This was a witty but actually very thoughtful look at women’s place in society and the expectations placed on them and also bullying which is something that cuts deep with protagonist Nell. This does also look at how rage can affect middle aged women and how to deal with it which produces some humorous moments and a lighthearted read overall but the topics are very real and Nell is a fabulous main character. It was interesting to see how work colleagues knew so little about each other and see how honest and supportive they could be in the safe environment of the rage room. I found this easy to read but have to admit the depth of this was unexpected but very welcome as the characters each dealt with their own issues and looked the overall fun and warmth of the book.

Well, what can I say. I didn’t know what to expect with this book but I really enjoyed it! Made me laugh and cry and understand my current time of life! A well written and rounded book!

Fabulous and furious is totally relatable read for a middle aged woman who is menopausal just like myself!
Nell has championed the menopausal woman doing what most of us think of doing but don’t carry out! Her outspoken rants are what we might all think but aren’t brave enough to voice it was hilarious enlightening and realistic and really demonstrated the hormonal shift that we experience.
Loved the idea of the Rage room and the idea of a safe space to vent and how it led into the tent a rant safe space for women supporting women fuelled by biscuits, camaraderie and genuine support as only women can do showcasing the genuine fragility, strength and power of women supporting women no matter what is thrown at them!
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Nell is a 55 year old granny who has rage issues. She decides to form a 'rant room' for her and her female colleagues from work and together they find out much more than they had planned about one another as they vent their frustrations. This is a fabulous story of friendship and the issues that women face, whatever their age.

I really enjoyed the book and characters. I will read anything Harper Ford writes as she perfectly captures how women feel! And I loved the side of spice too!

This was a great book, especially for anyone going through perimenopause. I loved the central concept of women embracing their rage, finding their voices, and standing up for themselves and each other.

The portrayal of bullying was particularly well done, showing not only the immediate impact but also the lasting effects it can have years later. I really liked the main characters and enjoyed watching them grow and develop throughout the story.

Although it tackles some serious themes, the book also manages to be genuinely funny, making it an empowering and engaging read. I would definitely recommend it.

Well this was a fabulous and furious book from start to finish. Totally relatable at times, plenty of funny and entertaining moments with Nell. I could understand her at times and how she tried to navigate it through with some help.

Harper Ford is a must read author for me & I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. #AD Thank you, Harper, Avon & Netgalley.

This book took me down memory lane with the characters reminiscing & I had a lot of 'oh my goodness, yes!' moments 🤣 especially if you were born in the 70's, or before. I could relate to so much. I always say the 80s was the best era & for reasons that now put me in the
'endangered species club' 🤣 if you're a lady of a certain age you'll totally get it, it will make you smile, laugh & nod all the way through!

A real menopausal rant which most women can certainly relate to, even myself well past that stage in my life. A good rant is still very cathartic. Nell put up with some serious bullying in her childhood and during her subsequent life never having addressed it but things change when she comes across a face from the past. Together with her work colleagues at the local vets with an overbearing and bullying boss, Adrian, the women form a rant group to get their grievances and annoyances out in the open. Plenty of humour throughout but also the serious issues that women face especially when they reach the invisibility of later life. Shall certainly by buying it for my peri menopausal daughters once published!

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Harper Ford has a knack of putting a group of people from different ages and walks of life together with some serious issues dealt with in a sympathetic but hilarious way.

Nell is a middle aged woman who is not impressed with the world at the moment, especially the men. She seems to be struggling suppressing her rage at her new boss, her ex-husband and even a kids entertainer at a children’s birthday party. She has a bright idea of creating a ‘Rent-a-Rant’ room where all of these rages can be spoken out loud amongst her colleagues without any men whatsoever in earshot.

I have to admit as a male reader I did feel like I was intruding into Nell’s world and hearing things not meant for my ears with a story very heavy on misogyny and how women are never heard, although maybe that’s exactly who should be reading it to understand how women think. Either way, I just love this author’s books because the characters are just so good, witty and laugh out loud funny with some very sharp contemporary observations whilst also incorporating nostalgia.

You’ll guess from the books blurb that it is quite ‘sweary’ but that just adds to the realism of the characters making it much more realistic to todays society.

Another wonderful book from Harper Ford and highly recommended.

Harper Ford is certainly the mistress of humorous writing, and this is yet another of her novels that will have you laughing, literally, out loud. It's a fast-moving, totally relatable read, and personally, I love the sweariness of it. Recommended for an excellent summer read. More please, Ms. Ford!

Not quite menopausal but could commiserate with Nell. This is a lighthearted read about a time in women's lives that is often glossed over. The power of women embracing their change with humor and realism was refreshing. A great book club pick!

Thank you to Harper Ford, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy.

Fabulous and Furious really surprised me. It’s not the sort of book I’d usually pick up, but I ended up enjoying it far more than I expected.

It’s packed with female rage, laugh-out-loud moments and plenty of chaos. There were quite a few moments that really resonated with me, where I found myself thinking, “Yep… I get that.” Harper Ford captures those everyday frustrations in such a funny, relatable way.

The story is fast-paced, entertaining and easy to get into. I kept wanting to pick it back up, and it was a refreshing change from the dark thrillers I normally gravitate towards.

If you’re looking for a witty, relatable read with plenty of humour, heart and unapologetic female energy, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go. It may not have been my usual genre, but I’m really glad I stepped outside my comfort zone.

Sheer unadulterated delight!
Imagine a place where you can rant to your heart' s content with your female friends and colleagues.
This is what 55 year old Nell creates - a room called Rent A Rant, where she and her colleagues can let off steam about their sexist male boss and all the things that make women furious. It becomes more than a rant room, with the women becoming each other's confidants, as well as agreeing to take action against a group of men who seem hell bent on destroying their meet ups.
Laugh out loud funny, while also sublimely satirical, uplifting and witty, this is a great book to raise our spirits.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

Nell Appleton, 55, a divorced vet receptionist, lives in idyllic Charmouth on the Dorset coast. She loves her job and her colleagues (just not her boss) and is a proud grandma to nine year old Freddie, who she babysits when daughter Sasha and son-in-law Jesse are busy. She should be happy, but recently she has had some uncontrollable anger management issues culminating in shouting at a children's entertainer, so Sasha gifts her three sessions in a newly opened Rage Room, where you can break things in a controlled environment.

However, she's more interested in charming Glen Tilbrook who runs it. She remembers him from her terrible schooldays where she had a crush on him but after being bullied changed schools. She tells her colleagues about the rage room but they discover they prefer ranting about their problems to like-minded people so Nell rents a room from Glen and the ladies meet once a week to channel their rage into Rent-A-Rant sessions. However, is ranting and watching certain TV shows enough when faced with so much misogyny and unfairness?

Each of the women brings something else to the table, whether it's shy young Ruby, Romany bride Leah, elderly Maureen grappling with her newly retired husband, and gay spouses Idil and Krysia who have a custody battle on their hands with an unreasonable ex. I have read books by Harper Ford before and her heroines are always women in their 50s but this book about female rage felt extremely relatable, like it was written for me. I'm the same invisible age and it made me cry from all the unfairness women are experiencing.

This is a very emotional book that tackles a lot of serious issues, from bullying to incels and medical misogyny. If you're not furious already, you will be after reading this fabulous book! I realised early on what kind of guy Glen with one N was. However, it's also quite funny, and I loved the transformation from frustration to finding a support system, a network of female friends and ultimately empowerment. The very sweary rants are absolutely glorious and the ending is so satisfying! Highly recommended for women of a certain age.

What happens when you reach a certain age and can no longer accept the status quo? The rage appears and suddenly you are telling it like it is.
The retirement of the local vet upsets working life with a new arrogant vet takes over the practice. Upsetting the equilibrium of the female employees.
Setting up a rant room, allows the workmates become closer friends and get issues voiced.
Taking action in their lives with various results.
For anyone of a certain age who feels that they are unheard or overlooked.
I really enjoyed the book and would love it if there's a follow up.

It's middle age rage!
What's worse than an angry middle age woman?
A whole club of them.
A feel good hilarious read.
Nell Appleton fifty five years old menopausal is that woman, and is now facing all the bullies.
So now we turn that fury into fabulous.
This book is great and I mean great.
It makes reading so much fun.
From the first page I just blocked out the world outside and kept the enjoyment inside.
You are laughing and crying as you turn every page.
Perfect just perfect in every way.

Fabulous and Furious is not only a story of midlife rage, but a celebration of strength, courage and hope for the future. It is such a relatable book which not only focuses on rage but also how we deal with rage and how we can (try!) and rise above it! It is about friendship and love and empowerment. As Harper Ford says "rage causes action and action causes change." It is such a clever, funny and emotional book, and I loved it.

The main character is Nell. She is 55 and having an incredibly tough time in her life. She is absolutely raging with fury! She is in the midst of the menopause and finding every part of it a challenge. You get to see her vulnerabilities and her frustrations (which many of us share) but also what she wants out of her life and her hopes for the future.

This is such a fantastic book dealing with true life. You will discover so many moments that feel relatable. And yes women and men do get angry about the little everyday things, like someone stopping in a supermarket aisle for a chat and blocking everyone else. However, sometimes a small incident happens at a time when everything else is going on that this is what finally tips the balance, pushing you straight over the edge into a bubbling vat of fury.

A fabulous book written with realism, humour and fun but also serious sides are covered too. You will be nodding along with the everyday frustrations of life and also with the community that a group of women bring. Friendship and having someone to talk to makes such a difference to your life. Once you share or release those frustrations, you can carry on with life feeling so much lighter.

Adrian was just totally awful. No other words are needed otherwise I will end up in a rage of rant! And then I will need to go in a rage room! Loved the Rent‑A‑Rant idea! I think every Escape Room business should have one or two Rent‑A‑Rant rooms! Letting rage out is always better than holding it in, and once it’s free, everything can change.

Two men had their sights set on Nell. If only she had chosen the second one first; everything she endured could have been avoided. However Nell came out bolder and stronger than ever. I was cheering Nell on and rooting for her all the way. At the end Nell was one wonderful empowered women - she just needed to be guided towards the right path. Nell shows that it is never too late to change your life, to stand up for yourself, and to find happiness and love again. The character development is superb and I loved how we saw Nell and other characters grow. The Nell we meet at the end is a Nell transformed. She has become stronger and so much more confident.

Harper Ford has such a huge gift for writing midlife stories filled with honesty, humour, heart and hope. A great deal of research has gone into this book and it was really interesting getting an insight into the veterinary world and the unique traditions of Romany wedding culture. I have never read about Romany weddings in a fiction novel before so this was fascinating and such a wonderful special inclusion.

Thank you Harper Ford for such a powerful, emotional and uplifting read which I will remember for a long time! 5 fabulous good‑rage stars! Absolutely brilliant!

Thank you very much Avon Books UK for my advanced copy. This review is based on a #NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Nell is in her fifties and she’s angry. Sick of being ignored and invisible, her bouts of rage are starting to cause concern. She’s an interesting and feisty protagonist, and she and the colleagues who join her to support her new “Rent a Rant” group are all beautifully crafted.
I found this a very enjoyable and at times thought-provoking read about the difficulties women and indeed everyone who’s the target of bullies, can face. It’s eye-opening and even educational at times. It’s also nostalgic, as Nell remembers her childhood and youth in the 1970s and 80s. Any reader in their 50s or upwards will find much to relate to.
4.5 stars.

What a brilliant read! Funny, relatable, and packed with enough menopausal rage to make me cheer.

Nell is 55, fed up, and one minor incident at a children’s party away from completely losing her cool. After a spectacular outburst aimed at the entertainer, she finally decides to use the Rage Room vouchers her daughter gave her. Smashing plates and venting her frustrations turns out to be surprisingly therapeutic, and before long, Nell and her work friends have created their own “Rent-a-Rant” group, where they can let off steam and support each other through life’s many annoyances.

While the story is full of laugh-out-loud moments, it also explores deeper issues. Nell is forced to confront painful memories of childhood bullying, and long-buried secrets threaten both a new friendship and the possibility of romance.

I absolutely loved Nell. She felt so real. Flawed, funny, and completely relatable. The friendships between the women were one of the highlights for me; their banter, loyalty, and support made the story shine. Each character had a distinct voice and added something special to the group dynamic.

I’ve enjoyed several of Harper Ford’s books, but this is definitely my favourite so far. It’s warm, witty, uplifting, and wonderfully honest about getting older, finding your voice, and refusing to put up with nonsense any longer.

A fantastic read that had me laughing, nodding in agreement, and rooting for Nell from beginning to end.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love Harper fords boo is do much and this book was no exception I tore through the pages I could totally relate to the main very funny but very poignant in places would highly recommend this book to all my friends

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

Divorced Nell Appleton is a fifty-five year old grandmother … and full of rage. Going through the joys of menopause, she’s angry and can’t control it at all.

When her daughter buys her a voucher for a Rage Room, there is an attraction between her and Glen who owns it. Nell ends up setting up a room there called ‘Rent A Rant’. It starts off for her and her work colleagues and they all find ranting helps to offload some of their rage.

I have to start by saying that I don’t think I have ever related to a book like I have this one. The rage that comes out of nowhere during menopause had worried me, I thought I was alone, so reading this book actually helped me a lot.

I spent a lot of time laughing at Nell and her work colleagues antics, but there is also a serious side to the story. Women have to go through a lot, our bodies don’t feel like our own with how they react during menopause. It can be a difficult time and experience to go through.

I liked Nell a lot, her character was entertaining but there was a serious side to Nell. The bullying she went through as a child affected her still and was something she struggled to come to terms with.

I could see a lot of myself in Nell, our experiences in life were similar, so I could completely relate to her.

The different things that made Nell and her friends rage are so true that I couldn’t help but laugh, they were all relatable.

Finally, I want to say a big thank you to the author for writing this book. For making me realise that I am not alone, and even though menopause isn’t a nice thing for some to go through, thank you for making this story so entertaining as well.

This book was SO much fun! 😂💖 I went into Fabulous and Furious expecting a funny, feel-good read, but what I got was a brilliantly relatable story about anger, friendship, finding your voice and discovering that sometimes it’s absolutely okay to be furious! 👏🔥

Meet 55-year-old Nell, who has officially had enough. Her sexist boss, infuriating clients and the general public are all pushing her patience to its absolute limit. And honestly… I could completely understand why she was ready to scream! 😂

After one particularly spectacular meltdown at a children’s party, Nell is sent to a rage room, where she gets to smash things with a baseball bat — and meets the annoyingly handsome Glen. 🏏💥❤️

But Nell soon realises that smashing plates only goes so far, and from there comes the brilliant idea for Rent-A-Rant — a space where women can come together, rant freely, eat biscuits and, most importantly, actually be heard. 🍪💬🙌

I absolutely loved the concept behind this book. It’s funny and entertaining, but underneath all the humour there’s a really important message about women, ageing, menopause, workplace sexism, being dismissed and the pressure women can feel to simply put up with things.

Nell is such a fantastic character. She’s flawed, outspoken, frustrated and completely human, and I loved watching her turn all that anger into something positive. The friendships between the women were another highlight for me — there’s something so satisfying about seeing women come together, support each other and realise that they don't have to face everything alone. 🥰

And of course, there’s Glen! 😍 The romance adds another lovely layer to the story without taking away from the bigger themes.

This was such an uplifting, funny and empowering read. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh, plenty that made me nod along in agreement, and quite a few that made me think, YES! EXACTLY! 😂🙌

If you enjoy women’s fiction with humour, friendship, romance and plenty of attitude, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

Fabulous and Furious is essentially a reminder that getting older doesn't mean becoming invisible or staying quiet — sometimes you just need to pick up the metaphorical baseball bat and start smashing things up! 💥💖

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh, my, when a book resonates, it REALLY resonates, and this was one of them!
A brilliant read for those perimenopausal, menopausal, and possibly post-menopausal women out there!
Nell is a woman of a certain age, in her fifties, divorced, and grandmother to young Freddie. Somehow she has the inability to control her rage, and blows at the slightest inclination, so her daughter subtly buys her a package at the local Rage Room - a place where a person can smash the whole room to smithereens, while letting some of that anger out.
She has pent-up PTSD from an incident when she was much younger, anger at how her husband treated her, frustration with her new boss, Adrian, and even though she tries to control it, sometimes it's like a match brought too close, and she blows. Often in an inappropriate situation, but also when she has had enough and simply cannot keep her frustrations in.
Whether it is rage or a chance to vent, Nell discovers the satisfaction in ranting, too, and brings on board a few different females to share her newfound therapy!
The book deals with so much, from misogyny to how invisible women of this age feel, and I could totally relate.
Now, where's my nearest Rage/Rant room?
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.