Wonderful easy reading. Heart warming, characters that are uplifting and a story full of friendship. Take This book on holiday and enjoy getting lost in this beautiful story.

The Woman Who Got her Spark Back wasn't really the story I was expecting from the cover or blurb. I wouldn't describe it as hilarious as others have, although there were funny moments. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I did and Fiona Gibson's storytelling skill kept me engaged and reading on. do think it was rushed, though; the strands probably deserve a second book telling, and continuing, the story from Amanda's point of view. I'd like to have heard more about her. But this is a definite recommendation from me.

This is a quick easy read but sadly a little disappointing. It felt a little rushed at the end and had more potential to be more of a love story than it did. Sadly felt a bit lacking for me and not as funny as Fiona's other books.

A feel good romance about the joy and uplift female friendships bring when life is rubbish and you're in a rut. Celia is a really likeable middle aged woman in a loveless marriage who makes new friendships through her houseplant hospital.
Her friend Amanda really grew on me, I started off loathing her and ended up loving her. You know there's going to be romance, in that way it's fairly formulaic and predictable, but in a reassuring way, as fiona Gibson always has such 3 dimensional characters that you love.
An easy enjoyable read perfect for unwinding on a sunny sunday.

Refreshing, funny and really heartwarming. It’s a lovely read. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Celia Bloom, 43, works in a boutique in Glasgow and runs a plant hospital from home. Her 24 year old son Logan still lives at home and her close friend Terri from upstairs often pops in, usually with a cake in hand. Her life is small but fine until Husband Geoff proves to be a walking cliché and has an affair with his secretary, which Celia finds out by walking in on him in their newly inherited caravan.

Enzo, 42, is a divorced French teacher in Glasgow who amicably shares custody of 9 year old Mathilde with ex Laura. An emergency with a cactus called Spike brings him to Celia's door but at a rather inopportune moment as Celia is freshly reeling from Geoff's betrayal.

Celia's heartbreak also brings her glamorous former best friend Amanda, 43, to her doorstep, whose wedding she had attended some months before. There is trouble in paradise already as Jasper, an actor, has transformed her lovely London pad into an artist's studio without talking to Amanda about it. At a loose end, she descends on Celia, intending to help her by making her a project that could do with a style makeover, like she did in her lifestyle TV show that has now been cancelled.

It is quite clear where the story is heading and I was really looking forward to Celia and Enzo meeting and properly getting to know each other, and I wasn't disappointed. I loved all the three main protagonists plus the supporting characters with the exception of Geoff, naturally, plus I wasn't keen on selfish Jasper. For Amanda's sake I wish her story could have been resolved more satisfactorily but she seems to be on the way.

Fiona Gibson's heroines are always middle-aged put-upon women who learn to break free - most of her books have either the word woman or mum in the title. Its funny and predictable of course but like a relaxing bath - you know what you're getting, in this case a very relatable and uplifting middle-aged slow-burn romance, instigated by Spike the cactus.

This is an extremely well-written, feel-good, fun, easy and gentle read, perfect as a palate cleanser after something heavier. If you're looking for a relatable personal growth story of second chances with strong women and female friendships, this is for you. Heartily recommended as a warmhearted story with emotional depth that you will want to read in one go.

A marriage in meltdown, a runaway friend, and a cactus in crisis—sometimes, rock bottom is the perfect place to regrow. 🌵

The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back is an uplifting, feel-good story about rediscovering your identity, reigniting your confidence, and learning that it’s never too late to bloom.

Celia’s life in Glasgow is quiet and predictable—until everything changes. Her son has flown the nest, her marriage has lost its warmth, and she finds herself more connected to her struggling houseplants than her husband. But when she walks in on something that shocks her to the core, she’s forced to confront the truth: the life she’s settled into no longer fits.

Enter Amanda—Celia’s glamorous old school friend, now a TV presenter, who turns up unannounced with a designer suitcase and a life in crisis. Their unexpected reunion sets off a ripple of changes neither woman saw coming. Add a charming French teacher, an ailing cactus, and a few wonderfully chaotic turns, and suddenly Celia is on a journey she never planned but might just need.

✨ With warmth, wit, and a cast of endearing characters, Fiona Gibson delivers a relatable tale of friendship, reinvention, and the quiet courage it takes to start over. Perfect for readers who love stories of second chances, sisterhood, and women finding joy on their own terms.

I adored Celia's character and her fight to live again. The entire cast of characters were pretty relatable and down to earth. This was a great feel-good read!

What a good read this was. Celia is stuck in a rut with her husband Geoff who married her as a teenager when she fell pregnant with another boy's child. Now they knock about in the same house ,him being a miser turning the heating down and complains if she spends any money.
When Celia witnesses something that shocks her she knows life will never be the same and all she wants to do is retreat to bed and pull the covers over her head.

Enter Amanda , Celia's old school friend who she hasn't been in touch with for many years parts from a year ago when Celia attended her posh wedding which made her feel dowdy and unwanted there.
Amanda is a TV presenter is London,posh and a well known face but everything is not going well for her either in her job or her marriage. Amanda has no friends ,nowhere to go to get her head together.
Just at the absolutely worst time in her life, Celia opens the door to Amanda along with a large suitcase acting as if she had only seen Celia yesterday.
Great story and very funny too. I loved reading about Celia's transformation into being a strong independent woman.
Love Fiona Gibson's books.

I loved The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back, it has great characters, multiple story lines that cross over and is a feel good book.

As the title implies, "The Woman who got her Spark Back" is the story of a woman who had been stuck in a rut, but who fights back and builds a new and better life. Fiona Gibson writes about great, down to earth characters in a wonderfully natural way. I highly recommend her books, including this latest one.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Celia’s life has taken a spin. She and Geoff have got on ok and he took on her son as a baby (who is now 24) so when she suddenly finds things don’t add up it’s quite a shock to say the least. Amanda, her best friend from school in Scotland. now lives in London as a TV presenter. They have sort of kept in touch but lives diverged. Amanda is rather fed up with her other half Jasper, who is making a half hearted attempt at being an artist after being a failed actor. Amanda ups sticks and decides to go and visit the one person who would understand her turmoil- Celia, little knowing what has just happened.

This is a wonderful story, one of hope and new beginnings. Of the little things that mean the world and how a little kindness goes a long way. Of friendships and love, of life and its trials and tribulation. An uplifting read with a smile.

For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog

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BOOK REVIEW

The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back By Fiona Gibson
Published By Boldwood
Publication Date 7th June 2025

Blurb
Is it ever too late to bloom?

Meet Celia. Life hasn’t worked out quite how she’d planned.

Since her son left for university, Celia has felt stuck at home – battling with her husband Geoff over control of the thermostat, and without the merest glint of a social life. Her only joy comes from the plants she nurtures in her makeshift plant hospital in their Glasgow flat.

Then three unexpected things happen:

She catches Geoff in bed with a secretary from his sausage factory (no pun intended).
Her high-flying best friend Amanda arrives on her doorstep without warning (but with a very large suitcase).
A tall handsome French teacher asks her to tend his daughter’s cactus back to health.
Suddenly, Celia finds her life in freefall, but she makes a decision: she won’t let this be the end of her. She’ll bring herself back to life, just like the plants she works her magic on. But just how do you change the habits of a lifetime?

🌵 🌵 🌵 🌵 🌵 🌵 🌵 🌵

I was very grateful to receive an ARC of this book & after a few weeks of not being able to pick up a book after my dear Mum passed away, this is the book that has helped me 'get my reading spark back' so thank you Fiona Gibson & Boldwood for playing a part in 'my story'.

I love Fiona's style of writing, it's totally absorbing, always relatable in some way, emotional & hilarious! I don't think I can ever look at a Scotch egg in the same way ever again lol 🤣

A real feel good read & absolutely one to add to your TBR for June!

Sometimes life can go off on a tangent and this book had tangents in spades! With gentle humour and information on plants that even a person with absolutely no plant growing skill can enjoy ( that is me, I am legendary for not keeping plants alive). I well recommend reading this with a cuppa and a biscuit.

I loved this light hearted cozy romance! Don’t let the cute cover fool you though, Celias story of finding her spark back with the help of her childhood bestfriend Amanda was beautiful to read about. The story did not dive straight into the romance which was an aspect I appreciated because you got to understand exactly what kind of place Celia is coming from. Overall, I would highly recommend Fiona Gibson’s ‘The Woman Who got Her Spark Back’. Thank you so much to NetGalley & Fiona Gibson for the arc 💜

Celia’s life was rather dull but she was content with her plant hospital, son Logan and husband until she found him in the middle of a compromising position. She is thrown for a loop when long ago friend Amanda shows up. Celia’s life begins to shift for her. Her journey forward is an eye opener and things start to evolve.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Uplifting, witty, and full of heart – Fiona Gibson has done it again!
I absolutely adored The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back. As a long-time fan of Fiona Gibson, I knew I was in for a treat – and this latest novel delivered everything I love about her books: relatable characters, sharp humour, and a heartwarming story that stays with you long after the final page.
Celia Bloom is a wonderfully drawn character – warm, slightly frazzled, and painfully stuck in a life that’s lost its shine. But when her world is turned upside down (starting with an affair involving Geoff and a secretary from his sausage factory!), Celia embarks on a brilliantly messy, funny, and unexpectedly hopeful journey of rediscovery. From her makeshift plant hospital to chance encounters and fresh beginnings, every twist felt both charming and real.
I especially loved Celia’s love for nurturing plants – a lovely metaphor for the slow, determined way she starts to nurture herself too. While I did wonder about the viability of a “houseplant hospital,” I couldn’t help but root for her. It’s a beautiful idea, and like so much of this book, it adds just the right touch of whimsy to Celia’s world.
Fiona Gibson’s writing is a joy: light and witty on the surface, but never afraid to dip into deeper emotional truths. This book was exactly what I needed – it made me laugh, gave me hope, and reminded me that it’s never too late to bloom.
Funny, feel-good, and full of warmth – this is Fiona Gibson at her very best.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for my review copy. I devoured this in just a couple of days – it’s the perfect pick-me-up read.

Fiona Gibson once again pulls on your heartstrings with her latest book, The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back.
Well-written with relatable characters navigating various life challenges, this story of how three individuals connect is at times funny and at other times heartfelt. Readers are likely to find aspects of each character's life that hit home.
That said, I found the book a bit slow at the start. While not my favourite book of Gibson's, it is well worth a read.
I received an ARC of #TheWomanWhoGotHerSparkBack from #NetGalley.

A fun, lighthearted read about second chances and the road back from the mundane. I found the story relatable and the protagonist likable, but a little narrative-heavy at the expense of action and dialogue, so it took me a while to get through it. Still, a fun read, worthwhile and very much recommended!

I absolutely love this authors books and couldn’t wait to get stuck into this one which was the perfect pick me up and had the perfect mix of humour and wit and laugh out loud moments. Love how this author writes about real people and also older female characters. This was a heartwarming read and shows it’s never too late to get your spark back and make a fresh start and embrace second chances.