I really wanted to love The F**k It List but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, I did and I definitely resonated with Daisy Settle and thought she was a solid MC buuut I just wasn’t completely blown away with the story.

After a domino effect of awful events happen to Daisy, she realises her burning desire is to have a baby and we are taken along with her on her fertility journey. Things are definitely slow to kick off, it didn’t take me long to warm to Daisy and I gradually became more and more invested in the winding path of her life.

While this wasn’t necessarily a stand out 5 star read for me, it ended up being enjoyable and witty and I’m glad I read it.

Thank you to Random House UK for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What the f**k! Daisy Settle's story is told in List. She's in a loving, long-term relationship, lives in a stunning house, has a very successful career as an interior designer, her boyfriend has just sold out for millions, and her dreams of starting a family are just around the corner, but on her 40th birthday, those dreams are shattered into tiny pieces.

Her ambitions of becoming a mother appear unachievable as she negotiates a new life alone, single and broke, but she is determined and nothing will stop her. Daisy's tragic journey to become a parent, via IVF and anonymous sperm donors, is followed by the reader.

Daisy's character was fantastic. A selfless and faithful woman who put her partner's demands before of her own, agreeing to wait until he was ready to start a baby, although approaching her 40th birthday and knowing the odds of falling pregnant were stacked against her the longer she waited.

Another achievement is The F**k It! List, a book full of love and hope at the darkest of times. It's relatable and thought-provoking, sad and inspiring, hilarious and poignant, and brilliantly written.

It comes highly recommended.

I found this quite forgettable Im afraid, I understand the reason for the story, but didnt particularly engage with it and found myself skimming over chunks. Not one I would pick up again.

Oooo this one hit me in the feels big time !! As a 31 year old woman who was cheated on & left heartbroken 2 weeks before I found out I had endometrial cancer & pcos & my dreams of having children were squashed out entirely this book hit home hard! Our main character has a similar start (minus the cancer) loving relationship , great home , happy life .. until the cheating. She has to navigate life as a 40 something year old single woman with a dream of having a child. Add in a little IVF, some laughs & a little bit of what the hell do I do now & you have a great book which sooo many of us can relate to in one way or another. I really enjoyed this one!

I admit it.. I'm shallow because I was actually drawn to this book purely for the title! However, when I downloaded it and saw it was written by Melanie Cantor I was delighted as I read her debut novel Death and Other Happy Endings in 2019 and really enjoyed that. Click here to read my full review.

The F**k It! List is the story of Daisy Settle. She's in a loving, longterm relationship, lives in a stunning house, has a very successful career as an interior designer, her boyfriend has just sold out for millions and her dreams of starting a family are within touching distance, however on her 40th birthday those dreams are shattered into tiny pieces.

Having to negotiate a new life alone, single and broke, her hopes of becoming a mother seem impossible, but she is determined and nothing will stop her. The reader follows Daisy through her heartbreaking journey to become a parent, through IVF and anonymous sperm donors.

I adored Daisy's character. A selfless and loyal woman who put her partner's needs before her own, agreeing to wait to start a family until he was ready, despite approaching her 40th birthday and knowing the chances of falling pregnant were against her the longer she waited.

The F**k It! List is another triumph, a book full of love and hope in the darkest of times. It's relatable and thought provoking, emotional and uplifting, funny and heartbreaking and beautifully written.

Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved this book!

The authors writing style is amazing!

I look forward to reading more from them!

Gorgeous! Nearly cried at a a few different points. Loved the descriptions of clothes and interiors. One bit I didn't like was the reaction of the main character of gifting a photo. But other than that, I enjoyed. Would read again.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, if you have plans for later in the day when you start reading then cancel it because you will be sucked in and won’t stop until you have finished.

I felt like I went through all the emotions that the characters went through from laugh out loud moments to the pure despair the main character went through.

The whole story was written really well and tackled some tough subjects which I think the author dealt with in the best way possible.

I will be recommending this to all of my friends as I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.

I loved this book. It's hurt my heart and also made it soar.
Finding out that your partner is cheating at your birthday party after delaying plans to start a family.
What happens next is unexpected but totally right. You do not always have to do things the traditional way. Cheer Daisy on her quest to find what she needs.

I enjoyed this book. I could really relate to Daisy and her story. I think there needs to be more books like this about strong women

Daisy Settle has the perfect life, perfect job and perfect husband, however, one thing has always been missing and that is children. As she turns 40, Daisy is now anxious to get pregnant, however, one major hurdle is in the way - she no longer has the perfect husband, after catching him cheating. Daisy is now faced with the dilemma of having to restart her life on her own whilst trying to get pregnant before it's too late. Daisy embarks on a fertility journey with many ups and downs, but will get her wish?

I'm not going to lie but I found this book so depressing initially and I really debated just giving up on reading this book. As I'm now the same age and Daisy with no children it made me begin to panic and question myself. However, as the book went on Daisy's self acceptance and emotional ups and downs really plucked on my heartstrings. So many people are faced with the same situation and it is summed up so beautifully in this book.

I was hooked by the end of the story and felt real affection for Daisy and everything that she went through. It is a thought-provoking read for sure.

Daisy has everything; a beautiful home, a successful career, a charming husband but what she wants most is a baby. Her life is turned upside down when she discovers her husband has been cheating. Daisy embarks on her own journey to have a baby and along the way she meets Benedict who is happy to be the donor that she needs.

I found the book to be a little slow to begin with but don't give in as by the end of the book I had truly warmed towards Daisy and felt I'd been there with her on her fertility journey.

I enjoyed this very much with an interesting storyline that kept you guessing, made you think you knew what would happen, and ended with a different but still pleasant note.
Daisy Settle is celebrating her 40th birthday at a huge party thrown by her partner. All is well in her life. Business is fantastic, she's in a secure relationship, they have great financial prospects, and it's finally time to start trying for that baby...
But apart from her business, a rather unpleasant surprise gift leaves her with none of the above.
She is a woman who has a dream: becoming a mother. And through her grief, she wades through her options after making a F**k It! list, and with the support of her friends and some of her family, she embarks upon a journey to become a solo parent.
IVF, anonymous sperm donors, trawling sites and clinics to find the right one... We are with her for it all.
Along with an interesting friendship that starts so negatively but ends up being something she will cherish forever.
Daisy is that midlife character we women of a certain age need to read about. Life doesn't stop once you hit a certain number. Opportunities still come knocking, and dreams most definitely can still come true.
Loved it from start to finish! I only wish I didn't have work as I read it because I could have read it quicker!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.

This was a really interesting book with some cool thematic work. I'm not 40 years old nor am I close to it but I think it provides an interesting commentary that is often overlooked.

"The F**k It List" by Melanie Cantor is a refreshingly candid and empowering exploration of life's unexpected twists and turns. The story centres around Daisy Settle, a successful interior designer whose life appears picture-perfect until a shocking revelation about her boyfriend shatters her dreams of motherhood and companionship. At the age of 40, Daisy finds herself unexpectedly single and revaluating her priorities.

Cantor skilfully portrays Daisy's journey as she decides to take control of her life with a "F**k It List." This witty and moving narrative captures the essence of resilience and self-discovery, offering readers a relatable and inspiring tale of a woman determined to navigate life on her own terms.

What sets "The F**k It List" apart is its authentic portrayal of the challenges faced by modern women in their pursuit of happiness, independence, and fulfillment. Daisy's character is wonderfully flawed and relatable, making her a likable and memorable protagonist.

Cantor's writing is both humorous and heartfelt, striking a perfect balance between laughter and poignant moments. The novel encourages readers to embrace change, celebrate their independence, and find joy in unexpected places.

In summary, "The F**k It List" is a delightful and empowering read that will resonate with anyone who has faced unexpected setbacks in life. Melanie Cantor delivers a heartfelt and relatable story of resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of happiness, reminding us that it's never too late to redefine our own path.

Love love love this book, it made me cry it made me laugh. Its been a long time since a book had that affect on me. What a lovely story, so different from the typical boy meets girl stories we are all used to and I just loved the way this story went. Honestly didn't want it to end and would love to know what happens next!

This is a great novel that shows the struggles women in their forties often face when things don’t necessarily go the way society expects. The implosion of a relationship plus a desire to have a baby serve as the background to this story, which is social satire at its finest.

Book Review 📚
The F**k It! List by Melanie Cantor - 4/5 ⭐

I love coming across a book that sucks you in and then you devour it within a few hours. Although not my normal go-to genre, it still kept me thoroughly intrigued the entire time.

I became pretty invested in Daisys story and the journey she's making. Feels rather relatable. Characters like Daisy make you want to just love them, nothing ever going right for her and you want her to be happy.

There were several laugh out loud moments, but also moments of pure despair and heartbreak. Daisy is definitely the kind of person you want to see with a HEA. It was very much a case of reading a book that not only reels relatable but also with problems people face daily in life.

It was a beautiful journey with some amazing writing and descriptions from Cantor. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it will definitely be on a re-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

I absolutely loved Daisy from page 1. This was the page turner of my year!
An all round great read that was so relatable!
We need more characters with Daisy's determination.

I want to acknowledge and thank NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this book.

Daisy is on the brink of turning 40 and longs for a family with her partner, Jack. However, her dream is shattered when she discovers that Jack is unfaithful. Despite being alone, Daisy is determined to shape her life the way she wants it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting, even though I do not usually read this genre. Daisy was a compelling character, and I was genuinely invested in her journey throughout the story. The other characters were also well-developed, especially her mother, who had a dark humor that I found intriguing. The author tackled some challenging topics such as miscarriage and infertility, but handled them with sensitivity and care. Overall, I thought the book was excellent, with a perfect blend of humor and sadness. I would love to see a sequel to find out how Daisy fares in the future.