So wonderful to read a story with a mature woman as the main character. Val's life takes a very unexpected turn when she discovers her husband's affair on Christmas Day. With her son getting married the next Christmas, she is convinced at first that she needs someone by her side, especially for the wedding photos. So she sets off to meet the one who can be her plus one, until she comes to the realization that she doesn't need just anybody in her life.

Val is in her early seventies and lives in Merrynporth, Cornwall. After their son Tom moved to Canada, it was just Val and her husband Ray spending Christmas together, but then Val finds her husband with someone else.
Moving forward a year to the present day and it’s Christmas Day again. Val has moved into a small cottage in Lowenstowe – a small seaside town five miles from Merrynporth. She makes friends with her neighbours – Connie (74, Dutch) and Kevin and Alice who have a dog called Dolly – and some of the others in the town, most noticeably Loveday Moon, an 82-year-old activist who is a real character!
On New Year’s Eve, Val’s son Tom rings her to tell her he’s getting married the following December. His dad will be there with his partner Monica, while Val will be all on her own. But talking to Connie, they hatch a plan. She will try to find someone to take with her to the wedding as her plus one, by auditioning men over the coming months – Mr Maybes.
This is a lovely book, I’m a real fan of Judy Leigh’s writing. Her characters are so warm and real and Val here is a real gem, you will really root for her and hope she finds happiness. But the whole “supporting cast” are wonderful too and there are all different ages and types here. I love how so many of her characters are over seventy and show how much life there is left in them, but also here, there’s wonderful Ollie, who’s much younger and has Aspergers (as does my daughter) and he is a great character too. There are some cute dogs as well – I do love a good pet in a novel – and the environmental themes are really well done, without ever seeming preachy.
Although there is romance at the heart of the book, the main theme for me was friendship. I loved Val and Connie, such a gorgeous example of two women supporting each other and becoming best mates.
Overall, it’s another big success for Judy Leigh, who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors.

Thank you #netgalley and #boldwoodbooks for allowing me to read this super funny ARC.
I love Judy Leigh's hilarious writing style, and the adventures she takes her characters on, the self empowerment and growth are amazing.
It all starts one Christmas where Val's life falls apart, by the following Christmas she is living in a cute cottage in a new place with new neighbours and a life that is about to really take off.
Who needs an ex and his new woman? No one. but these are the two people who inspire the changes and adventures that Val and her new life explore. Amazing how one minute you think you have it all, then you think you have lost it all only to discover there is so much more to live out.
I fully recommend this book. 5 stars as ever.

Welcome to a year of Cornish loveliness, community and fun. The ease of writing lured me into the Val’s life who proves you’re never too old to search for new beginnings and love. The relationship between her, Connie, and Loveday were a joy to read and the adventures they went on made me want to go on a road trip to Cornwall and visit the places they visited.

I was expecting a warm, romantic read but this is so much more: it’s a story of friendship, community and how coming together can make big things happen. With older protagonists, it proves romantic stories aren’t just for the young and it provided many memorable moments. I will have the image of a leopard skin catsuit wearing septuagenarian singing karaoke ingrained in my mind forever.

Would I recommend?
Yes, this was a joy to read and Judy Leigh’s talent for painting pictures with words provided a perfect Cornish escape without leaving home. This novel is full of warmth, memorable characters and moments that capture the heart and imagination.

I love how all of Judy Leigh's books are such a great reminder that getting old is not something to fear or dread. There's so much fun to be had at any age!

The story is all about Val and the people living in the little beach town she moves to after her marriage falls apart after 47 years. This story has two main story lines.... finding a date for Val for the following December and the group in her new community fighting for the environment and the beaches of Cornwall.

It's about second chances, friends and taking care of not just each other, but also our environment.

Highlights:
- nearly all the characters are >70, but all so full of LIFE
- larger than life characters, incl. a feisty 82 year old excentric environment loving hippy
- new friends of different ages
- laugh out loud moments, especially when Val tries to sing
- a bit of romance
- a Staffy named Dolly
- adventures when trying to find dates
- community coming together

Book Review “A Year of Mr Maybes” By Judy Leigh
APRIL 4, 2022 ~ NIKIPRESTON

SYNOPSIS/BOOK BLURB

A Year of Mr Maybes

Never say never to falling in love…
Val didn’t expect to be starting again in her seventies, but when life gives her lemons, Val is determined to make lemonade.

Settled into her new home – a picture-perfect fisherman’s cottage in the small Cornish seaside town of Lowenstowe – Val is ready to start a new chapter. And with her son due to get married next Christmas, there’s also the little job of finding herself a plus-one to help her face her ex-husband and his new girlfriend.

With the support of her neighbour Connie, and after decades of married life, Val takes the plunge back into the world of dating with trepidation and excitement. But can she remember how the single life works, let alone what her type is? There seem to be plenty of Mr Maybes, but no sign of Mr Right.

As the year passes, and as friendships and community life flourish, Val begins to blossom. And as Christmas approach, she might just decide she doesn’t need that plus-one after all – although never say never…

Judy Leigh is back with her trademark promise of laughter, love and friendship. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3tpoJmQ

REVIEW ~ NIKI PRESTON ~ 5 STARS PLUS

You know when you discover a new author and you’re in to book number 3 that you have read of theirs? Well that is where I am with Judy Leigh. I was so looking forward to A Year of Mr Maybes. As soon as I was lucky enough to get an advance copy I could not wait to sit in peace, on my own and stay there until I had finished. Was I disappointed? NO NO NO and NO again, this is the BEST one yet!! I absolutely loved every crazy moment, every laugh, every beautiful character. I mean who can not fail but to fall in love with a character called Loveday Moon? You know immediately what kind of slightly crazy but oh so brilliant character she is going to be.

Val is an utterly loveable woman. Strong and caring and the best kind of friend. She is out going and supports her friends with a fierce passion. I love her, I want to meet her, I want to be her (in a few years). She sets out on her mission to find her plus one with energy and commitment with the love and care of her new found friend and neighbour, Connie. These two form an immediate bond and just bring the best out in each other. They have the perfect relationship and bounce off each other. I love them! How many times can I say “love” in this review? oh many many times. I loved every quirky situation, every giggle, I wanted to feast on brownies and friendship and laughter. I loved this book.

Judy Leigh is the absolute master of writing fun, believable, older characters. Her style is easy to read, easy to lose yourself in, easy to love, laugh and cry along with the wonderful people contained within it’s pages. Have I said that I loved this book? Oh yes it looks like I have. Well if you don’t get just how fabulous A Year of Mr Maybes truly is, then I implore you to rush out, right now, grab a copy, a cuppa, lock your doors, switch off your phone and indulge yourself in a world of pure brilliance. It’s a great book that just goes to show age is just a number, nothing should stop you living your best life, in your own inimitable way. Be more Val, that’s what I say.


Author Bio –


Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –

Social Media Links –

Website http://judyleigh.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/judyleighwriter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/judyrleigh/

Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/JudyLeighNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judy-leigh

With Huge Thanks for the Advance Copy for the Blogtour to…

Rachel Gilby https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/

Judy Leigh http://judyleigh.com

Boldwood Books https://www.boldwoodbooks.com/

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Judy Leigh writes the most wonderfully feel-good, uplifting and life-affirming contemporary women’s fiction novels and A Year of Mr Maybes is her latest irresistible page-turner.

Val never imagined that she would find herself starting over in her seventies. But with circumstances leaving her no other choice but to bid her old life farewell, Val finds herself ready to start a new chapter in a picture perfect fisherman’s cottage in the Cornish town of Lowenstowe. Val has got a lot to look forward to. Not only does she find herself making new friends and settling down in her new home, but she also needs to find a date for her son’s wedding at Christmas as there is no way she is facing her ex-husband and his new girlfriend without a handsome man on her arm!

As her Prince Charming is not going to fall in her lap, Val realises that after decades of married life she needs to dip her toe in the dating pool again and it’s not going to be easy. With her friend Connie cheering her on when all she wants to do is stay at home, Val begins her quest to find her Mr Right. But although she meets many a Mr Maybe, she hasn’t met anyone who kindles that elusive spark deep within her. Val’s romantic life might not exactly be a raging success, but her social life is flourishing. As she begins to blossom in Lowenstowe, Val realises that at long last she has found somewhere she belongs and a place she can call home.

With her son’s wedding fast approaching, will Val find the man of her dreams? Or will she realise that she doesn’t need that plus-one after all…

Judy Leigh’s books never fail to hit the spot and A Year of Mr Maybes is the latest in a long list of wonderful titles I never hesitate to recommend to readers wanting to read books that leave them feeling inspired and uplifted. Sparkling with humour, wit and charm by the bucket load, A Year of Mr Maybes is a story about finding yourself, belonging and embracing life and living it to the full I galloped through.

I absolutely loved Val and her ability to pick herself up, step out of her comfort zone and have the time of her life. She is definitely someone I enjoyed spending time with and the village of Lowenstowe sounds like an absolute dream!

Warm-hearted, funny and simply fabulous, the sensational Judy Leigh has done it again with her latest novel, A Year of Mr Maybes.

I love Judy Leigh’s women as they are like I would be when I’m over 70s: full of zest for life, resilient, and strong willed.
Val is another woman that I couldn’t help loving as she’s resilient, strong, and able to start again and living to the max.
I love her and Connie as I loved the characters in this uplifting, life affirming, and heart-warming novel.
It starts in a very sad way, like life can be sad, and it goes on becoming a hymn to life, friendship, and late life chances.
Judy Leigh delivers a poignant and entertaining story, a cast of relatable and likeble fleshed out characters.
She’s an excellent storyteller and I read this story as fast as I could rooting for Val and her friends.
I can’t wait to read another story, this one is highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood, Rachel's Random Resources, and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

When I get an email for a book tour and Judy Leigh's name is attached to the book. I no longer read the synopsis I just know I want to read it and I will love it.

Leigh is my go to author for uplifting reads and stories that I can fall into and fall in love with the characters. And A Year Of Mr Maybes gives me everything I want and more.

On Christmas day Val catches her husband cheating. An event like this would normally crumble someone's life, but for Val who is feisty and fantastic it jump starts her to embark on a new chapter in her life. Yes she may be of the older generation but this story shows that you are never to young to have fun.

Val meets some great and entertaining characters after she relocates to a small cornish town to build her new life. And as always Judy Leigh creates characters and settings that make us the reader feel like we are a part of the community. Dropping in on old friends and catching up on the gossip.

A Year of Mr Maybes is a perfect uplifting read. If Val can pick herself up and have fun then so can anyone.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my gifted copy.

This is such a delightful,live life to it's fullest no matter your age book.
I really appreciated the fact that the main characters are older and not the typical twenty somethings that you read about in a typical book.
Making the most of a bad situation a woman moves to a new area,introduces herself to her neighbor's and is very friendly and becomes a person everyone likes and gets involved in the town going on's helping in any way she can.
Some very funny moments are found in this book and some, oh my moments as well.
I loved the high energy of these seniors. They are fun and impressive.
I recommend this fun,feel good book.

Published March 29th 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

What do you do when your marriage of forty years is over? You've caught your husband with another woman? You make it your mission to find yourself another ma. But are you doing that to make him jealous, to show him you've moved on, or because you simply can't bear to attend your son's wedding on your own?

This is a soft and gentle story about learning to live after the breakdown of a long-term marriage, discovering who you are, and learning to love yourself and your new life.

It also embraces the complexities of love and relationships, and explores a whole raft of them, showing that no two are the same.

But the main focus and drive of the story is that being happy in yourself is paramount, and that life doesn't have to grind to a halt when a relationship ends.

Gentle, sweet, yet with deeper issues simmering beneath the surface, this is an uplifting look at the older side of life.

This was such a sweet story and the fact it was set in Cornwall made it more special. What a lovely story and I just raced through it. It made me smile as well as sad but, a good ending . My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Absolutely fabulous story about changing you and your ways
As you make the most of opportunities and your days.
This is another fantastic read, featuring young at heart protagonists
Where their relationships and drama are not to be missed.
Finding her husband cheating has Val starting anew
Moving to a new home, by the seaside, too!
She's not one to sit back and wait for life so
She's determined to go out there and give a fresh start a go.

Her son is getting married in Canada next year
She'd like someone to go with her, though being alone is not a fear.
With her new friend Connie, she's going to go out
To see if there's anyone around tempt her somewhere about.
Get ready for months of maybe men and dates
And see what happens and how each she rates!
Forget young love and see just how she fares
As this septuagenerian with dating trying dares.

A story filled with relationships and dramas that unfold
With older protagonists whose stories are also told.
There's hopes and dreams, mischief and fun
A brilliant read when all is said and done.
Val learns about being older and single
And explores the opportunities she finds to mingle.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
A highly entertaining read and this is my honest review.

Judy Leigh really does write the most wonderful characters. I felt for Val from the book’s opening pages when her Christmas dinner was ruined by discovering her husband’s affair – and cheered her on every single step of the way as she moved to her new home, in her seventies and not used to being alone, and set about making a new life for herself. She discovers that she doesn’t need a man to make her complete, and fills her life with friends and a whole range of activities – but there is the pressing problem of the need to find a plus-one to take to her son’s wedding at the end of the year. With the enthusiastic support of her new friend Connie (also a great older character, with a particular poignancy to her own situation), Val crosses paths with quite a few Mr Maybes over the course of the year – some with considerably more promise than others.

But while the search for a companion might drive the timeline, and it certainly sees Val distinctly out of her comfort zone a number of times, it wasn’t the main thing I enjoyed about this book – what I really loved was the friendships she found. This book is filled to overflowing with a range of perfectly drawn individuals who make up a true community who embrace her and take her to their hearts, helping her find her way and picking her up when she stumbles. Her immediate neighbours are just superb – on one side there’s Alice and Kev, their over-indulged dog Dolly the one who really rules the roost, and on the other side the elusive and invisible Ben, their absence of contact no obstacle to the acts of kindness that flow between them. Another key character is elderly (perhaps that should be “even more elderly”…) eco-warrior Loveday, fierce in her defence of what she believes in, rallying the whole community, but disturbingly reticent about her home life. And there are so many more – I particularly liked Val’s friendship with young Ollie who shares his sage and considered relationship advice.

The Cornish seaside town of Lowenstowe is particularly vividly drawn, and I really felt entirely at home there – if you’re looking for somewhere to start again, I don’t think you could possibly find anywhere much better. There’s such a tremendous warmth and strong feel of community about this whole book, sweeping you up and making you feel that anything’s possible – and it really is a quite wonderful character-driven story that kept me entirely involved throughout, gloriously entangled in everyone’s lives while following their separate stories. And there are so many perfect emotional touches and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as Val discovers how brave she can be and makes her journey towards contented independence. If I’m absolutely honest, the only thing I wasn’t quite so sure about was the book’s ending – although it’s entirely appropriate and very well done, 100% feel-good and didn’t detract one iota from my enjoyment, I must confess that I was almost disappointed (and I know this probably tells you rather more about me than the book… see what you think!).

Every book I read from Judy Leigh becomes my new favourite, and this one is no exception – I totally loved it, and recommend it really highly.

This is a real fun loving story about the older generation and it makes a change for these people to be well written about. Great strong characters and a lovey seaside setting in Cornwall. Wanted, 12 men in 12 months but is that what was really wanted, hence the title of this book. I enjoyed this very much and you will to. Well worth 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC.

Val didn’t expect to be starting again in her seventies, but when life gives her lemons, Val is determined to make lemonade. A lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one.

I absolutely loved meeting Val, she had every right and reason to close herself off from the world and feel sorry for herself. Her 37-year marriage had been tossed away like yesterday’s newspaper and wasn’t even worth using for wrapping chips. Yet Val was made of stronger stuff than the average jilted wife. She was able to dust herself down and set about finding a new partner, even if it was just for her son’s wedding. With her wonderfully determined nature, she begins to have an effect on those around her and the results are both heart-warming and funny.
As I have come to expect with Judy’s writing, the characters are all thoroughly developed, and I found them taking shape in my imagination. Whilst I loved gentle Connie, I just adored the rebel that was Loveday Moon. Connie and Loveday are almost polar opposites yet held together by their friendships with Val. Connie is a widow and not even vaguely interested in finding a new partner. Loveday is a determined eco-warrior who will stop at nothing to ensure that the town of Lowenstowe is respected by visiting ‘Emmets’ and the local councillor, as long as she’s home in time to look after her husband, John.
Whilst the antics of the friends provides some hilarious moments, Val’s bittersweet search for a plus-one is tinged with sadness. It shows that the issues facing the youngsters of today, remain an issue as we look at retirement. From jack the lads and casual connections to the downright duplicitous, Val encounters a wide range of would-be suitors as she seeks out a suitable escort.
As always, Judy Leigh’s observations are spot-on as she examines the intricacies of older relationships. A special mention has to be given to Alice and Kev, along with their canine friend, Dolly, they bring some light relief as well as a glimpse of marital happiness. I’ve already mentioned a couple of the supporting cast who all added perfect layers to the story, I have considered including more in my review, but hate risking spoilers, so I will just point you in the direction of the journalist…
When December and her son’s wedding comes around, I hadn’t imagined how the story would end for Val, but I couldn’t have been happier with the final chapters.
This was a wonderful escape. Val and her friends took me on some fun adventures and I was grateful for their company.

This is such a simplistic book it doesn't even fall into the category of easy reading. A woman finds herself alone after 40-odd years of marriage and moves to a new village where she is greeted by all with open arms, warmth and friendship. All the men she meets are available and fall for her instantly and all of her neighbours, regardless of age or circumstance wonder how they survived without her in their lives. I was curious to read a book that focussed on newly single life in your 70s but this is so twee and superficial - and unrealistic - it was a real disappointment.

Yes, I’ve said that I’m not into romance novels, but after reading Leigh’s previous book, when I saw this on NetGalley I just couldn’t resist. You see, Leigh’s books about women of a “certain age” are terribly attractive to me these days. Not only do they allow me to see something of myself in them, but I also get something light and fun to read, which is a lovely break from having so many WWII novels on my TBR list. As they say “girls just wanna have fun” and Leigh’s girls… er… women, seem to have so much of that. Plus, I think there’s nothing wrong with a little romance, as long as it doesn’t come with all the bodice ripping that typical romance novels contain, and I also appreciate that these are women who aren’t solely centered on getting their man to the exclusion of everything else in their lives.

Mind you, the whole concept of this novel is for Val to find someone to be her plus-one at her son’s wedding, so she won’t be on her own while her ex-husband Ray is with his new girl Monica. Now, you must admit is a little bit of a twist on an old trope, but Leigh really knows how to spice it up and throw us a whole bunch of red herrings to keep us interested, as well as guessing what will happen next. In fact, the reason why I’m not calling this a romance novel is because, although there’s no small amount of romance here, it really isn’t about the romance, but about Val and how she copes with the first year of being on her own, and in a new place. I’m thinking this is actually a coming-of-age story, which I believe is what Leigh had intended.

You see, as the year goes on, we slowly see how Val moves from being just an older woman tossed aside by her husband and left to flounder on her own, into a strong, independent, self-sufficient person who has started to discover who she really is, and what she really wants out of her life. Here she is, in a new home and a new town, meeting new people. That’s a scary thing to do under the best of circumstances, but when you’re essentially in mourning for a relationship that lasted 47 years, that’s even harder. What Leigh does to keep this from being a crying-fest is to get Val involved in people outside her own new four walls. Furthermore, Leigh also throws in some social activism to get Val busy with something other than trying to find a date to take to her son’s wedding in Canada. I was happy that the cause Val got involved with was the environment, and cleaning up the town, because that’s something I’m also passionate about. (Maybe people like me and Val lean towards that because our lives have been messy.)

In any case, while this book didn’t make me cry, it certainly had me smiling throughout, and Leigh even had me laughing out loud a few times, so that’s a great sign. I also loved how Leigh brought in all the other characters (and there are quite a few), where each one was unique and had their own contribution to Val’s growth as a person. Mind you, some of the pairings felt a touch overly convenient, and therefore also slightly unlikely, but that’s the only drawback. All told, this was just a delightful novel, that was heaps of fun, and which also pointed out some sights in the Cornwall area that I’d really like to put on my bucket list (like The Eden Project, and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, both of which sound magical). I think this is a wonderful novel, and I’m looking forward to reading more of Leigh’s books. I’ll strongly recommend this with four and a half stars out of five.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This lovely book has older characters who, throughout the story show that it’s never to late to make new friends, have new hobbies or find romance.

Val, living in Cornwall, is still thinking about how her marriage ended to Ray. But, decides to begin thinking about herself now and makes friends with neighbours, works voluntarily at the charity shop and helps her friend with her
campaign to make their town a better place for the people who live there, as well making them aware of other issues that are just as important.

Apart from doing all that, she starts to date again, pretty soon, Val realises, that, a man is not needed for her to be happy or go to her sons wedding with her. She’s quite happy going alone, but maybe, she is meant to find someone, will she find that person at her sons wedding?