Oh my goodness, what a treat this was a to read! I wasn’t expecting such a heartwarming story from this book and what a pleasant experience it was! Runaway wives was a quick read with main characters that were easy to fall in love with, more so, the friendship they shared with one another. If you’re needing a switch-up in your TBR, this is the way to go. Thank you for this ARC!

The Runaway Wives by Karen King is a captivating contemporary fiction that delves into the lives of three women who decide to escape their troubled marriages and start anew. The story follows Ellie, Kate, and Madeline, each facing unique challenges and hardships in their relationships. United by their desire for freedom and a fresh start, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Karen King's writing is engaging and heartfelt, bringing out the distinct personalities and struggles of each character. The novel explores themes of friendship, resilience, and the courage to take control of one's life. The dynamics between the three women add depth and warmth to the story, making their journey relatable and inspiring.Overall, this is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of personal growth and the strength of female friendships. It's a compelling read that reminds us of the importance of following our hearts and standing up for ourselves.

What a thoroughly enjoyable novel this was. It's been absolutely ages since I last read something from Karen King, and she certainly hasn't lost her touch at writing a story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Babs and Dee both have marriages in various states of broken-ness, and I didn't really take to either of their husbands in the small bits we see of them first hand.

For most of this book includes our ladies taking a short break in Devon, and in the case of Dee, it really is the making of her as she starts to get involved in the local community.

This was a really gentle read, that got under my skin and I was delighted to get to know all of the characters. I was intrigued to see what Babs would eventually decide to do, and I also really enjoyed seeing Dee make new friends.

This was just an all around enjoyable read that I was definitely entertained by.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I loved this book. Two school friends with empty nests and husbands that don't notice them anymore go away for a 60th birthday week for the one friend. And their lives are never the same again after that week. Each learns more about themselves, their husbands and each other and choices are made by both that impact the rest of their lives.
Wonderful characters, wonderful scenery and an all round feel GREAT story.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

This book took a little bit to get into the flow but was most enjoyable once it did. It was a lovely story and worth a read.

This is a very fun, lighthearted read that will give you a pick-me-up that you didn't know you needed! The characters' friendship is something all of us should have!

It's been a while since the last time I read something this heartwarming, and I'm amused of how the title is in line with the plot until the end.

Meet Dee, a 60-year-old housewife whose husband chooses solo golfing vacation over celebrating his wife's birthday. And Babs, Dee's bestie whose husband has stubbornly decided to sell their house and move to Spain, with or without Babs. Fed up with their husbands, the two women packs their bags for a one-week holiday in Cornwall, staying at a lovely seaside cottage. While visiting healing places, they also get involved in various activities and form bonds with local residents they come to love. In spite of their husbands' demand to come back home, both women face their own turmoil over what best to do next.

Having a 60 year old lady as the main lead is not a book I usually pick up because, how appealing can the story be? Boy, I was wrong. It may not be a fast paced story full of intriques; it is actually a wholesome story that drops a bit of conflict here and there without necessarily get the readers overwhelmed. I imagine the premise is quite relatable if you were a married woman living in your 60s. I am not sure why, reading this book seems to give me a calming effect when I had a lot in my mind. I love how the book is easy to digest and focuses on its plot instead of overdescribing the setting that some authors tend to do. I come to love and understand the actions taken by the main character, she is one fascinating lady with a lot to say. The precious lesson I got from this story is that every woman at every age is entitled to stand up for her happiness.

I gladly recommend this book to readers looking for a light, heartwarming, and encouraging story about standing up for yourself.
Special thanks to Boldwood Books for providing digital copy of this book for me via NetGalley to review. All opinions are honestly my own! :)

Karen is a brilliant storyteller and her women's fiction books are right up my street! I always love a book that makes me want to jump right into the story and be part of the cast and this was one of those for sure. Dee and Babs are great central characters and I loved how their stories unfolded and ended up exactly where I would have wanted them to be. This was a wonderful romp of a read that had me grinning from ear to ear. It had me rooting for the ladies from the moment that I met them and wanting to pack my bags and head for this gorgeous Cornish setting!

5 big fat stars for me.

Babs and Dee are having man trouble so decide to take themselves off to Cornwall for a girls holiday. New friendships are made and plans for their future are put in place.

So what I enjoyed in this book is the life long friendship between Babs and Dee, I thought they were great together and would have loved to have seen this duo together throughout the whole book. I like the fact that we see two 60 year old ladies that believe it is possible to start over at that age. I also like the setting of the book in beautiful Cornwall and the sense of community spirit.

What I didn't like so much was the repetition throughout the book and there just wasn't anything exciting that really happens, it was a quick easy read tho.

Dee discovers that what she thought was a surprise weekend trip for her sixtieth birthday is actually a golf trip
for her husband Nigel with his friends. Her best friend Babs discovers that her husband Geoff has put their house
on the market with plans to move to Spain. Unhappy with their husbands' actions, the two decide to take a trip
to Cornwall. As both are re-examining what their marriages mean to them, they become involved with the
community.Will their marriages survive or is it time to move on? Whatever the outcome, their support for each
other is unwavering.
#TheRunawayWives #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

Thank you both NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read this book. Both Dee and Babs have decided it’s time to runaway from their husbands and just have time for themselves. Since both husbands seem to be doing what they want and not include the ladies, Dee and Babs decide to rent a cottage in Cornwall for a week and celebrate Dee’s sixtieth birthday. Both hope that by not being at home their husbands will come to their senses. I enjoyed this book but I’m not sure I’d call it funny but definitely heartwarming. Both women take a trip away from their husbands and find themselves. Dee finds that she can be the fun loving girl from her past and Babs finds that she can stand up for what she wants and still bend without breaking for the ones she loves.

I found this to be an entertaining and comfy read that was just the pick me up I needed. You have two older women (but not too old to not have fun) whose husbands have either gone on "golfing" trip and forgotten and not cared about a birthday and the other planning to sell the house and move to Spain! I feel those are very good reasons to go away for a bit to calm down. And that is what Babs and Dee did. Despite the downer beginning, this is a cozy read about finding the right path, making a home, and deciding what is important in life. I do like how though Babs and Dee went off together, they did not take the same cookie cutter paths to happiness, mostly because one husband is a lying, cheating, toerag (love that insult that I discovered in this book!) and the other just need a good talking to to clear up all the misconceptions and reasons why he is doing what he was doing.

So, if you are looking for a fun light read with a happy ending and new paths made to new homes with friends and family, then you will enjoy this book. I do not think Dee and Babs behave badly but they do have a good time and make so many friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this fun and quick novel!

Dee is very excited about her 60th birthday, she intercepts a message from the travel agent, her husband if taking her away for a week in the sun.

When the surprise holiday turns out to be a golfing holiday for the boys and her husband had forgotten it was her birthday she decides she has had enough.

Her best friend is very jealous, she loves her husband and they have been very happy but her husband has just announced that he is putting the house up for sale and moving to Spain. Barbara is horrified she doesnt want to leave her house.

With both ladies reeling from their husbands plans they decide to go away for a week to a little village on the coast, this is supposed to be a temporary measure but both are wondering whether there is anything worth going back for.

I loved this book, the characters were amazing and you really felt everything with Babs and Dee and you get the ending you would want but have a very enjoyable journey to get there. I would definitely recommend it as a great pick me up, snorted with laughter on a couple of occasions - very embarrassing in public.

The Runaway Wives is a delightful quick read that will leave you with a smile. Dee and Babs are 60 year old longtime friends who are both mired in unhappy marriages. Ignoring Bab’s protests, her husband puts their house on the market so they can move to Spain, while Dee’s husband leaves her on her birthday for his own golfing vacation. What do these unhappy women do? They rent a cottage in Cornwall for a week! What happens next will change their lives forever. Their friendship becomes closer as they make new friends, explore their new independence and learn to stand up for themselves.

Dee and Babs are characters you want to meet. All characters, Edna, Andi, Kenny and even the husbands Nigel and Geoff, are well described. The Cornwall location is atmospheric and the plot, although somewhat predictable, is heartwarming. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Karen King for this ARC.

The little Hitler comment is horrifying and should not be used for any reason !!!

I was thoroughly enjoying the book but quit reading due to that comment. One star. Ugh. So unfortunate that I one comment ruined everything.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from netgalley and the publisher.

This was a cozy read to read in between other things. I loves Babs and Dee's strong friendship and how they help each other get through their hardships in life. They both find themselves having problems with their husbands for different reasons, so they decide to take a vacation together to get away from their worries and stress. They have a wonderful time together at a cottage and make many new friends and are overall just enjoying their life not stressing about their awful husbands. Both women are considering now returning at all. At times I did feel like certain things were repeated several times. More specifically, it felt like the reason they were so upset with their husbands got repetitive.

As far as Geoff and Nigel go, Geoff is definitely the lesser of two evils. I can understand where Geoff is coming from on certain aspects like growing old and feeling as if there is nothing left to live for and that life is becoming mundane. I love how Babs and Geoff are able to communicate better towards the end of the book. Nigel on the other hand is such an awful person and doesn't really have any redeeming qualities. I am glad how both relationships resolved things and that both Dee and Babs were happy in the end. Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Karen King for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

This is a brilliant book about 2 women coming to a crossroads in their lives. The strength of their friendship is at the heart of the story, but the new friends Dee quickly makes in Cornwall are also good characters. There are beautiful descriptions of Cornwall too, making it a perfect holiday read.

A brilliant funny happy sad read. Babs and Dee in their 60’s both have husband issues . They go on holiday to Cornwall and the book goes from there. I loved it. Very good ending. Loved the clothes bit . A perfect wet Saturday afternoon read .

Karen King’s The Runaway Wives is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone in need of a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud escape. This wonderfully funny and uplifting story follows two best friends, Dee and Babs, as they take a bold step towards reclaiming their independence – and boy, do they deliver!

Dee’s sixtieth birthday surprise turns out to be far from what she expected when her husband books yet another solo golfing trip for himself. Feeling utterly fed up, she’s joined by Babs, whose husband’s sudden plans to move to Spain without consulting her is the final straw. Together, the two women embark on an impromptu adventure to the seaside, with a refreshing sense of rebellion and freedom. Their road trip soon turns into an unforgettable experience, filled with moments of fun, laughter, and even a few surprising revelations.

King has done a fantastic job creating two relatable, strong, and incredibly likeable characters in Dee and Babs. Their friendship is the heart and soul of the story, and it’s impossible not to cheer for them as they discover that stepping outside of their usual roles brings them joy, excitement, and a sense of self-worth they never realized they’d been missing. The dialogue is witty, and the chemistry between Dee and Babs is utterly charming, making their journey together a pleasure to follow.

As the wives begin to embrace their newfound freedom, the book becomes an exploration of self-discovery, the bonds of friendship, and the importance of standing up for oneself – all wrapped in a delightful, humorous package. The humor is lighthearted yet heartfelt, and Karen King strikes the perfect balance between comedy and deeper emotional moments. It’s a feel-good read that will have you laughing and reflecting on the value of taking control of your own life.

For fans of authors like Maddie Please, Judy Leigh, and Dawn French, The Runaway Wives will feel like an absolute treat. It’s a beautifully written story that reminds us all that it’s never too late to take charge of our own happiness, and sometimes, the best adventures are the ones we least expect.

If you're looking for a fun, uplifting, and empowering read, this book is a must! Full of humor, heart, and unforgettable moments, The Runaway Wives is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and leave you thinking about the importance of friendship, independence, and living life on your own terms. Highly recommended!

Dee is married to husband Nigel, a solicitor and thinks having seen an email, he is about to whisk her off for a surprise weekend away to celebrate her sixtieth birthday the following day. Her close friend Babs is thrilled for her, but not so thrilled when she arrives home to find her husband Geoff has put the house on the market as he wants to move to Spain- something she has already said she doesn't want to do. When Dee’s weekend turns out not to be for her but for her husband and his golfing friends, the two ladies decide to take themselves off to Cornwall for a few days to sort out their heads from their errant husbands who both appear to be having mid life crises. Can the ladies keep their marriages whilst keeping their sanity and what they want rather than just that of their husbands?

I quickly got into this and really enjoyed it. Both Babs and Dee are relatable characters with a sense of purpose as well as a sense of fun. A down to earth approach to life with a sense of fun makes the ladies story very engaging. I liked both of them and could relate in part to what was happening. A wonderful easy read I most thoroughly enjoyed.

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