I had many laugh out loud moments whilst reading this book. Most enjoyable. Looks at a relationship through the eyes of both parties. Highly recommendef

At times hilarious, at other poignant this book follows the relationship between Cait and her husband Matt as they question where their marriage is heading after falling into the traps of complacency and boredom. It was refreshing to have a novel centred on a couple in the 60's showing that you can face the same relationship issues of any age group, plus those such as retirement and empty nests. But this is no ageing couple willing to give up on life and their story will resonate and amuse all generations as they interact with their sons, friends, parent and a former lover who appears on the scene. Cait's 'Bridget Jones's' style lists did slightly irritate at first but they seemed to become more relevant to the story as it progressed. It's the first time I've ready any of Cathy Hopkins's work, but I will be looking out for more. Thoroughly enjoyable!

So true to life. If you live my life! Cait and Matt are in their early sixties and their marriage has become a habit. When Matt is made redundant it causes a huge change to their lives. For one, Matt is underfoot all day and Cait doesn't like it. She has her routines, and suddenly Matt is questioning her every move and irritating her like never before. When the love of her life from her student days pops up with a facebook friend request, what will she do? The whole book rang so true with me. When Caitlin wasted time on facebook - check. When she rushed from one activity to another - check. When she made lists - check. When her husband irritated her just by being there - check. When she missed him when he was away - check too! It was refreshing to read a book with the characters at a later stage of life, and showing that life doesn't end when you leave your youth behind. Although this was a lighthearted read, it covered many serious issues and certainly gave me a lot to think about. I loved the sections at the end with the information gathered by Matt in researching his programme (which I'd love to see!!) The fact that Caitlin had close friends and interests to fill her days, while her husband had none was also very true to our situation, and when Matt let his feelings be known at the counselling session it gave me a a reality check too. Some really funny situations, such as when Matt did his back in and when he came in drunk and fell asleep in the hall were so well described I was laughing out loud. Fabulous read!

Read Cathy Hopkins first book Kicking the Bucket List and really enjoyed it. This is her second book and it was absolutely brilliant. Perfectly plausible storyline, wonderful characters and brimming with humour and also insights into a long marriage and impending retirement and the emotions and situations that may or may not arise. I really couldn't put it down. It was one of those books that you just don't want to end. Cait the main character is struggling with her husband's retirement, the return of her son and partner and her recently widowed father, not to mention the reappearance of an old flame in the the form of dishy Tom. The book is written from her perspective and Matt, her husband's perspective alternately. A great read, full of humour and emotion! Highly recommend.

This book is a real page turner. The character of Debs wasn't terribly believeable, but the two main characters of Matt and Cait were well drawn, and one really wanted to find out how their relationship would work out.

All the family behaviour seemed very true to life, and would have readers sympathising with Cait. The son arriving back when they were ready to let his room would be a familiar story to parents of the boomerang generation.

Matt and Cait are a couple on the edge of retirement just ambling along when Matt is made redundant. What happens next is amusing and sad we can all relate to some part of it. An enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone.

From the author of Kicking the Bucket List, this hilarious new novel will make you laugh, cry and take stock of your life.

Cait and Matt have been married for thirty years and things have gone stale in their relationship. One day Matt loses his job and, with him at home, things become even more strained. Out of the blue Cait hears from an old flame who wants to rekindle their long-lost love.

Should Cait try a new life with this old flame or should she work on resolving the problems of her long and safe marriage?

This book had me laughing and crying and thinking. Ms Hopkins has written this book in a way that you can not help but compare Cait and Matt’s lives with your own. The lists are just like I write, as are the aches, pains and annoyances of living with someone. This book is spot on. Although I am not quite in my 60s, like the main characters, I am not far behind and can relate to many of the problems and grievances in the story.

Very thought provoking and I have absolutely no criticism at all. I am going to read her other book immediately as I am a new fan on Cathy Hopkins!!!

Shesat

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

This book made me chuckle, made me think and made me reach out and hug my long suffering hubby that little bit tighter. He did ask me if I was cold!!
Cait and Matt are at a bit of a cross roads both newly unemployed and feeling a lack of purpose and , with their children having flown the nest, a lack of feeling needed and loved. They have got into a rut borne of habit and living separate busy lives. The frustrations that they share with us are very real and would resonate with most people of a similar age and experience. These are portrayed with warmth and humour whilst not shying away from how hard it can be to live in this detached way. Both face temptation and with the help of a little counselling (hilariously and movingly described) begin to communicate again. The supporting characters add to this book but never take away from our focus couple which is absolutely right! A really lovely book.
Now to go and book that date night...

An easy read, a light and witty insight into a couple both involuntarily retired. A look at life with empty nesters, loss of income, age related memory lapses. Interesting and diverse characters including an old flame. Its a nice change to read about this generation that we are all creeping up towards - I am dreading it and not sure this book helped! Some very moving parts along with the humour.

What a tonic for grey January days this book is! I loved Cait, especially because of her age and the fact that the author clearly shows that romance most definitely is not just for the young - it just maybe takes a little more effort when we are older. Very funny but moving too, I empathised so much with Cait’s way of coping with her grief over losing her mum and her best friend.

I read this book on holiday and it was perfect holiday reading-funny and very easy to read but also very relevant to women of a certain age!Highly recommended!

Many thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley, yet another great story. It is my pleasure to review this book openly and honestly.

At only 4% and I copied and pasted a quote ‘Cue the mini princess from Frozen singing ‘Let It Go, Let It Go’ in my head. Cue visualization of smashing her in the face with a frying pan’........just had to text this to my best friend. I already want to give copies to ALL my friends.
The jokes, references and problems all apply to my friendship circle, middle class/ish, late middle age/ish ladies and finding these very real problems in a novel really helps.

I started reading after another night with a ‘Snoring husband’ and a ‘nutribullet’ breakfast and continued reading throughout the day until I had finished it. I laughed out loud to the joke ‘How many retirees does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but it might take all day.’ and immediately told my husband, who was also’ miffed’ as he thought I may be using humour to complain about him taking sooooo long to do anything.

Cathy Hopkins writing style is easy without being too easy and her ability to write humorous passages is ‘ laugh out loud ‘ /able. I could visualise the passage about her cat with the magnetic collar. Couple this with an in depth understanding of emotional upheaval and pragmatic psychology and it becomes more than just a story.

Having enjoyed Cathy Hopkins’ previous novel The Kicking the Bucket List I was eager to read this – and I was not disappointed.

Cait and Matt, married for 30 years are now entering a new stage of their lives one which is easy to identify with if you are 60’ish (or more). They have what appears to be a great marriage. Caitt has a number of outside interests which keeps her active and absorbed and everything is smooth until Matt has to retire. He is now at a loss, not sure what to do with himself and feeling increasingly in the way as Cait continues her busy schedule. Cait is aware of her increasing frustration with Matt and reflects on their relationship. They are well and quite comfortable but it all feels a bit like an old shoe…

Out of the blue she is sent a message via Facebook from Tom Lewis, a man she met at university, who she loved, and lost. Now she is tantalised with what might have been. She confides in Lorna (recently widowed) who as a good friend advises caution, and then she confides in Debs who has separated from her husband and is somewhat of a man-eater.

This is so refreshing. It speaks to women of this age, the doubts of growing older and feeling ‘is this it then?’; the worries of diminishing attractiveness; the feeling of ‘grab it now’. Although this is really funny there is a touch of pathos.

I loved Matt. Poor lamb, just too nice maybe. As for Cait, stop reading Facebook, stop striving to fill every moment. What are you doing? She is likeable but I was on Lorna’s side; appreciate what you have.

This is really well written. A joy to read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

This book just hits the marks on so many levels. I've just retired at 50 and my husband is still working, but found lots of scenarios that resonated. It has also made me think long and hard about what our life might look like when he retires in a couple of years and the two of us are rattling round the house all day! There was an honesty to the writing that almost made me uncomfortable but in a way that needed to be done to accurately confront the situations being illustrated. It isn't often a work of fiction, particularly a humorous one, gives me much cause for thought after reading but this book did.

Cathy Hopkins follows up The Kicking the Bucket List with this humorous and witty look at the dynamics and relationship of a couple, Cait and Matt, now in their early sixties in a 30 year marriage that is fraying at the edges. The children have left home, Matt has been pushed into early retirement and it becomes increasingly obvious that the couple have little in common. Cait is ripe for something new, a little excitement to bring verve back into her life, and this is provided by the entry of an old flame from university who broke her heart, Tom Lewis. Tom gets in touch via Facebook with provocative and complimentary comments, and unsurprisingly Cait is tempted. What should she do? With hilarious help and advice from her friends, Debs and Lorna, Cait has to figure out whether her marriage is worth salvaging or whether it is time to carve a new path with a new relationship. Hopkins greatest strength is her ability to portray the emotional lives of her characters with depth. A fun and entertaining read on how a humdrum marriage is faced with challenges. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

A good read but made me look to my future more than I would like !

I would like to thank Harper Collins and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dancing Over The Hill’ written by Cathy Hopkins, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Cait and Matt are in their early sixties and have been married for thirty years. Although the passion in their marriage has long gone it isn’t until Matt is made redundant that they question what they want from life. Cait’s old flame from university, Tom Lewis, stirs things up by contacting her through Facebook but does Cait want to awaken the feelings she had for him all those years ago?
‘Dancing Over The Hill’ is an amusing slice of life after retirement when the children have grown up and the house is empty. The characters of Cait and Matt are true to life with Cait’s ‘senior moments’ and many lists making me smile. This is an amusing light-hearted novel that I’ve enjoyed reading.

I had previously read kicking the bucket I excited when I was given the Oporto read and review her new book. It I’d not let me down as iwad a fantastically funny book. As I read I seemed be forever sharing some of amusing sections that had made me laugh out loud. Cait and Matt are having marriage problems at first it seems that it issues Matt is made redundant but it goes much deeper. The book tells the story of a couple who are at retirement stage, do not think they are ready and how they work at trying to resolve them. The reader can easily put themselves in to the same scenario and so appreciate the humour. I felt that the book was moralistic and giving the great advice to spend time along the way to smell the flowers. I wish I could give more than 5 stars as this was a unputdownable book!
The pages after the acknoledgements add even more wisdom and depth to the book and should not be missed. Retirement is not the end of life but the beginning of a new phase that can be so much fun.
I await eagerly for the next book by Cathy.

My thanks go to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for a copy in exchange for this review.

This is not typical of the books which I choose to read. Being honest, I nearly gave up. However, once I got into it, I found I liked it quite a lot.

I also said the same about 'The Kicking the Bucket List' a previous book in a similar style.

The story is told partly through the eyes of Cait and partly through the eyes of Matt.

The book has some very poignant moments and is both touching and entertaining.

On balance, I liked it enough to rate it with four stars.

I read The Kicking the Bucket List so this was a must. I love it when a book makes me giggle chuckle and laugh and this did all that and more, I am of a similar age to these characters so there was so much of me that I could see in them. There is such a raw honesty about the characters in the story that make them feel so very real. This story very much gives you a slap in the face to waken up and stop just getting through each day and start living them. It is then all wrapped up in humour that just cracked me up but still made the point.
Cait and Matt have been married for years, both now in their early sixties they were still working and have their own friends but when Matt is forced into early retirement and Cait has to leave her maternity cover position, they soon realise that they have nothing in common, not even their social lives. Matt withdraws more as he feels in the way in his own home and Cait soon falls prey to an old flame from her university days. Can Cait and Matt rekindle the fire they once had or are they best to go their own ways while they still have chance of an alternate life? Is Cait's old flame her soul mate or is it time to take off the 'rose coloured spectacles' she has worn all these years about him?
There are betrayals of trust and friendships are pushed to the limits as temperatures rise in more ways than one. What I loved about this story is that there were times when Cait and Matt weren't trying to make things work but there was still the basic chemistry. They bounced off each other but it would take more than a little a sparkle from younger days to keep them together.
I really loved how this story has a very modern feel about it. Being in your sixties doesn't mean that you are ready to be put out to grass, there is certainly a lot of living left in Cait and Matt, they just need to decide if what they have is worth fighting for. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I was made to see situations from a different angle. Like wow, is this how I am sort of moments? It really did make me stop and see myself in Cait. A definite mental note of something to be worked on!
Cait's friends come with their own personal baggage, they are both at different ages and different stages in their lives all facing uncertain futures. It gives a good balance, the sort of grass is always greener sort of balance. This is a brilliant all round read that sort of gives you that nudge to take a look at your own life too.