The Has-Beens

by Mia Hayes

Beauty fades. Marriages change. But best friends are forever.

Diana has the perfectly planned life: boy-girl twins headed to Princeton and Brown; a wonderful marriage; and her own successful crisis PR agency. She never saw this coming.

Kristin’s affair has left her adrift. With her daughter off at college, she’s not adjusting to her empty-nest life well. She wants to feel something again.

Travel writer and free-spirit Steph loves nothing more than to go-go-go. She doesn’t have room in her life for a partner, kids, or anything long-term. She’s tired of explaining herself.

Their lives couldn’t be more different, but after a run-in with a group of younger women, they end up in the same place: needing each other to find their footing in a world that increasingly pushes them aside.

Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2021

About the author

Mia is a notorious eavesdropper who lives in Northern Virginia, outside Washington DC, with her husband, sons, two cats, and Harlow the Cavapoo.

She drinks too much green tea, loves traveling, and has mastered the art of procrastination cleaning.

Reviews

[Tima Nisbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.


Think this was the book I needed right now. It's an easy read and a total feel-good book.

Diana, Steph, and Kirstin have been friends since college. One's a career woman who seems to have it all, a loving husband, and driven-ivy league children. But she also has an overbearing mother and struggles with anxiety. One was a stay-at-home mother. She loved her life, but now that her daughter has gone off to college, who is she? The other is single, a successful woman who has traveled and now owns several nightclubs. You kinda wonder how they held onto their friendship after all these years, but it's one I admired.

I love how the book is written from the POV of each character. You get a sense of who they are as well as a glimpse into their friendship. Granted, each woman has her own issues, but at the end of the day, your friends will always be there for you.

How can you not love that?

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great story and a fun read but there were many typos and errors in the Kindle version. Near the end there’s a 3 Months Later section and the chapter that follows is the following day. If stuff like that doesn’t bother you, then read it.

[Zimbellina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by voracious readers.

A group of friends are struggling with marriage, children and work once the kids grow up.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were friendly and likeable and the pacing was excellent. I was sucked in from the beginning and it kept me entertained until the end. And the ending was satisfying.

[Rebecca Tyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky to have an advanced reader copy and I enjoyed this book very much, it was an easy read and draws you in to the different characters and their point of view. You begin to understand why Diane and Kristen did what they did to protect their friend. It looks at 3 women's lives in their 40s and the different experiences they have had. It draws on empty nest syndrome, menopause and singledom. I like that it's not all rosy and highlights the struggles that families can have.
This is the first novel I have read from this author and it makes me feel that I want to read the others.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirrors real life!

The Has-Beens by Mia Hayes is a great read for any age! Being over 45 myself I found I could relate 100% to Kristin, Diana and Steph! This book had me laughing quite a bit and sympathizing with them. I honestly felt that parts of the story was like looking into a mirror of my life! This is life and the best part is having true friends who stick by you no matter what happens! I received this as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Tara Blanton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia Hayes got robbed!

Let me start by saying I read half this book physically and the other half I listened to the audio book on audible. The physical book was good, believable characters, their stories tracked, so for that portion a full 4 stars, But that audiobook. AI was the narrator, and whoever made that decision should be flogged for it. It was terrible, out of sync, the cadence of the reading was all wrong, everything you’d expect a soulless reading of the book to give you. The kicker being the way AI pronounced so many of the words (Please see my list of grievances below).

For the horribleness that was the audio book I deducted 2 stars, making this a 2-star read officially, but am giving a star back in the hopes that Mia herself wasn’t the one who picked “let’s have AI read it”. I do hope that eventually this book will take off enough that they will re-record it using a real person, and a great one. I think this book deserves that.

With that said, if you choose to read this book, and I think you should. Buy it and let your inner narrator do the work!

AI readers suck, and here are just a few examples as to why:
1. The word noodle, being pronounced as nod-le (like to nod your head-le)
2. The statement “tear into the house”, said as tear (like to cry tears). Just no.
3. Ibuprofen (sure a hard word for some) mispronounced, 2 different ways
a. E-BEE-Pro-Fen
b. Boo-Profin (this one low key makes me giggle, cause it’s a boo-boo fixer, ha)
4. Lead singer (as in of a band) said as lid singer, as in the lid to the jar.
5. Casually, pronounced cause-YOU-ally,
6. Resumes and resume, said as Ree-Zoom-ees and Re-zoom respectively.
7. Stephen King and the name Nicole, said as Steph-fawn Keen and Nickel.
8. HOA (now, I get that these suck and so making fun of them on purpose is always appreciated but do-it-on-purpose!) Howah.
9. Beach Read (which this book could absolutely be a beach read) said as betch red (like the color)
10. Dumbass (which is how AI sounds reading things, in case you were wondering) Doo-mass.

[c_g.77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent feel-good read

When I tell you this is the first book I’ve read in about 6 months without any smex scenes, it really didn’t. But I didn’t need it. I went into this knowing full well what I was getting into. And I’m so very glad I did.

If you’re 20, you might not get this. I’m 45 and this book had me thinking it was written not only FOR ME but ABOUT ME. I related so much to it. I only wish I had their friendships because they are incredible.

Life at 45 is far from perfect. It’s the point in life when it feels like it’s too late to change your outcomes. If you are married then he’s your forever like it or not. If you can’t make this career path work anymore it’s because it’s time for you to stay home. But that’s not true. None of it is. 45 is a new smarter wiser start. It is the end of old habits and dead weight and preconceived notions but not too late for you to start living the life you worked so hard to accomplish.

We are not the has-beens. We are the begin-agains.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an Advance Reader Copy of Mia Hayes’s The Has-Beens in exchange for an honest review. And honestly—it deserves five stars! As a young adult, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to relate to the three middle-aged women who are the novel’s protagonists. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find that middle-aged women deal with many things such as romantic issues, job struggles and successes, family drama, and more that can relate to people of all ages. Not only was this book a fun read and something I think the book world needs more of, it made me view middle-aged protagonists in a more positive light. I think authors are often pressured to appeal to a younger crowd and to therefore make their characters younger, but Hayes is unafraid to defy expectations, and this attitude is truly shown in Steph, Diana, and Kristen’s characters as they develop throughout the novel. I can’t wait to read more of Hayes’s work!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Mia. What I enjoy about her books is that she infuses life into the story and characters. So that me as the reader becomes invested in the characters. That is what happened with this book. Diana, Kristin, and Steph were very relatable and women that I could see as women that I would have been friends with.

In the beginning, I instantly warmed up to Steph. This is because of how bubbly of a personality she had compared to Diana and Kristin. Although, the other women had good reasons for why they were not as bubbly. While I have no children, I could understand why Diana felt the way she did. Same for Kristin and Steph and their ordeals. Yet, when it really matters these three women came together for one another. If you are looking for your next read, I suggest picking up this book by Mia Hayes.

[Lori Mulch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoy books with middle aged women as the main characters and Mia certainly knocked this one out of the park. The chapters are written as 3 POVs - Steph, Kristin, and Diana. Steph is single and a successful nightclub owner. Kristin was a stay at home mom for so many years, she’s not really sure who she is anymore. And Diana, a career woman with the perfect family.

I am 45 and I could relate to all 3 of these friends. I really enjoyed getting to know each character through their individual point of view, and also together with their life-long friendship.

If you’re in the mood for an easy, fun read, curl up on the couch with a glass of wine and grab yourself a copy of The Has-Beens!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read this to the end because I hate to leave a book unfinished, and also because I kept hoping it would get better. Big surprise: it did not.

A short book about three women (who might have been interesting with a little more character development!) with a trite plot that wraps up much too neatly.

Just to make things perfect, it’s chock full of spelling errors! I realize some people can just coast over misspelled words with ease, but I am not one of those people. Every malformed word throws me right out of the author’s spell. There wasn’t much good writer magick going on here, but still.

Oh well. Thus endeth the review.

[Charity Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given electronic copy of this book via Voracious Readers and appreciate being introduced to a new author.

This novel was the perfect read for someone in my age bracket who has a child in college and knows what it's like to balance marriage and career while riding that fine line of helping your child become independent but not wanting to give up control of how you think their future should be.

The characters were relatable and the story moved along at a good pace keeping me interested. I appreciated that I was not able to guess the ending half way through the book.

[Marcie Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I receive an advanced readers copy and enjoyed this book! The book reflect the changes that happen to three women in the their mid-40s and how life choices/decisions change their perspectives, goals, and overall lives. Mia is an excellent author and I’m happy to have gotten a chance to read another one of her books! She has a good way of making the characters feel like realistic friends you may have or may know of and makes the story so relatable. Definitely a good read!

[Lisa Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was given a free copy of book for a review. First time I’ve done it and while I may not have picked up this book normally, so glad I was given a copy to read. It went fast, and was a good read. My only issue is I feel they glossed over Kristen’s story in the end. It needed more closure for me. How did her husband react to the Christmas decorations? What was his rush for the divorce? After all those years of marriage and just done?

[Ursula Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 53 year old woman, it was so great to be able to relate to these characters. We don't have it all together, we don't stop making mistakes and we weren't born middle-aged! Such a fun romp with these ladies. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I was given a review copy from the author through Voracious Readers Only and had been putting off reading for a long time due to covid brain. This was the perfect antidote. Do yourself a favour and read it.

[Mary Lemieux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure I was going to enjoy this book until about a third of the way through. Suddenly I was invested in the charachters, and their lives. I wanted to see what happened to them and witness the growth in themselves. I am thrilled that I got this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review and was given the chance to read it. I will definitely be reading more of Mia Hayes work.

[Dianah Hoving Stedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review! I loved having the POV from each character and it was so relatable for my current age range. There was a part or two that had me gasping and totally invested in what would happen to the friends at the end. The cover is gorgeous and it's a lovely quick read.

[Penny O'shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very pleasant read. I liked the writing style and the way the narrative progressed chronologically, alternating between the three main characters’ POV. It was a little slow to start but really revved up about halfway through and I couldn’t put it down.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

These characters seem very realistic. They have messy relationships with lots of dynamic characters. I think the book left a good stopping point for Diana and Steph but there was a lot that still seemed unresolved for Kristin.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Janelle Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fast read! Loved the characters and the intertwining story line. As I read, I felt like I was a part of the story. Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Loved the story of the best friends. Would liked to have found out what happened with Kristen but overall a good book.

[Audrey Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book to read. Shows us that we all grow in different ways.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about the power of friendship through the twists and turns of life.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free book In exchange for review from voracious readers

Relatable easy read. Liked the characters and the different narratives. Good story of friendship and maturity.