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.

I was looking forward to reading Dancing Over the Hill as I absolutely loved The Kicking The Bucket List .I am sorry to say I was sadly disappointed with this book ,though a few parts were amusing I found the rest of the story quite boring .Cait was a bit of a drip though her two friends were more interesting and Matt seemed a nice person .The story just seemed to be about their marriage after retirement .Sorry not for me .

I absolutely loved this, Cathy Hopkins is brilliant at writing about real life in a way everyone can relate to, I first noticed this author when I read the brilliant Kicking the bucket list and I was not disappointed by her latest novel, It follows Cait & Matt a couple who have been married for 30 years, the kids have left home and Cait feels like shes missing out on something but doesn't know what, but when Matt announces hes lost his job and an old flame gets in touch Cait and wants to run away with her, Cait is torn stay with dependable Matt or take the risk with Tom Lewis the man from her past. I think anyone will relate to this, it is laugh out loud in places and make you re think how we act around our significant others. I can't wait for the next book.

Just loved this book by Cathy Hopkins and thought it was even better than "The Kicking the Bucket List". It particularly resonated with me because I am in my early 60s and my husband retired this year. Retirement can be a minefield and this novel highlighted a lot of the issues, both with Matt and Cait's situation and that of Cait's father. The A - Z of retirement activities and the list of achievers in their advancing years were great additions. Highly recommended.

An absorbing, well written thought provoking novel. I really enjoyed following Matt and Cait as their relationships unfolded.

Having read The Bucket List I was really looking forward to this next book by Cathy Hopkins, but I was very disappointed with it. The main character Cait, is so wet she's infuriating. If you don't get on with your husband, just sit down and have a conversation with him. Her two stereotypical friends are more likeable. In the end I couldn't continue, and gave up.

"Dancing Over the Hill" is my second Cathy Hopkins's book and oh my word, guys, I just can't wait for more! It was a read filled with fun, laughter and tenderness and it just spoke with me and resonated with me and it was all what I needed at the moment. I was immersed in the story from the very first page, guys, and I really didn't want to put this book down. It was truly fast - paced but not over - done, it was full of brilliant, larger than life characters that the author so incredibly well brought to life, and it just rang a bell or two, it was so relatable. It was also brutally honest and absolutely hilarious, so really, just the best kind of read, evah. I had great expectations for this book, after reading Cathy's previous one, "The Kicking the Bucket List" and I was not disappointed, I probably liked "Dancing Over the Hill" even more.

What I absolutely liked in this story is the fact that the characters are mature ones - people with past, who experienced a lot and they really know what they're talking about. They make mistakes, and oh boy, some really great mistakes, but they are so genuine and honest in all the situations and I just couldn't help and kept everything crossed for them. Cait and Matt have been married for more than 30 years now and they find themselves in a relationship that's, let's say, came to a little standstill. They don't have anything in common anymore, and they just live in one house, next to each other, but as if separate - if you follow me. Probably more out of habit than anything else they're still together. Then, after a whirlwind of events, they find themselves both out of work and the big question, what now, is looming above their heads, and it's not only about their financial situation but also their private lives. Do they want to stay together? It's not so straightforward, as an old flame of Cait suddenly appears on her Facebook, sending her friend request and trying to seduce her again. Then there are also Cait's friends, Lorna and Debs, trying their best to help as best they can, that doesn't always end well, and Matt's brother (oh boy. Guys! Some of the most hilarious scenes I've ever read, please be careful when you decide to talk sex on the phone with your husband!) and Cait's father, and many, many other characters and things. They were open for new stuff and to learn a new lesson or two.

Really guys, there was not a single thing that I didn't enjoy in this novel. It was down to earth and close to life, and with some best one - liners ever. The dialogues were just spot - on, so realistic and genuine, and the situations the characters got themselves into were incredibly hilarious but not too far fetched. There were so many situations that made me laugh out loud, and I fell for all of the characters, that Cathy Hopkins so easily and effortlessly brought to life. She can so well write about feelings and emotions, it was absolutely brilliant. The chapters were just the right length, snappy and kept me glued to the pages.

Cathy Hopkins deserves so much more recognition, and believe me, I'll be shouting about "Dancing Over the Hill" from all the rooftops! This book made me laugh so hard and I couldn't wait to discover what's going to happen. It is this best kind of book when you want to turn the pages as quickly as possible but on the other hand you don't want it to end. It was a brilliant, entertaining story about love, family and finding your priorities, relationships and seeing that grass is not always greener on the other side. It had me emotionally involved and just pushed all the right buttons for me, and I really can't recommend it highly enough! A perfect read!

Dancing over the hill by Cathy Hopkins a funny, laughter filled five-star read. This was one of those books you pick up because you recognise the author and then as soon as you start to think of reading it, wonder what if the author isn’t as good as you remember, I’m glad to say that it was possibly better. I know the book is telling the story of a couple who have been married 30 years, but that’s not everything, its more the relationship between Cait and Matt and their relationships with themselves. No matter what your relationship status or age you will find something in this story that will suck you in and make you laugh so hard you will spit the tea your drinking several times!! So be warned don’t drink and read. Lorna and Debs bring some great comedic moments as well as posing as devil’s advocate and offering advise that may or may not be taken. As we all know you need to follow your own path at times, as if you are already wondering what if, only finding out will settle your brain from asking what if. But what level do you look? Do you scratch the surface or pull all the covers back, that’s what Cait has to figure out when the man who broke her heart in uni comes a knocking? Will you follow Cait on her journey? And give this book a chance? I would suggest that you do it’s well worth a chance.