A bit too feminist for me. A group of friends get together and one of them has become a man. Nope not transgender, just masquerading in a patriarchal society. I got to 50 % and ended as It didnt seem to be going anywhere, dragged on and I don't really like the man shaming or the silly one liner. I get that some women have issues with men but I have been lucky enough to never have a man use any heiarcy with me. I don't want the table to turn and women take over and lower men in society. I want equality.

The Revenge Club is the perfect after-dinner read, because If revenge is sweet, and a dish best served cold then it must be dessert. Ultimately satisfying and amusing along the way this is a fabulous read, about the fragility of friendships, and the failures of modern society.
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As a fan of Kathy Lette’s writing and sense of humour, I was keen to listen to this book. The premise of the story piqued my interest: a group of women of a certain age suddenly finding the tables turning on them in a male dominated, sexist world of high flying careers. I enjoyed listening to Kathy’s narration, her humour certainly comes to life through her dramatisation, although I wasn’t overly sure on some of her accents. I enjoyed the plotting of the different revenge plans and how they finally came together at the end, however at times the story felt a bit long winded and almost repetitive and could have been more tightly structured and paced for me. Did I chuckle though? Yes I did, many a time, both at the female characters, who in themselves are pretty much the caricatures of the women they’re supposed to be representing, and at the storyline.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Aria and Aries for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I was really looking forward to listening to something a bit different - more light-hearted than what I usually listen to or read but, unfortunately, this just wasn't for me.

I listened on and off for about a week but just couldn't get into it; yes there are some amusing moments at the beginning but they get a bit stale after a while as it's more of the same. The characters are just 'meh' with little to no redeeming qualities and, to be honest, are just annoying.

Sorry to the author but this just wasn't for me but it might appeal to others so read a selection of reviews before making your decision.

I must thank the author, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to it despite the fact I didn't enjoy it and couldn't bring myself to listen to the end (which I hate doing).

I recently had the privilege of experiencing both the text and audio versions of a captivating advance copy. The writing showcased remarkable skill, immersing me in a narrative rich with detail and depth. While reading the text version, I found myself engrossed in the intricate storytelling. Transitioning to the audio rendition provided a fresh perspective, enhancing my understanding of the characters and plot.

Despite revenge not being my usual preference, the story managed to weave it in with finesse, making it compelling and thought-provoking. Whether delving into the written words or listening to the narration, the experience held my attention throughout, leaving a lasting impression.

Overall, it's a testament to the author's talent and storytelling prowess, offering an engaging and immersive literary experience that is not to be missed.

I I enjoyed the premise of the book and it started with promise. It did lag a little from the middle onwards but on the whole not a bad read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This was great and so funny! It regularly had me chuckling and I loved how this was written. The women were great, the story was entertaining and it was super easy to get into.

The audiobook - narrated by the author and very well executed if I may say so myself, she did a fab job and brought her book expertly to life.

The women in this rise up against the injustices of being an older woman. Looked over in terms of promotion, husbands taking liberties and problems in the work place, they vow to get even! I was all for it and so behind all the women all the way. I was rooting for them and felt at one with these feisty ladies.

Crude humour throughout and tongue in cheek, it is entertaining to read them peg their wits against the revenge of the opposite sex. I rounded this one up as after a while it maybe got a little samey with the style of humour but it was funny nonetheless.

It was satisfying at the end and a definite book (or audiobook listen) if you want a satirical feminist read.

Four female friends, all sidelined in some way by men, hatch a plan to wreak revenge.

I will freely admit I haven't been near a Kathy Lette novel in about twenty years. My tastes changed, but now I'm more than happy to intersperse my usual diet of crime and thrillers with something a little lighter, romantic fiction or uplifting fiction fits the bill perfectly. Hence, I decided to give The Revenge Club a go.

University friends Tilly, Penny, Jo and Cressida haven't seen each other for twenty years. They had a strong bond at university, they even formed a group, but careers and families mean that they have drifted apart. It is therefore a surprise when Jo suggests they rekindle the friendship.

Tilly, Penny and Cressida are detailing what they have done since leaving university when a strange man approaches their table. They are shocked and amazed to discover that it is their friend Jo, masquerading as Joe. Jo explains that her career as a leading special effects artist ground to a halt when a director decided she was "past it". Using her skills she disguised herself as a man and had the chance to work with the same director who thinks her new persona is brilliant and Joe is now in great demand.

Jo/Joe's tale causes the other three women to begin to recount how their lives have changed now they've passed the 40 mark. A successful novelist has been dropped by her publisher (her writing is no longer relevant), a TV journalist has been dropped in favour of a male colleague (too old to be on screen) and an actress is now only being offered jobs aimed at much older people (roles advertising incontinence pads). Added to this a husband has taken on a much younger mistress. The descriptions in which the women have been sidelined will not come as a surprise to female readers, they are the sort of thing we see and hear on a regular basis. It is refreshing to see that the author is now writing about an older generation of females but, as one of the characters points out, forty is hardly old.

The quartet agrees to seek revenge on the men who have wronged them using Jo's disguise to help. Luckily they discover allies to help them carry out their plans. Some of the allies come from surprising places but also show that not all men are the same.

The dialogue is razor sharp, as you would expect from Kathy Lette, but I felt that it became a little preachy at times. I enjoyed the twists which added unexpected elements to the storyline, making this much more than just a tale of revenge.

THIS BOOK IS THE BEST! It made me snort with laughter as I listened. It is funny, bright, relevant and absolutely brilliant. Bravo.

The Revenge Club, Kathy Lette
Audiobook
1/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me have this arc for a honest review.
I picked this because I really liked the cover art and thought it sounded like it could be quite fun. But oh wow I really did not like this.

‘WHEN THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU, IT'S TIME TO GET EVEN.
Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressy are all women at the top of their game; so imagine their surprise when they start to be personally overlooked and professionally pushed aside by less-qualified men.
Only they’re not going down without a fight.
Society might think the women have passed their amuse-by dates but the Revenge Club have other plans.
After all, why go to bed angry when you could stay up and plot diabolical retribution? Let the games begin...’

I found this book to be very slow and to be honest I was quite bored. It took a very long time to get anywhere with it and when the women started to seeking revenge I had lost interest and was underwhelmed. Some parts felt a little preachy and the continuous puns overdone.

The idea of the story was fun and had potential, this just sadly wasn’t for me. I didn’t overly enjoy the narration and all the different accents flying around, so maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the ebook instead?

This book is about sticking it to the patriarchy and addressing the issues faced by middle aged women - whether it be in love, work, or friendships. Tales of being overlooked, mocked, discarded, and cheated on. It tells us of the power of women, and of female friendships, and it takes a very comical approach to lighten what is a serious and relevant topic. I did find this book a bit too over the top for me, laying the drama on thick and definitely jumping straight into the ridiculous. The characters were also hard to keep track of, with four main female characters and then their wrongdoers, I was struggling to remember who’s who. And, which friendship won out in the end, there’s a point near the end of the book where you realise they’re all self obsessed and pretty bad friends. It took a very unexpected and painful turn, which I found really jarring with the general tone of the rest of the book. Lette did a good job of narrating the audiobook, except for the character accents which were a little odd and inauthentic, and the voices of the characters without accents all seemed to blur into one. So overall, mixed feelings about this one. It was an easy read with great messages but the whole thing was wacky.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Kathy Lette's familiar humour and characteristic trademark manic wit can be found in this novel which I listened to on audio. It is approximately about 11 hours and 50 minutes long, narrated by the author herself. I have to admit that given how Lette comes across so strong in her interviews and other work, I chose the audio because I thought she would shine, but for some reason whilst she was okay, she was not great. This might not have been helped by the fact that for me it turned out to be a mixed bag of a read, sometimes her storytelling was too predictable and over the top and her humour missed its mark, leaving me wanting the book to be over as soon as possible.

The Revenge Club's 4 women, Penny, Jo, Matilda, and Cressida are at that time of life when it is common that women become invisible and suffer the slings and arrows of misfortune and misogyny that are likely to come their way, being pushed aside relationship and careerwise, and it is Jo that guides them into coming together with plans to address the injustices and exact revenge. Given the nature of the book, it perhaps should not be expected that it would have fully rounded and realistic characters. Whilst thee were certainly aspects I enjoyed, there were the parts that grated, but for some readers and listeners it might be that more of it hits the mark, we are all different.

Please read other reviews to decide if this is a read or audio for you. Many thanks for the publisher for an ALC.

Having read books by Kathy Lette previously, I was expecting great things from this. I was disappointed. The characters are dull and the storyline is depressingly just bitter. The narration was fine but wasn't able to inject the much needed spark.

Thank you to NetGalley for approving me to listen to this book, all opinions are my own.

This audiobook was hilarious! It features a group of women who are in well established careers and approaching a milestone age.

This book goes through problems that women go through in all stages of life when they put their career first, and how they can be treated by men within their respective careers.

It was funny, some of the quotes made me laugh out loud, it was easy to listen to and I loved the female empowerment that shone through this book.

The only downside I would say it the author isn’t the best at doing Irish and Scottish accents but that is it.

Would highly recommend.

I listened to the audiobook version of this, I appreciated it was narrated by the author.
I really just couldn't gel or get into this book, but I appreciate it is a personal thing and will appeal to particular groups.
Thanks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had really mixed feeling about this book.
I found it absolutely hilarious and found myself laughing loads. I appreciated some of the insights into sexism and how much of a woman’s life it really affects. But I found the need for revenge a bit much at times. I thought that by trying to be strong women, they actually lowered themselves too much, and set a really bad precedent by involving their children. Especially when their reassurance to her son was we like some things about men. They can fix things.

Absolutely adored this book. Menopausal women getting their own back on men and the patriarchy. What's not to like? This is a hilarious yet incisive ride of a book, expertly narrated by Kathy Lette who is brilliant - have always loved her- I listened to the audiobook at night - on headphones in bed, but my husband complained as I kept waking him up with my giggles. If i could give it a hundred stars I would.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Revenge Club
Kathy Lette

🌟🌟🌟🌟

First things first ....I am not a feminist!
Now, don't get me wrong ....
I'm a woman with a mind of my own who went out to get what I wanted out of life which happened to be becoming a successful wife and mother.
I'm traditional - but....and I stress the but! I completely understand how the world is and that certain things need to change.....and how would that happen without women taking a stand.

I do however, struggle with narratives that become more preachy (of any kind, not just about feminism), so was really pleased that this only touched on that side of things occasionally.
In the main, this was a brilliant, fun story in which a group of friends plot revenge against the men in their lives who have done them wrong.
Now this I can get behind!!

I loved the dynamic between the four friends, Matilda, Cressida, Penny and Jo. All successful women in their own right, but as the years have passed, the men around them have written them off.
Their thoughts, feelings, plans, decision making, doubts and everything in-between are laid out in the open for our delight and given the abhorrent behaviour of the men in their lives - I have to say that I was tight behind them every step!

There are more than a few twists within the story and I really liked that there were a couple of good examples of men thrown in for good measure too! (I needed that as a Mum of 2 boys)

This was well written. Focussing on a very relevent theme, this keeps things light-hearted whilst also getting the message across.
Being a woman of (almost) this age, I found it easy to relate to lots of the elements....as well as finding it hilarious.
A great boost to remind us all to start each day as a fresh page and do what makes us happy!


*I listened to this on audio book and it was such a treat to have this read brilliantly by the author themself.
I admire all narrators, but find that you can't beat a great self-narrated book - a real joy to listen to!!



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I found myself laughing, cringing, cheering as I listened to this audiobook story of four older women, let down and left behind in the misogynist world fighting back to take their revenge. To find themselves, maybe not as perfect as they thought, but with the energy and gumption to do something about the males who have trampled all over their spirit. I especially liked the pizzazz of the narrator - the author herself, and the epilogue. Thank you to Head of Zeus Audiobooks and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

4 women of a certain age are left seeking revenge on the men in their lives. Partners, employers and agents are in for the chop.

I really struggled getting into this book. I liked the premise but not the delivery or content.

2 stars for me. Didn’t hate it but wouldn’t recommend to my friends.


With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.