Though there is a bit of humor going on within the story, there is also so much more. Many relatable moments that many of us can relate too.
Middle age issues
Friendship
Divorce
Humor
Romance
Menopause
Grief
Empty nest syndrome


Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club' by Freya Kennedy.

This may be the first book I have read about this author but I cannot wait to read her next one!!

Well done and Thank You to Freya Kennedy for a hugely successful and stunning read!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly. Fantastic and unique!!

OMG!!!!! I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely addictive and truly unique book!!! Honestly this book has just hit my top 3 books and considering how many books I have read that is an epic success!!! I'll be honest and tell you know don't waste your time reading my review as there is no way I can tell you how amazing this book is in words so instead of wasting your time reading this just grab your copy and get lost in this funny, page turning, addictive and uplifting book now!! I can promise you will not regret it! Freya's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic book dropping you straight into Becca's life with these absolutely amazing characters that I will not be forgetting for a very long time, if I ever do!!! This book really has been one of the best books I have ever read!!! It is ram packed with friends, romance, fun, heartbreak, love, laughter, finding yourself, female friendship, second chances and absolutely everything you could ask for in an unputdownable must read!! Told you, you should have just grabbed the book instead of reading this!!!There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed, each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and was absolutely ram packed with so much going on that you will just fly through the pages!!! It is multi layered with all the fantastic characters backgrounds and personalities coming out and each and every character has their own personalities. It was a very compelling and addictive read!!! I genuinely could not praise this book enough as words just will not give it justice so grab your copy today, you won't regret it!!!!

Clear your schedules and pick up grab the tissues as this book will have you laughing until tears are streaming down your face!!!

I loved meeting all the characters who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. I have never met a group of characters like this before and I've never loved a group of fictional characters as much as I did with this gang!!!! The only downfall is that they aren't real which is gutted as I would definitely get along with this gang!!!! I can't remember the last time I laughed so much!!! Our 3 main characters are Becca, Niamh and Laura, with Becca being our main protagonist. These amazing women were brilliant friends and supported each other and helping each other out through thick and thin, it was just beautiful to read!! I fell in love with them all and I was absolutely devastated to come to the end and have to say goodbye!!! I am just absolutely landed to say that this is just the first book in Freya's 'The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club' series and I CANNOT wait to read the next book in this amazing series. This book was an absolutely perfect introduction to these fantastic characters and I am looking forward to seeing them all again and again!! I am also pleased to say that book 2 which is called 'The F*cking Fabulous Forties Club 2' is available to preorder now ready for its publication date on the 6th May 2025!! What are you waiting for?? Grab your copy of this amazing book and preorder the next one now!! That is exactly what I am off to do now!! Such a bunch of fantastic quirky characters!!! Without going into too much detail as you really need to 'meet' these characters yourself!!! As always there are characters that you won't like, especially a certain one who I wanted to strangle the way he treated one of the amazing characters but where would be the fun if you liked all the characters?? Freya's amazing evocative writing skills really has brought each of these characters to life throughout this book and it is really sad to say Goodbye but gladly it won't be too long until I meet them all again!! An amazing group of realistic, strong, hilarious and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in this amazing book and that will stay with me for a very long time!!!!

Congratulations Freya on an absolutely stunning successful book, an absolutely brilliant, unique, hilarious must read and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your amazing books!! Welcome to my favourite authors club Freya and here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!!!

Overall an absolutely fantastic, hilarious and stunning page turner with absolutely fantastic and memorable characters!!!

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I related to so much of this book! Being in my 40s I recognised myself in becca far too much! It was fun to read about how these women wanted to change up their lives after being stuck in a rut. It inspired me to do some of the same!
The characters dynamics were tricky and it was an emotional time for them all, their journey was a difficult one and I enjoyed seeing it play out.

Sometimes something acts as a wake up call,
Reminding you to make the most of life and it all.
For Becca Burnside it is the death of a childhood friend’s Mum
Making her wary of what is to come.

The friendship ended a decade gone by
But rekindling it she and Niamh will try.
Together they'll go to the family wake
And find out what next moves to make.

A story where friendship is at the heart of it all
With life experiences when menopause comes to call.
Looking back on dreams from their sixteen year old selves
Deciding which are best left on the shelves!

Looking back at what happened in the past
With new understanding to heal things at last
Maybe there's hope for the future, too,
New opportunities and things to do!

A heartwarming read sharing hope and much more
With serious issues and laughter at its core.
A great read filled with Irish humour, too,
That I don't hesitate to recommend to you!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I loved this book! Becca finds herself at an unexpected crossroads in her forties. She’s single, stuck in a rut, and her life feels a bit too routine….
That is until… she discovers a long-forgotten time capsule from her teenage years. This little blast from the past sparks a desire for change, and Becca sets out to prove that life can still surprise her.

Freya Kennedy’s writing beautifully celebrates female friendship, with a perfect mix of comfort, humor, and those moments that tug at your heart.

I found the characters within this book to feel like my old friends, and then the story dives into real-life challenges…. Eg divorce, raising teens, caring for aging parents, and finding yourself again.
Kennedy’s wit and relatability shine through, making the narrative both engaging and touching.

*The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club* is a lovely reminder that life’s second act can be just as vibrant as the first. 📚💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books!

The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club by Freya Kennedy

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Becca Burnside isn’t sure where it all went wrong. How did she end up single in her forties, with the highlight of her weekend being a trip to Big Asda with her mum and the only chance of cuddles coming from her dog?

It’s fair to say that Becca’s life isn’t quite where she’d hoped it would be. She already knew that, deep down, but when she finds the time capsule she and her friends made as teenagers and remembers the hopes and dreams sixteen-year-old Becki (with an i) had for the future, she knows she has to do something, and fast.

Refusing to be controlled by her hot flushes and Unexplained Waves of Sadness, Becca is determined to turn things around – for Becki’s sake. But what will it take to prove there’s life in the old girl yet?

My Opinion

Becca and her friends have had a rude awakening about how short life can be. When they discovers letters they had written aged 16 for their future selves each of them find that things haven't quite worked out how they planned. This is not a light-hearted read, it covers some serious topics but it is still an entertaining read. The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club will inspire you to do whatever you feel like doing.

Rating 4/5

This is me to an extent! I am Becca’s age (at the time of writing). I’ve got two sons (not twins mind). How could this be about me?!? Well it isn’t; it’s about Becca !!

Becca and her two childhood besties are brought back together at a sad time telling them that life is short. The trio at 16 wrote their future selves a letter which hits home for each in very different ways. The journey they go on together and individually was fun, heartwarming and addictive!

I love the use of the word fudging. I use frigging but they both mean the same when you are trying your hardest not to swear!! I might have to introduce fudging and its varieties into my vocabulary!!

This whole book resonated with me. It told me to grab life by the horns and take chances. To reconnect with people and to sod what people think! Some life lessons for me! Loved it!

I’m considerably older than Becca and her friends, but this wonderfully written book took me straight back to the trials and tribulations of being in my forties – that awareness that life perhaps hasn’t worked out the way you wanted it to, the changes that suddenly make you realise you’re actually on the verge of being past it, and all those preoccupations with family that keep you awake at night.

But this is Becca’s story, told in her own clear and consistent voice – laced with lots of humour, but with so much depth to the emotional content that it really touched me to the heart. Having suddenly lost her beloved father, her mother’s wellbeing is often foremost in her thoughts – and that’s when she’s not worrying about her twin sons, away in England at university, one giving her little cause for concern, the other lurching from one crisis to the next (and depleting her savings along the way). Thank goodness for best friend Niamh – she might be prone to her own crises at times, but she’s always there, watching her back.

But there was a time when there was a trio of friends – and, their relationship severed around the time of Becca’s divorce, Laura comes back into their lives after they hear about the death of her mother, very fondly remembered from their teenage years. And that makes Becca remember the time capsule they put together thirty years before – including letters written by their younger selves, setting out their hopes and expectations for the future. In her case, there’s a considerable gulf between her plans and what she’s actually achieved in her life – and it becomes a major catalyst for trying to recover her spark and change her future.

The way female friendship is captured in this book is just wonderful – although I could really feel the deep hurt caused by the betrayal that brought about the rift between Becca and Laura, and the struggle to find forgiveness when the elephant was always lurking in the corner of the room. While I was often in tears of laughter, there’s so much (very real…) poignancy to the whole story that there were moments when I had a lump in my throat at the same time – those times when I really wanted to give Becca a hug, reassure her that life won’t always be this difficult and that her best years aren’t necessarily behind her.

Of course, there are also the very real issues of being perimenopausal, not just the hot flushes, and whether HRT might be the way to make everything in life feel better – there was so much there that rang true, and took me right back to those really difficult years. And I must mention her relationship with her mother, which was something I really loved – that trip to the big Asda with the trolley dash to buy all the Christmas bits and pieces brought back so many personal memories, but so did Becca’s occasional frustration at the many demands that made her life even more difficult.

Filled with warmth and love, tackling the issues of the sandwich generation with humour and honesty – essential reading for anyone in or approaching their forties and feeling life might have passed them by, but with so much that can’t fail to ring true whatever your age. This was a book I really loved, with the most delightful characters that it was a joy to spend time with – one for every woman’s reading list, very highly recommended, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the series develops.

Freya Kennedy's The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club is a delightful and relatable journey of self-discovery, perfectly capturing the bittersweet humor and unexpected turns of midlife. Becca Burnside's character resonates with anyone who has ever found themselves questioning their life choices, wondering how they ended up far from the dreams of their youth. Kennedy does a brilliant job of balancing humor with heartfelt moments as Becca navigates her forties, determined to prove to her younger self that it's never too late to chase those long-forgotten dreams. The quirky cast of supporting characters adds depth and warmth to the story, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.

While the plot is somewhat predictable, it's the charm of Becca's character and the witty, honest narrative voice that elevates this novel. The exploration of midlife challenges, from grappling with unrealized dreams to the humorous yet poignant struggles with aging, is handled with both sensitivity and a light touch. The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club is a feel-good, uplifting read that reminds us that it's never too late to reinvent ourselves, and for that, it earns a well-deserved four stars.

Ne'er has a book been so relatable, this was so me going back ten years! I'm still being controlled by the hot flushes mind, but hey ho...

Unleashing a plethora of emotions Kennedy takes Becca and us on a journey of rediscovery, friendship and life as a single, middle aged woman.

By the end of the book, Becca, Laura and Niamh felt more like friends as we'd gone through so much together.

I Adored the Fecking Fabulous Forties Club and I'm keeping everything crossed that this is only the beginning and there's more to come from Becca and Co?

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club is the latest hilarious novel by Freya Kennedy.

We get to meet Becca, who is a 46 year old divorcee in Derry, Northern Ireland whose most exciting thing is a visit to Big Asda with her elderly mum who shouts “do you want size 18-20 big pants?” in the middle of the store! Her life hasn’t gone quite as her 16-year-old self dreamed. Can she and her friends do anything about it?

To finish reading and writing my review on my 59th birthday seems rather appropriate. Although a little over 10 years their senior, I connected with all three women!! I feel this could’ve been written for me and should’ve been titled fabulous fifties instead of forties! I have laughed out loud so many times during this book but I also shed a tear or two once or twice.

Grab your copy here:
https://mybook.to/fabfortiessocial

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

On first impressions, the protagonist, Becca, had a sense of humour that I enjoyed, and I found myself chuckling as I read her narrative. As the story progressed, I found that what I enjoyed most was the deeper side of Becca. She talked about her fears and insecurities in a relatable way, and I enjoyed how she reflected and reminisced. I also really liked the portrayals of female friendship, especially Becca's friendship with Niamh. Everyone needs a friend like that.

This was funny, heartwarming, and a tearjerker, all at the same time. It was lovely to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Friendship, time capsules, nostalgia..women supporting women in that strange time in life called the Forties. Brilliant book!

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This hilarious and uplifting read follows Becca who in her forties is a single mum, with two children who are both at university. She lives on her own with her sog for company.

When an old friend’s mother suddenly passes away, she is reminded of old times, and after reading a letter written by her younger self she starts to believe she has let her old self down.

Determined to make a change she sets herself some goals to achieve, with one being mending an old friendship.

Will Becca achieve her goals? Will she mend her old friendship?

This book had me laughing throughout, and although I’m a little younger than the main character I could still relate to some of the issues she was having.

The friends and family Becca has around her are a great support, and this was lovely to see how they could help each other through hard times.

This was an uplifting read as it shows there is no need to be perfect or achieve all you set out to be when you are younger, life gets in the way, it is what you do with it that counts.

Overall, a hilarious and uplifting read where a woman in her forties is determined to make some changes.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so that when I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. I just loved the characters in this book and also the mention of the menopause and what women have to go through. This book has ups and downs but if you have some good friends then you can get through them that much easier.

I would highly recommend reading this book as it’s just an excellent read.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

The F*cking Fabulous Forties Club by Freya Kennedy

What would Becca Burnside's 16 year old self say about her life now she's in her forties, divorced with children away at university and only her dog Daniel for cuddles? The funeral of the mother of one of her former best friends Laura prompts Becca and best friend Niamh to get in touch. As they reminisce about growing up together can they find their way back to their teenager selves and the hopes and dreams they once had.

What a fabulous book - I absolutely loved it! Fantastic characters and their friendship as teenagers and forty-somethings is so well done. Funny and poignant, and also with great reflections on friendship, family, menopause, aging relatives, grief and so many other things. I'm really hoping for a sequel! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

If you're a fan of "Derry Girls," you'll love this enjoyable book from Freya Kennedy, because these three friends grew up together in Derry in the '90's and are now grown. One friend is "estranged" from the other two, but when her mother passes away, the other two feel compelled to attend the wake and the funeral. This book follows them on their path to reignite their friendship and follows them through their journey through grief, and peri-menopause.

I really enjoyed this fun read, and thank the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy of this book! The F*cking Fabulous Forties Club is available August 20th!

The Fucking Fabulous 40s Club, I went into this having fair expectations. There is a story, we have 3 friends with enough unresolved drama from their teen years there. However the length of the story takes away the story, it gets lost in the main character Becca's musings.

For those who'll persevere through the life reflections the main character has, you'll finally enjoy the heart of the story. Though it will leave you thinking was it necesary to go on and on about something's.

Despite being a few years younger than Becca I could really relate to her and she came across as so real. I could imagine being friends with her. A few weeks ago I listened to another story about a woman of this age and I just did not connect with her or understand her behavior and thought process, but Becca's story was so me!

I loved how this story was more focused on her friendship with her two best friends from childhood than on romance, although there was a little bit of romance there. Both her friendships and her relationship with her mother were very real and touching. Everything that happened to Becca could have happened to myself or anyone else, but the way the story was told made it funny at times and really moving at other times. All in all I was completely invested in Becca's story and enjoyed every minute of reading it. It was simply comfort food in book form for me.

This was a book that I read and enjoyed, more so because I could hear the Irish voice in my head reading any passages of quotes. An enjoyable read with an Irish Mammy I think we can all relate to, this was an enjoyable relatable read.