Some really fun moments in this book, which I love. I also really enjoyed Jackie and Ros being older, rather than another 20 somethings story, so it was fresh for me compared to most of what I read. Great characters and an overall fun read

I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

I would be happy to re-review if a better file became available. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

This is a really fun, light read about a group of women - stretching from their 20s to their 50s - who are all grappling with various disappointments in life. There's lots of funny scenes thanks to Lexx's prowess as a comedian, and the women are all flawed and sympathetic. I particularly enjoyed the twist near the end and the lovely little romance!

As a woman on the far — never ‘wrong’ — side of 60, some of my favorite tropes in literature feature ‘older’ female protagonists; women whose characters bear both the wisdom and scars of experience and as such offer an especially rich vein for authors to explore.

When I look around me, I see many inspiring examples of older women. Some, like me, have raised families and enjoyed successful careers. Some, like me, are grandmas, helping to nurture a new generation. Some run marathons, write books, do amazing things in the community. They are all smart, accomplished, capable and strong: the epitome of powerful womanhood.

Not so the chief protagonist in Pivot. Newly abandoned by her cheating husband, 58 year-old Jackie is portrayed as a feeble, put-upon Luddite. She’s encouraged to reinvent herself (and sign the damn divorce papers!) by her similarly aged, best friend Ros, a balshy, career-driven, ballbreaker.

Jackie makes an effort to ‘learn’ the Internet, to get to grips with selfie-mode on her phone, and to play netball with a scratch team of new-found gal pals. When she isn’t flailing around on the practice court (Oh my gosh, I CAUGHT the ball!), she’s falling over drunk at the pub after a heavy sesh with said gals.

Ros, the whip smart lawyer, who runs her own firm and a quick 10k before breakfast, manages somehow to also be a complete ditz. Attending her first rugby match, she’s bamboozled by the players running in the opposite direction to their ‘score sticks’ (that’s ‘goal’ to you and me). I mean, WTF?

Now I get that this is author Lexx’s idea of humor. And I get that such wisecracks might raise a few laughs among a blokeish audience at open-mic night down the pub. But they’re MISOGYNISTIC! They’re CLICHÉD! And they made my blood boil.

This is not how I see myself and my peers, and it’s not how I want to see older women portrayed in literature. And certainly not by another female, whatever her age. There are others ways to inject humor into a narrative.

So, sorry, but it’s a fail from me.

Pivot is a heartwarming story of a group of women who find themselves setting up a netball team.
They're a range of ages and at different stages of their lives, some whose marriages have ended, others who need to take care of their health more (that sounds familiar!) and others looking to add more to their lives. The team - the Hidden Skids- brings them all a lot of joy and a different outlook on life that seemed to be fairly dull and stable before.
There are some wonderful characters here, it was great to see a happily childless woman portrayed so positively Laura Lexx's writing style is very engaging and entertaining, the story raced by - and I was keen to see how their journey went.
I have recently read Thrown by Sara Cox, which covers similar themes- so if you liked that, you'll definitely enjoy Pivot! I might even take up netball, who knows.....
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read the ARC

I like books featuring older women who are at a turning poing and liked this one, a choral story that kept me hooked.
The characters are realistic and well plotted, there's a lot of humour and food for thought.
A compelling and entertaining read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Pivot it the second novel by British author, Laura Lexx. At fifty-eight, Jackie Douglas is stunned when, after over thirty years of happy marriage, Steve packs a bag and leaves her for someone else. And while her best friend, Rosalyn Mackie is immediately and unfailingly there with support, distractions and encouragement, Jackie is disturbed to realise that her whole life revolved around being a wife.

Her adult sons don’t really need her, and her sweet little granddaughter is fully occupied. But Ros has plenty of ideas. They soon discover that golf is not for them, nor spectating at the rugby, but their regular evenings at their local, The Hawk are always enjoyable, and Ros’s antics bring them to the attention of the young barmaid, Jay, whose London redundancy and return to her childhood home have left her feeling a failure.

It's almost by chance: a mandatory staff health initiative at Ros’s work and a derogatory comment by Steve see Jackie, Ros and Jay scraping together their own netball team. They have the bare minimum, no reserves, and only a few of them actually know how to play. And they’ve attracted the attentions of a local journalist, a bully Jay would rather avoid.

It turns out not to matter that their team, the Hidden Skids loses their first game by a huge margin: just having played gives them a thrill, and they are determined to keep going, for various reasons that include spiting an ex or a bully, getting a break from the kids, having something of their own, and saving the local netball courts from being built over.

But months on, Jackie still avoiding the divorce papers, instead distracting herself with new young friends on their team, somewhat to the chagrin of her friend of forty years. And while she’s not sure she welcomes the attentions of a certain single gent of her own vintage, Ros encourages her encounters with the lovely Duncan.

Lexx gives the reader a tale with plenty of humour that also touches on some interesting themes: life after a break-up, happiness as a single, childless woman, realising your parents are not a static unit but two individuals, as well as love, loyalty, jealousy and friendship. She gives her characters some wise and insightful words: “You’re the main character in your own story so you feel integral to everything.”

Lexx has a talent for character description; larger-than-life Ros almost jumps off the page: “smart, rich, forceful and proactive… Ros was pretty used to being the trailblazer in any group of women because she was in her fifties, a business owner, happily childless and single.”

“A few sips and she’d be telling you an anecdote so entertaining and engrossing that it wasn’t until the end of the story that you realised you were actually there when the event happened and didn’t recognise it because of the extra colours she added to the narrative.”

While the novel’s hilarious opening scene certainly draws the reader in, this is by no means a singular occurrence: the snappy dialogue, coupled with Jackie’s self-deprecating inner monologue and Ros’s whacky ideas, guarantee that virtually every page is entertaining.

Ros’s often comical, slightly erroneous expressions are an added bonus: “can’t even begin to put myself in a mile of your shoes”, “More’s the pity party!”, “Mustn’t jump the gunge”, “before you can say Open Sesame Street”, “It’s not the end of the whirl” and “dire strait-talking from your best friend” are examples.

The reader may think they know exactly where the story is going, but there are a few twists and surprises to keep it interesting. A very enjoyable read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and John Murray Press.

Jackie is a woman in her retirement years who’s comfortable life suddenly becomes uncomfortable when her husband leaves her for another woman. The book follows her adventures of ‘pivoting’ her life.

Lexx clearly has a lot of comedic talent as well as being a heartful storyteller, which made this a really easy read.

While it’s a lighthearted book filled with lots of wine-related laughs and slightly too much Netball-related exposition, Jackie really felt to me like a living and breathing person. I was really rooting for her as she tried to find her feet as a newly independent woman, picking up a team of unique personalities along the way.

I loved the theme of strong friendships being the thing that helps you make it you through, and finding a life for yourself that’s bigger than your relationship that you’re in.

I would have loved for the characters of Jay and Ros to have been given a bit more colour and background as we didn’t get much about their stories, despite being important anchors to Jackie’s story.

Thank you to Net Gallery for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the story line of Jackie readjusting to life when her husband suddenly leaves her for another woman; the characters of the strong women and humorous conversations are great reading. Unfortunately, much of the tale then involves in-depth descriptions of playing netball - a game I hated in school and have avoided ever since! The netball aspect ruined the book for me, but if youre ok with netball this will be a great read.

I loved the characters and really enjoyed how it was written! I loved this novel and every single one of its characters. Supremely heartfelt, hilarious and heartrending - it's an absolute triumph!

This book isn’t my usual kind of book but was looking to change it up and I liked the sound of this.
It is a bit daft but the characters are fun, it reads easy, it makes you laugh a little. It isn’t going win a Booker prize but it is a fun easy read. Will make you smile

Thanks for the ARC from NetGalley and John Murray Publishing

A quick, easy and light-hearted read that was well written with characters that I took to straight away and a compelling storyline. A really enjoyable read.

Pivot is the debut novel from standup comedian Laura Lexx. 58 year old Jackie is settled and comfortable with her life until her husband announces he is leaving her. With the help of her best friend Ros, she starts to carve out the life she never knew she needed. This is a warm, funny and delightful book. The characters are likeable making it a quick read that is a feel-good little ray of sunshine.