Hilarious and heartwarming….In this delightful and impactful novel, Potter reminds us that life rarely goes according to plan. With its empathetic characters, well-crafted plot, and poignant message, this book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like they're stumbling through life.” — Booklist
"Alexandra Potter has written a bible for any woman, young or older, who strives to live an authentic life. I see my reflection in so much of Nell's irreverent journey to find herself, no better, recreate herself. I love her dearly. Alexandra has a gift for giving voice to flawed, brave and beautiful women. She reminds me that it's possible to be a F**K Up and fierce at the same time!” — Angela Elayne Gibbs, “Cricket” on ABC’s Not Dead Yet
"A funny, feisty story about the highs and the oh-so-lows of having to start over in your forties." — Mike Gayle, Bestselling author of All the Lonely People
"The new Bridget Jones of our times." — Telegraph (UK)
“Potter’s message is that ‘it’s never too late to start over, to keep growing and learning, discovering unexpected joys, having fun, falling in love and going on adventures.’” — Daily Mail
“Brilliant! Laughing out loud.” — Emma Gannon
“Funny but layered, light-hearted but surprisingly deep, this is a perfect and inspiring new year read.” — Red (UK)
“Will have you laughing whether you’re twenty, forty, or eighty.” — Heat (UK)
"Written with wit, wisdom, and a resonating recognition of the human condition, "Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up" will have a special appeal to fans of novels that celebrate of friendship and reinforce the belief that while life doesn't always go according to plan, it doesn't mean you can't find happiness." — midwestbookreview.com
2023-07-13
A woman returns to London to start over in her 40s.
Nell Stevens thought she would have everything figured out by the time she was 40-something. And by “everything” she meant an Instagrammable idyll: husband, children, beautiful home, and, somehow, the body of a bikini model. Instead, she has left the fiance she was living with in California and returned to England, heartbroken, broke, and very lonely. Nell spends a great deal of time in the first half of the book bemoaning her failure to have a social media–worthy life and assuming that everyone else she knows is enjoying total success because they are married and have kids. She is breezily depressed, chattily self-deprecating, and often funny, but the highly conversational tone keeps readers at arm’s length. Hiding under these woes is the spark of a woman who knows who she is—who enthusiastically lets her goddaughter bury her in the playground sandbox, who becomes great friends with an older widow, who wholeheartedly loves the dog that comes with her flatshare and isn’t afraid to have it out with his owner/her landlord, an eco-obsessive who prefers to keep the flat freezing and dark. Also hiding is the reason her past relationship fell apart, which takes a while to come to light. Once Nell starts to find her footing, the narrative energy picks up and big life events start occurring, giving the reader a slight sense of whiplash. Nell also starts the titular podcast, which goes viral and allows her friends and women everywhere to stop pretending their lives are perfect.
A pleasant-enough romp over well-trodden territory.
