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The Woman Who Took a Chance
Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single.
Age: Fifty (gulp)
Number of children: One
Number of husbands: Zero (it’s complicated)
Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplate
Number of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: Two
Number of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running out…
Age: Fifty (gulp)
Number of children: One
Number of husbands: Zero (it’s complicated)
Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplate
Number of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: Two
Number of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running out…
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 17, 2022
161 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Gibson
51 books514 followersFiona is an author and journalist who has written for many UK publications including The Observer, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Red, New Woman, Top Sante and Elle. She writes a monthly column for Sainsbury’s magazine and is a Contributing Editor at Red magazine.
Fiona lives in Scotland with her husband, their twin sons and daughter. She likes to draw, run 10k races, play her saxophone and lie in the bath with a big glass of wine, although not all at once.
Fiona lives in Scotland with her husband, their twin sons and daughter. She likes to draw, run 10k races, play her saxophone and lie in the bath with a big glass of wine, although not all at once.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
November 25, 2021
3.25 algorithmic stars ⭐⭐⭐
This was my first Fiona Gibson, and probably not my last. I happened to come across her latest and thought, why not? I had, after all, been thinking to read something of hers for quite some time now.
And a good portion of it was breezy - downright hilarious. Gibson, I sense, has a talent for bringing into sharp contrast the comical aspects of life.
The storyline was fresh, and I did like many of the characters, especially the hyperbolic ones that made me laugh out loud.
THE STORY:
At 50 years old and after almost 30 years of flying her way to happiness as a flight attendant with BudgieAir, Jen and her colleagues are declared redundant and must start a new life. Much of the book homes in on the messiness of finding one's way through the uncertainty and the difficulty of understanding what comes next.
Well, in the midst of this mess, Jen is somehow pressured into creating a profile on an online dating website, and starts to awkwardly dabble in this new world of algorithmic dating, her curiousity piqued by promises of wild fun and exciting encounters...
COMMENTS:
I personally struggled with connecting. The online dating business is pretty alien to me and I probably would have preferred that it did not occupy centre stage. However, the dating itself is rendered particularly hilarious, also because Jen approaches it with the irony of one who is not entirely sure that this is how things ought to work. I particularly loved the way that her relationship with Rod, longtime best friend and Hannah's father, is portrayed in this book, and how it is left to develop and simmer in the background.
Brownie points for the unpredictable ending. I appreciate it when feel-good writing invests in a concept of life that is more in tune with the nuances of events and the strange turnings of the human heart.
Thanks go to NetGalley, author and publisher for this ARC. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
This was my first Fiona Gibson, and probably not my last. I happened to come across her latest and thought, why not? I had, after all, been thinking to read something of hers for quite some time now.
And a good portion of it was breezy - downright hilarious. Gibson, I sense, has a talent for bringing into sharp contrast the comical aspects of life.
The storyline was fresh, and I did like many of the characters, especially the hyperbolic ones that made me laugh out loud.
THE STORY:
At 50 years old and after almost 30 years of flying her way to happiness as a flight attendant with BudgieAir, Jen and her colleagues are declared redundant and must start a new life. Much of the book homes in on the messiness of finding one's way through the uncertainty and the difficulty of understanding what comes next.
Well, in the midst of this mess, Jen is somehow pressured into creating a profile on an online dating website, and starts to awkwardly dabble in this new world of algorithmic dating, her curiousity piqued by promises of wild fun and exciting encounters...
COMMENTS:
I personally struggled with connecting. The online dating business is pretty alien to me and I probably would have preferred that it did not occupy centre stage. However, the dating itself is rendered particularly hilarious, also because Jen approaches it with the irony of one who is not entirely sure that this is how things ought to work. I particularly loved the way that her relationship with Rod, longtime best friend and Hannah's father, is portrayed in this book, and how it is left to develop and simmer in the background.
Brownie points for the unpredictable ending. I appreciate it when feel-good writing invests in a concept of life that is more in tune with the nuances of events and the strange turnings of the human heart.
Thanks go to NetGalley, author and publisher for this ARC. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
March 24, 2022
My word this book was brilliant so enjoyed it and didn’t want it to end was so well written with great characters and the plot was so realistic and you got hooked straight away. Was full of trying to find romance and happiness along with friendship and families. It’s heartwarming with heartbreak as well a perfect book to curl up and read and forget your problems.
Jen is a flight attendant and has a daughter but she’s never lived with the father but they have always got on but the daughter has left home and she looses her job with her company going under. She has a holiday she won and needs to take it but she wants someone to go with her but who. She goes to stay with her daughter and she is introduced to internet dating by someone and can she really do it. She sets up her profile and starts going out with a number of different people but will any of them be the right one. She’s also got her other who is changing and starting to loose her memory and she is trying to support her as well and she gets a job in a supermarket to earn some money. She starts getting closer to her daughters father and should she really have been with him or are they just meant to be friends. She’s running out of time to find someone to go away with will she find someone or not and will she find a job she’s really happy in again.
Perfect read to escape in.
Jen is a flight attendant and has a daughter but she’s never lived with the father but they have always got on but the daughter has left home and she looses her job with her company going under. She has a holiday she won and needs to take it but she wants someone to go with her but who. She goes to stay with her daughter and she is introduced to internet dating by someone and can she really do it. She sets up her profile and starts going out with a number of different people but will any of them be the right one. She’s also got her other who is changing and starting to loose her memory and she is trying to support her as well and she gets a job in a supermarket to earn some money. She starts getting closer to her daughters father and should she really have been with him or are they just meant to be friends. She’s running out of time to find someone to go away with will she find someone or not and will she find a job she’s really happy in again.
Perfect read to escape in.
April 16, 2022
A very easy, funny read & relatable in part with lots of lovely characters. Fiona's books are always entertaining and you are guaranteed a 'LOL" moment 🤣
May 15, 2024
I have read several books by Gibson but this one was definitely not my favourite. It didn’t have the degree of humour that I associate with this author and I found the plot became quite repetitive.
When Jen is made redundant after her airline goes bust, she decides now is the perfect time to find a partner. Persuaded by her daughter that face-to-face dating is non-existent, she agrees to place her trust in the online dating algorithms. Of course, as you would expect, this doesn’t go to plan and this book details all of the car crash dates that Jen goes on.
At first, I thought this was quite entertaining, but there turns out to be a lot of dating and I lost track of the different characters that she meets. Over time, I found the book started to lose pace and I also lost interest in whether Jen would finally get a successful date. Even when she goes out with a fellow runner she bumps into, this is also a disaster and I sympathised with Jen’s lack of romantic connection. Admirably, she doesn’t let this get her down and just carries on with life.
This is because Jen is also incredibly concerned about her mother. It is clear that Jen’s mother is suffering from the early signs of dementia and I found this aspect of the plot incredibly saddening and difficult to read. It certainly made an impact on how much I enjoyed this book, feeling it lessened the entertaining style that I usually associate with Gibson.
I enjoyed how the writer brings in an early part of the story that I had assumed to be irrelevant: the helpline Jen is encouraged to ring after redundancy comes back to feature later on. I liked this cyclical nature of the story and how this eventually feeds into Jen’s happy after. Furthermore, I liked how she does finally go on her long-overdue holiday and that she doesn’t feel pressure to take her Mr Right with her.
Overall, I did enjoy this story because of Jen’s strong character. I laughed with her, I sympathised with her and I wanted her to beat the dating algorithms to find her happy ever after. I would have preferred there to be more to the story than just the dating and something more light-hearted surrounding her mother, making me conclude that this wasn’t as enjoyable as some of the others I have read by Gibson.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Jen is made redundant after her airline goes bust, she decides now is the perfect time to find a partner. Persuaded by her daughter that face-to-face dating is non-existent, she agrees to place her trust in the online dating algorithms. Of course, as you would expect, this doesn’t go to plan and this book details all of the car crash dates that Jen goes on.
At first, I thought this was quite entertaining, but there turns out to be a lot of dating and I lost track of the different characters that she meets. Over time, I found the book started to lose pace and I also lost interest in whether Jen would finally get a successful date. Even when she goes out with a fellow runner she bumps into, this is also a disaster and I sympathised with Jen’s lack of romantic connection. Admirably, she doesn’t let this get her down and just carries on with life.
This is because Jen is also incredibly concerned about her mother. It is clear that Jen’s mother is suffering from the early signs of dementia and I found this aspect of the plot incredibly saddening and difficult to read. It certainly made an impact on how much I enjoyed this book, feeling it lessened the entertaining style that I usually associate with Gibson.
I enjoyed how the writer brings in an early part of the story that I had assumed to be irrelevant: the helpline Jen is encouraged to ring after redundancy comes back to feature later on. I liked this cyclical nature of the story and how this eventually feeds into Jen’s happy after. Furthermore, I liked how she does finally go on her long-overdue holiday and that she doesn’t feel pressure to take her Mr Right with her.
Overall, I did enjoy this story because of Jen’s strong character. I laughed with her, I sympathised with her and I wanted her to beat the dating algorithms to find her happy ever after. I would have preferred there to be more to the story than just the dating and something more light-hearted surrounding her mother, making me conclude that this wasn’t as enjoyable as some of the others I have read by Gibson.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2024
I liked it, but I was slightly disappointed that the "chance" she took is mostly signing up for online dating. Sure she also saves a cat and spontaneously visits her daughter, but given the skydiving picture on the front I was expecting more adventures than just the dating. Though it was well written and funny at times, I expected there to be another layer to the book. Also, I would've liked it if the relationship with the father of her kid would just be instead of being questioned as a vague extra twist in the plot. It didn't really add anything. Books these days tend to only have men and women dating so I actually really liked that there was nothing going on between them. Rod questioning that added nothing but took away that super friendship.
March 30, 2022
Overall - 5 out of 5
Genre - Women's fiction
Emotional rating - 😊😊😊😊🥰
Speed and ease to read - 🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️
Makes you think - ✖
Recommend the book - yes
▪️ Synopsis
Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single.
• Age: Fifty (gulp)
• Number of children: One
• Number of husbands: Zero
• Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplate
• Number of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: Two
• Number of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running out…
The story is about Jen, suddenly made redundant. She has to find a new path, at the age of 50, having lost the job she loved and the only one she has ever done. She is also persuaded to try online dating so we follow her navigating this. The final storyline is Jen's mum with health issues.
▪️ How I found this book
The book follows Jen looking for a new job, trying online dating and looking after her mum.
I really loved this book - more than I thought I would! If you asked me 'Why?', I'm really not sure. This book is not ground-breaking or life changing but I really liked it. I was drawn to Jen as a character and found myself quickly returning to the book. It is a light, easy read and felt like escapism. It made me smile and I enjoyed following Jen's adventure as she created a new life for herself.
Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Genre - Women's fiction
Emotional rating - 😊😊😊😊🥰
Speed and ease to read - 🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️
Makes you think - ✖
Recommend the book - yes
▪️ Synopsis
Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single.
• Age: Fifty (gulp)
• Number of children: One
• Number of husbands: Zero
• Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplate
• Number of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: Two
• Number of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running out…
The story is about Jen, suddenly made redundant. She has to find a new path, at the age of 50, having lost the job she loved and the only one she has ever done. She is also persuaded to try online dating so we follow her navigating this. The final storyline is Jen's mum with health issues.
▪️ How I found this book
The book follows Jen looking for a new job, trying online dating and looking after her mum.
I really loved this book - more than I thought I would! If you asked me 'Why?', I'm really not sure. This book is not ground-breaking or life changing but I really liked it. I was drawn to Jen as a character and found myself quickly returning to the book. It is a light, easy read and felt like escapism. It made me smile and I enjoyed following Jen's adventure as she created a new life for herself.
Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2022
Fiona Gibson is a specialist in writing about mature women and second chances - and I love this about her, I like her characters, they are so normal, with problems that I can relate to and this is why I always try to read her newest releases. However, they start to feel repetitive, the heroines start to feel the same and there are always the same issues touched upon.
"The Woman Who Took a Chance" is another book about starting over. It started good, really good, I was hooked and I liked the main character Jen and characters that surrounded her. However, the more I read, the more lukewarm I started to feel, as there was actually no plot in this story. I had a feeling I'm running in circles, reading all the time about the same things. There was so much of inner thoughts and monologues that I eventually started to skip some of the passages. It's a shame, because Fiona Gibson can write sharp, funny dialogues. It feels as if she doesn't dare to use her whole potential.
The online dating business was, well, flat. It was a main focus of the story actually, but there was nothing that made it feel outstanding and it's such a shame. It was Jen that saved it, I think, and her approach, as she was so down to earth and realistic about her expectations.
Overall, it was not a bad read. More on the slow side but very realistic and with some light - hearted moments.
"The Woman Who Took a Chance" is another book about starting over. It started good, really good, I was hooked and I liked the main character Jen and characters that surrounded her. However, the more I read, the more lukewarm I started to feel, as there was actually no plot in this story. I had a feeling I'm running in circles, reading all the time about the same things. There was so much of inner thoughts and monologues that I eventually started to skip some of the passages. It's a shame, because Fiona Gibson can write sharp, funny dialogues. It feels as if she doesn't dare to use her whole potential.
The online dating business was, well, flat. It was a main focus of the story actually, but there was nothing that made it feel outstanding and it's such a shame. It was Jen that saved it, I think, and her approach, as she was so down to earth and realistic about her expectations.
Overall, it was not a bad read. More on the slow side but very realistic and with some light - hearted moments.
December 18, 2021
I really like the idea and premise of the book! It was cute and interesting and I really liked reading about Jen and her romantic adventures. You could really see the romantic and character development throughout the story.
The women who took a chance is a book about a 50 years old Women called Jen who has just been announced redundant from her job at Budgie airline. This gives her the opportunity to grow spiritually and to finally love her life. Now she is happy, going through adventures and trying go find a guy that is really meant for her.
Fiona Gibson really does talk about realistic issues that many go through around the world and I admired Jen a lot because she fought through them.
One aspect of this book that I did not really like much was the writing style. I just found that it was quite fast paced in the end but either way, the story was great and I loved it!!
The women who took a chance is a book about a 50 years old Women called Jen who has just been announced redundant from her job at Budgie airline. This gives her the opportunity to grow spiritually and to finally love her life. Now she is happy, going through adventures and trying go find a guy that is really meant for her.
Fiona Gibson really does talk about realistic issues that many go through around the world and I admired Jen a lot because she fought through them.
One aspect of this book that I did not really like much was the writing style. I just found that it was quite fast paced in the end but either way, the story was great and I loved it!!
May 31, 2023
This is a cute romance with an older heroine. Jen gets laid off from her airline stewardess job, but she’s won a free trip. She can’t decide who to take with her, so she goes on the dating sites.
I loved Jen’s attitude, she doesn’t let anything get her down for long. The book was funny too,which made it a quick read. 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.
I loved Jen’s attitude, she doesn’t let anything get her down for long. The book was funny too,which made it a quick read. 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.
February 23, 2022
Jen is 50 years old and the airline she has worked for for 30 years as a flight attendant has just made her redundant. Her daughter Hannah no longer lives at home, and with the current state of affairs, no arlines are hiring at the moment, so she's having trouble finding another job.
Finally with time on her hands and egged by her daughter and her friends, she joins a dating website for "mature" people. She's also in a rush to find a date - she won a romantic getaway in Greece as a prize for excellence from the airline and she has to use it or lose altogether. She doesn't want to go alone and she's now "auditioning" for who's going with her.
I was immediately drawn to this book on NetGalley when I saw the age of the heroine! How refreshing! She's 50! With 50-year-old problems and concerns! It's so hard to find a romance novel where the heroine is over 40! Though this is not a by-the-book romance novel (it's more on the women's fiction side), we do get an HEA. Or a Happy For Now.
I confess I was a little disappointed with the online dating development. Those dates were a perfect opportunity for comedy gold, but they were a little flat and a tad repetitive. It felt a little short in the comedy department, but it's still a very enjoyable book. It has the "Britishness" that I love so much, without being plagued by The Bridget Jones Syndrome that I see in a lot of British rom coms.
I also appreciated how Jen and Rod, her daughter's father and who she never married (they are just great friends) have a very healthy and mature relationship. The situation with her mother's dementia is also dealt in a realistic but very sweet way.
I loved the ending: a sweet epilogue eight months in the future tying everything up. Sorta. ;) It gives you hope that Jen will sort everything out and be happy in the end.
Note: if you are looking for funny, it certainly has its moment. If you are looking for spicy, you are not going to find any. Fun book, though.
Possible Triggers: dealing with parent with dementia, losing a job, fear of unemployment
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you, @NetGalley, Avon Books, UK and Fiona Gibson for the copy.
Finally with time on her hands and egged by her daughter and her friends, she joins a dating website for "mature" people. She's also in a rush to find a date - she won a romantic getaway in Greece as a prize for excellence from the airline and she has to use it or lose altogether. She doesn't want to go alone and she's now "auditioning" for who's going with her.
I was immediately drawn to this book on NetGalley when I saw the age of the heroine! How refreshing! She's 50! With 50-year-old problems and concerns! It's so hard to find a romance novel where the heroine is over 40! Though this is not a by-the-book romance novel (it's more on the women's fiction side), we do get an HEA. Or a Happy For Now.
I confess I was a little disappointed with the online dating development. Those dates were a perfect opportunity for comedy gold, but they were a little flat and a tad repetitive. It felt a little short in the comedy department, but it's still a very enjoyable book. It has the "Britishness" that I love so much, without being plagued by The Bridget Jones Syndrome that I see in a lot of British rom coms.
I also appreciated how Jen and Rod, her daughter's father and who she never married (they are just great friends) have a very healthy and mature relationship. The situation with her mother's dementia is also dealt in a realistic but very sweet way.
I loved the ending: a sweet epilogue eight months in the future tying everything up. Sorta. ;) It gives you hope that Jen will sort everything out and be happy in the end.
Note: if you are looking for funny, it certainly has its moment. If you are looking for spicy, you are not going to find any. Fun book, though.
Possible Triggers: dealing with parent with dementia, losing a job, fear of unemployment
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you, @NetGalley, Avon Books, UK and Fiona Gibson for the copy.
February 27, 2022
Jen perceives herself first and foremost, as a full-time flight attendant. As a mother of a fully grown woman, Jen always found peace at her relatively systematic job as a flight attendant. In the sky, she knows how to handle any group of flyers, even the mean drunk ones.
When she loses her job, at fifty years old, she feels betrayed, lost and alone - and her singleness starts to weight on her. When she's notified that she has a deadline to use her previously won award of a trip to Santorini, Jen decides that she will start dating till she finds the perfect man to accompany her to the trip.
She tries not to give up after going on countless failed dates, which are very humorous to us readers, but not so much to Jen. Her journey to find a suitable partner, turns into a road to self discovery, as she tries to figure out who is she, if not a flight attendant.
Fiona Gibson's Jen is funny, realistic, and very easily relatable - even if you're far from fifty.
Happy to have received this from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
When she loses her job, at fifty years old, she feels betrayed, lost and alone - and her singleness starts to weight on her. When she's notified that she has a deadline to use her previously won award of a trip to Santorini, Jen decides that she will start dating till she finds the perfect man to accompany her to the trip.
She tries not to give up after going on countless failed dates, which are very humorous to us readers, but not so much to Jen. Her journey to find a suitable partner, turns into a road to self discovery, as she tries to figure out who is she, if not a flight attendant.
Fiona Gibson's Jen is funny, realistic, and very easily relatable - even if you're far from fifty.
Happy to have received this from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2022
If you are looking for a light-hearted, comical, feel-good romantic read that focuses on middle-aged second chances and life after children, this is the book for you!
This plot focuses on Jen's story, a 50-year-old mother of a grown-up daughter who has concentrated on her career instead of romance. She finds herself contemplating her life after being made redundant from her flight attendant job as the airline goes bust.
As the story develops, the reader learns more about Jen's character, and I like her. I hope I am as resilient as she is, and the concept of her being a strong, independent woman is brilliant. I am confident many readers will relate to her.
I was captivated by the writing style with plenty of laugh-out-loud incidents (no spoilers here). I was excited and intrigued to find out who would win Jen's heart after being convinced to try online dating for the mature woman.
Fiona Gibson is a beautiful rom-com writer, and although I haven't read all her work, this is a true delight that encourages me to read more by her. Highly recommended read!
Thank you, Avon Books UK and NetGalley, for a gifted copy of this book, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
This plot focuses on Jen's story, a 50-year-old mother of a grown-up daughter who has concentrated on her career instead of romance. She finds herself contemplating her life after being made redundant from her flight attendant job as the airline goes bust.
As the story develops, the reader learns more about Jen's character, and I like her. I hope I am as resilient as she is, and the concept of her being a strong, independent woman is brilliant. I am confident many readers will relate to her.
I was captivated by the writing style with plenty of laugh-out-loud incidents (no spoilers here). I was excited and intrigued to find out who would win Jen's heart after being convinced to try online dating for the mature woman.
Fiona Gibson is a beautiful rom-com writer, and although I haven't read all her work, this is a true delight that encourages me to read more by her. Highly recommended read!
Thank you, Avon Books UK and NetGalley, for a gifted copy of this book, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2022
I have read a few of Fiona's books and they are perfect if you need an easy and uplifting sort of read.
This definitely had the feel good factor and I really enjoyed it. It was refreshing to read a rom com featuring a slightly older lady as the main character rather than the obvious 20-30 something and that made a nice change.
I actually loved the character of Jen and her foray into the world of online dating was such a fun premise to the storyline. Some of her early dates really made me chuckle.
I liked that parts of the book were fun and lighthearted but it also showed a more serious side to trying to move on after a big life change (Jen gets made redundant from her job at the start of the book).
The characters were warm and felt so true to life which gives great testament to Fiona's writing. I devoured this over one weekend and loved every moment.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.
This definitely had the feel good factor and I really enjoyed it. It was refreshing to read a rom com featuring a slightly older lady as the main character rather than the obvious 20-30 something and that made a nice change.
I actually loved the character of Jen and her foray into the world of online dating was such a fun premise to the storyline. Some of her early dates really made me chuckle.
I liked that parts of the book were fun and lighthearted but it also showed a more serious side to trying to move on after a big life change (Jen gets made redundant from her job at the start of the book).
The characters were warm and felt so true to life which gives great testament to Fiona's writing. I devoured this over one weekend and loved every moment.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.
January 19, 2022
Absolutly loved this light hearted, easy to read, comical book by fiona. Have read previous books by her and this one did not disappointment.
Jen is a 50 year old woman, recently redundant from her long term job as an air hostess. Initially her world is thrown upside down but her daughter Hannah, alongside Jens friends persuade her to dabble in internet dating.
Alongside this, she finds herself a new job she loves as a shop assistant, and re establishes a good friendship with Rod, Hannahs father.
This book takes us through the mayhem of chatting to, and on occasions, meeting up with men from the dating site, with hilarious outcomes.
A brilliant read that takes us through a very modern phenomenon of internet dating. Highly recommend a read.
Jen is a 50 year old woman, recently redundant from her long term job as an air hostess. Initially her world is thrown upside down but her daughter Hannah, alongside Jens friends persuade her to dabble in internet dating.
Alongside this, she finds herself a new job she loves as a shop assistant, and re establishes a good friendship with Rod, Hannahs father.
This book takes us through the mayhem of chatting to, and on occasions, meeting up with men from the dating site, with hilarious outcomes.
A brilliant read that takes us through a very modern phenomenon of internet dating. Highly recommend a read.
April 21, 2022
A feel good book with a clear storyline. Lots of funny moments all very relatable. My first Fiona Gibson but it won’t be my last.
November 25, 2022
Really funny about the hazards of losing your job, starting to date online, but also about seeing your mother decline into dementia. Laughed and cried!
May 20, 2024
It was alright.
August 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and the focus on mature women facing challenges when life throws a curveball.
Jens attempts at trying to find a new job after forced redundancy, and her numerous attempts at joining the online dating scene as a mature woman, were comical and uplifting.
I liked the variety of characters, from family and friends, to Jens attempts at embracing a different way of life, in both work and personal relationships.
I would definitely read more books by this author
Jens attempts at trying to find a new job after forced redundancy, and her numerous attempts at joining the online dating scene as a mature woman, were comical and uplifting.
I liked the variety of characters, from family and friends, to Jens attempts at embracing a different way of life, in both work and personal relationships.
I would definitely read more books by this author
March 16, 2023
This is a women's fiction book which I found to be heartwarming, uplifting and funny. I really enjoyed reading it.
Jen is a middle aged woman who loses her job as a flight attendant, of which she has worked for many years. She is shocked, and she doesn't know what to do with herself, as she feels like she has lost her identity. We go on a journey with her as she re-discovers herself and builds her life back up again. I really liked Jen and her story, and I laughed out loud with her a lot as I raced through the book.
If you are looking for a feel-good, easy read to uplift you, then you will love this book. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Jen is a middle aged woman who loses her job as a flight attendant, of which she has worked for many years. She is shocked, and she doesn't know what to do with herself, as she feels like she has lost her identity. We go on a journey with her as she re-discovers herself and builds her life back up again. I really liked Jen and her story, and I laughed out loud with her a lot as I raced through the book.
If you are looking for a feel-good, easy read to uplift you, then you will love this book. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
November 18, 2021
I was drawn to this book as I read 'The Little Bakery On Rosemary Lane' (penned under the name Ellen Berry) earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. 'The Woman Who Took a Chance' lived up to my high expectations. A heart-warming book, I love that Jen is a mature woman rather than the twenty/thirty something's which seem to dominate women's fiction. Well-written, I devoured this book in a day - the characters are believable and true to life.
There were a few parts which moved fairly slowly, however overall, an enjoyable and warm read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were a few parts which moved fairly slowly, however overall, an enjoyable and warm read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2022
An honest to goodness sublime and funny five-star read. This author always manages to bring me smile, they always manage to make me laugh even on my darkest of days. Jen was someone I would love to be in 10 years, her passion for flying shone through, even when she was grounded. Jen’s spirit shone through and her relationships with Hannah, her mum and Rod, all mad me smile, the love she feels for them all is so vastly different, but vastly huge and encompassing. But they aren’t the only great characters in this story, all of the dates are complex people and there are some corkers popping up. But this story is great, everything has its place, and it flows so well. Do not miss this great story if you are after funny, but real.
March 15, 2022
I love Fiona Gibson! I loved her previous books and I was sure I would love this one.
I love the fact that her main female characters are not the usual 20/30 something and I love that they are always spot on characters, women you can easily relate to, with stories that feel authentic and true to life.
I can't wait to read her next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest rreview.
I love the fact that her main female characters are not the usual 20/30 something and I love that they are always spot on characters, women you can easily relate to, with stories that feel authentic and true to life.
I can't wait to read her next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest rreview.
December 11, 2021
Midlife mayhem, redundancy,empty nest syndrome and an ageing parent, a funny lighthearted look at midlife through the eyes of Jen, a totally relatable read for women of a certain age! It certainly resonated with me!
After losing her job as an air stewardess and taking stock of her life Jen is persuaded to try online dating! This opens up a whole new world to Jen often with hilarious results! Supported by her daughter, friends and her daughters dad Jen tries new experiences, gets a new job, forms a closer bond with her mother and generally overhauls her life obtaining a perfect work life balance and finding herself Along the way!
A fun fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
After losing her job as an air stewardess and taking stock of her life Jen is persuaded to try online dating! This opens up a whole new world to Jen often with hilarious results! Supported by her daughter, friends and her daughters dad Jen tries new experiences, gets a new job, forms a closer bond with her mother and generally overhauls her life obtaining a perfect work life balance and finding herself Along the way!
A fun fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
December 2, 2021
The Woman Who Took a Chance is a fun story about Jen, a 50 year old flight attendant who is encouraged by her daughter to start online dating when she loses her job. We follow her journey to find a suitable partner through a series of dates that show all the pitfalls of meeting someone via a screen. It’s certainly not something I’d want to contemplate, and even less so after reading this 😂.
I really enjoyed this lighthearted read that also touched on the more serious sides of midlife too. All the characters were believable and it was easy to pick up and put down, although I did read it in a couple of days. I wasn’t expecting that ending either which is always a nice surprise.
As I’m now in my 50s, it’s good to read books where the main characters are of a similar age, in a market that is often flooded with 20 and 30 somethings. I thoroughly enjoyed this - 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this lighthearted read that also touched on the more serious sides of midlife too. All the characters were believable and it was easy to pick up and put down, although I did read it in a couple of days. I wasn’t expecting that ending either which is always a nice surprise.
As I’m now in my 50s, it’s good to read books where the main characters are of a similar age, in a market that is often flooded with 20 and 30 somethings. I thoroughly enjoyed this - 5 stars.
August 31, 2024
I really tried to like this book but it wasn't my type of book and I couldn't finish it. I really enjoy the premise of the story and I had high hopes for it. I like how it was written and second chances.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the advanced copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the advanced copy.
March 18, 2022
This book had a great premise and I really liked it. It was cute and fun and I enjoyed our main character. In fact there was a lot of character development throughout and it was written very well.
January 11, 2022
The Woman who took a chance is a chick-lit book based in the contemporary post covid world. It is the story of a middle-aged woman who worked for a budget airline who suddenly goes bankrupt. It has created a strange situation in the life of the lady who spent almost half her life serving as an air hostess. Jennifer misses her work and being unemployed is not a suitable condition when you have bills to pay, but when her friends and her daughter, Hannah, push her for dating, she gives in to their requests. She ends up signing on a dating site where middle-aged people searched for dates and prospective partners. It takes her onto a very interesting journey of craziness. She experiences dates that are sure to end up in stories of amusement in the future. Apart from that, there is the date of Rod, Hannah’s father, Gaby who is giving weird vibes to her.
This story is a collection of a lot of contemporary social issues packed with light and easy writing and an ambiguous seeming happy ending. It talks about parenting, marriage, post-covid unemployment conditions, old age dating troubles, overthinking spirals, dating troubles, and many more. The writing style of the author is light and easy to read. The food descriptions brought growls out of my stomach.
There are a lot of characters in the story with lots of side characters as Jenn progresses in her dating history. It becomes tiring after a point to read about her dates which turn out to be frustrating in the end. It somehow relates perfectly well with the dating procedure one has to face when matched with incompatible dates. I found some good ships in between which felt that they were ruined purposefully by the author, and isn’t this so true about life! It might seem everything is going fine, and a little weird thing about your date is enough to put you off the girl or the guy completely.
I enjoyed the character development of the protagonist. The way she found her footing despite being fired from a job at such a later point in her life. She seemed to justify the sentence that age is just a number. I liked the positivity and confidence of the character with which she takes her stances in the story. I enjoyed reading the story but it could have been better if there was a little bit more flesh to the story. It is well-formed, with good supporting characters but the story seemed unevenly paced. The dates were explained in detail while skipping conversations with other supporting characters. There were a lot of things happening in the story with supporting characters as well as the protagonist but the main focus was on the dating history of the protagonist. A lot was thrown in the background to focus the spotlight on the romantic relationship and dating life of Jennifer. Other than that, I found this book amusing to read.
I got the eARC review copy from Netgalley.
This story is a collection of a lot of contemporary social issues packed with light and easy writing and an ambiguous seeming happy ending. It talks about parenting, marriage, post-covid unemployment conditions, old age dating troubles, overthinking spirals, dating troubles, and many more. The writing style of the author is light and easy to read. The food descriptions brought growls out of my stomach.
There are a lot of characters in the story with lots of side characters as Jenn progresses in her dating history. It becomes tiring after a point to read about her dates which turn out to be frustrating in the end. It somehow relates perfectly well with the dating procedure one has to face when matched with incompatible dates. I found some good ships in between which felt that they were ruined purposefully by the author, and isn’t this so true about life! It might seem everything is going fine, and a little weird thing about your date is enough to put you off the girl or the guy completely.
I enjoyed the character development of the protagonist. The way she found her footing despite being fired from a job at such a later point in her life. She seemed to justify the sentence that age is just a number. I liked the positivity and confidence of the character with which she takes her stances in the story. I enjoyed reading the story but it could have been better if there was a little bit more flesh to the story. It is well-formed, with good supporting characters but the story seemed unevenly paced. The dates were explained in detail while skipping conversations with other supporting characters. There were a lot of things happening in the story with supporting characters as well as the protagonist but the main focus was on the dating history of the protagonist. A lot was thrown in the background to focus the spotlight on the romantic relationship and dating life of Jennifer. Other than that, I found this book amusing to read.
I got the eARC review copy from Netgalley.
August 17, 2022
Initially I thought this was just my sort of book. Easy reading modern chick flick was just what I was craving when I picked this up. I have never read a book by Fiona Gibson, but I understand that Gibson has been writing a long time, has other books out, and writes for magazines and things, so I was horrified at the amount of mistakes in the novel.
The story itself is nice, light-hearted, well planned and well paced. Had it not been for the many mistakes, I would have given it a 4 star and recommended it to friends. Gibson notes that her son proof-read the book; I perhaps would suggest that a professional proof reads her future books instead.
People may think this rather pedantic but I made a note of most of the mistakes, so Gibson, if you ever read this review, sort these mistakes out, it's embarrassing!!!
1) p16 '"Are you sure I can't I strip the chair for you?"'
2) p25 'I showered thoroughly in case the smoky smell had stuck to my hair' before Rod came over then p27 when Rod's over Jen 'shove[s] back my lank and unwashed long hair'.
3) p84 'especially being married to with Mum'
4) p113 '"didn't you say you'd a joined a dating site?"'
5) p132 'There was cooker lying a few yards down the road, and a mattress'.
6) Also p132 '"I'll get the chance to have good hunt for her mail."'
7) p135 'they look like the kind people who'd be gathered around a garden table'.
8) p178 '"I kind of feel there's too much going on my life."'
9) p212 'this kind thing still does happen'.
10) p249 'it's definitely more than quick peck goodbye'.
11) p265 'with a bunch nice people'.
12) p311 non-sensical sentence I don't understand: 'Not even pre-Gaby or pre our lives suddenly seeming to allow very little time for each other anymore'.
I think there were a couple more that I didn't write down!!
The story itself is nice, light-hearted, well planned and well paced. Had it not been for the many mistakes, I would have given it a 4 star and recommended it to friends. Gibson notes that her son proof-read the book; I perhaps would suggest that a professional proof reads her future books instead.
People may think this rather pedantic but I made a note of most of the mistakes, so Gibson, if you ever read this review, sort these mistakes out, it's embarrassing!!!
1) p16 '"Are you sure I can't I strip the chair for you?"'
2) p25 'I showered thoroughly in case the smoky smell had stuck to my hair' before Rod came over then p27 when Rod's over Jen 'shove[s] back my lank and unwashed long hair'.
3) p84 'especially being married to with Mum'
4) p113 '"didn't you say you'd a joined a dating site?"'
5) p132 'There was cooker lying a few yards down the road, and a mattress'.
6) Also p132 '"I'll get the chance to have good hunt for her mail."'
7) p135 'they look like the kind people who'd be gathered around a garden table'.
8) p178 '"I kind of feel there's too much going on my life."'
9) p212 'this kind thing still does happen'.
10) p249 'it's definitely more than quick peck goodbye'.
11) p265 'with a bunch nice people'.
12) p311 non-sensical sentence I don't understand: 'Not even pre-Gaby or pre our lives suddenly seeming to allow very little time for each other anymore'.
I think there were a couple more that I didn't write down!!
March 12, 2022
Jen has been a flight attendant for her whole working career, so when she is suddenly made redundant she is at a loss what to do next. To make things worse she has a holiday prize that she won that must be claimed within months or she will lose it, but nobody to take with her. Jen's daughter has been pushing her for a while to try online dating, and although hesitant Jen decides that maybe now she is grounded it is a good time to start, and who knows maybe she can find someone to come to Greece with her.
This was a very enjoyable feel good read, with plenty of laughs along the way. Perfect for a holiday read or something to brighten up the dreary days of winter if you are in the Northern hemisphere.
Jen is a very likable character. It doesn't take long for readers to get to know her, and she is refreshingly honest and so relatable that it's impossible not to warm to her. I appreciated her and Rod's friendship, and I thought it was great that Gibson chose this backstory for her characters. It's awesome to see a slightly unconventional family unit being portrayed with such a positive outlook.
Jen's experiences with online dating are hilarious, and something that I think a lot of people these days will have some common ground with. Regardless of whether you have personal experience in this area or not you will definitely see the laughs (and potentially some of the horrors) of the online dating world. It's a pretty accurate picture!
This is the first book I've read by Fiona Gibson but I can see on GoodReads that she has quite an extensive back catalogue. I'll definitely be dipping in to see what else takes my fancy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very enjoyable feel good read, with plenty of laughs along the way. Perfect for a holiday read or something to brighten up the dreary days of winter if you are in the Northern hemisphere.
Jen is a very likable character. It doesn't take long for readers to get to know her, and she is refreshingly honest and so relatable that it's impossible not to warm to her. I appreciated her and Rod's friendship, and I thought it was great that Gibson chose this backstory for her characters. It's awesome to see a slightly unconventional family unit being portrayed with such a positive outlook.
Jen's experiences with online dating are hilarious, and something that I think a lot of people these days will have some common ground with. Regardless of whether you have personal experience in this area or not you will definitely see the laughs (and potentially some of the horrors) of the online dating world. It's a pretty accurate picture!
This is the first book I've read by Fiona Gibson but I can see on GoodReads that she has quite an extensive back catalogue. I'll definitely be dipping in to see what else takes my fancy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #Thewomanwhotookachance #netgalley
Jennifer Moreton works as a flight attendant for Budgieair. This has always been her dream since she was little and she's managed to fulfil it for 20 odd years. Until they go bust! Will she ever fly again? Can she pick her life up when she hits the bottom? Can her friends persuade her to change her life in more ways than one?
After reading "When life gives you lemons" my first one of Fiona's books. I loved it so much I knew I wanted to read every new title she wrote.
The characters are mainly all heart warming and make you feel like they could just engulf you with a hug and all will be OK. Whilst you are their biggest cheerleaders encouraging them to make the right choices in their life
This book is a great read all year round and you never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence.
Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as denentia, theft, single parents, scams, amongst other things. I do not feel this takes away from the joyous and honest feel of the book and I feel actually gives each character a third dimension to get your teeth into. Whilst Being representative of the trials and tribulations felt in modern society.
I have lived in Scotland for 3 years, previously, therefore really appreciated the true Scottish style, representation and setting within the book.
However I did find the beginning slow going to get into which is unusual for Fiona's books. I do wonder if it was more my mood and mindset at the time. Hence why I am giving it 4.5 stars as opposed to a solid amount.
4.5/5
Jennifer Moreton works as a flight attendant for Budgieair. This has always been her dream since she was little and she's managed to fulfil it for 20 odd years. Until they go bust! Will she ever fly again? Can she pick her life up when she hits the bottom? Can her friends persuade her to change her life in more ways than one?
After reading "When life gives you lemons" my first one of Fiona's books. I loved it so much I knew I wanted to read every new title she wrote.
The characters are mainly all heart warming and make you feel like they could just engulf you with a hug and all will be OK. Whilst you are their biggest cheerleaders encouraging them to make the right choices in their life
This book is a great read all year round and you never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence.
Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as denentia, theft, single parents, scams, amongst other things. I do not feel this takes away from the joyous and honest feel of the book and I feel actually gives each character a third dimension to get your teeth into. Whilst Being representative of the trials and tribulations felt in modern society.
I have lived in Scotland for 3 years, previously, therefore really appreciated the true Scottish style, representation and setting within the book.
However I did find the beginning slow going to get into which is unusual for Fiona's books. I do wonder if it was more my mood and mindset at the time. Hence why I am giving it 4.5 stars as opposed to a solid amount.
4.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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