Member Review

Alice always lived her life in an orderly manner, with lists and limits and her dreams on hold to keep a job she didn't really like and a man who seemed good on paper. When she loses both the man and the job, she does the first impulsive thing she's ever done and heads on a UK literary tour. Except the tour isn't with young, adventurous women who will inspire her, it's with a bunch of fluffy-haired octogenarians. And the tour guide happens to be a devilishly handsome Scottish driver who makes her blood boil from the moment they first meet. But who better to help Alice find her way than women who have already done it? Who says octogenarians can't be inspiring? And why can't she let the handsome driver make her blood boil for more pleasurable reasons?

It's a fun, if slightly, predictable plot that puts the spotlight on the ways that Alice learns to let things go and embrace the positives in her life. There is excellent banter from memorable characters that pull you into the story in charmingly relatable ways. It's not just the main characters that get the chance to shine, every single one of the older ladies also brings something to the story.

Alice and Robbie clash adorably, with their fights lacking any true malice even in their most antagonistic moments. You know they're perfect for each other, and so do they as soon as they stop trying to pretend otherwise. I loved the many ways that Mackenzie allows them to explore who they are as a couple and apart even when, and perhaps because of, the limited time they actually spend together. It shows that they really did think things through and are in it for the long haul.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the wonderful read!