A book about 3 lifelong friends in their middle age that I hoped to enjoy but sadly I didn't. It was all over the place as I think the author was trying to fit too many things in. It has the potential to be a good read but it wasnt for me, sorry.

A really enjoyable read!. I didn't want to put it down - thought provoking, making you think about how easily your life goals (as a woman) can be swept under the carpet because of other peoples expectations of you.

I adored this book! This was a very relatable book about friendship and relationships. As a woman, this hits on all the different life experiences that we have and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

With thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy read that I felt lacked punch. It played up to the stereotypes of menopausal women and not in a good way. As a woman just hitting perimenopause I found a lot of this quite disheartening. One woman decides to "find herself" another decides to have a baby and the third, probably the best character is simply a side bar. I understand that this is the first in a trilogy and I'm not sure I'll be reading the rest of them.

A laugh out loud, classic comedy that tickled my ribs and split my sides.

A heart warming look at getting older, ever so gracefully and not settling for anything less than pure happiness.

This book is up there with my favourites for the summer, the perfect beach and holiday read that you will not want to end.

I spent a perfect two days on a sun drenched island living vicariously through Helen.

Thoroughly enjoyed, 5 stars from me.

A Midlife Holiday by Cary J Hansson was just a delicious read. Relatable, with humour and pathos aplenty. The three main characters Helen, Kay and Caroline were believable and larger than life. As a bonus, Marianne and Kaveh just lifted and enhanced the storyline. A little bit of Shirley Valentine indeed. Loved it. Five shiny stars and can’t wait for the next one

Initially the book starts by following Helen, who feels that she gave so much of her life to others that she has lost her identity. I'm sure many women with caring responsibilities can relate to this on some level.

The second half of the book followed the ladies on holiday with a good ending, which was more interesting and engrossing.

I really wanted to like this book and I know this is the first book by the author, so I didn't want to be critical. However for me something was missing from this book. Due to lack of character development and portraying them so negatively I didnt like the characters. I also didn't understand the friendship as they spoke about each other negatively and weren't supportive! I felt they were friends you could do without in your life! However I am glad I stuck with the book as the second half was a better read.

Thanks to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the author ~ “I can promise only two things: no knights in shining armour and no flying cars. My heroines save themselves, as in the end we all must do”.

An incredibly insightful and imaginative story, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Helen, Caro and Kay. I think we’d be friends. I loved the window into the 50 something liberation a lot of women experience. Just enough character history to build a trilogy, a sprinkling of realism by way of tragedy and injustice, but plenty of transactional endeavours to bring them to life. Funny, cringey, sad, thought-provoking, the author does exactly what she says on the tin.

Bring on book 2 of the trilogy!

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, yet thought-provoking book about three friends who are now in their fifties, taking a 'midlife' holiday together. The novel reflects on what it means to be a mother - putting your own career on hold for your family and the repercussions this has - and any reader in a similar situation will immediately understand and relate to both Helen and Kay. The third friend, Caro, has prioritised her career and successfully so - but is her life all its cracked upto be? The intricacies of female friendships is brilliantly explored leading to both humorous and poignant moments, and I just loved it. I will certainly be looking out for the second book in the trilogy as we follow the three women as they challenge the lives they've been living so far!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
At the start of the book I felt sorry for Helen, her fiftieth birthday was one disappointment after another, and I found it completely unbelievable that a longstanding, close friend would give her such a present. Once Helen and Caro arrived in Cyprus I thought the behaviours of the friends became increasingly unbelievable, the way they spoke to each other seemed more suited to teenagers. I do not intend to provide any spoilers, suffice to say I wouldn't like friends like these and have given the book 3 stars because it was well-written, not because I liked it.

I hugely enjoyed this entertaining story about 3 fifty year old women who have been friends for decades, and are all going through their own life crises when they head to Cyprus for a holiday together. The book is entertaining, moving and as a woman of the same age, I can vouch that it is extremely relatable. How exciting that this is the first in a series - the characters are fantastic and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
With thanks to NetGalley, Hansson Publishing and Cary J Hansson for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot remember the last time I laughed out loud when reading a book - I could not suppress the humour. This book is heart-warming, heart-breaking and hilarious.

Essentially it is about 3 lifelong friends, whose lives have taken them down completely different paths. There was so much in this story that I could relate to, and if it hadn't happened to me personally, I knew someone else who it had! This is a story about rediscovering who we are. Life has a way of shaping and eroding away at us until we wake up one day truly mystified at the person we have become: this book recognises that and these three friends have to re-balance who they are individually and what they mean to each other. It felt gritty and real!

Helen's adventure is a little unbelievable but thoroughly entertaining and I was behind her all the way. Her phone call with her son and its consequences were brilliant - I could just picture it. My heart broke a little for Kay's holiday packing shopping trip and dilemmas. Caro's life choices have backed her into a corner and who she projects publicly is very different to the person inside - but Helen has a plan and knows just how to put Caro's boss right.

That ending. That ending! Unexpected and totally shocked, yet in awe of how masterfully this is brought to a close. I cannot wait for Cary Hansson's next novel - it has a lot to live up to! Do not miss this !!

A joyful story I thoroughly enjoyed. Three mature friends decide to go on holiday together, leaving behind lives that are very full and demanding on each them in different ways. This time away makes them think of how they each have little time for themselves and how they might want to change things. - good on them! A lovely story of love and friendship

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Really enjoyed this book, great characters that I think everyone would find something to identify with. It is a really thoughtful book but there were places where I laughed out loud. I enjoyed the ending too which wasn’t all neatly tied up. I was then pleased to find out that the book is the first of a trilogy, so more to come - looking forward to that!

This was a fun little read with all of the issues of life over 40/50. Of course we have to throw some excitement in as well and I think most women would find it very relatable!

This book was very enjoyable. I really enjoy books that take the characters on vacation, and reading about Cyprus gave me the travel bug! I found all the characters endearing in their own ways, and as a fertility clinic nurse, I felt connected to Caro’s journey, particularly. Science is amazing! I really wish we found out if she got pregnant or not though!

A beautiful character led novel with some serious Shirley Valentine vibes. The writing is thought provoking and funny, the perfect summer read for 2022.

Love this agrees holiday story

Helen Winters worries the walls are closing in. With her children grown and her selfish husband absent on her fiftieth birthday, she regrets not taking the exciting paths she dreamed about in her youth. So when a well-meaning birthday gift reveals a depressing image of her future, she takes a leap of faith and jets off to Cyprus with two lifelong friends.

Basking in the glorious sunshine and crystal-blue waters while enjoying the attention of handsome men, she starts to feel truly alive. But her best friend isn't in Cyprus for the sunshine and when Helen learns the true reason, tensions threaten their lifelong bond and she fears nothing will ever be the same again.

Can she shake off the years of disappointment and re-discover the woman she once was?

A Midlife Holiday is the affirming first tale in the Midlife Trilogy women's fiction series. If you like vivacious heroines, relatable humour and re-awakenings of the spirit, then you'll love Cary's nuanced take on ageing with attitude.

Please note this is an ARC file.

What a delightful read.
Three friends from way back, now all of a certain age. All have very different problems, some they share with each other and some they try to hide.
A thought provoking tale but with some hilarious parts.
I look forward to Cary J Hansson's next book.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy and have given my honest review.