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.
