There's little I enjoy more than getting involved in the lives of characters I find it easy to relate to - I remember it was once difficult to find books about women of my age and experience, and I'm delighted that there are more and more well-written books realistically portraying their lives. In this case though, I'll admit I was rather thanking my lucky stars that I chose to stay single, and haven't experienced the challenges of married life that made Babs' and Dee's lives so very difficult.

After spotting an email on her husband's phone, Dee is adding to her wardrobe ahead of a "surprise" holiday for her 60th birthday - only to find that her husband has instead booked a golfing break, and she's not invited. I seethed on her behalf - especially on learning that she'd brushed his previous infidelities under the carpet, and it was unlikely that he'd turn down another opportunity to stray. Babs though thought she had a strong marriage - until it seemed her husband had very different retirement plans from her, having become fixated on purchasing a house in rural Spain. Despite him putting their home on the market, and booking a trip for them both to look at suitable properties, she's absolutely determined that it's never going to happen.

The friends decide that their best course of action is to find their own fun, escape from real life for a while - and they head to Cornwall for a break together. I did rather expect their time away to be full of high jinks and hilarity - the publishers had mentioned "women behaving badly" - and there certainly were plenty of laughs, but what I really enjoyed was the way they both became so involved with the community around their holiday home and were able to make decisions on what they really wanted from life. There's a fair bit of poignancy to the story, a rather lovely touch of unexpected romance, a bit of drama needing their intervention, a neighbour (and her characterful cat) who need their help - I so enjoyed being part of both women's lives for a while, both of them very easy to identify with and extremely likeable, their friendship so filled with warmth and mutually supportive. And as the holiday draws to an end, the story continues - through to an ending that was so perfect in every way, and tremendously uplifting.

This was a totally delightful read, and entirely engaged me from beginning to end - as both women found the strength to define their own futures, had fun and adventures along the way, and finally found their own paths to future happiness. And the writing was quite wonderful, so easy to read and to become immersed in the story's many twists and turns - I'll be looking forward to reading more from this really talented author.

A lovely, fun and engaging read. Dee and Babs have reached a point where they feel unappreciated and neglected by their husbands. Something snaps and they head off on an adventure.
A time to recharge, enjoy the localities, and find their feet at the 3rd act in their lives.
Will their marriages survive?

Dive in and enjoy the cocktails, wine, sea and adventure.

Its never too late for change and life.

The Runaway Wives by Karen King is a wonderful, heartwarming, encouraging and endearing story about learning to stand up for yourself. Dee and Babs have been best friend since their school days. As Dee’s 60th birthday approaches, instead of surprising her with a lovely vacation in Portugal, her husband chose to go golfing with his buddies at a resort there. Meanwhile, Babs’ husband has recently retired and has stubbornly decided to sell their house and move to Spain; with or without her. Fed up with their husbands, the two women packs their bags for a one-week holiday in Cornwall, staying at a lovely seaside cottage. While visiting healing places, Cornwall works its magic on Dee and Babs as they become engrained into the community, making friends, participating in village life and contemplating their futures. In spite of their husbands' demand to return home, both women face their own anxiety and indecision over what best to do next; stay or do their husband’s bidding. Whichever they decide, this trip empowered them, allowing them to both be happy in the end.

A wonderfully written story that showcases the strength, compassion and tenacity of the older generation and that it’s never too late to take a chance, try something new and enjoy the life you deserve. A heartwarming and empowering read that I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
#NetGalley #Boldwood #TheRunawayWives

Okay, I have to admit this won’t win a Pulitzer but it was fun and it delivered what it promised a funny story of women behaving badly. Dee and Babs take an unplanned trip to the seaside because they feel neglected by their husbands. Dee is turning sixty and her husband decides to take a golf trip. Babs is floored when her husband ups and decides to move to Spain, without asking her. It’s no wonder they take off. I would too.

I loved how this book focused on their friendship and how the ladies learned their self-worth. Women helping women is always a big deal to me and I love reading stories focusing on that, especially when it’s strong women who aren’t going to take it anymore. The character development was so great and they were true to life. I felt like I would be friends with these ladies.

Overall the book was funny and uplifting, a light, escapist story that provided plenty of giggles. So, If you're looking for a read to whisk you away to the sunny seaside and offer a few hours of entertainment, this book is for you.

Lighthearted with serious messages

Well, perhaps I should start by saying that this is not literary fiction, it is an escapist tale of two older women whose lives have become stagnant and whose husbands are out of touch with their wives. I thoroughly enjoyed it and consumed it over a night and a day! I read the previous book by Ms King in this mature women's genre and liked it too; perhaps being of a certain age, I enjoy seeing myself in the heroines! This is a perfect book for the beach, sitting in the garden or beside the fire. It is lighthearted with some serious messages about fidelity, taking spouses for granted, and communication and compromise. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood books, who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

This was an entertaining read, it was written in a very easy to read way. The two main characters are Dee and Babs, old school friends and now are both 60 years old. They are both having problems with their husbands, albeit in different ways. They have taken themselves on a short holiday to Cornwall. I enjoyed the way that Dee gained her confidence back and seemed to grow, whilst Babs had never been short of confidence but needed people to understand how she felt. Things were resolved for them both in a very satisfying way. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Golden Years… that’s the term that King used to describe this type of book – novels with older protagonists. Hm… I kinda like this term. What do you think? It certainly is more inclusionary than “women of a certain age” is, since it does include older men as well. Yeah, I like it; I wonder if it will catch on. Now, apparently this is King’s first foray into this sub-genre of literary fiction. Up until now she’s published psychological thrillers, suspense, and women’s/romance novels. This is why she wasn’t on my radar. But now that she’s with Boldwood books, it’s a perfect match for her in this sub-genre. Since I’ve been enjoying books by Judy Leigh and the like, this was one of the books for which Boldwood offered me the ARC, so I grabbed it.

Anyway, since I’m only a touch older than both these women, it wasn’t hard for me to identify with either of them, and that’s one of the main points of reading literary fiction – to identify with the characters and want to know what happens in their lives. But, in order to make it interesting, there has to be some kind of conflict and/or change. With both Dee and Babs this happens throughout the story. While on the surface, these two women seem happily married, there are some flies in the ointment, and pulling them out is what this novel is all about – both as individuals and as good friends. So, on this score, King certainly delivered.

Of the two, there’s a touch more concentration on Dee, who has been denying her own feelings and needs for so long, she’s mostly forgotten what she wants or what kind of a person she wants to be. It is mostly Dee who we see change and evolve throughout this novel, and its delightful to see her instinctively drawing on her strengths to become part of this community, as if she always belonged there. Babs, on the other hand, seems to be more stubborn and opposed to change, but then again, her husband wanting to pull up sticks and move to Spain on a whim can do that. I think, though, that King slightly overdid Babs’ running away as much as she did, but she resolved that very nicely in the end.

I was also glad that there were a few bumps in the road for both these women, since without them, there would be no climax to resolve. That said, the bumps weren’t extremely problematic, and they weren’t all that difficult to resolve. Mind you, at one point I thought I had an obvious solution for the both of them, but King decided to go in a different direction, which was slightly surprising, but pleasantly so.

Overall, this was a real feel-good novel to read, with a good number of likeable characters, along with one or two not so good ones, thrown in for good measure. The plot isn’t complicated, and makes a whole lot of sense. All of this is why I honestly enjoyed reading it, and I think that King has a good feel for the Golden Years sub-genre. I hope she’ll write more of them, because fun, escapism can be very welcome these days – be it when characters are running away from something, or for us readers to forget the realities around us these days. So, I’m warmly recommending this novel and giving it a healthy four out of five stars.

Dee and Babs have been friends since they were teens and are now approaching their sixties. Both have trouble with their husbands and so they decide to go on a spontaneous trip to Cornwell on their own. Once there they make friends fast and think about changing their lives and start over alone.
I really enjoyed reading this book: it had great characters, a believable plot and the setting makes you want to book a holiday in Cornwall asap. I especially enjoyed reading a book with older main characters and I liked that the downparts of living in area that is a tourist magnet are mentioned. Everything turns out very well in the end and while this is a bit unbelievable it makes for a an uplifting and entertaining feel-good novel.

When Dee sees that her husband, Nigel’s phone notification of a holiday vacation house he has booked for a week, she is thrilled. It’s her 60th birthday soon and she can’t believe that he is surprising her with this. She shops for a few things and when she returns, she finds him packed and ready to leave. He is shocked when she thanks him for this surprise holiday saying he thought her birthday was the following month. He also says that he has booked the home for he and his buddies to take a golfing holiday. She is hurt and furious.

Dee’s friend, Babs, is married to Geoff. Now that he is retired, he wants to sell their house and move to Spain. But, she refuses to go and tells him he cannot sell their home. Oh, but he tells her that the house is in his name only and he will sell it and move.

Furious at their husbands, the women decide to book a holiday home in Cornwall for the week to celebrate Dee’s birthday and to just enjoy themselves. They quickly join in with the community happenings. Dee runs into an old friend, named Kenny. He lost his wife several years ago and lives in the town now.

I loved how these two women discovered a new life for themselves as they grew to be more confident and independent. Every day brought new adventures. This story was so good that I just didn’t want it to end. I do hope there will be a sequel. Now, I want to go to Cornwall. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Runaway Wives by Karen King is a story that some women who have been married for many years can relate to. I laughed and cried with these wives as they found their way to happiness.

Faced with husbands who seem to take little to no notice of their needs and wants, Babs and best friend Dee book a last-minute trip to Cornwall and don’t tell their husbands where or why. Her husband has habitually cheated on Dee, and now he’s booked a golf holiday on the same day as her sixtieth birthday. Meanwhile, Babs’s husband is threatening to pack up their home and move to Spain, and won’t listen to reason.
I loved getting to know Babs and Dee and following their adventures in Cornwall. I found myself chuckling as they went from one drama to the next, and yet managed to remain happy and determined to enjoy every moment of their adventure.
With a considerable supporting cast that included villagers, a particularly lovely cat and erstwhile relatives, I was thoroughly engaged in their adventures.
Although nominally connected to her friend, I felt completely drawn to Dee and understood the pain of being a golf widow. Thankfully, my husband’s golf allows me time to write my reviews, so it’s a perfect fit in this instance. I couldn’t help but be angry on Dee’s behalf and was thrilled that she took a stand in the face of his behaviour. Marriage truly requires some give-and-take from both sides, and without that, the relationship may be doomed to failure.
Babs was in a different position as her marriage had been loving from the start. What she didn’t understand was the reason for her husband’s about turn and decision to uproot their lives on what seemed to be a whim. The book, of course, explores his motivation, and it soon becomes clear that even the most loving relationships can misunderstand what’s going on.
The story is touching, uplifting and totally relatable. Imagine a story where Thelma and Louise had a happier ending, and you’re on the right track.

Babs and Dee run away from their husbands. Geoff married to Babs has a hair brain scheme to sell up and move to Spain despite the fact she has explicitly said no. Nigel forgets a hallmark birthday for Dee and goes “golfing” instead. I knew exactly what he was gophering for.
I loved the seaside town the ladies escaped to and knew how Dee’s story would turn out but wasn’t sure about Babs.
Getting older and changing one’s life can be scary but also exhilarating.
People should consider it their time, finally, to find pleasure and grab life with gusto.
It’s an inspirational read that everything can work out all right.

BOOK: THE RUNAWAY WIVES
AUTHOR: KAREN KING
PUB DATE: MARCH 2025.
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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THINGS I LIKED
1. Both FMCs, Dee and Babs, their years of friendship are admirable, and I like their personalities. They're different, but they still get along with each other.
2. I liked how the authors mixed both good and bad sides of marriages. It was realistic.
3. I liked how Dee stood up for herself. It was due, and I was annoyed at her that it took this long.
4. I liked the plot, storyline, and the characters. An amazing book
5. I liked the small town the women vacationed in
6. I liked how Babs stood up for herself and even compromised when necessary.
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THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. I would have wanted an epilogue from Babs.
2. Not much after that.
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This was an amazing book of re-discovering oneself, resilience, and friendship. Any book about women taking charge of their lives? Sign me up! I would totally recommend it
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In Karen King's "The Runaway Wives," two best friends, Dee and Babs, leave their neglectful husbands for a spontaneous trip to Cornwall, seeking escape and a chance to reclaim their identities. Their journey becomes a voyage of self-discovery and renewed friendship, as they navigate unexpected adventures and rediscover their zest for life.

King's witty dialogue and vivid descriptions make this a truly immersive and enjoyable read. Dee and Babs are relatable characters whose struggles and triumphs will resonate with many readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining and funny story.

This is a perfect beach read because it is light hearted, fast paced, easy to read, and filled with funny moments.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely fantastic and funny story.
I couldn't put this book down.
It has been such a long time that I have found a story this good.
Will definitely be looking out for more titles by this author.

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

This is the story of Dee and Babs, two friends who’ve known each other years.

Both are fed up, their husbands seem to do as they please and Dee and Babs have to toe the line. When Dee’s husband forgets her special birthday and Bab’s husband decides to sell the house and move abroad, they’ve had enough.

In order to get away from everything, they book a holiday let in Cornwall. During their stay they involve themselves within the community, helping out where they can, and remember what they used to love doing and in the process think about how they want their lives to progress.

Dee and Babs were relatable, their husbands Nigel and Geoff, I didn’t much like, but, other secrets are revealed about them both.

I highly recommend this book.

It felt so sad at first for Dee and Babs. There's a relationships and it's complacency,that can happen especially long term. Buy usually love etc you work through it. But these two husbands were another level of no! I'm glad the girls didn't just put up with it. And there start their own adventure and possibly a while lot more. They escape to a community that envelopes them and helps them their lives and themselves in so much clearer colour's.
I love the characters involved. Both our main characters has me wanting to hug them at the start. But they had that quick wit and quirky fight in them that I grew to love coming back to. It's a book you will walk into the room,time for a read, and sit down with a smile too. It's seems sad to say how hopeful and full of sunshine this book was considering the husband husbands role in all this. But just read it and you'll get it.

This was a quick, cozy, and perfectly sweet read. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships with each other.

I did not enjoy this book. I am not sure I was the type of reader the author intended. I would read another book by this author.

The Runaway Wives is the most exciting fun good time read. It got my adrenaline pumping as it's so deliciously delightful. It's about best friends Dee and Babs who leave there husbands to fend for themselves as they jet off for a girls seaside holiday. I absolutely loved the characters as they are totally believable and brighten the story with their quick witted thinking. The plot is simple but effective as it encourages women to see their worth. I loved the small beach town community and the animals just added a gorgeous addition to the brilliantly written story. I felt so much happiness and joy when I read The Runaway Wives.