The Woman Who Took a Chance

Fiona Gibaon's writing always makes me smile and this novel definitely did. Jen is made redundant her life long career of working at a budget airline. So she finds a part time job at a local supermarket and enters the world of online dating. A cheerful look at life when things go wrong. A must read for fun!

Another wonderful Fiona Gibson novel.Love that this is a novel that women can really relate to.Warm funny entertaining a story I really enjoyed .#netgalley #avonbooksuk

I was drawn to this book as I read 'The Little Bakery On Rosemary Lane' (penned under the name Ellen Berry) earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. 'The Woman Who Took a Chance' lived up to my high expectations. A heart-warming book, I love that Jen is a mature woman rather than the twenty/thirty something's which seem to dominate women's fiction. Well-written, I devoured this book in a day - the characters are believable and true to life.

There were a few parts which moved fairly slowly, however overall, an enjoyable and warm read.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jen has just been made redundant from her lifelong job, and feeling sad she goes to visit her daughter Hannah in London. Hannah convinces her that dating apps are the thing to get her back on track. This is the hilarious story of the next few months of Jenn’s life as she navigates the world of dating whilst looking for a new job.

I loved this delightful story and found it to be very heartwarming. It was the feel good story I needed and as a woman in her 50's I could relate. I look forward to reading more from Fiona Gibson.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced e-book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read a few of Fiona Gibson’s book now and have enjoyed them so when I seen the chance to review this on NetGalley I was excited and thankfully it didn’t disappoint

Telling the story of Jen, a 50 year old woman who gets made redundant after 29 years of being an air hostess.

The story details the ups and downs of finding love and a new job whilst dealing with family dramas.

Fiona has an amazing way of dealing with daily struggles which I find all readers can relate too.

I was so.glad that she believed In herself and how strong she actually is. That is why she attracted Harvey. Hannah gave her full.support because she saw how her mom changed. A fun and uplifting book.

I absolutely love Fiona Gibson's work, these are real women, living real lives and their stories leap off the page. Engaging, entertaining and incredibly funny, this is a razor sharp look at dating in your fifties which shows that love - and flirting - is not just for the twentysomethings. Highly recommended.

The Woman Who Took a Chance is a fun story about Jen, a 50 year old flight attendant who is encouraged by her daughter to start online dating when she loses her job. We follow her journey to find a suitable partner through a series of dates that show all the pitfalls of meeting someone via a screen. It’s certainly not something I’d want to contemplate, and even less so after reading this 😂.

I really enjoyed this lighthearted read that also touched on the more serious sides of midlife too. All the characters were believable and it was easy to pick up and put down, although I did read it in a couple of days. I wasn’t expecting that ending either which is always a nice surprise.

As I’m now in my 50s, it’s good to read books where the main characters are of a similar age, in a market that is often flooded with 20 and 30 somethings. I thoroughly enjoyed this - 5 stars.

Another really strong read by Fiona Gibson. As always, I loved the character development in this novel and this was brilliant at moving the story forward. Perhaps not her most gripping of stories so far, but this is definitely a good read to pass time and be entertained.

This book is refreshingly different in that it deals with the woes of a 50 year old woman. She has difficulties with her career, her elderly mother, and despite having family, wants someone special to share her life and embarks on online dating. This book deals with issues in a sympathetic way and is hilarious in parts. The ending was quite unexpected. A very entertaining book.

It was so nice reading a book targeted to a larger age group than just the twenty something troupe. Really enjoyed this fun relatable read.
Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single.

Age: Fifty (gulp)

Number of children: One

Number of husbands: Zero (it’s complicated)

Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplate

Number of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: Two

Number of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running out…

A heart-warming and hilarious novel that proves age is just a number and it’s never too late for a second chance. Fans of Kristen Bailey, Sophie Kinsella and Jill Mansell will be totally hooked from the very first page.

I love a Fiona Gibson novel.

You always know what you are going to get, a fabulous read, giggles, true to life scenarios!

Jen 50 something has only known her life as a flight attendant finds herself redundant, what path can she take now.

I absolutely loved this read, fun, humourous and a real pick you up read.

Fantastic

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love books by Fiona Gibson, having read most of them, and I am pleased to say this new release didn’t disappoint. Meet Jen - a single mum to a grown up daughter who is made redundant from her long serving career as a flight attendant and decides to use the free time to dip her toe into the world of online dating, after some pressure from her daughter. Cue lots of disastrous dates! Will Jen find love? You’ll have to read to find out. This has lots of genuine laugh out loud moments and I gobbled it up in 24 hours. I loved it!

This is the first book I have read from this author and it definitely won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this novel – it was fresh and light and stands out from the standard women’s fiction romances where two main characters meet and fall in love.

I like that this is a far more realistic portrayal of modern day dating and relationships where not everything turns out to be perfect in the end. I don’t have experience of online dating/dating apps however that didn’t detract from the storyline and didn’t stop me from enjoying the book and relating to Jen. The characters weren’t cliches or stereotypes and I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Jen & Rod. I think that the sub-plot with Jen’s mother added a layer of depth/sentiment to the novel.

The only criticism is that some parts of the book did move fairly slowly and I felt myself skipping over certain scenes that could have been covered quicker or been omitted entirely. The ending, though unpredictable, did fall a little flat for me.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have really liked all this authors books and this was no exception, a real feel good read, great storyline and great characters.

Down to earth Jen has just been made redundant from the job she had for 20 odd years. Encouraged by her daughter to try online dating, she decides to give it a go. We follow Jen as she navigates her way through the ups and downs of the dating world in search of the perfect partner.

A fun filled story which was an enjoyable read.

I adored this book! Jen was just the character I was looking for when I decided to try another romcom (which I don't really gravitate towards but I'm trying to branch out a bit)...maybe it's because we're closer in age (though she's older by a couple of years!) but I definitely felt like I connected with her more than I have in some other books with characters in their twenties. Jen's online dating debacles were written well, not overly long but long enough that you got the point of why dating can suck. The writing had me stifling giggles throughout and everything worked out exactly how I had hoped at the end so I was left completely satisfied. I'll be checking out her other books now for sure...

I have loved Fiona GI son’s novels for ages, and this one felt like a treat I needed! The story of a middle aged flight attendant trying and often failing to find love had me entranced! It was heartfelt and real, and I just wanted to keep on reading!

Midlife mayhem, redundancy,empty nest syndrome and an ageing parent, a funny lighthearted look at midlife through the eyes of Jen, a totally relatable read for women of a certain age! It certainly resonated with me!
After losing her job as an air stewardess and taking stock of her life Jen is persuaded to try online dating! This opens up a whole new world to Jen often with hilarious results! Supported by her daughter, friends and her daughters dad Jen tries new experiences, gets a new job, forms a closer bond with her mother and generally overhauls her life obtaining a perfect work life balance and finding herself Along the way!
A fun fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

This book spoke to me since I am the same age as the main character. It was a fun read but as she is much braver than me, I won’t be following in her footsteps. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC Kindle book in exchange for an honest review.

Just brilliant, I love this author and so far, everything she writes. Another great read.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Absolutly loved this light hearted, easy to read, comical book by fiona. Have read previous books by her and this one did not disappointment.

Jen is a 50 year old woman, recently redundant from her long term job as an air hostess. Initially her world is thrown upside down but her daughter Hannah, alongside Jens friends persuade her to dabble in internet dating.

Alongside this, she finds herself a new job she loves as a shop assistant, and re establishes a good friendship with Rod, Hannahs father.

This book takes us through the mayhem of chatting to, and on occasions, meeting up with men from the dating site, with hilarious outcomes.

A brilliant read that takes us through a very modern phenomenon of internet dating. Highly recommend a read.

Such an uplifting and inspirational story! My first to read by this author but cannot wait to read more! The story stays with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

Following the life of Jen, whose currently working her dream job as a flight attendant, single mother to Hannah, until.... Jen is made redundant. Now life for Jen is looking for new employment, whilst trying to find love (and a date for her holiday).

Lighthearted read, filled with humour and the reality of life.

Jen is a fifty-something, single mother of an adult daughter, a flight attendant with a budget airline based in Glasgow. When the airline goes bust she's suddenly unemployed, living alone and hasn't had a date in two years. Pushed into joining a dating app by her daughter Hannah and colleagues she finds there are slim pickings for a mature woman, Jen's not necessarily looking for true love, just someone to share a luxury holiday in Greece she won for selling the most airline mascot toys in the period before the voucher expires.

Will Jen realise that her daughter's father could be the man for her? Or will it be the suave solicitor with a way with words? Will it be the dentist or the fencing specialist? Or what about the silver fox Jen sees running effortlessly while she's struggling with her Couch to 5K app? It's probably not the guy who stares at her boobs or the reformed thief though ...

As with so many of Fiona Gibson's books this took me on a journey I wasn't expecting and the reader really is left guessing until the last minute who Jen falls in love with (with whom Jen falls in love). Funny, yet with serious concerns about ageing parents and being jobless over fifty, quirky and charming. Another winner from one of my new favourite authors.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Fiona Gibson for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed following Jen as she navigates Online Dating, New Friendships and Family.
This was an interesting and engaging read that I enjoyed

A laugh out loud romp of a book about the perils of dating in your fifties. Made me very glad that I’m not ‘out there’ at the moment!! Jen is a recently out of work flight attendant who has realised that she’s not too old to start again.

I really enjoyed this light hearted book, perfect for dreary January nights!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Let’s start this review by saying I really should pay more attention to the blurb. I as sure it would be a book the woman would go into several adventures and then she would meet a man for her to go on a romantic vacation together (the title and the cover made me think this).

However, the book is about Jen, a fifty year old woman who lost her job and find herself alone and without a purpose in life. She decides then (after her daughter and her friends telling her to) try online dating.

It took me some time to understand I wouldn’t be getting adventures here, but a book of the everyday life of a mature woman. After I did, I enjoyed it. Jen is the highlight in this book (I’m glad, because it’s her book), she is authentic, polite, supportive, a really good friend/daughter/mother. She is a really likable character and I couldn’t wait for her to have her HEA. She does, by the way. I didn’t know who she would end up with, but I was glad with her choice.

If you like a clean, sweet and clever romcom, this book is for you.

Another fabulous, warm and witty book from one of my favourite authors. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments, but plenty of depth, and dilemmas that are relatable, especially for women 'of a certain age'. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between former flight attendant Jen and her ex, Rod, and how supportive Jen's daughter was.

Fun-filled with a big heart, I loved The Woman Who Took a Chance!

Another hilarious romp from Fiona Gibson. She really does understand the part of the downtrodden woman / wife / mother - and often all three! Her poor heroines all win through in the end, usually discovering something about themselves in the meantime. I have read all her books and enjoyed this one as much as the others!

A funny, uplifting story of a 50 year old woman who goes there? Sign me up! This book will give you the warm and fuzzies at all the right times. Simply put the story is about Jen, a 50 year old flight attendant who is encouraged by her daughter to start online dating when she loses her job. Life doesn't end for this powerful woman! I loved it

The Woman Who took a Chance by Fiona Gibson is a delightful read and made me laugh. I have read other books by Fiona Gibson and her books are always an entertaining read and I am on the lookout for new books she has written. I was thrilled to get an E-copy from NetGalley of her upcoming novel and started reading it right away and was not disappointed. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in two days. Her training as a flight attendant 👩‍✈️ enabled her to any job she tackled on and off the job, even her personal life. This new book is a must read and what a great read for 2022.👏🥳🇨🇦🥰📚Bravo Fiona Gibson👍

An honest to goodness sublime and funny five-star read. This author always manages to bring me smile, they always manage to make me laugh even on my darkest of days. Jen was someone I would love to be in 10 years, her passion for flying shone through, even when she was grounded. Jen’s spirit shone through and her relationships with Hannah, her mum and Rod, all mad me smile, the love she feels for them all is so vastly different, but vastly huge and encompassing. But they aren’t the only great characters in this story, all of the dates are complex people and there are some corkers popping up. But this story is great, everything has its place, and it flows so well. Do not miss this great story if you are after funny, but real.

I like reading the story because I can relate with most of what the character is going through. The part of the story that involves dating, through the internet, makes me uncomfortable because it's the second story about a woman over 50 years old who has a nightmare of a time meeting men from the dating site, it makes me glad I never did it. Some of the dating was funny, but mostly it was scary and it was upsetting that so many of the men were creepy, but Jen does meet the one man she likes and it's kind of cute.
The part of the story that was really close to home was how she had to deal with her mother who has dementia it was scary and upsetting because the disease makes you feel unhelpful and worry and I was hoping for some answers but I didn't see anything for me, but in the book it all works out.
The most important point to the story is you should do what you want and not let someone talk you into something you don't want to do and no matter what happens you have to go forward.
I enjoyed the friendship of Jen and Rob but was a little confused about what happen at the end.

I want to thank Avon Books UK, Avon and NetGalley for the advance copy of this down to earth story.

A quick, easy uplifting andd fun read that I finished in one sitting. I loved the writing, I loved the characters and I loved the storyline. A really enjoyable read.

Fiona Gibson never lets us down. Feel good fiction that puts a smile on your face!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

This one was a fun read for me. I love that Jen is a fifty-something woman being reintroduced to the world of romance. After getting used to reading about the relationship plights of teens and young adults, it’s refreshing to get a story that proves we’re never too old to really take a crack out of life.
Sometimes it felt like the story of a much younger protagonist because of how inexperienced she is with the world of 21st century dating.

I loved that she is coming from an aviation background. I very much related to her experiences as a flight attendant (👀👀) and how far the job can remove you from your own life. Traveling constantly doesn’t always allow for you to keep a handle over everything at home, but Jen capitalizes on the chance to get that control back once everything else spirals out of control.

The title itself may feel misleading—it definitely wasn’t exactly what I expected. We don’t follow a woman on adventures. Instead we’re taken on a character-focused ride. Not quite everyone’s cuppa tea.

Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a a more mature romcom read. It was fun picking out the red flags from all the first dates, especially when Jen herself misses quite a lot of them.

A fab book about Jen who’s hit fifty is happy with her life and job as a flight assistant. Until one day she’s made redundant and begins to reassess her life. A job that she’s had for over twenty years thought she loved but now realises that how much of her time it took over. She begins to think there’s more to life than work. She has a daughter who means the world to her who she hasn’t seen for months, a mum who’s getting old and frail, who could both do with seeing more of her. Plus a non existent love life who her daughter gets to try out dating apps. What happens then is a mix of laughter, dates, love, understanding and forgiveness.

I really enjoyed this story of a woman who loses her job at 50 and has to figure out what she wants. I do feel like the title is a bit misleading as she didn’t really take a chance but actually dabbled in a few different things in an effort to experiment. But it was a fun read!

Enjoyable, easy reading, feel good novel with likeable characters. Good insights into the role of a flight attendant, call centre operator and supermarket worker, as well as the world of online dating. Several unusual twists keep interesting levels high. A light, warm hearted read.

This book was so funny I was literally laughing out loud at moments. But don't be fooled dear reader as this story also deals with some heavy subject matter. We deal with layoffs, an empty nest, taking care of elder parents and dating for the 50+.

Fiona Gibson really gets you inside her characters heads and I loved how real and true to life they are. This was such a wonderful palate cleanser between thrillers and I enjoyed how heartwarming it was without being saccharine. And that ending was the perfect surprise! Fiona Gibson, you have a new fan!

Thank you Avon Books (UK) for another wonderful book and for allowing me to review The Woman Who Took a Chance (thank you NetGalley as well for access). Fiona Gibson's story is a delightful, charming, and for me empowering examination of the joy of women at midlife. I am excited to see books like this treat women in midlife as women who are looking outward and forward, not backward, and who are fulfilled in their lives in many ways but deserving of chances to seek out and look for meaning and connection and love. Jen is funny, witty, and her own person, a well developed and engaging character looking for Mr. Right and diving into the world of online dating through the advice of her daughter. The plot and contexts provide a lot of space for hilarity blended with personal growth and is brought to life for the reader though a fast paced narrative, relatable characters, and a vivacious protagonist. I celebrated Jen's journey and hope other readers will enjoy this book too.

I really enjoyed this book I have never read one from this author before but it was a easy read and I couldn’t put it down.

I can’t wait to read another one from f this author.

Really enjoyed this one. A heart-warming and hilarious novel that proves age is just a number and it’s never too late for a second chance. Rich with carefully drawn characters who really come to life in the hands of this skilled writer. Truly could not put this down. Such a great book.

"I'm wondering now if there are any nice, normal men who aren't half-dead on their sofas, posing in their flashy offices, skiing off precipices, flaunting their toilets or attending to mundane domestic chores."

The Woman Who Took a Chance is an at times sweet, at times laugh-out-loud, book about Jen. Jen is a 50 year old flight attendant who, after having worked for the same budget-airline company for ever, has been made redundant. Her daughter Hanna has moved out too and Jen finds she has a lot of time alone, and is quite unsure what to do. Egged on by her daughter, she signs up for a mature online dating platform, and what follows is a slew of chat conversations, some in person conversations, and al lot of hilarity. The story is not just about Jen's dating experiences though, and I appreciated that. This is a bigger story of reinvention (she takes up running, and finds a new job that she comes to love), and (familial) relationships (as Jen cares for her mum who is showing signs of dementia, and reconnects with Rod, Hanna's father).

I enjoyed this book for what it was, a feel-good, rom-com read. I loved the stories of Jen's time as a flight attendant (the crazy things people do!), and the fun, slightly out of control conversations she had with the helpline lady after having been made redundant. I enjoyed reading about the craziness that is online dating (especially for the first time). The weird chats seemed plucked from real life and made me giggle. At times a bit repetitive, as is online dating, this was ultimately a book that I'd recommend to lovers of rom-coms who would love to see their genre through the eyes of a more mature MC.

The Woman Who Took a Chance is another satisfying Fiona Gibson read. Jen is a middle aged flight attendant, who finds herself suddenly relieved of her lifelong career, and facing some major decisions in her life. With bills to pay, and her daughter living away, Jen has to find a new life for herself, as well as a job!

Hip hop hurray for this book, as it was a joy to read and definitely worth a spot on my for-a-rainy-day shelf on Goodreads. Lovely main characters, people you could've been passing on the street or even running into at a park.
Life these days can still be really competitive, thankfully not with The Woman Who Took a Chance. There is no hierarchy and therefore nothing wrong with working at a supermarket.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

I reviewed The Woman Who Took a Chance by Fiona Gibson for LoveReading.co.uk, the review can be found on their website. It’s been chosen as a Liz Robinson Pick of the Month for March.

Fun read and nice for once for a book to be about a 50 something woman wanting to enjoy life, someone with a backstory rather than just starting out, I’m sure a lot of readers will be able to empathise

The story
Jen is a 50 year old flight attendant on a budget airline. When the airline closes and her job becomes redundant, her grown up daughter Hannah urges her to try online dating now that she has time for a relationship. Jen is good friends with Hannah’s father Rod, but the two have never been a couple. Will Jen find someone to invite to share her luxury Greek Island holiday prize she needs to take before it expires?

My thoughts
Jen’s dating escapades form a significant portion of this story, but they are tempered with her starting to run, looking after her elderly mother and making the most of her night time supermarket job. There are parts of this story that had me laughing out loud, as despite Jen’s sober situation, there are moments of hilarity. I loved how she takes stock even when things are going pear-shaped and finds the bright side of life. I loved her honesty and willingness to have a caring relationship with Rob. It’s a goodie for me. ❤️

what a wonderful book i love Fiona Gibson so thank you for the opportunity to review. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher

Such a sweet book and had me hooked instantly. I can’t say much without giving away the ending..but something was fairly obviously, but that’s great because you wanted it to happen!
While Jen’s disastrous dates make you laugh out loud, you want her to be happy and want her to keep going. She’s a fantastic character.
I’d happily read more with her if a follow up ever happened.

Jen loves her job as a flight attendant but after many years she is made redundant and while trying to find another job she spends more time with her mother who is becoming difficult and starting to get dementia.
Jen’s daughter Hanna encourages Jen to take an interest in online dating.
I enjoyed how the story progressed and the way the characters were portrayed. There was a lot of humorous situations as Jen tried to find a romantic interest.
This was a romantic comedy about relationships, online dating and families.

If you like romance books with a bit of humour, then this book is for you.

Jen is a single mother with a grown up daughter. When the airline she works for makes her redundant she realises she now has time for dating. But the modern way, takes some getting used to.
Some dating mishaps and misunderstandings ensue as Jen tries to find a man to take to Santorini.

As I read this highly entertaining book, I couldn't help but think that author Fiona Gibson has written a coming-of=age story for women of a certain age.
The main character, Jen, is a relatable and sympathetic woman - especially for those of us who are close in age to her - whose challenges, both current and in flashbacks, ring true even as they sometimes make the reader cringe. She weathers being laid off from her job, the decline of her mother's faculties, and the world of dating both on line and off, with grace and humour, and following her journey is both fun and at times informative.
Gibson writes in such a way that the reader is invested in Jen's relationships and wants to keep turning the pages to the very end.
I'm thankful to #NetGalley for providing an ARC of this fun book!

This book was cute, witty and fun! I loved the characters and felt so invested in each and every one of them! It was relatable and heart warming. Loved it!

👩Lovely, winsome take on a woman's upheaval at 50👍

4.5🌟 stars
I loved the principal character, Jen Morton. This story depicts her going through real, stressful issues yet the undertone is positive. Some LOL descriptions of online dating fiascos provide comic relief as she deals with sudden redundancy at 50 and a mother with a deteriorating hold on reality.

Jen could allow her loss of a job she'd held for 30 years to defeat her. Instead, she soldiers on, finding a few new friends, a stronger body and sense of self, and a caring man along the way. Rod and Harvey, Hannah and Sally were also great characters.

Gibson's writing style is simple, straightforward and whimsical at times. All qualities I like in a book but her biggest achievement is in creating a real, living, breathing woman with all of her quirks, insecurities and strengths, who makes it work!

Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Beautiful!!

The storyline was practical and felt so real and well written...

Though the MC is 50 and the book deals with several issues, most ages can relate to the book in many ways.

It was heavy at times (it deals with some heavy aspects and though I did not bawl my eyes out, I felt stabby & teary at different points) and funny and warm most places.

Overall, a heartwarming read.

I've read a few books by Fiona Gibson and I have to say that this is probably my favourite of her books.

It's light and perfect to get you out of a reading slump. I have to be honest, it had a bit of a Bridget Jones feel about it, I love Bridget Jones so this wasnt a bad thing.

It does discuss some serious subjects but keeps it quite light and subtle in the way they are handled.

The ending caught me completely unexpectedly but I think it was a fitting ending.

Thanks Netgalley for an early copy of this book

50 year old Jen is made redundant from the job she loves as an air hostess with Budgie Air and  life as she knows it is thrown into turmoil. With time on her hands she stops to re-evaluate everything, from her platonic relationship with her  daughter's father Rod, to her mother's increasingly eccentric behaviour, her fitness and even her non-existant love life. She discovers that the dating scene has changed dramatically in the past 20 years and is more about apps and algorithims than chance encounters in the frozen aisle ofthe supermarket. Will she find love and someone to share the holiday  prize she won through work before it expires? A fun and fast read :)

This novel is set in current times so is easy to relate to. Jennifer has been an air hostess for nearly 30 years but when the airline she works for goes under she is left unemployed. Her redundancy payout is pathetic and she feels that she has no useful skills, but she is forced to join the ranks of jobseekers as she has no savings.

This a story of re-invention as Jennifer is persuaded to try online dating, in addition to job hunting. The book is about family, friends and new adventures. Recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

This was the first book I read by Fiona Gibson and certainly not the last. the book appealed to me because it was about a 50 plus woman entering the world of online dating, which is something I doubt about. The book is funny, warm but sometimes a bit slow. What has been beautifully described was the medical side of her mother. Very loving. All in all... online dating or looking closer? I do not know yet., but really enjoyed this romantic novel.

Thanks netgalley and Fiona Gibson for the Arc in Exchange for an honest review.

This book made me howl with laughter its such a lovely uplifting book and I would recommend it to everyone to read
with thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for this honest review

The perfect reverse holiday romance! Ex-air hostess Jen proves it’s never too late to date as she heads online to find the perfect chap to take to on a Santorini holiday prize…

I expected this book to be uplifting and, with its hooky premise, to have some good twists and turns on Jen’s dating journey - and I wasn’t disappointed! I chortled my way through and enjoyed the cast of characters I met along the way. What I particularly loved was Jen’s sense of humour and great one liners. She was a warm, appealing protagonist and the ending had some satisfying developments too. I’d recommend it to any romance reader who’s also looking for an uplifting, funny read.

Huge thanks to the author, Fiona Gibson, and publisher, Avon, for this advance review copy. Views my own. 5*

Another great book by the talented Fiona Gibson. Jen is an flight attendant who finds herself single, with too much time on her hands when the company folds and she has a small redundancy payout to keep her going until she finds a new job. Encouraged by her daughter she dips her toes into online dating. Loved this book and the way Fiona introduced you to the suitors who Jen was getting to know. Each chapter left you wanting to read more and more.

Jen's world turns upside down in a moment when she's made redundant from her job as a flight attendant but it turns out that is the best thing that could have happened to her. At her daughter's urging, she tries on line dating- there are some quite funny scenes and exchanges- but that's less the focus that Jen's discovery of who she is and who she will be. No spoilers from me. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Enjoyable and well written with a fantastic message! Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the advanced copy.

Jen is a woman at a point of change in her life. She is newly redundant from a job that was very much a part of her identity; her daughter no longer needs her in the same way: her relationship with her own mother is changing through necessity and she is feeling lost and very much alone.
Jen is a character that you can't help but warm to. Her experiences are relatable and often humorous and she feels like someone that you know and would like.
I loved some of the characters that she interacts with, especially Rod and Fabs, although her relationship with the call centre worker didn't quite work for me.
We share in Jen's highs and lows as she begins again and must find a new job and a new way of life; we laugh with her and despair with her. We see her learning to please herself, not just please everyone else, something we all need to learn to do a bit more of!

When things go wrong which makes complete life changes. This is exactly what happens to Jen. Finding a new job after being made redundant and finding a new companion love interest or not!!
This book made me laugh as well as keep turning the pages. A situation that anyone could find themselves in.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. It was an absolute pleasure.

Jen perceives herself first and foremost, as a full-time flight attendant. As a mother of a fully grown woman, Jen always found peace at her relatively systematic job as a flight attendant. In the sky, she knows how to handle any group of flyers, even the mean drunk ones.
When she loses her job, at fifty years old, she feels betrayed, lost and alone - and her singleness starts to weight on her. When she's notified that she has a deadline to use her previously won award of a trip to Santorini, Jen decides that she will start dating till she finds the perfect man to accompany her to the trip.
She tries not to give up after going on countless failed dates, which are very humorous to us readers, but not so much to Jen. Her journey to find a suitable partner, turns into a road to self discovery, as she tries to figure out who is she, if not a flight attendant.

Fiona Gibson's Jen is funny, realistic, and very easily relatable - even if you're far from fifty.

Happy to have received this from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Jen a air hostess suddenly finds herself redundant and single. The book takes you on Jen’s journey to find herself someone to share a holiday and life with.

Another good book by Fiona.

Jen is who I want to be when I get older. I related to her so much and everything about her is amazing. Moral of the story is to take chance and see what happens. As a mom of one kid she is literally my spirit animal! I love this book!

Jen is 50 years old and the airline she has worked for for 30 years as a flight attendant has just made her redundant. Her daughter Hannah no longer lives at home, and with the current state of affairs, no arlines are hiring at the moment, so she's having trouble finding another job.

Finally with time on her hands and egged by her daughter and her friends, she joins a dating website for "mature" people. She's also in a rush to find a date - she won a romantic getaway in Greece as a prize for excellence from the airline and she has to use it or lose altogether. She doesn't want to go alone and she's now "auditioning" for who's going with her. 

I was immediately drawn to this book on NetGalley when I saw the age of the heroine! How refreshing! She's 50! With 50-year-old problems and concerns! It's so hard to find a romance novel where the heroine is over 40! Though this is not a by-the-book romance novel (it's more on the women's fiction side), we do get an HEA. Or a Happy For Now. 

I confess I was a little disappointed with the online dating development. Those dates were a perfect opportunity for comedy gold, but they were a little flat and a tad repetitive. It felt a little short in the comedy department, but it's still a very enjoyable book. It has the "Britishness" that I love so much, without being plagued by The Bridget Jones Syndrome that I see in a lot of British rom coms.

I also appreciated how Jen and Rod, her daughter's father and who she never married (they are just great friends) have a very healthy and mature relationship. The situation with her mother's dementia is also dealt in a realistic but very sweet way.

I loved the ending: a sweet epilogue eight months in the future tying everything up. Sorta. ;) It gives you hope that Jen will sort everything out and be happy in the end.

Note: if you are looking for funny, it certainly has its moment. If you are looking for spicy, you are not going to find any. Fun book, though. 

Possible Triggers: dealing with parent with dementia, losing a job, fear of unemployment



I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you, @NetGalley, Avon Books, UK and Fiona Gibson for the copy.

Lighthearted and entertaining

For the past 30 years Jen has worked for BudgieAir as a flight attendant, when the airline suddenly goes out of business, 50 year old Jen is unexpectedly out of a job. For the first time in many years Jen's life is no longer filled with a continuous work schedule. After receiving a paltry redundancy she finds work at a supermarket, during late-night shopping nights she's in charge of the cut price sticker gun and with her years in the service industry is able to fend off customers demanding unapproved discounts.

Alone at home now her daughter has moved out, Jen is persuaded to sign up for internet dating. She's not necessarily looking for love, rather hoping to find a good companion to accompany her on her prizewinning holiday in Greece. After registering with Mature Matches a series of dates follow, frequently disastrous for Jen, but amusing for the reader.

Genuinely funny, a delightful read with an unexpected conclusion.

I adored this book. Genuinely lovely and hilariously funny, it was an absolute pleasure to read, I’d happily buy this for a friend.