In this funny and charming new novel from Karen King, readers follow Dee and Babs at points when their husbands have chosen space or a lack of communication over major birthdays and international moves. Teaming up for a road trip and a trip to the beach, Dee and Babs choose to enjoy their new freedoms, girl time, and the ocean breeze, but it might just keep them from coming back to their lives and marriages. With a fair amount of shenanigans, cats, and serendipitous chances, readers will love these two funny and fascinating women in this perfectly summery novel. The characters are the absolute stars of the show, and King has done an incredible job balancing their different perspectives and their own stories within this shared narrative. Their challenges and obstacles, as well as their personalities, are different enough so they are totally distinct from each other, and their friendship and chemistry really draws raiders into the story. The locations and settings are vividly described and full of details, from houses and stores to the local residents, and this really immerses readers in the novel. For those in search of some fun summer escapism and a dose of humour, this is a great choice.

The title of this book caught my attention and then reading the synopsis, I knew I had to get lost in the pages! The story of friendship between two women who decide that they need an escape from their husbands. I loved watching Babs and Dee figure out what they really wanted with life at this point in time as mature women. It is so encouraging that they discover that you are never too old to enjoy life and that there are so many wonderful things in store for you. I found myself cheering Dee on as she discovers some secrets. (That is all I am going to say so I do not give any spoilers!) This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves women’s fiction with mature characters who realize they are more than they thought they were as wives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Fiction
Women’s Fiction

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

This was such a funny, lighthearted read. Definitely got me in the mood for summer!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

A lovely story about the lives of two middle aged ladies who take a little break away to the seaside to get away from their husbands, Bab’’s husband wants them to move to Spain and Dee’s husband heads off to Portugal on a golfing holiday. Definitely a holiday read.

Babs’ husband wants to sell their house and move to Spain now they have retired. Dee’s husband forgets her 60th birthday and goes on a golfing holiday. Incensed, the women head off on their own adventure to Cornwall, hoping to heal their hearts…
The Runaway Wives is a light hearted and warm novel about two best friends whose marriages are in crisis.
Oooh! I was livid at the selfish behaviour of their husbands. Poor Dee and Babs have always put their lives on hold for the sake of their husbands and families. The lack of appreciation is almost heartbreaking.
Luckily the women have each other and have been best friends since childhood. They reminisce about past escapades and have a few in the present day too! This adds a lovely light hearted tone to the plot which is complemented by the range of village characters who make the women feel welcome and valued.
I loved Dee and Babs' characters and was desperate for them both to have a happy ending (no spoilers...!) I really liked the dilemmas and emotional wrangling they face as their marriages implode.
On the practical side, this book generated a conversation with my own husband about retirement plans which we had never considered before. I'm glad he isn't hankering after a move to Spain so our futures are aligned!
The Runaway Wives is a wonderfully warm book with brilliant main characters.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a really cute and fun read. I just finished it and won't remember much about it tomorrow, but it was cute and it gave me a good time while reading!

Dee & Babs have such an incredible friendship, I love their support for one another, and just how quick they are to jump for the other when a need arises. The neglect and general ickiness from their husbands was absolutely revolting and leaving them would be the ultimate self care.

Women helping Women was the ultimate theme here, along with the role of friendship - and it was beautiful and I LOVED the character development as they both truly learned their worth and that is a very inspiring thing to read about.

A perfect summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A fun fantastic read really well paced I’ve been laughing out loud in pieces. I’d really recommend this to anyone looking for something light and fun and easy.

A refreshing look at what happens when you’re older, thinking of retirement and realise that you have different priorities than your partner!
Dee and Babs take themselves off to discover themselves, relax and enjoy time away from the worries of life. This book dissects the expectations and responsibilities that come from being married, these two women are so relatable!
It’s interesting how Dee looks at her needs and how things went astray.
An entertaining story with plenty to consider.

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

The Runaway Wives is by far my favorite novel that I have read this year - perfect to read on summer vacation! I simply couldn't put this book down. I loved that the two characters, Babs and Dee, are not the average young adult, but instead two women in their sixties! Everything from the characters, the setting, and the storyline was charming, sweet, and enjoyable. The perfect book to understanding happiness outside of marriages, freedom, and life long friendship.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

The Runaway Wives is a brand-new, brilliantly funny story of women behaving badly and i thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.

Right from the very first page i was intrigued by the story and i wondered how it was going to unfold. I, very quickly devoured the whole thing and i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough so that i could find out what was going to happen next!

It was a very funny book that kept me giggling along throughout and it was also such an uplifting and escapist story too.

There was family drama, love, romance and friendship and i am so glad that i went along for the ride…..

I so appreciate books written about women in their sixties, rare to find. Dee sees an email sent to her husband confirming a weekend away, and she assumes it’s for her birthday. After telling her best friend, Babs, she shops for new clothes, ready to go when he tells her he is going away for a golf weekend. Nigel has not treated her with any respect or love, so Dee decides to leave. Babs is also having issues with her husband, who after retirement wants to move to Spain. Babs does not want to go and wants to stay in England where their children and friends live. Dee and Babs book a cottage for a week, which begins adventures that help them to find their way forward. I really enjoyed the story, and recommend it to lovers of women’s escapist fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

If you work hard and raise a family, maybe you can look forward to retirement. Of course, that’s not the case for everyone. Marriage breakups, boredom, illness can all play havoc with your plans. Meet Dee and Babs, friends for a lifetime and now retired. Dee’s husband goes off on a golf holiday instead of celebrating his wife’s 60th birthday, and Babs’s husband is determined to move to Spain, despite her opposition to this plan. Deciding to have a holiday of their own, Dee and Babs travel to the seaside and try to plan for the future.

The Runaway Wives by Karen King is a delightful and humorous story about friendship, freedom, and rediscovery. When Dee’s sixtieth birthday surprise turns out to be just another solo golfing weekend for her husband, it’s the last straw. Meanwhile, her best friend Babs faces a similar betrayal when her husband decides to move to Spain without even consulting her. Tired of being sidelined, the two women make a bold decision: they hop into Dee’s car and embark on a spontaneous adventure to the seaside.

What starts as an act of rebellion soon turns into a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. As Dee and Babs embrace their newfound freedom, they begin to savor the joys of their own company, unburdened by the demands of their husbands. Along the way, their bond deepens, and they find themselves questioning their lives and whether they want to return to their old routines.

King masterfully blends humor with heartfelt moments, creating a story that’s both lighthearted and poignant. Dee and Babs are instantly relatable, and readers will root for them as they navigate the challenges of middle age and the rediscovery of their sense of self. The themes of independence, friendship, and the courage to make a change resonate throughout the novel, making it both uplifting and inspiring.

Filled with witty dialogue and amusing escapades, The Runaway Wives is the perfect feel-good read for anyone looking for an escape into a world of laughter, adventure, and empowerment. Whether you’re a fan of humorous women’s fiction or just in need of an uplifting story, Karen King delivers an unforgettable journey that reminds us all of the importance of living life on our own terms.

Dee is looking forward to her sixtieth birthday celebrations ever since she discovered her husband had been secretly planning a holiday break. Imagine the sadness when she did discover that he had forgotten her birthday and had planned a golfing break with his buddies.

On the other side Babs’s husband Geoff after their retirement, is determined to move to Spain and to her horror, without discussing it with her, has met a real estate agent, put the house on the market and arranged tours of property in remote areas of Spain without consulting his wife. To add to her anger, he informs her that the house they live in is his and he can do what he likes.

The two ladies decide unanimously to go on a short break themselves, to an idyllic village by the seaside. They are beginning to to enjoy themselves but each of them need different lifestyles. Dee despite her philandering husbands orders to return, is determined to make a new life for herself. Babs seeks a compromise. Both women show it’s never too late to change the direction of your life and one can make a break from the monotonous, the indifference and inject some excitement in one’s life however old yOu are.

Men, they have absolutely no clue when it comes to birthdays have they? A move to Spain isn't too bad, but golfing...come on...sort it out...!!

The Runaway Wives is filled with humour and is the perfect read for escaping the humdrum of life. It's also an inspiration to us 'older' ladies that life doesn't have to stop when you reach a certain age. It's for living to the full!!

It has a brilliant cast of characters. They're real, relatable, very likeable and were so much fun to read about. I so hope this isn't the last we hear from Dee and Bab's.

An enjoyable and engaging story of friendship, marriage and having fun.

This book was an absolute joy to read. It completely absorbed me from the very beginning. I just loved Dee and Babs and their friendship was just fabulous. This is a perfect summer read. These two ladies were there for each other through thick and thin and they did have lots of fun together as well. Whilst this is a light hearted read there’s also a lesson to be learned that women can be strong and stand up for themselves once they have the support of good friends. I laughed out loud many times as I progressed through the book at the antics of both Dee and Babs but especially Babs. Another heartwarming and inspiring read by Karen King.

This is a classic women reclaiming their selves tales. It was fun, escapist, heartwarming and a bit emotional.

It follows the story of best friends Babs and Dee, who take a trip after Dee’s husband forgot her 60th birthday. Babs is also in a standoff with her husband.

This story highlights the ‘horrors’ women face daily in their marriages and it brings to light how standing up for one self brings liberation and fulfilment.

Set in seaside Cornwall, we follow the women as they navigate their new normal, making friends and finding love again. This was immersive and you can’t help but lose yourself in the story.

I love the women and their decades long friendship and how they stand up for each other. I enjoyed their activities and how they adapted to live in Cornwall.

If you are looking for books about older protagonists, escapism then you will enjoy this.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and the setting. It was nice to read about older characters for a change too.