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The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village
Joanna Nell's life-affirming debut is a moving, funny, heartwarming tale of love and community in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Grace and FrankieThe life of 79-year-old pensioner PEGGY SMART is as beige as the décor in her retirement village. Her week revolves around aqua aerobics and appointments with her doctor. Following a very minor traffic accident, things have turned frosty with her grown-up children and she is afraid they are trying to take away her independence. The highlight of Peggy's day is watching her neighbour Brian head out for his morning swim. She dreams of inviting the handsome widower - treasurer of the Residents' Committee and one of the few eligible men in the village - to an intimate dinner. But why would an educated man like Brian, a chartered accountant no less, look twice at Peggy? As a woman of a certain age, she fears she has become invisible, even to men in their eighties.But a chance encounter with an old school friend she hasn't seen in five decades - the glamorous fashionista ANGIE VALENTINE - sets Peggy on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.'Lively and whimsical ... with some serious points to make about ageing, love, community and friendship' Sydney Morning Herald'This heartwarming story about growing old gracefully - and disgracefully ... is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages' Daily Telegraph'I haven't been this entranced by a character since Eleanor (Oliphant, of course). This book is a joy - it's a celebration of age instead of an apology for it, and a reminder that life is always an adventure if you let it be. I loved this uniquely endearing book' KELLY RIMMER'I loved it! I want to be Peggy when I'm older. With many laugh-out-loud moments, this book is sure to make you see "getting old" in a different light. A refreshing, funny, realistic and warm read' FIONA PALMER'The perfect blend of funny and had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story' NATASHA LESTER**Contains bonus extract from new novel THE GREAT ESCAPE FROM WOODLANDS NURSING HOME**
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
905 people are currently reading
3150 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Nell
7 books306 followersJoanna Nell is a UK born writer and doctor. Her short fiction has won multiple awards and has been published in various journals and literary anthologies. In 2016 she was awarded a residency at The Bundanon Trust. Her bestselling debut novel The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village was published by Hachette Australia and Hodder & Stoughton (UK) in 2018.
A former ship's doctor, Joanna now works as a GP with a passion for women's health and care of the elderly. She writes character-driven stories for women in their prime, creating young-at-heart characters who are not afraid to break the rules and defy society's expectations of ageing.
Joanna lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and as the mother of teenagers enjoys long walks with her dog and talking to herself.
A former ship's doctor, Joanna now works as a GP with a passion for women's health and care of the elderly. She writes character-driven stories for women in their prime, creating young-at-heart characters who are not afraid to break the rules and defy society's expectations of ageing.
Joanna lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and as the mother of teenagers enjoys long walks with her dog and talking to herself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 681 reviews
September 8, 2018
It's been a while since I have read a novel which is so full of warmth and humour, with all its details of getting older, losing confidence, becoming invisible, taken for granted, fear of losing independence, the increasing frailties of the physical body and those memories that become ever so more elusive. 79 year old Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss of her beloved husband, Ted, and having to face the interference of her children, David and Jenny watching closely for signs of dementia and possibilities of falls, with Peggy terrified of being placed in a nursing home by them. Peggy's life is organised and remembered around her need to take numerous pills, and her eternal vexation with her weak bladder, an affliction from childhood. Her life and wardrobe is beige in every sense, all colour has leached out, her beloved elderly pooch, Basil, is under threat of being removed from her as a complaint has been received at the Jacaranda Retirement Village. This is a moving story where a group of geriatrics with apparently little in common other than the same final address begin to develop an increasingly special bond with each other as they begin to laugh, obsess over sex and behave disgracefully with glee, thanks to the forceful hurricane of glamorous fashionista that is Angie Valentine as she enters their lives.
It has been over fifty years since Peggy has seen her best friend of childhood, Angie, last seen at Peggy and Ted's wedding. Angie was confident and unafraid of standing up for the young, and bullied Peggy, taking her under her wing. Peggy loved her, wishing she could emulate her friend's qualities and sex appeal, with every man finding himself drawn to her. Out of the blue, the 4 times married Angie becomes a resident of the retirement village, taking no prisoners as she begins to turn Peggy's life upside down, although Peggy puts up a fight, doesn't Angie know they are too old? Before long, Peggy's wardrobe is replaced with clothes she could only dream about, and a hairstyle that swiftly changes her image of herself as she channels her inner Helen Mirren. And it doesn't stop there, Peggy is breaking the habits of a lifetime, beginning to swear, dreaming of sex with Brian, swimming, challenging the traditions of the Annual Dinner Dance, eating Angie's rather special brownies and more. For the first time, she is part of the cool crowd with her fellow oldies, but all the change has her children worrying about her mental health and thinking she is going gaga. Peggy is going to have to learn to assert herself with David and Jenny, and readjust what she knows about Angie, a woman with her own heartbreak and secrets.
The book begins with a poem I have loved since childhood, the Dylan Thomas's famous Do Not Go Gentle in to that Good Night, and it is so apt as our cast of characters take up the challenges in life and rage against the dying of the light. This is a glorious read, with its beautiful touches of authenticity with Peggy's morass of emotions including jealousy, and her petty rivalries and competitive behaviour. The loneliness of old age, the tide of physical and mental health issues, problematic family members, the fear of loss of independence are no reason to stop living, beginning new friendships, and recognising the value of old friendships irrespective of the challenges they may present. It took me a little while to get engaged in this gem of a novel, but once I did, I was enthralled. The characters of Peggy and the unapologetic Angie were so compelling, and the wit, comic humour, and fun were a tonic, balancing the numerous adversities of getting older. A read that worms its way into your heart and comes highly recommended! Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
It has been over fifty years since Peggy has seen her best friend of childhood, Angie, last seen at Peggy and Ted's wedding. Angie was confident and unafraid of standing up for the young, and bullied Peggy, taking her under her wing. Peggy loved her, wishing she could emulate her friend's qualities and sex appeal, with every man finding himself drawn to her. Out of the blue, the 4 times married Angie becomes a resident of the retirement village, taking no prisoners as she begins to turn Peggy's life upside down, although Peggy puts up a fight, doesn't Angie know they are too old? Before long, Peggy's wardrobe is replaced with clothes she could only dream about, and a hairstyle that swiftly changes her image of herself as she channels her inner Helen Mirren. And it doesn't stop there, Peggy is breaking the habits of a lifetime, beginning to swear, dreaming of sex with Brian, swimming, challenging the traditions of the Annual Dinner Dance, eating Angie's rather special brownies and more. For the first time, she is part of the cool crowd with her fellow oldies, but all the change has her children worrying about her mental health and thinking she is going gaga. Peggy is going to have to learn to assert herself with David and Jenny, and readjust what she knows about Angie, a woman with her own heartbreak and secrets.
The book begins with a poem I have loved since childhood, the Dylan Thomas's famous Do Not Go Gentle in to that Good Night, and it is so apt as our cast of characters take up the challenges in life and rage against the dying of the light. This is a glorious read, with its beautiful touches of authenticity with Peggy's morass of emotions including jealousy, and her petty rivalries and competitive behaviour. The loneliness of old age, the tide of physical and mental health issues, problematic family members, the fear of loss of independence are no reason to stop living, beginning new friendships, and recognising the value of old friendships irrespective of the challenges they may present. It took me a little while to get engaged in this gem of a novel, but once I did, I was enthralled. The characters of Peggy and the unapologetic Angie were so compelling, and the wit, comic humour, and fun were a tonic, balancing the numerous adversities of getting older. A read that worms its way into your heart and comes highly recommended! Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
May 13, 2019
"It's never too late to grow old disgracefully...."
If I could give a book more than five stars then "The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village" written by Joanna Nell would be it! I could have kept on reading about 79 year old Peggy Smart and her refusal to grow old gracefully forever and if I ever find myself in a retirement home, it's these characters from the story that I'd love to be living alongside. I loved every adorable minute, such rip-roaring fun with the right amount of emotional content to balance the story perfectly.
Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss of her devoted husband Ted. Her life, that she shares with her ageing dog Basil, is as beige as the decor in the retirement village. Her weekly aqua aerobics and appointments with the doctor are the highlights of her week. As her children start to fear she is at risk living alone, Peggy worries she is going to lose her independence. Being of a certain age she believes she has become invisible to men, even ones in their eighties. However, a chance encounter with an old school friend, the glamorous and confident Angie Valentine who she hasn't seen in fifty years, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery.
All the chapters make fantastic reading and I wish I could single out one in particular that impressed me the most but it is nigh on impossible as every one made a literary impact and had me either giggling or nodding my head in recognition. Anyone over a certain age could relate to any of the circumstances Peggy finds herself in, from forgetting dates, where she's put her reading glasses to not being able to work the latest mobile phone and the fear of developing dementia.
I loved the relationship she shared with Angie and the camaraderie with the other staff and residents of the village. Ageing rock star Jim was a hoot and much sort after widower Brian, who caught the eye of most of the ladies made for intriguing reading, wondering who he would eventually choose as his soul mate.
So much warmth and humour, you can't help but thoroughly enjoy reading this book and instantly fall in love with all the vibrant and diverse characters. I'd say this is a perfect story for women of all ages, whether you have an ageing mother or elderly grandmother or even if you can relate to seventy nine year old Peggy herself, this book is realistic, honest, true to life and very heartwarming and has emotional truth as the basis for its foundation.
The author Joanna Nell is renowned for writing character driven novels of self discovery for women of a certain age, by creating young at heart characters who aren't afraid of breaking the rules of society's expectations of the elderly. She obviously writes with a huge amount of passion for the characters she creates and builds her stories from her valuable experience as working as a GP treating women's health and elderly care.
I so, so want there to be a follow up to Peggy's twilight years, she's a genuine inspiration and sharing her thoughts, feelings and emotions has been truly fantastic. I recommend this as a definite must read, I will be seeking this talented author's work again and wish her every success with this fantastic, poignant and beautifully written book.
Long live Peggy!
An astounding five stars and more!!
If I could give a book more than five stars then "The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village" written by Joanna Nell would be it! I could have kept on reading about 79 year old Peggy Smart and her refusal to grow old gracefully forever and if I ever find myself in a retirement home, it's these characters from the story that I'd love to be living alongside. I loved every adorable minute, such rip-roaring fun with the right amount of emotional content to balance the story perfectly.
Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss of her devoted husband Ted. Her life, that she shares with her ageing dog Basil, is as beige as the decor in the retirement village. Her weekly aqua aerobics and appointments with the doctor are the highlights of her week. As her children start to fear she is at risk living alone, Peggy worries she is going to lose her independence. Being of a certain age she believes she has become invisible to men, even ones in their eighties. However, a chance encounter with an old school friend, the glamorous and confident Angie Valentine who she hasn't seen in fifty years, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery.
All the chapters make fantastic reading and I wish I could single out one in particular that impressed me the most but it is nigh on impossible as every one made a literary impact and had me either giggling or nodding my head in recognition. Anyone over a certain age could relate to any of the circumstances Peggy finds herself in, from forgetting dates, where she's put her reading glasses to not being able to work the latest mobile phone and the fear of developing dementia.
I loved the relationship she shared with Angie and the camaraderie with the other staff and residents of the village. Ageing rock star Jim was a hoot and much sort after widower Brian, who caught the eye of most of the ladies made for intriguing reading, wondering who he would eventually choose as his soul mate.
So much warmth and humour, you can't help but thoroughly enjoy reading this book and instantly fall in love with all the vibrant and diverse characters. I'd say this is a perfect story for women of all ages, whether you have an ageing mother or elderly grandmother or even if you can relate to seventy nine year old Peggy herself, this book is realistic, honest, true to life and very heartwarming and has emotional truth as the basis for its foundation.
The author Joanna Nell is renowned for writing character driven novels of self discovery for women of a certain age, by creating young at heart characters who aren't afraid of breaking the rules of society's expectations of the elderly. She obviously writes with a huge amount of passion for the characters she creates and builds her stories from her valuable experience as working as a GP treating women's health and elderly care.
I so, so want there to be a follow up to Peggy's twilight years, she's a genuine inspiration and sharing her thoughts, feelings and emotions has been truly fantastic. I recommend this as a definite must read, I will be seeking this talented author's work again and wish her every success with this fantastic, poignant and beautifully written book.
Long live Peggy!
An astounding five stars and more!!
October 2, 2018
The life of 79 year old pensioner Peggy Smart is as beige as the decor in her retirement village. Her week revolves around aqua aerobics and appointments with her doctor. The highlight of Peggy's day is watching her neighbour Brian head out for his morning swim.
Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss of her husband, Ted. Having incontinnance problems, her kids think she is showing signs of dementia and they worry that she can't cope on her own. Peggy feels life has passed her by but then Angie, an old friend, comes back into her life. Angie takes Peggy under her wing. They buy new clothes, Peggy gets a new hairstyle and together they feel twenty years younger.
What a fun read this is. Some of Peggy's observations will ring true with a lot of readers. Dealing with getting older, mood changes, memory loss and behaviour issues are a few of the things that come along with old age. I loved all the characters in this book. A book that will make you laugh out loud and also cry. A well written and poignant story. I do recommend this heartwarming read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author Joanna Nell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss of her husband, Ted. Having incontinnance problems, her kids think she is showing signs of dementia and they worry that she can't cope on her own. Peggy feels life has passed her by but then Angie, an old friend, comes back into her life. Angie takes Peggy under her wing. They buy new clothes, Peggy gets a new hairstyle and together they feel twenty years younger.
What a fun read this is. Some of Peggy's observations will ring true with a lot of readers. Dealing with getting older, mood changes, memory loss and behaviour issues are a few of the things that come along with old age. I loved all the characters in this book. A book that will make you laugh out loud and also cry. A well written and poignant story. I do recommend this heartwarming read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author Joanna Nell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2019
I decided to read this after happening across a few glowing reviews and I am glad I did. I hope if ever I end up in a retirement village that I have half the fun the characters in this book enjoyed.
I guess there is a big audience out there these days (the baby boomers of course) for stories like this one, showing that getting old is not the end of everything. Love and marriage can occur even at 80 and it is never too late to update your hairstyle, buy a new wardrobe and get out and enjoy yourself. All things we like to hope may be true as we visualise the years ahead.
The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is a feel good book and very well worth reading. I enjoyed it very much.
I guess there is a big audience out there these days (the baby boomers of course) for stories like this one, showing that getting old is not the end of everything. Love and marriage can occur even at 80 and it is never too late to update your hairstyle, buy a new wardrobe and get out and enjoy yourself. All things we like to hope may be true as we visualise the years ahead.
The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is a feel good book and very well worth reading. I enjoyed it very much.
June 19, 2022
This is a delightful tale told with humor and heart. Peggy Smart is almost 80. But she's not dead yet. The discovery of a friend from decades ago will help her to take a new look at life. And that cute
new neighbor might just give her some incentive, too. Her kids may think she has one foot in the grave, but Peggy is going to show them a thing or two. As Peggy likes to say, "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving a new one." Come visit Peggy, Angie, Brian, and the other residents of the Jacaranda Retirement Village. They might even invite you to stay for karaoke. They just need to raise enough money to buy the equipment.
new neighbor might just give her some incentive, too. Her kids may think she has one foot in the grave, but Peggy is going to show them a thing or two. As Peggy likes to say, "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving a new one." Come visit Peggy, Angie, Brian, and the other residents of the Jacaranda Retirement Village. They might even invite you to stay for karaoke. They just need to raise enough money to buy the equipment.
July 7, 2024
I love life-affirming stories from people at the end of their lives, and at times this novel gave me perspective and hope. But somehow I wasn’t completely charmed by the characters, which is a shame.
October 30, 2018
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I was quite torn by this book. It was funny and entertaining but I also found it easy to put down. I was easily distracted by other things and it ended up taking me a week to read. I wasn’t drawn into the story or the characters, just a mere bystander.
I couldn’t relate to Peggy, a frail 79 year old. My mother at 80 and my mother-in-law at 89 are both active, vibrant and extremely self reliant people.
I really enjoyed the politics of the retirement village which elicited quite a few giggles and Peggy’s crush on Brian was sweet and this was one plot line I was eager to see through to the finish.
At times I felt quite saddened by Peggy’s circumstances and her inner thoughts and at other times she had me in fits of laughter.
Nell covers many women’s health issues in a humorous, but never demeaning, way.
Peggy’s constant thoughts of “looking after” Brian, ironing his clothes, cooking his meals had me rolling my eyes and wondering if Peggy really wanted to gain any independence.
The introduction of Angie, Peggy’s best friend from school days, was a breath of fresh air; at last salvation. Angie had lived a wild, crazy life and the two hadn’t seen each other for 50 years but they instantly reconnected, old friendships are like that. I loved Angie....and then I didn’t! You will have to read the book to find out why.
Even though I struggled to love this book I would suggest you read it if you have an ageing parent, you may learn some empathy, or if you are approaching the retirement home stage, you will learn to speak up, play up and never stop having fun.
I was quite torn by this book. It was funny and entertaining but I also found it easy to put down. I was easily distracted by other things and it ended up taking me a week to read. I wasn’t drawn into the story or the characters, just a mere bystander.
I couldn’t relate to Peggy, a frail 79 year old. My mother at 80 and my mother-in-law at 89 are both active, vibrant and extremely self reliant people.
I really enjoyed the politics of the retirement village which elicited quite a few giggles and Peggy’s crush on Brian was sweet and this was one plot line I was eager to see through to the finish.
At times I felt quite saddened by Peggy’s circumstances and her inner thoughts and at other times she had me in fits of laughter.
Nell covers many women’s health issues in a humorous, but never demeaning, way.
Peggy’s constant thoughts of “looking after” Brian, ironing his clothes, cooking his meals had me rolling my eyes and wondering if Peggy really wanted to gain any independence.
The introduction of Angie, Peggy’s best friend from school days, was a breath of fresh air; at last salvation. Angie had lived a wild, crazy life and the two hadn’t seen each other for 50 years but they instantly reconnected, old friendships are like that. I loved Angie....and then I didn’t! You will have to read the book to find out why.
Even though I struggled to love this book I would suggest you read it if you have an ageing parent, you may learn some empathy, or if you are approaching the retirement home stage, you will learn to speak up, play up and never stop having fun.
December 26, 2020
Seventy nine year old, Peggy Smart lives in the Jacaranda Retirement Village and what a loveable character she is. Following Peggy in her weekly routines is great entertainment. This really is a heartwarming novel with many laugh out loud moments.
Australian writer Joanna Nell has done a brilliant job writing this book and I look forward to getting my hands on her other books. Highly recommended.
Australian writer Joanna Nell has done a brilliant job writing this book and I look forward to getting my hands on her other books. Highly recommended.
June 27, 2019
This is such a lovely, warm book about the aging gracefully and disgracefully. Peggy Smart, age 79, is such a wonderful character. Living in a retirement village for four years since her beloved husband Ted died, she is lonely with only her aging dog Basil for company. The highlight of her day is spying on her neighbour, the handsome Brian Cornell, heading off for his daily swim. Besieged with a tricky bladder and a failing memory, Peggy has to keep fighting off her children's desire to get her into a nursing home as the last thing she wants is to relinquish her independence. She keeps busy with aquarobics and the Residents' Committee meetings but otherwise life is rather bland and boring. That is until the gorgeous, vivacious Angie Valentine comes storming back into her life. Best friends when they were young, before Angie went off to travel the world (and marry four times), Angie puts a spark of life and colour back into Peggy's world with her sense of style and love of fun.
It's wonderful to watch Peggy blossom as Angie reminds her that life has a lot to offer her and she needs to grab it now with both hands before it's too late. She soon finds herself trying new things, surrounded by good friends, including the handsome Brian, aging rock star Jim, tomboy Celia as well as Angie. The novel is infused with wit and warmth from the playful banter they have with each other and the sticklers on the Residents Committee to Peggy's hysterical malapropisms. Angie's rather special brownies liven up a Residents Committee meeting and chaos ensues in the audio shop when the tech-challenged group try to buy a Karaoke machine. However, the difficulties associated with aging are not downplayed as the residents discuss and acknowledge their joint replacements, multiple medications, failing memories and organs. The desire of adult children to want their aging parent to be safe and well cared for (ie. shipped off to a nursing home) is also handled sensitively and balanced with the view that the elderly should be independent for as long as they can with good medical and community support.
This is a book to be enjoyed by all ages, whether you have aging parents or are heading towards that stage of life yourself or just because you enjoy a warm, funny read. Peggy is such a memorable character and everyone should have an Angie Valentine in their lives.
It's wonderful to watch Peggy blossom as Angie reminds her that life has a lot to offer her and she needs to grab it now with both hands before it's too late. She soon finds herself trying new things, surrounded by good friends, including the handsome Brian, aging rock star Jim, tomboy Celia as well as Angie. The novel is infused with wit and warmth from the playful banter they have with each other and the sticklers on the Residents Committee to Peggy's hysterical malapropisms. Angie's rather special brownies liven up a Residents Committee meeting and chaos ensues in the audio shop when the tech-challenged group try to buy a Karaoke machine. However, the difficulties associated with aging are not downplayed as the residents discuss and acknowledge their joint replacements, multiple medications, failing memories and organs. The desire of adult children to want their aging parent to be safe and well cared for (ie. shipped off to a nursing home) is also handled sensitively and balanced with the view that the elderly should be independent for as long as they can with good medical and community support.
This is a book to be enjoyed by all ages, whether you have aging parents or are heading towards that stage of life yourself or just because you enjoy a warm, funny read. Peggy is such a memorable character and everyone should have an Angie Valentine in their lives.
February 22, 2022
Peggy Smart is 79 and lives at Jacaranda Retirement Village with her little canine companion Basil. Peggy’s husband Ted has died and her two adult children David and Jenny to her mind are overprotective. Her greatest fear is that they want to put her in a home. Although she has lived in the retirement village a while, Peggy hasn’t made any real friends, More like just acquaintances. She does have her eye on Brian Cornell, one of the other residents. But he would never take any notice of her. Or would He? Then she encounters.Angie, her best friend from her childhood days. Peggy has not seen Angie since she and Ted married. The four time married Angie is glamourous and outgoing, the complete opposite of Peggy. Angie is determined to shake Peggy up out of her fascination with beige and her uneventful lifestyle. Over time changes happen and Peggy is left with more than one life changing decision to make.
This is a humorous look at getting old that had smiling or chuckling at times. I quite enjoyed it initially. But the longer it went on, the more I found my attention waning. Some people have absolutely loved it whereas I had a mixed reaction. Loved some aspects. Others not so much, so will settle somewhere in the middle with my rating. Not sure I related that well to the characters.
This is a humorous look at getting old that had smiling or chuckling at times. I quite enjoyed it initially. But the longer it went on, the more I found my attention waning. Some people have absolutely loved it whereas I had a mixed reaction. Loved some aspects. Others not so much, so will settle somewhere in the middle with my rating. Not sure I related that well to the characters.
November 3, 2018
The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is the first novel by British-born Australian doctor and author, Joanna Nell. Peggy Smart has been at Jacaranda Retirement Village since Ted died four years ago. She’s quite happy sharing her little unit with Basil, her ageing Shih Tzu, but hasn’t made any real friends. And she would like to get to know the handsome Brian Cornell a bit better: nights without Ted to cuddle her can be a bit lonely.
Might he ever be interested in someone as dull as Peggy? “I’m a seventy-nine-year-old widow with a broken arm and a body like day-old rice pudding. It’s time to face facts. I’m past it.” Peggy tries to be independent: the last thing she wants is for her (interfering) son and daughter to put her away; but she is a bit forgetful sometimes, and her waterworks problems make it difficult to enjoy everything she’d like to do.
Things are changing at Jacaranda, though: a new doctor might just sort out Peggy’s bladder, and Brian seems to be noticing her. Until, that is, Angie Valentine turns up. Angie’s a blast from Peggy’s past: gorgeous (still, at nearly eighty!) and stylish, she has the heads of the few males at Jacaranda turning. Peggy watches Angie captivating everyone at Jacaranda, and feels ready to give up. But Angie has other plans. Soon, in the mirror, “Instead of a pensioner camouflaged in fifty shades of beige, she saw an elegant, mature woman with a figure.”
What a charming tale Nell gives the reader! The plot is not as predictable as it might first seem, and Nell manages to include plenty of humour, both in the dialogue and the antics of her characters: pricing a Karaoke machine, swimming laps, hosting a Fashion Parade, crashing a birthday party, hair and clothing makeovers, clinic visits, and the sabotage, with laced brownies, of a certain (Basil-adverse) residents’ committee vote, all present the reader with laugh-out loud moments.
None of Nell’s characters is wholly good or bad: all have human flaws as well as virtues, but Peggy is the star of the show. She is truly a delight, but she’s also the reason that this novel should not be read in the quiet carriage on public transport. Peggy’s little errors: her malapropisms, her mixed metaphors, her mangling of common expressions, her (unintentional) double entendres, and misheard words, will have the reader exploding into laughter. Sometimes they are very subtle (Dave’s knee deconstruction op), other times, glaringly obvious (Angie’s Louis Carthorse-style chairs), but definitely worth watching out for.
Readers of a certain vintage will doubtless identify with Peggy’s issues and worries (Nell captures the senior mindset perfectly), while those a generation younger will appreciate the situation from David and Jenny’s perspective. Nell highlights the dilemma, for our ageing population, of balancing safety with independence, comfort and indulgence with the discipline of exercise and health, medication with more wholistic treatment. This is a brilliant debut novel, and Nell’s further works will be eagerly anticipated.
Might he ever be interested in someone as dull as Peggy? “I’m a seventy-nine-year-old widow with a broken arm and a body like day-old rice pudding. It’s time to face facts. I’m past it.” Peggy tries to be independent: the last thing she wants is for her (interfering) son and daughter to put her away; but she is a bit forgetful sometimes, and her waterworks problems make it difficult to enjoy everything she’d like to do.
Things are changing at Jacaranda, though: a new doctor might just sort out Peggy’s bladder, and Brian seems to be noticing her. Until, that is, Angie Valentine turns up. Angie’s a blast from Peggy’s past: gorgeous (still, at nearly eighty!) and stylish, she has the heads of the few males at Jacaranda turning. Peggy watches Angie captivating everyone at Jacaranda, and feels ready to give up. But Angie has other plans. Soon, in the mirror, “Instead of a pensioner camouflaged in fifty shades of beige, she saw an elegant, mature woman with a figure.”
What a charming tale Nell gives the reader! The plot is not as predictable as it might first seem, and Nell manages to include plenty of humour, both in the dialogue and the antics of her characters: pricing a Karaoke machine, swimming laps, hosting a Fashion Parade, crashing a birthday party, hair and clothing makeovers, clinic visits, and the sabotage, with laced brownies, of a certain (Basil-adverse) residents’ committee vote, all present the reader with laugh-out loud moments.
None of Nell’s characters is wholly good or bad: all have human flaws as well as virtues, but Peggy is the star of the show. She is truly a delight, but she’s also the reason that this novel should not be read in the quiet carriage on public transport. Peggy’s little errors: her malapropisms, her mixed metaphors, her mangling of common expressions, her (unintentional) double entendres, and misheard words, will have the reader exploding into laughter. Sometimes they are very subtle (Dave’s knee deconstruction op), other times, glaringly obvious (Angie’s Louis Carthorse-style chairs), but definitely worth watching out for.
Readers of a certain vintage will doubtless identify with Peggy’s issues and worries (Nell captures the senior mindset perfectly), while those a generation younger will appreciate the situation from David and Jenny’s perspective. Nell highlights the dilemma, for our ageing population, of balancing safety with independence, comfort and indulgence with the discipline of exercise and health, medication with more wholistic treatment. This is a brilliant debut novel, and Nell’s further works will be eagerly anticipated.
September 21, 2018
This is such a great story it is funny, moving, emotional and so very heart-warming, make yourself comfortable for this one while you enjoy meeting the lovey seventy nine year old Peggy Smart and the highs and lows of living in a retirement village and aging with decorum and aplomb as best she can.
Peggy is widowed, she has two children David who is married to Mel they have two children Sam and Emily and Jenny who lives with her girlfriend and the alpacas, Peggy lives alone with her dog Basil, her little old man, yes she can be forgetful but the Webster’s pill packaging does help her with the days of the week, as does her colour co-ordinated calendar, she also loves checking one of the neighbours out, that would be Brian retired chartered accountant and treasurer of the residents committee the man that Peggy dreams of inviting for dinner one day, yes life is good for Peggy, but then Angie Valentine moves into the village and Peggy’s life is going to improve maybe?
Peggy and Angie met when they were eight years old, they went to school together and worked together for some time but Angie was always the out spoken one the one to go for what she wanted never lost for words and she went onto travel the world with her job and Peggy married Ted and settled down and now Angie is still the beautiful, vibrant person she was and she steps in to improve Peggy’s life but Peggy is unsure about all of this and worries a little. Meeting up with Peggy again for Angie was what she had wanted there is a secret that needs to be told and Angie will do anything for her friend Peggy
This one had me laughing out loud with tears running down my face as Peggy gets herself into a few scrapes but Angie is there and when the tables are turned Peggy is there for Angie. This is a beautifully written story with all of the emotional feels that will keep you turning the pages, the characters are rich, vibrant and alive, truly there is much laughter and there are tears as this journey of friendship and aging gracefully with fun, it is never too late to find love and enjoy life. This a must read. A story that I highly recommend, huge congratulations on a fabulous debut and I look forward to many more books from MS Nell.
Peggy is widowed, she has two children David who is married to Mel they have two children Sam and Emily and Jenny who lives with her girlfriend and the alpacas, Peggy lives alone with her dog Basil, her little old man, yes she can be forgetful but the Webster’s pill packaging does help her with the days of the week, as does her colour co-ordinated calendar, she also loves checking one of the neighbours out, that would be Brian retired chartered accountant and treasurer of the residents committee the man that Peggy dreams of inviting for dinner one day, yes life is good for Peggy, but then Angie Valentine moves into the village and Peggy’s life is going to improve maybe?
Peggy and Angie met when they were eight years old, they went to school together and worked together for some time but Angie was always the out spoken one the one to go for what she wanted never lost for words and she went onto travel the world with her job and Peggy married Ted and settled down and now Angie is still the beautiful, vibrant person she was and she steps in to improve Peggy’s life but Peggy is unsure about all of this and worries a little. Meeting up with Peggy again for Angie was what she had wanted there is a secret that needs to be told and Angie will do anything for her friend Peggy
This one had me laughing out loud with tears running down my face as Peggy gets herself into a few scrapes but Angie is there and when the tables are turned Peggy is there for Angie. This is a beautifully written story with all of the emotional feels that will keep you turning the pages, the characters are rich, vibrant and alive, truly there is much laughter and there are tears as this journey of friendship and aging gracefully with fun, it is never too late to find love and enjoy life. This a must read. A story that I highly recommend, huge congratulations on a fabulous debut and I look forward to many more books from MS Nell.
February 14, 2019
What an utterly delightful read ! I loved this book from the beginning, and while it started off with lots of humour, there were also some very serious issues covered too. The story is about Peggy, a 79 yr old lady,living in the retirement village, struggling to cope with the loss of her beloved husband Ted, trying to maintain some sort of independence and battling a multitude of health ailments connected to growing old. Throw into that mix, interferring grown up children, assorted residents, a potential beau and the appearance of a long lost friend and we have the ingredients of a wonderful story, which was in turns, hilarious, heartwarming, thought provoking and sad. I can’t imagine any woman over a certain age not enjoying this book ! I also challenge anyone to write a better, funnier description of a seniors Aqua aerobics class than the one the author Joanna Nell wrote ! Highly recommended.
November 14, 2022
“It's never too late to grow old disgracefully....”
This is a humorous domestic drama set in an Australian retirement village. Joanna Nell is an English born author and doctor and now lives in Sydney. The main character is 79 year old Peggy Smart, whose life as a widow has become rather mundane and beige, punctuated only by popping pills out of the blister packs and watching elderly eligible widower Brian walk past in the mornings, and fending off her childrens’ attempts to consign her to a nursing home. Then her old school friend the glamorous fast-living Angie Valentine appears at the village creating a whirlpool of colour and excitement around her. Angie soon turns Peggie’s life and wardrobe upside down and helps her challenge some of the roles that have been set for her, particularly that of a frail, invisible older woman.
I enjoyed this story, it was fun, and made some insightful points about aging, although it was fairly slow moving. My only complaint was there was probably too much medical minutiae not really necessary to the flow of the story.
This is a humorous domestic drama set in an Australian retirement village. Joanna Nell is an English born author and doctor and now lives in Sydney. The main character is 79 year old Peggy Smart, whose life as a widow has become rather mundane and beige, punctuated only by popping pills out of the blister packs and watching elderly eligible widower Brian walk past in the mornings, and fending off her childrens’ attempts to consign her to a nursing home. Then her old school friend the glamorous fast-living Angie Valentine appears at the village creating a whirlpool of colour and excitement around her. Angie soon turns Peggie’s life and wardrobe upside down and helps her challenge some of the roles that have been set for her, particularly that of a frail, invisible older woman.
I enjoyed this story, it was fun, and made some insightful points about aging, although it was fairly slow moving. My only complaint was there was probably too much medical minutiae not really necessary to the flow of the story.
November 5, 2019
This is a funny, feel good book that had me chucking away to myself on the couch. Peggy is a delightful 79 year old resident at the Jacaranda Retirement Village. She has a secret crush on Brian next door, widow who still has his own teeth. She lives in fear of her children taking her on a 'drive' to a Nursing home, never to be seen again. And she is about to encounter and old 'friend' who manages to make her feel alive, invisible and insanely jealous all at the same time.
I can highly recommend this story about life in a retirement village with all of its ups and downs told in the most wonderful way.
I can highly recommend this story about life in a retirement village with all of its ups and downs told in the most wonderful way.
February 13, 2019
What a lovely read! I am almost convinced getting old isn’t going to be too bad. The antics of Peggy and her life-long friend Angie are set against the backdrop of what could be any retirement village anywhere. The mundane, age-related worries and issues are tinged with humour, good intentions, and finally the reason we should all keep on giving, loving and enjoying every single day.
November 12, 2019
Every Retirement Village should have several copies of this book in their library, because it's all true! And, every village has at least one of each of the characters described in this fabulous and humorous read.
The main character, Peggy Smart is recently widowed, the family home has been sold, much pushing by her two adult children and now she is living in the retirement village. Her children have taken on the parenting role of her and she obsesses that they are pushing her more and more into a nursing home, it's a tricky problem, how to be pushy back without estranging their relationship, although this has happened already with her daughter. Peggy could be described as a "beige" lady, eats too much, food is obviously her escape, not hard to do when you love to cook, not overly keen on exercise, never has been and now, as a widow living in the village she is becoming more "beige", i.e slowly disappearing, age does this to you unless it's leashed in. A lovely gentleman, her neighbour Brian Cornell has triggered the romance in Peggy's imagination and she fantasies about him. However to say that Peggy is under confident would be an understatement as she still suffers from childhood insecurities, thanks to a critical mother. To add, Peggy's young adult ambitions were quashed by her mother's attitude and failing family fortunes. Still, her life with husband Ted was a made to order marriage for Peggy and it was pretty good, pity he had to die leaving her to flounder through life.
Feeling on top of the world one morning Peggy decides to head for the beach even parking the car without too much of a hassle. As misfortune happens she spies a childhood, always glamorous friend walking with THE Brian, unable to expertly change her course of direction she has a disastrous fall. However, from this fall her fortunes start to change.
Peggy is mysterfied as to why the glamorous Angie would end up at the same retirement village, a woman who has led an exciting life, travelled the world and had several husbands. However, as their past friendship is reawakened Angie takes Peggy in hand, empties her wardrobe and takes her shopping. A little bit of self worth goes a long way as it does for Peggy who begins to shine.
The reason for Angie choosing the Jacaranda Retirement Village is revealed towards the end of the book. Angie is like many when ageing who need to unburden themselves of guilt or right those actions that have wronged another before the finality of life for which she seeks to do so with Peggy. Peggy on the cusp of 80 years is generous in her response to her lifelong friend's admission thus revealing the true bright colour of this delightful character.
The main character, Peggy Smart is recently widowed, the family home has been sold, much pushing by her two adult children and now she is living in the retirement village. Her children have taken on the parenting role of her and she obsesses that they are pushing her more and more into a nursing home, it's a tricky problem, how to be pushy back without estranging their relationship, although this has happened already with her daughter. Peggy could be described as a "beige" lady, eats too much, food is obviously her escape, not hard to do when you love to cook, not overly keen on exercise, never has been and now, as a widow living in the village she is becoming more "beige", i.e slowly disappearing, age does this to you unless it's leashed in. A lovely gentleman, her neighbour Brian Cornell has triggered the romance in Peggy's imagination and she fantasies about him. However to say that Peggy is under confident would be an understatement as she still suffers from childhood insecurities, thanks to a critical mother. To add, Peggy's young adult ambitions were quashed by her mother's attitude and failing family fortunes. Still, her life with husband Ted was a made to order marriage for Peggy and it was pretty good, pity he had to die leaving her to flounder through life.
Feeling on top of the world one morning Peggy decides to head for the beach even parking the car without too much of a hassle. As misfortune happens she spies a childhood, always glamorous friend walking with THE Brian, unable to expertly change her course of direction she has a disastrous fall. However, from this fall her fortunes start to change.
Peggy is mysterfied as to why the glamorous Angie would end up at the same retirement village, a woman who has led an exciting life, travelled the world and had several husbands. However, as their past friendship is reawakened Angie takes Peggy in hand, empties her wardrobe and takes her shopping. A little bit of self worth goes a long way as it does for Peggy who begins to shine.
The reason for Angie choosing the Jacaranda Retirement Village is revealed towards the end of the book. Angie is like many when ageing who need to unburden themselves of guilt or right those actions that have wronged another before the finality of life for which she seeks to do so with Peggy. Peggy on the cusp of 80 years is generous in her response to her lifelong friend's admission thus revealing the true bright colour of this delightful character.
September 24, 2018
‘With one wrist in plaster, it was difficult for Peggy to hold the Women’s Weekly. It was an old issue but if she had read any of the articles before, she couldn’t remember them and consumed the glossy pages with fresh eyes. She consoled herself with the thought that if she were going senile, she’d save herself a fortune in magazines.’
What a fabulous novel The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is! In many ways it reminded me of the themes and humour of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a movie that I enjoyed immensely. Joanna Nell has created a truly memorable character in Peggy Smart. Full of wit and fiercely independent, age has made her vulnerable, along with her failing health. She lives in fear of being moved by her children out of the retirement village and into a nursing home. An accident that ends in a broken wrist becomes a catalyst for change in Peggy’s life, and it’s this new direction, and the connections that it brings to Peggy, that provide the focus for this novel.
Joanna Nell really knows how to write in character. While the novel is entirely told from Peggy’s perspective, there are so many opportunities for us to see the individualism Joanna has bestowed onto all of her other characters. She’s also got a real knack at forging connections and I found the dialogue between characters, interspersed with Peggy’s reflections and introspection, absolutely priceless. It’s not all non-stop humour though. These characters are in their 70s and 80s, and they’ve all lived and loved and lost throughout the years. Each are facing health issues and contemplating death – unavoidable really, when you live in a retirement village and a new neighbour only comes because the old one has either died or been moved to a nursing home, which according to Peggy, is the last stop before death and to be avoided at all cost (my grandmother shared this view). The friendships nurtured between the characters was delightful, and always entertaining, particularly when they got up to mischief.
‘Friends are precious things. We collect them over our lifetime, different friends for different stages of our lives. Childhood, family friends, work colleagues, friends with similar interests or hobbies. Some are chance encounters, others seem destined to cross our paths. Over the years, it is inevitable that many will fall by the way. Others will come in and out of lives, and though we may not see each other for years, when we meet again it is as though we have never been apart. In that respect, friends are rather like a dose of herpes.’
Seeing life through Peggy’s gaze has given me pause to reflect on the many ways in which we might inadvertently patronise older people. I was quite frustrated, and even on occasion outraged, by Peggy’s adult children. And they weren’t even that bad, motivated by love for their mother and a need to keep her safe. I could see myself doing similar things to what they did, but once you have the opportunity to see it from Peggy’s perspective, it’s enough to make you aware of how incredibly frustrating it must be to have younger people assume you are an imbecilic invalid just because you’re older. Likewise, the difficulty in adjusting to the role reversal between parent and child. To be the cared for, instead of the care giver, would be a constant pebble in your shoe. I felt Joanna wove these frustrations and concerns into Peggy’s story well, demonstrating the clash these feelings had with her independence, while also being tempered by the reality of her health and capabilities.
The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is a novel I highly recommend and Joanna Nell is an author to look out for. She hits the right balance with her words, leaving no room for anything but pure enjoyment. I can see this novel as a gift under many Christmas trees this festive season.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village for review.
What a fabulous novel The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is! In many ways it reminded me of the themes and humour of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a movie that I enjoyed immensely. Joanna Nell has created a truly memorable character in Peggy Smart. Full of wit and fiercely independent, age has made her vulnerable, along with her failing health. She lives in fear of being moved by her children out of the retirement village and into a nursing home. An accident that ends in a broken wrist becomes a catalyst for change in Peggy’s life, and it’s this new direction, and the connections that it brings to Peggy, that provide the focus for this novel.
Joanna Nell really knows how to write in character. While the novel is entirely told from Peggy’s perspective, there are so many opportunities for us to see the individualism Joanna has bestowed onto all of her other characters. She’s also got a real knack at forging connections and I found the dialogue between characters, interspersed with Peggy’s reflections and introspection, absolutely priceless. It’s not all non-stop humour though. These characters are in their 70s and 80s, and they’ve all lived and loved and lost throughout the years. Each are facing health issues and contemplating death – unavoidable really, when you live in a retirement village and a new neighbour only comes because the old one has either died or been moved to a nursing home, which according to Peggy, is the last stop before death and to be avoided at all cost (my grandmother shared this view). The friendships nurtured between the characters was delightful, and always entertaining, particularly when they got up to mischief.
‘Friends are precious things. We collect them over our lifetime, different friends for different stages of our lives. Childhood, family friends, work colleagues, friends with similar interests or hobbies. Some are chance encounters, others seem destined to cross our paths. Over the years, it is inevitable that many will fall by the way. Others will come in and out of lives, and though we may not see each other for years, when we meet again it is as though we have never been apart. In that respect, friends are rather like a dose of herpes.’
Seeing life through Peggy’s gaze has given me pause to reflect on the many ways in which we might inadvertently patronise older people. I was quite frustrated, and even on occasion outraged, by Peggy’s adult children. And they weren’t even that bad, motivated by love for their mother and a need to keep her safe. I could see myself doing similar things to what they did, but once you have the opportunity to see it from Peggy’s perspective, it’s enough to make you aware of how incredibly frustrating it must be to have younger people assume you are an imbecilic invalid just because you’re older. Likewise, the difficulty in adjusting to the role reversal between parent and child. To be the cared for, instead of the care giver, would be a constant pebble in your shoe. I felt Joanna wove these frustrations and concerns into Peggy’s story well, demonstrating the clash these feelings had with her independence, while also being tempered by the reality of her health and capabilities.
The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is a novel I highly recommend and Joanna Nell is an author to look out for. She hits the right balance with her words, leaving no room for anything but pure enjoyment. I can see this novel as a gift under many Christmas trees this festive season.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village for review.
January 22, 2020
Tired, over-worked, and under-appreciated, I was facing a pre-dawn flight down to Melbourne and wanted something to read that would help brighten my day. I reached for The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell, which has the tagline ‘a moving, funny, heart-warming tale of love and community.’ It sounded perfect. And it was perfect! I was chuckling to myself even before the plane’s wheels had left the tarmac.
Peggy Smart is 79½. She lives at the Jacaranda Retirement Village. Her biggest fear is being moved to a nursing home by her over-protective children. Her greatest pleasure is watching Brian, the cute widower from across the street, head out for his daily swim, his towel draped across his gently sloping shoulders, a tangle of white hair on his bony chest. Then one day she encounters an old friend from her past. Angie Valentine is skinny and glamorous, has had four husbands and a jetsetter life. Peggy can’t help being a little jealous. And worried that Brian will fall for her charms. And afraid that Angie will find her as boring as her wardrobe of comfortable beige elastic-waisted pants.
She could not have imagined what changes meeting Angie again would bring …
I loved this book. It’s as warm and funny as it promised, but also deals with real issues of ageing such as loneliness, fear, and vulnerability. Peggy’s voice is a delight. I particularly loved her malapropisms (the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar sounding one).
Here is one that made me laugh out loud:
‘I’m sure we didn’t have all these allergies in our day,’ said Brian, pulling out onto the main road. ‘I blame the disinfectants. The ones that kill 99.9% of all germs.’
‘I couldn’t agree more. People these days are so careful, I never minded about having a few harmless orgasms on the kitchen workshop, even when the kids were still living at home…’
Peggy Smart is 79½. She lives at the Jacaranda Retirement Village. Her biggest fear is being moved to a nursing home by her over-protective children. Her greatest pleasure is watching Brian, the cute widower from across the street, head out for his daily swim, his towel draped across his gently sloping shoulders, a tangle of white hair on his bony chest. Then one day she encounters an old friend from her past. Angie Valentine is skinny and glamorous, has had four husbands and a jetsetter life. Peggy can’t help being a little jealous. And worried that Brian will fall for her charms. And afraid that Angie will find her as boring as her wardrobe of comfortable beige elastic-waisted pants.
She could not have imagined what changes meeting Angie again would bring …
I loved this book. It’s as warm and funny as it promised, but also deals with real issues of ageing such as loneliness, fear, and vulnerability. Peggy’s voice is a delight. I particularly loved her malapropisms (the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar sounding one).
Here is one that made me laugh out loud:
‘I’m sure we didn’t have all these allergies in our day,’ said Brian, pulling out onto the main road. ‘I blame the disinfectants. The ones that kill 99.9% of all germs.’
‘I couldn’t agree more. People these days are so careful, I never minded about having a few harmless orgasms on the kitchen workshop, even when the kids were still living at home…’
July 23, 2018
LOVE LOVE LOVE this little gem of a book and it’s
353 pages of pure joy! I could barely contain my excitement when late one evening I received a uncorrected proof copy of the debut novel of Joanna Nell’s. Leading us into the lives of Peggy and Angie with warmth, hilarity and insight during their glory years gives the reader a hopefulness that although life maybe moving at a faster pace, we can nonetheless keep laughing and enjoying.
Joanna Nell writes with a calm and clarity of a well-seasoned writer and is certainly one to watch.
Mark it on your shelves and be sure to buy a copy when it’s released, available in Australia Oct 2018 - in the UK, February 2019.
353 pages of pure joy! I could barely contain my excitement when late one evening I received a uncorrected proof copy of the debut novel of Joanna Nell’s. Leading us into the lives of Peggy and Angie with warmth, hilarity and insight during their glory years gives the reader a hopefulness that although life maybe moving at a faster pace, we can nonetheless keep laughing and enjoying.
Joanna Nell writes with a calm and clarity of a well-seasoned writer and is certainly one to watch.
Mark it on your shelves and be sure to buy a copy when it’s released, available in Australia Oct 2018 - in the UK, February 2019.
November 15, 2019
For me this book was only a 2.5 star read.
I liked aspects of the novel, and had some gentle laughs, especially with some of the goings-on at the Jacaranda Retirement Village, with its motley crew of residents.
My main issue lies with the writer's depiction of the lead character, Peggy Smart. It seemed to be all over the place - one minute daft, another minute savvy, yet another moment sickly and ineffectual.
I could not warm to Peggy, nor was I convinced by her thoughts, views and actions.
It's not a bad novel, but not one I will add to my "greatly appreciated" shelf on Goodreads.
I liked aspects of the novel, and had some gentle laughs, especially with some of the goings-on at the Jacaranda Retirement Village, with its motley crew of residents.
My main issue lies with the writer's depiction of the lead character, Peggy Smart. It seemed to be all over the place - one minute daft, another minute savvy, yet another moment sickly and ineffectual.
I could not warm to Peggy, nor was I convinced by her thoughts, views and actions.
It's not a bad novel, but not one I will add to my "greatly appreciated" shelf on Goodreads.
June 19, 2018
Charming, funny (wonderful malapropisms) and warm, this is a story about women of a certain age and their concerns, told in a sympathetic and humorous way. Loved it.
August 31, 2018
I haven't been this entranced by a character since Eleanor (Oliphant, of course). And for all of the same reasons I loved Eleanor, I LOVED Peggy Smart.
We meet Peggy at 79 1/2 years old, on the verge of something big. That premise alone makes it unique. How many books have you read where the protagonist is older than 40 (or even 50!) but still discovering things about themselves...still finding new things to explore in life? Not many, I'd guess. This book is a joy for that reason alone - it's a celebration of age instead of an apology for it, and a reminder that life is always an adventure if you let it be.
Joanna Nell doesn't gloss over the difficulties of being almost 80 - Peggy is facing some health challenges, but this book isn't about a feeble old woman. Peggy is cautious, but she's courageous. She's quirky, but kind and realistic. I was cheering on her every step towards happiness.
I LOVED this uniquely endearing book - I've read some brilliant books this year, but I think this might just be close to the top of the list so far.
We meet Peggy at 79 1/2 years old, on the verge of something big. That premise alone makes it unique. How many books have you read where the protagonist is older than 40 (or even 50!) but still discovering things about themselves...still finding new things to explore in life? Not many, I'd guess. This book is a joy for that reason alone - it's a celebration of age instead of an apology for it, and a reminder that life is always an adventure if you let it be.
Joanna Nell doesn't gloss over the difficulties of being almost 80 - Peggy is facing some health challenges, but this book isn't about a feeble old woman. Peggy is cautious, but she's courageous. She's quirky, but kind and realistic. I was cheering on her every step towards happiness.
I LOVED this uniquely endearing book - I've read some brilliant books this year, but I think this might just be close to the top of the list so far.
May 30, 2020
This is a 2.5 star review rounded down to 2 ("it was ok") as I can't bring myself to say I "liked it." I've waited months to get this book as it had such great reviews. So, let's just say I was disappointed.
The author is an MD who deals with geriatric patients, so I would have expected some depth to the characters. But she has written them in such a superficial way that they are stereotypical. It's all just a bit too cute and predictable.
The author is an MD who deals with geriatric patients, so I would have expected some depth to the characters. But she has written them in such a superficial way that they are stereotypical. It's all just a bit too cute and predictable.
September 8, 2018
When The Single ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village was compared to one of my favourite books The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry I had to request it and I am so glad that it did. I loved this book.
79-year-old Peggy is one of the residents at the Jacaranda Retirement Village. She is still grieving after the loss of her beloved husband Ted, she is not a very confident person. All her clothes are beige. She has incontinence problems and her kids thinks she is starting to suffer from Dementia and she can’t cope on her own.
When one day, in walks Angie. Peggie’s old friend from 50 years back. Who is completely different to Peggie. Confident, outgoing, knows how and to get everything out of life. But, she is with holding a secret. When both women get together, Angie brings Peggie out of her shell and Peggie starts living for once in her life.
The is a beautiful, charming, heart-warming story about the highs and lows of people ageing, falling in love and friendships. There is a lot of laughs in this story too. I thought this was an absolute gem of a book and I can’t wait to see more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of this book.
79-year-old Peggy is one of the residents at the Jacaranda Retirement Village. She is still grieving after the loss of her beloved husband Ted, she is not a very confident person. All her clothes are beige. She has incontinence problems and her kids thinks she is starting to suffer from Dementia and she can’t cope on her own.
When one day, in walks Angie. Peggie’s old friend from 50 years back. Who is completely different to Peggie. Confident, outgoing, knows how and to get everything out of life. But, she is with holding a secret. When both women get together, Angie brings Peggie out of her shell and Peggie starts living for once in her life.
The is a beautiful, charming, heart-warming story about the highs and lows of people ageing, falling in love and friendships. There is a lot of laughs in this story too. I thought this was an absolute gem of a book and I can’t wait to see more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of this book.
September 30, 2018
This was a really fun read. What a character Peggy and her friends at The Jacaranda Retirement Village are. As well as being very humorous, this also touches on important issues such as how we treat our elderly, especially our parents, how elderly people feel about getting older, maintaining their independence as long as possible and who they see themselves as, especially after they lose their partner and have to live life without them. Peggy goes through lots of learning about herself as the story goes on, her friend Angie is the biggest instigator of this and is a good friend and just what Peggy needs at this point in her life. Peggy's thought process is so amusing, her descriptions and ways of forgetting things made me laugh. I didn't much like Peggy's children and the way they treated Peggy as though she were a child, not able to make her own decisions, though they redeemed themselves at the end. A really enjoyable read.
October 29, 2020
3.5★
I mostly enjoyed this, and for about the first half of the book, I really enjoyed it. After that, I did find Peggy's malapropisms started to wear a little thin, as did her continual swooning over Brian! And I had more sympathy with her children, who were understandably (in my opinion) concerned about their mother, than I did with Peggy. Toward the end of the book, someone describes her as "an independent, modern woman", but I can't say I saw that in her!! I saw an over-anxious, over-compensating woman, who would like to be exciting and glamorous but realises she's blending into the background as she ages.
However it was an easy read, and quite entertaining. I've got The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker sitting here as well, so am looking forward to reading that sometime soon.
I mostly enjoyed this, and for about the first half of the book, I really enjoyed it. After that, I did find Peggy's malapropisms started to wear a little thin, as did her continual swooning over Brian! And I had more sympathy with her children, who were understandably (in my opinion) concerned about their mother, than I did with Peggy. Toward the end of the book, someone describes her as "an independent, modern woman", but I can't say I saw that in her!! I saw an over-anxious, over-compensating woman, who would like to be exciting and glamorous but realises she's blending into the background as she ages.
However it was an easy read, and quite entertaining. I've got The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker sitting here as well, so am looking forward to reading that sometime soon.
October 7, 2018
This is a hopeful and heartwarming story of enduring friendship that also highlights the losses elderly people face every day, including that of their independence. It shines a light on ageing and grief, and shows that although the skin and bones might age, the heart and mind are forever young.
September 27, 2019
“Peggy Smart was 90% sure it was Monday.”
LOL! What a terrific opening line! I absolutely loved it! This book was a fun story, filled with quotes I very much enjoyed.
• She still had bottles of Ted’s pills in the cupboard, but couldn’t bring herself to dispose of perfectly good medication.
• She would have asked David to take her back to the family GP, Dr. Steele, but she’d already outlived him.
• Women of a certain age need color next to their face. Rule number one.
Even though I have to admit that several events in this story were (alarmingly) relatable, I (happily) felt very young after reading it! I believe Peggy hit the nail on the head... “The older I get, the older old is.”
LOL! What a terrific opening line! I absolutely loved it! This book was a fun story, filled with quotes I very much enjoyed.
• She still had bottles of Ted’s pills in the cupboard, but couldn’t bring herself to dispose of perfectly good medication.
• She would have asked David to take her back to the family GP, Dr. Steele, but she’d already outlived him.
• Women of a certain age need color next to their face. Rule number one.
Even though I have to admit that several events in this story were (alarmingly) relatable, I (happily) felt very young after reading it! I believe Peggy hit the nail on the head... “The older I get, the older old is.”
October 17, 2018
This is probably not something I’d have chosen to pick up without receiving it for review. Peggy is around my grandmother’s age, both are 80-odd. One actually lives in a retirement village that sounds quite similar to the one Peggy lives in, the other still lives in the home she and my grandfather retired in, although she’s on her own now. My parents face challenges with both their mothers – my dad’s mother, the one in the retirement village is coming to a time where she’s no longer able to live independently. She’s forgetting if she’s eaten, she’s forgetting to take her medication, she doesn’t turn the gas off when she’s finished. Dad has to make that call that she’s going to need more assistance to keep her health. And my mother is at the stage where she devotes several days a week to my grandmother’s needs and care that enable her to continue to live in her own home. Both my parents are actively involved in the lives of their mothers, from taking them shopping or to doctor’s appointments or just spending scheduled time with them each week. I live interstate now but whenever I visit, I make sure to spend decent time with both, ensuring that my kids are part of their worlds.
That seems to be something that’s quite missing from Peggy’s world. Her children are both grown with their own lives – at one stage Peggy was minding her grandchildren so that her daughter-in-law could return to work but it seemed to escalate to the point where it was too much for her. When she mentioned that she might like to cut back a bit, it was withdrawn completely and now it seems that Peggy operates her life a bit on the outer from her children, who swoop in to check on her level of senility and attempt to make decisions for her without actually listening to or observing her in her environment. I understand from what my dad is going through that it’s actually quite hard to have to make that call and he’s doing it with the discussion and input from my grandmother.
Peggy is a widow, still missing the companionship and presence of her husband but she’s not dead yet so her eye has landed on Brian, a handsome and pleasant widower who also resides in the retirement village. It seems that Brian is a bit of a hot commodity and Peggy doesn’t rate her chances. She sees herself as unglamorous and frumpy and when Angie Valentine, a childhood friend of Peggy’s arrives looking incredibly well preserved and confident, Peggy is even more downhearted. Angie seems determined to rekindle their friendship and takes it upon herself to also give Peggy a makeover, teaching her how to dress for her shape. On one hand, I quite liked the dynamic between Peggy and Angie. They were very different and had lived very different lives – Peggy having been married to pretty much her only boyfriend for over 50 years and Angie having been married four times. Angie does encourage Peggy to get out there, to do a bit more, enjoy life a bit more as well. Which is good, because although she has her medical issues (doesn’t everyone who gets to 80?) Peggy is still remarkably healthy and capable of living a fulfilling life, something that her children definitely need to realise.
However, and this is kind of a big thing, the way the story actually went with Angie……I didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me. I thought it was just a bit…..cruel, actually, that Angie would come back for that particular reason and there was also a bit of a cop out with one of the main characters involved no longer around and not able to give their side of the story. Also Peggy took the entire thing remarkably well pretty much immediately which didn’t really wash so much with me. I guess when you’re 80 there’s no point holding a grudge but honestly, a bit more internal debate probably would’ve been a bit more realistic, for me anyway. I just really didn’t enjoy this whole portion of the book and it seemed a bit out of step with the rest of it. It also seemed a long time to be revealed and is all dealt with quite swiftly, which threw off the pacing a bit for me.
Overall I did enjoy most of this book but I didn’t fall in love with it. It was quite sweet and I appreciated the insight into an older protagonist and the challenges they face with maintaining independent life and their health. But I can’t ignore that I didn’t like the second part of the book.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
That seems to be something that’s quite missing from Peggy’s world. Her children are both grown with their own lives – at one stage Peggy was minding her grandchildren so that her daughter-in-law could return to work but it seemed to escalate to the point where it was too much for her. When she mentioned that she might like to cut back a bit, it was withdrawn completely and now it seems that Peggy operates her life a bit on the outer from her children, who swoop in to check on her level of senility and attempt to make decisions for her without actually listening to or observing her in her environment. I understand from what my dad is going through that it’s actually quite hard to have to make that call and he’s doing it with the discussion and input from my grandmother.
Peggy is a widow, still missing the companionship and presence of her husband but she’s not dead yet so her eye has landed on Brian, a handsome and pleasant widower who also resides in the retirement village. It seems that Brian is a bit of a hot commodity and Peggy doesn’t rate her chances. She sees herself as unglamorous and frumpy and when Angie Valentine, a childhood friend of Peggy’s arrives looking incredibly well preserved and confident, Peggy is even more downhearted. Angie seems determined to rekindle their friendship and takes it upon herself to also give Peggy a makeover, teaching her how to dress for her shape. On one hand, I quite liked the dynamic between Peggy and Angie. They were very different and had lived very different lives – Peggy having been married to pretty much her only boyfriend for over 50 years and Angie having been married four times. Angie does encourage Peggy to get out there, to do a bit more, enjoy life a bit more as well. Which is good, because although she has her medical issues (doesn’t everyone who gets to 80?) Peggy is still remarkably healthy and capable of living a fulfilling life, something that her children definitely need to realise.
However, and this is kind of a big thing, the way the story actually went with Angie……I didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me. I thought it was just a bit…..cruel, actually, that Angie would come back for that particular reason and there was also a bit of a cop out with one of the main characters involved no longer around and not able to give their side of the story. Also Peggy took the entire thing remarkably well pretty much immediately which didn’t really wash so much with me. I guess when you’re 80 there’s no point holding a grudge but honestly, a bit more internal debate probably would’ve been a bit more realistic, for me anyway. I just really didn’t enjoy this whole portion of the book and it seemed a bit out of step with the rest of it. It also seemed a long time to be revealed and is all dealt with quite swiftly, which threw off the pacing a bit for me.
Overall I did enjoy most of this book but I didn’t fall in love with it. It was quite sweet and I appreciated the insight into an older protagonist and the challenges they face with maintaining independent life and their health. But I can’t ignore that I didn’t like the second part of the book.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
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