The Dolce Vita Divas by Maddie Please is a most delightful contemporary novel that I read in just one sitting.
Maddie Please has created a wonderful, light-hearted read about second chances and really living life whatever your age.
All the characters are over sixty. They prove that age is no barrier to having fun. “I used to think life had passed me by and then I realized it hadn’t… Take every chance you get.” We need to grab life with both hands. We are never too old to re-write our story and to have a good ending – even an eighty-five-year-old knows how to live life. After all age is just a number.
The action is in the first person from the lead characters point of view. We get to know her intimately. Her life has been full, raising children but her first love has never left her heart. After her husband of many years left her (before the book opened), she realizes that now is the time to make some life changes.
A holiday in Capri with a friend, and in memory of another friend, offers new possibilities.
The landscape is in glorious technicolour compared with grey England. The reader can ‘feel’ the warmth and ‘see’ the vibrant colours.
We witness sibling rivalry and see various different parenting styles. We see that everyone appreciates being given boundaries as when we know the rules, life is simpler for all.
As we grow older, our role in life changes. Our children are grown and “I wanted to feel needed again.” We need to be adaptable as life changes. Growing older can still mean life is full and fun.
I always enjoy the novels of Maddie Please. They bring a smile to my face. Light-hearted banter is amusing and her characters are a joy to behold.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed being whisked away to Capri with best friends, Jo and Susie. Both women are at a time in their lives when they are looking for more and wanting to get out of the rut they have been living in. When an all expenses trip to celebrate the life of one of their good friends comes around, well of course they can’t say no!

The one thing I love about this author’s books is that there is hope for us all. She shows us that age is just a number and in no way defines us. If anything, with age, retirement age especially, does come with some advantages. The setting of the story was yet another winner and I lapped it all up. Paulo’s family were certainly an interesting bunch that provided some fun and laughter. In fact there were more than a few laugh out loud moments at poor Jo’s expense.

The Dolce Vita Divas had me smiling throughout. It has a wonderful mix of humour as well as heartwarming moments. It’s a reminder that whilst family will always be important, we shouldn’t lose ourselves along the way. Hugely entertaining and wonderfully uplifting, I quickly devoured this utterly gorgeous read!

Joanna is approaching her 65th birthday and is at ends with her life after her husband , Greg leaves to be with a younger women!

Jo's best friend Susie arrives with details of a paid trip to Capri, Italy to celebrate the life of their friend Ellen who had passed away a few years ago but had also married Paulo, Jo's first love.

What happens when Jo and Paulo reunite?

First time read from this author but loved this fun and witty book a must read!

This is my second book by Maddie Please and I just couldn’t put it down it was an excellent read.

Jo’s husband has left her for a younger woman AKA the TBT thin, blonde, trollop, her children and grandchildren have their own lives and she feels at a crossroads.

What perfect timing for her and her best friend Susie to make a trip to Capri to remember their late friend Ellen and get away from it all. However Ellen’s husband Paulo is Jo’s first love and what follows is a time for them to reconnect with plenty of drama, fun and laughs along the way.

This book was brilliant and I didn’t want it to end, the flashbacks to when Jo was young were great and there was plenty of humour which had me laughing out loud.

There were plenty of great characters which were so descriptive and I especially loved Ceci.

Thanks to NetGalley, Maddie Please and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A lovely romantic drama about second chances set on beautiful Capri. Well written and empathetic characters, I adored the spoiled grandson and the bickering Italian sisters. There is a lot of emotional heart in this book.

This is a fun read, and the Italian setting makes it a great book to take on holiday (also good in grey England). As a woman of a similar age to Jo, I really empathised with her. Life is not over by 60! There are some hilarious scenes between elderly Italian women in particular, and some read like a sketch from slap stick comedy! I think ‘No No’ parenting will resonate with many grandparents! And then there is the romantic element to the book… All in all, this is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it, and all the previous books by Maddie Please.

Sunshine, Sisterhood, and Second Chances
A 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight.
Thanks to a great author we have warmth, wisdom and emotional intelligence, this book was a huge pleasure to read! A fabulous, really enjoyable read.

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend read of this book. It made my cold days in Yorkshire feel as if I was actually in the sunny Greek isles.
It made me smile so much too as I too am a lady if a certain age.
Friendship is so important and I really did not want this book to end