My conclusions after reading the book
It is rape or non consensual sex when a man has sex with a woman of any age who is in an inebriated state and does not know where she is. It is not the woman’s fault. Anyone, including herself or her friend, tries to justify it, it will still be rape. I wish women would support each other in such a situation instead of laughing it off and calling it humor or bad date in books and reviews!!
Body shaming is bad even if one does it to themselves. Lose weight because you want to not because you have to in order to get a guy.
2 friends Tess and Orla in their 60s having a dress making shop for plus sized women, soon get into losing weight and finding a man for themselves using an online dating portal.
The book started off sweet. But there was an underscore of women not accepting their bodies, which happens in real life. Not all of us are very comfortable in our own skin. I never used to be before. But is it true that we would get a man only if we slim down? The book constantly stated that, maybe not blatantly, but in between its lines with its scenes.
The story had its cute scenes, but nothing which spoke of strength. I have liked author Dee MacDonald’s previous 2 books where the main character was strong and her own person. In this, Tess was desperate to get a guy. She slept with two of the men from the online dating site on their first date. One was with a serial dater when she was totally drunk and didn’t know where she was. Though the main character didn’t say it, but I would call it non consensual a.k.a RAPE Main character justified the act, I was speechless.
The cruise Orla and she go on was fun. She met a gorgeous doctor Sanjeev, and they started dating when they came back home. But Tess cleaned her home before the first date hoping Sanjeev would stay over even before knowing him.
All these made me dislike her increasingly as the pages turned. She reeked of desperation more than strength, and I hope my friends Nina and Nicole kick my arse if I ever do stuff like that instead of showing strength and dignity.
I skim read the rest of the book as this was not how I wanted the book to be. It didn’t fill me with hope and pleasure. It left me with only one thought
I don’t want to become like Tess when I get to be her age!!
I can say more about this book, a lot more, but I won’t. This whole book left me with an icky feeling.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher NetGalley, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Tess and Orla have been best friends throughout most of their adult lives. So when life gave them lemons and their loved ones let them down, they pooled their resources and bought a dressmakers shop on the corner of Penny Lane. And they’ve been doing just fine ever since.
But one day, while studying her tired eyes and shapeless figure in the mirror, sixty-two-year-old Tess realised that she doesn’t want her life to be just fine anymore. She wants it to be extraordinary. For as long as she can remember she’s put everyone else first. Now she wants to rediscover herself – and experience the kind of whirlwind adventure that will have the power make her smile when she’s confined to the armchair of a retirement home.
With the encouragement of fun-loving and quirky Orla, Tess joins an over-the-hill dating agency and the two friends book a singles cruise around the Mediterranean. And that’s when their adventure of a lifetime really begins…
Publication Date: 24th April 2019
Publisher: Bookouture
32 Responses
That’s so unfortunate especially as the premise made it seem so sweet and cute. But I totally agree with you… if a woman is unaware Of what’s happening and incapacitated in any way, it’s not consensual. We’ll definitely let you know if you ever need some arse kicking! 😘
Yp my aim in life – sex at sixty.. But not on first date 🙈🤭😂😂🤷♀️
Hahahahaha. Fair enough. Maybe second…. 😂
Hahaha maybe Bob till I know the guy *eyebrows waggling*
Hahahahahahaha. There’s always BOB
Hahaha or the rabbit 🐰
😂You are so cool!😂 Great review, Shalini! Best wishes, Michael
Haha 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 omg omg did you read that? 🙈🙈
😂😂😂 I read all you write, my dear! Lol
Hahahaha 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Some are scandalous 🤣🤣
Oh no! They are wonderful! 😂
Love it! 🙂
great review,Shalini! I totally agree with your thoughts.
It was quite shocking. Thank you ❤️
Yikes – hard pass for me. I’m a curvy vixen myself 😉
Haha I loved the description sexy cat lady 😍😘
My friends Celeste and Ludie and I have a pact to tell each other if we start acting like Tess. Good review. Thanks.
Thank you so much… I have a pact too.. I never want to behave like Tess
Oh dear… bad vibes off this book! I’m sorry it wasn’t a good read for you.
Oh yes, I felt so bad after reading it.
Yes. A rape is a rape no matter how turn it.
And so not true that men only want slim women. A friend of my husband can’t understand why he like a fit woman (I use to be one. Now I’m a bit chubby. He still adore me so much in case someone want to know 😁). Anyway, this friend won’t throw a glance at a slim woman because he likes them- sorry for the term- fat. Yes, that what he find beautiful. If you’re not targeting a man who like a slim woman then it’s better to look for a person who like you as you are. Seriously.
I understand the icky feeling.
If I was you I’d probably stopped reading completely.
Thanks for sharing this. Love reading your reviews ❤
I am fat and it took me quite some time to accept that. But at the age of 62, if a woman has not understood that she should be liked for herself, then it is very sad. Losing weight for health reasons or to feel good about oneself is fine. Well I was sad for a couple of days after reading this book.
Tsk. That’s the power of books for you. I read the Harry Potter series but couldn’t move past Hedwig’s death. I mourned him for weeks and until now I haven’t pick up the last book because I still can’t accept that he’s gone.
But yeah. We should want to lose weight for ourself not because someone else want to see it.
Makes me sad😞
Me tooo… It felt quite weird for a couple of days
Oh, dear. I don’t think I can relate to Tess either… again, your rage is palpable from your words lol
I think at some point, books should empower women instead of what was shown here. It was very shocking
I don’t know why but the characters don’t really sound like they are in their 60s. That thing about rape being justified away is so wrong on so many levels. Great review, Shalini. I think I will pass on this one.
They were so mean and snipy to each other as best friends and that rape episode was ughhh. Thank you Diane ❤️
I feel like a lot of books do this! They make humour out of a situation, that if you really look at it, it’s not very funny! I could NEVER picture you acting in this manner! You’re way too strong to change yourself for a man. Any man would be LUCKY to have someone as fabulous as you, just the way you are!! 💖💖 (…. Although, they can’t have you, because I’ve already claimed you.. 😂)
Hahaha I am always yours 😘😘❤️❤️😍😍
💖💖💖💖