You know that book that you happen to read at that point in your life, well this is it.

This book was hilarious. I laughed so hard and so loud. I saw parts of myself in Cathy and it's the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump.

I think we all lose our identity at some point during our lives and was a fun lockdown book to read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an excellent book. I laughed out loud and thoroughly enjoyed Csthy’s journey into menopause. It was hilarious. It was great how she found her niche in The Mustard Factory and became the ‘work mum’. How funny is that thought. Must be lots out there in the working world. Older women out there with so much life experience to help steer youngsters on their way. Whether that’s teenage kids or younger working adults. She was just so amusing and brave! Turning up for work in her controversial tee-shirt and with her dog in tow. , I chuckled through most of the book until the sad part which was beautifully handled and didn’t make the book sad. Great story not least because it made me realize I’m not alone. That there may be others out there who have tomato sauce on curry and put chocolate in the ‘fridge! Read this book and have a chuckle

This was by first read by Tracy Bloom
Its a light hearted read written in a diary style.
Watch the characters come to life and see her life goals unravel
I enjoy this novel and it was a nice change for my normal style
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Another light-hearted read from Tracy Bloom, for me personally I didn’t think it was as good as her others, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This was my first book by this author and I wasn’t too sure what I was going to get. It’s written in a diary type style and I as the sure how that was going to work, wondering how the story would progress and still be able to give a full and in-depth look at the characters. However it wasn’t long before I was so engrossed in it that I couldn’t put it down. The not knowing everything, even from Cathy added to my enjoyment and kept me intrigued as I was constantly needing to know the outcome of each situation she got herself into. The Tania and Hazel story line really pulled at my heart strings. I loved Freddie, he was so funny and a breath of fresh air, I have teenage sons and I wish they were as open and honest and yes sometimes as theatrical as him. I would love to read a book following him, it would make a very funny read.
Seeing a long time married couple go through a rough patch and come out stronger in the end was refreshing too, no cheating, no break up and really not even many harsh words. Very British, and very true in parts. Sometimes just sitting together and holding hands after 20 years of marriage is just as romantic as fliers, chocolate and fine dining.
Seeing Cathy change throughout the book was interesting, her confidence grew, her self worth increased and the busier and happier she got the way she saw the world changed.
I loved this book and I will certainly check out other books by this author.

Cathy Collins is a mum on a mission – to change her life. When her husband drops a midlife-crisis bombshell, Cathy decides it’s time to take control. No more laundry, teenage tantrums or housework. After years of putting herself last, she’s going to be first for a change. Cathy Collins is carving a new path, and nothing is going to get in her way.

This is the perfect easy to read, so enjoyable and all-consuming, it makes you laugh out loud and cry. The book is completely relatable! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

So funny,,, Cathy’s sister gives her a book for christmas to write her motivational goals for the coming year, but Cathy really doesn't believe in ‘all that’. However, this is the story of her year when she follows her goals and dreams. A really really funny, and sometimes sad book. Thoroughly recommend.

I love reading this author she always makes me laugh, we meet Cathy and her slobby husband in this story. I laughed throughout the story as she navigates menopause and trying to juggle daily life with her teens and husband. A book that will brighten up the dullest day and bring a smile to the deepest frown.

The Wife Who Got a Life is a light hearted easy read about a middle aged women approaching menopause and trying to navigate all the issues of teenagers, parents, families and mid life crisis husbands. This is all played out with humour across a year when she attempts to change her life and find her own happy. It took me a bit to get into but once I did I was hooked. It is an uplifting read with all the issues and problems somehow turning into positive solutions. Definitely uplifting in these times.

I enjoyed this book so much. The hormonal part rang many bells, but it was written in such a way the smile stayed on my face. There were many chuckles and a smidge of sadness. A genuine, beautifully written story.

I don’t usually read books like this but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am long past the age of dealing with teenage angst but could feel the frustration oozing out of the pages. It was just the book to cheer me up in dreary February lockdown. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review. Entertaining read.

As a woman who is only a few years younger than Cathy and with children the same age I knew that I would enjoy this book. And I did!

A Christmas gift from her sister in the form of a motivational diary prompts Cathy to stand back and take a long, hard look at her life and see what changes she can make to live life to the full.

I think lots of us could empathise with her as she navigates her way through the year with warmth, realisation, tears, heartache but most of all love.

The Bridget Jones for us 40 somethings. I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to my fellow readers.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Fiction and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This was so good. Very funny but also brought a tear to my eye in parts. It was nice to see an honest representation of a marriage, one that takes work but they clearly love each other. This could so easily gone down the affair route and I must admit a couple of times I thought thats where it was headed.
This book had so many themes that I enjoy: marriage, parenting, books, friendship. Am definitely going to buy Tracy Blooms other book soon.

Good. Interesting characters who made me laugh out loud. Also there were some tender moments which made the story so beautiful and it balanced out the humour.

This is a witty, realistic look at the "Happy ever after" part.
Cathy loves her husband but that doesn't stop her seeing his faults and husbandly ignorance of household chores.
She's also fond of her kids despite both being teenagers. Then there's the kids' dog that only she cleans up after - but Barbra Streisand the dog is the least of her problems.
Facing the approay of the menopause makes her take drastic action. From her mum's knee problem to catering for her family when she only ever provides inedible food, she finds creative solutions to these and more problems, in funny, innovative ways.
This is really funny but can swing to friends with cancer and depression whilst still being funny

The Wife Who Got a Life is written with both humour and compassion. It encompasses all the joys and traumas of family life, and celebrates the importance of strong female friendships. Anyone who has been a wife, mother, sister or daughter will be able to relate to, and become absorbed in, the highs and lows experienced by the characters in this novel. Thanks to the author, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC.

I am not familiar with this genre, but it sounded good, and didn’t disappoint!! It made me miss my friends so much, the easy banter and laughter, the cracking of jokes and the opening of bottles!!
Cathy Collins is 48, hormonal, being peri menopausal, and the mother to two teenagers aged 17 and 15, and is feeling that life is not a bowl of cherries and she is becoming the invisible woman. Her husband is having a midlife crisis - but Cathy can’t. She is the one who does, simply because there is no one else to.
Her perfect sister, who lives in America gives her a motivational diary, put yourself first sis , is the instructions given. Cathy at first rebels, then decides to use it as a set of goals that will be achieved, come hell or high water! The trouble is, everybody else will have to fall in line and start appreciating what she provides, it’s going to be a hard slog!!
The goals are laughable and unusually expressed. Her son is an idiot, her daughter is an old head on young shoulders, and her husband, well, he could be worth keeping!! I do like the goal for March!!
Home truths from abroad and nearer to home are discussed, the grass is not always greener!! The message is to be kind, you are worth it, it’s the others who are screwed up! Celebrate with fish finger sandwiches!!
A generously hilarious book, full of the noise and chaos that is found in large families. I found it to be a honest, warm, witty and above all else, a real fun tonic in these depressive times!!
Now, where is my local catering college?!!!
I shall definitely recommend this book, I have a few friends who will be given this as birthday presents!
A five star read. Thanks to Rachel Quin, who invited me to read this book, and HarperCollinsUK and Netgalley for the opportunity to really enjoy this novel, in exchange for my honest review. I shall post to Goodreads and Amazon in due course.

This was a great read. Although I am well past the age of mid life angst I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cathy has teenage kids, her marriage is 'fine' and when her sister, who leads the perfect life in California, gives her a journal to fill she is determined to ignore it. This has laughs aplenty, and some sad moments, very true to life.

This is a really life-affirming story of love, family and friendships. We are with the protagonist for the whole story, which was nice as it seems that linear story telling is a rare thing lately. She is in her late forties and feeling pretty dissatisfied; comparing her life to that of her siblings; looming menopause and a book group where no one reads the books. We meet her friends and family, all wonderfully different and quirky. Over the course of a year, we witness her life’s ups and downs and are left feeling the warmth and joy from this lovely book.

I loved the book. It was everything I needed during difficult times. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters. It made me laugh, I could relate to it and it had sufficient realism to ground it. There was happiness and sadness, as there is in life. The characters are well drawn and their relationships interestingly written. Who doesn’t recognise many elements of sibling relationships. I particularly liked the ending - I wish.