This book was an absolute joy to read! I knew I was in for a treat as soon as I read the prologue and spluttered with laughter at Lucky’’s unexpected outburst! It’s one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time, but as with all great comedies, the laughs come from the natural quirks and foibles of a brilliantly realised set of characters. I loved them all, and particularly the way the author challenged stereotypes across the age and social spectrum; single dad Ziggy really tugged at my heartstrings. The comedy was effortless, but was equally matched by the emotional depth of the story, and I loved how all the characters developed as the story progressed. I have to give a special mention to Daphne: one of my new favourite fictional characters. I want to be Daphne when I grow up! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an uplifting, escapist read. It deserves to be a huge success.

I'll start out by saying this is not my typical genre, but I wanted to try and see if this kind of adult contemporary was for me. In reality, not really. The story is a bit too twee, a bit too fluffy for me as we see a community band together to save a local rec centre. The plot is also overly drawn out, in my opinion, and a bit boring. I like stories that have either a lot of action, or a lot on angst. Or both. This had neither,and the characters just didn't engage me enough to carry the slow pacing.

I've no doubt that individuals who typically like this genre will love this, but unfortunately it's really not my cup of tea.

Daphne’s 70th birthday prompts her to reflect on her past and the fact that she’s kept a very low profile for many years, venturing out only when necessary. The thing is, Daphne has a very shady past, but could now be the right time to get out there again, act like normal people do? Most importantly would she be safe?

After much thought Daphne decides to join a Senior Citizens Social Club at the local community centre, and while she’s at it, how about a spot of Internet dating?

Let’s just say that Daphne is not the easiest of characters to get along with, but her interactions with others (especially fellow senior citizen Art) makes for some very amusing dialogue. Easy to get along with she is NOT, but she has real hidden depth and this lady definitely steals the show!

The author skilfully presents a diverse cast of characters, from the funny to the malevolent, each bringing their own unique story, and all of them with one thing in common, their determination to stop the local council from closing their community centre. There’s laughs galore, sitting alongside some really emotional moments, so if you’re looking for a fun and entertaining read, then look no further.

What a wonderful read this book was. I loved the flow of the writing, the loveable characters and enjoyed every single page. It was a real “feel good” story and the main character Daphne certainly brought things to life. It was refreshing to have a mix of young and old, a real treat. I shall certainly be recommending this book to others and can’t wait to read more by this author. Completely adorable.

Thanks to Random House UK / Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

This is the first Clare Pooley book I’ve read and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Lydia has just started a new job running a senior citizens’ social club but the people who turn up don’t quite fit her stereotype of genteel older people. Ziggy never expected to be a single father at eighteen. He relies on the nursery in the community centre so he can finish at school. When the community centre is threatened with closure, the seniors are determined to fight the decision and join forces with the local nursery with hilarious results. I loved this book and found it really funny. I enjoyed how it challenged the stereotypes of older people and introduced some feisty characters with dubious pasts. I also liked the relationship that developed between Ziggy and the group.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC,

📚 Book Review 📚

This book made me smile, giggle and laugh which is just what I needed. Not only are the characters realistic, fallible and lots of fun to read about; as a reader you grow to love them.

Daphne has just hit her seventieth birthday and for the first time in a long time, she wants companionship and friendship. After trawling the socials, she decides to pop along to her local senior citizens social hub at the community centre and the shenanigans begin. There she meets a small group of likeminded not-so-senior pensioners, a belittled but lovely woman returning to work and dealing with empty nest syndrome, a number of youngsters from the childminding group based there along with teenage dad Ziggy and his daughter Kylie, a group of antenatal mums to be and members from the local AA group.

Together we learn about the lives of these characters and fall in love with each one as the story progresses.

I loved this book, it genuinely made me laugh and I was rooting for each character along the way. Seriously, Netflix or the BBC need to take a look because this will make a great series.

Me? I’m rooting for Daphne every step of the way and have now found my role model for my future self.

This is a brilliant read, please.. go treat yourself.

#bemoredaphne

I’d like to thank Random House UK, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I found this book rather slow to begin with, but I was glad I persevered as the characters stories gradually, satisfyingly interwove and resolved each others problems.

This is a truly lovely book. It had me right from the beginning with a first chapter that hinted that further fun and games were to come and the story provided exactly that . when I posted that I was enjoying reading this book in the sunshine. in my garden, I had a lot of my friends commenting that it was an appropriate title for a novel for me to be reading the cheek of them!.
The story tells of a group of elderly Londoners who meet in a newly started senior citizen social club. Instead of settling for jigsaws and Macrae plant holder making the characters have other ideas they start with cocktails in the way that they mean to go on! When the social club is threatened with closure because of. the building falling down the members of the senior citizen social club together with the antenatal class and alcoholics anonymous who also meet in the Centre get together to plan ways to save the centre.
Right from the start we hear that one of the members potentially is hiding from the police and gradually we hear more and more about this as we read. I loved this prologue it was a great teaser.
There’s a whole host of charming eccentric British characters in this novel which is particularly proudly British. There’s a yarn bomber a shoplifter and a menopausal woman struggling with her symptoms. and her unthankful husband who is having an extra marital affair.
The author has a delightful relaxing flowing prose style you really tumble into this book and it gives you a big hug . I’ve not read any of her previous novels but will now put them on my to be read by as I enjoyed this one so much.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a primarily relationship based novel. If you enjoyed the recent novels the list of suspicious things by Jennie Godfrey or goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Erika Waller I think you enjoy this book too
I copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 20th of July 2024 by random house UK Transworld publishers.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK

What a joy this book was to read; so uplifting, amusing and fresh.

What attracted me initially was the title, as unlike the author I am more of an age similar to Daphne. The exploits of the members of the Mandela Community Seniors Club, each with their own guilty secrets, were eventually revealed. A superb cast of individuals, led by Lydia the coordinator of the newly formed club, fight for the community centre’s survival, alongside overcoming their own personal issues. A truly entertaining read. I look forward to reading Clare’s next book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Random House for this e-APC in exchange for an independent review.

Thanks netgalley and publishers for arc
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel it was extremely funny,very interesting and most importantly very entertaining
It follows a social club of over seventy’s at the Mandela community centre which is a rather dilapidated community centre in a London suburb
The council have decided it needs £80,000 spending on it to upgrade and update it all
There are lots of groups use it AA, pregnant group,nursery, social club and others so council will have to find money surely
At Christmas council say building to be demolished so nursery and social club put on nativity invite council big wigs to come see it which they do but makes no difference
So social club decided to raise money themselves now need £100,000 so they see competition on to where your dog is the star as the group inherited a dog at beginning this is perfect so train dog and children enter competition now they just have to win not to much to ask really

DNF. The writing. I hate it. If I pick up your book and within the first few pages get frustrated that you're writing like I've never read a book before, I'm not going to keep reading it. Also - TANGENTS. I don't care about this woman's favourite websites! Especially when you've started the chapter on a completely different note! It's a certain kind of fiction that has its fans - I'm not one of them.

Loved loved loved this book!

What a fabulous set of characters, full of flaws and secrets but able to help each other out.

Loved how Lydia grew with help from the others. Lots of laugh out loud moments in this uplifting book.

I’m a big fan of Clare Pooley’s books so I jumped at the chance to read her latest novel. The plot focuses on a group of senior citizens who attend a social group at the local community centre. The characters aren’t typical OAPs and we are given a glimpse into Daphne’s mysterious background, Art’s mediocre acting career and poor old Lydia’s attempts to keep some semblance of order. A satisfying and fun read!

This is not my usual genre but I absolutely loved it! This is down to the quality of Clare Pooley’s writing and ability to bring such wonderful characters to life.
If you’re looking for a lighter read this is definitely one for you.

I adored this book. It made me laugh out loud at times with the antics of especially Daphne.

Daphne has been more or less housebound for years but she decides she needs to get out more and make some friends. She joins a senior citizens' club at the local community centre and the fun begins.

The club isn't exactly well populated, There's Lydia who has just taken on the part time job of managing the club, Art, an actor who isn't one hundredth as famous as he thinks he is, Ruby who yarn bombs all over town and Anna who used to drive a lorry and has had five husbands. Each and every one of them is well drawn. I sometimes claim not to like books with too many characters because I get them mixed up. Turns out they're just not well developed. There are quite a few characters here but you have no trouble distinguishing one from the other here. My favourite (apart from the wonderful Daphne) was Ziggy, the teenage single parent.

Loved this book. It's feel good without being in the least bit sentimental and I'm now off to look for more of Clare Pooley's books. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

A few random seniors meet at a community centre to socialise in a newly founded group initiative. After a lot of bickering among each other, faced by adversities, they eventually form sincere and deep friendships and have utterly hilarious adventures together. Clare Pooley‘s humorous writing style makes this book a veritable gem, I did not want it to end!

This is my third Clare Pooley and was just as fun and moving as her previous novels. I really enjoy how this author explores all the points of view of the characters and adds intrigue into the mundane day to day of life by pealing back the curtain on what goes on in someone else's mind.

I read this book with my Husband and it was fun to discuss our ideas of where it was going together, he even wrote his own review which I will share below.

Husbands thoughts:

It almost felt a little strange starting the booking virtually at the end of the story but that was the clever part.. you’re almost guessing from the beginning what crimes had been committed and by whom! The clever style of writing of introducing the main characters on an individual basis left you waiting with intent.. was it this person?? You can’t help but like the main character, a proper personality let’s say.. not a book I would normally pick up but I was more than impressed with the way the author told the story.. if you like loveable characters and a little intrigue with a proper feel good factor then this book is definitely for you.

Reading this book was a complete joy and can't praise it enough. Would thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking to uplift their spirits.

Well what can I say other than when I reach the state of geriatric greatness I wouldn't wish to age any way but disgracefully indeed!

A laugh out loud story about the members of the Mandel community center seniors club (nursery, AA meetings, karate club and expectant mothers)

Each character brings us something different into the mix, told through different points of view as the story unfolds back to the prologue at the beginning.

I loved how each character developed and how their relationships formed and grew as the book progressed.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day."

I would like to inform you that I am going to follow the author's work from now on, and I am planning to buy a signed copy of this book. I want to express my gratitude to the editorial team and the author for providing me access to this wonderful book. This book is full of life and energy, and it was a delight to read. Sometimes, you just need a warm and engaging book with well-developed characters that can bring joy and a sense of raw power. I loved this book. It made me laugh, think about it throughout the day, and even shed a few tears. What else can you expect from a book? This book had everything I was looking for.