Whatever Next: Lessons from an Unexpected Life

by Anne Glenconner

Bracing honesty, rare insight, and hilarious revelations from the author of the smash-hit New York Times bestselling memoir Lady in Waiting as she shares everything she's learned from her extraordinary and unexpected life.

Lady in Waiting brought us royal magic, beguiling insight, and jaw-dropping stories from life inside Anne Glenconner’s privileged circle, which though golden didn't always glitter.

Now in her ninth decade, she's keen to share everything her unexpected life has taught her—the wise, the extraordinary, hilarious, poignant, and illuminating learnings from a life which has taken her from Debutante of the Year to traveling salesman, as well as wife to volatile Lord Glenconner, and Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret. She has organized extravagant parties, run huge houses, camped in jungle in Mustique, served on royal tours, as well as survived the devastating loss of two sons, and nursing another back to life.

A treasury of hard-won wisdom, as well as vintage entertainment of the kind only Anne Glenconner can deliver.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, History, Audiobook

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2023

About the author

Anne Veronica (Coke) Tennant, LVO, Baroness Glenconner is a daughter of Thomas W.E. Coke, MVO, GOC, 5th Earl of Leicester and Elizabeth Mary (Yorke) Tennant, Countess of Leicester.

Lady Glenconner served as a maid of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. She was Extra Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon from 1971 until the Princess died in 2002.

In 2019, Lady Glenconner’s memoir was published by Hodder & Stoughton. Speaking on her reason for publishing the book, she said: "I was so fed up with people writing such horrible things about Princess Margaret."

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not long ago, I read and enjoyed "Lady in Waiting," by Anne Glenconner. You may remember that Anne was a maid of honor at Queen Elizabeth's coronation, and then served as a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret for several decades. She ended that book by looking with optimism toward the future, always wondering "Whatever next?" So, when I saw her new book, "Whatever Next?" up for review, I was happy to sign up.

Glenconner seemed like such an interesting woman in "Lady in Waiting," and that continues in this book. She clearly loves her new career of being an author, undertaken in her 80s. She just turned 90 and seems sharp as a tack. Honestly this book was very similar to her first one; it's just more details about the fascinating life she has lived. She writes of the many people who write to her, asking for advice. "I tell them never to give up, and remind them that life often turns round. I also encourage them not to dwell on things. There is a difference, I think, between facing problems and allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by them, though that can be a difficult line to tread." Glenconner has lived through a lot; an abusive marriage and the deaths of her two oldest children, followed by a terrible accident and near-death of the third child. So, I admired her cheery outlook on life. If I had titled this book, I might have called it "Lucky." Lady Glenconner so many times refers to her luck in this or that happening to her.

From her childhood nanny (one of the good ones; she also had a horrendous one), she often heard, "Let's go and explore." Anne has continued to have a love of travel throughout her life. "The world is full of interesting things to see, but you have to go and look for them."

Despite the vast differences in our backgrounds, I felt like Anne was a kindred spirit in many ways. Her father noticed some of the challenges in her marriage; one being the many moves her husband Colin insisted on. Her father encouraged her to buy her own house as an escape, and she writes movingly of how much it meant to her as she "gradually filled it with my books, paintings and photographs and it became a stable point for me ... it's been a wonderful refuge." She also mentions that separate bedrooms and bathrooms had been such a help -- "I found it easier to play the role of Colin's wife to an acceptable standard when I had a space of my own to retreat to, however briefly." Obviously, most people don't have the resources to do this even if they wanted to, and Anne is aware of her "luck" in this regard.

Anne wasn't the only one in her family to deal with marital woes; she mentions her beloved sister Carey, who had a husband "who would only talk to her through the dog for years on end." This is very sad, but I'll admit I had to laugh when I read it :) Who can believe the things some people do?!

Anne seemed to have great common sense in dealing with things: "Sometimes I find that talking too much about life's problems can simply make one more agitated and prolong the misery. Friends mean well, but they tend to sympathize and tell you you're right to be so upset and egg you on to feel wronged. That can actually make things worse if you let it." I think this is a great observation! Princess Margaret was also a believer that "one didn't dwell." She also downplays crying. "It's absolutely no use." Generally I agree with this too.

Anne and Colin found their salvation in living more or less independently, and I was happy for her that this worked out. I did have to admire the way she "stuck it out" in her marriage, although I think this was more due to the expectations of society and the class she was born into than any religious beliefs.

She alludes to her faith and how it has helped her, but she really only mentions this when her youngest son was in a terrible wreck and doesn't go into any detail about what her faith entails. Later she also mentions how praying with a Buddhist priest helped her after one of her boys died. So, I'm not sure now strong her Christianity is, but that is her business.

When writing about her life, I couldn't help many times but be amazed at what it must be like to have such wealth: "We had an excellent staff, and though I felt terribly busy at the time, I never cleaned a bath or made a bed."

I felt bad for Princess Margaret when Anne wrote of how the press had to set up a "bad sister" to play against the Queen as "good sister." It made me dislike the press more than I already do (is that even possible?!). So much of what we hear on the news is set up in templates the media has decided on, which may have little basis in reality.

She wraps up with some life advice: "Joy is always waiting for us somewhere in life, even in our darkest moments and often in the most surprising of ways, and that embracing life in all its strangeness has so much good to offer ... I try to keep abreast of things rather than sinking into my own little world, and a positive mindset is always a great asset."

I found "Whatever Next?" to be interesting and uplifting.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy and again, an interesting read; although I first thought it was going to be a rehash of ‘Lady in Waiting’; it just went into things in more depth and less in some others. I liked how the chapters were split into themes; not many photos though this time.
‘Whatever Next’ compliments the first autobiography very nicely. Recommended.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's not much more here than was in 'Lady in Waiting', but after her husband giving away all their money, fair play to her monetising her memoirs for all that she can get.

[Lesley Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A chatty memoir, through which you can hear the voice of a ninety-year-old lady, Anne Glenconner, talking about her remarkable life. I didn't read her best-selling memoir Lady in Waiting, but enjoyed in this book her obvious pleasure in the success of that book, and the opportunities that opened up for her whilst promoting it. Born into the English aristocracy, and in an era when women were considered lesser mortals than men, Anne Glenconner learned at an early age to 'behave', to manage her eccentric and often violent husband, to overcome the loss of two sons, and the importance of family, friendship and loyalty. It was her sense of humour, the ability to laugh and see the good, as well as the bad, that sustained her through a long and busy life. A pleasant and light read, with some insights into the post-war era and the changing world that followed.

[Mshelton50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not as riveting as Lady in Waiting, Anne, Lady Glenconner's Whatever Next is a fascinating read. In this volume, she discusses her marriage in more detail, including, sadly, the extent of her late husband's physical cruelty to her. In spite of that, and the tragedy of losing her two eldest sons when they were young men, Lady Glenconner carries on and manages to enjoy life in spite of all its darkness. She attributes her resilience to her upbringing, her friends and family, her faith and her sense of humor. She clearly relishes her success as an author, and intends to carry on writing; I, for one, wish her all the best.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully and heartbreakingly frank and vulnerable memoir by a woman taught to keep her chin up

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this book I will admit I was disappointed, I felt like it was a less scandalous version of Lady in Waiting which I loved. But Lady Glenconner’s storytelling ability is one that keeps your attention and I found I finished the book in a few days. Prince Harry should take a few pages from this regal, classy, strong and loyal royal.

[Krista Esta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Seltsidaami" autori teine raamat, kus ta vaatab enda elule tagasi erinevate rollide kaudu. Mida ta on õppinud elust tütre, abikaasa, ema, võõrustaja, seltsidaami, seikleja ja sõbrana? Kuidas on muutunud maailm ja suhtumised asjadesse tema elu jooksul. Sündinud aristokraadina priviligeeritud ellu, olid seal omad tragöödiad - kuigi jah, nagu öeldakse, on Mercedeses parem nutta kui sapakas ehk rahalised võimalused aitasid autoril elu ektsentrilise (see on veel pehmelt öeldud) abikaasa ja lastega seotud muredega lihtsamini hakkama saada. Anne on aus, tunnistades ka ise oma kohatist eluvõõrasust ja on tänulik võimaluste eest, mis tal tänu ühiskondlikule kuuluvusele olemas olid.

"Seltsidaamist" tibake nõrgem lugemine, aga siiski paeluv pilguheit kaduvasse maailma. Mida tähendab elu aristokraadina pideva avalikkuse tähelepanu all? Kus kunagi ei kaevelda, emotsioone ei näidata, tehakse nii nagu sajandeid on tehtud, küsimata, kas see on parim või isegi õige. Sümpaatne on, et autor suhtub lugupidamisega kõikidesse oma kaasteelistesse ja on tänulik kõige eest, isegi selle va ilmvõimatu Lord Glenconneri eest.

[Johannes · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading "Lady in Waiting", also written by Lady Glenconner, I didn't know what else she could have added to top it but I was actually surprised by what I read: it was a more thorough approach to facts she lightly touched on her first book, and I get why she did it. Old generations raised in between WW2 and what it came afterwards weren't into dwelling on feelings, and the past: you just went on with it. At least, that is what my grandparents did.
Of course I did suspect already her husband was abusive, reading how hard it actually was and that Colin trashed her once to the point she lost her hearing on one ear was... difficult to read. Especially since this woman is not bitter about all that transpired.

To sum up, it is an audiobook turned into a book, more like a storyteller being recorded in writing, and it was such an uplifting most of it. She actually made miss my grandma a lot, yes, she passed away in 1994 but I envy her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for still having her around.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this woman. For someone with such privilege, she has also endured a lot of tragedy (including horrific physical abuse from her childhood nanny and her terrible husband Colin, the deaths of two of her sons from hepatitis C and HIV, and a third son’s coma after a motorcycle accident). I loved hearing her thoughts about The Crown (especially the scenes in Mustique and Scotland) and her stories about Princess Margaret (I gasped during the near miss airplane story and laughed out loud about the gargoyle fountain gift). Lady Anne can’t type or cook but she is amazing! She continued to sail alone into her 80s, deeply identifies as an author, and comes across as candid, hilarious, loyal, generous, and lively.

[Anja Sorber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wat een leven en wat een levenskracht. Maar ook een tikkeltje elitair en snobistisch.

[Negin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, and it was lovely to spend time with Lady Anne once again. I adore her. I prefer her first book, Lady in Waiting .

This one was more a re-hashing of that one. Maybe I was too eager and didn’t give enough time between both books.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

Aging
“Of course it might all seem a lot for a woman of ninety, but I refuse to give in to old age. I’m having the best time ever, which is so invigorating. I want to stick around as long as possible to enjoy it. I am often asked for the secret of a healthy old age, and I’m not claiming this is in any way scientific but I do walk properly every day, making sure I lift my feet. I noticed a while ago that much younger friends seemed to be shuffling. When they started doing it, I would ask, “Why aren’t you walking properly? Is something hurting?” If nothing was hurting, I would make them practise walking with me, lifting their feet and moving normally. It’s so important to keep acting as though you’re young rather than the other way round. I might find it harder to get in and out of clothes, especially a tight jersey, but I jolly well do it even if it’s not as easy as it used to be.
At one book event in Norwich, the interviewer said she was struck by how I sat straight and didn’t lounge. The key is to be aware of it and focus on sticking with it—it’s a mental and physical exercise to keep oneself going. As for managing my weight, I discovered a very easy trick to stay trim. I used to do all sorts of dreadful diets, like the cabbage-soup diet, which means no one can come anywhere near you. Then, quite recently, I found I was getting indigestion if I ate too much in the evening, so I decided to give up supper. I eat breakfast—usually toast and Marmite or perhaps some porridge—and lunch, which is a good, solid cooked meal, with some fruit. I don’t eat again until the next day. I’ve lost over a stone without even trying. I make sure I drink lots of water and I’m asleep for a lot of the time I’m not eating, so it couldn’t be easier. I’m telling all my friends about it—I’m quite the evangelist for the no-dinner diet.”

Difficult Times
“I love it when readers take the trouble to write to me. Some letters are forwarded to me by my publisher, but quite often they come addressed to ‘Lady Glenconner, The Farmhouse, Norfolk.’ It is a great credit to the post office how many of those reach me. My books have been published in America and in a dozen languages now, so sometimes they just say ‘Lady Glenconner, England.’ Most of the letters I get are from people who have simply taken the time to write and tell me how much they enjoyed Lady in Waiting or one of my novels, which is very kind. I try to write back to all of them, to thank them for their generous words. The odd rude or difficult letter does turn up, but I put those aside.
Some letters come from people who are facing difficult times, often asking my advice on how to cope. It’s very difficult as all our lives are so different and we cope in different ways. I tell them never to give up, and remind them that life often turns round. I also encourage them not to dwell on things. There is a difference, I think, between facing problems and allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by them, though that can be a difficult line to tread. I also tell them I try to think of myself as a puppet with a string coming out of the top of my head, pulling me upwards. That way I sit up straight and look forward. Quite honestly, it makes me feel better if I ever get depressed. It’s often silly things that can make a difference.”

Laughter
“… in the darkest days of my life, laughter has always been a tonic.

“When my friends asked me about Colin’s behaviour, or Princess Margaret and I swapped stories about our difficult husbands, it seemed much healthier to laugh about it all.”

“Laughing—even at the blackest of memories—can make things much better. I’ll always look for the humour, the absurd in even the darkest corner to make everything more bearable. It is a great release and has helped me enormously. I also took my courage from Princess Margaret, who was a great believer that one didn’t dwell. When her husband Tony, Earl of Snowdon, was being unfaithful to her, and there were lots of sadnesses and
awful things to endure in his behaviour, we would talk about it but not at great length. Then we would concentrate on other things that we knew would make us feel better. I saw Princess Margaret putting up with all manner of things that could have upset her very much. She simply concentrated on getting through it knowing that afterwards it would never seem as important or terrible as it had at the time. This resolution struck me as a form of courage. She hated crying. Once when I didn’t open a door quickly enough for Colin, and he blew up and she saw me start to cry, she just said, ‘Stop that at once, Anne. It’s absolutely no use.’ And she was right. I learned a lot about stiffening one’s spine and getting on with it from Princess Margaret and I’m very grateful to her for that.”

Life isn’t Fair
“My mother whizzed around Norfolk on her beloved Harley Davidson until she was well into her sixties, in her motorcycle leathers. She was my great friend and champion when I was growing up, and encouraged me to be brave and adventurous, but she never fussed about what I was feeling or wanted to indulge my anxieties. We had to put others first, but not to the extent of becoming doormats in our dealings with the world. It was important to stand up for oneself when necessary. Otherwise her message was simple. Never complain. Life isn’t fair. You will have to do things you won’t want to do, so just get on with it. Putting a brave face on things was all we could do.”

The Queen
“The Queen always understood that the deference paid to her was because of her position and what she represented, not because of who she was as a person. I think one of the reasons she was so loved was because she was not arrogant or haughty.”

Zoom Calls
“During Covid, I did a few Zoom sessions, but I didn’t take very well to them. For one thing, I couldn’t get the lighting right and the camera was always very unflattering. No matter what I did—curtains open, curtains shut, light on, light off—I always looked like I either had an enormous nose or an enormous chin. The people I was talking to all seemed to be the size of postage stamps, and I could hardly see them. I’d much rather talk to anyone in person.”

[Endora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed feelings

I really loved "Lady in Waiting" and was interested to read what was supposed to be a deeper, more in-depth account of Lady Anne's life. The admission of being a survivor of domestic abuse is very powerful, but the rest of the story has already been told in the first book. What I found most difficult to swallow was her constant equivocation around her husband Colin. He beat her within an inch of her life and left her for dead, and yet she comes up with sentences like this: "I do feel glad that Colin and I managed to maintain a real friendship during our marriage. When he was happy, he really was the most marvellous companion." It's a great thing to find strength in forgiveness in order to move on, but the truth is her husband was a vile monster and he got away with it over and over because she let him. She never comes out and calls him what he really was, and I think until she can do that she's not really being truthful. This account of her life could have been so much deeper and more powerful, but it came across as being rather rehearsed and shallow. I admire Lady Anne and the life she lived, but there's nothing wrong with getting angry and telling the truth once in awhile.

[Lara Pearce-Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoy reading about Lady Anne's life & her views

[Beth Yeary]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Once I got started, I couldn't put it down.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A somewhat different book than the first of her autobiography “Lady in Waiting,” this one is told in the same humorous, matter of fact style but with much more openness and honesty about some things which were whitewashed (her marriage) or glossed over (her childhood trauma at the hands of a nasty governess) in the first book.
In “Whatever Now” Anne’s tone is more serious. She explains why she never divorced her seriously abusive husband and discusses useful coping strategies and resources. She also explains why she had to let go of her anger and forgive her two older sons for life choices which led them to die young: otherwise she felt she could not have moved forward in her own life and helped her third son during the five years it took him to recover from a devastating motorcycle accident.
There are two silly contradictions which I think the editor should have picked up on: first that in her first book she said she never laughed so much with anyone as she did with Princess Margaret whereas in this book she says the same thing about her friend (who was also her husband’s cousin) Susanna Johnston. The second contradiction is in the chronology of how old her twin daughters were when they found out their brother Henry was HIV positive— this one was on facing pages which I read over twice not quite believing what I was seeing. (I can’t hold either of these against the author— clearly it is the editor’s job to have noticed these inconsistencies.)
On the one hand this was a much more honest and open book than the first. On the other hand it did not seem so much fun to read, although her courage and positive attitude in both accounts are inspiring.
This book has valuable insights and information on how to cope with whatever life throws at you. Anne says she believes it was her early training on how to behave and her experiences during WWII and as a traveling saleswoman for her family pottery that gave her the ability to deal with everything which happened to her later.
Now in her early 90’s she is very much enjoying her new life as an author, and touring to promote her books!!
“Whatever Now” is a candid look at a very interesting life full of moments of both extraordinary privilege and of tragedy.
Since the second book is definitely informed by the first one, my recommendation is to read both books of Anne Glenconnor’s autobiography.
She is a most charming writer. That said, I just ordered her two mystery stories: “Murder on Mustique” and “A Haunting at Holkham.” Will review them ASAP.

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read the author's earlier book "Lady in Waiting" as it was not available in the library. This one was, so I decided to try it. It is a fairly light coverage of aspects of her life, with interesting snippets here and there, particularly about Princess Margaret.
The chapter headed "Wife", is very difficult to read. It describes the domestic violence and abuse she put up with from her husband. She stuck it out with him for over fifty years and even nursed him for a while near the end. I have no idea where such love and abasement could spring from. On his death, he left all the dibs to his valet, so it goes to show that being a doormat is not the best idea.
Apart from my views on that, I do salute how she has managed to make a life for herself, bringing in money from the above-mentioned best seller. She's 92 years old now, and is looking pretty good. She seems to be a popular and articulate interview subject, and many of these can be found on the internet.
The trait of strength, the ability to find a little bit of good and call it luck, and not to complain about all the bad stuff, is worth a thought, maybe there is good advice in there.
I wouldn't strongly recommend this book, but if someone only wants a bit of an introduction to the life of a British aristocrat, then it passes for that.
Rating 3.2.

[Dione Hanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be inspired! There are always lessons to be learned from reading about someone else's life.

I think that Anne's life is very interesting to me because parts of it are so different than mine. But the part of her life that really inspires me is the way that she reinvents herself over and over. She is over ninety years old and has become an author and she just loves it.

Whatever Next? is an interesting book about a wealthy woman whose family has associated for decades with the Royal Family. The parts of the book about her travel and the fascinating people she gets to meet are really fun. Anne routinely spends time with Princess Margaret and takes her job seriously taking care of her. In fact, Anne spends most of her life taking care of others - spouse, children, company, etc.

But there are parts of her life that are normal; like problems with her husband, her marriage, her children. So no matter how wealthy and privileged you are there are things in life that all of us have to deal with. Over her lifetime she improves as she learns how to deal with life. There are very happy and fun times which are fun to read about. There are sad times that Anne is just lucky to survive, when she depends on family and friend. So in so many ways she is just like us.

[Dione Hanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be inspired! There are always lessons to be learned from reading about someone else's life.

I think that Anne's life is very interesting to me because parts of it are so different than mine. But the part of her life that really inspires me is the way that she reinvents herself over and over. She is over ninety years old and has become an author and she just loves it.

Whatever Next? is an interesting book about a wealthy woman whose family has associated for decades with the Royal Family. The parts of the book about her travel and the fascinating people she gets to meet are really fun. Anne routinely spends time with Princess Margaret and takes her job seriously taking care of her. In fact, Anne spends most of her life taking care of others - spouse, children, company, etc.

But there are parts of her life that are normal; like problems with her husband, her marriage, her children. So no matter how wealthy and privileged you are there are things in life that all of us have to deal with. Over her lifetime she improves as she learns how to deal with life. There are very happy and fun times which are fun to read about. There are sad times that Anne is just lucky to survive, when she depends on family and friend. So in so many ways she is just like us.

[Carl Sagstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed her first memoir “Lady in Waiting” and it was great, but with others it felt like Lady Glenconner almost excused her late husband’s bonkers and violent behaviour.
This time round she is open and honest about her marriage, the complexities of living with the late Colin and why she often glossed over his behaviour.
There is a difference between being a victim and being a survivor, and Anne is very much the latter. Learning all she went through, how she survived it all and her positive outlook on life…I take my hat off to this woman.
This is more than a memoir, it’s full of advice and lessons in relationships, battling through the storms of life and standing strong through it all.
For those outside the UK who didn’t grow up without the aristocracy around, this is a rare glimpse inside the upbringing and lifestyle.

[Guusje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I enjoyed Lady in Waiting I was very eager to read Whatever Next? It's a very chatty memoir - I felt the author was sitting across the table from me as we shared a cup of tea. Lady Glenconner expanded on life experiences that were hinted at in the Lady in Waiting. It as a fast read and at times a superficial one - I would of welcomed a more in-depth look at her life and adventures. The book is a fascinating portrayal of a world gone by.

Just like the Royal Family Lady Glenconner adheres to "Never Complain , Never Explain" - though this time she does pull back the curtain a bit. She's obviously delighted that in her 90th year she's found a new career and a new purpose in her life. I look forward to her third book!

[Roger Smitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever Next is a strange book. It goes back to shows some families in the years of 1920-now. The author is 90 years old. And there are some people that we won’t know.

But Anne Glenconner gives a good read for a cold night. And maybe if you are over 70 you get some new ideas. It’s not a book build on the world we often get. The story is from a woman who is 100 years old

Family is important in their worlds and they had very, very much money This book goes on a rode that doesn’t just look on money. Rich families can come through the times. The book doesn’t give readers what’s going to happen for the family. The the time they got through is a good read.

[Amanda Larkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first of Glenconner's memoirs so was looking forward to reading this one. I did finish it, always lovely to read about a lost age of glamour and parties - with some tragic moments including the loss of two of her sons. But overall it felt a bit thin and some repeating of stuff from the first book. I was also a bit irritated this time by the lack of openness about the fact that you need an awful, awful lot of money to be able to live this lifestyle. Glenconner never really references this. I suppose its seen as a given but I'd like to see some awareness of how this was all funded and how lucky she was in that respect. Maybe I'm just being mean as I'm so poor after Xmas! But I wish I could just buy a fully kitted out caravan when I wanted a bit of peace and quiet.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a delightful follow up to Lady in Waiting, Glenconner delves into more of her private life. She reveals more truths about her tumultuous marriage to husband Colin. I hadn’t realized he was the one who had purchased Mustique island.
The book can be a bridge from how things used to be to how much they have changed. Having lived nine decades, the author is a testament to witnessing change. I was intrigued with the bits and pieces she revealed about her mother, especially how she rode her Harley.
It’s a good capstone for an adventurous life.
Thanks to Hatchette Books and NetGalley for the early read.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Glenconner seems very frank and honest. Her life has been interesting. I didn't care for the way her husband treated her. In today's world, it just wouldn't continue and I believe she would have more of a say in things. The way she was "trained" in how she was brought up was definitely a sign of the time in which she was born. Her story is very engaging. I enjoyed the fact that she is hoping to never have a cell phone and was wise in her description of how people use them and don't take the time to get close to others or try very hard because their phone is also at the ready. I would also like to be joyful as she is no matter what age I am.

[LittleMooseNYC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very sweet book by seemingly sweet woman. She was much more open in this book about her husband and their relationship that she was in Lady in Waiting. If you haven’t watched her and Helena Bonham, Carter and Olivia Coleman on the Graham Norton show, you need to look on YouTube for that. She is quite the entertainer.

I finish this book in two days. It was interesting, and I appreciate her mentioning of matters and consideration, as I think it’s still important today. Sadly, we don’t get enough of it.

Anne, Lady Glenconner has lived a fascinating life, with grace, courage, humor, and compassion. I am thankful that she has taken the time to share it with us.

[Abbie Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Rounded up. What I enjoyed: it was refreshing to see Anne Papp roach her marriage and the abuse she suffered with less defense of her husband and for being more honest about how horrible his behavior was. I also loved her optimism about challenges we face in life. It was a much needed reminder for me.

What I didn’t care for: this follow-up didn’t read as well as her first novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would like to have heard about life since becoming a well-known author. What does her day-to-day look like now? I felt that a lot of the stories I already knew from her first book. Would love to know what she is up to now. ❤️

[Michelle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply honest and touching, the author shares engaging bits about her life, including her childhood, her lifelong friendship with Princess Margaret, the complicated relationship with her late husband, her children, the losses she’s endured, and the life she’s built for herself now.

The writing style is personal and intimate, like you’re sitting with the author and learning these details.

I enjoyed this memoir and admire Anne Glenconnor’s attitude.



Thank you to Hachette Books and NetGalley for the DRC.

[Ingrid Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book from a lovely lady. I don't know her obviously, but her book has a sparkling and direct honesty about it and I admire that greatly. We all think that the aristocracy have a wonderful life, swanning about, and while they do have riches that most of us cannot imagine, their lives are no more fulfilling than the poorest of us in some respects. Her heart breaks as much as the rest of ours. I wish her all the best, and thank her for writing her non-fiction books (haven't started any of the fictions yet).

[Marloes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooie aanvulling op haar bestseller Lady in waiting. Dat boek vond ik in zekere zin naar om te lezen door de manier waarop ze het gewelddadige gedrag van haar man op een vrij feitelijke en afstandelijke manier beschrijft. In dit boek durft ze daar opnieuw naar te kijken - door het als huiselijk geweld te benoemen - en reflecteert ze ook op haar eigen opvoeding en hoe vrouwen werd geleerd dat ze zich moesten schikken naar hun man, ook als die overduidelijk gestoord was. Leuk ook om te lezen hoe ze geniet van het succes van haar boek en hoe ze als 90+er geniet van het leven.