This story centres around the community of a Somerset village and in particular, the cider farm. The story revolves around the calendar of events at the cider farm that belongs to Jeannie and her family. The main characters come from the book club and how their lives interact with each other and their personal ups and downs. I did enjoy this story, it certainly left me with a feel-good feeling. I enjoyed the different traditions connected to the cider farm and even some of Violet’s jokes. The descriptions made me feel like having a glass of cider! There was humour as well, I especially laughed at the sand yachting when in France. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This a story about 5 women spaning from 35 to 73, and what they decide to do with their lives...you'd think your 20s is for that, but each of this ladies is faced with choices because they have so much more to live!
I truly enjoyed the different lives each of the women have, how they navigate their problems and especially, how fear of being irrelevant can affect you, the friendships were heartwarming and there's enough goofiness to make it light and easy to read. A fun and entertaining read!

There’s so much I love about Judy Leigh’s writing that I hardly know where to start – but let me make it her wonderful characters, the five women at this book’s heart.

Jeannie is now seventy-two, the powerhouse behind Sharrocks’ cider farm, her family business – as well as organising operations that vary with the seasons (and particularly successfully), she cares for her elderly mother Violet (now there’s a woman who would try the patience of a saint…) and her two teenage grandchildren, and her thoughts are beginning to turn reluctantly towards the possibility of retirement. Aurora runs the gift shop at the farm – an ageing rock chick of a similar age (but don’t tell her I called her that), brash and over-the-top in every way, but harbouring her own regrets about lost opportunities and the absence of love in her life. Ruth is Combe Pomeroy’s village librarian, straight-laced and very much the archetypal spinster (did I just say that – sorry!), but also living with feelings of not having lived the fullest of lives. The other two are a little younger. Danielle is the local estate agent, facing up to her husband’s infidelities even if it leaves her alone and jobless – and Verity might look as if she has a charmed and privileged life, but her husband is a misogynist and bully, and she’s reaching the point where she’s had more than enough of it.

All the women slowly gained a place in my heart as I got to know them better through their various interactions – at the cider farm of course, at the gift shop cafe and the various events they organise, but also at the monthly book club Ruth runs at the library. The book discussions – and they’re quite wonderful – overlap with and reflect the situations going on in the women’s lives (very cleverly done), and they’re there for each other through good times and bad. There’s a hilarious trip to France – Ruth revives the twinning arrangement with a cider-producing region that’s lapsed a little, knowing they could all do with a bit of a break from the everyday – when they all have the opportunity to let their hair down and get to know each other rather better, so there are some particularly touching moments too.

And it’s also a lovely multi-generational story. There’s young love despite parental opposition, and the grandchildren step up to show that the cider farm might just be in safe hands if Jeannie decides to step back – and there’s romance in the lives of all the ladies too, some of it unexpected (sometimes unwelcome, and sometimes not what it appears), as they each make their decisions about what will bring them happiness. Emotionally, it’s all just perfect – a beautifully told story, the supporting cast as well drawn as the main characters – with that balance between raucous fun and moments that bring a tear to your eye that the author always does so well. I will admit that I did find Jeannie’s mother Violet just a little wearing – her constant joke-telling became just a bit too much – but I was particularly touched by the real affection between her and her daughter.

Wonderful storytelling, characters I really loved, beautifully drawn settings, tears and laughter – this book is yet another triumph from an author who never disappoints me, and very much recommended.

Judy Leigh is fast turning into a favourite author - she never fails to deliver a warm, engaging story!

Combe Pomeroy's book club brings together a cross section of villagers: Ruth, the librarian, Jeannie who with her trusted employees produces wonderful cider and Aurora, who works in the farm shop but is very much her own woman. Add in husband and wife team Verity and Mark, and there are some lively discussions on the chosen reads. Will a new arrival upset the applecart?

As always, this author has a great insight into human traits and produces a delightfully entertaining novel! I love all the characters - they each have their place - and although I had my hopes I was never really sure how it was going to turn out. Another terrific read from Judy Leigh, beautifully crafted and well-written. I'm very happy to recommend this one along all her other books, and give it all five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

There is a lot happening in this book and it’s too much to write a short summary about but what I will say it’s about four ladies later in life who are all at different points one is raising her twin grandchildren and just needs a break, another still loves to dance and do yoga but loneliness is creeping in another who runs the book club but the library thinks she is possibly too old to fall in love with a new book club member Who is much younger than her. The book is about Waymore than these three main characters but as I said it’s too many for me to write a summary about just know this is a feel good book if you love quotes about friendship not living in the mole society want you to send you love this book. I certainly did I started it this morning and didn’t stop until I was done it was so good. I highly recommend it it really is a feel good story. I love the stories with elderly characters in it they cannot get enough of them. I received this book from NetGalley and bold wood books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This has been a very funny and enjoyable book to read, and Judy's best book to date in my view. I would award more stars but only limited to five.

An easy to read, cosy tale of female friendships later in life. It shows you're never too old to have fun, change paths or try something new.
A comfortable 3.5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

As a woman of a "certain age", I could relate to a lot of the women in this book.

Verity with her boorish husband, Danielle with her cheating husband, Aurora who is footloose and fancy free, Ruth who dutifully does those voluntary jobs around the village that others don't put their hands up for and Jeannie who looks after everyone but isn't great at looking after herself. Honourable mention to Violet, who is 95 years old and fond of bad jokes!

All these women, some of whom have known each other since childhood, some who are newer friends; some who are older, some who are younger, come together for Book Club. They have lively discussions about all sorts of books but the most important things are their connections with each other.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't this cookie cutter kind of book and it wasn't like there was a predictable HEA at the end of the story either, which I appreciated.

As well as the book club bringing them together, I think it was just living in a small village which did that, and having all those connections. I liked all the fellas who featured in this book too, even the not-quite-as-likeable ones!

A really lovely read.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

The Golden Oldies Book Club is such a wonderful cosy ready. We follow the lives of a group of women as they evaluate their lives, take a trip to France and re-discover themselves.

At this point I will read anything Judy Leigh writes and this does not disappoint!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the chance to read The Golden Oldies Book Club.

Judy Leigh’s writing suits me for several reasons. I love the idea of having an older protagonist with plenty of life left in them, and I adore her excellent handling of comedy. I can honestly say that I have laughed out loud reading several of her books, and this one was no different.
While the story felt that the lead character was Jeannie, the owner of the Somerset Cider Farm, her personality didn’t overshadow the rest of the characters. In fact, I found that she was a lovely soul whose story was gentle and evolved naturally. However, Jeannie’s Mum is the veritable queen of punny dad jokes. and a few had me chuckling away. As Jeannie is feeling pressure from her granddaughter and mother to take life a little more easily, she is feeling a little bit redundant and unappreciated. More importantly, she starts to recognise that she has let life pass her by.
Whilst the book club is our first introduction to the other characters, it’s a trip to the French Twin-Town that lets us get to know Ruth, Aurora, Verity, and Danielle. Each of them bring their own set of issues to the group. Librarian Ruth is not interested in a romantic relationship, Aurora, who works in the café at the cider farm, is pining for a lost love, Verity is wondering if her marriage is over despite living with the trappings of wealth and success, and Estate Agent Danielle is dealing with a love rat husband.
Through a selection of literary classics, new choices open up and some tough decisions are made.
I felt a warm and happy glow throughout this book. Despite some challenging themes, I felt secure in the knowledge that the author would steer the story to a perfect conclusion. I found myself intrigued by the cider traditions and loved reading about their heritage.
My favourite character was the wonderful Violet. With a joke for every moment, she had the wisdom which comes with having lived a full and happy life. She was filled with love for her wonderful family and spoke a lot of sense.
This is another fantastic read from a wonderful author. If you’ve not read any of her previous books, there are plenty out there for you, and you won’t regret checking them out.

The Golden Oldies Book Club by Judy Leigh is the story of Jeannie, her mother Violet, Aurora, Verity, Ruth and Danielle with appearances by Jeannie's children, Verity's husband and other characters. The town is Combe Pomeroy in Somerset.

Ruth is the town's librarian, and she sponsors a book club. They discuss a variety of different books and at one of the nights the women decide that they need a vacation. So, they visit a town that is a twin to Combe Pomeroy but in France. They all go and have a wonderful time.

Jeannie is the owner of a Cider farm, of which she inherited from her parents. She is at an age where she should start thinking about retirement. Danielle is a realtor, and her marriage is over as her husband has run off with another woman, but they are still co-owners of a real estate business. Verity is a potter but has had some issues with her own husband, he is very controlling and when it comes to her son, Noah, she wants what is best for him but hates how her husband is trying to control his life.

As the story goes on the reader sees that the five women are finally coming into their own, even at their age. Can they find the contentment that they crave and do what is right for them? This story is told with humor, I especially loved Violet with her corny jokes, compassion and with relatable characters.

I think that if you want to be entertained and love a fun, warm and wholesome story, The Golden Oldies Book Club is for you!

I give it 5 stars! Loved it

I really enjoyed this wonderful.story about a group of older ladies and all the things that they do, as good friends. They all are at some sort of crossroads in their lives and decide to travel to France to the twinning association town. Ruth, the librarian, organised it all and they stay on a fixed farm. This is wonderful for Jeannie, who runs and owns her own cider farm back home in their village of Combe Pomeray. She's really interested in how they run their farm, the different coders they have etc. Auorora, Jeannie's childhood friend, just wants to sunbathe and relax!!. Danielle, whose marriage is ending, is just wanting to drink all the alcohol she can!!. Meanwhile ,the only person who seems to have their life together, Verity, let's slip a few secrets....
These characters were so loveable, that I found myself wanting them to have some change in their lives, to give them some good luck. I was invested from start to finish!!!. It's a wonderful story that Judy Leigh has written beautifully!.
#Netgalley, #bookandtonic, #judyleigh.

A Cornish cider farm is a home, a business and a place for friends
to gather. This is a lovely story about accepting changes in life., both the young and the young at heart.
I enjoyed reading this book so much. It is energizing, emotional
and warm.

Judy Leigh has excelled again with her latest book! It’s a heart warming story full of a collection of eclectic older village folk with a matriarch violet who brings humour into the story!

An electric group of friends gather to discuss books. I chortled during those scenes because the discussions were hilarious.
There are many changes afoot for Jeannie, Aurora, Danielle, Ruth, and Verity. Some will embark on big changes while others open their eyes to opportunity.
I was puzzled by one character’s actions and how she ran away. I can’t figure out why.
I found a little of myself in each of the women, but Violet stole the book. The blunt 95 year old cut to the heart of each situation. She kept me stitches, although I groaned at all of her jokes. The older I get the more I appreciate the crusty characters in stories.
It’s a fun read.

I hold a love for all of Judy Leigh’s books, and this her latest is more poignant, interesting and a little different from her previous brilliant novels.
Jeannie runs Sharrock Cider farm in Somerset along with looking after her mum Violet, who’s in her nineties and grandchildren who are studying for A levels. Now Jeannie is in her 70’s is it time for her to retire?!
The history of community, cider and interesting lives is woven around the seasons at the farm, and the village book club with their wonderful visit to a French cider farm. The characters are colourful, hilarious and interesting and above all real, so very easy to relate to and imagine.
A great read, so very entertaining, engaging and so very English!!
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood books for the early read, hugely appreciated!

Lately I have discovered that I like hard cider better than beer. So, I was thrilled to discover that this book centers around a local cider farm in the village of Combe Pomeroy. Along with the septuagenarian (Jeanne) who owns and manages the farm, we meet her BFF Aurora, librarian Ruth, realtor Danielle, and potter Verity. The five women vary in age with Danielle being the youngest. Still, they form a friendship at their local book club and take a trip to France together. I LOVED their adventures there, especially imagining them land yachting in their clumsy yellow helmets. The structure of the book takes us through an entire year on the cider farm, season by season. I enjoyed this glimpse into the cider business and now I want to open an Angry Orchard. . . Beware, Jeanne's mother Violet dearly loves to tell corny jokes like: What do you call an old snowman? Water. If you like this one, you might want to check out The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

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

A lovely story of community spirit and finding second chances. The setting was also lovely, Combe Pomeroy and a cider farm.

Jeannie is a middle aged woman, who as well as running her business, looks after her elderly Mother as well as two grandchildren who are teenagers.

The book club gives her a change of surroundings and a chance to meet friends, it’s at the book club meet up where a trip to France is talked about and planned.

The trip gives the ladies, who each are dealing with their own problems a chance to relax, drink the local cider, eat delicious foods, and unwind.

They enjoy the time with the people who own the place they are staying at and plan to come back to visit them.

Jeanie realises that she can do something for her and not have to be responsible for everything or everyone. Bruno, who she met whilst in France shows her that it’s never too late to find happiness and love.

I recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this sweet book, it made me smile and at the same time it made me realise that this is how some people are. Scared and very lonely. A thought provoking book and I’m glad I read it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Loved this wonderful story,I was drawn right in by the setting the wonderful characters the storyline made for a happy cozy read.Will be recommending.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks