A Midlife Holiday by Cary J Hansson is a story that follows three life-long best friends as they transition to a new phase of life: when your children are grown, your parents are aging and menopause hits. Friends Helen, Caro and Kay decide to travel to Cyprus from the U.K. for a little vacation and each end up finding what they’ve been longing for, with a few bumps along the way.

This one started off a bit slower for me, but once the story started to gain momentum, I couldn’t stop reading it. Being broken up into three distinct parts, gives the reader a bit of insight into where each of the sections is heading, which I liked.

I enjoyed how different, but equally universal the struggles of the main characters were. This is really shown through a conversation Kay and Marianne (a hotel employee) have as the difficulties in their lives are so similar, even though they live in different countries.

Although I do not fully relate to any of the three friends at this stage in my life, I do understand the struggles of parenthood, adaptation to motherhood and a need to find yourself. Again, the universal truths that takes centre stage in this novel.

A Midlife Holiday is the first in the Midlife Trilogy, and I’m looking forward to reading more about these women.

Thank you NetGalley and Cary J Hansson for the complimentary copy to read and review.

This is almost like a modern day Shirley Valentine.
I loved it and so wish I was on her escape with her.
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review

This was such a fun read! Laugh out loud in places but also rather poignant. I couldn’t put it down and I’m excited to read more by this author!! A very relatable read

Free Courtesy of Netgalley

I really liked this book, even though when I am thinking of what to write, I realise not a lot actually happened but it did capture how probably every woman hitting her 50's feels, Being Menopausal and thinking that her life has passed her by and what have they really achieved outside of looking after their family.

The story features 3 good friends from university. Helen is married to a selfish man and has 2 children, she works in a doctors surgery. Kay is a divorcee, with one child with learning difficulties and also looks after her parents, one of which has Dementia, She is a school teacher and lastly Caro who is a high flying business woman with no responsibilities.

After meeting for Helen's 50th birthday meal, which goes downhill fast, Caro makes an impromptu offer for them to join her on her holiday in Cyprus, which they accept.

Once there, their friendship is tested as secrets and old gripes come out, will their friendship hold up.

I would recommend this book.

A story of 3 friends who go to Cyprus. One become pregnant in a special clinic. The other two for support. Lots of history in their friendships. A dodgy husband . An fling. Just did not hit the mark. A pleasant read

I was expecting this book to get me wanting to finish as soon as I started. Loved it’s not about the mummy life and the kids! A perfect holiday read.

Slightly marmite this book, you will either love it or hate it. Set around 3 50 somethings friends, maybe slightly stereotypical not everyone is frumpy at 50.. Friendships, moaning and life. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

A Midlife Holiday follows the life of three friends: Helen, Caro and Kay. Helen has just turned fifty but with her selfish husband absent and her grown up children not interested in celebrating with her, Helen fancies a change. She jets off to Cyprus with her two best friends although it soon clear one of them isn’t there solely for the Mediterranean sun which causes a rift between Helen and her. I enjoyed this novel, the characters were believable and it kept me entertained. Thank you to NetGalley, Hansson Publishing and the author for the chance to review.

Helen, Caro and Kay have been best friends since their college days and are now approaching fifty. Each one has a busy life which means they don't see each other so often. When they meet up for a meal and a drink Helen tells them how fed up she is with her selfish husband who is frequently off doing his own thing while expecting her to be there whenever he appears home.
Kay is caring for her parents and her 22yr old son and is feeling drained. On the spur of the moment Caro invites them to join her for a week on her holiday to Cyprus. After some persuasion they agree to join her without knowing the real reason Carol is going to Cyrus.
Helen finds a new lease of life there but what will happen when she has to go back to the life she had back home.
Will the two friends be supportive of Caro when they find out her reason for the holiday?

This book is about so much more than just a holiday with old friends. They each chose different paths in their life and have time to reflect on whether it was the right one.
With children grown now and elderly parents to look after the women wonder when it is time for them?
Did they loose themselves in what other people wanted and needed.? It's time for reflection.

I really enjoyed this book. I became immersed in the lives of the three woman. At times I wondered if the friendship would survived as it had been so long since they had spent so much time together in the same place.
There were a few funny and explosive parts of the story and also parts that made me think that yes, it's a man's life !
This book is part of a trilogy but I'm not sure if the second is a stand alone read or a follow up which I would dearly like it to be as I want to know what happened next in all their lives. I feel there is so much more to tell.
This is the author's debut novel and it's a good one. Looking forward to more.

Helen is a wife, mother and friend. She’s wondering where her life has gone, then up steps Caro with an offer to join her on holiday in Cyprus, along with Kay, They’ve all been friends since University but life has happened and they could use this chance to catch up, with themselves and each other.

This is a thought provoking book, especially for ‘women of a certain age’, it brings up the sacrifices made to marry, have children, have a career and all the choices made along the way. Although they don’t feel like sacrifices at the time. This felt so plausible, we all go through stages of regretting things we’ve done, things we haven’t and where has your life gone. The Cypriot setting is lovely, it obviously has a bit of a Shirley Valentine feel, but I enjoyed it. I liked Helens’ blossoming and her sheer enjoyment of everything she was experiencing. Kay, the sensible one, was a nice foil to both Helen and Caro, her usual default being to be the calming link between the other two. I would really like to see where all three go next. A enjoyable, easy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Three friends since university, now 50, all with very different outlooks on life, go away together for a week in the sun. I felt a lot of empathy with one member of the group, Helen and I enjoyed the exploration of the sometimes tense dynamics between these three women. Always good to find some lighter reading that features characters of a similar age to oneself, especially as you grow out of reading ‘first love’ chick lit and this book certainly fits the bill.

I expected this book to be a lighthearted read, given the synopsis. However I didn't really connect with this book at all, very negative characters, lots of moaning and blaming their respective circles for their unhappiness. Not for me I'm afraid.

A quick, easy and thought provoking read that I whizzed through. The writing style was engaging and the storyline was compelling with a strongly developed cast of characters. Really enjoyable.

It was nice to have a book with the main characters being women in their 50s rather than the usual chic lit.

Three 50 year old friends each on a different life path vacation in Cypress with decidedly different outcomes for them. The novel is an interesting take on the contrasting lives and needs a woman can have.
Caro is in Cypress for a specific reason. Helen is fed up with her husband and life. Kay is worn to the bone with all of her responsibilities. All three reasons are something they desperately desire.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Midlife Holiday was a very fun, highly relatable read. The characters were engaging and believably flawed, and I found myself rooting for them even through all their mistakes. A great beach read!

I really enjoyed this beautifully written, funny, relatable easy read about friendship but with so much more.

Three friends Helen, Caro & Kay who go on holiday together to Cyprus, all with different reasons for going. The story is told through the three women’s perspectives and the issues and barriers they face to achieve a happy mid life.

A great read I couldn’t put down, I loved it start to finish. I am looking forward to seeing where this trio of friends head next in the MidLife Series. I would recommend and think women of similar age to the characters will enjoy this book.

Thanks to #netGallery, publisher and author #CaryJHansson for a ARC of #AMidlifeHoliday in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely book this was to read. Great characters and a storyline I so enjoyed reading. My only criticism is that the 'juicy stuff' didn't come until you were about half way through the book, so it did feel kind of rushed towards the end and I really do hope there is a follow up book I'd love to read about the next adventure of this trio!

I read this in one sitting and then really missed the three fictional friends I had made during the story. Guess what, there’s more, it seems it’s to be part of a trilogy! So if you like well written fiction with relate able characters, enjoy a relaxing chick lit and a cup of tea and are middle aged but want to read about your contemporaries, then this is for you. I have nothing but praise for this book and would like to thank Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been reading some pretty serious books lately, so this one was relaxing as it was easy, light and quick to read without really having to think much about what was going on.

It was disappointing that the three women friends were such stereotypes - one a successful businesswoman, another in a long unfulfilling marriage to a man who never considered her needs, and the third a mother of an autistic son. There are some interesting themes but I just wasn't engrossed in the story, nor was I fully convinced by the characters. I feel like giving 3 stars, but will give 4 as it did keep me amused for a couple of days.