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The Cabernet Club
Debbie Gordon has six months to get a life.
When her only child and family move away, long-divorced legal secretary Debbie can finally leave her sleepy New England hometown and retire to Florida. Her helicopter daughter has other ideas, but they finally agree Debbie can use the six months on her lease to make a life in Florida. If not, she must move in with her daughter’s family in Delaware, most likely as their unpaid nanny.
In Florida, Debbie’s high hopes of a budget Golden Girls lifestyle disappear when she encounters the wacky, eccentric residents of her shabby rental community. Then a lucky chance encounter leads to a strong new friendship with two women, Maria and Fran.
Helped by her new friends, Debbie navigates the lows and highs of life in South Florida—unresolved past issues, a medical mystery, a difficult new boss, money woes, and late-life dating, plus new adventures, a promising romance, and professional recognition for her writing talent. Will Debbie finally be able to get a life?
About the AuthorsIn the late 1980s and early 1990s, co-author Rona S. Zable (aged 88 at the time of her death in 2023), had published three YA novels with Bantam Doubleday Dell. She later worked for 20 years as editor of SeniorScope, the largest senior publication in New England. Her daughter and co-author Margie Zable Fisher (age 56) is a former publicist and currently a writer and editor, published in the New York Times, AARP, Fortune Well, Next Avenue, and more. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).
When her only child and family move away, long-divorced legal secretary Debbie can finally leave her sleepy New England hometown and retire to Florida. Her helicopter daughter has other ideas, but they finally agree Debbie can use the six months on her lease to make a life in Florida. If not, she must move in with her daughter’s family in Delaware, most likely as their unpaid nanny.
In Florida, Debbie’s high hopes of a budget Golden Girls lifestyle disappear when she encounters the wacky, eccentric residents of her shabby rental community. Then a lucky chance encounter leads to a strong new friendship with two women, Maria and Fran.
Helped by her new friends, Debbie navigates the lows and highs of life in South Florida—unresolved past issues, a medical mystery, a difficult new boss, money woes, and late-life dating, plus new adventures, a promising romance, and professional recognition for her writing talent. Will Debbie finally be able to get a life?
About the AuthorsIn the late 1980s and early 1990s, co-author Rona S. Zable (aged 88 at the time of her death in 2023), had published three YA novels with Bantam Doubleday Dell. She later worked for 20 years as editor of SeniorScope, the largest senior publication in New England. Her daughter and co-author Margie Zable Fisher (age 56) is a former publicist and currently a writer and editor, published in the New York Times, AARP, Fortune Well, Next Avenue, and more. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).
- GenresAudiobook
355 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 9, 2026
“It is never too late to be who you might have been.” – Author Unknown
It seemed that I started this new year (2025) reading lots of books with older protagonists. I don’t know if I was in a particular mood, or if the books were just attracted to me. But for some reason they really worked well for me, and, I was enjoying them. And then, Margie Fisher contacted me and said that she thought I would relish her book because of the fun older protagonists. And, she was right.
It didn’t take long to find myself fully engaged in the lives of Debbie, Fran and Maria in Florida. But before we got there as readers, it was all about Bostonian (well a little town called Winslow) Debbie figuring out what she wanted for herself post-retirement. How about nice warm sandy beaches, no snow, and some relaxing fun?
“This is the beginning of my new me, and my new life.”
This may not have been what her best-friend daughter, Lori envisioned for her. She preferred her mother moving with them to Delaware where her husband had just gotten a new job, and they had settled in with Debbie’s, two grandchildren. But Debbie was ready for a little freedom, and not the role of a live-in gr-nanny. Maybe this Florida landscape, known as Palmetto Pointe, and her newly formed girlfriend group called ‘The Cabernet Club’ was what she really needed.
And, as she settles in and finds things to do, like a part-time job, and joining the Creative Writing group, all seems well. But then there is that old high school nemesis surfacing, and dating at her age. How many challenges can she handle? Could health concerns be next?
I thoroughly enjoyed my romp through the pages of this book as I tagged along with Debbie and her friends. The characters were inspiring, relatable, and fun. And, the story is heart-warming. Who says it can’t be exciting during the “autumn of our life?” Certainly not these characters! And, probably not me.
One last note…
This book feels like a love letter to mother and daughter relationships. Something that I sense truly existed between this writing team; and, showcases well between the characters of Debbie and Lori. I have to believe the mother-daughter relationship between these co-authors was an extraordinary one. Especially now for Margie who continues to heal the loss of her dear mother, Rona, her co-author.
I want to thank the author for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I am providing an honest review.
It seemed that I started this new year (2025) reading lots of books with older protagonists. I don’t know if I was in a particular mood, or if the books were just attracted to me. But for some reason they really worked well for me, and, I was enjoying them. And then, Margie Fisher contacted me and said that she thought I would relish her book because of the fun older protagonists. And, she was right.
It didn’t take long to find myself fully engaged in the lives of Debbie, Fran and Maria in Florida. But before we got there as readers, it was all about Bostonian (well a little town called Winslow) Debbie figuring out what she wanted for herself post-retirement. How about nice warm sandy beaches, no snow, and some relaxing fun?
“This is the beginning of my new me, and my new life.”
This may not have been what her best-friend daughter, Lori envisioned for her. She preferred her mother moving with them to Delaware where her husband had just gotten a new job, and they had settled in with Debbie’s, two grandchildren. But Debbie was ready for a little freedom, and not the role of a live-in gr-nanny. Maybe this Florida landscape, known as Palmetto Pointe, and her newly formed girlfriend group called ‘The Cabernet Club’ was what she really needed.
And, as she settles in and finds things to do, like a part-time job, and joining the Creative Writing group, all seems well. But then there is that old high school nemesis surfacing, and dating at her age. How many challenges can she handle? Could health concerns be next?
I thoroughly enjoyed my romp through the pages of this book as I tagged along with Debbie and her friends. The characters were inspiring, relatable, and fun. And, the story is heart-warming. Who says it can’t be exciting during the “autumn of our life?” Certainly not these characters! And, probably not me.
One last note…
This book feels like a love letter to mother and daughter relationships. Something that I sense truly existed between this writing team; and, showcases well between the characters of Debbie and Lori. I have to believe the mother-daughter relationship between these co-authors was an extraordinary one. Especially now for Margie who continues to heal the loss of her dear mother, Rona, her co-author.
I want to thank the author for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I am providing an honest review.
February 23, 2026
It was ok, nothing very earth shattering. It's a cute, fun read though, and definitely read the author's note at the end.
Debbie is retired and her daughter wants her to move to Delaware, but Debbie wants to live in Florida. So she moves into an apartment in a retirement complex and there she meets some other women who form The Cabernet Club where they drink wine and discuss the aspects of their lives.
I enjoyed this read and the women involved, however I got a little frustrated with Debbie and how she was not being as assertive or as proactive as she could have been. I did like the humorous situations the women found themselves in and the book definitely has a Golden Girls vibe. If you enjoy books about plucky older women, you'll definitely like this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Debbie is retired and her daughter wants her to move to Delaware, but Debbie wants to live in Florida. So she moves into an apartment in a retirement complex and there she meets some other women who form The Cabernet Club where they drink wine and discuss the aspects of their lives.
I enjoyed this read and the women involved, however I got a little frustrated with Debbie and how she was not being as assertive or as proactive as she could have been. I did like the humorous situations the women found themselves in and the book definitely has a Golden Girls vibe. If you enjoy books about plucky older women, you'll definitely like this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 20, 2025
What a warm hug of a book! I loved the compelling main character, Debbie, who retires to Florida for a new start, and the supportive women she meets there who become her lifeline.
The sunny story seemed so real that I felt I was with them by the pool, drinking Cabernet, chasing romance and the thrill of a writer's life. Don't miss this charming tale that will make you laugh out loud, and lift your spirits just like a perfect day at the beach.
The sunny story seemed so real that I felt I was with them by the pool, drinking Cabernet, chasing romance and the thrill of a writer's life. Don't miss this charming tale that will make you laugh out loud, and lift your spirits just like a perfect day at the beach.
July 26, 2025
THE BOOK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SO GET YOUR COPY.
MY FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 9.
THE CABERNET CLUB is about female friendships, enjoying your retirement, and just making the most out of life.
If you need an endearing, pleasant read, be sure to add this book to your reading list.
There are some truly laugh-out-loud moments to add to the joy.
You will LOVE everything about the book - especially the characters. 5/5
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
MY FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 9.
THE CABERNET CLUB is about female friendships, enjoying your retirement, and just making the most out of life.
If you need an endearing, pleasant read, be sure to add this book to your reading list.
There are some truly laugh-out-loud moments to add to the joy.
You will LOVE everything about the book - especially the characters. 5/5
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2025
5.0
*Thank you to Margie Zable Fisher for this gifted copy!
Fresh start, what if, drive at night…
Debbie has a sudden wake-up call and decides to move south from New England. Her daughter Lori wants her to move in with her family in Delaware. Debbie compromises and says she will rent for 6 months in FL while looking for a place to buy.
One of her goals is to experience “spontaneous fun!” She takes the plunge into finding a part-time job, making new friends, and even dating while at the same time experiencing money woes and a health scare.
Debbie learns in her 6 months to be “in charge of her life.” She also realizes “it’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
What will she decide in 6 months?
THOUGHTS:
*Lovable , realistic characters. A charming, entertaining, amusing read! What’s not to love!
*Shows the importance of female friendships. How fortunate you are if you have female friends!
*I never lived in FL but I did visit my sister for 16 years. Believe me, I recognize these characters and their actions!!
I was there visiting during a hurricane the last time I visited. I was shocked that my sis & hubby were so well prepared. We certainly didn’t grow up with weather like that!
*A good comfort book! A soothing, personal connection with some nostalgia thrown in. It was also LOL funny and unputdownable!
*Great author backstory!
*Thank you to Margie Zable Fisher for this gifted copy!
Fresh start, what if, drive at night…
Debbie has a sudden wake-up call and decides to move south from New England. Her daughter Lori wants her to move in with her family in Delaware. Debbie compromises and says she will rent for 6 months in FL while looking for a place to buy.
One of her goals is to experience “spontaneous fun!” She takes the plunge into finding a part-time job, making new friends, and even dating while at the same time experiencing money woes and a health scare.
Debbie learns in her 6 months to be “in charge of her life.” She also realizes “it’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
What will she decide in 6 months?
THOUGHTS:
*Lovable , realistic characters. A charming, entertaining, amusing read! What’s not to love!
*Shows the importance of female friendships. How fortunate you are if you have female friends!
*I never lived in FL but I did visit my sister for 16 years. Believe me, I recognize these characters and their actions!!
I was there visiting during a hurricane the last time I visited. I was shocked that my sis & hubby were so well prepared. We certainly didn’t grow up with weather like that!
*A good comfort book! A soothing, personal connection with some nostalgia thrown in. It was also LOL funny and unputdownable!
*Great author backstory!
February 20, 2025
4.5/5 stars
The Cabernet Club is women’s fiction. It is a funny beautiful book about an older woman who moves to Florida to reinvent herself.
Debbie is a divorced single mom. After her daughter’s family moves to Delaware she decides to leave Massachusetts and move to Florida. She moves into a 55+ community.
This book is so charming. Debbie loves to write. She gets a new job, joins a writing group and starts to date. She makes wonderful friendships with Maria & Fran. And together they name themselves The Cabernet Club.
The book features Jewish rep, an interesting mother/daughter relationship with a somewhat controlling daughter, and a fun group of senior residents.
There is so much to enjoy. I was fascinated by the unresolved issue from Debbie’s past with Kay. I was very curious about her mysterious medical symptoms and I found her dating stories and her new boss to be hilarious.
This is such a delightful, amusing and enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about characters over 55.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Cabernet Club is women’s fiction. It is a funny beautiful book about an older woman who moves to Florida to reinvent herself.
Debbie is a divorced single mom. After her daughter’s family moves to Delaware she decides to leave Massachusetts and move to Florida. She moves into a 55+ community.
This book is so charming. Debbie loves to write. She gets a new job, joins a writing group and starts to date. She makes wonderful friendships with Maria & Fran. And together they name themselves The Cabernet Club.
The book features Jewish rep, an interesting mother/daughter relationship with a somewhat controlling daughter, and a fun group of senior residents.
There is so much to enjoy. I was fascinated by the unresolved issue from Debbie’s past with Kay. I was very curious about her mysterious medical symptoms and I found her dating stories and her new boss to be hilarious.
This is such a delightful, amusing and enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about characters over 55.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2025
You’ll love “The Cabernet Club.” Its charming characters, heartwarming story, and amusing descriptions of adjusting to a new life in Florida, in a senior-citizen condo community, and beyond all illustrate that dreams do sometimes come true, and that good things still happen to good people. Then you’ll find yourself searching to see where your local Cabernet Club meets.
I also love the backstory of the mother-daughter authors. What a wonderful tribute.
I also love the backstory of the mother-daughter authors. What a wonderful tribute.
February 8, 2025
The Cabernet Club is a delightful romp through a many-faceted life transition by the heroine, Debbie Gordon. Though much of it was laugh-out-loud funny –especially a horror-show of a date with a friend of a friend...hard to believe guys actually behave that way on dates – the book also teaches some life lessons.
Maybe better, it just reiterates those lessons. We all know that it’s never too late to start over. We all know that things are seldom what they seem. We all know that someone’s apparently perfect life can really be a miserable slog. And we all know that “experts” usually don’t know “their ass from their eyebrows,” as Debbie memorably puts it in resolving one of the book’s conflicts. Still, it’s nice to have those lessons repeated as we watch Debbie re-learn them for herself.
Debbie is a long-divorced empty nester who leaves her New England home for six-month trial residency in Florida. If things don’t work out for her, she can always go back north and live in Delaware with her mother hen of a grown daughter. That’s an undesirable fallback Plan B, mostly because it will mean duty as an unpaid nana.
She rents a place in a rather sketchy, over-55 enclave called Palmetto Pointe. The cast of characters she meets there would be right at home in Schitt’s Creek. But fortunately for Debbie, she befriends Maria and Fran. Like Debbie, their drink of choice is Cabernet Sauvignon, hence the name of their exclusive little club. The three of them bond and work their way through a series of adventures that include dates and men, lousy but necessary jobs, small-town politics, health scares and incompetent doctors, and the re-visiting of a long-ago family tragedy when someone else from the old town arrives.
Navigating those adventures along with those ladies was fun for me. I think it will be fun and even somewhat familiar for women and men of their – and my – age group. In our own ways, we’ve been to some of those places. It also brought home the book’s greatest lesson: the critical importance of good friends who are there with us in good times and bad.
Speaking just for myself, I also felt a twinge of envy at that last lesson. And not for the first time, as I’ve frequently expressed to my lady friends over our own glasses of Cabernet. Women just have a knack of forming and keeping friendships like these. That’s one of the reasons that women outlive men, who have a much tougher time building and nurturing such support structures late in their lives.
The co-authors are Rona Zable and her daughter Margie Zable Fisher. Rona had published three Young Adult novels during her career, and she had drafted this novel before she passed away in 2023. Margie re-worked and augmented the draft and saw it through to publication.
If they ever turn this book into a TV series, I think it would be a mashup of Golden Girls and Gilmore Girls. And as noted above, there would be a touch of Schitt’s Creek there too – “Florida Man” probably has a place in Palmetto Pointe. I thought of Gilmore Girls because of the dynamic between an adult daughter trying to make her way in the world and her loving but tut-tuttingly disapproving parents. The situation is similar here but reversed, as the mother is plunging ahead with something new while the daughter hovers in the near background, ready to say “I told you so.”
Does the daughter ever get to say it? You can probably guess the answer, but I’m not going to spoil it for you. Read the book to find out.
Maybe better, it just reiterates those lessons. We all know that it’s never too late to start over. We all know that things are seldom what they seem. We all know that someone’s apparently perfect life can really be a miserable slog. And we all know that “experts” usually don’t know “their ass from their eyebrows,” as Debbie memorably puts it in resolving one of the book’s conflicts. Still, it’s nice to have those lessons repeated as we watch Debbie re-learn them for herself.
Debbie is a long-divorced empty nester who leaves her New England home for six-month trial residency in Florida. If things don’t work out for her, she can always go back north and live in Delaware with her mother hen of a grown daughter. That’s an undesirable fallback Plan B, mostly because it will mean duty as an unpaid nana.
She rents a place in a rather sketchy, over-55 enclave called Palmetto Pointe. The cast of characters she meets there would be right at home in Schitt’s Creek. But fortunately for Debbie, she befriends Maria and Fran. Like Debbie, their drink of choice is Cabernet Sauvignon, hence the name of their exclusive little club. The three of them bond and work their way through a series of adventures that include dates and men, lousy but necessary jobs, small-town politics, health scares and incompetent doctors, and the re-visiting of a long-ago family tragedy when someone else from the old town arrives.
Navigating those adventures along with those ladies was fun for me. I think it will be fun and even somewhat familiar for women and men of their – and my – age group. In our own ways, we’ve been to some of those places. It also brought home the book’s greatest lesson: the critical importance of good friends who are there with us in good times and bad.
Speaking just for myself, I also felt a twinge of envy at that last lesson. And not for the first time, as I’ve frequently expressed to my lady friends over our own glasses of Cabernet. Women just have a knack of forming and keeping friendships like these. That’s one of the reasons that women outlive men, who have a much tougher time building and nurturing such support structures late in their lives.
The co-authors are Rona Zable and her daughter Margie Zable Fisher. Rona had published three Young Adult novels during her career, and she had drafted this novel before she passed away in 2023. Margie re-worked and augmented the draft and saw it through to publication.
If they ever turn this book into a TV series, I think it would be a mashup of Golden Girls and Gilmore Girls. And as noted above, there would be a touch of Schitt’s Creek there too – “Florida Man” probably has a place in Palmetto Pointe. I thought of Gilmore Girls because of the dynamic between an adult daughter trying to make her way in the world and her loving but tut-tuttingly disapproving parents. The situation is similar here but reversed, as the mother is plunging ahead with something new while the daughter hovers in the near background, ready to say “I told you so.”
Does the daughter ever get to say it? You can probably guess the answer, but I’m not going to spoil it for you. Read the book to find out.
May 22, 2026
A cute, quick read! I’m always a sucker for books that mention SWFL or Delaware, so the fact that The Cabernet Club had both was a bonus. A light, sweet story about retiring, relocating, and reinventing yourself.
Favorite quote:
"I wondered why some people - especially
when they get older--needed to constantly be in the limelight. You would think a lifetime would be enough attention."
--Rona Zable & Margie Zable Fisher
Favorite quote:
"I wondered why some people - especially
when they get older--needed to constantly be in the limelight. You would think a lifetime would be enough attention."
--Rona Zable & Margie Zable Fisher
December 2, 2025
This is a charming story about friendship and finding one’s place at any age. I loved Debbie—her personality shines throughout, and watching her slowly reshape herself within this new environment was so much fun. Kay, although her part is smaller compared to Debbie and her other friends, was also such an interesting character to get to know: glamorous, savvy, and carrying a hidden depth that unfolded beautifully.
The story had a way of pulling me into Debbie’s life without even noticing. I often found myself completely absorbed in the story. The relationships are so realistic and Debbie’s experiences range from funny and heartwarming to genuinely infuriating, in ways that truly reflect life.
I feel that the story did lack a bit of direction sometimes and became more about Debbie’s entire world rather than having a clear focus on specific aspects. Further, a lot of the dialogue could also be tightened.
Overall, it’s cozy and enjoyable with very memorable characters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story had a way of pulling me into Debbie’s life without even noticing. I often found myself completely absorbed in the story. The relationships are so realistic and Debbie’s experiences range from funny and heartwarming to genuinely infuriating, in ways that truly reflect life.
I feel that the story did lack a bit of direction sometimes and became more about Debbie’s entire world rather than having a clear focus on specific aspects. Further, a lot of the dialogue could also be tightened.
Overall, it’s cozy and enjoyable with very memorable characters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 29, 2025
A well-written, light-hearted, and relatable story about a New England recent retiree navigating the South Florida retirement life, making Cabernet-drinking friends and resolving unfinished business along the way. Author Margie Zabler Fisher and/or co-author Rona S. Zable, her mother (whose dying wish was to have the novel she’d completed published) says: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” A quick beach read that will leave you agreeing with the novel’s final line: “This is exactly where I needed to be.”
August 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant! Delicious! Hands down a re-read. I will buy this as a gift!
"It is never too late to be who you might have been."
The Cabernet Club is the kind of book that sweeps in like sunshine and leaves you smiling long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s charming, witty, and filled with warmth—a celebration of friendship, reinvention, and the simple joy of living fully at every stage of life.
What struck me most was the humor woven so effortlessly into everyday moments. The clever observations and amusing situations made me laugh out loud, while the heart behind the story kept me deeply connected. It’s rare to find a book that balances lighthearted fun with such touching sincerity, and this one does so beautifully.
Reading it felt like being welcomed into a circle of friends you never want to leave. I adored how it reminded me that no matter where we are in life, it’s never too late to chase dreams, open doors to new adventures, or find joy in unexpected places.
This isn’t just a story you read—it’s one you experience, savor, and want to share. The Cabernet Club is an instant classic in my personal library, and one I know I’ll be gifting to friends for years to come.
"It is never too late to be who you might have been."
The Cabernet Club is the kind of book that sweeps in like sunshine and leaves you smiling long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s charming, witty, and filled with warmth—a celebration of friendship, reinvention, and the simple joy of living fully at every stage of life.
What struck me most was the humor woven so effortlessly into everyday moments. The clever observations and amusing situations made me laugh out loud, while the heart behind the story kept me deeply connected. It’s rare to find a book that balances lighthearted fun with such touching sincerity, and this one does so beautifully.
Reading it felt like being welcomed into a circle of friends you never want to leave. I adored how it reminded me that no matter where we are in life, it’s never too late to chase dreams, open doors to new adventures, or find joy in unexpected places.
This isn’t just a story you read—it’s one you experience, savor, and want to share. The Cabernet Club is an instant classic in my personal library, and one I know I’ll be gifting to friends for years to come.
May 15, 2025
Full disclosure, it wasn't that I couldn't put this book down, it truly was because I did NOT want to put this book down!
Not only are the characters relatable, but the scenarios, plot, and moral are also relatable to anyone of a certain age or has friends and/or relatives of a certain age, who have retired, or have moved to Florida. That pretty much covers all of us readers and potential readers! The Cabernet Club is filled with humor and quick wit wrapped around the poignancy of stepping out of our comfort zone at any age and overcoming the challenges the life holds while love of family and has friends and/or relatives of a certain age, who have retired, or have moved to Florida. That pretty much covers all of us readers and potential readers! The Cabernet Club is filled with humor and quick wit wrapped around the poignancy of stepping out of our comfort zone at any age and overcoming the challenges that life holds while love of family and friends, though sometimes complex and complicated, is woven throughout the story. I promise you will love this story, especially when you read the backstory of the authors!
Not only are the characters relatable, but the scenarios, plot, and moral are also relatable to anyone of a certain age or has friends and/or relatives of a certain age, who have retired, or have moved to Florida. That pretty much covers all of us readers and potential readers! The Cabernet Club is filled with humor and quick wit wrapped around the poignancy of stepping out of our comfort zone at any age and overcoming the challenges the life holds while love of family and has friends and/or relatives of a certain age, who have retired, or have moved to Florida. That pretty much covers all of us readers and potential readers! The Cabernet Club is filled with humor and quick wit wrapped around the poignancy of stepping out of our comfort zone at any age and overcoming the challenges that life holds while love of family and friends, though sometimes complex and complicated, is woven throughout the story. I promise you will love this story, especially when you read the backstory of the authors!
March 22, 2025
In this book we have Debbie who has moved from Massachusetts to Florida in her retirement, this book is about the role of friendship in our lives, the joys and challenges of being part of a community and really coming into your own self. I really liked Debbie’s character, in the story she has a mysterious illness where she does not act like herself, she is adjusting to a new home, finding her place at a part time job and her character shows us that life is not always as it seems. I also really liked Maria’s character, each person in this story had a message for reach of us to take away. Overall this book made me think and feel and I glad I read this book.
Thank you to the author for a free copy of the book, I appreciate it.
Thank you to the author for a free copy of the book, I appreciate it.
January 31, 2025
Just stuck my toes in the water of this right-up-my-ally book about a woman of a certain age who bails on New England winters after seeing a neighbor fall on ice and heads to Florida to start her Golden Girls life…a fantasy I have about five times a day in winter. But the Golden Girls didn’t have to deal with palmetto bugs squashed on the side of their fabric handbags. Or rentals that aren’t at all the way they were pictured online. Or a Mature Singles dance held early so everyone can get home to bed. The Cabernet Club is promising to be a fun read with a relatable protagonist, the right choice for any woman who dreams of taking control of their post-retirement years.
February 1, 2025
🍷 New Life. New Friends. And a Splash of Cabernet. 🍷
If Grace and Frankie and The Golden Girls had a book club, this would be their top pick! A hilarious, heartwarming novel about starting over, deep friendships, and the surprising adventures of midlife. When retiree Debbie Gordon moves to a Florida condo community, she expects shuffleboard and early bird specials—but finds The Cabernet Club instead. And her world will never be the same. Laugh-out-loud funny, deeply heartfelt, and utterly unputdownable. If you've ever found yourself navigating a new chapter of life (or just love a great story about female friendship), this book belongs on your nightstand.
If Grace and Frankie and The Golden Girls had a book club, this would be their top pick! A hilarious, heartwarming novel about starting over, deep friendships, and the surprising adventures of midlife. When retiree Debbie Gordon moves to a Florida condo community, she expects shuffleboard and early bird specials—but finds The Cabernet Club instead. And her world will never be the same. Laugh-out-loud funny, deeply heartfelt, and utterly unputdownable. If you've ever found yourself navigating a new chapter of life (or just love a great story about female friendship), this book belongs on your nightstand.
January 30, 2025
After an aging, divorced secretary’s only child moves away, she leaves New England for Florida, with hopes of a Golden Girls kind of life. Instead, she lands an ugly but affordable rental and is confronted by rude, obnoxious and equally elderly neighbors. Then she meets Maria and Fran, two potential friends who help her navigate dating, bad memories, someone from her past, and a medical mystery. The Cabernet Club is a sweet, fast-moving novel that will be especially enjoyable to those like me who are facing the twilight of their lives.
January 31, 2025
The Cabernet Club is in the best spirit of late-life gal-posse novels---what hijinks can these women get up to? Think YaYa Sisterhood meets The Sunshine Club, or The Getaway Girls on How to Age Disgracefully. Debbie, Maria and Fran bond on an almost cellular level, showing how important female friendships are in the face of aging, to social and family expectations. They prove that friendship is more valuable than money (or wine). Margie Zable Fisher's delightful romp of a novel shows that, even at her age, Debbie can indeed get a life.
March 10, 2026
The Cabernet Club by Margie Zable Fisher was a moving story about three middle aged women choosing live the rest of their lives on their own terms. Getting older should not be a death sentence but rather the opportunity to continue learning, trying new things, while sharing wisdom with the younger generations.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2026
a feel good book
I bought this book thinking it might be Ok. But it’s not. It’s Fantastic! A real feel-good type of book. Plus the characterizations are great. You feel like you are with a bunch of good friends. This is definitely a laugh out loud book. I hope there’s a sequel.
I bought this book thinking it might be Ok. But it’s not. It’s Fantastic! A real feel-good type of book. Plus the characterizations are great. You feel like you are with a bunch of good friends. This is definitely a laugh out loud book. I hope there’s a sequel.
March 25, 2025
Terrific first book for Margie Zable-Fischer! Engaging, light hearted story of women not in their prime but not yet ready to give up on life, love and most importantly new friendships.
Cant wait for book 2 !
Cant wait for book 2 !
May 8, 2026
Fun, fun, fun
This book actually had me laugh out loud a few times. It’s a great story about a divorced mother who moves to Florida and finds a new wonderful life there including new friends and a real purpose to her new life. Enjoy it!
This book actually had me laugh out loud a few times. It’s a great story about a divorced mother who moves to Florida and finds a new wonderful life there including new friends and a real purpose to her new life. Enjoy it!
December 22, 2024
I read an ARC as part of the Jewish Jew Book Club and found it highly enjoyable! Laugh-out-loud funny at times and touching. For fans of Marilyn Simon Rothstein.
February 5, 2025
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book -- both thoughtful and fun. I highly recommend it.
April 16, 2025
A bit dull
June 14, 2025
Quick, Fun entertaining read!
June 25, 2025
Beach read.
Read
April 19, 2026Retiree relocates to FL (against her out-of-state daughter's wishes) to start a new life for herself.
March 14, 2025
Debbie Gordan is ready to make a change. Her daughter Lori has relocated from Massachusetts to Delaware with her family and wants her mother to move in with them. Longing for a warmer climate and a fresh start, Debbie decides to try life in South Florida and rents a condo at Palmetto Pointe. Although this 55+ community isn't as upscale as others in the area, it offers plenty of social activities and a vibrant group of residents. Debbie quickly connects with Maria and Fran, forming The Cabernet Club. Despite facing challenges, Debbie is determined to build a new life for herself, and possibly find romance, provided the man is adventurous, has a sense of humor and can drive at night.
The novel The Cabernet Club was co-authored by Margie Zable Fisher and her mother Rona S. Zable, who passed away before its completion. Fisher vowed to her mother that she would finish the book and see it published. Readers now have a delightful book with a touching backstory. Poignant and witty, there's much to enjoy regardless of your age. And if you're a Florida resident, like me, you'll recognize the endearing characters and situations, including what happens when you're in the path of a hurricane.
Thank you, Margie Zable Fisher, for inviting me to read your lovely book.
4.5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The novel The Cabernet Club was co-authored by Margie Zable Fisher and her mother Rona S. Zable, who passed away before its completion. Fisher vowed to her mother that she would finish the book and see it published. Readers now have a delightful book with a touching backstory. Poignant and witty, there's much to enjoy regardless of your age. And if you're a Florida resident, like me, you'll recognize the endearing characters and situations, including what happens when you're in the path of a hurricane.
Thank you, Margie Zable Fisher, for inviting me to read your lovely book.
4.5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
October 31, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Aging is not fun. At all. But when you find the right friends to love, support and tell you when you're being a crazy loon, it all somehow seems more bearable. What these three women become to each other is everything I'm hoping for in about 15 years. The Cabernet Club shows just what it's like to be a single 60-something and putting yourself out there in a sometimes very scary world. I laughed, I teared up and I had a great time! I think this is a book I definitely need to revisit in about 10 years. I think I'll definitely have even more appreciation for it then!
Aging is not fun. At all. But when you find the right friends to love, support and tell you when you're being a crazy loon, it all somehow seems more bearable. What these three women become to each other is everything I'm hoping for in about 15 years. The Cabernet Club shows just what it's like to be a single 60-something and putting yourself out there in a sometimes very scary world. I laughed, I teared up and I had a great time! I think this is a book I definitely need to revisit in about 10 years. I think I'll definitely have even more appreciation for it then!
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