I couldn’t handle this book. It was just one long ramble that was completely pointless and had no true plot.

I understand I’m not the target audience for this story. I’m closer to 20 than 50. But still, the writing was just kind of childish and inexperienced. When I was in high school, my writing teachers would say “show, don’t tell.” I don’t think Ortiz got this memo. It was just so. much. rambling.

The moments that were hilarious to Jill were not actually funny at all. They were dumb. For example, she was talking about how overwhelmed she was and was getting forgetful. She said that she has so many Post-Its to remind her of things that one day she was going to be in the local paper with an ad for a woman found with Post Its on her forehead. She and her friends reeled with laugher. Is that actually funny to anyone?

Many of the other funny moments revolved around her in-laws and their hard of hearing. Jill would say something to them, they’d scream “WHAT” and it would go around and around. This is kind of overplayed now and not truly funny or original. Every time Jill told us something “funny”, she would also tell us that she and her friends or whoever laughed hysterically just so we, the reader, knew it was supposed to be funny.

I had to go back and read the blurb a few times. Did this book actually have a point? There were also random exclamation points in her writing. And I don’t mean in the dialogue—I mean in the narration. That’s not normal and makes the enthusiasm and story-telling seem forced. There was also waaaaay too much narration and not enough dialogue. Instead of having the characters speak and tell us a story through the characters, it was just the narration telling us what was going on. The story just didn’t flow.

Honestly, I couldn’t wait to finish this book. I’ll give it two stars because if it had been done correctly it could’ve been an interesting book. But it just had no true plot.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
What a light and funny read for ant woman approaching her latter years!

Interesting storyline and easy to read. It was fun and I sometimes felt the characters were living my life.

I could not get past the second chapter because the writing was so amateurish.

This book had a great premise, but it was a little slow to get started. It did not hold my interest.

I really like this book and really appreciated the characters. Funny and poignant. A very good read

I will buy this book for my girlfriend. I even know which one. This book is a nice big tall cup of Starbucks best coffee with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. This book is a huge slice of chocolate mud cake with as many forks as you have girlfriends to share it with.

There is no mystery. There is no suspense. There is no life-altering drama… or is there? Menopause is a life altering phenomeneon, isn’t it?

However, this book is not about drama and conflict. The Forever 39ers is simply a year in a life of the main character Jill, her family and her 3 best friends. It is a bit of everything from the fun and shenanigans of going for group colonoscopy (yeah, right) to the horrors of swimsuit shopping, from birthday parties to broken hearts.

This book is a very nice read. It is like a best friend in a way. The book is here to show you that you are not alone in your travel past 39 y.o. It is here to support your life choices or point you in a direction of a new angle on your life. Have a read, you will know what I mean.

Thank you so much to booksgosical via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of the forever 39ers by Shari Ortiz.

From the very first sentence this book was hilarious and the hunor continued throughout the story.

A group if friends decide that they will metaphorically stay 39 forever but as 50 is coming around for the ladies, they start to reflect/come to terms with their real age when life, children and doctors appointments age with them.

I love Kate and her very straight forward statements.

Im not 39+ but as I work with people a good age gap above me i was able to relate to this book and how the characters act because thats how the majority of women act young and old.

I really enjoyed this book. Knew right from the first few pages i was going to like it. Well written and loved the characters.

This story is just ok. The characters are.flat and the story isn't terribly original.

This is the story of a group of friends and how their strong friendship gets them through some difficult tasks in life. Sounds familiar, right. Even though we have encountered similar story lines in other books, films, and television series, those who like this kind of story will have an enjoyable time with The Forever 39ers and their life struggles, love lives, and friendship cheering. It is interesting how many of these stories portray female friendship as a lifeline; in other words, men are a necessity of life but women need women to feel understood and completely happy. The Forever 39ers is a good book to pass the time, discuss it with our friends, and find similarities with our lives.

What a fantastic read!!!! Oh what fun I had reading this book. Great book about friendships and life's ups and downs. What I took away from this book besides the wonderful feeling of friendship is as long as you can laugh, you will be ok. Plus, it was set in NJ, a place I love to visit. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Great, great read!!!!

Fun and entertaining read for those of us over the "39" age range.

A full year in the life of someone turning 50. I read the book but kept thinking what is the plot.

I read part of this book hoping that something other than a boring stream of consciousness narrative would happen, and skimmed the rest. I enjoy good chick lit. Unfortunately, this book is not.

The Forever 39ers
Shari Busa Ortiz
Available: Now
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Menopausal Fluff! What an amazing premise of a group of friends staying at 31 and holding. I can definitely relate as my pals and I celebrate the anniversary of our 21st birthday. I wish I would have realized that the book was already published back in 2015 prior to reading it. I was getting so annoyed over the surgical vaginal rejuvenation passage - Who does that anymore when there are amazing lasers and other devices that can tighten that up while being minimally evasive. Have you not watched an episode of the Real Housewifes of Anywhere in America within the past 2 years? Bravo on Demand – look into it. Seriously – the BTL Ultra Femme can do what needs to be done down there in 8 minutes.. 8 minutes - Faster than microwaving a baked potato.
What I loved: The genuine love between these women is so obvious and their friendship was so honest and pure. Jill seemed to speak more to her best friends than to her own husband and family. To have friendships in this day and age that have stood the test of time from elementary and middle school is pretty amazing. While I’m guessing this is 99.99% semi autobiographical, kudos to the group for sticking together for so long.
What I didn’t love: Jill’s voice in my head sounded like a nasally, Jersey Shore type (think Janice from Friends) – I would have loved each one of the friends to take a turn as the voice of a chapter just to break up the constant stream of Jill. This wasn’t a story, but more of a running monologue of Jill’s thoughts and a rundown of what she did that day. All of the events that they were supposed to happen and help each other through were primarily no more than a discussion over a cup of coffee – major letdown. And for pete’s sake - PLEASE LAY OFF THE EXCLAMATION POINTS, ITALICS AND AIR QUOTES???? A person can only be excited so much…
What I learned: I’m not ready for menopause..
Overall Grade: B-

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A light funny romp about 4 women friends facing life and their 50s.