Jan 8th 2019, 10:23

"It's never too late to grow old disgracefully...."
If I could give a book more than five stars then "The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village" written by Joanna Nell would be it! I could have kept on reading about 79 year old Peggy Smart and her refusal to grow old gracefully forever and if I ever find myself in a retirement home, it's these characters from the story that I'd love to be living alongside. I loved every adorable minute, such rip-roaring fun with the right amount of emotional content to balance the story perfectly.
Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss of her devoted husband Ted. Her life, that she shares with her ageing dog Basil, is as beige as the decor in the retirement village. Her weekly aqua aerobics and appointments with the doctor are the highlights of her week. As her children start to fear she is at risk living alone, Peggy worries she is going to lose her independence. Being of a certain age she believes she has become invisible to men, even ones in their eighties. However, a chance encounter with an old school friend, the glamorous and confident Angie Valentine who she hasn't seen in fifty years, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery.
All the chapters make fantastic reading and I wish I could single out one in particular that impressed me the most but it is nigh on impossible as every one made a literary impact and had me either giggling or nodding my head in recognition. Anyone over a certain age could relate to any of the circumstances Peggy finds herself in, from forgetting dates, where she's put her reading glasses to not being able to work the latest mobile phone and the fear of developing dementia.
I loved the relationship she shared with Angie and the camaraderie with the other staff and residents of the village. Ageing rock star Jim was a hoot and much sort after widower Brian, who caught the eye of most of the ladies made for intriguing reading, wondering who he would eventually choose as his soul mate.
So much warmth and humour, you can't help but thoroughly enjoy reading this book and instantly fall in love with all the vibrant and diverse characters. I'd say this is a perfect story for women of all ages, whether you have an ageing mother or elderly grandmother or even if you can relate to seventy nine year old Peggy herself, this book is realistic, honest, true to life and very heartwarming and has emotional truth as the basis for its foundation.
The author Joanna Nell is renowned for writing character driven novels of self discovery for women of a certain age, by creating young at heart characters who aren't afraid of breaking the rules of society's expectations of the elderly. She obviously writes with a huge amount of passion for the characters she creates and builds her stories from her valuable experience as working as a GP treating women's health and elderly care.
I so, so want there to be a follow up to Peggy's twilight years, she's a genuine inspiration and sharing her thoughts, feelings and emotions has been truly fantastic. I recommend this as a definite must read, I will be seeking this talented author's work again and wish her every success with this fantastic, poignant and beautifully written book.
Long live Peggy!

An astounding five stars and more!!

Hugely entertaining . . . funny and heart-warming * Woman & Home * A gentle, warm-hearted book that had me rooting for all the characters and laughing out loud at points. A book that shows it is never too late to learn how to live, to make new friends and to fall in love.' -- Libby Page, author of <i>The Lido</i> A warm and touching story with a cast of characters who became my friends - I loved The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Retirement Village with all its wit, wisdom and spirit' -- Katie Marsh, author of <i> The Rest of Me</i> The perfect blend of funny and moving; Peggy Smart had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story -- Natasha Lester, author of <i>The Paris Seamstress</i> A funny and poignant exploration of growing old disgracefully and enjoying your twilight years. * Culturefly * Funny, insightful and deliciously refreshing, it's the most heartwarming book we've read in a long time. * Woman's Weekly *