Have always lived Fionas books and once again this one did not disappoint. A really warm, cosy, hug of a read that had such likeable characters that were so easy to relate to.
The character of Celia certainly struck a chord with me...a loving wife with a husband who shows no gratitude, alongside the hard work of running her own business. The friendship bonds between old and newer friends was beautifully portrayed alongside the struggle to rebuild a life after it feels like it is crumbling around you.

Highly recommend a read of this brilliant book.

ARC Review: *The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back* by Fiona Gibson

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 joyful, life-affirming stars)

Fiona Gibson has done it again — *The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back* is a hilarious, heartwarming, and deeply relatable story about rediscovering yourself when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Celia’s world turns upside down after a shocking betrayal, a surprise visit from her glamorous best friend, and an unexpected new friendship with a handsome French teacher (and his troubled cactus!). Watching Celia bloom after years of feeling stuck was both moving and laugh-out-loud funny. Her journey from lost to lively is filled with awkward moments, sweet surprises, and a glorious sense of hope.

Gibson writes midlife reinvention with so much authenticity and charm. Celia’s struggles — with confidence, love, and letting go of old expectations — feel wonderfully real, but the tone always stays uplifting and empowering. Plus, the Glasgow setting and plant hospital subplot add a delightful, cozy backdrop to her adventures.

**Tropes and themes I loved:**
- Midlife reinvention
- Cheating husband glow-up
- Best friend chaos
- Found family vibes
- Sweet slow-burn romance
- Personal growth and empowerment

*The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back* is a reminder that it’s never too late to start again — and to laugh your way through the mess. Warm, witty, and totally unputdownable!

*Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!*

A light, pacy read about Cecila, who catches her husband in an uncompromising position just before a series of happenings occur. Humoursly told, this book was an enjoyable read in all. 4 stars. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Celia and Amanda were best friends all through their school years until life sent them in different directions, Amanda to London and a career in media, Celia stays in Glasgow as a single parent.
Now Celia's life is in turmoil after discovering her husband Geoff is having an affair and Amanda lands on her doorstep to stay indefinitely.
Taking refuge in her plant "Hospital" means meeting new people and plants including a cactus called Spike in need of TLC.
Very enjoyable read, will definitely look for more books by Fiona.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in return for my honest review

The blurb really appealed to me here. It was an enjoyable, witty, heartwarming book. The main character was relatable and there were other likeable ones. The story had themes I’m sure a lot of women can relate to. I will look out for more by the author.

Celia's life hasn't turned out as planned. She's got a plant hospital in her Glasgow flat. A husband who wants to control everything and her son Logan who has decided to study mycology. Everything changes when she discovers her husband in bed with someone from work

Another great read from Fiona Gibson which I really enjoyed.

Celia lives with her husband Geoff as her son has moved on and gone to University. She soon finds out her life is a lie as her husband has been having an affair with a work colleague.

What follows is Celia getting her life back together and rediscovering herself. Along with some great friends and her son.

Thanks to NetGalley, Fiona Gibson and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Fiona Gibson just has a spark that makes her characters leap of the page. Celia is just wonderful, her passion for plants sparked something in me, and also her tea hint has hopefully saved my aloe plant that needs some extra help. I was so excited for Celia and Amanda, we all have that one friend that we were super close with, and then life happened, and you just aren’t as close, but then life happens, and you need each other. That was the beauty of this story, the fact that they each help each other grow and the spark of friendship develops into something so special. There is a great plot and characters that you cant help but adore like the amazing young Mathilde, who shone out all on her own.

Celia's life is not what she planned, she wants something different. her son leaves for college, and she is stuck with her penny-pinching husband, but her old friend arrives, and things start to change.

I enjoyed watching the character development with the main protagonists and was happy to see that the story ended on a hopeful note.

and review The woman who got her spark back.
A really witty, heartfelt relatable read that I couldn’t put down!
I love how Fiona portrays and champions women of a certain age, extolling the virtues of maturity,courage and the fact that it’s never too late to change, have fun, live and love and the wonderful thing that is female friendship and support, such a wonderful and priceless gift that should never be underestimated!
Loved Celia and the way she coped/ changed/started again after finding her husband Geoff in a very compromising position. Aided and abetted by her friends Amanda and Terri, Celia embarks on a voyage of self discovery and begins to live and love once more proving that you are never too old for a second chance at life and all it entails!
A really heartwarming read that will stay with you long after you have read it
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Fiona Gibson's books are always a good read, with believable characters and situations, a light and humorous touch yet with some more serious undercurrents.

Forty-something Celia Bloom is married to penny-pinching Geoff and mother to an adult son, Logan (the product of an unfortunate teenage encounter). Her life is diabolically boring, lightened only by her love for her son and the plants she cares for, but the arrival of childhood friend Amanda, a slightly washed-up TV presenter, together with an unpleasant discovery in an inherited caravan, shake things up rather a lot. Celia's life is definitely in for some big changes, not least rediscovering the spark she thought she'd lost.

I liked her love of plants and growing things, though I'm not sure how much of a viable concern a "houseplant hospital" really is, at least as a standalone business (don't most people just throw their nearly-deceased houseplants away and buy new ones?). Well, it's a nice idea anyway, and leads to more changes in Celia's life.

Great read, as always.

A heartwarming read! The Women Who got Her Spark Back this book is funny, relatable, and uplifting-perfect for when you need a little boost and a reminder that it's never too late to start over. The characters felt real, and the story had a great balance of humor and heart.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. The compelling narrative made it nearly impossible to set the book aside

Another book by Fiona that has just the right balance of wit, humour and is heartwarming. I loved the characters in the book, it was lovely to see Celia come alive again and find herself gradually without reclaiming youth or changing who she is as a person with her supportive friends around her.

The way in which it was written was clever as it showed different characters lives/
Perceptions but all blended together which made for a fab read. It’s a feel good, lighthearted read and a page turner. Fiona’s books never disappoint and this is another one that proves that.

Review of ‘The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back’ by Fiona Gibson, due for publication on 7 June 2025 by Boldwood Books.

I really enjoyed this story about Celia, whose life turns upside down when she discovers her husband has been cheating on her, and goes on a journey of re-discovering who she is, with the help of her friends Amanda and Terri, her son Logan, and her new friend Enzo and his daughter Mathilde.

It’s a feel good, light hearted read, where you find yourself truly liking the characters and urging Celia on.

Another wonderful book by Fiona Gibson, a highly recommended read.

A joy to read as all Fiona Gibson books are … we meet Celia married to penny pinching Geoff with her son Logan from a dalliance when she was very young … life seems okay she loves her work running a plant hospital then things take a drastic change when she walks in on Geoff and another woman ….. reeling from the deceit just when things aren’t going well her old friend Amanda arrives to take care of her and things the a turn for the better . New challenges new friends and a new life with her old spark back

Celia thought she had life more or less figured out. Her son had flown the nest, her marriage was comfortable (if a little stale), and her world had shrunk to the quiet rhythm of her Glasgow flat and the houseplants she nursed like patients in her makeshift “plant hospital.” But when her husband Geoff is caught in bed with his secretary (yes, from the sausage factory), everything unravels—fast.

What follows is a sharp, witty, and heartwarming story about a woman forced out of her routine and into rediscovery. Celia doesn’t bounce back instantly, and that’s part of the charm. She’s awkward, unsure, and completely out of her depth. Her life gets even messier when her glamorous best friend Amanda shows up unannounced, suitcase in hand, turning Celia’s peaceful (read: dull) world upside down. Add in a charming French teacher with a cactus emergency, and the chaos begins to bloom—literally and figuratively.

Fiona Gibson captures the feeling of being stuck, then having to find your way forward without a map. Celia isn’t chasing youth or pretending to be someone she’s not. She’s embracing who she is now, learning to make space for joy, friendship, and even romance in a life she thought was already written. There’s a refreshing honesty in that. The humor is spot-on—dry, self-aware, and never forced—and the emotional beats land with just the right weight.

This is more than a lighthearted midlife makeover story. It’s about what happens when you stop living on autopilot. It’s about friendship that holds you up, small moments that shift your perspective, and the slow but satisfying process of coming back to life.

Perfect for fans of witty women’s fiction with emotional depth, The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back is a satisfying and joyful read about second chances that don’t feel like clichés