Norman has recently passed away and has sent letters to three of his closest friends taking them on rather an adventure as he wants his ashes scattered in Shetland. Bridget appears to be getting forgetful and will be without her husband for the trip. Gloria was the boss at the factory where Bridget and Derek worked, somewhere Norman had an accident which changed his life as well as things between the group. Can they survive the trip and bury old hatchets?


I really enjoyed this from the off. It's a wonderful lighthearted read with great characters. A reminder of living life to the full whatever your age and making the most of opportunities. Of love and laughter, of tears and smiles and how friends can change the world sometimes in the simplest of gestures. A memorable book I more than loved.

What a superb fun read which had me hooked and laughing all the way through.
An uplifting read about friendship and relationships.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Norman George, knitter extraordinaire and jokester, put in his will that the three former co-workers had to wear the last sweater he had made them (egad!) to his funeral, and to scatter his ashes on the Shetlands. And find his family. And get along. And forgive themselves. The three had not spoken with each other since the work accident that put Norman into a wheelchair. In spite of all that, they do as he asked and more. Fun book perfect for an afternoon.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
#TheLastLaughClub by @kategalley1 @theboldbookclub #NetGalley Pub Date Jul 29, 2025
***** review #Goodreads #Bookbub #storygraph #librarything
#knitting #situationalhumor #YouTubepagefollowers #septuagenarians #thejokesonthem #quirkycharacters #bucketlist

Three friends charged with scattering an old friend's ashes? What a plot! Each of the three was a good friend of Norman, but each of the three loathes the others! Set in the wilds of the Shetlands this is a great book, fun to read but empathetic and kind also. The descriptions of the near misses, the struggles with weather, accommodation and generally getting on with each other are very well written. Thanks for the chance to read and review this book, which I very much enjoyed.

I received a free copy of, The Last Laugh Club, by Kate Galley, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Derek, Gloria, and Bridget have to spread their dear friend Normans ashes. Though they loved Norman, they detest each other. This was a nice read about friendship, what we do for those we love and lost.

*The Last Laugh Club* by Kate Galley is a heartwarming, quirky delight. With humor, heart, and a touch of mischief, this unlikely road trip through grief and grudges turns into a charming celebration of friendship. Bridget, Gloria, and Derek might not get along at first, but their journey to honor Norman is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, touching reflections, and a reminder that it’s never too late to heal old wounds. A feel-good read with real emotional depth.

Norman George wants his three friends to scatter his ashes in the Shetland islands, the friends loved George but can't stand each other. will they get along on this journey?

When Norman George's will is read, three friends discover they have been asked to scatter his ashes in
a place he never got to visit, the Shetland Islands. Bridget, Gloria and Derek are all former work
colleagues of Norman's who have always felt guilty about the work accident that resulted in Norman
spending the remainder of his life in a wheelchair. While the three have their differences, they decide
to honor Norman's request, which involves a bucket list of places to visit on their journey as well as
find any relatives he may have there. The three will discover more about their friend Norman, as
well as each other, leading to healing and friendship. Lovely read featuring characters in their
seventies.
#TheLastLaughClub #BoldwoodBooks # #NetGalley

Are you in need of a good laugh? Check out The Last Laugh Club by Kate Galley! This was a fun read. It's available next month.

The Last Laugh Club by Kate Galley is a charming contemporary novel that I loved and read in just one sitting.
The leading characters are all over seventy and prove that you are never too old to have a new adventure or experience, or to learn new skills.
Three former work colleagues find themselves heading to Shetland to fulfil the final wish of their former boss and friend, as they scatter his ashes in a place he always wanted to visit. An old photograph gives clues as to why.
As the three journey together, old feeling emerge. They all have feelings of guilt from one dreadful day years ago, and have avoided each other ever since. Close proximity forces them to confront what needs to be laid to rest.
Shetland is a wild and rugged landscape, more so in winter. The landscape comes alive under the author’s descriptive pen.
We see a character struggling with early dementia. She fears the past repeating itself and doesn’t want to become a burden to her husband. Theirs is a strong marriage as there is nothing, he won’t do in order to support his wife.
Despite what appears to be a serious request, the book is light-hearted and fun. We delight in seeing the relationship of the characters to each other as they interact on the journey.
The Last Laugh Club is the perfect read whatever the weather.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Norman was a great knitter when he dies he asks former friend Bridget, Gloria and Derek to take and scatter his ashes in the Shetland Isles. There follows a journey none of them would have predicted. Love Kate Galley books

This is a very enjoyable book; at times very moving, at others humorous and even suspenseful. Bridget, Derek and Gloria are all excellent characters and I loved how their relationships developed. They also met some interesting people along the way. I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Kate Galley, and I’m looking forward to the next one.

I was immediately hooked and wondering what wedge had driven these friends apart. Each character is distinct with both strengths and flaws, with the vague sense hovering in the air that something was wrong . Even the personalities of the side characters were well-fleshed out and you felt like you got to know and appreciate them, too. Yet, it's the trio of Bridget, Gloria, and Derek that hold center stage although the spirit of Norman, now just ashes, is a character, too, in a sense.. Each thought they had been the only real friend Norman had. They're wrong.

Always a prankster, Norman gets one last laugh at his old work friends. They each receive a seemingly personal notice that, if they're reading this, Norman is dead. He has a request. He requests they wear a colorful, bright item he's made just for them to the funeral. They are singled out at the funeral not only by their non-black garb but his assistant calling them together. Norman asks that his once closest friends scatter his ashes. Why are they so reluctant? Well, I'm not telling but that's one of the things that slowly emerges as the plot and their unexpected adventure progresses. Seems that wasn't the only request.

If you like character driven stories with a touch of family and even romance, you're going to love this one While not always likable, I'm betting you'll come away liking not just the trio but, as noted, the role of the side characters, too. The trio may not have been glad to be there but I was glad to be a fly on the wall with them, especially as I learned quite a bit about yarn and how it's produced. The intriguing, stormy landscape of the frequently isolated, seemingly almost treeless landscape of the Shetland Islands they travel through in some ways become a character. Heck, you even get to experience a rather nausea awakening ferry ride or two.

That's all I'm telling. Bottom line, this is a delightfully bumpy road to renewed friendships as they rediscover not only what drove them apart but what brought them together. I ultimately wound up liking them all and rooting for them, even the one I found particularly prickly initially. That's not to say that Norman's last trip was smooth. It had its bumpy, even "Oh, no!" moments, but I'm so glad #BoldwoodBooks allowed me this early peek at a book I wound up truly enjoying. Who know a request to scatter ashes could lead to so many changes and bring people together after years apart. Give it a read!