The main character is 48 year old Cathy, a wife and mother. She is given a motivational dairy for Christmas by her sister who thinks it will help her overhaul her life. Cathy feels that she doesn't actually need the diary but then decides to use it to write monthly goals.
Occasionally the book was funny. But I felt that Cathy complained too much and I didn't warm to her.
The writing was good but unfortunately I wasn't drawn into the book and ultimately it wasn't for me.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this surprisingly good book

have to say i was dreading this book, it sounded not like the sort of book i would like, everything about it screamed nope...but i started it and i was hooked...right from the first page...

its about a wife who got a life....its what we all look for after the children are all grown up and we find we have lost ourselves...who are we, what do i want with life...but this story is so much more

there are funny one liners and laughs along the way but most of all its about a woman approaching menopause and realising that she needs to change something in her life but she doesnt know what, and then her sister gives her a motivational diary...which she didnt want

this story flows easily and the characters are just your everyday friends and neighbours..i recognise a few..

love how this author writes...where has she been all my life, another author to add to my growing list of authors to keep an eye out for

I really loved this book, so funny and life affirming. The first book by Tracy Bloom that I have read, it won't be the last at this rate!

Cathy the "wife" get a motivational diary from her sister who lives in California and has all the trappings of prosperity and Californian lifestyle. Her intention is to make Cathy look at her life and decides what she wants to make of herself, improve her humdrum life. She is after all looking after her family, husband and 2 children, as well as providing support to her single parent sister and elderly parents. It all seems to fall on her to keep all her plates spinning!!

She decides to start to take control of her life and the diary is the start she needs.

The book has laugh out loud parts, you feel for Cathy and want her to succeed and not be the doormat for the rest of the family. How she does this is really funny and I loved it!

Thank you for the advance copy and I will read more of Tracy's works. This one was a 5 star!

A fun read and one that many of us will engage with on a personal level. Our heroine has an excellent degree of self-awareness and a very dry sense of humour. She gets that she's fast approaching 'middle aged' and the dreaded menopause is looming (though at 49, she's definitely a late starter...) but knows herself well enough that any changes she applies must be small and straightforward - no grand resolutions to lose weight, take up yoga and run a marathon, rather she looks at what she needs to tweak in her life to take away the pain. Terrible cook?Find someone else to do it. Worried about menopause? Accept it's coming and prepare your family for whatever storms lie ahead. By refusing to be, any longer, the meek, mild and easily managed wife, mother and part-time book keeper she has been for so long. she reengineers her life and how she lives in it into one that makes her happy - even the bits she can't change. If you recognise any part of yourself here, this is your blueprint for change.

A brilliant read, I have never read anything by this author but was asked to review even though I was worried I may not enjoy it I wasn’t disappointed at all.

I would definitely recommend it, there were highs and lows but made me smile.

Thank you NetGalley, Tracy Bloom and HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Wife Who Got a Life. This is my personal review.
Cathy gets a Motivational Diary from her sister for Christmas. She thinks this will give Cathy the nudge she needs to look at her life and focus on what she wants for herself and not just from the life she has of being a wife and mother.
At first, she was not too sure she wanted nor needed to do this but then she does start because she knows she is in a major rut with her life.
Reading this gave me a few good chuckles but also a few moments of wondering how she did not know some of the things she really should.

When Cathy receives a motivational diary for Christmas she is hugely disappointed. What possible aspirations for life could a 48 year-old mother of teenagers and part-time accountant have?

But when an incident with a half-cooked, half-frozen fishfinger occurs Cathy realises it’s time to stop putting herself last in her own life.

Nothing is stopping Cathy now, not her husbands mid-life crisis, not her mothers dodgy knee and most certainly not the Menopause.


Tracy Bloom never fails to put a smile on my face and I have come to reply on her novels for some much needed light-heartedness and a good few chuckles. This story didn’t disappoint.

Cathy is a character I can imagine a lot of readers will be able to connect with. A woman in her late forties who has been in the home for the entirety of her children’s lives, whilst working a part-time role but mainly supported by her husband. Her life isn’t terrible nor is it exciting, it’s normal and full of everyday scenarios that occur in homes up and down the country. Couple this relatability with Bloom’s signature comedic prose and this story is a real winner!

Whilst I found my self laughing on most pages this story also covers some sensitive subjects, such as depression and grief. However, these moments are so seamlessly woven into the story, retaining their solemnity whilst the narrative manages to remain light-hearted overall. This only serves to prove the authors skill as a writer and storyteller.

I highly recommend.

I loved that novel! Such a refreshing story about the struggles of the middle age generation and mid-life crisis. .
Tackling important subjects such as the menopause with such a delicate, honest but funny approach. This book is for every public and a must read to make you smile, cry, and remember you how life needs to be lived with a smile on your face!

I loved this book! I could relate to Cathy and her busy life, juggling teenage children and elderly parents and a husband who wants to make a big change to his working life. It’s an uplifting, very funny read and I laughed out loud often. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Cathy and her sisters - all so different - and their amusing WhatsApp conversations. I also found Cathy’s relationship with her husband Mike heartwarming and there were some very funny and true-to-life moments with her teenage children. There was so much to enjoy in this book. It really appealed to me and I’d love to read more by Tracy Bloom. Five stars!

I read the first few chapters of 'The Wife Who Got a Life' wondering if I would make it to the end. Another story, so I initially thought, about a mid-life, stay-at-home mum with absent working husband, struggling to cope single-handedly with kids, housework, cooking etc., and bumbling along in a haphazard, disorganised way.

However...I read on...and I was pleasantly surprised!

Cathy is given a motivational diary by her sister Lizzie, who is living the good life in LA. At first she dismisses it, but gradually, fed up with her life as it stands, she decides to give it a go.

Cathy sets herself a goal a month for the year, and so begins her journey to a better life.

This turned out to be quite an uplifting read in the end, and once the whinging had stopped and the action had started, it was relatable.

In the end I gave 'The Wife Who Got a Life' four stars as it really grew on me.

If you're reading this review BEFORE reading the book, stick with it! It's worth it!

Another funny yet heart warming literary offering from Tracy Bloom. Fans of her previous books can’t fail to enjoy this latest publication.

As a fan of “No-one ever has sex on a Tuesday” which I read many years ago, I was excited to see in my inbox that my request to read the latest by Tracy Bloom had been accepted!

It’s easy to say that “The Wife Who Got a Life” did not disappoint and was exactly what I needed to get me out of my ‘work is too stressful/lockdown is very grating’ reading funk. It took a little while for me to adjust to the diary format of the book, which I don’t think was helped by the way my kindle displayed the pages (perhaps I need to adjust my font size or it may be because the book is sent via NetGalley instead of downloaded from Amazon?) however I quickly became engaged and enthusiastic with accompanying Cathy on her journey with her motivational diary goals.

I would certainly recommend The Wife Who Got a Life to anybody looking for an easy, funny chick lit read. It certainly has provided me with a new found sympathy for my colleagues “of that age” who I frequently suffer air conditioning wars with!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story is centred around Cathy, who is 48 years old. She is given a Motivational Diary from her sister for Christmas, to try and get Cathy to write down what she wants from life, rather than constantly worrying about her husband and two teenage children. Her husband, Mike, has started to have some kind of mid life crisis, and her kids never help tidying up the house. Cathy thinks she’s just normal - not happy but not unhappy. She is clearly in a rut, but doesn’t see it at first. She writes goals for each month and tries to hit them.

This book focused on many issues any woman faces, such as periods and the menopause, friendships, relationships, and depression. The book was funny in places, and sad feeling in others. It’s written in a diary sort of way, which makes the book better as you feel you’re on a journey with Cathy hitting those goals. The characters were ok, although I felt Cathy complained a lot, which grated slightly. And there were some moments that confused me - such as how a woman of her age didn’t know how the contraceptive pill worked, and how she hasn’t managed to learn some cooking skills, even the basics. I enjoyed the humorous take on sensitive issues, and the writing was good. This is the first I’ve read from this author and was pleasantly surprised.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I loved it. All the characters were believable and I loved the well thought out observations

Hilarious, touching and really laugh out loud!!
A very real story of the year in a life of mum Cathy, her roles as wife, mother, sister, neighbour and friend.
Cathy is not feeling great about herself or her life, and when her glamorous sister Lizzie sends her a resolution diary to put in her life goals, she feels even more hopeless. She sets up a few monthly goals that may be achievable, and surprises herself in what she can do, and what changes occur in her life.
I loved the different paths this book took with the goals, and although I didn't even like some of the characters at the beginning, I loved them by the end.
All women can relate to this fantastic story, especially important as it includes the 'm' word!!! (There is not enough information out there for anyone in their 40's to know what to expect).
Great humour great characters and a fabulous read!!
Thank you NetGalley for the early read.

The Wife Who Got a Life by Tracy Bloom

Cathy is approaching the menopause and is stretched multiple ways by her relationships with her husband, 2 teenagers, 2 sisters, parents and friends. After being challenged to keep a motivational diary by her sister she sets herself some goals for the year. The results are completely relatable, often hilarious and sometimes poignant.

What a fantastic story! I absolutely loved the characters but especially Cathy - I empathised and rooted for her all through the book. It's the kind of book where you miss the characters when you've finished it. And the observations on family life, hipsters, aging parents, menopause and so many other things are funny as well as wise. Very highly recommended! And if anyone knows where I can get a Robbie please let me know!

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and sympathised with several parts. The story is one of finding yourself and enjoying life. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

I loved this book - perhaps because I’m of a certain age?! Realistic characters in imaginable situations with a perfect amount of sadness and humour.

The Wife who Got a Life by Tracy Bloom is one of those books I have a love- hate relationship with! The doormat woman who just keeps on caving in! But the writing draws you in! The characters are brought to life with their personalities, hopes, frailties and kindnesses. It is a funny (ha-ha) read but also a frustrating “say no!” read! You’ll love Cathy and her kids, resent her husband and sisters and identify with the parental expectations but also hear the life messages about what’s important. Settle down with a pot of coffee or a bottle of wine and lose yourself in Cathy’s story. Four stars (rounded up a little)

This was a lovely heart warming read. Lots of real life issues to face with humour and lovable characters. I loved that it was written in a diary style way and enjoyed the depth the characters seemed to have. A good holiday read.