I loved the previous book in this series and the sequel did not disappoint. The characters were fun and interesting.

Good read , took me a while to get into it , but once I got to grip with the main characters it was very enjoyable. I did love the retreat , it made me laugh but had its serious side too.

This was a fun and timely read for me (I'm a bit older than the main characters, but recently started on HRT, which is mentioned quite a bit in the book).

Becca, Laura and Niamh are all navigating midlife in different ways. Niamh perhaps is struggling the most, with her physical symptoms and job as a teacher. Becca, mother of teenage sons, is trying to build her career as a journalist. When Niamh's daughter Jodie and Becca's son Adam, both students, announce they're having a baby, it's a shock to everybody.

It was a fun and enjoyable read, particularly when the three friends go on a menopausal women's retreat Becca's been commissioned to write about. I kind of want to read that article!

Great to catch up with Becca, Niamh and Laura again as they enter the next phase of their lives. Again hope there is a sequel.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC of Stuck in the Midlife With You by Freya Kennedy, in exchange for my honest review.

A heartwarming, heartfelt, and relatable story told with love, frustration, and witty banter.

I would love to have a friendship like this!

I look forward to reading the first book, "The Fabulous Forties Club", and more by Freya Kennedy.

A thoroughly entertaining read with more than a touch of humour. This book is the second in a series, I haven't read the first but I don't think it detracted from my experience. Following three long-term friends, Becca, Niamh and Laura as they hit their menopausal mid forties with very relatable family problems. A fun light read overall.

a brilliant book by a fab author who knows how to write for whatever characters and audience she is writing for.
this is the second in this series and is just as fun and witty as the previous. you leave this book each time feeling warmed and all giggled out. and there is a uprise in your mouth where the smiles have more than threatened to appear a fair few times as you read.
Freya has written with such honesty about a certain age of woman. and its not all pretty but neither is it all messy. and with this age can come the best of friendships. the best of learning to just blooming love yourself. and a final peace to just be who you are whoever that is.
thats not to say the our clan arent up for some challenges even amongst the friends. but come on. these woman can do it...cant they?

Freya Kennedy's Stuck in the Midlife With You is a heartwarming and refreshingly honest exploration of friendship, family, and the unexpected twists of midlife. .At the heart of the story is Becca Burnside, a woman determined to redefine herself in her forties. But life has other plans when her son drops the bombshell news—his girlfriend is pregnant. As if that weren’t surprising enough, the expecting mother is none other than the daughter of Becca’s best friend, Niamh. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster as the two lifelong friends navigate the joys and fears of impending grandmotherhood while trying to keep their bond intact. Kennedy’s writing shines through with humor, warmth, and an unfiltered portrayal of midlife reinvention. She skillfully crafts characters that feel authentic, making Becca and Niamh’s journey both relatable and compelling. The book is packed with heartfelt moments, witty banter, and the kind of life lessons that remind readers that change—no matter how daunting—can be a beautiful thing.

Brilliant!!! Honest, disturbing, funny and emotional. That’s a tall order but Freya delivers. This brought back memories- the hot flushes at the most inopportune times. Mood swings that no one could understand and the concentration issues! The tip of Becki’s iceberg? This had me remembering, laughing and shedding a few tears. And yes, being thankful for my friends and my (almost always) patient hubby Tgis one gets five stars

This was a fantastic read, I could imagine exactly what the characters looked like and wanted to be in their group! It was honest and funny and I couldn't wait to read this book every day!

Enjoyable sequel. So many reminders of the ‘joy’ of being a woman of a certain age! Loved the jellybean chapter - this happened to me 22 years ago. A thoughtful and often funny story from one of my favourite Boldwood authors.

Menopause is no walk in the park, and on top of that life has thrown the main characters some curveballs as well. However, I was not very keen on the incessant complaining in the first part of the book. Still, it was heartwarming to see the strong bond between these women and how their friendship supported them along the way.

This book follows the lives of long-time friends Laura, Becca, and Niamh. Now in their forties, the trio faces a fresh wave of midlife turbulence—ranging from menopause and empty nest syndrome to aging parents and the emotional shock of an unexpected pregnancy.

Told with candid detail and compassion, the book doesn’t shy away from the raw, sometimes chaotic realities of growing older, but instead celebrates the resilience and strength that can come with it—especially when bolstered by enduring female friendships.

Becca takes centre stage this time, beginning a new chapter in her life with a job that leads her and her friends on a quirky retreat. What begins as a rocky getaway evolves into a transformative experience, pushing each woman to confront her own struggles, rediscover her identity, and make bold life decisions. It’s a touching reminder that growth doesn’t stop at forty—and neither does fun.

At its core, this novel is a tribute to the power of shared experiences and unshakeable bonds. With sparkling dialogue, authentic characters, and emotional depth, Stuck in the Midlife With You will resonate with readers navigating the challenges (and unexpected joys) of midlife. Here’s hoping there’s more to come—especially to follow Becca and Niamh into their next role: grandparenthood.

The journey of life in your 40s. Becca and Niamh are best friends and now they are women of that certain age. Becca's new job is sending her on a weekend retreat, so she takes Niamh and another friend along. It was nothing like they expected, but they did learn a lot, got some insight, and made some decisions for themselves. They needed to think about themselves, do things for themselves sometimes, and life could be exciting at any age. Whether it be 16 or in their 40s. They share with us from the women of a certain age to who they became after going to the weekend retreat, and thinking about what they wanted to get out of life. It was a fabulous story.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

Honest and very true story with up and down emotions of menopausal women in their mid-forties, Stuck in the Middle with You is a fabulous telling of the struggle of three friends all caught in the grips of midlife crises. The story boldly expresses their emotions of anxiety, joy, fear and others that they experience and face. A getaway weekend to a women’s wellness retreat begins the steps to wholeness again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Both Becca and Niamh are in their mid forties, are in perimenopause, are best friends, and their oldest kids are dating each other (20 and 19 years old). At the beginning of the story , they find out that Niamh's daughter is pregnant. The story alternates between both points of view from the mothers.

I found it hard to connect with either main character and get invested in the story, even though I have a lot in common with them. I liked the story line and there was a lot to reflect on reading through this book.

Second I the series of Becca and friend. Living in Derry N Ireland Becca and her friends navigate their way through the menopause teenage pregnancy all with the quick witted humour of the northern Irish.
Brilliantly written and hope Freya Kennedy continues to let us into the lives of these women .
Extremely witty and makes reading the book like time spent with your best friends.
Loved this book.

3 lifelong friends all going through the menopause. Becca has the chance she has dreamed of since the age of 16, to write for a well known magazine. Not the best time to deal with a family teenage pregnancy. all 3 have their problems, can they overcome them? Some funny moment,, well written and a really enjoyable read for all women- menopausal or not .

This a funny read full of perimenopausal fun. Becca is in full blown menopause, her hot flushes, the midnight sweats and is irritated by everything. Her daughter has just told her she’s pregnant too. Becca and her friends go off on holiday for a weekend of yoga and relaxation. It’s a lovely written book, it’s full of the truths of the dreaded menopause, but also reflects on the funny side of it too. A fab 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

This book is almost a mid life crisis for a group of close women friends, complete with HRT patches and lack of confidence. The story has got a strong plot of the women’s lives and how they deal with family, children, their own parents and how each are each other’s life rafts. The best part is the day to day description of what emotions run through life and how friends become the ones that people rely on, and who are there to help with the confidence, with the life changing events and with the things that we really don’t want to face up to on our own. This was a hopeful book with a wicked sense of humour.