Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #theoldgirlsnetwork #netgalley

Pauline is a widow living in a lovely cutesy village in Somerset whereas her spinster sister lives in inner city Cambridge and both really only tolerate each other. Until Barbara comes to stay to rest and relax and they run over a drunken elderly gentleman outside the pub and their worlds collide!

Judy was recommended to me from a friend after her debut novel.

This book as the most loveliest description and really makes you feel that your in the heart of a friendly and welcoming village. Giving you through the pages everything that village life provides.

The characters all have their quirks but gel in the community perfectly with their own great descriptions. Although often you feel that they are 2 dimensional and that really your only scratching the surface of their life and experiences a bit like the author is holding back on the emotion and instead giving description of them physically.

Very repetitive in parts although it's worth the read if just for the location.

A heartwarming uplifting read
A story of second chances and made me feel part of the community.

This book prevented plenty of laughter.

The Old Girls’ Network
by Judy Leigh


Two sisters who’ve passed the 70-year mark thought they knew all there was to know about each other. They loved each other but didn’t particularly like each other. When a medical event convinces one (Barbara) she would like to reconcile this relationship before she closes the book on this life, she packs her bag and shows up unexpectedly on the doorstep of her sister (Pauline, the tolerant one). As that learning curve develops and charmingly unfolds for a reader, a delightful community peopled with lovable characters is introduced.

Life goes on (as it does): accidents happen, cat fights occur, drunkenness is tolerated, houses are improved, instruments are played, jealousies are ignited, neighbors move in, teens fall in love, farmers farm, pilots fly, pride goes before a fall, authors auth, kisses are planted, babies are birthed, butts are bared and tea is had by all. I realized waaay too late I was in a novel that could very well be a romance.

I loved every bit of it. Yes. Laughed out loud, chortled AND guffawed (those don’t always happen all in one book). Even squeezed out a few tears. Had all the good feels and will be hunting Ms. Leigh’s other books!


A Sincere Thanks to Judy Leigh, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.
#TheOldGirlsNetwork #NetGalley

I absolutely love this author’s books, so I jumped at the chance to review this one. It didn’t disappoint!

Pauline and Barbara are quite different, Pauline is much more sociable, and a real part of her community. Barbara is more outspoken, but not very good socially. But as we get to know them a little bit better, we can see why. They’re both lovely characters though, and it’s hard not to be fond of them.

Bisto comes into their lives unexpectedly, and he changes life for everyone. There’s more to him than meets the eye, and he turns out to be just what they all needed.

There is great warmth and humour in this book, a host of wonderful characters, and an entertaining and engaging plot.

A truly life-affirming and uplifting read, it shows that there’s still so much living to do at any age, and that friendship, family and love are so important.

I love reading about old, yet feisty people, and the characters of the OGN were just that! A lovely setting as if we're in the middle of a Midsummer Murders scene with all the drama of love, life and laughter.

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

The Old Girls Network by Judy Leigh

About two sisters who on the surface couldn’t be more different. Barbara goes to stay with her widowed sister Pauline in Somerset to recover after she ends up in hospital. Pauline is bubbly and kindhearted but Barbara is very abrupt, very staid and can be a bit unkind. It follows their journey and how their lives change and all the local characters they are friends with along the way.

A well written book with humour and a few twists in the story showing that things and people aren’t what they first appear.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

This is a book with unlikely protagonists. We are talking of two sisters well into their seventies having their own coming of age story. The elder and harder sister(Barbara), after a near death-like experience and an additional piece of advice by a medical professional, contacts her sister for an extended stay. The younger, softer sister is a widow (Pauline) who is finding out her own wants. She is a pillar of her community and actively involved in all the local culture.
It is relatively easy to favour Pauline over Barbara when reading, unless if like me, you identify with the prickliness of the Elder sibling (we are all a team of our own for the most part!). It is also easy to forget the ages of the characters because of their extremely active lifestyle. It only comes into focus if they bring it up themselves or if they recollect something that occurred during the war.
There is an addition of a temporary tramp whose life history is unknown but is a man with many skills. He settles down in the town for the duration of the narrative and acts as a catalyst for several changes. Taken together, it was an entertaining read with characters a lot older than I am used to reading the love lives of.
I would definitely recommend it to readers of the genre.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Fun read about growing older, health scares and family. Two sisters as opposite as can be meet someone who might just change their lives.

5☆ A Heart Warming, Uplifting, Compelling and Very Entertaining Read! Be prepared for plenty of Fun and Giggles!


Barbara is convinced she had just died, woke up in hospital from a pretty nasty fall and a memory full of regrets. All she wants to do is go home. But the Dr has other ideas!

Pauline is Barbara's sister, she lives alone in a three bedroom Country Cottage in Winsleigh Green, which is in desperate need of some TLC.
But since her husband passed away, Pauline is struggling. Luckily she has the close knit community to help support her, especially as she doesn't see eye to eye with Barbara.

But when Barbara rings Pauline out the blue telling her she's coming to stay for some r&r she's worringly apprehensive, but maybe just maybe they can reconnect. Both now in their 70s, both very different what have they got to lose!

Especially when Bisto Mulligan falls into their lives, he might just be the one to bring everyone closer together!

I have always loved reading books that feature Characters of the older generation, it brings a refreshing change and these eclectic bunch are superbly written. They certainly made an impact.

Sisters Pauline and Barbara are so very different. Barbara is what some might call a spinster, she's aloof, not entirely likeable at first, fiercely independent and is not afraid to say it, as it is.
Pauline a widow and a Mum, she's kind, caring, has a big heart and always seems to be in Barbara's shadow not knowing if and when she will upset her. So it was nice to see their relationship grow.

The Old Girls’ Network is a heart warming, uplifting, compelling and very entertaining story of second chances, rekindling bonds, Romance, relationships, community spirit, plenty of drama, fun and lots of giggles.
What I really loved was that Leigh made me feel part of the Winsleigh Green Community and all that is has to offer, which was pretty special.

Overall a wonderfully uplifting, lighthearted and fun read that I highly recommend reading.


Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Enjoyed this story which reminded me of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, except set in the English countryside. The characters were well-drawn (Barbara got on my nerves many a time, LOL) and there was a small village charm to this that permeated throughout. A nice read

The Old Girls’ Network by Judy Leigh is a laugh out loud funny, moving and uplifting read that is the perfect for this time of year. I’ve been lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to escape into the pages of some fabulous summer reads during lockdown, and oh my goodness this one does not disappoint!

It tells the story of feisty Barbara who, after a health scare, invites herself to convalesce in the sleepy village of Winsleigh Green with her widowed sister, Pauline. Both in their late seventies, Barbara is the outspoken sister whilst Pauline is more good natured and homely. Living together was never going to be easy and tensions soon begin to rise.

But when Pauline accidentally knocks down a vagrant known as Bisto, the sisters find themselves with an extra houseguest. It soon becomes apparent that there’s more to Bisto than at first meets the eye, and as the sisters get to know him, they begin to realise that he has the potential to change both their lives.

The Old Girls’ Network is a pure delight from beginning to end. I loved the fact that this book centred around the often overlooked older generation, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that their lives can be every bit as eventful as the younger generation! Judy Leigh’s writing is pitch perfect as we find ourselves drawn into the lives of these colourful characters. We laugh, cry and experience life right alongside them as they do their best to navigate the ups and downs of later life.

Filled with hilarious moments that will make you laugh out loud, I honestly can’t rate this book highly enough. A beautifully written and heartwarmingly poignant read that I simply adored! This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it most definitely won’t be my last. Highly recommended.

This was my first Judy Leigh novel and I'm sure it won't be the last! How fantastic to read of love being found in an older generation than me (I'm in my fifties)! I laughed out loud several times. Reading about two previously disengaged sisters finally connecting, getting to know each other and both finding love in a village was so true to life. In fact, the sisters reminded me of my grandmother and great aunt.

Compassion And Companionship.....
A leisurely read, a tale of compassion and companionship. Characters are well drawn, often quirky and mostly likeable with an engaging, often humorous, storyline. The Somerset setting delightful. Enjoyable and relaxing.

This book is delightful ! The type of book that leaves you feeling better and happier for having read it. I loved that the author has the foresight to feature charcters over 60 as this is so rare in today's authors. We seniors are tired of reading about overindulged 30 somethings with trust funds and no intelligence but all written as young and beautiful as if that matters at all . We would rather spend our reading time relating to those of our age and especially a delightful. story such as the author has created here. based on real women and issues of our age. Well done to the author . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity for review. I loved this book and highly recommend it for your reading enjoyment.

I love the two sisters, both quite different. When one moves in with the other to convalescence we see their relationship change amid much laughter . They take a person in to stay with them who one of them ran over with their car and suddenly they have three seniors, all very different finding their way as friends and enjoying life together in new ways. I don't want to give away more.. This is such a good book you should discover it for yourself. I loved reading this . Review cross posted.

We've two sisters who couldn't be more different than one another, brought together by circumstance, only to discover in their heart of hearts, they're not really that far apart.

I adored Pauline was the start, and honestly, WHO COULDN'T? She was such a sweetheart, always caring for someone in need, giving of herself in any situation she encountered, and never expecting anything in return. Barbara, on the other hand, was a bit more of an acquired taste, and quite honestly, by her self, I had no issues with her, but the moment she was in the vicinity of others, family or not, she could be quite a pill! We come to discover what was at the heart of all that (sort of), but still...be warned...you'll need to pull a Pauline and make room in your heart for her too by book's end. Bisto...what to say about Bisto...well, to not put too fine a point on it, he loved having a tipple a bit too much for my liking, and quite frankly A LOT of the trouble he got into while trying to drown his worldly issues was created as a result of it. Grant it, without having had a few too many, he wouldn't have been almost run down by Pauline and Barbara, thus eliminating the unique "meet cute" (of sorts), but dare I say he would have at least had his health? Anywho, eventually even he gets shown in a new light and while it's certainly more centered than our first encounter, I still couldn't say that I wanted to call him friend...maybe just an acquaintance. Though I've mentioned the main lot, there are quite a few others that make their presences known, for better or worse...but generally better...and they certainly do well in rounding out this cast of unique characters.

In the end, it's a story about the strength of families, both blood and chosen, as well as our human right to getting a second chance. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, you may even skip off to have your own afternoon tea or tipple, but you'll certainly come back to the charming ways of Winsleigh Green and all the quirky ladies that make up this particular network.

Great book with lots of twists and turns. Good style of writing and kept me wanting to read more. Enjoyed the characters and the story flowed well

funny, sweet and enjoyable characters in a delightful story. Characters were memorable and the story was sweet and humorous,

What is it that ‘they’ say … “old age isn’t for the faint-hearted”? Well that’s certainly true in some cases but for those who embrace it and make the most of it, it can be just as good, if not better, than being young!

Barbara is in her late 70’s and after a bit of a health scare (where she wakes up assuming she’s died), invites herself to stay with her sister Pauline, of a similar age, to convalesce. Pauline knows that she should have said no to Barbara’s bossy intrusion, but realises that this would have presented a whole new set of problems, so allowed her sister to just arrive. To say that these two are polar opposites would be an understatement.

Barbara is a no-nonsense spinster who has no time for soppy sentimentality and dilly-dallying. She’s all sharp edges and tactless criticism. Pauline is a widow with a daughter living in New Zealand. She is a lot softer and friendlier than her sister, and enjoys her established life in the Somerset village of Winsleigh Green … and now her sister has come barging in to change all of that.

But then on a drive into the village, Pauline accidentally knocks over elderly Bisto Mulligan with her car. He looks like a grubby vagrant, and Barbara, always quick to judge, immediately writes him off as a drunkard who’s lurched in front of their vehicle. But much to her horror, Pauline spots something else in Bisto’s eyes and realises there’s a lot more to this man, beyond what he looks like on the outside, and she invites him to come and stay at her cottage, just so that he can get his bearings again. After all – it was her who knocked him down!

Over the summer, these three very unexpectedly form a highly unlikely bond. As the sisters discover that Bisto certainly isn’t just a homeless drifter, he captures their hearts, and weaves his way into the daily life of the village and its residents. As I read, I often found a subconscious smile on my face, so it seems he didn’t only have that effect on everybody else, but on me as well! What a delightful story about older people discovering that life undoubtedly does continue after your 40’s and 50’s and after tragedy and loss, whether that loss is of a partner, a career or a child leaving home. It’s just gorgeous.

And what a breath of fresh air for readers to discover that there are books out there that aren’t only about young 20- and 30-somethings going out into the world, making mistakes, finding and losing lovers and friends, only to encounter new ones in unlikely places, and maybe even rediscovering those same ones later on along the journey. There are some fabulous laugh-out-loud moments: I think I re-read the beginning where Barbara assumes she’s dead at least a dozen times – don’t judge me, it’s hilarious! The Welly Wanging competition rules are really funny, as is Barbara’s running commentary (in her head) of her first yoga class!! There are others, but this is just a taste!

This is a lovely, heartwarming 5-star read. Village life is always bound to be full of interesting, amusing characters and Judy Leigh has skillfully managed to create a fabulous bunch here! I adored them.

Thank you Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my invitation to the tour and to Bold wood books for my copy of the book via Net Galley.

I loved the description of this book as soon as the invitation came through, two elderly sisters who do not really get on end up living together after Barbara has a nasty fall and can not return to her own home.

She visits her sister Pauline, who has been widowed and has integrated herself into the village and is not overly excited to have her sister visit.

Things take a turn when Pauline has an accident and Bisto comes into their lives. I loved Barbara prickly and abrupt and Pauline who much more gentle. They are both set in their ways and when Pauline brings Bisto into the house, Barbara is not impressed. I enjoyed watching Barbara realise that she could also have fun like Pauline.

I loved this funny story and the older characters were a joy, the sibling arguments and the addition of Bisto made me laugh. Bisto is down on his luck and Pauline believes that there is more to him that first meets the eye.

It is a lovely uplifting novel and the characters developed through the story which was great to see. Dizzy the hairdresser, Chrissie the vicar Yvonne who runs the post office make up a gorgeous setting for this story. It is an endearing book and I found it really perfect for reading at this difficult time.