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Gail Lockwood and her Imaginary Agony Aunt: The laugh out loud debut women's fiction novel for the sandwich generation
For fifty-something Gail Lockwood the new millennium starts with redundancy. Her to-do list reads, 'Get a job. Pay off the suite. Do roots and nails. Get a man and get laid.' Not easy when her boss, the flamboyant Bradley Jones, has jetted off to Spain, and the job centre has nothing for a woman whose only qualification is a Brownie badge. Unemployed and firmly sandwiched between her eccentric mother and her problem daughter, a single mother who always seems to need last minute babysitting, Gail needs help so invents her own imaginary agony aunt to help guide her. But as she navigates through the job market, her mother's suspicious new boyfriend and an accident that brings her old boss back into her life, Gail starts to realize that sometimes the most important things can't be put on a to-do list. Will Gail's agony aunt help her navigate the ups and downs of life whilst still achieving everything on her list?
301 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 22, 2023
I was lucky enough to be on the book tour for this one. Another great book by indie publishers Cahilldavis. I have loved everything they have published so far.
It’s a fun, entertaining, light hearted read with laugh out loud moments. With a slightly older likeable main character, an interesting relationship with her ‘agony aunt’ and an interesting premise of a book! I devoured this. Quick read and perfect for a warm day in the garden with a g and t!
For fifty-something Gail Lockwood the new millennium starts with redundancy. Her To Do list reads, ‘Get a job. Pay off the suite. Do roots and nails. Get a man and get laid.’ Not easy when her boss, the flamboyant Bradley Jones, has jetted off to Spain, and the job centre has nothing for a woman whose only qualification is a Brownie badge.
Unemployed and firmly sandwiched between her eccentric mother and her problem daughter, a single mother who always seems to need last minute babysitting, Gail needs help so invents her own imaginary agony aunt to help guide her. But as she navigates through the job market, her mother's suspicious new boyfriend and an accident that brings her old boss back into her life, Gail starts to realize that sometimes the most important things can't be put on a to-do list.
Will Gail’s agony aunt help her navigate the ups and downs of life whilst still achieving everything on her list?
It’s a fun, entertaining, light hearted read with laugh out loud moments. With a slightly older likeable main character, an interesting relationship with her ‘agony aunt’ and an interesting premise of a book! I devoured this. Quick read and perfect for a warm day in the garden with a g and t!
For fifty-something Gail Lockwood the new millennium starts with redundancy. Her To Do list reads, ‘Get a job. Pay off the suite. Do roots and nails. Get a man and get laid.’ Not easy when her boss, the flamboyant Bradley Jones, has jetted off to Spain, and the job centre has nothing for a woman whose only qualification is a Brownie badge.
Unemployed and firmly sandwiched between her eccentric mother and her problem daughter, a single mother who always seems to need last minute babysitting, Gail needs help so invents her own imaginary agony aunt to help guide her. But as she navigates through the job market, her mother's suspicious new boyfriend and an accident that brings her old boss back into her life, Gail starts to realize that sometimes the most important things can't be put on a to-do list.
Will Gail’s agony aunt help her navigate the ups and downs of life whilst still achieving everything on her list?
June 17, 2023
Not usually my sort of genre, yet this somehow ended up as one of my five top reads of the year! I’ve been reading a lot outside my box lately, and this book really showed me why doing so is a brilliant idea. I tend to lean towards darker books, humour not massively doing it for me. I now want to read more books like this! Maybe it was the tougher subjects within the humour that helped grab my attention.
The attention to detail is incredible within this book. The author really creates a picture with body language, action and setting the scene. I could picture every single moment and character perfectly, Dilys’s eyebrows becoming a character themselves.
This story reached a satisfying ending, so I don’t imagine there being a sequel, yet if a second one was written, I’d pick it up without hesitation. I am just so absorbed in the characters that I could follow them without any need for a proper storyline.
I loved the characters in different ways, but I think Bradley got my attention the most. I felt sorry for him an awful lot, the guy who’s always positive, always selfless, always cracking jokes irrelevant of how he actually feels.
The trans scene stuck with me a lot, where there was perhaps naivety to the situation. Although the world is more accepting nowadays, it wasn’t as much so back then, and there still is a lot more work to do.
The attention to detail is incredible within this book. The author really creates a picture with body language, action and setting the scene. I could picture every single moment and character perfectly, Dilys’s eyebrows becoming a character themselves.
This story reached a satisfying ending, so I don’t imagine there being a sequel, yet if a second one was written, I’d pick it up without hesitation. I am just so absorbed in the characters that I could follow them without any need for a proper storyline.
I loved the characters in different ways, but I think Bradley got my attention the most. I felt sorry for him an awful lot, the guy who’s always positive, always selfless, always cracking jokes irrelevant of how he actually feels.
The trans scene stuck with me a lot, where there was perhaps naivety to the situation. Although the world is more accepting nowadays, it wasn’t as much so back then, and there still is a lot more work to do.
May 26, 2023
This book is hilarious!
Gail is a single, 50-year-old woman, recently out of a job and trying to navigate all that life throws at her. Her daughter needs a babysitter, her mother is over the top, and her best friend's daughter has run off with Gail's husband! Add to the mix an imaginary Agony Aunt with a love for the color pink. (I admittedly had to Google the meaning of an Agony Aunt - someone who answers advice columns, think Dear Abby.)
Her to-do list reads:
💫 Get a job.
💫 Pay off the suite.
💫 Do roots and nails.
💫 Get a man and get laid.
The result is a completely relatable story for any woman 50 years and older. There are so many genuinely laugh-out-loud moments in this book that make it enjoyable. This book was a total change of pace for me and a breath of fresh air.
My advice for this one is: don't judge a book by its cover. I'm so happy to have read this book.
I am thankful to Cahill Davis Publishing and the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Gail is a single, 50-year-old woman, recently out of a job and trying to navigate all that life throws at her. Her daughter needs a babysitter, her mother is over the top, and her best friend's daughter has run off with Gail's husband! Add to the mix an imaginary Agony Aunt with a love for the color pink. (I admittedly had to Google the meaning of an Agony Aunt - someone who answers advice columns, think Dear Abby.)
Her to-do list reads:
💫 Get a job.
💫 Pay off the suite.
💫 Do roots and nails.
💫 Get a man and get laid.
The result is a completely relatable story for any woman 50 years and older. There are so many genuinely laugh-out-loud moments in this book that make it enjoyable. This book was a total change of pace for me and a breath of fresh air.
My advice for this one is: don't judge a book by its cover. I'm so happy to have read this book.
I am thankful to Cahill Davis Publishing and the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2023
I'm loving this already from the first few chapters! I love Gail and her agony aunt! How blunt she is and how I can picture them discussing things together! Having been made redundant myself before, I feel Gail's worries and panics come to the surface.
I was intrigued to see how the story played out and I wasn't disappointed!
Relatable, genuine, likeable characters, believable storyline. Great read overall - would recommend! Loved it!
I was intrigued to see how the story played out and I wasn't disappointed!
Relatable, genuine, likeable characters, believable storyline. Great read overall - would recommend! Loved it!
May 28, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp of a book. Fast moving, with plenty of twists and turns, it kept me entertained right up to the very satisfying ending.
There’s lots of humour, both of the ‘laugh out loud’ variety and the gentle, wry smiles of recognition and empathy with the characters.
The characters are real people, doing real jobs and facing real dilemmas (although, the less said about Will’s particular and peculiar dilemma, the better!!).
I’m looking forward to the sequel…
There’s lots of humour, both of the ‘laugh out loud’ variety and the gentle, wry smiles of recognition and empathy with the characters.
The characters are real people, doing real jobs and facing real dilemmas (although, the less said about Will’s particular and peculiar dilemma, the better!!).
I’m looking forward to the sequel…
July 23, 2023
With a cast of quirky (and sometimes larger than life) characters, this is a perfect summer read. Gail and her friends and family are all, whether they know it or not, looking for love, in Gail's case overseen by the imaginary agony aunt who pops up to offer advice, not always welcome. The story is told with warmth and a great deal of wit. I can see this being adapted for television in the style of the Madame Blanc mysteries. Highly recommended.
May 7, 2023
Well it is fair to say that this definitely isn't what I was expecting!
A tad frantic with lots going on, and a cheeky sense of humour throughout.
Nice to see a read with a slightly older main character and a grandmother as this is rarely seen.
A fun escapism read. Didn't blow me away, but nice enough.
A tad frantic with lots going on, and a cheeky sense of humour throughout.
Nice to see a read with a slightly older main character and a grandmother as this is rarely seen.
A fun escapism read. Didn't blow me away, but nice enough.
June 23, 2023
Gail Lockwood is such a fantastic character, I really enjoyed that we got to read from an older protagonist and needing to start afresh.
This is a fun read and you will find following our leading lady entertaining and proves that we need to listen to our own brains about more, we do know our selves best.
This is a perfect quick read and worth adding to your TBR.
This is a fun read and you will find following our leading lady entertaining and proves that we need to listen to our own brains about more, we do know our selves best.
This is a perfect quick read and worth adding to your TBR.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews