It’s never too late to celebrate life

Synopsis

‘We’re celebrating life,’ Rose said. ‘Life, every single minute of it. Tell me, girls – is there ever anything better to celebrate than that?’

Five years after seventy-something Tess jetted off to Paris with her best friends, Jen, Rose, Della and Pam – the Five French Hens – for Jen’s hen do, a lot has changed. Prospective groom Eddie has been given the heave-ho, Tess’s husband has been sent packing and the Hens are making the most of their golden years.

But Tess is stuck in a rut. Rather than embrace her independence, she watches on as Rose wows Paris, Jen explores Iceland and Pam heads to Greece. But when tragedy strikes Della, Tess is shaken into action. They both need a change of scenery and longing to see the Northern Lights, they head to the Highlands of Scotland and the magical Isle of Skye.

There Tess and Della get more than they bargained for. Along with stunning scenery and breathtaking history, they find new friends, grand adventures and even romance. And when they’re joined by the other Hens, together they start plotting a fabulous new future for them all.

Travel with Judy Leigh to the magical Highlands in this uplifting, joyous and funny tale of friendships and new beginnings. This is the perfect feel-good story for all fans of Maddie Please, Dawn French and Caroline James.

My review

Five years ago, Tess, Jen, Della, Rose and Pam went off to Paris for Jen’s hen do. Meanwhile a lot has happened, a wedding that didn’t happen, a marriage that ended and a new life that started in Paris. Yet no matter what happened, the Five French Hens have always been there for each other, and their over – seventy – age never stopped them. But both Tess and Della have to face the biggest struggle of them all, as Tess finds herself stuck in a rut on her own, and seeing her other friends thriving on, as their age truly is just a number and not holding them back. Meanwhile Della has to face a great tragedy. Together, Tess and Della decide to have a change of scenery. Their attention is drawn to the Isle of Skye, where a stunning scenery will be waiting for them, and why not, even the Northern Lights. What Tess and Della don’t know, is that their getaway will also be one filled with new friendships, adventures and perhaps even brand new plans for the future.

What I absolutely like about Judy Leigh’s books, is that despite the big age gap between myself and the main characters, I find myself each time invested in their stories and how age always seems just to be a number.

And the Five French Hens for sure seem to have more life and fire in them than many people of my own age! 😊 Not only that, but also the strength of their friendship is something I could be envious of, especially as their lives are very different from each other. Yet that doesn’t hold them back for being there for each other.

While the story starts on a very positive and cheerful tone, the tone changes when Della has to endure a terrible heartbreak. A heartbreak that isn’t uncommon, yet that doesn’t mean that it won’t shake Della’s world at all. My heart broke together with hers, as yes it’s part of life, yet I could feel her heartbreak…

And then there is Tess… finally divorced from a despicable man. So life would look good, wouldn’t it. Nevertheless, Tess feels stuck in her life. While her friends are taking off, enjoying life, she is just at home. A home that isn’t even hers, but where she is staying temporarily…

So of course it makes perfect sense for these two lonely and heartbroken friends to take of on a journey together. If someone deserves a change of scenery, it’s for sure this pair. And having read several books taking place on the Isle of Skye, I knew it would be just perfect for them!

Well… perfect… I was not so sure about it seeing their arrival and their not – so – welcoming host. But I was sure that a lot would be explained and that somehow there would be some kind of redemption.

And I was not disappointed!

Because while it didn’t look good at the start, Tess and Della are both women who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty (so to speak). They see a situation, they see an opportunity to help out, and they don’t hesitate to do so. That doesn’t only show their genuine and kind character, but also that their age won’t be stopping them!

For a moment, I was afraid that their holiday would turn out to be a working one. But I was happy to read that both Tess and Della are still having many adventures, are discovering the beautiful Isle of Skye and are making friends and even more.

And the most beautiful thing in this book was, while they are helping out in the hotel, on more than just one level, it is helping them too. They slowly understand that there is still a lot of fire in them and that it’s never too late, for anything.

It warmed my heart also to see how the other Hens towards the end of the book join Tess and Della. And more joined forces mean more fire but also more fun, laughter and love.

I read this story with so much delight and warmth. It truly warmed my heart to see how these two wonderful women are ready to take on a new adventure, ready for a bright new future. Judy Leigh gave me exactly what I needed to read, a great story about friendship, care, kindness, understanding, fire and love. And a great story about you are only as old as you feel, and that you are just never too old, for anything!