The cover reminded me of a juvenile cover like Telgemeier, but the book was a really great read about four old friends on a weekend trip.

I adore books by this author so I was extremely excited to get reading this and my goodness was it fantastic! Love these characters and the story was fabulous!

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

Really well thought-out book with amazing characters and excellent setting.

The Spa Break by Caroline James appears to be a lighthearted novel about a life changing trip of ladies to the spa. This sounded intriguing and fun to me. However, I struggled to get into the book from the start. I did not enjoy the dialogue among the women nor did I find it a light read. Overall, it was an okay book but not for me. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I LOVED this book and the characters. They are of my generation and that made the story particularly funny.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Four women in their 60s are off for a spa weekend, to celebrate their friend Bridgette’s up coming 70th birthday. The brochure for the spa promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation but the ladies get so much more. Each on wants to escape from their boring lives, be it jobs, husbands, children but find themselves going on a journey of self discovery.

It is a very humorous book and you will laugh throughout the chapters. I haven't read a book by Caroline James previously but I will definitely be looking out for more books by the author. It left me with a lovely warm feeling. An enjoyable read.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

A spiritual book about friendship and self-discovery; about fun and laughter and using life experience to your advantage; about learning to grow old, graciously. A book about putting the most important person in your life (you) first and learning when to let go. A book about learning and loving. A book about love both lost and found, a book both of regret and delighting in that same life; about using life lessons learned to your advantage. This is lastly a book about knowing all the facts and making your own decision, as well as being open to and indeed able to change.

I must confess to loving to loving a cheeky little spa break, and I constantly have my nose in a book, so what better way to spend the day, than reading Caroline James’ latest novel, ’The Spa Break’. I love the idea of me having some relaxing time to myself, whilst reading about a strong group of women getting together for some well deserved downtime. Indeed upon first ’meeting’ the heroines of this novel, I couldn’t help but think what an ageless, eclectic group they seemed – pretty much guaranteed to bring fun to the table, and I loved the portmanteau to which we were introduced in chapter one – ‘Sparadise’.

It felt like a real treat to ’meet’ this group of unusual Women. What made this an unusual group – an exceptional group even, is the fact that each member was equally formidable in their own way. The dynamic of the group was outstanding.

The impromptu manner in the way which the group had fun, for example spontaneous stripping off and swimming whilst stopped for coffee, just added to the entertainment for us, the reader. The big question is though, whether or not the friends can let go of the outside world for just a few days, in order to encompass the magic that ’Sparadise’ has to offer. More importantly, can the group overcome the torments of the past, to create something better for themselves, each and every one of them.

I very quickly warmed to every one of the group of friends, but I don’t know how easy it would be for them to let go of the past, in order to embrace the future. One thing for certain was that I did feel so for Bridgette, with her bell tent – so far removed from what she had been imagining for herself. I for one, cannot imagine the pain and embarrassment at being too short to get up onto a really high bed! The spa however seemed able to anticipate everything though, with Bridgette finding a small ladder left to help her get into bed. Most of all though, I was mortified for Bridgette at the reaction of the jogging group, when they saw her after the incident with the field and the cowpat. Their reaction was unsolicited and downright rude. So what, if the mess hadn’t been from cows! Who cares! It really wasn’t their place to sumise. I felt like rubbing their perfect, snotty little noses into a cowpat! As for the spa – what on earth was wrong with them, pitching a load of upmarket glamping tents in a field full of cow pats?
This book was cleverly written and included moments (other than cowpat-gate) that were kind of funny, yet twinged with an underlying sadness, a kind of multi layering of emotions, an example being when Emily’s crotch repair didn’t hold, during her first yoga session. The moment started off as funny, and morphed into sadness, due to the fact that Emily was embarrassed by bullies essentially; what had been an initially funny moment ultimately plunged into the realms of awful, when one discovers how frugally Emily has lived her life after her Husband left her for another woman, never helping out with the children – explaining why she had ’made do’ with the crotch repair in the first place! Her Sons sound awful, relying on her for everything and I could see why she might need time away from them. I will however confess to a bit of a tea spurting out moment however, when the corporate team stating rapidly abandoned their boss at the spa, after they thought he had been shot in a terrorist incident, after an unfortunate episode with the cork from an illicit bottle of champagne!

Lars – what can I say about Lars, apart from the fact that I think we would all benefit from a massage by Lars!

Serena could not ask for better support than she got in Stevie and Robin. If you could somehow combine the role of wing men and Fairy God Father, then that would personify them – or would it? They do have a truly kind of ethereal quality to them – and come to think of it, do they they get any mentions from anyone else, other than as ’the guys who stole Bridgette’d suite.

I began to wonder whether the spa really did have some kind of magical power with the way that it made the friends look at themselves and their relationships. There must surely be something special about a place that makes you realise you have problems, when you didn’t realise you had any, and then empowers you to do something about it. I loved the symbolism and empowerment in this book, for example when Bridgette discards her swimsuit to go skinny dipping with Norman – surely a bit of a two fingered salute to her Husband and his demands that she should ‘return home immediately’! I loved the way that the characters in this book were still able to play the trump card of surprise – demonstrated most ably by Hugo, Bridgette’s Husband.

The Friends all seem to be having an absolute ball, in the grips of the spa, but can the alchemy last forever? The tenacious four seem to have gone from strength to strength, in the bosom of the spa, but will its hold have to decrease eventually?

I struggle to get the balance between telling you enough about this ’must read’ book, for you to want to read it for yourself, and giving too much away……..so I hope that I have whetted your appetite enough, to make this wonderful read YOUR latest ’must read’.

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.

Four friends go off to a spa to celebrate Bridgette's seventieth birthday. They are all from quite different backgrounds but through a shared loved of swimming have become firm friends. Bridgette- used to having the best of everything had reserved the penthouse suite, but as the had been double booked by regular visitors she is given the top glamping pod next door to a friendly naturist. Drab headmistress discovers yoga- & in particular the yoga teacher. Bored checkout worker discovers massage & once famous TV cook finds her way back to the limelight.

This was a wonderful laugh out loud tale, which also had some sad moments & left you missing this lovely group of ladies. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I liked the premise of this book, I love a spa weekend and the friendship group were really fun, but it wasn’t the light hearted read I was expecting. I think the writing was quite forced and the spa was just a bit weird 🤷🏽‍♀️ I completely get what the author was trying to do but it didn’t work for ne personally.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Fans of Grace and Frankie and The Golden Girls are going to love Caroline James’ fun, irreverent and immensely entertaining new novel, The Spa Break.

Bridgette’s seventieth birthday is fast approaching and a celebration is definitely in order. Bridgette plans on marking this occasion in style and, gathering her close friends Emily, Serena and Marjory, heads off to a gorgeous spa where she plans to prove that it’s not the number of candles on one’s birthday cake that matters, but the ability to grab life by the horns and have fun. Bridgette certainly plans to make this birthday one she will always remember, but she should know by now to be careful what she wishes for because it just might come true!

These spicy sexagenarians plan on letting their hair down this weekend and no sooner have they unpacked and got settled that they find themselves embroiled in mischief and getting up to no good! Forget about daytime TV and knitting patterns, these four friends are about to discover that age and experience have got a lot to recommend them – but only if they have the courage to let go of their doubts and insecurities and live in the moment!

This week promises to be one Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory will certainly never forget although there is one golden rule they must all abide by: what happens at this spa, stays at the spa!

With all that is going on in the world at the moment, Caroline James’ fabulous The Spa Break is just the tonic we need. A laugh a minute page-turner that will have readers clutching their sides, The Spa Break is uplifting, invigorating and hilarious and proves that you are never to old to have fun.

Caroline James certainly knows how to give her readers an escapist and enjoyable treat that will inspire them not to let their inhibitions get in the way of living their lives to the full.

The next best thing to a pampering weekend with your best friends, Caroline James’ The Spa Break should be on every woman’s must-buy list this summer!

The Spa Break by Caroline James
The glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena, and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives!
Therefore a girls' weekend to celebrate Bridgette's impending seventieth birthday, the spa soon has these spicy sexagenarians realising that there are unexpected benefits to age and experience and that over the hill certainly doesn't mean out of the game in any respect.
Well, what can I say? I absolutely loved this story and am happy to rave about it. In fact, I would love to see it made into a movie. It has such a feel-good vibe running through it, and the characters are at that age that they converse so honestly and naturally that you start thinking, I hope I will do that when I reach the new 40 (even, maybe, the naughty bits.....
The Spa Break is a must-read for all who enjoy a laugh out loud, naughty, enlightening, heartwarming story about friendship and discovery. I smiled from start to finish. So, of course, I am happy to recommend it.

I absolutely loved this book. Four mature ladies book a spa break to celebrate a 70th birthday. They all have issues bubbling but are determined to have a great break, booking different treatments but meeting up for meals.
I loved getting to know the characters and enjoyed the humour and friendships throughout the book.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

An amazing tale of four friends coming together to celebrate a birthday. The spa they inhabit will change their lives and the lives of the spa staff. I could not put this book down. It will tease out many emotions and have you evaluating your life. 10 stars! I hope there is a sequel.

Fun, funny, entertaining, 4 great women, over 60's, everything you want in a good book.

A book about friendship, aging and life. It is a book to read to cheer you, to make you laugh and to entertain you.

A great book.

What a delight. When four sixty something friends go to a spa for a weekend, their lives are changed forever.

Many twists and turns ensue for the four characters and as always with Caroline James’ books, these ladies are well drawn and surprise you, particularly Bridgette.

Lots of little touches in this book that must have taken ages to think up. The phrase “When in doubt, yoga it out!” will stick in my head for a very long time.

Think we need the sequel to this one please.

Four friends, spa break, birthday weekend,  sounds like fun and this sure was.

Four completely different women all go on a spa break to celebrate Bridgette's 70th birthday. From the moment of arrival things don't quite go as the friends planned.

As they navigate their way through the weekend each of them discover new activities and a new side to themselves and decide to fully embrace it. Lots of laugh out loud moments especially when you have four seniors, glamping, "special" smoothies, alcohol and naturism. I really hope I can have as much fun when I'm that age.

A lovely story of self discovery and embracing change in later life.

This was a fun read. It was absolutely delightful and I loved the characters. I’d definitely read more from Thai author

A really fun read, I enjoyed reading about this fun group of friends! Some of the things that occurred in this book were very concerning/unrealistic to me, but overall, I loved reading about these ladies re-discovering their passions and inner-selves.

The beginning was a bit slow, with a bunch of info dumps. However, Carolina is extremely talented in setting the scene and creating really beautiful visualizations. You could really build a mental image of Sparadise and what each of the characters looked like and how they acted. I was also super confused why this entire book is set in 2018, it seems weird since it's being published in 2022, and I feel like a simple ctrl-f could've replaced the 2-3 references when they say "yay it's 2018" or something and replace it with either 2022 or just take it out of the story because it really adds nothing?

I began to get quite a bit concerned when there are many references that the 'vitamin drinks' the spa provides probably include some type of drug to make the consumer much more relaxed and happy-go-lucky, and I low key suspect that one of the characters was sexually assaulted???? But the book treats its as a fun thing of her discovering orgasms for the first time, so good for her I guess, but it's still quite a bit problematic, so I definitely would've appreciated it if that was cleared up a bit. Also one of the characters is in quite a toxic relationship and (spoiler!) the end of the book references her getting back into that relationship. While it's not an explicit return, I feel like it's an implicit acceptance of a very toxic situation. There's also a bunch of cheating in this book, but for the most part it ends well?

But overall, this was a fun comedy with each of the girls going on a journey of self-discovery, showing us that happiness really has nothing to do with age.