Lucy (or as her boss has always mistakenly called her Lucia) is fifty three. She’s the HR Director of insurance firm Beane & Company and she’s alone. Divorced. Her mother, sister and family moved to New Zealand several years ago. Her job has become her life and she is on track for the COO position. On track until her boss retires and a new, dynamic chief executive is appointed. With him comes Tara, new legal services director, expected to become - you guessed it - COO. The race is on. Tara wants the company to feature wellness and she’s going to a wellness boot camp? Lucy will too. What follows is a very funny, part satire, part exposé of the wellness industry that leads to a totally unexpected, satisfying conclusion. Love, Laugh and Leave Me Alone is a quick, delightful read with an endearing character (Lucy) and a somewhat endearing one (Tara). Enjoy! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Harper Ford for this ARC.

Hilarious & heartfelt, this book had me laughing out loud from start to finish! Lucy's journey is a brilliant, & at times poignant, exploration of what it truly means to 'grow as a person.' Harper Ford has crafted a timeless, hilarious story that will resonate with anyone navigating the absurdities of modern life. This is the perfect read for those who have ever felt the pressure to keep up, who prefer a good book over a bootcamp, & who believe that true inner peace might just be a glass of wine away.

Love the chatty style of writing. Meet a new friend Lucy otherwise known as Lu.
Working hard as HR director, alone since her divorce and her mum, sister and her family emigrated to new Zealand. Seven years since her beloved dad died and still missing him every day.
The CEO announces his retirement, bringing in a new CEO and his sidekick.
Battle between Lu and new director Tara for the title of COO.
Twists as battle lines are drawn but can they see each others good points for the good of the company

Clever, smart and rip roaring laughter is what I got out of this book. It's a relatable look at a woman's life and explores how to get the most out of yourself. I laughed so hard at times that I had to stop or I was in danger of having a accident and no one wants that!

This was such a fun read. It's the perfect read for the over 40's (which I am) and I could find myself agreeing with the main character. I loved the author's writing and I found myself laughing at times. The story was also heartwarming. Overall, a brilliant read that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley for the arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book! I thought it was so funny and filled a void from one of my fav authors Sophie Kinsella. Lucy was such a fun character and I could relate so much to her situation. It was so funny to see her go on this wellness journey and that others peoples lives aren’t always as perfect as we think

A good fun read.
Well written characters and a decent storyline.
Not what i expected under the title of a thriller though.
If you want something light then this is for you.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Interesting subject matter …Lucy a strong independent woman with a high flying corporate job finds herself embarking on a wellbeing journey thanks to her new colleague Tara and the rivalry for promotion .
Finding some weird and wonderful treatments Lucy finds herself in the hands of Clio who changes her life but all is not as it seems .
An unusual take on the wellness /wellbeing sector which promises to takes years off our skin, cure incurable diseases and find the answers that we can’t … this book certainly made me think about all the ads I see and if there is actually any truth in any of them . Well written with humour and touching on some delicate subjects

This was such an entertaining and heartwarming read. Perfect for readers in their 40-50's—though its wit and charm will resonate with many—I often found myself relating to the main character’s experiences and outlook on life. Harper Ford’s writing is sharp, engaging, and frequently laugh-out-loud funny, yet it also delivers moments of genuine emotional depth. Lucy’s journey is both hilarious and touching, offering an honest exploration of personal growth and the realities of navigating life’s absurdities.

The plot is also delightfully unpredictable. Just when you think you know where it’s heading, Ford introduces a clever twist or emotional reveal that keeps you hooked. It’s the kind of book you can easily read in one sitting—not just because it entertains, but because it prompts reflection.

This is the ideal story for anyone who has ever felt the pressure to keep up, prefers a good book over a bootcamp, or suspects that true inner peace might just come in the form of a well-poured glass of wine. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Harper Ford.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Harper Ford for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this. I loved the character of Lu and her journey into the wellness industry. Great characters and a wonderful story.

What appears at first to be a light-hearted, witty take on wellness culture soon reveals layers of emotional depth. The comedic surface perfectly frames poignant moments about ageing, grief, and workplace dynamics, giving the story a resonance that lingers long after the last page.

Lucy, the main character, feels utterly real—like someone you already know. Exhausted, relatable, sceptical yet hopeful, she navigates the absurd expectations of ‘wellness’ with an authenticity that mirrors the thoughts of women everywhere. Her inner voice is sharp, honest, and often laugh-out-loud funny, making her both a refreshing and relatable heroine.

The novel also offers a sharp, perceptive look at how women are treated in the workplace. It captures the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that gender affects opportunity and recognition, highlighting how women are judged more harshly and often forced into unhealthy competition. These insights are delivered with wit and candour, ensuring the message hits without ever feeling heavy-handed.

Beneath the humour are moments of genuine vulnerability. Lucy’s grappling with grief, loneliness, and the societal pressure to ‘have it all’ is handled with sensitivity, giving the novel emotional weight. These scenes are quietly profound and balance the laugh-out-loud moments perfectly.

The plot is also delightfully unpredictable. Just when you think you know where it’s heading, Harper Ford introduces a twist or emotional reveal that keeps you hooked. It’s the kind of book you want to read in one sitting—not just because it’s entertaining, but because it makes you think.

Overall, Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is a gem: equal parts satire and soul-searching. Harper Ford has created a heroine who is both hilarious and deeply human, in a story that entertains while resonating on a deeper level. I couldn’t put it down.

Harper Ford is the queen of middle-aged women and this book carries you along as effortlessly as a stream of (organic) wine! Brush up on your kegels if you don't want to wee yourself laughing.

Lucy Cooper (or Lucia, as her stuck-in-his-ways boss has nicknamed her) is fine being a workaholic, dreaming of her well-deserved COO post which isn't yet a reality, while living on wine and takeaways. But is there more to life than this? When work nemesis, the beautifully put-together Tara Harryman, arrives in her life, she is forced to confront some truths about her past in the name of detoxing, while falling under the spell of Clio, a past-life regression specialist who claims to have beaten cancer. But is Clio all she seems?

Constructive feedback, which I won't be making public: I expected more of a twist with Clio and possibly with Tara, and the lengthy speech the two women give at the end doesn't seem to take into acount the positive aspects of the wellness-seeking experience, such as Lucy's increased connection with her family as a result of her sessions with Clio - and the past-life regression doesn't feel fully explained, though they are some of the most beautiful parts of the book.

In short, another corker from Harper.

This book is a great piece of contemporary fiction that blends sardonic humor with unexpectedly poignant observations about modern life. The book follows Lucy (Lu to her friends, Lucia to her Boss!) she navigates friendships, romance, and career frustrations with a dry wit that’s as relatable as it is entertaining, this book had me laughing out loud throughout.

I really related to the Authors writing style, it is crisp and conversational and peppered with little one-liners. Beneath the humor, though, lies a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of boundaries, burnout, and the pressures of being “on” in a world that demands constant engagement.

What I loved about this novel is its balance, it’s very funny in places, but never at the expense of emotional depth.

The first paagraph was a little slow, but as of chapter 2, the author obviously found her groove - and created a wonderful book.

In all the promo pieces for this book, the words hilarious and relatable and yes, both of these are true, but for me, the real story starts behind the words and humour and more about what she is saying behind the writing.

I am around her age and often wanted to 'be better' so, I completely get it. Havind said this, the author has really decided to make so many things different, I can only cheer her on.

Such a good book and inspirational

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone by Harper Ford is a hilarious and uplifting story about midlife, competition, and self-discovery. I loved Lucy’s sharp wit, relatable struggles, and the laugh-out-loud moments that made this book such a joy to read. Beneath the humor, it also carried a heartfelt message about embracing yourself. I truly enjoyed it and gave it five stars.

Right. Where do I start with how much I loved and related to this book?
Lucy is a 53-year-old woman. She's got a great job, is single, and is working on her next steps in life, specifically a promotion at work, which looks likely.
Until she's surprised by a new colleague, Tara, not much younger than Lucy, but filled with the glamour and perfection of one of those women who have Instagram-worthy perfect diets/families/lives.
And so she finds herself in a position of competition, and that competition pulls her into a wellness frenzy.
Okay, so the book had me laughing out loud at the various wellness techniques Lucy ends up signing up for, and I rolled my eyes several times, recalling similar services constantly touted on social media as the next big thing. Especially those diets and meds for perimenopausal women, and the different 'Zen' activity apps that claim to have you looking 10 years younger in 4 weeks and 15lb slimmer, too...
But it wasn't just a funny ride, this read.
Through the competitive element, Lucy gets to know her arch-nemesis, Tara. She uncovers aspects of a particular 'wellness guru' who is being lauded as remarkable that raise alarm bells.
And that's when a deeper element of this story kicks in. Midlife insecurities, and a constant bombardment of claims to 'banish this' and 'cure that' that I know most of us women of a certain age feel, show themselves, and the ugly side of 'wellness', along with it.
Fantastically written and a hard recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.

As a big fan of Harper Ford, I was eager to read the new book by her and couldn’t wait to get stuck in. But initially I found it a little hard to gel with Lucy, unsure of why. But I persevered and it all started to come together.

Lucy had her issues with Tara, her new competitor at work competing for the same new role as her, and lied her way onto and into the life of Clio, the wellness guru who could heal and change the world.

There were times in this book that really had me thinking deeply about my own life which I really wasn’t expecting. In fact it got quite emotional at times which added to the skills of the author. The last third of the book had me speed reading to a fulfilling conclusion that reminded me just how amazing Harper Ford is at storytelling. Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Based off the cover of "Live Laugh Leave Me Alone," I thought it was going to be a book akin to Bridget Jones Diary. A book about a 50 something woman and the messiness of her life and career. I was reading this book concurrently with another one and I put it this one off because I wasn't really engaged until after the first quarter.

Interestingly, that's when the plot started to change and I became hooked. From the description, this book seemed to be about competition, about who was smarter and could outlast the other through stamina and endurance. Instead, it was more of a polemic about how much our lives are shaped by societal influence and how much emphasis we put not only on looking and feeling good, but also the gratification it gives by looking down on others.

This book was also an indictment of grifters who imbue a particular market that, unfortunately, take advantage of the most vulnerable under the auspice of healing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC

Lu is in her fifties and desperately wants a promotion at work. She's also single and lonely. She gets introduced to the world of wellness in search of her promotion and, at first, the book is absolutely hilarious. I found myself crying because I was laughing at the depiction of wellness so hard. But then, Lu gets sucked in and the book becomes less funny and more relatable. Who hasn't worried that themselves or someone they love might get sucked into a scam? Especially those of us who aren't in our twenties anymore. This is an enjoyable read that has a unique writing style that switches back and forth between first person (I did this, I think that) and second person narration (the main character talks directly to the reader using the word 'you.') Normally, I would be skeptical that mixing first and second person would work, but this writer absolutely pulls it off in a way that had me searching for my Christmas gift list and wondering who else might like this book! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

What a great book, totally, totally relatable. I’ve been reading a book about my life, how easy it is to be sucked in by “wellness”, ambition and all the guff that is out there to “make me a better version of myself “. This was a funny, real and fabulous story of the world we live in, if we let it! Just brilliant…off to read her other novels now….

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Loved this book immensely. Just a delight from the beginning to end

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. So fluidly written and flows so beautifully. I loved Lucy as a character so thoughtfully done. Very relatable to even though I’m not 53!
This a great book. I hope others enjoy it as much as I have.

Oh my goodness!!! I loved this books so so much! Maybe it’s because I’m 53 and maybe it’s because the author is so humorous in her writings maybe it’s because all of this health stuff that may or maybe be unfounded!

This book read so easily and fluidly. Great character development. And deffo makes me not want to be had!

Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

It took me a chapter or two to get used to the style of writing…..it felt like a friend chatting away, without being able to get a word in edgeways….but then I realised that I didn’t need to respond…just read!
Lucy is a 50 something woman. Independent but work consumes her. I know that feeling, for sure. Her journey of discovery is funny, but often poignant too. Scratch the surface, and the laughs are underpinned by feelings of wanting to be wanted, liked, respected. We can all relate to that I’m sure.
It’s an engaging read, perfect for bingeing in one go.
I would recommend this for an easy yet thought provoking book.

Harper Ford is back!!
Single fifty three years old Lucy Lu Cooper is tired of working and about to have a massive rant.
Jumping for a well earned promotion after finding her boss is retiring, Bossbabe Tara Harryman snatches it but she's not all she seems.
Beane&Co family insurance in Tunbridge Wells Kent has been Lu's life job for many years, and she wants to work her way up not leave and start all over again.
A lovely uplifting, funny,with added wellness, that i love, and this author has hit my buttons.
But life is to short to carry on in old patterns, so will Lu take a new road?
Absolutely fabulous, well written, with feelgood advice.
Loved it.

Lucy is divorced, happy to be alone and a workaholic. She’s worked her way up within her company and although very good at her job, doesn’t enjoy it. She’d like a similar but significantly less staff focused role which she is convinced would be good for the company, but as yet it doesn’t exist despite Lucy’s suggestions to the CEO.
Lucy’s family of her sister’s family plus their Mum have all emigrated to New Zealand and it caused resentment on both sides when Lucy wouldn’t give up her job to go with them.
Then one day Lucy’s mundane life is invaded by a new CEO with new ideas, along with a rival for the new post which had seemed within Lucy’s grasp.
To stay ahead Lucy must alter her lifestyle which she does reluctantly at first, then embraces one aspect which becomes immersive to the point of blindness. Only with the help of her investigative friend can Lucy discover what is truth and lies, in her own life as well as lifestyle choices.
Very funny and a very easy, enjoyable read.

Lucy has worked hard for the same firm all her working life, she now wants promotion and a change from her post as head of HR. Enter a new CEO and Tara, The only way to get the promotion is to embrace "Wellness." Brilliantly written, laugh out loud moments, so true to life, A midlife explosion. I read it in 1 day, impossible to put down.

This was a fun jump into a relatively unserious but still introspective look at adulthood, womanhood and just surviving life with a dash of humor, a bit of grace and a whole lot of self forgiveness. It was a quick and easy read!

I just finished reading “Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone” by Harper Ford. Lucy was such a real character! I loved all the honesty she had. I really enjoyed reading about her friendship with Jacqui. This book really resonated with me. I feel like this book is so current with the topic. Every time I open social media, I see accounts promoting all kinds of products from quick fat loss pills/drinks to Pills that help with hormones symptoms. On top of that I see so many influencers promoting their workouts, supplements, and apps. I feel like it’s trendy for them to target perimenopause and menopausal women. I have fallen to the scam before so I enjoyed reading Lucy’s journey to her final presentation where and her Tara really brought the topic home.

If you liked the humour and real life observations in Harper Ford’s previous books, you will enjoy this one.

Lucy is fifty, frazzled and still waiting for her dream job, having been at the company for half her life.

When a rival for her dream job turns up at the company, she joins a wellness programme. Is it what she thought it would be, or will she change her perception.

This is the story of that journey and there are plenty of laughs and tears along the way.

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone was just the most brilliant and hilarious read, that made me smile and laugh out loud and had me agreeing with so much! I am laughing now as I start to write my review as it is just the most fabulous book!

The main character is Lucy (Lu), 53 and single. I loved Lucy and was rooting for her the whole time! Lucy really enjoys her job as a HR Manager and is a great team leader. Her mum, sister and family live in New Zealand. Her Dad passed away seven years ago and understandably, she misses him every day. Grief and missing your family were woven into the story and handled very sensitively. Issues affecting the workplace environment were addressed too which I do not often see in novels, a very important inclusion.

Many of us would be able to relate to Lucy. This is a fabulous story about trying to hold onto self-worth while navigating the chaos of modern life. Life is so different now. We are constantly bombarded by social media with what we should do to keep well, physically and mentally. We are told what we should and should not eat, how we should use all these different apps, and how we should practice mindfulness. According to social media, we should absolutely fly through everything that comes with life in your fifties. For most of us, it is hard enough to keep on top of everything, without making sure we do everything we are told to do through our phones, the television and through self help books! There is so much pressure on everyone to be perfect, when underneath the surface there is so much going on, that this is so far from reality.

Lucy is just the best - her idea of wellness is relaxing on the sofa with a glass of wine, and a takeaway! Perfect! However, when she starts competing for a new role in work, her rival is Tara, the wellness Queen! And Lucy cannot let her get the job so Lucy needs to change her wine and takeaways for a more healthier lifestyle! The rivalry between Lucy and Tara was just so brilliantly entertaining. You could feel the tension, you could feel how much each of them wanted the promotion and that they would do all they could (within their own financial limitations) to secure the career milestone which they both wanted so much.

So Lucy starts seeing Clio, the same wellness guru as Tara! If Clio is good enough for Tara, then Lucy feels Clio is going to help her secure the promotion, so with one very expensive click, Lucy signs up. Tara goes on a retreat, has many sessions with Clio and signs up for her app. At first, she’s completely immersed and feels Clio is going to change her whole life for the better.

I have to say at the start I was thinking the wellness culture described in the book certainly included some good ideas! That is how well Harper Ford describes the wellness ideas. But as time went on I started, like Lucy to become more resistant to some of the ideas and alarm bells were ringing. Lucy was very grounded and as much as she loved some of the wellness treatments, she did also, rightly so, question some of them and deep down Lucy knew something was not right. Clio could not have been through everything she said she had - it just did not make sense.

So Lucy starts investigating, not just to uncover the truth, but to expose Clio’s lies and to find out why. So many people are placing their faith in Clio, believing she might be the change they need, when it is only themselves who can make that change.

Towards to the end of the book, Lucy became to shine. Her shine was always there, but it was hidden. Lucy knew what she wanted out of life and she was determined to achieve it. Friends and family are very important to Lucy and she is going to make sure the old and new friendships she has made will remain firm friends forever.

Social media can be helpful in many ways, but often misleading in others. You know what you need, you know what you are capable of and what you can achieve. The choices we make allow us to write our next chapter.

I would love a sequel of this book - that would be amazing! So with no kombucha in sight, I would like to raise a glass to Harper Ford for this super entertaining, wonderful read - thank you!

Thank you very much to Avon Books UK for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Described by her dad as a "foul-mouthed bitchy cynic," Lucy has worked her way up the corporate ladder at Beane & Co and is now HR director, but a little jaded with it all. The prospect of a new CEO brings with it the opportunity to be promoted to COO. But the new CEO also brings a rival, Tara, who is also competing for the COO job.
If this sounds a little dry don't worry, it's about far more than office politics. It's also a treatise on the Wellness industry as seen on Instagram, where there are charlatans a-plenty.
Lucy decides to go on a rejuvenation course after seeing from social media that rival Tara has signed up for it. She encounters a couple of ludicrous practitioners, one who uses fossils to determine where the body is blocked. But then she encounters therapist Clio, and it's a life changing meeting.
But soon Clio stands between Lucy and her coveted COO role. She has fallen out with her best friend, and hasn't seen her mum and sister in New Zealand for several years.
Ultimately very uplifting, this is a cracker of a plot. It passed the true test of keeping me burning the midnight oil. It's fresh and contemporary with humour and cynicism. I'm keen to read more from this author.

I was very much looking forward to the latest Harper Ford novel, and was not disappointed. The title alone, for me, hit the right humorous note, and the narrative style is conversational and collegiate. It does feel like a friend is writing this to you. There are some laugh out loud moments, and Ford is particularly good at capturing relationships between women, and melding the contemporary with, essentially, serious points about women's lives today. It's a novel that is 'comfort food', and, to me, totally relatable. Highly recommended. Grateful thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

The title made me laugh, so I grabbed this one. Dangerous, I know, because you never truly know by the cover, right?
Well, this is a very entertaining read, and I feel it was a good choice to read!

I appreciated the way the author allowed me to connect with Lucy, and the challenges and stresses of running the HR department, at a company she's given so much of herself. Being a woman in a corporate environment can be challenging, but she is in line for a promotion, and things seem to be going her way. That is, until Tara (also competing for the COO position), throws a challenge to Lucy - one that her curiosity and pride will not let her avoid.

This challenge involves "healthy lifestyle alternatives", and it was very entertaining to follow Lucy's journey through the many different approaches to healing ones 'self - some based in understandable practices, and others, whew!, Kinda out there! Along her way she deals with some serious emotional baggage and topics surrounding her father's death, and her current estrangement from her sister and mother. It is easy to connect with her emotions, and empathize with her situation. All of the 'practitioners' of health and wellness, as imagined, monetized their solutions and in that way it is a bit of a cautionary tale - how much is too much to pay for your health. An interesting thought, for sure.

As she moves deeper and deeper into the holistic wellness world, things begin to blur. Her best friend and sounding board, Jacqui, begins to question things, and this becomes a problem between them. The tension around the promotion (and whether it's going to be Tara or her) has Lucy searching for something just outside her grasp. I liked how the pieces slid into place, and what it took for the situation to come to light. Certainly not without angst and drama, but exactly what I was hoping for, once I figured out what was going on!!

I finished my read happy with how things resolved for the characters, and the company. This was entertaining, and recommend this read.
I received an ARC from Netgalley (thank you) and my thoughts are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! I could relate, being a 50 something woman myself, and laughed out loud in parts. Lucy is a fantastic main character and someone you would want to befriend.

She gets suckered into the world of 'wellness' reluctantly after a younger colleague comes into her firm and tries to swoop Lucy's promotion from under her. Cue Clio, the wellness guru, who seems too good to be true. Soon she is inveigling herself into both women's lives in a bid to transform them through forms of regression therapy and expensive weekend retreats.

Other issues are explored such as illness, grief and family loss which made the book all the more real. Lucy, a divorcee whose family live on the other side of the world, starts to realise that there's more to life than just work.

Recommended and five stars as I tore through it. Thank you to all for the advance copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the eCopy of this title.

Some books feel like a group chat with your funniest friend Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is exactly that. Harper Ford delivers a sharp, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt story about midlife reinvention, wellness culture, and the power of saying “no thanks” to perfection.

🍷 Plot Summary
Lucy is fifty-three, divorced, and quietly exhausted. Her idea of inner peace involves wine, a takeaway, and not being bothered. But when her boss retires and a new CEO arrives with his wellness-obsessed sidekick Tara, Lucy’s long-anticipated promotion is suddenly at risk.

To compete, Lucy fakes her way into a wellness bootcamp that’s more cult than self-care. Cue four weeks of ice baths, green juices, and jade eggs in places they absolutely shouldn’t be. As the madness escalates, Lucy begins to question not just the program, but her own life choices and whether growth really requires kombucha and crystals.

💬 What I Loved
Lucy’s Voice: Witty, relatable, and refreshingly honest. She’s the kind of heroine you root for and want to have a drink with.

Satirical Edge: Ford skewers wellness culture with precision, but never loses sight of the emotional truth beneath the laughs.

Unexpected Depth: Beneath the comedy lies a story about grief, ageing, workplace politics, and rediscovering self-worth.

Brilliant Dialogue: Every conversation sparkles. It’s like eavesdropping on your cleverest friends.

🧘‍♀️ Final Thoughts
Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is a joy from start to finish, perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, or anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at a #BossBabe post. If you’ve ever felt like the only person not drinking celery juice at 6 a.m., this book is for you.

Funny, Sharp, Engaging..
What on earth does it really mean to be living your best life? Lucy, fed up and frazzled, has her own ideas about this but circumstances conspire and as a result she jumps on the bandwagon with amusing, bonkers and chaotic consequences. Will she come to her senses and begin to embrace her own brand of good living? Satirical and amusing look at this particularly annoying turn of phrase, the wellness and influencer culture and all that it encompasses with a likeable and endearing protagonist in Lucy. Funny, sharp and engaging.

Lucy is a fun relatable and brilliant character. This book is perfect for a late Summer holiday read or a cosy night in as the Autumn sets in. I loved this book and highly recommend it

This book was relatable, funny, and easy to read. With plenty of laugh out loud moments, and a realistic character like Lucy, a workaholic who is happy to be alone – just like myself, don’t we all want a heroine so similar to ourselves? Someone described this book (which really led me to wanting to read it) as ‘surviving life with a dash of humour’ and I second this opinion.

anything that threatens to take down the wellness industry has my vote, ill read you like i can soak you up! because ugh. ugh to it and it dangerous far too often rubbish rubbishy preying on often vulnerabilities in others simple for power, control or of course money. oh and lets not forget for the ego. this book was a dream.
Lucy is a fifty something woman. shes got a great job which she can only see soon getting better. buuuut this doesn't go to plan when her new colleague Tara walks in. Tara with her grammable life. ugh.
in a bumbling mix up of falling pride there enters the wellness loop.
and oh what comes next is both funny and devastating in its recognisable quackery. the techniques, the things claimed to move all, cure all, be all. make you younger,fitter, happier. everything you could think of and so much more you just couldn't!
you want to laugh, and often you did and that is the Genius of Harper's writing in this. she never pulls you under. because there is a sadness that falls. but its an important one. because this book allow you to pop out of the whole you scroll into and just look, really look at this for a minute. stop and think everyone please. the constant social media frenzy to make you buy this, believe this, cure this, get rid of this. and you've got one hell of a cluster f* of mental health nosedives from all concerned. and this then goes wider, and wider to so many more issues for people in our society.
this book is so full of charm and wit. that little humour puddle that you sit in throughout is like a big comforting hug too.
Lucy is a great character to follow and get to know. you can laugh with her and roll your eyes with her, and feel for her too. shes very human and going through a relatable set of circumstances.
Harper has managed to balance the ups and downs in this book so well. its got so much heart and certainly reached mine. and then its also fun and lyrical. but also touches on those really important deeper moments. moments if you choose and are able, really make you stop and think.
this book was a gem of a read and i cant say enough good things about it otherwise i will totally spoil it and be here all day.

This is a sparkling, sharply observed novel that combines humour, heart, and social commentary in equal measure. It is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

At the centre is Lucy, a 53-year-old HR Manager whose wit, warmth, and relatability make her an unforgettable protagonist. Single, independent, and still grieving the loss of her father, Lucy is navigating both family distance and workplace politics. Ford sensitively incorporates themes of grief, self-worth, and the pressures of modern life without ever losing the novel’s buoyant, comedic tone.

The plot centres on Lucy’s rivalry with Tara, her wellness-obsessed colleague, as both compete for a much-coveted promotion. Determined not to lose, Lucy enlists the same glamorous wellness guru as her rival, leading to a series of brilliantly funny yet eye-opening encounters. Ford cleverly satirises the wellness industry—highlighting its allure, contradictions, and manipulative tendencies—while allowing Lucy to remain grounded and questioning.

Ultimately, Lucy’s journey is one of rediscovery: learning to embrace imperfection, value authentic friendships, and trust her own strength. Witty, wise, and refreshingly honest, this is an uplifting read that will resonate with many.

I love books with strong friendships and this is the biggest element I am taking from this novel. The love, the support, no competition, no jealousy. I loved Lu and Jacqui's amazing relationship. We too often are sold romantic relationships as the most important thing and boy we need to remember it is not true!
Now on the novel itself, the writing flows easily, the main character is witty and fun and relatable. Although not yet in my 50s, there were things I found myself sharing with Lucy. The working environment is so tricky to navigate and the author nails it. Women VS women (often encouraged by men!!) for a big prize, but the best is to learn more about oneself in the process.
As a yoga practitioner (for over 16 years now, wow I am ancient!) I was curious about the wellness industry take the author has chosen. Society puts so much pressure on us that predators use it to sell us anything, and because we need respite, we need to feel better, we need answers to the daily stress, anxiety, demands from life, we fall for it. It can be so hard to see through the bullshit and find real wellness people who are not crooks.

This novel was a delicious yummy chocolate I devoured.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC.

Harper Ford's books are always about 50-something women and have one overarching topic like menopause or the pitfalls of modern dating. This time it is the wellness industry and the charlatans that come with it.

Lucy is 53, divorced and head of HR in a company in Tunbridge Wells. She would love to be COO of the company but her old boss is retiring and the new boss brings in another candidate for the role. Her name is Tara and she is into wellness in all its forms. When she reveals she has booked herself into a wellness bootcamp, Lucy spontaneously books herself in too in order to stay competitive, even though she considers it all to be woo-woo stuff. The first three therapists to do with ice baths, essential oils and fossils are harmless enough snake charmers, but the fourth, Clio and her past life regression therapy bowl Lucy over and initially change her life because it makes her re-evaluate her relationship to family and friends. But is Clio all she seems? Best friend and investigative journalist Jacqui doesn't seem to think so.

This is a very good observation of the wellness industry and how people can get sucked into it, even if they are sceptical at first. I liked Lucy and Tara's grudgingly growing friendship, and that Lucy tries to improve the relationship with her mother and sister who have moved to New Zealand after her Dad died. However, the book is not a funny as it could be and as the author's books usually are. Also, the chapters are way too long which is off-putting. The book deals with serious topics like illness though and is a good depiction of a lonely woman in her 50s trying to stay relevant.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is both a takedown of the wellness industry and an exploration of the pull between real satisfaction in life and the things we are told we should want to give our lives meeting.

Lucy is head of HR and living a lonely life she can ignore in her goal to become COO of her company. I must say it was pretty funny that the head of HR generally hated all her coworkers - including her CEO (who really did deserve it) but is stepping down, allowing for Lucy to propose the COO position to the new CEO. Unfortunately the new CEO brings with him a right hand woman, Tara, who is Lucy’s competition for the spot. When Tara says she’s joining a wellness challenge Lucy auto lies that she’s already joined and the hijinks begin.

Some of the wellness sessions were utterly ridiculous (and good on Lucy for calling them out) but what happened with the last one is truly what people fear when getting into anything niche. Still, what was even more compelling was the overarching storyline for Lucy of really diving into her past and what she wanted her future to be. If you’re into a little more serious take on otherwise lighter themes in fiction, I found this to be a great option.

4.5⭐️
Excellent, funny and beautifully written.
Lucy is head of HR in a firm and has really kind of got fed up of dealing with people, she’s hoping once the CEO retires she can persuade to new boss to give her the COO title which involves much less dealing with the staff. However the new incoming boss brings in his “right hand woman” Tara who is also looking to get the coveted Chief Operating Officer position. Tara is her nemesis and she signs up to the same wellness boot camp as her to get one up on her. However one of the wellness practitioners really seems the real deal and Lucy wonders if this wellness malarkey maybe has some merit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this new book from Harper Ford. I laughed out loud many times. She’s been added to my list of must read authors.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Lucy: fifty, exhausted, and pretty sure inner peace means her couch, wine, and take out, but you know… same. Then her overly perfect coworker Tara storms in with wellness bootcamps and boss babe energy. To keep up, Lucy fibs about joining, only to find herself in a five week whirlwind of ice baths, green juices, and jade eggs where she’d rather not have them. As the wellness craziness ramps up, so do the rivalrie, and Lucy starts to wonder, is she actually growing, or is that just the kombucha talking?

A hilarious, relatable joyride about middle age, self respecting take a break from wellness reality checks, and learning when saying “leave me alone” is exactly what your soul needs.

Lucy has devoted her life as the head of HR to the insurance company to the detriment of her personal relationships especially with respect to her family. She only has one friend, Jacq, who has a family and cannot solely devote herself to Lucy's needs. It is therefore only pursuing the COO role is where she finds her value despite being called the wrong name, Lucia, by her boss as well ad Tara now competing with her for the role. It is no wonder that she pursued the wellness track at first as a lark but then rapidly turns into the means of her happiness. In Clio she finds someone who she connects with as Clio understands her struggles with losing her father who was her biggest champion as well as in the regression participation comes into times of her life that she identified what made her happy at the time as well as the leadership traits she prides herself to be. It is only when attending a prohibitively expensive retreat and being surrounded by "like minded people" that she wonders why Clio is pitching expensive products and has no social media presence. How can she live an extravagant life? It is only through her investigative work with Jacq and eventually Tara that she sees Clio who she is which is a predator on vulnerable women looking for someone that can connect to and give them hope. Whose stories marries hers. What Lucy comes to realize is that those who fight and potentially lose the battle are not losers. They are simply people who celebrate who they are. That is wellness.

After working for an insurance company for years, Lucy is excited when it’s looking like she will finally get the promotion of her dreams … until Tara walks in.

Being informed that the dream job will be between Lucy and Tara, Lucy has to put out all the stops to enable her to still be in the game. When Tara talks about Wellness Bootcamp, Lucy decides that even though she’s a cynic, she’ll give it a go.

When Lucy meets Clio, it’s like an epiphany. Past-life regression therapy is helping Lucy to understand those around her, as well as the fraught relationships with family. Lucy starts to rely on Clio, she understands how Lucy feels, she’s been there herself with family and health issues. Lucy feels as though she has made a good friend, until little things start to niggle at her after attending Clio’s wellness weekend.

What is the truth and how can Lucy deal with it? Her best friend, Jacqui, is there for her the whole time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I wasn’t too sure about Lucy to start with, but as time went on, I came to love her character.

I found myself rooting for Lucy, I had respect for her character. My heart went out to Lucy as she went on a journey of discovery about herself.

The characters in this story were all well-thought-out, as well as thought-provoking. Certain aspects of the book made me sit up and think.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Another hilarious read from Harper Ford! Funny from the first chapter, loved the writing style and will continue to read everything by this author.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this prior to release

What a brilliant hilarious read from the first chapter. I haven't laughed so much at a book like this. It was like a tonic. Relatable in so many ways. Lucy is frazzled with life. But when her boss decides to retire, she hopes for a promotion. But rival Tara steps in as well and offering a wellness camp. Lucy is desperate to compete and even joins the wellness camp with some interesting consequences. I now need to read more by Harper as this was fantastic. Thank you Avon Books.

Oh Lucy. She's having a rough time of it what with her family moving to New Zealand and losing out on the job she expected to get. So working with Clio, a therapist, and a wellness regime fills in and helps her get her groove back. In fact, she's so enthusiastic about Clio that she schedules her for a lecture at work but then discovers Clio isn't what she seems. Now what? This hits the sweet spot of self discovery and friendship as well as navigating a new reality in mid-life. And it's funny. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Lucy works as a HR Director in an insurance company called Beane & Company. She is now single after going through a divorce.

Her family live in New Zealand. Her job is all she has in her life and Lucy so wants to become the COO, she’s so close. That is until her boss retires and then a new chief executive is appointed, he is accompanied by Tara, you is now the COO.

Tara begins to make changes, one of which is that the company to look into wellness retreats for their employees and she advises that she is going to a wellness boot camp. It appears Lucy will be going with her too.

But is this wellness boot camp all that it seems? Will Lucy finally achieve what she wants?

I loved the story and think readers will relate to Lucy’s character.

I highly recommend this book.

This was refreshingly honest and raw, and uplifting.
I absolutely loved Lucy's humourous approach to life, her witty inner monologue, and seeing her vulnerability, loneliness and hope was relatable.
With a work rivalry and competition for a promotion at work, Lucy hastily signs herself up for a wellness retreat. She experiences 3 sessions with mixed feelings, but the final wins her over. With regular sessions now booked in with Clio, her new alternative therapist, she feels like she's getting the insights she needs to better helself, even if it's costing her a fortune.
Soon she's swept under the intoxicating journey that Clio offers, and even suggests her as a keynote speaker at her workplace in the hopes to inspire others and also boost her promotion chances.
But alarm bells start ringing when she speaks to other clients and realises there are inconsistencies that make her doubtful.
She embarks on an investigative journey to uncover the truth behind this wellness sales pitch, and the women she's put her trust into. Even working with her rival, and risking her job and reputation.
It's a poignant journey that takes a deep dive into alternative treatments, the risks and rewards, and the societal pressures to be perfect or better yourself.

Oh, I absolutely loved this. Lucy is fifty, frazzled, and frankly had me nodding along from page one. Her idea of bliss is a sofa, a glass of wine, and a takeaway – and honestly, same.

But when her shot at a well-earned promotion is stolen by Tara – a colleague so perfect she could power a small city with her #BossBabe energy – Lucy finds herself knee-deep in a lie. She claims she’s signed up for the same wellness bootcamp, despite thinking her body feels “more landfill than temple.” Cue four weeks of torture disguised as self-care: ice baths, green juices, crystals, and those jade eggs that had me howling.

What makes this such a treat is Ford’s balance of laugh-out-loud moments with real heart. Beneath the comedy is a story about midlife reinvention, rivalry, and the messy truth that maybe growth isn’t found in wellness fads but in being honest with yourself.

Lucy is a heroine for all of us who’ve ever rolled our eyes at kale smoothies – flawed, funny, and impossible not to root for.

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is sharp, hilarious, and sneakily heartwarming – the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who’s ever felt out of step with the wellness world.

Women everywhere will be able to relate to Lucy and the lengths she will go to to secure a promotion but how much of what she sees in her arch rival is real and how much of it is all a front? You'll laugh out loud but you might just do some thinking about believing everything you (think) you see.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was Great writing. Loved the style of the story

This was an enjoyable story. Humorous but still full of depth. The main character is at a turning point in her career and hopeful for a promotion she feels she deserves. This inadvertently leads her down a path into investigating wellness and into conflict with a new colleague. Although light and full of humour the story deals with real issues including family dynamics, relationships and the importance of friends. It also highlights how careful we have to be with online content and how anyone can be fooled, especially if they are vulnerable.

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone by Harper Ford, features Lucy as a middle-aged woman in the central role and I love how relatable Ford makes her protoganists. There is always a sense of understanding to several of the scenarios faced by Frankie, or Heidi and now Lucy.
Lucy has long been frustrated with her life and, when it finally looks as though her worklife improving, she is more than ready for the next step. Unfortunately, there is also a new challenge a challenge in the shape of a new, perfect colleague who is ready to steal Lucy's dream promotion.
Through some hilarious situations, and plenty of satire Lucy strives to 'live her best life' mantra, Lucy finds herself inner peace and rediscovers the importance of friendship.

Lucy has been working in the same company for many years and has worked her way up to HR Director. She has her eyes on being COO but so far the CEO has ignored her pleas for this role to be created. Now he is retiring and fresh blood is being injected into the company. The only problem is that she has a rival in the form of Tara for the COO role.
After stalking Tara on-line, she ends up on a wellness bootcamp. Most of it is woo-woo, but when she does Clarity with Clio, something clicks and she is almost evangelical about it. She tells the bosses that she has booked Clio as star speaker on the company conference and carries on seeing Clio for therapy.
She attends a retreat organised by Clio, at considerable cost, and a few things there start to cast doubt on what she has been led to believe about Clio.
On her return she shares her doubts with Jacqui, her best friend, who just happens to be a Journalist. But the main problem is will she be able to cancel the speech at work.
This book centres on Lucy's life, but highlights several things that we could all suffer from.
Interesting and fun

I had such a great time with this book. Lucy is a character I immediately connected with – sharp, funny, a little cynical, and navigating that stage of life where everyone expects you to be “sorted” but you’re still figuring things out. Her voice is so relatable and had me laughing out loud more than once.

The satire on wellness culture was spot on. From juice cleanses to crystals to competitive “self-care,” I found myself nodding along and cringing in recognition. It’s funny, but there’s also a lot of truth here about how easy it is to get caught up in appearances and pressure, especially at work.

What surprised me was the depth – alongside the humour there are touching moments about family, friendship, and grief. It gave the story more weight and made me really root for Lucy.

If I had one niggle, it’s that some of the plot points were a little predictable, but honestly it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. This is a witty, warm, and uplifting read that I think fans of Marian Keyes will love.

Some books make you laugh out loud, nod in recognition, and occasionally blink back a tear — Harper Ford’s Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone does all three.

Lucy, our fifty-something heroine, is tired, sarcastic, and just about keeping it together as HR director at Beane & Co.

She’s in line for a promotion, but when wellness-obsessed Tara swoops in as her rival, Lucy finds herself reluctantly signing up for a so-called “Wellness Bootcamp.”

What follows is a deliciously funny, often eye-rolling tour through jade eggs, ice baths, crystals, and green juices.

Think workplace drama meets wellness satire — with a surprising emotional punch.

What I Loved

Lucy herself – She’s sharp, self-deprecating, and very relatable. I could imagine grabbing a glass of wine with her and moaning about work, life, and Instagram “gurus.”

The humour – Ford has a brilliant way of sending up wellness culture without being cruel. The fossil therapy scene had me giggling, while some of the “treatments” felt scarily close to things you actually see on social media.

The heart beneath the laughs – This isn’t just a send-up of green juice and kombucha. Lucy is navigating workplace politics, estrangement from her family, grief over her dad, and the fragile bonds of friendship. That mix of absurdity and emotional truth kept me hooked.

Friendship and conflict – I really enjoyed Lucy’s dynamic with her best friend Jacqui. Their ups and downs felt authentic and reminded me how easily we can take people for granted when life gets overwhelming.

Final Thoughts

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is witty, warm, and wonderfully real. It balances laugh-out-loud satire with moving reflections on grief, midlife, and the pressure to “have it all together.”

If you’re a fan of Marian Keyes or Sophie Kinsella, or if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a #BossBabe post on Instagram, this is a book for you.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Being extremely sceptical of all these 'wellbeing' fads, I was instantly attracted to this book which manages both to debunk the charlatans and to imply there may be some credence in some of the options available out there.

Our heroine, Lucy, is a successful HR manager, who has been in post at the same company for most of her working life, but who dreams of a job not dealing with people - she wants the post of COO. Her moment is arriving as the current CEO is retiring, but then she finds another woman has been brought onto the board and is vying for the same role.

Desperate to impress, she signs up for a wellness 'boot camp' - four 'treatments' that she will use to promote wellbeing to the company at their annual conference. However, the treatments vary considerably until Lucy finds 'Clarity with Clio' which seems to fulfil her every wish and help her to deal with the death of her beloved father, the estrangement of her mother and sister and to cope with every day living. Or does it?

Its a real rollercoaster, having the reader laughing one moment and inutterably sad the next. We can all identify with elements of Lucy. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really enjoyable read. I could easily relate to Lucy and loved her down to earth character and outpourings. It was like dipping into a real person's life and dramas.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to a great read.

This was an interesting and refreshing read. I found I could identify with Lucy a lot throughout this book. Deeply lonely and unfulfilled and totally unaware. It was fun watching her go through her wellness treatments, lots of honest and funny reactions. The final one where she meets Clio was so interesting and really interested me, like Lu I so wanted to believe it was true.

Watching Lucy make small changes and seeing the results was interesting, it just shows that just having a more positive attitude and an open mind really make a difference, as does good food and a decent sleep.

When Lucy realises she needs to expose Clio as the evidence is stacking against her she really came into her own and working with Tara gave her a connection she needed and a different insight into her own life and her sisters life allowing her to connect with her again.

Over all I really enjoyed this book, slightly different to my usual reads, but was a welcome breath of fresh air.

This was such a fabulous funny read!! And a book that many women will relate to so much - if you're 50 and frazzled then you need this book in your life!! We are all Lucy!!

Lucy has been working at the same place for many years. She loves her job and knows she's good at it, but the workplace is changing and she's struggling to keep up with office politics and the latest goings on - especially that of wellness! Her main work rival, Tara, is all into the wellness craze - all Lucy sees is the BS and she's at that stage in her life where she's less tolerant of it all!

So she finds herself wrapped up in the wellness world, going in with an open mind and ready to call out people if she thinks she and others are being taken advantage of, as many wellness fads appear to be nowadays. The more time she spends with people running the courses, the more she finds herself connecting with them as real people, just sharing their different ideas and wanting to help others. Maybe she's been too quick to diminish them in the past?!

I really loved Lucy and her outlook on life - she's dealing with family issues too with her mother and sister living on the other side of the world, and missing her Dad who passed. This new chapter of her life sees her willing to maybe step outside of her comfort zone, and try things to help her embrace different sides to herself - and that's when you can become a little more vunerable to those who may want to take advantage of people and their kindness, and it's how you react to that which proves quite telling!

This was one of those books that I just lost myself in as you could imagine yourself sitting and chatting so easily with Lucy - there's a cynic in me too and it's nice to find people who aren't easily led, but will still give others a chance to prove themselves... or to be proved right in your initial hunch!! Full of laughs - highly recommended!!

Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is a witty, warm and relatable look at midlife chaos and the absurdities of wellness culture. Lucy is a flawed but loveable main character, and Ford balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heart. Overall it’s sharp, funny and surprisingly moving. A great pick if you want humor with a dose of real life.

The title called to me, and I had to read this. I found this book to be a combination of snark and heart. It takes a look at the wellness industry and how it targets vulnerable people. There's also quite a bit about work environments and how the few women who make it up to higher management positions in male dominated areas are often pitted against each other.

Mid-life is bringing forth a host of challenges for Lucy. She has the dream job she's longed for in her sights when Tara is brought in by the replacement CEO who also has her eye on the coveted position. Despite decades at the company Lucy has to compete with Tara. Tara has an Instagram perfect life with lots of focus on wellness and health. Green juice and smoothies galore. She's singing the praises of an intense wellness bootcamp she's signed up for with all sorts of off the wall treatments. In an attempt to keep up Lucy tells her co-workers that she's also signed up. In reality Lucy is more couch potato than yogi and would rather have delivery with wine than kombucha but she's willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. A little ice bath isn't going to deter her.

Is any of this stuff real or is it all a grift?

This book has some hilarious moments, but it also deals with heavier topics. The back and forth sometimes slowed the pace a bit. I liked how Lucy was shown to be overwhelmed with so many parts of life. I think a lot of people can relate to that. She's in her early fifties and is childless by choice making her a different kind of character than we usually see in this age range. I appreciated the unique take on what her challenges and focus would be from a personal and professional standpoint.

3.5 ✨ rounded up

Thank you to Avon Books UK for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a fun and refreshing read. It was super sharp and witty and full of relatable moments that make you laugh out loud. The humor landed perfectly - snarky without being mean or overdone - and the situations are so relatable that you can’t help but root for the FMC as she fumbles, grumbles, and finds her way through life.

I loved how light-hearted and bingeable it was…just the kind of book you want to text your friends about mid-read because the commentary is just that good. If you’re in the mood for something hilarious and relatable that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is absolutely worth picking up.