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Old Girls Go Off the Rails
Not yet published
Expected 22 May 26The BRAND NEW hilarious, uplifting book, full of friendship and fun - from BESTSELLER Maddie Please
A one way ticket to misadventure!
When Lizzie Stevens was eighteen, life took a wrong turn. While her best friends Harriet and Anna went interrailing across Europe, Lizzie stayed behind—shunted into a dusty bank job and a sensible life that never quite got back on track.
Now sixty-four, freshly divorced from terminally dull Freddie and wondering how she ended up here, Lizzie is unexpectedly reunited with the friends who left her behind. This time, she's not missing the train.
Their plan? A gloriously reckless rail adventure across Europe. The women are older, allegedly wiser, and considerably less flexible—but their bags are packed and they're ready to depart.
Yet once the train pulls out of Worcester, it's clear this journey won't be smooth. Old secrets derail fond memories, Harriet and Anna barely tolerate each other, and Lizzie discovers the trip she idolised for decades wasn't quite first-class.
As they rattle from city to city - Paris to Venice before embarking on a cruise along the Croatian coast - the old girls are fuelled by laughter and questionable decisions. And Lizzie begins to realise it's never too late to change direction—and that the best adventures are the ones without a timetable.
All aboard for another hilarious and heartwarming adventure with bestselling author Maddie Please
A one way ticket to misadventure!
When Lizzie Stevens was eighteen, life took a wrong turn. While her best friends Harriet and Anna went interrailing across Europe, Lizzie stayed behind—shunted into a dusty bank job and a sensible life that never quite got back on track.
Now sixty-four, freshly divorced from terminally dull Freddie and wondering how she ended up here, Lizzie is unexpectedly reunited with the friends who left her behind. This time, she's not missing the train.
Their plan? A gloriously reckless rail adventure across Europe. The women are older, allegedly wiser, and considerably less flexible—but their bags are packed and they're ready to depart.
Yet once the train pulls out of Worcester, it's clear this journey won't be smooth. Old secrets derail fond memories, Harriet and Anna barely tolerate each other, and Lizzie discovers the trip she idolised for decades wasn't quite first-class.
As they rattle from city to city - Paris to Venice before embarking on a cruise along the Croatian coast - the old girls are fuelled by laughter and questionable decisions. And Lizzie begins to realise it's never too late to change direction—and that the best adventures are the ones without a timetable.
All aboard for another hilarious and heartwarming adventure with bestselling author Maddie Please
Audio CD
Expected publication May 22, 2026
38 people want to read
About the author
Maddie Please
17 books241 followersMaddie Please was born in Dorset, brought up in Worcestershire and went to University in Cardiff.
After a career as a dentist Maddie now lives in Devon with her exceptionally handsome and supportive husband. They have 4 adult-ish children all of whom have left home and are probably rather surprised by all this. She did warn them.
Maddie is a voracious reader, and would enjoy hoovering, defrosting the fridge and cleaning the windows but unfortunately she doesn't really have time. She is very disciplined and sensible about her writing and she likes to write every day because it gets her out of doing the ironing.
After a career as a dentist Maddie now lives in Devon with her exceptionally handsome and supportive husband. They have 4 adult-ish children all of whom have left home and are probably rather surprised by all this. She did warn them.
Maddie is a voracious reader, and would enjoy hoovering, defrosting the fridge and cleaning the windows but unfortunately she doesn't really have time. She is very disciplined and sensible about her writing and she likes to write every day because it gets her out of doing the ironing.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s something quietly devastating about realizing your life didn’t exactly become the one you imagined at eighteen. And this book understands that feeling with startling tenderness.
Lizzie Stevens is sixty-four, newly divorced from the painfully beige Freddie, and carrying decades of resentment over the trip she never took — the grand European adventure her best friends Harriet and Anna went on without her while she stayed behind in Worcester, swallowed whole by responsibility and routine. When the three women reunite years later for a second attempt at that long-lost rail journey, what unfolds is equal parts hilarious, bittersweet, chaotic, and deeply human.
What I loved most was how real these women felt. Lizzie isn’t some magically transformed “older heroine” suddenly discovering herself under the Tuscan sun. She’s awkward, insecure, occasionally petty, nostalgic to a fault, and desperate to believe she hasn’t missed her chance at living fully. Harriet and Anna are equally layered — their brittle friendship carrying decades of unspoken hurt and passive-aggressive tension disguised as banter. And the banter is excellent. Sharp, dry, and painfully believable in the way only long-term female friendships can be.
The pacing meanders a little in the middle — much like the train journey itself — but strangely, it works. The stops through Paris, Venice, and the Croatian coast aren’t just scenic backdrops; they mirror the emotional untangling happening between the women. The prose has a warm observational wit to it, the kind that makes you laugh before immediately feeling emotional about why you laughed in the first place.
I also appreciated that the novel refuses to romanticize reinvention. It acknowledges that regret lingers, friendships fracture, and nostalgia edits memories into something shinier than reality. Yet underneath all of that is a hopeful message: life doesn’t end because you took a wrong turn decades ago.
This felt like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets a girls’ trip powered by unresolved trauma, train schedules, and questionable wine choices — and honestly, I mean that as the highest compliment.
Lizzie Stevens is sixty-four, newly divorced from the painfully beige Freddie, and carrying decades of resentment over the trip she never took — the grand European adventure her best friends Harriet and Anna went on without her while she stayed behind in Worcester, swallowed whole by responsibility and routine. When the three women reunite years later for a second attempt at that long-lost rail journey, what unfolds is equal parts hilarious, bittersweet, chaotic, and deeply human.
What I loved most was how real these women felt. Lizzie isn’t some magically transformed “older heroine” suddenly discovering herself under the Tuscan sun. She’s awkward, insecure, occasionally petty, nostalgic to a fault, and desperate to believe she hasn’t missed her chance at living fully. Harriet and Anna are equally layered — their brittle friendship carrying decades of unspoken hurt and passive-aggressive tension disguised as banter. And the banter is excellent. Sharp, dry, and painfully believable in the way only long-term female friendships can be.
The pacing meanders a little in the middle — much like the train journey itself — but strangely, it works. The stops through Paris, Venice, and the Croatian coast aren’t just scenic backdrops; they mirror the emotional untangling happening between the women. The prose has a warm observational wit to it, the kind that makes you laugh before immediately feeling emotional about why you laughed in the first place.
I also appreciated that the novel refuses to romanticize reinvention. It acknowledges that regret lingers, friendships fracture, and nostalgia edits memories into something shinier than reality. Yet underneath all of that is a hopeful message: life doesn’t end because you took a wrong turn decades ago.
This felt like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets a girls’ trip powered by unresolved trauma, train schedules, and questionable wine choices — and honestly, I mean that as the highest compliment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’re craving a warm, uplifting read that feels like a sun-drenched escape with your favorite friends, Old Girls Go Off the Rails by Maddie Please is pure joy on a page.
When Lizzie Stevens was eighteen, her best friends Harriet and Anna headed off on a dreamy interrailing adventure across Europe while she stayed behind, stuck in a sensible bank job and an ordinary life. Decades later, at sixty-four and freshly divorced from a painfully dull husband, Lizzie gets the chance to rewrite her story. Unexpectedly reunited with her old school friends, she declares: this time, she’s getting on the train.
What follows is a gloriously chaotic rail trip from Paris to Venice and then along the sparkling Croatian coast. The three women are older, wiser (well, mostly), and far less flexible than they were in their teens, but they’re determined to make up for lost time. Expect plenty of laughter, questionable decisions, sore feet, and the kind of heartfelt conversations that only happen when you’ve known someone for forty-plus years.
Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Old resentments bubble up, secrets come to light, and the friends don’t always see eye to eye. Yet through every argument and every stunning sunset, their deep affection for one another shines through. And then there’s the mysterious “Mr Grumpy” who keeps popping up wherever they go… Is he following them? You’ll have to read to find out!
Maddie Please has created three wonderfully real, flawed, and lovable heroines. Lizzie especially stole my heart — watching her finally step into the life she always wanted was genuinely uplifting. This book is funny, tender, life-affirming, and full of second chances. It’s the perfect reminder that it’s never too late to chase adventure, rekindle friendships, or even find a little holiday romance.
If you love feel-good stories about women rediscovering themselves later in life, pack your bags (and your sense of humor) and jump on this train. You won’t regret it.
I received a copy from NetGalley.
When Lizzie Stevens was eighteen, her best friends Harriet and Anna headed off on a dreamy interrailing adventure across Europe while she stayed behind, stuck in a sensible bank job and an ordinary life. Decades later, at sixty-four and freshly divorced from a painfully dull husband, Lizzie gets the chance to rewrite her story. Unexpectedly reunited with her old school friends, she declares: this time, she’s getting on the train.
What follows is a gloriously chaotic rail trip from Paris to Venice and then along the sparkling Croatian coast. The three women are older, wiser (well, mostly), and far less flexible than they were in their teens, but they’re determined to make up for lost time. Expect plenty of laughter, questionable decisions, sore feet, and the kind of heartfelt conversations that only happen when you’ve known someone for forty-plus years.
Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Old resentments bubble up, secrets come to light, and the friends don’t always see eye to eye. Yet through every argument and every stunning sunset, their deep affection for one another shines through. And then there’s the mysterious “Mr Grumpy” who keeps popping up wherever they go… Is he following them? You’ll have to read to find out!
Maddie Please has created three wonderfully real, flawed, and lovable heroines. Lizzie especially stole my heart — watching her finally step into the life she always wanted was genuinely uplifting. This book is funny, tender, life-affirming, and full of second chances. It’s the perfect reminder that it’s never too late to chase adventure, rekindle friendships, or even find a little holiday romance.
If you love feel-good stories about women rediscovering themselves later in life, pack your bags (and your sense of humor) and jump on this train. You won’t regret it.
I received a copy from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Old Girls Go Off the Rails is an absolute delight—joyous, chaotic, and wonderfully life‑affirming. From the moment Lizzie Stevens realises her sensible life has quietly shrunk around her, you can feel the spark of something long‑dormant flickering back to life. Freshly divorced at sixty‑four and unexpectedly reunited with Harriet and Anna, the friends who once left her behind, Lizzie decides she’s done watching adventures happen to other people. This time, she’s getting on the train.
What follows is a gloriously messy rail trip across Europe, fuelled by laughter, questionable decisions, and the kind of friendship that’s both comforting and exasperating in equal measure. I loved how Maddie Please captures the complicated tenderness of long‑held bonds—old resentments rubbing up against shared memories, affection tangled with frustration, and the realisation that the past you idolised might not have been quite as perfect as you remember.
Lizzie is such a warm, relatable heroine. She’s spent decades being sensible, reliable, and quietly disappointed, and watching her reclaim her own story is genuinely uplifting. Harriet and Anna bring their own chaos and charm, and the way their dynamic shifts as secrets surface gives the novel a lovely emotional depth beneath the humour.
The settings—Paris, Venice, the Croatian coast—are painted with a breezy, sun‑soaked charm, but it’s the women themselves who shine. Their misadventures are hilarious, their honesty refreshing, and their determination to squeeze joy out of every stop is infectious. By the time the journey ends, you feel as though you’ve travelled with them, laughed with them, and maybe even learned a thing or two about second chances.
Warm, witty, and wonderfully liberating, Old Girls Go Off the Rails is a reminder that it’s never too late to change direction—and that the best adventures are the ones you never planned.
With thanks to Maddie Please, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What follows is a gloriously messy rail trip across Europe, fuelled by laughter, questionable decisions, and the kind of friendship that’s both comforting and exasperating in equal measure. I loved how Maddie Please captures the complicated tenderness of long‑held bonds—old resentments rubbing up against shared memories, affection tangled with frustration, and the realisation that the past you idolised might not have been quite as perfect as you remember.
Lizzie is such a warm, relatable heroine. She’s spent decades being sensible, reliable, and quietly disappointed, and watching her reclaim her own story is genuinely uplifting. Harriet and Anna bring their own chaos and charm, and the way their dynamic shifts as secrets surface gives the novel a lovely emotional depth beneath the humour.
The settings—Paris, Venice, the Croatian coast—are painted with a breezy, sun‑soaked charm, but it’s the women themselves who shine. Their misadventures are hilarious, their honesty refreshing, and their determination to squeeze joy out of every stop is infectious. By the time the journey ends, you feel as though you’ve travelled with them, laughed with them, and maybe even learned a thing or two about second chances.
Warm, witty, and wonderfully liberating, Old Girls Go Off the Rails is a reminder that it’s never too late to change direction—and that the best adventures are the ones you never planned.
With thanks to Maddie Please, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC read from Net Galley
This is a wonderful story about friendship, and the things these ladies experience as they navigate life as older adults.
Three friends from high-school lose touch after graduating, and getting married. Fast forward to the start of social media where they find each other again.
They decide to recreate a train trip that two of them took after graduating from high-school. Being older now, and experiencing it through mature eyes, they realize their younger selves were a bit crazy to think sleeping in trains was fun, and exciting.
There are some mix ups with reservations, a competition, and delightful side characters we meet along their journey. A nun who rides a motorcycle had me laughing.
One of the lady's meets a new man friend after being divorced for 8 or so years. She learns that her husband maybe didn't treat her as well as she deserved. She decides to take a chance at this new relationship even though they meet while on the trip. She doesn't think these tyoe of relationships ever work out, but taking chances and experiencing new things is her new motto.
If you like stories about friendship, and self discovery then I recommend this book. The descriptions of the places they visit drew me in, and made me want to get to know more about the areas.
This is a wonderful story about friendship, and the things these ladies experience as they navigate life as older adults.
Three friends from high-school lose touch after graduating, and getting married. Fast forward to the start of social media where they find each other again.
They decide to recreate a train trip that two of them took after graduating from high-school. Being older now, and experiencing it through mature eyes, they realize their younger selves were a bit crazy to think sleeping in trains was fun, and exciting.
There are some mix ups with reservations, a competition, and delightful side characters we meet along their journey. A nun who rides a motorcycle had me laughing.
One of the lady's meets a new man friend after being divorced for 8 or so years. She learns that her husband maybe didn't treat her as well as she deserved. She decides to take a chance at this new relationship even though they meet while on the trip. She doesn't think these tyoe of relationships ever work out, but taking chances and experiencing new things is her new motto.
If you like stories about friendship, and self discovery then I recommend this book. The descriptions of the places they visit drew me in, and made me want to get to know more about the areas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lizzie missed out on the opportunity to travel across Europe with her high-school friends, Harriet and Anna when she was 18. Years later, the 3 have reconnected and have the brilliant idea of recreating the trip that Lizzie missed.
The three are all newly retired. Lizzie finds herself stuck in a rut after a divorce and her son has moved back in with her.
What follows is an adventure that 65 year olds find is not the same as when you are 18. They manage to get themselves from England to Italy stopping overnight in various locales. The trip is fraught with misunderstandings, complaints, and some uplifting moments. Along the way they meet a mysterious man who seems to be following the same route that they are taking. After a week of train travel they embark on a cruise along the Croatian coast with a whole new set of characters.
The story is full of second chances. A reflection of the life that you are leading and one that is full of endless possibilities. The three main characters were all loveable, each with their own quirks. I loved that their friendship has remained steadfast even though they had spent many years apart.
Take a trip with these ladies, immerse yourself in the various exotic locales and perhaps make some self discovery along with them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The three are all newly retired. Lizzie finds herself stuck in a rut after a divorce and her son has moved back in with her.
What follows is an adventure that 65 year olds find is not the same as when you are 18. They manage to get themselves from England to Italy stopping overnight in various locales. The trip is fraught with misunderstandings, complaints, and some uplifting moments. Along the way they meet a mysterious man who seems to be following the same route that they are taking. After a week of train travel they embark on a cruise along the Croatian coast with a whole new set of characters.
The story is full of second chances. A reflection of the life that you are leading and one that is full of endless possibilities. The three main characters were all loveable, each with their own quirks. I loved that their friendship has remained steadfast even though they had spent many years apart.
Take a trip with these ladies, immerse yourself in the various exotic locales and perhaps make some self discovery along with them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this advanced copy of Old Girls Go Off The Rails im return for an honest review.
The main basis for this book - three 60+ women recreating memories and their teenage years whilst interrailing through Europe had my interest piqued. I was looking forward to reading a book with older characters and picturesque scenery.
Whilst I did get that, I unfortunately didnt quite find my groove with this book, and ended up wanting to DNF. My main reason for wanting to DNF, was because nothing really felt as though it was happening.
I felt as though the writing was quite basic and the book seemed to shoot through the different cities and countries but yet spend more time telling basic conversations that added nothing to the plot. I feel as though there could have been some of the more mundane elements taken out, and more honest and in depth conversations inserted which would have made the reader feel more heavily invested in the characters.
That being said, I enjoyed the brief glimpses we got of the characters and their personalities and I enjoyed the budding romance. I wish we could have seen a bit more of that; I was also very invested in Ben and the vet!!
Overall, 2.5* for me.
The main basis for this book - three 60+ women recreating memories and their teenage years whilst interrailing through Europe had my interest piqued. I was looking forward to reading a book with older characters and picturesque scenery.
Whilst I did get that, I unfortunately didnt quite find my groove with this book, and ended up wanting to DNF. My main reason for wanting to DNF, was because nothing really felt as though it was happening.
I felt as though the writing was quite basic and the book seemed to shoot through the different cities and countries but yet spend more time telling basic conversations that added nothing to the plot. I feel as though there could have been some of the more mundane elements taken out, and more honest and in depth conversations inserted which would have made the reader feel more heavily invested in the characters.
That being said, I enjoyed the brief glimpses we got of the characters and their personalities and I enjoyed the budding romance. I wish we could have seen a bit more of that; I was also very invested in Ben and the vet!!
Overall, 2.5* for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having already read some of Maddie Please's older-gen stories, I was eager to enjoy this next story about school friends Lizzie, Harriet, and Anna.
In their 60s, they reunite via Facebook and decide to relive their youth with a short Inter-railing trip to Europe - a trip both Harriet and Anna had already taken part in as teenagers, but one which Lizzie had missed, because of having to work that summer.
Lizzie and Harriet are both divorced. Anna is leaving her husband behind for two weeks. A week of reminiscing, and another on a cruise to relax.
Inter-railing and the more mature woman is not a usual combination, but who am I to say what people can do as they get older!
The trials of this very situation provide some funny moments.
During the trip, Lizzie notices a face that keeps cropping up wherever she goes, and that individual ends up providing more entertainment and a little gentle romance.
It was like a whirlwind stop-and-go mini European tour of a few places in France and Italy, with a cruise around the Croatian islands, making me want to go visit!
An easy-to-read, fun read with mature characters proving that life doesn't simply stop at retirement.
In their 60s, they reunite via Facebook and decide to relive their youth with a short Inter-railing trip to Europe - a trip both Harriet and Anna had already taken part in as teenagers, but one which Lizzie had missed, because of having to work that summer.
Lizzie and Harriet are both divorced. Anna is leaving her husband behind for two weeks. A week of reminiscing, and another on a cruise to relax.
Inter-railing and the more mature woman is not a usual combination, but who am I to say what people can do as they get older!
The trials of this very situation provide some funny moments.
During the trip, Lizzie notices a face that keeps cropping up wherever she goes, and that individual ends up providing more entertainment and a little gentle romance.
It was like a whirlwind stop-and-go mini European tour of a few places in France and Italy, with a cruise around the Croatian islands, making me want to go visit!
An easy-to-read, fun read with mature characters proving that life doesn't simply stop at retirement.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love a book whose main characters are older rather than reading about romance between 20 or 30 somethings which I sadly can't relate to any more. This story about three ladies in their 60's is much more my thing. I have enjoyed this author's previous books featuring more mature ladies proving that you don't have to be young to have fun, go on adventures and even find romance. While this book did just that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as earlier books as the women didn't seem to have very much connection with each other. I did enjoy the descriptions of the places they visited in Croatia and I learned things about those areas that I hadn't known. It sounded idyllic! I liked the budding romance between Lizzie and Jack and was eager to know how that worked out after the holiday. No spoilers! Lizzie's son, Ben, and the cats added a humerous touch and I liked the messages between him and his Mum. Overall I did enjoy this but it's not my favourite by this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lizzie, is now 64 and divorced, she reunites with her friends, Harriet and Anna, who when they were 18 went interrailing across Europe, Lizzie didn't go because her father wouldn't let her. They decided they would recreate the trip, and Lizzie would go this time. As they start the new adventure, it was fun, but then they discover they can't actually recreate the trip that happened that long ago, so they decided to just make the best of what the day brings them. I enjoyed the places they went, the things they did, people they saw, and it is inspiring to see, how they make the most of their trip. Seeing the difference between the first trip and the second one, it made me think, was the trip better at 18, or did they discover what life could be at 64. At the end of the story, I had made a decision, but I will let you read the book, and see what you would decide. It is a fun read, full of surprised, and what happens when you choose to just make the best of what each day brings.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you think that this book is about 3 old friends coming together and bonding over traveling, you will be sorely disappointed.
This book fell very flat for me. The characters were not fully developed and didn't really interact with each other.
I was expecting a book that reconnected old friends with a bit of adventure thrown in.
WHat I got was a book about 3 people who barely spoke to each other, did NOT really bond, and the two supporting friends, Harriet and Anna were but mere props.
The story focused on LIzzie and her beginning romance with Jack, which is fine, but this fell flat too.
The most passion in the book was between the captain and his wife.
This book held promise but went completely OFF THE RAILS and left me bored and irritable.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
This book fell very flat for me. The characters were not fully developed and didn't really interact with each other.
I was expecting a book that reconnected old friends with a bit of adventure thrown in.
WHat I got was a book about 3 people who barely spoke to each other, did NOT really bond, and the two supporting friends, Harriet and Anna were but mere props.
The story focused on LIzzie and her beginning romance with Jack, which is fine, but this fell flat too.
The most passion in the book was between the captain and his wife.
This book held promise but went completely OFF THE RAILS and left me bored and irritable.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Available May 22, 2026!
Three friends reunite in their sixties and decide to recreate a trip two of them took when they were eighteen. The premise of this book was great, but I'm finding it falling quite flat. There is a lot of unnecessary description of the characters and their thoughts, which doesn't leave the reader much to think about and conclude on their own.
Unfortunately, I didn't finish this one, but I will say that the 15% I did read was decent. I'm just not interested in continuing this story when there isn't much thinking involved.
If you're looking for a story of three friends who haven't seen one another in forty years, traipse all over on a train and gossip about their adventures (now and then), you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest review.
Three friends reunite in their sixties and decide to recreate a trip two of them took when they were eighteen. The premise of this book was great, but I'm finding it falling quite flat. There is a lot of unnecessary description of the characters and their thoughts, which doesn't leave the reader much to think about and conclude on their own.
Unfortunately, I didn't finish this one, but I will say that the 15% I did read was decent. I'm just not interested in continuing this story when there isn't much thinking involved.
If you're looking for a story of three friends who haven't seen one another in forty years, traipse all over on a train and gossip about their adventures (now and then), you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Lizzie was eighteen, she had a summer job working in a bank while her two best friends Harriet and Anne went interrailing across Europe. The three gradual lose touch as they continued their studies, established careers, got married and had children. The three reconnect when Lizzie is sixty-four and divorced. Harriet is also divorced while Anne is still married. The three decide to recreate the that Lizzie missed. As their journey begins, it becomes apparent that the discomforts they endured at eighteen are taking a toll on their bodies. The best part is ending their trip with a cruise along the Croatian coast as the three renew their friendship bond and Lizzie realizes she is in charge of her future.
#OldGirlsGoOfftheRails #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
#OldGirlsGoOfftheRails #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book. I want to go on a trip like this, it sounds such fun. I love how Lizzie grows in confidence and how she learns to let her hair down and live a little. Each of the characters have their own personality and quirks, and the engaging description of the locations they visited in their rail trip around Europe made me feel like I was there. Fun, friendship and romance doesn't have to stop when you get older as these intrepid ladies show us. Hats off to Maddie Please for another great read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Having read previous books in the series I was a little bit disappointed. Still an enjoyable read but does not have the fun factor of the previous books.
The idea was interesting, going back and doing an interail trip that two of the ladies did when they were 18. The third not allowed to join the trip by her parents.
Not all the fun they reported on their return and not as mobile in their 60s but start the trip on the rails before changing to a cruise ship.
Come back to your Review on the pub date
The idea was interesting, going back and doing an interail trip that two of the ladies did when they were 18. The third not allowed to join the trip by her parents.
Not all the fun they reported on their return and not as mobile in their 60s but start the trip on the rails before changing to a cruise ship.
Come back to your Review on the pub date
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was less an interesting or funny story about ex-friends reuniting and getting together to recreate a college trip and more of a travelogue of Croatia.
I expected some zaniness from the girls and instead got a lot of inner dialogue about being so old and near the end of their lives.
There was no fun, no zaniness, really no laughs at all... but a wonderful push to visit Croatia.
Hilarious this was not, but it certainly was a worthwhile beach read.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Boldwood Books, the author, and NetGalley.
I expected some zaniness from the girls and instead got a lot of inner dialogue about being so old and near the end of their lives.
There was no fun, no zaniness, really no laughs at all... but a wonderful push to visit Croatia.
Hilarious this was not, but it certainly was a worthwhile beach read.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Boldwood Books, the author, and NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OLD GIRLS GO OFF THE RAILS is about three old friends who decide to take an Interrailing trip across Europe after their retirement. The story was fine, but I was honestly a bit bored with their journey.
The thing I enjoyed most was the texts between Lizzie and her adult son, Ben, regarding the cat that found its way into their house when she was gone.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
The thing I enjoyed most was the texts between Lizzie and her adult son, Ben, regarding the cat that found its way into their house when she was gone.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had potential to be fun, but I was bored. Anna just wanted to reinvent the trip from high school. Harriett just whined. I mostly enjoyed Lizzie’s text messages from her son. I was mostly vested in the cats.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars, reluctantly rounded up
review to come
review to come
April 25, 2026
Another warm funny and humorous read from this author. Great to be back with these characters on another road trip. These stories can also be read as standalone. Love how this author writes about older characters and second chances and how it’s never too late to follow your dream and that it’s never too late to have fun and find romance.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews