This was such a fun read and it is so refreshing to read a book about characters who are at the more mature age in life.

The Golden Girls feels very relatable especially with the pandemic restrictions of last year so the author Judy Leigh has incorporated this very real life event into a romcom. However, there’s no anxiety about the pandemic felt in the book as it looks at the social aspect of lockdown.

The Golden Girls aka Vivienne, who is in her 70’s and is an actress, Gwen who is also in her 70’s and is a retired opera singer and Mary who is in her 80’s and a retired nurse. The ladies are very different in personality but they do have a few things in common, they are neighbours all living under the same roof and they are experiencing life during lockdown.

The girls are getting frustrated and bored with restrictions and as neighbours they are already friends but when an opportunity crops up for them to escape and travel the country in a motorhome it is the perfect time to cement lifelong friendships.

As the girls pack their bags and head away from the confines of the city of London a new found freedom is felt between all three.

We follow the girls on a journey across the English and Welsh coastlines and countryside taking in all that they offer and more. But this is more than a road trip, it is a journey of enlightenment for all three as they learn more about each other, let themselves live in the moment and embark on memory lane tours.

I adored Mary she was such a fun character but her vulnerability was so tragically sad my heart went out to her. Gwen was probably the most responsible and I loved witnessing her emerge as a confident, beautiful flower. Vivienne oozed glamour and was full of confidence. They all brought a certain something to the group and blended beautifully. I laughed along with them and when it came to returning I too felt a sense of melancholy.

A fantastic, fun, read full of surprises.

I enjoy reading about mature women and their escapades…this book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley…I like the characters…the story moves quickly…enjoy this one. The three women are so different and yet alike…their adventures make me want to join them. This is just a book that one can slip away from the world and relax…I did not like so many virus comments, but let’s face it, that is life…good job…I hope to read other books by this author. Ingenious at crafting a story.

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

This book is about Gwen, Vivienne and Mary, who go off on a holiday after a hard year before with restrictions etc, in a camper van visiting different places and their beauty around the United Kingdom.

They get upto all sorts, whilst they are enjoying the coastal towns and countryside on their adventure, it was lovely to read and I wished I was there with them.

But, thus isn’t a light read, it was also about looking back on each of their lives, the heartache, their health and way of living.

All three women are not alike, but still they support each other and a friendship is formed, one that they will see through no matter what they’re doing or where they are.

They gain confidence and believe they can achieve what they want to.

Enjoyable Read.

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

I adore Judy Leigh’s characters! In all of her books, she shows that life does not end as you get older. Sometimes life can be more fulfilling since you lose the need for other people’s approval. In this book, we meet three older women, of various ages (71- 81), that become extremely close friends as they travel together in a camper van. They visit beautiful sights, have new experiences and grow as people as the trip takes place.

I loved being on this journey with them, and I wish so much that they were my friends. I was resistant to read any books that had a theme of Covid in them, and I am glad that I decided to let that go with this book. If you are concerned about that, as I was, please do not be. That theme is just a minor part of this book and it is handled in a manner that will not be depressing. At least it was not to me. So many scenes had me laughing aloud! I found this book uplifting and joyful. It definitely lifted my spirits as I traveled along with these fantastic women.

I highly recommend this book and want to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC

This is a life-affirming story of three mature women who rent flats in the same building in London. They have

the opportunity of going on holiday in a motorhome togrther and they take it - not such an easy decision

for out of work actor Vivienne, ex-opera singer Gwen and Mary, a professional nurse.

They have many wonderful and thought provoking experiences which strenghthen them as they

travel through England and Wales.

A wise and funny read which talks about accepting ageing but not being limited by it. Be joyful and appreciate

every moment. An uplifting read..

Mary, Gwen and Vivienne are living in the same apartment building. They have endured lockdown and fate brings them together for an adventure in a motorhome. They are in their seventies and eighties. The threesome start their journey as neighbours with their own woes and worries and develop a strong bond that will see them through their journey and beyond.

The book starts a bit slow but once the girls get on the road the pace of the book picks up and the journey is well worth the ride. There are so many laugh out loud moments but also heartbreaking moments too. A lovely feel good read that focuses on relationships and connections. The story explores some beautiful places and hilarious stays on campsites, up questionable peaks and into the pebbly sea.

The perfect read to enjoy with a cup of tea or even a wee glass of wine if you are anything like Vivienne.

Picture three women travelling around the English Countryside in a camper van, staying at free parking spots to save money. They aren’t close friends, they just happen to live in flats in the same building. Each is single and not working. Each has something from their past that they are keeping a secret. NOW……picture these women being 70-80 years old……this is what this book is about. It is laugh out loud funny, uplifting, heartwarming and heartbreaking. It is one of the best books I have read this year. I loved the characters, the storyline and the setting of this book. You will feel happy and content after finishing this book.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this ARC via NetGalley.

You're never too old for an adventure
Vivienne who is an actress, Gwen who sings opera and Mary who used to be a nurse are all mature ladies in their 70's and all live in flats in the same house start chatting to each other more and become friends as lockdown is ending and decide to go on a touring holiday in a motorhome.
A lovely story where you find out more about them on their travels.

This was the most wonderful story, the golden girls, Vivienne, Gwen and Mary off in a motorhome around the country after lockdown ended getting up to all sorts of adventures, and such a happy ending, I enjoyed every moment

Gwen, Vivienne and Mary are my new role models! I loved jumping in the van with these golden girl-neighbors, exploring the beauty that is the United Kingdom. The mischief and mayhem these 70+ old ladies get into while exploring wonderful coastal towns and countryside spots on their trip after Covid regulations are lifted was just the splendid adventure I needed to read.

But don't think this is only just a light and fluffy read. There is a lot of reflection on lost love, ageism, healthy/ier living etc. The women are so different from one another and yet they manage to mirror for and support each other, while a true and strong friendship develops and each of the characters grows in confidence. It was the combination of these detailed and well-rounded main characters (and a host of believable, yet unique support characters) and the elaborate and life-like scenic descriptions that made this one a solid 4-star read for me.

A lovely story about three neighbours and their adventures after lockdown.
During their impromptu trip the story develops their relationship and strengthens their friendship while showing how each person grows and learns something about themselves. An enjoyable read.

The Golden Girls' Getaway by Judy Leigh is a fun escape book. These women take a trip together, become good friends, and learn a lot about their strengths and goals for the rest of their lives.

I love books where the main characters are older it's so unusual. 3 friends embark on a motor home trip. Fun and friendship, a great story well worth reading. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

three friends who are feeling lonely decide to borrow a motor home and travel, as the trip goes on the ladies realize they aren't feeling lonely anymore, they are having fun and seeing lots of new things. wonderful read, hope there is more stories as their journey continues

It was wonderful to read a book about older ladies which is very unusual. Loved it. Vivienne, Mary and Gwen are neighbours who haven't really seen each other because of lockdown They decide to go on holiday in a motorhome and go so begins their adventure

Such an easy read, and loved every page of it. The characters really make this book and the story! Love the friendship between them all. You will really enjoy it.

The story
Two 70 year olds and an 80 year old live in apartments in one building in London. Vivienne is an actress in a long-running tv soap. Gwen is a retired opera singer and Mary was a nurse. Lockdown is over and life is returning to normal. The three golden girls decide to borrow their landlord’s camper van for a road trip to the South West of England, Wales ending in Whitby up north. Along the way they re-evaluate their lives, lay many demons to rest and find their confidence.

My thoughts
This is a really sweet story but one that is filled with emotional reckoning and admitting what’s really important. Instead of giving up on life, each of the three golden girls confronts their fears and insecurities, deals with ghosts of the past and finds a really strong friendship in each other. I have visited the UK twice and on both trips, travelled by road to similar areas to those in this story. The route was one of the things I so enjoyed about this story. It’s a goodie! 🚐🇬🇧

Such an enjoyable read! A truly fun story.

Vivienne, Mary and Gwen all live in the same building. It's set at the end of the Covid-19 quarantine and they've decided to get out and live again. They're all older ladies, 70s/80s and its such an interesting story. They borrow a motorhome and travel around the countryside - some new memories being made and some second chances. They meet some fantastic characters along their journey and discover much about themselves along the way. Their lives change so much during their travels but they remain a great group of friends.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Three friends and neighbours, all in their twilight years, set out on a roadtrip in a borrowed motorhome. This book was such a hoot. Don't get me wrong we deal with a lot of issues in this story. Ageism, mental health, physical health and COVID to name but a few. But Judy Leigh manages to do it with warmth, sensitivity and a sense of humour. The ladies in this book are much older than me but I could still relate. I laughed with them...not at them and I felt their pain. I have an empty nest and with COVID restrictions the loneliness was real. These three ladies were very fortunate to have each other. This was my first book by this author but she has a whole catalogue for me to read and I look forward to that. I really enjoyed this one.