When Norman George died, he left behind an enormous legacy. A passionate knitter, brought about by his years in a wheelchair, he had a huge following of fans on YouTube who kept up with his posts religiously. At his funeral, letters to his three best friends, Derek, Bridget and Gloria, asked them to make a journey for him, one he'd have loved to do himself. Norman wanted his three friends to scatter his ashes at the northern most point of Scotland - the Shetland Islands. Completely bemused by the request, and wondering how they would stand each others' company for the few days it would require, the three set off, leaving Bridget's husband Graham at home.

With the violent rocking of the ferry across to Lerwick, the rain and storms that hit, the freezing conditions - they wondered what they were doing. But stubbornly, they continued, taking selfies with Norman in his urn, keeping them company along the way. There was much to do, much to discover, and some friendships to find. Would they manage to fulfil Norman's final wishes?

The Last Laugh Club is my second read by author Kate Galley and it was lots of fun. The three adventurers, all in their seventies, were a courageous bunch. Gloria had an acerbic tongue, Bridget didn't think before she spoke, and Derek tried to keep the peace. Then there was Norman in his urn!! Such an entertaining read, one which I have no hesitation in recommending.

With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

This was a cute and adventurous read with very sweet friends. It was quick and lighthearted, and had me laughing the whole way through!

Following the death of a good friend, 3 former colleagues must reunite to carry out the deceased, norman, last wishes to where he wants his ashes to be scattered.
All three feel that they were responsible for the accident that changed Norman's life.
Travelling to the outer Hebrides and visiting the sites as wished for by Norman.
Unearthing unknown family ties as well as Norman's fame as a knitter.
It's never to late to make amends and go forward.

Bridget, Gloria and Derek are ex employees and friends of Norman who has just died.

Norman has asked for his ashes to be scattered in the Shetland Islands with the help of Bridget, Gloria and Derek, which as they are not friends, is a big ask. They decide to forget about the past, long enough to grant Norman's last wish.

Will this adventure brings them all together one last time, or will they give up?

Another wonderful, witty and fun read by Kate Galley.

Kate Galley’s “The Last Laugh Club” is a heartwarming and poignant tale that weaves together themes of friendship, forgiveness, and unexpected adventures. As my second foray into Galley’s work, this novel solidified my commitment to read everything she writes. Her ability to craft authentic, relatable characters and stories that resonate with women “of a certain age” is remarkable, delivering a narrative that feels both grounded and uplifting without ever patronizing the reader.

The story follows Bridget, a reluctant adventurer, who finds herself honoring her late friend Norman’s final wish: to scatter his ashes in the Shetland Islands. Clad in the vibrant, woolly jumper Norman knitted for her, Bridget is joined by two former colleagues, glamorous Gloria and reserved Derek, each sporting their own knitted gifts. The trio, estranged for years, are thrown together in a battered minivan, armed with too much yarn and not enough patience, embarking on a journey that’s as much about reconciling their past as it is about fulfilling Norman’s request.

Galley excels at creating complex, flawed, and deeply human characters. Bridget’s cautious pragmatism clashes deliciously with Gloria’s bold flair and Derek’s easygoing nature, creating a dynamic that crackles with tension and history. Norman, though absent, looms large as the mischievous mastermind who uses his final act to mend old wounds among his friends. The slow unraveling of their shared past reveals the power of miscommunication and the importance of seizing life’s fleeting moments—a message that hits home without feeling heavy-handed.

The Shetland Islands setting is a character in itself, vividly brought to life through Galley’s evocative descriptions. As a fan of the “Shetland” TV series, I found it effortless to visualize the windswept landscapes, stormy ferry rides, and cozy knitwear moments, which added a delightful layer of immersion. The backdrop amplifies the story’s emotional weight, with storm clouds mirroring the trio’s initial discord and the island’s rugged beauty reflecting their eventual growth.

This is a beautifully crafted story that celebrates the messy, enduring power of connection, coupled with the ups and downs of aging. Galley’s storytelling is both tender and unflinching, capturing life’s realities with grace. I eagerly await Galley’s next work and wholeheartedly recommend this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kate Galley, and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Norman, who’s been in a wheelchair since an accident at work has one last request at his funeral. He asks three former colleagues to scatter his ashes at the northernmost point of the Shetland Islands. Although the three know each other they aren’t close and none of them like the idea of a joint road trip but they all fell that they owe it to Norman to honor his wishes. As the three are forced into close quarters and things don’t go exactly as planned they each begin to question what they want out of life. Was Norman having a last laugh at their expense or did he have ulterior motives?

It took me a while to get into this book. At first I didn’t really care that much for the characters, but as the book went on they grew on me and I’m glad I didn’t give up on it.

Norman's knits sound fun and he does seem an interesting character who holds his friends dear to his heart.

Bridget, Gloria and Derek are all very different and there seems to be a lot of tension between them. Derek seems pretty laid back and happy to go with the flow whereas the ladies are a little more direct. The dynamics between the three is quite interesting and there's history there that Norman clearly knew about and saw a way to resolve. It's just a shame it took them all so long to reach a place of friendship. I think it shows the importance of communicating properly and that life is really short so we should make the effort to enjoy it.

I did like the sound of their adventure despite the reason why it's needed. Seemed a noble cause and an opportunity to do something to bring them together.

My second book by Kate Galley and another enjoyable read.

Norman literally has the last laugh after sending his 3 old friends Bridget, Derek and Gloria on a journey to scatter his ashes where they need to learn to. get along and work together.

The characters were all likeable and I enjoyed seeing their flaws along with their strengths, and how they interacted together.

The story was sad in parts but also uplifting and showed the power of friendship and also love. An enjoyable read which i would recommend. .

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

✨3.5 stars✨

When Norman passes away, he tasks his three friends with scattering his ashes in the Shetland Islands. However, this is not as straightforward as it may first appear, as Gloria, Derek and Bridget despise of each other. Therefore, we follow their hijinks as they travel up to the Shetland Islands.

I enjoyed seeing the character development of each of the characters and honestly the tone was set from the first few pages when we get Norman’s letter describing his final wish of having his ashes scattered.

I would recommend this for a quick and easy read this summer time.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book has a very original plot with lots of unexpected twists and turns. It was great to see the character development in all the main protagonists. We also got a lot of information about Shetland. Also, by the end of the book you'd like to start knitting. Or at least learn how to knit. I spent some very enjoyable hours with the story.

At the request of Norman who seems to be quite a lively character even though he has passed away. Bridget, Gloria and Derek are tasked with scattering their close friend Norman's ashes. The thing is even though the trio loved Norman they detest each other for a reason that takes awhile to be revealed on why they are so divided. I was eager to find out what had happened. Whilst having a bawl travelling with the trio I also felt that deep down the relationship between them was just waiting to be reignited. It's a lively story that has friendship, love, death and proves that you can never be too old.

“The Last Laugh Club” is by Kate Galley. This book follows three former co-workers - Gloria, Derek, and Bridget - as they honor the last wishes of their former co-worker/friend Norman. Norman had a request that his ashes be scattered in the Shetland Isles, a place he never visited but felt called to. The three decide to team up to do Norman’s last wishes - and this book follows their adventures. This was a sweet story, with some interesting factoids about the Shetland Isles and knitting thrown in for interest. If you like Ms. Galley’s previous books, you may find this one a great addition to your library. I found the journey in the Isles interesting, even with the personality clashes. This wasn’t my favorite book by Ms. Galley, but it deals with friendship, honoring requests of friends, and a nice clash of personalities that, in the end, worked together well. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

3.5* An intriguing pot.

Nicely written with believable characters.

Norman George left a request that after his death his three best friends should travel to Shetland and scatter his ashes at the northernmost tip of the islands. During Norman's lifetime he always wanted to visit the islands, only after death would he achieve his wish. His oldest friends, Bridget, Derek and Gloria, now in their seventies and barely tolerating each other, agree and set off in early December. A stormy ferry crossing to Shetland, followed by howling winds and driving rain on the islands rekindles their long lost friendship.

Taking prime of place in the book was the wild Shetland Islands with its welcoming inhabitants.

Norman has recently passed away and has sent letters to three of his closest friends taking them on rather an adventure as he wants his ashes scattered in Shetland. Bridget appears to be getting forgetful and will be without her husband for the trip. Gloria was the boss at the factory where Bridget and Derek worked, somewhere Norman had an accident which changed his life as well as things between the group. Can they survive the trip and bury old hatchets?


I really enjoyed this from the off. It's a wonderful lighthearted read with great characters. A reminder of living life to the full whatever your age and making the most of opportunities. Of love and laughter, of tears and smiles and how friends can change the world sometimes in the simplest of gestures. A memorable book I more than loved.

What a superb fun read which had me hooked and laughing all the way through.
An uplifting read about friendship and relationships.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Norman George, knitter extraordinaire and jokester, put in his will that the three former co-workers had to wear the last sweater he had made them (egad!) to his funeral, and to scatter his ashes on the Shetlands. And find his family. And get along. And forgive themselves. The three had not spoken with each other since the work accident that put Norman into a wheelchair. In spite of all that, they do as he asked and more. Fun book perfect for an afternoon.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
#TheLastLaughClub by @kategalley1 @theboldbookclub #NetGalley Pub Date Jul 29, 2025
***** review #Goodreads #Bookbub #storygraph #librarything
#knitting #situationalhumor #YouTubepagefollowers #septuagenarians #thejokesonthem #quirkycharacters #bucketlist

Three friends charged with scattering an old friend's ashes? What a plot! Each of the three was a good friend of Norman, but each of the three loathes the others! Set in the wilds of the Shetlands this is a great book, fun to read but empathetic and kind also. The descriptions of the near misses, the struggles with weather, accommodation and generally getting on with each other are very well written. Thanks for the chance to read and review this book, which I very much enjoyed.

I received a free copy of, The Last Laugh Club, by Kate Galley, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Derek, Gloria, and Bridget have to spread their dear friend Normans ashes. Though they loved Norman, they detest each other. This was a nice read about friendship, what we do for those we love and lost.

*The Last Laugh Club* by Kate Galley is a heartwarming, quirky delight. With humor, heart, and a touch of mischief, this unlikely road trip through grief and grudges turns into a charming celebration of friendship. Bridget, Gloria, and Derek might not get along at first, but their journey to honor Norman is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, touching reflections, and a reminder that it’s never too late to heal old wounds. A feel-good read with real emotional depth.

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?