Book Review: The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club by Freya Kennedy

I’m very excited to be welcoming Freya Kennedy to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club.

Becca Burnside isn’t sure where it all went wrong. How did she end up single in her forties, with the highlight of her weekend being a trip to Big Asda with her mum and the only chance of cuddles coming from her dog?

It’s fair to say that Becca’s life isn’t quite where she’d hoped it would be. She already knew that, deep down, but when she finds the time capsule she and her friends made as teenagers and remembers the hopes and dreams sixteen-year-old Becki (with an i) had for the future, she knows she has to do something, and fast.

Refusing to be controlled by her hot flushes and Unexplained Waves of Sadness, Becca is determined to turn things around – for Becki’s sake. But what will it take to prove there’s life in the old girl yet?

*****

Now in her forties, Becca is wondering how the most exciting thing in her life has become a trip to ASDA. After finding a time capsule and a letter from her 16 year-old self, Becca is determined to improve her life, hot flushes and menopause be damned.

Having been a big fan of this author’s psychological thrillers (where she writes as Claire Allan,) and The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn, I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club,

First, I want to show some appreciation for the title. I love it. Haha.

I adored the premise of this book. This story had me feeling sad one moment and laughing out loud the next – there was a conversation between mother and daughter that was brilliant.

The plot unfolded well with plenty of surprises. I think we can all say that, at some point, we’ve sat back and assessed our lives and maybe found it wanting. It also had me wondering what my sixteen year-old self would have to say about current me. The mind boggles. Haha.

All the characters in this were great. Becca, Niamh and Laura each bring something different to the narrative. The themes include grief, aging and fractured friendships and all are handled well. The style of writing pulls you in until you can’t put it down.

This novel will have you feeling uplifted, crying, laughing and reflecting. Above all, it’s a wonderful story of self discovery, recovering lost friendships and realising that it’s never too late to have a little fun.

About Freya Kennedy –

Freya Kennedy is the alter ego for bestselling thriller author Claire Allan.

A former journalist from Derry, Northern Ireland Claire has published eleven novels. Now, as Freya, she is writing warm, funny women’s fiction for Boldwood.

Say hello to Freya via Facebook, X, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter.

The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club was released by Boldwood Books on 20th August 2024. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.