Book Two in Freya Kennedy’s Fabulous Fourties’ Club Series “Stuck in the Midlife With You” hits shelves May 28, 2025. Thank you to @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for letting me have an advanced copy to review.
I admit I didn’t know this was a book two going into it, however I still found it easy to follow without having read the prior book. That being said I am definitely going back to read book one because I really enjoyed reading about Becca, her friends, and their adventures facing the next chapter of their lives together. I love books about friendship and that is definitely at the core of this story.
After finding a Time Capsule that Becca and her friends buried as teenagers (Book 1) Becca has been trying to make her life into something teenage her would be proud of, along with her two best friends. The news that she will soon be a grandmother spurs her on even more to chase the dreams she let die.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

I am truly on a roll with Boldwood Books at this point - this one was SO good! Characters in their 40's, engaging and witty banter, and a situation that has to be dealt with the most grace as possible.

I will say that I did feel this one was a bit off on the pacing at times - rushing in all of the "before" chapters and then getting really sluggish with the new baby. I still enjoyed it though and would call it a fun light read.

Thanks netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book. Families, friendships, females in their forties,flashes...of the hot variety! all make this an honest & funny read well worth giving a go.

I really enjoyed this book! I hadn’t read the first in the series but I think you don’t need to - to follow the story. I think the age likeness for myself hitting 40 made it an even more relatable read for me!
The characters are written really well - there is laughter, sadness and happiness too all whilst describing the truth of a certain age!
I’ll definitely be going to look for this authors other books and will go back and read the 1st.
Would definitely recommend if you are in or heading to your 40’s!

A new author for me and an excellent book from Freya. I will be having a look for more of this author's books. This one ticks all the boxes for me and didn't disappoint.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Having read the first book of the series, I am glad to be reacquainted with the characters in this series. The previous book ended at a suspenseful point when we discovered the children were getting together and having a baby!? and of course, on the word "GO!" I had to read through to the end to find out what was happening.

New spanner thrown in the works this episode, with Niamh suffering from peri-menopause besides having to digest the news of her dear daughter getting pregnant at the age of 19, it was not an easy time for her! But with the support of her good friends, and the support of her family, she was quite the protaganist of this book having to overcome so many mental hurdles.

I don't give spoilers, but I am a sucker for happy endings! So this book is highly recommended for over-forties - you will probably find a lot of relatable moments in this book as well!

This was an accurate and thought provoking look into the minds of middle aged women and how they deal with all the shocks and knock backs of life. It is about how you negotiate your children becoming adults and possibly faster than you would like.

This is the second book in the Fabulous Forties series but it can be read as a standalone. I will however say that Book 1 The F*cking Fabulous Forties club is such a great read. So go check it out if you haven’t already read it. Anyway back to book two. Oh wow what another great read this was. I just love the characters in this book and could really relate to them all. They had me laughing out loud at times and I could totally relate to what they were going through. There was also an emotional side coming through . How will Becca and Niamh cope with the prospect of becoming Grandmothers will it bring them even closer together or cause a rift in their friendship. I’m really hoping there’ll be a third book in the series as I just have to find out how things are going with this close knit trio of friends and their families.

I loved this trio when I first met them in The Fabulous Forties Club and I was thrilled when I saw they were returning. I really identified with them and this time around, my affiliation and affection was cemented.

The fab three of Becca, Laura and Niamh are off on a retreat to find their inner goddesses. This weekend trip is fully of self discovery, awareness and thought provocation for these women despite their initial cynicism. It’s the sort of thing I’d give a go to (well I’d like to think that anyway). I loved their reactions to the different activities and how each of them reacted.

But they had to return to reality with a bump and then I went on an emotional rollercoaster. Tears were held back (unsuccessfully), the lump in my throat was painfully swallowed. Man, I was a wreck at points!

I’ll admit reading this book as much fun as it is, made me reflect on how I’m feeling with life, as I am a woman of a certain age. Maybe some of my identifications with these fictional women has rung true and a little close to the bone in my reluctance to admit I’m hitting the menopause and “it’s just work stress”.

Stuck In The Midlife With You is a fun read seeing three friends go through the changes and challenges that their lives have thrown at them. I want more from this trio, I love them!!!

A cheeky read about two best friends. Their lives have become much more complicated because their children are now going to have a child together.
It does test the bonds of friendship but both Niamh and Becca had to reevaluate where they are in life.
Sometimes that’s necessary whether a major life change is imminent or not.
I thought Becca coddled her kids way too much even though they were 19. Niamh did way too much for her kids and was right to declare some independence.
A good read for anyone facing life challenges which is just about everyone.

The first in this series has been stuck in my TBR pile but is now definitely at the top. This was like a warm hug. Becca, Niamh and Laura felt like friends by the end and I loved the humour throughout.

Having recently become a member of the fecking fabulous forties club myself I could really relate to a lot of the struggles they are facing. All of the characters are very relatable!

I feel like if anyone is struggling with hitting middle age or could just use a good laugh then this is definitely the right book/series for you.

Really looking forward to going back and catching up on the first one as well as reading the next one.

Sandwich generation!

This is a fun book that well describes the situation of us in the 'sandwich' generation, women with growing families and also parents to look after. Lots of familiar situations treated with humour and sensitivity. But not taking itself too seriously! Great book if you are at that age or remember it well or have it to look forward to!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

The premise sounded really good, so I was excited to check this one out. In the end, this one was an average read for me. At the core, it is a book full of humor and friendship. This is a sequel, so it may benefit readers to read them in order to gain a better appreciation for the characters. There is a lot of inner dialogue that doesn't necessarily contribute to the story overall. However, if you are in your 40s, you will likely find this book relatable in many ways.

Stuck in the Midlife with You 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

Your forties just got fabulous...

Becca Burnside is going to make this the year she turns her forties around, and creates a life her 16-year-old self would be proud of... A smidgen of romance wouldn’t go amiss either.

And with a new job, and a blossoming friendship with handsome Conal, she’s off to a great start. Or at least, she was, until her youngest son dropped the mother of all his girlfriend, who just happens to be the daughter of Becca’s best friend Niamh, is pregnant. Now Becca and Niamh find themselves not only facing the usual problems that come with being women of a certain age, they’re going to be grannies.

So when Becca’s new job invites them on a weekend retreat, it seems the perfect way to distract themselves from ‘the Situation’. But will wild water swimming and yoga be enough to help the women face the biggest challenge of their adult lives? And can their friendship survive the chaos of a new baby?

My Opinion

Stuck in the Midlife with You is the second book in a series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Whilst Freya Kennedy touches on some sensitive topics this was an enjoyable read. A comforting read that I was able to read in a few short sittings.

Rating 4/5

This is a book about changing lives as we age. It is book 2 in a series. I did not read the first book and that did not hamper my ability to enjoy this story.

Menopause is a large theme and there is lots of discussion about those symptoms and the different ways it impacts women.
Sometimes the author was a bit repetitive but overall this story is very well done.

Though the book tackles some tough subjects including teen pregnancy the story is told with incredible humor. I chuckled throughout the book and towards the end there was a chapter that had me laughing out loud. I liked that we can explore tough topics and still do it in a way that is relatable. There were several emotional moments as well as the two main characters grapple with all the changes they are facing.

Overall I greatly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more things by this author.

Becca and Niamh have been friends for 40 years. They live near one another and their children have all grown up together. Becca has 19-year-old twin sons, Adam and Saul. She is divorced. Niamh is a middle school science teacher and is married to Paul. They have 4 children.

Becca’s son, Adam and Niamh’s daughter, Jodie, 20, have been dating for a little while and now they learn that Jodie is pregnant. The parents, while surprised, are being supportive and encouraging the couple to decide what they want to do. They want to keep the baby.

While all of this is a shock, the two women and another good friend, Laura, share the fact that while they are in their 40’s, they are going through menopause and having a difficult time with it. They are feeling miserable.

Becca has always worked from home writing articles. Now, she has a new job writing for a magazine. They want her and two friends to head out for a weekend with like age women to discuss their feeling about this time of their life. Then Becca will write an article about the trip. So, all 3 friends agree to go. At the retreat, the women learn to respect themselves and realize that what they are all going through is normal. They meet other women and have a wonderful time.

This is a funny book but also a down to earth one that openly talks about the many things that “women of a certain age” - i.e. women in their forties - all face the dreaded menopause. For some, it’s an easy time but for too many others, it’s a truly difficult time. So, if some readers are going through this now, hopefully, this book will help them put this situation in the proper perspective knowing that “this too shall pass.” Enjoy!

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

3.5* This would make a good tv series.

Those of us who have survived the menopause without complaining (too much) or (allegedly) not committing murder, will understand Becca and Niamh's experiences and sympathise. My only criticism, the first part of the book contained far too much of the women wailing about their menopause symptoms.

Enjoyable, with plenty of amusing events. Did I finish the book? Yes. Would I read it again? No.

A copy of this book was generously supplied by ​​​Boldwood and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

I just loved this continuation of the fabulous forties club. I just love this friendship group as they are all different but are there for each other no matter what. I also like how the menopause was tackled in this book and how it’s different for everyone that it’s not one size fits all. I loved all the different characters and I just love how heartwarming this book is. I look forward to the next book in this series and what other adventures that these women will get up too.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you are looking a heartwarming read that is about women in their forties dealing with life and the menopause.

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

“Stuck in the Midlife With You” is the story of three childhood friends in their forties navigating middle age together. Not only are their changing bodies betraying them, but their children are growing up and making decisions that not only affect their lives but the lives of these women. This is a friendship novel, and quite enjoyable. I didn’t realize, however, that it is the second in a series. I feel I might have been far more invested in these women if I had met them in the previous book and I regret that. I also feel I might have related more to these women if I had read this book when I myself was closer in age to the characters. It was a good book, but I can’t say it was among my favorites read this year. But I know that’s ME and not the book itself.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinion is my own.

I read a lot of so-called "women's fiction" as I prefer the more character based storylines to more action focused books. This book is definitely not aimed to a gentleman reader of a certain age such as myself, however this doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. The retreat that the three main characters attended sounded more like a boot camp to me, however it did seem to help them - I wonder if my wife would enjoy it. It is about the menopause and its affect on women, something that I can relate to with how my wife had to cope with it, I just bought a new motorbike for my mid life crisis. Perhaps men should be encouraged to read books like this to help us understand what the women in our lives are going through.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.