Grumpy & Me: From 9-to-5 to 24-7. The Unofficial Guide to Marriage in Retirement

by Meg Marlow

Be careful what you wish for.
Retirement smacked me like a wriggling haddock trying to escape a fisherman’s net, and suddenly I was invisible, cranky, and living with a husband who thought I was his personal Alexa. (Men can’t find the scissors, let alone the G-spot.)
He was happy pottering. I was drowning. And then it hit the problem wasn’t him; it was me. Instead of going with the flow, I was fighting the tide. Life knows where it’s taking you, even when you’re clueless And I realised the life raft had been there all laughter.
So I wrote it all the chaos, the comedy, the truth of getting older, because it couldn’t just be me who struggled with later life, could it? And if I can make just one person giggle and feel less alone, champion.
If laughter really is the best medicine, this book might just be the tonic.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 28, 2025

Reviews

[Anne Hitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my days read this cover to cover and it’s like reading my own thoughts, feelings and life! I can still remember that feeling when I retired two years ago “how am I going to manage this being together 24/7?” But you quickly settle into the groove - it’s like adjusting to married life all over again because you’ve forgotten the little foibles that annoy you but you know you wouldn’t be without your own Grumpy - and yes we’ve settled in to the garden centre trips and the locking of the door at 6pm! This book is perfect for all retired ladies of a certain age with a Grumpy in tow - Meg has a marvellous knack of putting thoughts into words with a fantastic sense of humour and wit - fabulous book I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being retired myself for 2 months, 2 weeks and 3 days so much of this book rings true ! It is a hard thing to come to terms with but Meg writes with such humour you can't help but giggle (well, snort out loud) as you can picture yourself in the same situations. I loved all the references to things from my more youthful era, some so poignant. I can still picture my Grandma and my aunties in their pinnies.
This book should be handed out with the trillion pension forms work ask you to complete so you know what you're letting yourself in for and as a pick me up after. Fab book.

[Theresa Held · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most entertaining book, delivered in a humorous and at times irreverent style.
I've been retired for a number of years and have a little sideline of caring for the 'gusset gremlins' as Meg so fondly calls them. This year I've been joined by my 'Grumpy', oh boy has it been a challenge. Meg has such a way with words the reminisces of childhood and the joys of retirement and aging. Thoroughly enjoyed this laugh out loud read.

[Tricia Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. If you in or approaching retirement, in a relationship or single there is so much you can identify with.
Humourous and poignant , evoking memories of my childhood in some instances . An enjoyable read with lots of laughs at life as we know it.