I loved the “The Cancer Ladies Running Club” and I’m not ashamed to say that I cried through most of it. As such, I was thrilled to be able to read this advanced copy.

Well Josie Lloyd did it again! The Salty Sea-Gals reminds us about the importance of female friendships and how important it is that we come together and help support each other.

If like me, you enjoyed The Cancer Ladies Running Club then this is a must read. You might need tissues at times though!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this heartwarming book.

A joyous read, heartwarming and uplifting. The characters are just wonderful, each with their own problems but coming together to partake in cold water swimming in the sea at Brighton. A real sense of community in the group giving a sense of hope and inspiration that it makes me want to join in the group. Quite emotional in places but also empowering with the close friendship of women. A light read overall with humour and totally relatable real life situations ending in hope and positivity. Just the book for a bit of a lift.

I enjoyed this story made up of the characters individual stories which seemed relatable and not over the the top, yet they intermingle into the heart of book with ease and satisfaction. I’ve always wanted to move near the sea and this book has made me even more eager to do so. A great story full of everything you need to keep you entertained and involved

My first experience of a Josie Lloyd book was when I read The Cancer Ladies Running Club last year, which I loved, and this latest book is another example of Lloyd’s ability to write about serious issues, but ultimately create a heartwarming, positive story. It is a reminder that it's never too late to make new friends, that sometimes we find them in unexpected places, and how powerful those friendships can be when life throws us its inevitable challenges.

A group of five women, all of different ages and leading very different lives, come together to form the Salty Sea-Gals, a sea-swimming group in Brighton. They are all dealing with issues of their own and as they bond over swimming, they begin to form a close-knit support network.

All of them have interesting stories which are celebratory intertwined and I have no doubt there will be a character every reader can relate to in some way. And I suspect after reading this there will be lots of people who have never thought about cold-water swimming who will be inspired to give it a go. It’s an uplifting, well written book, perfect escapist reading.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This book ,made me smile, absolutely loved the storyline and the characters.

I got Lifesaving for Beginners by Josie Lloyd, for free from NetGalley for a fair free and optional review.

Lifesaving for Beginners is a sweet sentimental novel about a group of women who go swimming in the sea of Brighton and work together to deal with the issues in their lives.

Lifesaving for Beginners is one of those novels that I found very difficult to enjoy as a whole, however there were so many amazing chapters showing how the lives had been changed by being in this group.

For example there was a scene on the beach were characters who was suffering with the menopause was able to talk it over with the group and was able to find not only some helpful tips but a better understanding what was happening.

Another scene showed how swimming in the sea particularly when it was snowing was able to help with her issues, and the writing in this section really brought me into her mind.

The problem I had with Lifesaving for Beginners, was the fact that the whole novel was full of these moments for each character, yet there was no connection with the people involved with these scenes, the only connection I had was with the situation, not the people involved.

This could be because of the number of individuals in the story or the way that after a moving scene the next chapter started and you moved onto another person’s issues, only to go onto another character in the chapter after that.

The easiest way for me to describe this book is similar to when you are flicking through the channels on your television, where you get involved with a show for a couple of minutes and then move on to the next channel before changing again.

The way for me the writer could have improved the connection, is either cutting the number of characters down or staying with a character for a couple of chapters to allow readers to gain more of a connection with them or even making the book a collection of short stories.

Having said that with the emotional stories from each character still had me staying with the novel, it is just that there was never enough of a connection with the characters in the book to make it a must read recommendation,

However, Lifesaving for Beginners by Josie Lloyd is still a book which for the correct reader should be added to your TBR.

The plot is interesting but very obvious. It’s easy to guess the outcomes for all the protagonists well before the end of the book.
I found the odd mentions of covid and the restrictions in force in 2020 and 2021 rather odd. Did these people just ignore the restrictions and carry on regardless?
An easy non-challenging read. It did make me want to go swimming tho :-)

Lifesaving for Beginners
By Josie Lloyd
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 22/77/2022

I loved Josie Lloyd’s previous novel, The Cancer Ladies Running Club. It inspired and uplifted me at a time i needed it so I was really looking forward to this next book. It did not disappoint.
Realistic characters and a strong story about the importance of female friendships, I couldn’t put it down. Although it mentions the pandemic it’s only as context rather than a major theme, so it felt very contemporary without bringing the mood down.
Brave and funny, I loved it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for inviting me to read this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

My thanks to NetGalley and HQ publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
I loved it , a cosy contemporary book with lots of happy endings.
I engaged with the ladies at every page turned and although the storyline was a time’s obvious it didn’t spoil the book for me.
This is my second Josie Lloyd book and I loved it as much as the first.
I highly recommend the book and the author.

Written by Josie Lloyd, one of my favourite authors ever since reading Come Together twenty-odd years ago, this book, Lifesaving for Beginners did not disappoint. It focuses on a group of five women including Maddy Wolfe, who goes to Brighton in southern England and meets the Sea-Gals – a group of feisty women who are sea swimmers. Funny in parts it includes some of my favourite things such as cakes and it's also about strength, learning, fearlessness, intergenerational friendships, art, swimming and birdwatching. The characters support their community and fundraise, among other activities. A positive and life-affirming, refreshing, beautifully written read that many people will love.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The book is about friendship, about five different stories, set during Covid, this story covers subjects such as grief, homelessness, environment and menopause.

Josie Lloyd covered these topics excellently, it felt like you was also feeling what the characters were, their sadness, the joy..

I loved reading this uplifting book.

I really lived this book focusing on a group of women who meet in Brighton and soon become firm friends. Helga, the matriarch of the group introduces the group to the mental health and well being of open sea swimming out of which the Sea gals are born. This book is very emotional 8n parts touching as it does on homelessness, adultery, covid and coping with loss. At its centre its heartwarming and shows how a group of wen of different ages and backgrounds can come together to help support each other through good times and bad. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

A truly stunning book from Josie; her books get better and better. It beautifully written with lovely descriptions.

First of all what I really loved about this book was the age of its protagonists. Tor, dealing with a chronic health issue, is in her 30s and is the youngest of the heroines. Almost-defeated mum Claire is facing the menopause and not coping well as far as she can see, Dominica, bereaved and struggling, is in her 50s, as is Maddie, picture-perfect Instagram and regular upkeep notwithstanding, falling to pieces with an unfaithful husband and lost son, and Helga is in her 70s and being nagged by her niece to move into a retirement community. What do they all (eventually) have in common? Sea swimming (something which apparently the author took up in lockdown: the descriptions of the actual swimming seem very visceral and believable and add a lovely aspect to the realism of the book).

Sounds like a book full of issues and pain? Well it's also funny in parts and full of strength, cakes, birdwatching, art, intergenerational friendships, supportive male side characters, swimming and female friendship and support. Characters learn and change and do fearless things; they also support their community through direct and fundraising actions, which is lovely. So ultimately a positive and life-affirming read that would appeal to many different people.

My full review on my blog, published 14 July https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/07/14/book-review-josie-lloyd-lifesaving-for-beginners/

This was such a lovely book. Warm hearted, humorous, honest, relatable and beautiful. I’d happily read this again or gift to a friend.

Dip into this brilliant book and join the Sea-gals as they share their secrets, their hopes and dreams while swimming in the cold, cold sea.
Helga, missing her years sailing around the world solo, but at over 70 sea swimming is now the nearest she can get. Tor has rheumatoid arthritis, and the cold sea water helps her with the pain. It also helps her forget that she is living with more than 1 secret that she is yet to share with her parents and twin sister. Dominica is grieving for her beloved husband Chris who died of Covid at the start of the pandemic. Swimming helps her share her heartache with her friends and remember her husband with love and laughter.
These 3 are the "original" Sea-gals but they are quickly joined by Claire and Maddy. Both have their own problems but meeting and joining the Sea-gals will give them a new perspective and help them cope with the present and face the future. With ups and downs, you'll feel like you're on a rollercoaster of emotions, but you will ultimately be left with a very warm glow.
If you enjoyed The Cancer Ladies Running Club this is a must read. The characters are relatable and very human. None of us are perfect and these ladies show that that is okay. With good friends around you, you can cope with anything. It will take you on a real rollercoaster of emotions and make you want to join the Sea-gals.

When Maddy's marriage falls apart, she ends up in Brighton searching for her estranged son. Chance involves her in a sea swimming group. Everyone in the group needs support right now and this is the group to help. An incredible group who value friendship. This is just what Maddy needs to give her her life back. So heartwarming.

I’m not a fan of cold water or swimming but this book has inspired me to take cold showers not for long but I’ve started, I’m not close enough to take up sea swimming but it’s certainly something I’ll try on my next seaside visit. I want to experience the feeling of sea on my skin invigorating my body and mind just as described. I want to feel this myself!
Friendship is the heart of this book with five very different stories and backgrounds.
Set during covid times this story also touches on the subjects of loneliness, grief, body image, homelessness, environment and menopause. Difficult subjects to get a real feel from in pages of a story but Josie Lloyd manages it perfectly you feel there, you experience the sadness the despair the joy.. Wonderful uplifting read that did bring me to tears a few times. A book that you relate to one or more of the characters because of their story, their experience.

The Sea-Gals - Dominica, Tor and Helga, who meet regularly to swim in the sea whatever the weather. This band of women who support and guide each other. They are joined by Claire and Maggy who soon join the gang. This tale of friendship and love is heartwarming and beautiful.

This book had me researching cold water swimming groups near me, and I've found where they go! Been on my list of things I want to do for such a long time. I loved this book for the relationships that built up between women of all ages and backgrounds. The mutual support was lovely to see - there was no thought of tearing anyone down, or criticising them for being different. They all appreciated each other as they are. I most identified with Claire, although I am Dominica's age. But menopausal, struggling with purpose, confidence and body image - yes!! These were real people with real lives. I loved this and devoured it in a day. #netgalley #lifesavingforbeginners