates the strength in ordinary women – their friendships, their struggles, and their refusal to be silenced. There’s a gentle but firm message about ownership of space, identity, and voice, all wrapped up in a pacey, enjoyable read.
It’s not revolutionary, but it doesn’t need to be. Graffiti Girls is a satisfying, empowering novel with heart – perfect for readers looking for something light yet thoughtful
December 11, 2025
This wasn’t my usual sort of genre, but this was chosen as a book club read. I surprisingly enjoyed it!
We meet Amy, Carole, Susan and Lenore- a group of women in their 40s who have been friends since school. It was interesting to see how society discounts women and underestimates the ability of what they can do. It was also sad seeing all the cases of sexual abuse.
This book initially felt very much like rage bait. I would be so angry and fuming for the women and when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Now I rated this book highly because I did enjoy it. However, the situations the women in felt generic and almost too angering to be true. But this is precisely what the book is trying to say- all these instances of misogyny and abuse is actually really really common. What was different though was there were some gentle solutions to the rage bait and the women were reclaiming their power.
Reclaiming their power was what the book was about! I felt this most strongly in Susan’s case- perhaps because I related to her the most. Amy’s was also good to see, but was far too brief. Carole’s story of reclamation was set up to be the best one, but ended up being the most disappointing. In other words, the book was actually rather realistic.
We meet Amy, Carole, Susan and Lenore- a group of women in their 40s who have been friends since school. It was interesting to see how society discounts women and underestimates the ability of what they can do. It was also sad seeing all the cases of sexual abuse.
This book initially felt very much like rage bait. I would be so angry and fuming for the women and when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Now I rated this book highly because I did enjoy it. However, the situations the women in felt generic and almost too angering to be true. But this is precisely what the book is trying to say- all these instances of misogyny and abuse is actually really really common. What was different though was there were some gentle solutions to the rage bait and the women were reclaiming their power.
Reclaiming their power was what the book was about! I felt this most strongly in Susan’s case- perhaps because I related to her the most. Amy’s was also good to see, but was far too brief. Carole’s story of reclamation was set up to be the best one, but ended up being the most disappointing. In other words, the book was actually rather realistic.
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