I doubt there are many who could answer in the affirmative but that’s what makes it such a big adventure. There’s so much pressure now on social media to sort of have this perfect life and the book says that that's just not reality. Catching Up with NellOh I was so excited to see what was happening for Nell after reading Confessions years ago. Over the course of the novel, we met Nell navigating a post-lockdown world, dealing with her new stepfamily, and learning not to trust what you see on social media. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher / author for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review.

Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. I really enjoyed this book and I felt like I can really connect with Nell as she tries to navigate life in her forties.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. She explores this outdated idea of achieving life goals by a specific age, and turns it on its head, in part thanks to 80-something Cricket.

Thankfully it was easy enough to catch up and work most of it out, except now I want to read book one because what a TREAT! I’ve been a fan of Alexandra Potter’s for years now but have absolutely loved her last few novels, including the first Confessions book and One Good Thing. And when all else fails, will celebrity-scented candles, smashed avocados and Instagram filters save us? When everything goes tits up, do you fall apart or jump on a plane to LA with Cricket (an eighty-something widow and your BFF)?Getting married when you’re older is always more difficult because you both carry baggage: kids, ex’s, memories, expectations and disappointments as well as ‘stuff’ – far too much stuff for two people to fit into one house! FOGO – fear of going out, of dragging clothes from the wardrobe which haven’t seen the light of day since March 2020 and seem to have shrunk; seeing people we haven’t seen in over a year and having to overcome the awkward, ‘Do we elbow bump or hug?

On the other hand, there are many, many points that resonated with me and there are for sure many, many women out there with same thoughts and feeling. Yes, there were sad bits and that made me teary, but the pure hope running through the book is so moving too.It’s a reminder that we never really get there and it’s about the journey of life not the fantasy of finally getting to that ‘goal’ so as to be happy.