When I started this book I was a little disappointed with my initial reaction to it. There were too many people and I think I was not able to feel empathetic enough to encompass them all. By the time we came back to the scene on the bus that the book begins with, I had changed my mind.

It was not the first chapter that set me against the story, it was the numerous viewpoints, making it hard to feel for any one individual properly, or so it felt. Slowly I realised that the reason I was stuck on that point was because the author managed to give them all unique voices, something that is not easy to do. We have one older woman who has decided to be part of the crowds around her while still not accepting the ‘appropriate’ way to act. An older struggling actor is trying to find a way to continue to be relevant. A middle aged woman is struggling with an empty nest while a teenage parent is trying to be the best father he can be.

Everyone is selfish and focused on their own lives when they meet. They stay that way for a realistic amount of time, which makes the ending all the more fun.

I had fun with this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone who finds the blurb even mildly interesting.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Brilliant, uplifting, motivating- all the positivity and enthusiasm you’d expect from Clare Pooley and so much more, delivered in one of the funniest books I’ve read for a long time. Just wonderful and the nudge I needed to stop looking back and start looking forward.

Clare writes such brilliant characters, they were all quirky yet totally believable and it was a pleasure and sometimes a giggle to share the adventures with them.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

This is a fun heartwarming book that will make you smile.
Well written with an array of good interesting characters the story holds you throughout.
One of those books you can lose yourself in & really enjoy.
As Daphne gets older she feels she is becoming invisible to others.
As her 70th birthday arrives she decides she is feeling the need to make some friends.
She expects the local senior citizens social club to be more than a little sedate with lots of crafts the thought horrifies her.
Thankfully there are a few members that are out of the ordinary to say the least.
Unfortunately the council want to close the club due to an accident but Daphne & her gang are on the case.
Great funny entertaining read & i thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a perfect book to read / listen to on a dreary January day. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face multiple times and you will root for all the characters (well, possibly not for the cheating husband). I have read all Clare Pooley's books and I am already looking forward to her next one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an impartial and honest review.

If you love stories about the power of community, How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley is a must-read. Five shining stars for this heartwarming, touching tale that celebrates the magic of unexpected friendships and the way people can truly change each other’s lives.⠀
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At its core, this is a book about connection. Pooley weaves together the stories of an unlikely group of characters, each grappling with their own challenges, and shows how their lives intertwine in the most beautiful, transformative ways. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the people you least expect can bring out the best in you.⠀
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The humour is light but effective, adding warmth to a story that’s filled with moments of genuine vulnerability and reflection. The characters feel so real, like old friends by the end of the book, and watching them grow together was nothing short of uplifting.⠀
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This was the perfect start to my reading year—hopeful, heartfelt, and full of charm. If you’ve read this one, let’s chat! Or if you have any recommendations for other books about community and connection, drop them in the comments—I’d love to keep this reading vibe going.⠀
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#CommunityMatters⠀
#HeartfeltReads⠀
#ClarePooley⠀
#FiveStarReads⠀
#BooksThatInspire⠀
#BookReview⠀
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The older I get the less I feel noticed and far from finding this distressing, I actually find it incredibly liberating that no one cares what Im wearing, how loud I’m laughing or what my weight is. It’s much easier being a middle aged woman and the main character in this novel has also enjoyed that period of life. Daphne is now 70 years old and feels completely invisible - something that’s very attractive if you have things hide. It has never occurred to her to join a club full of pensioners but when she finds herself asking to her plants on her birthday she decides something must be done. She joins the Senior Citizen’s Social Club where it horrifies her that she’ll be doing gentle crafting activities. No thanks! So she gravitates towards two troublemakers - one a failed actor and prolific shoplifter and the other a yarn bomber. These are her people.

Sadly when something tragic happens the council decided it might be time to close the club, but they didn’t reckon on this particular group of pensioners. They underestimated their commitment and their need for this club. This book is full of humour and fantastic characters who are very loveable. A lot of them don’t know what’s hit them when Daphne is in full flow. She’s determined and resourceful. She also gives the others a boost and the confidence to fight for themselves and their centre. I was absolutely rooting for them. I must mention the knitted penis too, this made me laugh out loud. This was a fast and entertaining read with a few twists and turns during the campaign. Perfect for taking on a weekend away.

I absolutely loved this book. As with the authors previous novels it featured a host of interesting characters, who we learnt more about as the book progressed. This was definitely a book I didn't want to end as it would mean leaving the characters behind. What I particularly liked was the mix of generations portrayed and the character development alongside a community focused story which explored friendship, and ageing. Ultimately a warmly written, enjoyable read.

This is a book that deserves all the praise it gets. The story was immersive, and the characters felt like people I knew. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in years. Just brilliant.

3★
“ ‘And I’m not sure that playing with cigarettes is a good idea,’ added Ziggy, congratulating himself on his calm understatement. His mother would be proud of him. Although even she might let loose a few choice swear words at this scenario.

‘Oh, no need to worry. I took the lighter away from her,’ said Daphne. Was she joking?”

Poor teen-aged dad, Ziggy. He’s sole-parenting his baby daughter, while trying to finish school, and he needs an emergency babysitter. His mum’s at work, and kindly old lady, Daphne, offers to stay with Kylie for a little while. Until now, she has successfully avoided having anything to do with babies.

“Still, it couldn’t be that hard to keep a tiny human alive for an hour, could it? Her father, Ziggy, was only a child himself, and he seemed to manage it.”

Of course, Daphne’s had no experience. We learn early on that she’s had a colourful life, but it’s not until much later in the story that she reveals the full extent of it.

On her seventieth birthday, she resolves to meet people, get out and about, and ends up at the local community centre. Janine, in her fifties, is setting up a new group for seniors and has great plans for activities.

The centre is an old building in need of serious renovation, so the local council reckons it’s cheaper and easier to demolish it. There you go – they have an instant project. Protest!

There’s a children’s playgroup in the same building, so the author puts them all together in an effort to lobby the powers-that-be.

Meanwhile, there are some family dramas going on. Janine is facing marital problems and Ziggy is doing his best to avoid the local thugs.

“It was impossible to survive on Ziggy’s estate without pledging allegiance to one of the rival gangs, who found the local teenagers useful as lookouts, messengers and couriers.
. . .
Being found carrying one of Floyd’s packages might not land him in an adult prison, but it would most definitely lose him custody of his daughter.”

I found this slow-going, and had it not been a NetGalley preview, I probably wouldn’t have continued, but it kept me interested just enough to see where the author would take her characters. As it turned out, there weren’t any surprises, just a bit more back story and some humorous pranks which I did enjoy.

I like heartwarming stories, and I don’t mind some corniness, but this missed the mark for me. I know it has plenty of enthusiastic fans, so I suggest that anyone reading this should read some of their reviews and don’t be put off by mine. It is mostly light-hearted fun.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Random House Bantam for a copy of #HowToAgeDisgracefully for review.

Loved this Clare Pooly. They are so warm and comforting. Set in London . Daphne is approaching 70 and finds herself at a loose end and joins the local senior citizen club. Who would have thought it?

Really enjoyed this story, and appreciated the vast array of characters, especially the older characters who were so well fleshed-out. A really lovely, fun slice-of-life novel.

Too much happening at the same time, too much exposure with too many characters on the page in one go, POV that keeps hopping around, and then the characters themselves who weren't really likeable once in their POV... To much accumulated on the 'Not for me' side for this one, sadly.

I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters! It is so wholesome, funny, cute and simply everything I needed to read on my holidays. I highly recommend this book if you want something light-hearted that will make you laugh, and also reflect a bit on how we treat older people sometimes.

What a fantastic book! Clare Pooley’s writing just gets better and better. I loved the variety of characters, their backgrounds, different generations and life stages. When you laugh out loud several times during the 5 page prologue, you know it’s going to be a good book.
Daphne - what a character! We all need to be a bit more Daphne and master the art of not giving a ****!

I loved this book. The characters are hilarious, and the story is completely satisfying - a real feel-good book.

Oh this was so joyful!!!

It's been too long since I've read such a feel good book.

How to grow old Disgracefully is a glorious story about a handful of delicious characters who come together by chance and become friends while getting involved in hilarious shenanigans.
My dad lost his wife 18 months ago and life is very lonely for him but this year he's bravely joined a bereavement club and met some wonderful new friends, this book resonated with me for that particular reason. Lonely souls who are forced into the community and end up making wonderful friendships.

This story is not only full of entertaining hilarity but also compelling storylines... If you need an uplifting chuckle of a read then grab this beauty!

This is the second book I've read by Clare Pooley and I love her writing...I also have another of hers on my tbr shelf so I can't wait to read that soon...

For me Clare Pooley can do no wrong!
She creates characters that really pull at the heart strings, and I didn’t see how this was going to end. Brilliant- just brilliant 🤩

A great cast of characters and a delve community-led issues, as you can expect from Clare Pooley. Her characters are brilliant and there's always an uplifting message, without being 'cheesy'. Thank you, Claire!

Another winner from this author who really knows how to make a great story with a very eclectic group of people. Old age people who refuse to take up age appropriate activities at the community centre band together to help save their centre from being sold off. Along the way they have their own issues to deal with, some very chequered past history, and also helping a young single father escape the clutches of a local gang. Daphne is the grandmother everyone will want, or want to be, such a vibrant feisty character. Well written story and interesting characters with a good mixture of funny moments and real emotion.