Book Review - The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh

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Title: The Silver Ladies Do Lunch

Author: Judy Leigh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 2nd June 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

When Lin, Josie and Minnie left Miss Hamilton’s class at Middleton Ferris County Primary School, sixty years ago, they could only dream about what the future had in store for them.  The one thing they knew for certain was that their friendship would thrive.

Years later and life hasn’t always been kind.  Josie is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband Harry a year after his sudden demise. Lin is hoping to celebrate her fiftieth wedding anniversary with husband Neil, but he’s suddenly keeping secrets and telling her lies, so she’s suspecting the worst  And as for Minnie, well she loves her life in Oxford academia, but with no family to call her own, she sometimes wonders if the sacrifices were all worthwhile.

So, when the ninety-year-old Miss Hamilton – or Cecily as she lets them call her now – glides gracefully back into their lives on her glamorous purple mobility scooter, the ladies are in need of inspiration and fun.  And over their regular lunches, the friends start to dream of leaving the past in the past and embracing the future, because there’s nothing you can’t achieve with good friends at your side.

Judy Leigh is back with the perfect blend of fun and friendship, capers and caring. The perfect feel-good story for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

What a lovely story about the value of friendship and community. It's heartwarming to see how Lin, Josie and Minnie's friendship has endured since primary school and how everyone on the village has fond memories of Miss Hamilton. 

Who has now moved back into the area, and soon becomes a friend to the Silver Ladies, joining them for their regular lunches. 

I enjoyed getting to know all of our main characters, in addition to young Florence who has her own secret, and needs the support of the older women so much. 

As I have come to expect from a Judy Leigh novel, this features the more mature in years ladies, living life to the fullest. I think if I have one ambition in life, it would be become like a Judy Leigh heroine when I'm older, still enjoying life, and in the case of this book, perhaps a lot like Minnie. 

I would have loved a teacher like Miss Hamilton, Cecily, she seemed wonderful and so devoted to her pupils, and even in her nineties, she is still a fabulous woman, who is a role model to us all. 

This was a character driven novel that had me wanting to know more about all of the characters plus those in the wider community, as we learn so much about all of them. 

What a great place to live, and what an enjoyable story. 

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