Visiting the Isle of Skye in the Highlands sounds dreamy. I was looking forward to the adventures of five silver-haired best friends and wanted to tag along for them to see the Northern Lights.

Here are three things I loved:
🥰Rose, Tess, Della, Pam, and Jen are so supportive of each other -- even when many miles separate them. And I loved Pam's dog Elvis!
✨Chasing the elusive Northern Lights is on my bucket list. I am hoping to get a good look sometime when I visit family in the Baltic States one of these years.
👵These ladies may be in their seventies, but they are travelling and enjoying the opportunities that come along while helping others where possible. I think the 70's are the new 50's?

If you compare my rating to the average for this book you will see I am a bit of an outlier. It did not turn out to be the story I was expecting. Frankly it felt like there was more than one book in here and I started to lose interest in the middle. Please do read other reviews as many have loved this one so much more than I did.

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

With Christmas approaching, Tess feels a little left out when her friends – of many years – all seem to have exciting plans. Jen’s off on a cruise to Iceland, Pam heading for Greece, Rose is living and working in Paris (in her eighties, but playing piano in a nightclub), and Della’s hoping to get there on a long-promised trip with husband Sylvester. Tess has always wanted to see the Northern Lights, and there’s nothing holding her back, so she impulsively books a solo break on the Isle of Skye – then starts to work out the logistics of how to actually get there. But she does have unexpected company – Della’s Paris trip, for the very saddest of reasons, doesn’t happen, so they travel there together. But on arrival, the hotel proves not to be quite what they were expecting – run down, no warm Scottish welcome, only a reluctantly agreed bed for the night so that they can then look for somewhere else.

It turns out that owner Roddy’s wife has left him, he’s barely coping, and she’s also demanding he sells the hotel to give her half the proceeds. With more guests expected, and seeing a real possibility of turning the place around, Tess and Della decide to step in – they’re full of ideas, and Tess is a particular dab hand in the kitchen – and help an initially reluctant Roddy fight for the hotel’s future. They’re unexpectedly joined by an ailing Rose, struggling to recover from illness, and her young (caring, enthusiastic and rather lovely) friend Daz – and together they all show what a positive approach can achieve. There’s a substantial cast of really well drawn characters – guests Robin and his son Jamie willingly join their efforts, and they also win over curmudgeonly guide and handyman Murdo, slowly helping him change his life in the process. Roddy’s wife Isla though remains determined that they will fail, sabotaging them at every turn – but she really doesn’t realise quite what she’s taking on.

There is, of course, a lot of laughter – the relationships between the women (and the other two join them too before their stay is over) are an absolute joy throughout, with their support for each other, sheer zest for life and finding enjoyment in every available moment. There are serious issues too – a good measure of grief and loss (quite wonderfully handled, and that sometimes moved me to tears), health problems, mental health issues – but always a focus on how life can be made better, grasping every opportunity, overcoming every obstacle, buoyed up by friendships new and old and the glimmer of hope for the future.

The Skye setting is quite beautifully drawn, with the most vivid descriptions – neither their efforts at the hotel nor the snowfall can stop them getting out and about and seeing the beauty to be found on their temporary island home. And I’ve always very much enjoyed the author’s more mature characters – her books are always a firm testament to the fact that it’s never too late to change your life in a positive way, especially with the support of friends. But I really think this book might have been my favourite of them all (so far, of course!) – I was entirely caught up by the fight to save the hotel, the struggles of some of the characters, and the wonderful women who showed such fierce determination to succeed. The whole book is filled with emotional moments that really touch your heart, but immensely uplifting, leaving you with the warmest glow – and it’s the most tremendous fun too. I really couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Judy Leigh delivers a heartwarming gem with *The Silver-Haired Sisterhood*, a celebration of living life to the fullest at any age. With a seventy-seven-year-old leading lady and a vibrant cast of similarly spirited friends—like the indomitable eighty-year-old Rose—this story reminds us that age is just a number and it’s our outlook on life that truly matters.

Through the characters’ journeys, Leigh shows that it’s never too late for new adventures. Life’s challenges are inevitable, but how we face them defines us. Some characters wrestle with grief—one finding warmth in cherished memories, another drowning in survivor’s guilt and alcohol until an epiphany sparks change. Leigh’s message is clear: mistakes don’t define us; what matters is who we choose to be moving forward. Out of hardship, there is always hope.

Set against the stunning backdrop of a snowy December on the Isle of Skye, Leigh’s vivid descriptions transport readers, immersing them in the beauty and serenity of the landscape. The novel also highlights the power of friendship—“the family you choose”—and the joy of second chances, proving that while we can’t change the past, tomorrow is filled with possibilities.

This uplifting tale will warm your heart, make you smile, and leave you inspired. Judy Leigh’s storytelling is as beautiful as ever, and *The Silver-Haired Sisterhood* is a testament to her ability to craft novels that resonate deeply with readers. I can’t get enough of her work!

I love the premise of this book and I adore "The Hens." It's wonderful to see older characters in books and read about true female friendships. These characters are full of life - and so are so many older women who live in a cloak of invisibility as they age. Thank you Judy Leigh for bringing such great characters to the page.

The Silver Haired Sisterhood is set five years after the eventful week in Paris that was the subject of Judy Leigh’s earlier novel, Five French Hens. It was lovely to reconnect with the five hens again and see how their lives have continued.
I really enjoyed the Scottish setting of this novel and the story of how Tess and Della help Roddy get his hotel back on its feet. The friendship between the women really shines through as does their zest for life. Despite being in their late seventies, they are not too old for romance or adventure. I wasn’t totally convinced by the romance as it seemed to come out of nowhere but I did love the references to Walt Whitman’s poetry and the book definitely made me want to explore that more.
This was a lovely heart-warming read and I am very grateful to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Favorite Quotes:

I’m not trying to push your buttons– if I was, I’d be looking for mute...

I heard a horrible screeching noise coming from the hall. I thought we had bats. Roddy, please can you tell this howling harpy to sling her hook. I’m trying to get some rest.

My Review:

Judy Leigh is a master storyteller and agile writer. She never fails to provide an entertaining, engaging, and heart-warming read. I have become a lifelong acolyte of this talented scribe and constantly haunt her listings for new amusing tales to peruse. Her characters are realistically flawed yet always endearing and worth knowing. I wouldn’t mind getting older if I could have as much fun as these spirited septuagenarians.

First thing first: I'm a great fan of Judy Leigh's silver panthers and I love their zest for life and how they face difficulties counting on their friendship and accept the change that can bring happyness.
This is the follow up to Five French Hens and was elated to catch with the ladies and read about them again.
There was a lot of changes, new adventures in the life of some of them but Tess is acting like a lurker more than an active member of this group.
A tragic event will bring them to Highlands and things will change.
I laughed out loud and was moved, rooted for the ladies, and thoroughly enjoyed the story as Ms Leigh is an excellent storyteller.
A story that keeps you reading and feeling different emotions. Loved it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Saucy seventies

I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky sweet story about people mainly my age, that is the seventies. There's still a lot of life! Some of life's challenges, too! All treated with sensitivity and verve. Obviously not literary fiction, this is a book to be enjoyed beside the fire or under the duvet.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

The Silver-Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Five years after seventy-something Tess jetted off to Paris with her best friends, Jen, Rose, Della and Pam - the Five French Hens - for Jen’s hen do, a lot has changed. Prospective groom Eddie has been given the heave-ho, Tess’s husband has been sent packing and the Hens are making the most of their golden years.

But Tess is stuck in a rut. Rather than embrace her independence, she watches on as Rose wows Paris, Jen explores Iceland and Pam heads to Greece. But when tragedy strikes Della, Tess is shaken into action. They both need a change of scenery and longing to see the Northern Lights, they head to the Highlands of Scotland and the magical Isle of Skye.

There Tess and Della get more than they bargained for. Along with stunning scenery and breathtaking history, they find new friends, grand adventures and even romance. And when they’re joined by the other Hens, together they start plotting a fabulous new future for them all.

My Opinion

Judy Leigh has once again written a delightful book with some older characters – even though our characters are in their 70s they still manage to go on an entertaining adventure. I started reading this book with the aim of just reading a few chapters and before I knew it, I was at the end. Our Hens support each other through both the good times and the bad in this uplifting read.

Rating 4/5

I enjoyed reading The Silver-Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Every bit as good as I expected!

Five women - best friends - are used to doing things together. After their last adventure in Paris, Rose remained there and is wowing the crowds. Jen is exploring Iceland, Pam is heading to Greece and Tess is stuck in a rut after finally calling time on her marriage. But when disaster strikes Della, it motivates Tess to get them both moving to Skye, in the hope of spotting the Northern Lights. But, of course, it's not as straight forward as a simple trip and before they know it they are making friends and keeping busy . . .

I love this group of women! They are living life to the full and laughing about it all the way. Always entertaining, Judy Leigh brings her characters to life and shows what lovely women they are. Thoroughly enjoyable and a great read if you are in need of a little lift. I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*.

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

The Silverhaired Sisterhood returns to friends Tess, Rose, Jen, Della and Pam.
They all have carried on with their lives and changed things for the better. Then something awful happens to Della, and so Tess and Della head to Skye for some away before Christmas. It’s beautiful and helps them to relax and re evaluate their lives Then Rose and Daz arrive from Paris. The success of their show has made them need some relaxation with their friends. Quickly followed by Jen from her trip around Iceland and Pam from Greece.
They have to pull together to help some friends they pick up while in Skye, showing how loving and caring they are as friends.
I love all these characters and welcomed the chance to read this arc copy from Boldwood Books. It left me feeling so grateful for what I have in my life and I felt so happy. It’s such an uplifting story.
Definitely highly recommend this book, even the series!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #Boldwood Books, #JudyLeigh.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

At the start, we meet Tess, who is celebrating her birthday. I enjoyed her energy, and I loved the backstory behind her group of friends. Tess and Della decided to take a trip together, to the Isle of Skye, and I was keen to read about their adventure. They encountered some loveable characters who made me smile.

I found this was actually a great choice for a winter read, as it felt quite festive too. It was a fun read with humorous characters, and the friendships between the characters warmed my heart. This book paired well with mince pies and a cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I really liked the characters attitude to life, even though they were in their seventies, they had no intention of slowing down. I also liked the way the 6 friends were there for each other. The setting on Skye was lovely and would certainly make anyone want to visit. I did think the one romance was rather quick and seemed to develop without any signs of liking each other. The characters all had different personalities but all seemed to work well together. I did have a chuckle at some of the drag artist’s names! This was an enjoyable read, it does have one vindictive character, to add some interest. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a delightful, heartwarming, and charming read (although I admittedly teared up early on in the book).

The story is about friends in their 70’s who always show up for one another - for the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

As I get older, I find myself greatly enjoying books about mature women who know the importance of keeping their minds busy, their souls young, and their hearts full of love and laughter.

I can’t wait to read more stories from Judy Leigh! This is a definite MUST-READ!

How utterly refreshing to read a book that is based on older charcters. I am in my 50's now but could absolutely resonate with all the main charcters.

I loved this story, i thought it was fun and funny and highly entertaining. I have read a few of the Silver Ladies books now and they have all been a really gread read, keep them coming!

Five years ago, Tess and her friends went to Paris for Jen’s hen do. Now, Tess is in a rut, and it takes a tragedy to jolt her out of it. Wanting nothing more than the see the Northern Lights, she books a room on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands, and takes Della with her. Their trip turns out to be more than they bargained for… which might turn out to be a very good thing.

I discovered this author not too long ago, but she has quickly become one of my favorite “fluff” authors. Her stories are usually about older women who learn about being true to themselves, about enjoying the place they’re in, about second chances, and about treasuring the people around you. All of this with a touch of humor makes Ms. Leigh’s books jump onto my to-read shelf without any hesitation :)

I loved the descriptions of the setting and would love to add the Isle of Skye to my travel bucket list. I too would love to see the Northern Lights someday, but traveling that far north in the winter is an iffy proposition. I really like all five of the French Hens, but could especially identify with Tess. Each of them has her own strengths and weaknesses, but together they’re a force to be reckoned with. The people they meet and befriend grew on me as the book progressed, even crotchety Murdo. The story took a few twists that I wasn’t expecting, which made the book even more fun to read, and I can’t wait to pick up Ms. Leigh’s next book.

The characters in this book were so well written, I loved following their journey as they celebrate life and their future.

After a couple of chapters I questioned whether this book was for me. Having friends who have lost their partners through divorce or death and others who have had health problems, I thought the story was going to be depressing. How wrong was I?
This is an uplifting story about women over 70 who have a fantastic friendship circle and are not afraid about taking on new projects and looking forward to whatever the future brings.
I laughed out loud at some of the antics the friends got up to and shared the sadness too.
Although I had not read any previous books in the series, I do not think it stopped me from enjoying this book.
Lovely characters including those from Skye- a community which worked together to provide another friendship circle.

In my normal fashion although I had read the first book in this series, The Golden Oldies' Book Club, I managed to miss the next in the series, Five French Hens. This didn't affect my enjoyment of the book, although sometime I'll have to go back and read that one.
This time the main character is Tess, a seventy something divorcee, who is fed up with being in a rut and decides to book a stay in a hotel in Skye that she saw on the Web (Skye seems to be very popular this year, I have read a couple of books set there already). She is joined by another of her friends, Della, but when they arrive at the hotel it isn't all that it seemed. They are eventually joined by more of their circle of friends which brings them all back together again.
Skye certainly sounds like a wonderful location and it again makes a pleasant difference to have the main characters a similar age to myself. There are some devious goings on occurring that the girls have to help contend with, but they have some help from new friends as well. A book that I definitely enjoyed and there is an open storyline that could lead to another book, which I'm looking forward to.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.