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The Girls
Four old friends. Thrown back together after fifty years apart. What could possibly go wrong?
In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a flat and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they're in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.
Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.
As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?
In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a flat and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they're in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.
Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.
As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
April 5, 2022
Four, let's call them mature women, get together for a surprise 80th birthday party and decide that fifty years apart has been long enough so why not move in together in an effort to not be so alone in the world.
Zara: The starlet, drama queen, flamboyantly wealthy, and most of all a loving friend.
Val: The smart one, responsible, calm demeanor, with a successful career anyone would be envious of.
Jackie: The wild child, drunk on life and cocktails, and still trying to flirt her way into the heart of a wealthy man.
Pauline: Kind to a fault, heart of gold, introvert, and sufferer of anxiety.
On the face of it you'd never guess these four diverse woman would have anything in common, much less a friendship, but sometimes it's those we yin and yang with that bring us all the comfort we need. Such a heartwarming story of what it means to be friends and how those friends are ultimately your family. More importantly, a strong emphasis is placed on women supporting women.
This charming story will have you reaching for a glass of wine while toasting your closest friend(s). The locale of the French Riviera had me swooning and lusting for a place I'll likely only ever dream of. I'll admit one of the ladies irritated me so much in the beginning but by the end she had grown to be one of my favorite characters. Go figure! There is also Brian the cat and Toby the foul-mouthed parrot to round out this unusual cast of characters. What starts as a light-hearted, farcical story turns into a murder mystery and has each of the friends questioning whether one of them has the motive to kill. This book was the perfect break in between heavier stories and I had fun getting to know these characters and while it may have been over the top it was surely entertaining. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for my complimentary copy.
Zara: The starlet, drama queen, flamboyantly wealthy, and most of all a loving friend.
Val: The smart one, responsible, calm demeanor, with a successful career anyone would be envious of.
Jackie: The wild child, drunk on life and cocktails, and still trying to flirt her way into the heart of a wealthy man.
Pauline: Kind to a fault, heart of gold, introvert, and sufferer of anxiety.
On the face of it you'd never guess these four diverse woman would have anything in common, much less a friendship, but sometimes it's those we yin and yang with that bring us all the comfort we need. Such a heartwarming story of what it means to be friends and how those friends are ultimately your family. More importantly, a strong emphasis is placed on women supporting women.
This charming story will have you reaching for a glass of wine while toasting your closest friend(s). The locale of the French Riviera had me swooning and lusting for a place I'll likely only ever dream of. I'll admit one of the ladies irritated me so much in the beginning but by the end she had grown to be one of my favorite characters. Go figure! There is also Brian the cat and Toby the foul-mouthed parrot to round out this unusual cast of characters. What starts as a light-hearted, farcical story turns into a murder mystery and has each of the friends questioning whether one of them has the motive to kill. This book was the perfect break in between heavier stories and I had fun getting to know these characters and while it may have been over the top it was surely entertaining. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for my complimentary copy.
January 31, 2023
EXCERPT: Looking back was always lovely when you had your rose-tinted spectacles on but some of her memories of that time were less than perfect. Four young women with different jobs and ambitions, varying moods and vastly different backgrounds had led to many shouting matches, slammed doors and hurtful words. Whilst she could see that they had all got older she was pretty sure the same women were lurking underneath the wrinkles and it wouldn't take too much for them to reappear.
ABOUT 'THE GIRLS': In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a flat and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they're in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.
Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.
As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed The Girls. It's a delightful romp involving the perils of ageing, friendship, a suspicious death and several secrets.
The Girls, who were in their twenties last time they all lived together, are now in their sixties and upwards. Zara has made a success of her life - she's a star, wealthy, entitled, manipulative. Now her health is failing and scared of being alone she can think of no one she wants to spend her last years with more than her three old friends, Val, Jackie and Pauline.
Val is independent and self-assured. A lawyer, she is going to be the hardest to convince to make the move. But Val has a secret from her past that just may make a difference.
Jackie is a struggling care-worker in a home for the aged and is the easiest to convince to make the move. She's alone and in debt, and also in denial about her age and prospects. The men who appeal to her are all much younger and wealthy. Is she going to recognise real love if it appears in a different form to what she expects?
Pauline - just what has happened to Pauline in the intervening years? This once vibrant woman is now bland, reclusive and prone to panic attacks. She really doesn't like change or conflict. She may just prove just as difficult to convince to move as Val, albeit for totally different reasons.
The Girls is a fun read that also covers some more serious topics including assisted dying and suicide. It is both intriguing and entertaining. I laughed out loud in places - once explosively - and had my heartstrings tugged and my eyes tearing up in others.
I liked how this focused mainly on the women as they are today with only a few references to their pasts together. This keeps the storyline relevant and interesting. Believe me there's enough going on in the present!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheGirls #NetGalley
I: @bellaosborneauthor @headofzeus
T: @osborne_bella @HoZ_Books @aria_fiction
#ageing #comingofage #contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #friendship #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humor in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Bella believes that writing your own story really is the best fun ever, closely followed by talking, eating chocolate, drinking fizz, and planning holidays. She lives in the Midlands, UK with her lovely husband and wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept her as she is (with mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping). (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria & Aries via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Library by Bella Osborne for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE GIRLS': In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a flat and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they're in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.
Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.
As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed The Girls. It's a delightful romp involving the perils of ageing, friendship, a suspicious death and several secrets.
The Girls, who were in their twenties last time they all lived together, are now in their sixties and upwards. Zara has made a success of her life - she's a star, wealthy, entitled, manipulative. Now her health is failing and scared of being alone she can think of no one she wants to spend her last years with more than her three old friends, Val, Jackie and Pauline.
Val is independent and self-assured. A lawyer, she is going to be the hardest to convince to make the move. But Val has a secret from her past that just may make a difference.
Jackie is a struggling care-worker in a home for the aged and is the easiest to convince to make the move. She's alone and in debt, and also in denial about her age and prospects. The men who appeal to her are all much younger and wealthy. Is she going to recognise real love if it appears in a different form to what she expects?
Pauline - just what has happened to Pauline in the intervening years? This once vibrant woman is now bland, reclusive and prone to panic attacks. She really doesn't like change or conflict. She may just prove just as difficult to convince to move as Val, albeit for totally different reasons.
The Girls is a fun read that also covers some more serious topics including assisted dying and suicide. It is both intriguing and entertaining. I laughed out loud in places - once explosively - and had my heartstrings tugged and my eyes tearing up in others.
I liked how this focused mainly on the women as they are today with only a few references to their pasts together. This keeps the storyline relevant and interesting. Believe me there's enough going on in the present!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheGirls #NetGalley
I: @bellaosborneauthor @headofzeus
T: @osborne_bella @HoZ_Books @aria_fiction
#ageing #comingofage #contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #friendship #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humor in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Bella believes that writing your own story really is the best fun ever, closely followed by talking, eating chocolate, drinking fizz, and planning holidays. She lives in the Midlands, UK with her lovely husband and wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept her as she is (with mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping). (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria & Aries via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Library by Bella Osborne for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 9, 2022
The Girls is a contemporary chum-com about four women who were flatmates and best friends in the 70s getting back together to support each other as they face the loneliness of old age. I requested this because I loved The Library by this author, and was looking forward to another heartwarming but poignant tale about friendship. It started well but unfortunately changed direction midway through and the result was rather a muddle that didn’t really work for me, especially as I really didn’t like one of the main characters. I’m not going to attempt a summary as I need to avoid spoilers, and this also makes it hard to explain what annoyed me.
On the positive side, I love the idea of a group of friends making their own retirement home by moving in together - and obviously having a fabulously wealthy movie star friend helps a lot. The early chapters which introduce quiet Pauline, boisterous Jackie, smart Val and flamboyant Zara were quite funny, and their delight as they explore their new home and reminisce about the good old days was charming. Then some dark topics were introduced and the cracks in the friendship start to appear which made what happened next too unbelievable. I wasn’t sure whether one key character was supposed to be a loveable rogue but I couldn’t stand her, and this tainted the book for me - particularly her ending which was not deserved. I’m sure those who enjoy chick-lit with a twist will love it though.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Girls is published on April 14th.
On the positive side, I love the idea of a group of friends making their own retirement home by moving in together - and obviously having a fabulously wealthy movie star friend helps a lot. The early chapters which introduce quiet Pauline, boisterous Jackie, smart Val and flamboyant Zara were quite funny, and their delight as they explore their new home and reminisce about the good old days was charming. Then some dark topics were introduced and the cracks in the friendship start to appear which made what happened next too unbelievable. I wasn’t sure whether one key character was supposed to be a loveable rogue but I couldn’t stand her, and this tainted the book for me - particularly her ending which was not deserved. I’m sure those who enjoy chick-lit with a twist will love it though.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Girls is published on April 14th.
April 29, 2022
4.5★s
“Four young women with different jobs and ambitions, varying moods and vastly different backgrounds had led to many shouting matches, slammed doors and hurtful words. Whilst she could see that they had all got older she was pretty sure the same women were lurking underneath the wrinkles and it wouldn’t take too much for them to reappear.”
The Girls is a novel by British author, Bella Osborne. It seems like a throwaway line: after a big birthday bash attended by all the glitterati, ageing star Zara Cliff suggests to the three friends she has known since the mid-seventies that they should repeat the exercise of then and move in with her.
Now all in their seventh or eighth decades, “We’re all on our own. No family to speak of. Why spend our lives alone when we could be together? Why be alone for our twilight years when we could have fun every evening like we have tonight? We’re not getting any younger and one by one…’ she pointed at each of them in turn ‘… we could have problems if we’re on our own. But together we could look out for each other.’” But she’s joking, surely?
Apparently not. Zara feels that former secretary Pauline is ideally placed to help type up her memoir, care home worker Jacqueline could look after her medical needs and ex-solicitor Valerie could help oversee legal matters pertaining to investments. But the girls are all quite happy as they are, with a place to live and things to occupy their days, especially when Zara gives Pauline a cat: named after Brian May, he’s something to care about and live for.
But situations change, and suddenly each of them has a reason to look more favourably on Zara’s suggestion: living in Zara’s lovely house in Belgravia becomes quite an attractive idea. On moving day, though, that turns out not to be where they will be living. But a villa on the French Riviera? They don’t take too much convincing…
The villa includes a chef, housekeeper, driver and gardener, and the use of a yacht. Also in the mix, the fifty-year-old African grey parrot that shared their accommodation over forty years earlier still screeches just as loudly as before. Zara’s generosity makes each of them slightly uneasy: they can’t help feeling a little beholden to her. Zara’s star-worthy demands for attention are easy enough to satisfy, but that magnanimity, they soon learn, comes at a price that none of them had anticipated. And unfortunately, each has some vulnerability that can be exploited.
Osmond give the reader a tale that starts quite light-heartedly but takes a somewhat dark turn, although she doesn’t let the story get bogged down by this as it then segues into a sort of cosy mystery.
Her characters are certainly diverse: Val is clearly the level-headed one, the voice of reason, giving support and encouragement to Pauline, who is functioning poorly under a burden of guilt, and while Jackie loved her job and her patients, outside of that, her behaviour and attitude is typical of someone forty years her junior. Her flirty, brash personality does provide plenty of entertaining scenes, as do the girls’ antics when trying to evade the paparazzi and the police.
What Zara requires in exchange for her hospitality speaks to the arrogance of one who has enjoyed a lifetime of being pandered to, and her manipulative actions, when revealed, will not surprise the astute reader. Ultimately an uplifting read, the book touches on several thought provoking themes, so there’s plenty of material here for book club discussion.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Head of Zeus/Aria.
“Four young women with different jobs and ambitions, varying moods and vastly different backgrounds had led to many shouting matches, slammed doors and hurtful words. Whilst she could see that they had all got older she was pretty sure the same women were lurking underneath the wrinkles and it wouldn’t take too much for them to reappear.”
The Girls is a novel by British author, Bella Osborne. It seems like a throwaway line: after a big birthday bash attended by all the glitterati, ageing star Zara Cliff suggests to the three friends she has known since the mid-seventies that they should repeat the exercise of then and move in with her.
Now all in their seventh or eighth decades, “We’re all on our own. No family to speak of. Why spend our lives alone when we could be together? Why be alone for our twilight years when we could have fun every evening like we have tonight? We’re not getting any younger and one by one…’ she pointed at each of them in turn ‘… we could have problems if we’re on our own. But together we could look out for each other.’” But she’s joking, surely?
Apparently not. Zara feels that former secretary Pauline is ideally placed to help type up her memoir, care home worker Jacqueline could look after her medical needs and ex-solicitor Valerie could help oversee legal matters pertaining to investments. But the girls are all quite happy as they are, with a place to live and things to occupy their days, especially when Zara gives Pauline a cat: named after Brian May, he’s something to care about and live for.
But situations change, and suddenly each of them has a reason to look more favourably on Zara’s suggestion: living in Zara’s lovely house in Belgravia becomes quite an attractive idea. On moving day, though, that turns out not to be where they will be living. But a villa on the French Riviera? They don’t take too much convincing…
The villa includes a chef, housekeeper, driver and gardener, and the use of a yacht. Also in the mix, the fifty-year-old African grey parrot that shared their accommodation over forty years earlier still screeches just as loudly as before. Zara’s generosity makes each of them slightly uneasy: they can’t help feeling a little beholden to her. Zara’s star-worthy demands for attention are easy enough to satisfy, but that magnanimity, they soon learn, comes at a price that none of them had anticipated. And unfortunately, each has some vulnerability that can be exploited.
Osmond give the reader a tale that starts quite light-heartedly but takes a somewhat dark turn, although she doesn’t let the story get bogged down by this as it then segues into a sort of cosy mystery.
Her characters are certainly diverse: Val is clearly the level-headed one, the voice of reason, giving support and encouragement to Pauline, who is functioning poorly under a burden of guilt, and while Jackie loved her job and her patients, outside of that, her behaviour and attitude is typical of someone forty years her junior. Her flirty, brash personality does provide plenty of entertaining scenes, as do the girls’ antics when trying to evade the paparazzi and the police.
What Zara requires in exchange for her hospitality speaks to the arrogance of one who has enjoyed a lifetime of being pandered to, and her manipulative actions, when revealed, will not surprise the astute reader. Ultimately an uplifting read, the book touches on several thought provoking themes, so there’s plenty of material here for book club discussion.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Head of Zeus/Aria.
February 15, 2023
as girls and as women, friendships are some of the most beautiful relationships we can and will form over our lives. it is usually those created young, whether the friendship remains, that shape us, and remain with us for the rest of our lives. with that in mind, the girls is the story of friendship between four women that have spanned decades despite time apart.
zara is a famous actor, wealthy, confident, with a huge heart. val is a solicitor, clever, calm, and a leader. jackie is the wild child that never grew up. pauline is an introvert with a heart of gold, and a past that haunts her. they were girls together as teenagers, and they reunite to be girls together in their final years.
their reunion ends with a murder mystery - the fun kind despite the devastation as three of the women uncover secrets and just how much the love between them means and how far it goes. overall, this was a fun read to sit down with, and one can only hope to have friendship tales to tell as the girls did.
”we go way back. we were children in the seventies together.”
zara is a famous actor, wealthy, confident, with a huge heart. val is a solicitor, clever, calm, and a leader. jackie is the wild child that never grew up. pauline is an introvert with a heart of gold, and a past that haunts her. they were girls together as teenagers, and they reunite to be girls together in their final years.
their reunion ends with a murder mystery - the fun kind despite the devastation as three of the women uncover secrets and just how much the love between them means and how far it goes. overall, this was a fun read to sit down with, and one can only hope to have friendship tales to tell as the girls did.
”we go way back. we were children in the seventies together.”
April 28, 2022
This book was definitely different to all my previous reads from Osborne. It seemed more of a drama, exploring an old friendship, with some entertaining scenes and a bit of crime thrown in there too. To be honest, I did not know how to respond to all of these genres within the book and did wonder whether the writer wanted this to be taken as seriously as I interpreted it to be.
The four female characters are all vastly different. However, I did miss not having Zara’s perspective: each chapter switches character focus but I thought Zara’s absence took something away from the plot. At the same time, it reinforced the character that Zara wanted the world to see: a dramatic, slightly mysterious actress who always wants the world to be wanting more. In that sense, I guess Osborne got this spot on, even I did yearn for more insight into her as a person.
On the other hand, Val, Pauline and Jackie all have their own demons to acknowledge as they move in with Zara. I responded differently to these women and was not sure whether I truly liked them. Val is presented as so staid and reasonable, that I found her sensible nature to be off-putting. Juxtaposing her is Jackie, who is certainly a ‘larger than life’ character. Whilst she is interesting and I enjoyed watching her reckless behaviour, I also disliked her selfish, self-centred personality that often had me wincing at her lack of care towards others. I am sure Jackie will be a character who readers will either love or hate. As for Pauline, she is quite meek and mild but I found it interesting to watch her grow over the story. From her relationship with Brian the cat, when Pauline does share her past with her friends, it is as if she starts to believe in herself and this, I think, is all thanks to Zara’s influence.
I don’t think this novel was as fun as I was expecting. Indeed, the plot took many unexpected turns which definitely kept me intrigued throughout. Quite often I was anticipating a reveal to show that Osborne had tricked her readers. This didn’t come and I think this is why I struggled whether to take the plot too seriously. On the other hand, there are several poignant scenes in this story and I think this really demonstrates Osborne’s talent as a writer.
I enjoyed the different direction that Osborne has taken with this book but I personally would have preferred to see The Girls reminisce more about their youth and friendship. For me, I was hoping to see some flashbacks to some of the wilder times that the women experienced when they were younger, thereby celebrating how far they have come as individuals. I think this would have definitely added to the narrative, particularly as the second part of the story seems so different to how the novel began.
Appealing for its older characters, I liked some of the story’s charm and was especially entertained by the copious amounts of alcohol and tea consumed! I could vividly picture the women gadding around and liked Toby’s interjections throughout. This was an unpredictable, surprising read from Osborne and not what I would have expected. A well-written book, I think it’s one that will divide readers because it has such unusual developments.
With thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The four female characters are all vastly different. However, I did miss not having Zara’s perspective: each chapter switches character focus but I thought Zara’s absence took something away from the plot. At the same time, it reinforced the character that Zara wanted the world to see: a dramatic, slightly mysterious actress who always wants the world to be wanting more. In that sense, I guess Osborne got this spot on, even I did yearn for more insight into her as a person.
On the other hand, Val, Pauline and Jackie all have their own demons to acknowledge as they move in with Zara. I responded differently to these women and was not sure whether I truly liked them. Val is presented as so staid and reasonable, that I found her sensible nature to be off-putting. Juxtaposing her is Jackie, who is certainly a ‘larger than life’ character. Whilst she is interesting and I enjoyed watching her reckless behaviour, I also disliked her selfish, self-centred personality that often had me wincing at her lack of care towards others. I am sure Jackie will be a character who readers will either love or hate. As for Pauline, she is quite meek and mild but I found it interesting to watch her grow over the story. From her relationship with Brian the cat, when Pauline does share her past with her friends, it is as if she starts to believe in herself and this, I think, is all thanks to Zara’s influence.
I don’t think this novel was as fun as I was expecting. Indeed, the plot took many unexpected turns which definitely kept me intrigued throughout. Quite often I was anticipating a reveal to show that Osborne had tricked her readers. This didn’t come and I think this is why I struggled whether to take the plot too seriously. On the other hand, there are several poignant scenes in this story and I think this really demonstrates Osborne’s talent as a writer.
I enjoyed the different direction that Osborne has taken with this book but I personally would have preferred to see The Girls reminisce more about their youth and friendship. For me, I was hoping to see some flashbacks to some of the wilder times that the women experienced when they were younger, thereby celebrating how far they have come as individuals. I think this would have definitely added to the narrative, particularly as the second part of the story seems so different to how the novel began.
Appealing for its older characters, I liked some of the story’s charm and was especially entertained by the copious amounts of alcohol and tea consumed! I could vividly picture the women gadding around and liked Toby’s interjections throughout. This was an unpredictable, surprising read from Osborne and not what I would have expected. A well-written book, I think it’s one that will divide readers because it has such unusual developments.
With thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
‘And how old is Stefan?’ she asked. ‘Forty-five,’ said Jackie proudly. ‘Recently divorced. As fit as a butcher’s dog with a bone to match.’
Rogues and charlatans are all I seem to attract these days. And nobody wants a decrepit old woman with the memory of a stunned goldfish. I’m better off alone.
Zara was the last person she expected to see on her doorstep. She was standing there dressed to the nines and inspecting her finger as if by pressing the doorbell she may have picked up a communicable disease.
‘Lad? He’s an adult– that makes him fair game,’ said Jackie, her words a little slurred. ‘You’ve got underwear older than him,’ said Pauline, who had been rather quiet. ‘It’s not my fault that Marks and Spencer’s make them to last.’ Jackie jutted out her chin.
Her hair looked like she’d backcombed it with a hedgehog and she still had a full face of make-up although it was now rather patchy and smudged, giving her a certain Dalí-esque quality.
My Review:
I enjoyed this wryly humorous women’s fiction tale. While the characters weren’t always likable, they were well-nuanced and insightfully layered with realistic complications and foibles. The writing style was delightfully detailed with sardonic observations, sparring and snappy banter, and perceptive inner musings and narratives that tickled and taunted my curiosity as well as my funny bone. I had pages of cleverly written highlighted passages and was greatly pained to narrow the list down to the handful in this review.
‘And how old is Stefan?’ she asked. ‘Forty-five,’ said Jackie proudly. ‘Recently divorced. As fit as a butcher’s dog with a bone to match.’
Rogues and charlatans are all I seem to attract these days. And nobody wants a decrepit old woman with the memory of a stunned goldfish. I’m better off alone.
Zara was the last person she expected to see on her doorstep. She was standing there dressed to the nines and inspecting her finger as if by pressing the doorbell she may have picked up a communicable disease.
‘Lad? He’s an adult– that makes him fair game,’ said Jackie, her words a little slurred. ‘You’ve got underwear older than him,’ said Pauline, who had been rather quiet. ‘It’s not my fault that Marks and Spencer’s make them to last.’ Jackie jutted out her chin.
Her hair looked like she’d backcombed it with a hedgehog and she still had a full face of make-up although it was now rather patchy and smudged, giving her a certain Dalí-esque quality.
My Review:
I enjoyed this wryly humorous women’s fiction tale. While the characters weren’t always likable, they were well-nuanced and insightfully layered with realistic complications and foibles. The writing style was delightfully detailed with sardonic observations, sparring and snappy banter, and perceptive inner musings and narratives that tickled and taunted my curiosity as well as my funny bone. I had pages of cleverly written highlighted passages and was greatly pained to narrow the list down to the handful in this review.
February 25, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pauline, Jackie and Val each receive an unexpected party invitation: it's Zara's 80th Birthday.
The four women shared a house in their twenties, but lost touch after that. So the invitation is a surprise, but they are intrigued to attend, as Zara is a world-famous actress.
What they discover at the party is that Zara's health is quite poor, despite her façade. Zara then has the idea that they should all move in with her, since they each live alone and could, instead, spend their time together in luxury.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Girls. Bella Osborne is a good story-teller, and while I could gradually see where the plot was going, and could suspect certain things, it held my interest and still brought a few surprises.
Of course, this is a character-driven story, and this is where the book really delivers.
The titular girls are very distinct and rounded, and their different personalities make their interactions entertaining.
It's not all fun and games, though. The girls all have their secrets and emotional baggage, and although the overall tone of the book is light, it does touch upon some heavier themes.
I'll definitely be looking out for more of Bella Osborne's books!
Pauline, Jackie and Val each receive an unexpected party invitation: it's Zara's 80th Birthday.
The four women shared a house in their twenties, but lost touch after that. So the invitation is a surprise, but they are intrigued to attend, as Zara is a world-famous actress.
What they discover at the party is that Zara's health is quite poor, despite her façade. Zara then has the idea that they should all move in with her, since they each live alone and could, instead, spend their time together in luxury.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Girls. Bella Osborne is a good story-teller, and while I could gradually see where the plot was going, and could suspect certain things, it held my interest and still brought a few surprises.
Of course, this is a character-driven story, and this is where the book really delivers.
The titular girls are very distinct and rounded, and their different personalities make their interactions entertaining.
It's not all fun and games, though. The girls all have their secrets and emotional baggage, and although the overall tone of the book is light, it does touch upon some heavier themes.
I'll definitely be looking out for more of Bella Osborne's books!
May 19, 2022
This was a very easy read, I love how Bella Osborne has a knack of getting the characters across quickly. I enjoyed this story but did find the characters lack of empathy at times a bit annoying. It was also a bit far fetched and the ending was a bit random. That said, I did enjoy this read, it was just what I needed.
April 22, 2023
This was a fun read, with secrets among friends and their overall friendship personalities and backstories splashed in. They were college roommates/friends. Now adults. Each went on in life to do different things and when they all get together again under the influence of Zara, one of their successful, high class friends, they just have to all work out their differences and expectations.
Zara is an actress - an aging actress. Rich, flamboyant, eccentric. Her last wish is to bring the group together and provide them opportunity to work things out, to get along, and prosper, all while living together
on her exotic isolated island estate with a host of characters that include the landscaper, driver, talking parrot, etc. They all take her up on her offer.
Her last wish also includes, oddly, that they help her on her way to her next life. An unexpected request that leaves some of them shocked and not wanting to be a part of their friends death. How far would you go?
There are lots of emotions happening, life changes, madcap adventures, and this really was a fun read - a nice change of pace in reading selections.
Zara is an actress - an aging actress. Rich, flamboyant, eccentric. Her last wish is to bring the group together and provide them opportunity to work things out, to get along, and prosper, all while living together
on her exotic isolated island estate with a host of characters that include the landscaper, driver, talking parrot, etc. They all take her up on her offer.
Her last wish also includes, oddly, that they help her on her way to her next life. An unexpected request that leaves some of them shocked and not wanting to be a part of their friends death. How far would you go?
There are lots of emotions happening, life changes, madcap adventures, and this really was a fun read - a nice change of pace in reading selections.
March 28, 2022
This was a pretty cute read. Nice once again to have older ladies as the main characters. Some plot points were murky or didn’t add up fully but I forgive them for a fast paced entertaining story. Not a feel good read.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review
March 5, 2022
Four friends are brought back together after they get an invitation to one of the friends 80th Birthday. Zara is a famous actress, Jackie is the wild one, Val is the sensible one and Pauline is the safe friend. Each of them have there problems and they rely on Zara to help them out.
What a lovely book, you want to read more and more about the characters. Each of them has their own personality and are full of life. A wonderful, well written book. Another brilliant book by Bella.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy for an honest review.
What a lovely book, you want to read more and more about the characters. Each of them has their own personality and are full of life. A wonderful, well written book. Another brilliant book by Bella.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy for an honest review.
February 16, 2022
*Small Spoiler Alert!*
You'd be forgiven for thinking this might just be a frivolous rom-com about a bunch of girlfriends, off on a sun-soaked holiday, looking at the cover, but that's where this old adage, "Never judge a book by its cover", is most suitable.
The Girls is about a group of friends, and there is an element of being abroad, but, that's where the frivolity ends.
These are four women, some may describe as, past their prime.
Pauline, Val, Jackie and Zara.
All in their later years, these four friends used to house share in the seventies, and now, somehow, fate, or rather, Zara, has brought them back together.
Pauline is in her own personal hell, alone after a long abusive marriage, with demons that won't back down, and she's on the brink of taking her life.
Val, alone, but strong. with a secret hidden so deep, that none of her girls knows about it.
Jackie, the most frivolous of the bunch, is still searching for her One, and even though she knows her options are lessening, due to her age, can't help herself.
So, when they are all invited to a party to celebrate their old, now famous, friend, Sara's 80th birthday, they meet with some trepidation, having not seen each other for many years.
Here's where things get more serious.
Zara wants them all to recreate their 70s living arrangement, but in her villa in France, knowing that all her friends have nothing holding them to England, and with a somewhat selfish motive of her own,
However, her sudden demise plunges them into even more problems.
Lots of different issues are raised in this extremely good book.
Sure, maybe it is a little far fetched to think that someone would go to so much trouble to have their friends around them, but the ensuing story had me gripped.
And, the best thing?
They all learn something important about themselves through the journey.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You'd be forgiven for thinking this might just be a frivolous rom-com about a bunch of girlfriends, off on a sun-soaked holiday, looking at the cover, but that's where this old adage, "Never judge a book by its cover", is most suitable.
The Girls is about a group of friends, and there is an element of being abroad, but, that's where the frivolity ends.
These are four women, some may describe as, past their prime.
Pauline, Val, Jackie and Zara.
All in their later years, these four friends used to house share in the seventies, and now, somehow, fate, or rather, Zara, has brought them back together.
Pauline is in her own personal hell, alone after a long abusive marriage, with demons that won't back down, and she's on the brink of taking her life.
Val, alone, but strong. with a secret hidden so deep, that none of her girls knows about it.
Jackie, the most frivolous of the bunch, is still searching for her One, and even though she knows her options are lessening, due to her age, can't help herself.
So, when they are all invited to a party to celebrate their old, now famous, friend, Sara's 80th birthday, they meet with some trepidation, having not seen each other for many years.
Here's where things get more serious.
Zara wants them all to recreate their 70s living arrangement, but in her villa in France, knowing that all her friends have nothing holding them to England, and with a somewhat selfish motive of her own,
However, her sudden demise plunges them into even more problems.
Lots of different issues are raised in this extremely good book.
Sure, maybe it is a little far fetched to think that someone would go to so much trouble to have their friends around them, but the ensuing story had me gripped.
And, the best thing?
They all learn something important about themselves through the journey.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2022
Bella Osborne has a talent for creating characters you can’t help falling in love with. “The Girls” approaches the topic of growing older with dignity and grace and although you will be taken on somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster, you’ll be left feeling uplifted when you put this book down.
I found this book incredibly heart-warming yet thought-provoking. It was a little bit of a slow burner initially, but I found once I got through the first few chapters, I was absolutely hooked and fell in love with the characters and all the twists!
Having also read Osborne's book "The Library" I really feel her books would be the perfect book club reads and even include some handy book club discussion points at the end!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book incredibly heart-warming yet thought-provoking. It was a little bit of a slow burner initially, but I found once I got through the first few chapters, I was absolutely hooked and fell in love with the characters and all the twists!
Having also read Osborne's book "The Library" I really feel her books would be the perfect book club reads and even include some handy book club discussion points at the end!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2022
Ouch. This book was totally confusing for me, I didn't have a feeling it's written by Bella Osborne, to be honest. I adore her books - full of humour, sunshine, positive characters and unpredictable situations. "The Girls", however, was on totally different level - and not a high one. Already the beginning was... weird. Different. Not inviting. The characters were not immediately likeable, and actually, they stayed like this through the whole story, especially one of them - not sure what the author wanted to achieve with this one.
It felt chopped and muddled, changing directions, it wanted to touch upon heavier and controversial issues but felt absolutely superficial, without a depth. I relatively quickly started to skim - reading as it really didn't keep my attention. It was not funny, the moments that were supposed to bring a smile felt forced and overdone. The idea of four friends getting back together was lovely and I do love mature characters, but there was so much negativity and the friendship didn't feel real and genuine. It started to feel like reading a farce and I really couldn't believe it's by this author. A pity, really, as I was looking forward to enjoying this one.
It felt chopped and muddled, changing directions, it wanted to touch upon heavier and controversial issues but felt absolutely superficial, without a depth. I relatively quickly started to skim - reading as it really didn't keep my attention. It was not funny, the moments that were supposed to bring a smile felt forced and overdone. The idea of four friends getting back together was lovely and I do love mature characters, but there was so much negativity and the friendship didn't feel real and genuine. It started to feel like reading a farce and I really couldn't believe it's by this author. A pity, really, as I was looking forward to enjoying this one.
April 13, 2022
I had loved Bella Osborne previous book The Library, and was very excited to read The Girls. I was sure I was going to like it and, sure enough, I did. So very much!
The Girls is funny, humorous while emotional and moving at the same time. It also deals with some heavy topics, but they are handled with a lot of tact and empathy. There's also a hint of cozy mystery which adds to the enjoyment. The characters are just wonderful, you'll fall in love with them.
Definitely a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
I had loved Bella Osborne previous book The Library, and was very excited to read The Girls. I was sure I was going to like it and, sure enough, I did. So very much!
The Girls is funny, humorous while emotional and moving at the same time. It also deals with some heavy topics, but they are handled with a lot of tact and empathy. There's also a hint of cozy mystery which adds to the enjoyment. The characters are just wonderful, you'll fall in love with them.
Definitely a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Girls is funny, humorous while emotional and moving at the same time. It also deals with some heavy topics, but they are handled with a lot of tact and empathy. There's also a hint of cozy mystery which adds to the enjoyment. The characters are just wonderful, you'll fall in love with them.
Definitely a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
I had loved Bella Osborne previous book The Library, and was very excited to read The Girls. I was sure I was going to like it and, sure enough, I did. So very much!
The Girls is funny, humorous while emotional and moving at the same time. It also deals with some heavy topics, but they are handled with a lot of tact and empathy. There's also a hint of cozy mystery which adds to the enjoyment. The characters are just wonderful, you'll fall in love with them.
Definitely a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2022
I am a big fan of Bella Osborne books and I was really excited to read this new one! But unfortunately I have been a bit disappointed by this one. I have been really confused by this book as it is so different from what usually writes Bella Osborne. I felt like I was reading a book by a different author. I prefer Bella Osborne usual way of writing event though this book was also very well written but let's just say in a different way. I was not drawn into it and I had difficulties to really like the different characters in this book. But all in all this book is still good and there is a lot happening in the story which is good point but if you want to read it because you love Bella Osborne's book, be prepared to read something else. It's a 3 stars out of 4 for me!
February 18, 2022
Pauline, Jackie, Val, and Zara are the girls. They lived together as young women in the 70's, and Zara invites them all to move in with her again 50 year later. Pauline, Jackie, and Val are our narrators for this novel.
Each narrator has her own distinct voice and clearly developed personality. As the book proceeds, we learn more about each woman and their past, things that happened when they lived together and then after when they lost touch with each other. Each has her own struggles and worries but they come together for Zara.
Around the half way point of the book it transitions to being a bit of a mystery with each narrator under suspicion of wrongdoing. With out giving away any spoilers, I enjoyed seeing how they worked together on presenting a united front and didn't tear each other down. This is certainly not a thriller.
With the reveal of what happened to clear them of all suspicion, the book does wrap up rather quickly, but it is believable and well done. Overall this is a well written and fun story exploring how relationships change but also stay the same as we get older.
Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aria Books, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC copy of this novel for review.
Each narrator has her own distinct voice and clearly developed personality. As the book proceeds, we learn more about each woman and their past, things that happened when they lived together and then after when they lost touch with each other. Each has her own struggles and worries but they come together for Zara.
Around the half way point of the book it transitions to being a bit of a mystery with each narrator under suspicion of wrongdoing. With out giving away any spoilers, I enjoyed seeing how they worked together on presenting a united front and didn't tear each other down. This is certainly not a thriller.
With the reveal of what happened to clear them of all suspicion, the book does wrap up rather quickly, but it is believable and well done. Overall this is a well written and fun story exploring how relationships change but also stay the same as we get older.
Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aria Books, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC copy of this novel for review.
February 20, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review!
4 friends who lived together in the 70s reunite in their twilight years - but everything isn’t quite what it seems!
Zara, Jackie, Val, and Pauline are all very different personalities who lived together in college and then drifted apart. When they see each other again at Zara’s 80th birthday party, she asks them all to join her at her mansion to live out the rest of their days. But things quickly spiral away from the peaceful haven the girls had originally pictured.
The description of this book immediately drew me in, it gave me major Golden Girls vibes - but if it were a mystery! It is written in 3 POVs which was a little confusing at first but you quickly get to know each gal’s personality. I loved the story and never knew where it was heading so it definitely kept me on my toes!
**there are lots of casual mentions of suicide in this book.
4 friends who lived together in the 70s reunite in their twilight years - but everything isn’t quite what it seems!
Zara, Jackie, Val, and Pauline are all very different personalities who lived together in college and then drifted apart. When they see each other again at Zara’s 80th birthday party, she asks them all to join her at her mansion to live out the rest of their days. But things quickly spiral away from the peaceful haven the girls had originally pictured.
The description of this book immediately drew me in, it gave me major Golden Girls vibes - but if it were a mystery! It is written in 3 POVs which was a little confusing at first but you quickly get to know each gal’s personality. I loved the story and never knew where it was heading so it definitely kept me on my toes!
**there are lots of casual mentions of suicide in this book.
June 12, 2022
I requested this from Netgalley after loving Bella Osborne’s previous book, “The Library.” This started off well, four best friends reunited after decades being years apart. I was hoping for another uplifting and hertwarming book but was disappointed instead. The characters weren’t always likeable, there was one in particular that I couldn’t warm to, and the plot took several different directions that made the book muddled. I thought that some of the topics that were brought up were not explored at all, rather put on show than discussed or examined. The book was slow to start, and then felt rushed at the end. I wish I could say more positive things about the book but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations.
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
May 3, 2022
Well this was a fabulous read! I adore Bella Osborne books, this one I'll admit I didn't think would be my cup of tea, when I read the first chapter I was like mmm I'm not sure as it was quite hard hitting but I continued reading until I was engrossed into the lives of the girls. The girls each had their own pasts to deal with which none of the others knew about each other. I had a real soft spot for Pauline as she bonded with Brian and gave her purpose in life. A real gem of a read, I absolutely loved it.
March 17, 2024
I enjoyed this book. The girls were a good mix of characters. Lots of celebrity name dropping throughout. I would’ve liked to have read more about the early years of their friendship when they first lived together. I thought the third quarter of the book was a bit long winded and the ending felt rushed. Enjoyed it nonetheless.
June 20, 2022
Another great read where we get to read about people who are over 30 and have seen some life, I am so here for it! This new side of a Bella Osborne novel is just wonderful. I love the way she explores some of the darker elements of life, those moments that we go through but not everyone talks about, and weaves them into her novels in an uplifting way!
The Girls is a group of four women who have known each other for forever but have fallen out of touch in recent years. When they come together for Zara’s big birthday party, against their better judgement, they reconnect and this is the jumping off point of the book. Zara is a classic diva, I can just imagine her as one of these old hollywood stars that they’ve made an E True Hollywood Story about. Jackie annoyed me to begin with, she really grated on me but she definitely grew on me over time. I think I related most to Val, trying to be the voice of reason and get everyone organised. I felt for her throughout the book since she seemed to be the only person to truly be able to look at things logically, despite her own struggles, And then we have Pauline who is the voice of anxiety and panic to Val’s voice of reason.
I loved the premise of the book, the fact that these four women will be once again sharing a house together just like they did in their wild and free days. I loved the location of the house and even the reasons behind Zara asking them to all come together for her. I really enjoyed the way they bumped up against each other and the way their personalities clashed and yet got along at the same time. This aspect of the book I found really interesting. When we started going down the road of a murder mystery type of genre and a bit of a ‘who said that?’ and “where were they when this happened?’ type of affair I didn’t find myself enjoying it quite as much.
I really loved the way that Bella Osborne explored this side of adult friendship, the way she showed this kind of reconnecting that doesn’t always go smoothly. I also loved the way the women in this book all have fully formed lives and personalities just like they would in real life. Often in fiction, just because someone is progressing in years, they have their personality taken away from them. This is certainly not the case here. These women have thoughts and feelings and can totally handle themselves as well as being able to support each other. There are 2 animals in the book for some added comedy too so you’ve got that to look forward to. I listened to this book and it was well-narrated. I definitely recommend giving Bella Osborne a try!
The Girls is a group of four women who have known each other for forever but have fallen out of touch in recent years. When they come together for Zara’s big birthday party, against their better judgement, they reconnect and this is the jumping off point of the book. Zara is a classic diva, I can just imagine her as one of these old hollywood stars that they’ve made an E True Hollywood Story about. Jackie annoyed me to begin with, she really grated on me but she definitely grew on me over time. I think I related most to Val, trying to be the voice of reason and get everyone organised. I felt for her throughout the book since she seemed to be the only person to truly be able to look at things logically, despite her own struggles, And then we have Pauline who is the voice of anxiety and panic to Val’s voice of reason.
I loved the premise of the book, the fact that these four women will be once again sharing a house together just like they did in their wild and free days. I loved the location of the house and even the reasons behind Zara asking them to all come together for her. I really enjoyed the way they bumped up against each other and the way their personalities clashed and yet got along at the same time. This aspect of the book I found really interesting. When we started going down the road of a murder mystery type of genre and a bit of a ‘who said that?’ and “where were they when this happened?’ type of affair I didn’t find myself enjoying it quite as much.
I really loved the way that Bella Osborne explored this side of adult friendship, the way she showed this kind of reconnecting that doesn’t always go smoothly. I also loved the way the women in this book all have fully formed lives and personalities just like they would in real life. Often in fiction, just because someone is progressing in years, they have their personality taken away from them. This is certainly not the case here. These women have thoughts and feelings and can totally handle themselves as well as being able to support each other. There are 2 animals in the book for some added comedy too so you’ve got that to look forward to. I listened to this book and it was well-narrated. I definitely recommend giving Bella Osborne a try!
April 14, 2022
World famous actress Zara might have preferred to keep her 80th birthday a little quieter – that she’s that old comes as a bit of a surprise to the three friends she lived with in the 70s too, but with varying degrees of enthusiasm they can’t resist the opportunity to attend a glitzy showbiz party and to spend time together once more. For all sorts of reasons, all three are finding life a little difficult at the moment, and when Zara suggests that they try living together again, they decide to give it a try – they can each pay her back by using some of their life skills – but they just hadn’t expected it to be in her sumptuous villa on the Riviera.
Jackie’s the chaotic one – still the wild child, formerly a carer but who’s recently lost her job because of a few unauthorised sidelines, and her nursing experience will be useful as Zara’s health is now failing. Val is the sensible one, has had a successful career as a solicitor, and her professional skills will come in useful to cast an eye over her business affairs. Pauline’s the quiet one – anxious and depressed in the wake of an abusive marriage and harbouring a guilty secret, lonely and lacking in confidence – and she’ll be the perfect choice to help Zara write her autobiography. They soon recover their supportive and very special friendship while living their new life of luxury – but none of them had realised that Zara’s health had declined as much as it had, that she had an ulterior motive in bringing them together again, and a very difficult favour to ask of them all.
The characterisation in this book is just wonderful – the story’s told from the points of view of the three friends, each with a very distinctive voice and their own set of memories and concerns, and it works particularly well in establishing their personalities and getting under their skin. The setting is fantastic, and particularly wonderfully drawn – and Zara moves in the kind of circles the others could never have imagined, with money no object, celebrity friends’ names and anecdotes about them littering her conversation, and with one in particular making a recurring (and hilarious) occasional appearance. And then the whole story takes a bit of a turn – their time together isn’t just fun and cocktails any more – and it turns into an intrigue-filled mystery with question marks over each woman’s involvement and their guilt or innocence.
There’s a perfect balance to this book – at times, it’s extremely funny, sometimes quite gentle, always a little more riotous when Jackie’s in the spotlight. But there are also moments of real sadness and poignancy as their former lives and experiences are exposed, quite beautifully handled with a very sure emotional touch. I grew to really love all of these women, involved in their lives, understanding their foibles and actions, feeling for them when the chips were down – and their special friendship, sometimes tested to its limits, had the most exceptional warmth and authenticity.
And I haven’t even mentioned the mysterious gardener, or Brian the cat, or Toby the foul-mouthed parrot – but they all play their parts in this wonderful story, which really was sheer enjoyment from beginning to end. I really loved this book – and recommend it really highly.
Jackie’s the chaotic one – still the wild child, formerly a carer but who’s recently lost her job because of a few unauthorised sidelines, and her nursing experience will be useful as Zara’s health is now failing. Val is the sensible one, has had a successful career as a solicitor, and her professional skills will come in useful to cast an eye over her business affairs. Pauline’s the quiet one – anxious and depressed in the wake of an abusive marriage and harbouring a guilty secret, lonely and lacking in confidence – and she’ll be the perfect choice to help Zara write her autobiography. They soon recover their supportive and very special friendship while living their new life of luxury – but none of them had realised that Zara’s health had declined as much as it had, that she had an ulterior motive in bringing them together again, and a very difficult favour to ask of them all.
The characterisation in this book is just wonderful – the story’s told from the points of view of the three friends, each with a very distinctive voice and their own set of memories and concerns, and it works particularly well in establishing their personalities and getting under their skin. The setting is fantastic, and particularly wonderfully drawn – and Zara moves in the kind of circles the others could never have imagined, with money no object, celebrity friends’ names and anecdotes about them littering her conversation, and with one in particular making a recurring (and hilarious) occasional appearance. And then the whole story takes a bit of a turn – their time together isn’t just fun and cocktails any more – and it turns into an intrigue-filled mystery with question marks over each woman’s involvement and their guilt or innocence.
There’s a perfect balance to this book – at times, it’s extremely funny, sometimes quite gentle, always a little more riotous when Jackie’s in the spotlight. But there are also moments of real sadness and poignancy as their former lives and experiences are exposed, quite beautifully handled with a very sure emotional touch. I grew to really love all of these women, involved in their lives, understanding their foibles and actions, feeling for them when the chips were down – and their special friendship, sometimes tested to its limits, had the most exceptional warmth and authenticity.
And I haven’t even mentioned the mysterious gardener, or Brian the cat, or Toby the foul-mouthed parrot – but they all play their parts in this wonderful story, which really was sheer enjoyment from beginning to end. I really loved this book – and recommend it really highly.
June 16, 2022
"One last hoorah. What do you say."
Legendary actress Zara is hoping to spend her 80th birthday quietly, but her agent has other ideas and has put together a surprise party. At the event are the three friends she shared a house with back in the 70s. Though they haven’t seen each other in decades, the group share an undeniable bond and spend the evening reminiscing on old times and wondering where the years have gone. Wondering aloud why they are spending their twilight years alone, Zara surprises her friends when she suggests they spend them together, the other women moving into her house so they can recreate the joy of their youth. Though initially reluctant, Pauline, Val and Jackie soon decide to take Zara up on her offer and the adventure begins.
I love a book with older characters at its centre, so when I was offered the chance to listen to The Girls on audiobook as part of this blog tour, I didn’t hesitate. Refreshing, funny and uplifting, it also has a much deeper side of poignant moments, controversial topics and sensitive issues which the author handles with both realism and compassion. It also transports you to sunnier climes, something that is very welcome during the unreliable British ‘summer’.
The four women at the centre of the story are richly drawn and compelling characters, though not particularly likeable at times. Each are very different people and are battling their own demons that are slowly revealed through glimpses into their past. And when Zara’s true motivation for inviting them to live with her is revealed, the women are outraged. I liked their dynamics and how the bonds, friction and struggles were still there after so many years apart. But what I loved most of all is that despite the problems, that bond of true friendship triumphed and they supported each other through some of the most difficult moments they’ve ever faced.
Delightful, entertaining and full of emotion and adventure, The Girls is a feel-good summer story that I highly recommend.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Legendary actress Zara is hoping to spend her 80th birthday quietly, but her agent has other ideas and has put together a surprise party. At the event are the three friends she shared a house with back in the 70s. Though they haven’t seen each other in decades, the group share an undeniable bond and spend the evening reminiscing on old times and wondering where the years have gone. Wondering aloud why they are spending their twilight years alone, Zara surprises her friends when she suggests they spend them together, the other women moving into her house so they can recreate the joy of their youth. Though initially reluctant, Pauline, Val and Jackie soon decide to take Zara up on her offer and the adventure begins.
I love a book with older characters at its centre, so when I was offered the chance to listen to The Girls on audiobook as part of this blog tour, I didn’t hesitate. Refreshing, funny and uplifting, it also has a much deeper side of poignant moments, controversial topics and sensitive issues which the author handles with both realism and compassion. It also transports you to sunnier climes, something that is very welcome during the unreliable British ‘summer’.
The four women at the centre of the story are richly drawn and compelling characters, though not particularly likeable at times. Each are very different people and are battling their own demons that are slowly revealed through glimpses into their past. And when Zara’s true motivation for inviting them to live with her is revealed, the women are outraged. I liked their dynamics and how the bonds, friction and struggles were still there after so many years apart. But what I loved most of all is that despite the problems, that bond of true friendship triumphed and they supported each other through some of the most difficult moments they’ve ever faced.
Delightful, entertaining and full of emotion and adventure, The Girls is a feel-good summer story that I highly recommend.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
April 17, 2022
Thank you so much to @headofzeus & @bellaosborneauthor for sending me a copy of this book, as well as sending me some goodies with it🥰
The Girls is a story surrounding four ladies who’s friendship blossomed in the 70s when they were flat mates. Flash forward to the present day, and a surprise 80th birthday party brings them back together. In their old age, they decide to recreate their youth and all move in together again to look after each other.
Throughout the story, which is brilliantly told by Bella Osborne, we learn more about each of the four ‘girls’ and discover they each have their own secrets and baggage.
It is a very light-hearted read that I flew through. However, it does touch on some serious and emotional topics.
Overall I really enjoyed this and thought it was a great story!
The Girls is a story surrounding four ladies who’s friendship blossomed in the 70s when they were flat mates. Flash forward to the present day, and a surprise 80th birthday party brings them back together. In their old age, they decide to recreate their youth and all move in together again to look after each other.
Throughout the story, which is brilliantly told by Bella Osborne, we learn more about each of the four ‘girls’ and discover they each have their own secrets and baggage.
It is a very light-hearted read that I flew through. However, it does touch on some serious and emotional topics.
Overall I really enjoyed this and thought it was a great story!
June 1, 2022
You know that feeling when you start rationing your reading time knowing that the story is flying by, the page numbers are passing too swiftly and you know the end of the book is neigh? Yeah, that! Precisely that! I’ve eeeeked it out for 27 days because I didn’t want to reach the end! I loved spending time with Jackie, Val, Pauline and Zara - hearing their news, their history and their current worries. A five star read summed up by this book quote: ‘They were like the pages of a book left too long in the sun - without the glue they fell apart’ page 222. Yep, without the glue we all fall apart! Simple: I loved it!
April 26, 2023
i really wanted to enjoy this but the storylines kept being cop outs and it just wasn’t quite charming enough. jackie/walter slaps though, i’ve been a fan of the “woman swears she will only marry a rich man/meets the perfect man but he’s poor/accepts she will be with poor man/finds out he’s actually rich” trope since lauren bacall in how to marry a millionaire
May 12, 2024
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the friendship between these four women. They were all so very different, and on paper, they shouldn't have gotten along at all, really.
It's an easy read, just right for a sunny weekend. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy this farcical trip to the south of France, which turns into a murder mystery.
I enjoyed the friendship between these four women. They were all so very different, and on paper, they shouldn't have gotten along at all, really.
It's an easy read, just right for a sunny weekend. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy this farcical trip to the south of France, which turns into a murder mystery.
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