I’ve seen Kathy Lette on television over the years and she always comes across as a great racanteur. Despite that, I hadn’t read any of her books before until now and HRT: Husband Replacement Therapy. As I was reading it, I could absolutely hear Lette’s voice!

Ruby announces at her alcohol fuelled 50th Birthday bash that she has incurable terminal cancer and uses it as an opportunity to tell some jaw-dropping home truths to her family and friends. I mean what did she have to lose? It’s a totally mesmerising car crash of extreme awkwardness. Still on a roll, she announces in her speech that she’s taking her sisters Emerald and Amber with her on a Farewell Cruise around South Pacific islands. It’s her dying wish that her sisters Amber and Emerald bury the hatchet and become better sisters and friends again.

Without wishing to reveal any spoilers - this book is a fast-paced funny and at times crude treat. It’s also about sisterhood in both senses of the word. It also reinforces that women in their 50s can do what they want and lead the lives that they want and deserve.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Aria & Aries, for making this e-ARC available to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

HRT: Husband Replacement Therapy,is the latest laugh out loud,with the occasional cringe at "too much information", from the deservedly popular Kathy Lette.

When Ruby discovers that she has terminal cancer on the eve of her 50th Birthday celebrations she delivers a drink-fuelled "what have I got to lose" speech that would make Frankie Boyle blush. Giving the assembled (about to be former) friends and family both barrels she rounds off an exceptional piece of oratory by very publicly revealing that having seen his phone messages her husband is having an affair. The next day,hung over but glad that she's outed the liars,losers and hypocrites in her life she receives a letter........informing her that there's been a mistake and she doesn't have cancer after all.
Having deeply insulted the 2 sisters she'd booked a "farewell cruise" with Ruby manages to convince them not to back out.........which they only agree to as they still think she's dying, Keeping her not so little secret Ruby and her sisters set sail on a holiday involving much debauchery and exploring much more than the Pacific Ocean.

While this is a very funny book it's also insightful and often moving as Ruby and her sisters look at the lives they've got,or rather have settled for,and what they really want. It's a bit of a roller coaster that successfully mixes humour and pathos, one scene in particular comes out of the blue and kicks the reader in the guts while the family Christmas is the funniest thing I've read for a long time.

It's rude,often crude, extremely funny and unpredictable,just as I thought it was winding down ..............well you'll have to read it for yourself to find out.