Friday, 28 May 2021

Publication Day Review: Old Enough To Know Better by Jane Wenham-Jones


When her daughter, Ellie, brings home a new boyfriend, Clare can’t put her finger on why she feels troubled by it. Is it because he’s attractive and closer to her in age? Or maybe she’s just jealous because all of her own husband’s passion seems to go into maintaining his wine cellar.

Ellie’s colleague, Anna, is feeling restless too. She’s much younger than her husband and is still in her prime, and definitely isn’t ready for crosswords and comfy slippers. When a new colleague starts to show a great deal of interest in her, it ignites a spark of attraction that feels impossible to ignore.

They say age isn’t everything – can the women focus on what really matters and live life, and love, to the full?



A story about Ellie, Clare and Anna taking stock of their lives and reviewing where they stand within their relationships with much older men.

All the women are realising they still have a life to live and enjoy, but their partners' ages highlight challenges it creates for them as a couple. The narrative is entertaining and certainly made me laugh a time or two as the highs and lows are navigated. However, one sad aspect really struck a chord… it resolved in a positive way but brought to our attention how actions can have heartbreaking consequences if not handled in a compassionate way.

This is a novel that makes you think beyond the pages in a; what would I do in this situation? It certainly gives pause for thought and leaves a lasting impression after finishing the last page.

I fit into the demographic of 'woman of a certain age' so I'm a target reader for this novel. Only, this wasn't a good fit for me. I wholeheartedly applaud any author writing fiction with middle-aged protagonists but I prefer to read stories that make me forget about age-induced scenarios, not remind me of them. I know I'm probably in the minority and this is purely my thoughts on the topic, therefore I feel confident most readers won't share my attitude or concerns.

Overall, Old Enough To Know Better is a well thought out and charming novel for those who like and appreciate a narrative that embraces their age.. warts and all.

***Review copy received courtesy of One More Chapter via NetGalley***



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