More of all the fabulous characters plus some delightful new ones, this book is funny and moving in equal measure. I really enjoyed this book and I felt like I can really connect with Nell as she tries to navigate life in her forties. A life affirming, insightful, savvy and meaningful contemporary fiction piece, I am very happy to send my full recommendation to Confessions of a Forty Something by Alexandra Potter.

When Nell celebrates her 40th birthday it makes her realise this is not the life she had planned, friends around her are settled down with children and have new friends that enjoy play dates together. There is nothing out there that’s I’ve found so far in literature for women like us and when I saw this book, I thought ‘about time! I honestly adore their friendship, despite the age differences they still have respect towards each other and teaching each other so many good things. When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell's happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over.

I wanted to hang out with her and be whatever she needed - drinking buddy, sounding board, friend date. However, this is quite a long book and there were plenty of parts within the story were a little predictable. As much as I wanted it all, I didn’t get to tick all the boxes of perfect marriage, gorgeous kids, and successful career that I lusted over as at Twenty-Something dreamer.

I really enjoyed this format and I think it worked well to situate the reader in the unfolding story. I found the relationship very sweet, and I liked how the author handled the depiction of Cricket’s grief after the death of her husband, which made me really like her character. Nell begins a new job and she becomes acquainted with the enigmatic Cricket, an eighty year old with an infectious zest for life.

In her forties and feeling like a failure and so far removed from all these bullocky and unrealistic bloody hashtags, she is childless and feeling more than less than. I liked the introduction and the way in which the author has read the book, and I want to read more to see how her life progresses. As a childless, single woman, there are days when I’m fine and there are days when I feel like I can’t face the world and an ad on telly makes me cry. With grateful thanks to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Alexandra Potter for my advance ebook in exchange for an honest review.