I’m loving that there are so many more books being written about the experience of being a slightly older woman. Or maybe they’ve always been out there but I’m only becoming aware of them now that I’m that slightly older woman and can relate more to what’s being shared! Whatever the case may be, the stories that I’ve read lately that fall into this category, have all been so relevant and relatable and Life Begins at 50 is a fabulous example of this genre that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed!
Blurb:
New friends, new flame, new fun . . .
Kate dreamed of a happy marriage, a house full of children and a fulfilling teaching career. But after twenty-five years of married life and about to hit the big 5-0, it’s clear that her dreams haven’t quite come true. Then her husband leaves her for his golf partner, forcing Kate to take stock of what has become of her life.
Luckily, new friendship comes her way in the form of three feisty older women who take Kate under their wings, plus a new flame (could it be more . . .?) sparks with local divorced dad, Milo. As her big birthday approaches, Kate’s zest for life begins to return.
But opening herself up means making herself vulnerable to being hurt all over again . . .Can it be true that life begins at fifty? And will Kate be brave enough to find happiness, and grab hold of it with both hands?
My Review:
Kate’s life hasn’t been easy and I felt so sorry for her. It just didn’t seem fair that nothing had worked out as she’d anticipated. It’s true that life rarely does land up being the way we think it’s going to be, but here she is, about to turn 50, a time in her life when she thought she’d be surrounded by loving family: a doting husband and numerous children and possibly their own offspring, and she finds herself in quite the opposite situation. The husband in question was never quite doting to start with, and now he’s run off with his golfing partner. The children she longed for were never to be, and she can’t get over the recent loss of her beloved father.
She knows she needs to drag herself out of the rut she’s in, but she’s not entirely sure she wants to. She has no clue where she’d even start! Thank goodness for her best friend who knows her better than she knows herself, and a surprise group of wise, sassy women (the Saga Louts!) who’ve more than been around the block a couple of times (I just can’t call them ‘older women’, it just doesn’t do justice to them at all!). They all take Kate under their wing(s) and bring her out of the shell she’s been hiding in for so long.
And despite feeling so down in the dumps, Kate does what she can to pull herself towards herself, not wanting to depend entirely on others to do it all for her. She sets out to make new friends, and in doing so finds her potential love interest, who has also been through a horribly rough patch. It’s a gentle reminder that even when we’re feeling awful about ourselves, we can still feel sensitive to what others are going through, and Kate is so genuine in her empathy towards Milo, despite all the knocks she’s taken lately. I loved the interaction between the two of them and the interludes between those laugh-out-loud moments and the more quiet, poignant ones.
Apart from all the wonderful, strong characters in this book, Celia Anderson has written a resoundingly loud shout-out to the importance of female friendship and how much we need to be there for each other, recognising when a morale boost is desperately needed.
This is such an enjoyable read, and once again, a big thank you to RaRa Resources and Boldwood Books for a delightful blog tour!
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/LifeBegins50Social
Author Bio:
Previously a teacher and assistant head, Celia Anderson now writes full time and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, having proudly graduated from their New Writers’ Scheme in 2013. So far, she has concentrated on writing romantic fiction and/or stories with a flavour of magical realism.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaAndersonAuthor
Twitter: @CeliaAnderson1
Instagram: @cejanderson
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/CeliaAndersonNews
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