When their friend Norman passed away, he requested that Bridget, Gloria and Derek go on an adventure to scatter his ashes in a place close to his heart, the Shetland Islands, because he didn't live long enough to make it. Bridget, Gloria and Derek used to work together many years ago and were friends. But the friendship ended, and they hadn't seen each other since.
They do agree to do it, and set off to do it for their friend. After they got started, his assistant told them he had requested one more thing, to find his family, he didn't know he had. They also learned that Norman had a huge following on his YouTube channel about knitting. They take on the task and it is rough because they really don't like each other. But Norman was always a jokester, so he had them on quite the adventure. Will they talk about what happened and why their friendship ended? For Norman, they have to work together to carry out Norman's wishes. It really is a fun read, with the places he has them going, now they are on his YouTube channel, and have started having followers. They think one is actually following them for real, as they go from place to place.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

Norman George wants his three friends to scatter his ashes in the Shetland islands, the friends loved George but can't stand each other. will they get along on this journey?

When Norman George's will is read, three friends discover they have been asked to scatter his ashes in
a place he never got to visit, the Shetland Islands. Bridget, Gloria and Derek are all former work
colleagues of Norman's who have always felt guilty about the work accident that resulted in Norman
spending the remainder of his life in a wheelchair. While the three have their differences, they decide
to honor Norman's request, which involves a bucket list of places to visit on their journey as well as
find any relatives he may have there. The three will discover more about their friend Norman, as
well as each other, leading to healing and friendship. Lovely read featuring characters in their
seventies.
#TheLastLaughClub #BoldwoodBooks # #NetGalley

Are you in need of a good laugh? Check out The Last Laugh Club by Kate Galley! This was a fun read. It's available next month.

The Last Laugh Club by Kate Galley is a charming contemporary novel that I loved and read in just one sitting.
The leading characters are all over seventy and prove that you are never too old to have a new adventure or experience, or to learn new skills.
Three former work colleagues find themselves heading to Shetland to fulfil the final wish of their former boss and friend, as they scatter his ashes in a place he always wanted to visit. An old photograph gives clues as to why.
As the three journey together, old feeling emerge. They all have feelings of guilt from one dreadful day years ago, and have avoided each other ever since. Close proximity forces them to confront what needs to be laid to rest.
Shetland is a wild and rugged landscape, more so in winter. The landscape comes alive under the author’s descriptive pen.
We see a character struggling with early dementia. She fears the past repeating itself and doesn’t want to become a burden to her husband. Theirs is a strong marriage as there is nothing, he won’t do in order to support his wife.
Despite what appears to be a serious request, the book is light-hearted and fun. We delight in seeing the relationship of the characters to each other as they interact on the journey.
The Last Laugh Club is the perfect read whatever the weather.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Norman was a great knitter when he dies he asks former friend Bridget, Gloria and Derek to take and scatter his ashes in the Shetland Isles. There follows a journey none of them would have predicted. Love Kate Galley books

This is a very enjoyable book; at times very moving, at others humorous and even suspenseful. Bridget, Derek and Gloria are all excellent characters and I loved how their relationships developed. They also met some interesting people along the way. I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Kate Galley, and I’m looking forward to the next one.

I was immediately hooked and wondering what wedge had driven these friends apart. Each character is distinct with both strengths and flaws, with the vague sense hovering in the air that something was wrong . Even the personalities of the side characters were well-fleshed out and you felt like you got to know and appreciate them, too. Yet, it's the trio of Bridget, Gloria, and Derek that hold center stage although the spirit of Norman, now just ashes, is a character, too, in a sense.. Each thought they had been the only real friend Norman had. They're wrong.

Always a prankster, Norman gets one last laugh at his old work friends. They each receive a seemingly personal notice that, if they're reading this, Norman is dead. He has a request. He requests they wear a colorful, bright item he's made just for them to the funeral. They are singled out at the funeral not only by their non-black garb but his assistant calling them together. Norman asks that his once closest friends scatter his ashes. Why are they so reluctant? Well, I'm not telling but that's one of the things that slowly emerges as the plot and their unexpected adventure progresses. Seems that wasn't the only request.

If you like character driven stories with a touch of family and even romance, you're going to love this one While not always likable, I'm betting you'll come away liking not just the trio but, as noted, the role of the side characters, too. The trio may not have been glad to be there but I was glad to be a fly on the wall with them, especially as I learned quite a bit about yarn and how it's produced. The intriguing, stormy landscape of the frequently isolated, seemingly almost treeless landscape of the Shetland Islands they travel through in some ways become a character. Heck, you even get to experience a rather nausea awakening ferry ride or two.

That's all I'm telling. Bottom line, this is a delightfully bumpy road to renewed friendships as they rediscover not only what drove them apart but what brought them together. I ultimately wound up liking them all and rooting for them, even the one I found particularly prickly initially. That's not to say that Norman's last trip was smooth. It had its bumpy, even "Oh, no!" moments, but I'm so glad #BoldwoodBooks allowed me this early peek at a book I wound up truly enjoying. Who know a request to scatter ashes could lead to so many changes and bring people together after years apart. Give it a read!