Chick lit for the middle aged . Three long term friends go on holiday together. Not all goes to plan as disagreements arise though their lives are shaken up and they all break the deadlock of the boring lives they have at home
A reasonably entertaining read , though I did not particularly care about any of the characters , though Kay was probibly the best of the bunch, she came across as fairly insipid. A read for by the swimming pool on holiday , you do not have to think about it too much and things work out (more or less) by the end

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would love to have read this book in one sitting, but I had to make do with three days. I’m passed middle age, and approaching fifty, I felt low - what a waste of emotion! Of course we all have problems, but by and large, fifties is a great age to be.
I know this a novel, but it highlights, that despite problems, middle age is a great place to be. I really enjoyed this book, the characters, the humour, the sadness and the meaning of friendship, with all its ups and downs. Add to this a beautiful setting - perfect.
I’m very much looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy to see how our friends are getting on and how life is treating them.
Hurry up Cary!

An easy read on the approach to my own milestone birthday! Not my usual genre of choice, but perfect for those times when you just want some easy entertainment. - or a poolside read for the ‘longer in tooth’! A chuckle-out-loud book for the menopause generation!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this. An enjoyable easy read of middle aged women who were friends in university going on holiday together. Midlife friendships are evolved from young friendships so it was interesting to see how it developed. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series..

Thank you to the publisher, the author and to NetGalley for the advance copy.

A great book on enduring friendship which you can totally relate to.
Three women in their 50s need a change in life so all go on holiday to Cyprus, all have different personalities and all looking for different things out of life.

I loved the characters though Clio was a bit selfish at times.
Just found out it is the start of a trilogy so looking forward to the rest of the books

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Reviewed on Goodreads

A great story about midlife friendships and how women’s roles are established making it very hard to break the mould. Caro is off to Cyprus for something very important and invites best friends, Helen and Kay along. Both have things going on in their lives that is giving them stress so they are hoping to be able to relax. I love the way all three learn something new about themselves and find what they are happy with. A good read.

A lovely story for the more mature woman. Helen was trapped in a life she thought she liked, went on a holiday with 2 friends from uni all ladies reaching 50. All 3 ladies had different wants from life. Helen found what she had beenmissing and her life changed. This is not a romance story and is not a romance novel it is a story of finding yourself and starting over. I enjoyed this book immensely and could not put it down.
Well done Cary looking forwards to reading more from you..

4 and a half stars! Reading this was like coming across a good Lifetime movie that just sucks you in. (Lifetime is a tv channel who's movies range in theme but are often geared towards female viewers and more dramatic). You can't put it down like you can't turn the channel. Great character interactions between the 3 friends. Creative back stories revealed at just the right time. Closer to 50 than I care to admit, I can find a bit of my reality in each of these women and their lives. Very well written. I hope to read more stories soon from Cary Hansson. She is definitely on my fav author list. Thank you #netgalley for my free eARC.

This was a surprisingly good read. Not sure why I say surprisingly, but didn't expect much. I figured it would be a light, easy read. But I really got drawn into the characters - Helen, Caro, and Kay. Though I related most to Helen, I think most of us have bits of each women inside, at different times of our lives. There is a plot line, which so many beach reads seem to lack. Though we are left not knowing the next step in these ladies' lives, I did feel they each reached a new awareness of themselves, and what their futures could be, going forward. I will look forward to reading the next book. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC. Definitely recommend!

Three lifetime friends head to Cyprus for a girlie week away. All fifty plus, with different lifestyles, jobs and dreams.
Once in Cyprus secrets are revealed and life changes come about.
A great easy read with verp plausible characters, I'll be interested to see where the story heads next.

I absolutely loved this caper about three university friends, now in their 50s., who travel out to Cyprus on holiday. For each of them the experience is life changing, putting life into perspective. Three individuals, whose characters and lives although very different, have remained best friends since their university days. The story goes deeper than relationships; it’s more about what each one of us wants out of life but are often not brave enough to face, and take a decision to make the changes happen. The characters are unforgettable, each with their own strengths and failures. And … Wow! What a climax! Brilliant - charming - totally engrossing and captivating. Well done Ms Hanson, this is excellent storytelling.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Hansson Publishing for this advance copy.

The first in a trilogy of life gone stale. Helen finds herself in Cyprus with two friends, enjoying life again. Totally relatable, Helen is so charming. I really wanted positive things to happen for her. I didn't predict the ending.

I *really* enjoyed this book. Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the author, Cary J. Hansson, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book. I give this review voluntarily.

I feel I should give a "parental control advisory"-style warning for the book, however i.e. not suitable for anyone aged younger than mid- to late 40s! Too often recently I've read books written by authors in their mid-thirties who refer to being 50 = old. As someone who recently turned 50, this comes as quite as shock. And I imagine those authors (or anyone younger that 45) reading A Midlife Holiday and *just not getting it*.

A Midlife Holiday deals with the crises of three women who have (or are about to) hit the Big-Five-Oh and who have been friends since their time together in University. These women *know* each other better than they know their own families, and are able to support each other, be honest with each other and help each other be honest with themselves. The relationship between the three women forms the centre and beating heart of the book and is something to be relished and envious of.

Anyone expecting a tongue-in-cheek/hilarity-ensues type book or the romcom the book cover and marketing suggest might feel disappointed by the book because, to my mind, A Midlife Holiday goes much deeper. It delves into what women have gone through (miscarriage, rearing autistic children, divorce, minding incapacitated parents) and how they cope and have coped with what modern life throws at and expects from women. And not just these three women, but all women who strive and survive to middle-age. Somehow, at the same time, it doesn't become overwrought or overwhelmed by the striving even without the slapstick that other books of this type dole out. Somehow, I think because of the central heart and honesty of the book - because it *doesn't* try to gloss over or lol your way through the striving - this book works.

If I was the editor -
a) I would have omitted the whole first chapter. It was a fantastic start but introduced characters and a situation that doesn't set the scene for the remainder of the book. However, A Midlife Holiday is the first in a trilogy, so perhaps this opening will make more sense in the longrun
b) I would not have included Marianne's PoV/ restricted the PoV to being the 3 main characters only - unless, again, Marianne crops up in later books of the trilogy.

Also, and this is more a *me* thing that a fault of the author/book, but I was surprised by the heteronormative-ness of the book. Every Single Character in the book is straight. And that just doesn't seem as realistic as every other aspect of the book. I expected, at the very least, that Caro might have been bi; or Kay might have questioned her sexuality. Or basically that the book might have wandered in to the territory of women who arrive at middle age and begin to question living the heteronormative script that was been handed to them/expected of them. That area of exploration would have been entirely in line with the spirit/direction of the book, IMO.

In synopsis/conclusion - I'm looking forward to the next two books of the trilogy. This author writes beautifully and with honesty. For "women of a certain age!" this doesn't disappoint.

I was sent a copy of this book to review it through NeGaley and I am really enjoying this book.. The author is very skilled in showing rather than telling and the level of descriptive detail and the conversations between the characters make it not only believable but enjoyable to read.

It was billed as a 21st Centrury Shirley Valentine which attracted me to it and it certainly is. The three main female characters are very interesting and I can't wait to finish it.

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #Amidlifeholiday #netgalley

Helen turns 50 and on the day of her birthday her husband is away climbing Everest and all he rings to say is that she missed his summit call. Whilst her best friend Kay is looking after elderly parents and Caro is jetting off to Cyprus. Until Caro invites them both to join her in Cyprus. Will there be tears before bedtime? Does she have an alternative motive?

I saw this book recommended on Netgalley and after looking at the title I thought it sounded interesting and like I needed to give it a go.

Once opening the book it is a page turner. I read it in one sitting. I even stayed up late to finish it because I couldn't leave it unfinished. From the start until the last page you can't put it down. The whole way through the suspense about different things to kept up alongside the many twists and turns.

All three characters are fun and interesting to immerse yourself in. They have so much to give but it's so obvious you need to crack the surface to see that. It's enjoyable to get a good story from all three characters separately as well as a friendship group.

This book is a great romance read. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as stillbirth, IVF, adultery and dementia amongst other things. I do not feel this takes away from the romantic feel of the book but has your heart growing fonder of the struggles each character has faces and allows the holiday to show the real "them."

The description this book holds js one of a kind and makes you feel like you are their. It is so beautiful and emotive. This author knows how to write a good novel and ensure we are their with her.

I Cannot wait to read the next book from this author.

This is the perfect book for any woman who's been adulting for awhile. Three friends with different stories share the need to get away.
This book explores their stories and their friendship.
A fun read,I highly recommend!

I really wanted to love this book, however the writing was very.... clunky at times? I found my self rereading the same passage over and over in order to try and puzzle together what was happening.

Overall it was an ok story and similar writing. Glad I pushed through and read it, but definitely not a top pick in this category unfortunately.

I was given an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

“Where might she be, who might she be, if sometimes, just sometimes, she’d put herself first and answered honestly?”

Midlife Holiday is a fun and honest tale of 3 middle-aged friends who are trying to come to terms with who they’ve been and redefining who they want to be. When Helen’s 50th birthday turns into a series of unhappy revelations, the 3 decide to go on a much needed holiday where they find out they may not be as in tune to one another as they thought.

I laughed, I teared up, and I saw myself (even at almost 30) within these women.

I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion!

I really, really enjoyed this book! It was thought provoking, witty, and captivating and it hooked me from the first chapter.

Helen has reached 50 years of age – a milestone birthday! Yet her husband is away on an expensive break, selfishly pursuing his hobby. Lacking in confidence, Helen feels unloved and unwanted, and following an evening out with friends decides to go away with them for a holiday to Cyprus.
The book has a light, humorous tone but explores serious issues, showing how relationships can change both in friendships and marriage, and wondering whether the man you married is still the same years later. The three women, Helen, Caro, and Kay have been friends since college, though all three have pursued different careers and lifestyles. All have challenges which need to be addressed.
Holidaying in beautiful Cyprus, the friends are at a turning point in their lives. The passions of youth have changed having been drawn into all consuming lifestyles never intended. Helen feels her marriage is over, Kay is worn down caring for family, and Cara – a top professional feels she has missed out. Many women will relate to this as demands of family and work take over.
The plot is well described, and makes entertaining reading; the women are relatable with their arguments and differences always made up. Even lesser characters are brought to life on the page, adding humour and interest.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I would love a second book in the series to read the next chapter in these womens’ lives.