I can always depend upon Judy Leigh for a fun, uplifting read!

Vivienne, Mary and Gwen each live at the same London address – in their separate flats. Lockdown has left them feeling alone and isolated and they are in need of something to shake things up and get them back to living again. Then Gwen comes up with a plan for them to tour Britain on their own four wheels, and it proves to be just the thing they need to shake them out of the rut they’ve been stuck in; but this is more than just a holiday – it’s a new beginning.

I think this is just the kind of book I needed to read after lockdown. After all, we’ve all retreated a bit from life – not through choice but necessity – and this is just the story to give us that proverbial kick to change things. This is an author who creates wonderful realistic and believable characters putting them into situations her readers can identify with. These three women are each appealing but none of them are flawless, which is what makes it such a good read. Another wonderful tale from the pen of a favourite author, beautifully written and definitely leaving me feeling brighter and with higher spirits that I had before I read it. Highly recommended and easily worth all five shining stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Rachel Gilbey for my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

This is the story of friends, Vivienne, Mary and Gwen, who decided when the lockdown ended they were going to take a holiday, which they did. We see the affect the lockdown had, but as the holiday started, they started coming alive once again. They realized they didn't have to stay at what they had become during the lockdown, and started thinking about what they wanted in their lives for the future.
It is inspirational, no matter what your age, there is always time to make a new dream and see it happen. The lockdown seemed to make them feel like they were going to be stuck where they were, and probably a lot of people might feel that way. As these three ladies will show you, there is moving forward, there is a future, and there can be happiness and joy once again.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

The Golden Girls Getaway by Judy Leigh is a really fun contemporary novel that brightened a cold winter’s day.
The novel celebrates friendship as three ladies in their seventies and eighties travel in a camper van to the West Country, Wales and Yorkshire. They show that you are never too old to have fun and to try new things. Life is for living no matter what age you are.
London life is in complete contrast to the road trip. It is cold, isolating and lonely. In contrast life on the open road brings freedom and friendship, opening up the lives of all who meet the ladies. All three ladies begin to bond, to bud and to blossom on the road trip.
The Golden Girls Getaway is a really delightful read. I adored the three main characters who knew how to put the fun into life. No sitting around indoors for them.
I always love Judy Leigh’s books, they speak to my heart.
I received a free copy from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

As it has for so many of us – perhaps especially for those of us living alone and of a “certain age” – lockdown has been a difficult time for the three ladies who live at the flats at 104 Drayton Mews. Perhaps it hasn’t been quite as bad for Vivienne, who’s a bit of a national treasure in her role as a star in favourite soap The Edge of Edgeware, despite all the challenges of socially distanced filming. It might be Gwen who’s felt it the most – a former opera singer, she’s really struggled to fill her days, trapped within her four walls, finding escape only in her solitary singing. There’s also been the small problem of persistent landlord Vicente, who sees her as the woman of his dreams – she really doesn’t want anyone coming too close, and especially not Vicente. Mary, down in the basement, could do without all that singing – a former nurse, now in her eighties, she’s perfectly content listening to her beloved Dubliners with the occasional foray to the corner shop for the ingredients to make her curries.

But things are about to change. Vivienne’s character is killed off in a fire – and when the only opportunity her agent can find her is as the old woman on a stairlift in a TV advert, she feels her career might be over. But Vicente’s bought a camper van in a further attempt to woo a reluctant Gwen – as restrictions lift, and he falls by the wayside thanks to the virus, she decides they could all really do with a holiday. So the three women, now becoming friends, decide to borrow the van and hit the road – visiting some of the places they’ve always wanted to see, along with revisiting a few with memories of their pasts.

Don’t be put off for an instant by the mentions of lockdowns and the pandemic – it’s lightly done, and really important for context as the women feel that same sense of freedom and liberation that we all felt when the darkest days were over. The friendship between the three women is an absolute joy – and as their road trip continues, they certainly get to know each other rather better through all their adventures and experiences, and have many opportunities to revisit their different lives and memories. And that’s part of the absolute joy of reading a book about older characters – that treasure trove of experience, life’s many small victories and moments of regret – and I loved every moment. But although the past figures large, so does the present and future – their lives certainly aren’t over, there’s fun to be had at every turn, and exciting future opportunities beckon for them all.

The writing is, as always, quite wonderful – filled with the author’s trademark humour, and those moments of poignancy that tear at your heart. With every new experience, I loved these three very different women more and more – and when I reached the end, they felt like friends I really didn’t want to leave behind. And the whole road trip is quite superbly done – the places they visit wonderfully described, the places they stay, the people they meet, their various adventures – and I really felt I’d been on the journey with them (and had an equally lovely time!), armchair travel at its very best.

I’ve loved every one of the author’s books that I’ve had the sheer pleasure of reading – but I think this might be my favourite so far. In fact, it may just be one of my books of the year – I recommend it really highly.

Judy Leigh is one of my absolute go-to authors, and her books never disappoint.

In this one, I liked the bit of reality introduced by the ending of lockdown and how the three women have coped with it. The sense of hope and the feeling of a little bit of freedom emerging is palpable, and the book is so uplifting.

The three women live in the same building and have built up a sort of friendship over the years, even though they are all quite different in personality. But one thing that they have in common is a desire to keep enjoying their lives and to see new possibilities, no matter what age they are.

I absolutely loved the idea of them going on their adventures around the country, and they visit some lovely settings. Of course, there are the usual laughs and funny moments along the way, and I just found myself so absorbed in this lovely book.

An absolutely joyous and uplifting read, I’d heartily recommend it. Left me with a smile on my face.

What a delightful and fun book! A perfect read for a cold day. I adored the characters and the pandemic plot line.

Such a funny, pull at the heartstrings and well written book.

Its set in a Covid19 era.
3 older women, who live in the same building end up on a road trip, due to a twist in events, Vivienne Goldman the Actress. Gwen Prichard an Opera singer and Mary.
Vincente Lorenzo is their landlord and proud owner of a campervan called Venus. He also has an amazing crush on one of the ladies.
The ladies end up in Larkhill, at Stonehenge. Chesil Beach. Singing and dancing in the rain.
At one point one of the ladies gets stuck in th loo.

Honestly, it's so good. If you need a pick me up and a laugh. Look no further.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Girl's Getaway
by: Judy Leigh
Boldwood Books

What could be more fun than a girlfriends' road trip in a borrowed motor home, with stops throughout the beautiful United Kingdom. Author Judy Leigh takes us along for a scenic, joyous, and sometimes poignant ride with Vivienne, Mary, and Gwen.
These neighbors were anxious to break away from their London flat and add some adventure to their golden years, after cautiously sheltering in place for a year due to Co-Vid. Each brought her own rich life experiences on the motor home, with Vivienne's career as a soap opera actress, Gwen's talent as a singer, and Mary's work as a nurse. Their exuberance about new possibilities in this stage of life, however, was elevated with each mile of the countryside travelled.
The uniqueness of each character, along their bonding as the motor home rolled, created a humorous and adventurous story of renewal and awakening. The food component in the book was flavorful, with tea rooms in quaint towns, spicy curry, and healthy vegetables on an organic farm. I felt part of each moment of this road trip, experiencing art, music, souvenir shopping, special sunrises, and beach picnics, to name a few. I was totally transported to a picturesque village with a towered church, the beauty of Stonehenge, and each destination on the route. Most of all, I was captivated with the transformations of each woman, all while remaining true to themselves, on this journey through the stunning landscapes.
Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#TheGoldenGirlsGetaway #NetGalley

A lovely, sweet, easy, emotional read about "coming of age" even though you're alredy of age.

The road trip the three friends embark on is not only that, it's a journey of learning more about each other and themselves and emerge "new" at the end of it.

I love Judy Leigh's writing style and how she can tell an emotional story, yet being funny. And I also love her mature characters who embrace life and make you feel you're never too old to enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so… I did NOT see this one coming. See, recently I realized that I’ve been reading a whole lot of historical fiction, and most of it is pretty heavy going. Not that I mind that at all, but you know, sometimes you need a break; sometimes you need something lighter. So, although I usually avoid books with comic book drawings on the covers, the blurb for this sounded very much to my liking. What I read was that this novel is about a bunch of single, older women (even older than me – I’m 64) who decide to go on a road trip to get away from the lockdown from the pandemic. I’ve been dreaming of just such a getaway myself, so I was thrilled when I received approval for the ARC of this book. (I think changing my profile to hint at my slightly advanced age in may have been a factor in that approval.)

So, when you read a book that you know is going to be a bit of fluff, you probably have slightly less expectations than you would with a more serious novel. However, there are some things that you might think are essential to any book. For example, an appealing writing style, sympathetic characters, a solid plot, and a level of accuracy regarding checkable facts. Yes, regarding that last one, even a contemporary fiction novel needs to be well researched. Now, sometimes authors take poetic license, which is acceptable, especially in less serious novels. Obviously, it is easy to get away with those little blips if the readers are less knowledgeable about the subject matter. However, I’m afraid that Leigh got one reader here who knows more about opera and operatic singers than the average person, and so… oopsie! I caught a couple of mistakes about Gwen and her signing here. Thankfully, these errors aren’t earth-shattering so I won’t detail them for you, but they did make for a niggle with this reviewer.

I should also say that one of the reasons I often shy away from these types of books is because, as a matter of course, they tend to tie things up a touch too neatly for my taste. That said, when the fiction is humorous, like this one, that’s less of a problem for me. In this book, Leigh did make some choices with this story that felt a touch too convenient for me. Again, that’s not the worst thing in a book, but it did have me shaking my head a couple of times. Luckily, Leigh did let us feel that the lives of these three would carry on after the last page, and we only witnessed the start of their new journeys. In addition, this road-trip novel is also a type of coming-of-age one, where these three women start off in one place, and by the end of the book, they’ve grown in one way or another.

As you can probably tell, I felt a very good level of enjoyment while reading this book, even if there were some niggles there and there, it made me smile, and even got a chuckle once or twice. In fact, this looked like it was going to be a solid 3/5-star book for me (yes, I think 3/5 is a good rating – above average), and then… Leigh made me cry! That’s what I didn’t see coming! Well, as I’ve said, any book that can make me cry automatically gets a higher rating from me. That’s why I think that I can solidly recommend this novel – especially to women of a certain age, but also to people who know women like us – and I say it deserves a really nice four out of five stars!

Vivienne, Gwen and Mary are three ladies of a certain age who live in the same apartment house. They decide to borrow a motor home and go on a vacation in Wales and Britain. Even though the characters are nothing alike they become close during their time together. It is a beautifully written story and one that makes you realize that life isn't over until you decide it is.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this arc for my honest opinion.

Heartwarming, life affirming story that made wish I could get old as the characters.
I'm loving these stories featuring seniors who don't want to stop living and decide to travel and have fun.
The characters are likeable and relatable, the plot flows and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Golden Girl's Getaway is a total joy to read!! Loved it.
We start with the lives of three ladies living at the same address in 3 flats, basement, ground floor and first, towards the end of the lockdowns. The writing brilliantly depicts the feelings and time, it is so well done!
They borrow a motor home from their landlord to get away from London for a few days together and to see the sea and the countryside. The adventures these ladies find is just lovely!! No spoilers though!
I have enjoyed every Judy Leigh book I have read this year, but this was actually the best! Her writing is filled with feeling,
warmth and understanding.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to Boldwood books and NetGalley for the early read absolutely loved it!!

A charming read. Vivienne, Mary & Gwen all live in flats in the same house and are casual friends. When they decide to borrow a motorhome and get away for a few weeks, it's a great adventure.
The book is set just after covid restrictions ease and that is handled very well. The "girls" are all over 70 and beautifully written - all very different and all very engaging. The trip takes in Dorset and Devon, Wales and Whitby and makes the British countryside sounds so appealing. It's all great fun and will leave you feeling very happy. And wanting to take off in a motorhome!

It’s a no-brainer, for me, to read new offerings from Judy Leigh. Her hilarious stories make me laugh out loud, her characters are always perfectly developed, and they wave the proverbial flag for life after retirement. If you’ve not read one of her books before, this is an excellent place to start, you’ll not be sorry.
Vivienne, Mary and Gwen, have little in common, except for a shared address. They each rent a flat in the same building and are grateful to have survived the pandemic. Yes, this story mentions the great taboo that is Covid, but it references our shared restrictions, that’s all. Yet it’s the restrictions that seem to have created the connection between the three women, and a lovely bond has been formed.
Vivienne is a soap actress, faced with the end of her career, she is left feeling hopeless. Mary, a former nurse, spends her time recreating Indian recipes and talking to the family at the local shop. Retired singing teacher, Gwen, is trying to fight off the unwelcome advances from their landlord, which leads to a frankly, hilarious situation. As the synopsis explains, Gwen takes control and arranges the loan of a motor home, the trio head for several beauty spots as they explore the sights on our doorsteps.
If I had to choose a favourite, it would probably be Vivienne. She may be heading into her twilight years, but she’s not going without a fight. Having spent over a decade in a popular tv soap, she feels as though she is now only fit to be cast as an old woman, a fact confirmed when she’s hired to feature in an advert for a stair-lift! That said, Vivienne is the catalyst for Mary and Gwen to examine their own lives and see things from an alternative perspective. Basking in the glow of Vivienne’s confidence, the two friends discover that they have a lot of life left in them.
Whilst romance features in this story, it isn’t the main topic. Before they can consider reaching out for partners, they must each find a way to love themselves, and make their peace with growing old. No matter how disgracefully they choose to do that.
Judy Leigh writes such positive books, where the characters refuse to be consigned to the scrap heap. There’s a lot of joy in her stories and I have loved them all.

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Golden Girls’ Getaway’ written by Judy Leigh in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Three ladies of mature years, Vivienne, Gwen and Mary, have flats at 104 Drayton Mews and when Gwen has the opportunity to borrow a motorhome from their landlord they decide to get away from the depression of lockdown and wearing masks in London and spend three weeks travelling around the country going to places they’ve always wanted to visit. They start in Wiltshire and from Stonehenge drive through Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Wales, eventually ending in Whitby, meeting old friends and new and having the time of their lives.

‘The Golden Girls’ Getaway’ is a light-hearted novel of three ladies who are easy to warm to and get involved in their escapades, from getting trapped in a toilet to taking part in a fashion show. When I started reading I thought it was going to be a depressing book mirroring our own experiences of lockdown and self-isolation but the characters were so interesting I soon got involved in their adventures especially when the places they visited had special meaning to me, so by the time they’d reached the end of their journey I was happy that their lives were so much richer than when they’d driven off.

Oh this was a lovely book I thoroughly enjoyed it! Three elderly women who live in the same block of flats become friends and after lockdown, decide to go on a roadtrip round the UK. Their adventures travelling round in the camper van are hugely entertaining and at times bittersweet.
I really enjoy stories involving middle aged/elderly characters, they have so much life experience and are so much more interesting and funny than younger characters tend to be in my opinion. This book was a gem and I would certainly recommend it.

I loved this book it really hit the spot on all levels. It was funny and I loved the three women. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the motor home and their travels to campsites. This book really made me chuckle. It was just right to put a smile on my face at just the right time. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Three women of a certain age, living in the same apartment building, living their own separate lives during the pandemic lockdown. They are the kind of friends who share an occasional meal and chat about their lives at the surface level. One day they decide to borrow their landlord’s motor home and travel around England and Wales.

This book made me feel hopeful and optimistic for my own golden years. Gwen, Mary and Vivenne were just going through the motions of surviving, day by day. Their road trip exposed them to long forgotten memories and forced them out of their comfort zones into a different sort of life. Lives are changed for the better because of the road trip.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.