The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around: The BRAND NEW hilarious and heartwarming tale about chasing your dreams for 2026

by Fiona Gibson

Pre-order the BRAND NEW hilarious, feel-good read from NUMBER ONE bestselling author Fiona Gibson 🎸 Is it ever too late for an encore? 🎸

When they were young, Josie and Shane thought both they and their band were headed for greatness.

But fast forward three decades, and Josie’s life looks more like

A dead-end job in a niche London bookshop

A boyfriend who thinks the answer to their financial problems is Josie sharing photos of her feet on OnlyFans

A grown daughter who’d rather Josie stayed out of her new family's business

Then Ravi – their band's fearless frontwoman and Josie’s oldest friend – dies, leaving one last for Josie and Shane to finish the 'tour' they abandoned all those years ago.

Which is how Josie ends up rattling up the motorway in a retired ambulance with one mattress, one map, and the man who once broke her heart.

Will this be yet another mistake for Josie? Or could it be her chance to make her life what she'd always dreamed it would be?

Praise for Fiona

'I absolutely love Fiona Gibson's funny, emotional, relatable writing.’ – JENNY COLGAN

'Hilarious, sparky and joyful, relatable and brilliant! Highly recommended, whatever the time of year.' – JUDY LEIGH

'Snowy, sparkly and satisfying. Highly recommended.' – MADDIE PLEASE

'Fun, festive and full of good cheer, Tis the damn season! should be on the top of your Christmas reading wish list.' – SARAH BENNETT

'This book isn't just for Christmas... it's the perfect escapist novel for any time of the year!' – KATE GALLEY

'A festive, funny and heartfelt story of friendship and finding your way. I loved it.' – FREYA KENNEDY

'Warm, witty and wonderfully relatable. Perfect escapism for women struggling to juggle everything, especially at Christmas!' – KATHLEEN WHYMAN

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2026

About the author

Fiona is an author and journalist who has written for many UK publications including The Observer, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Red, New Woman, Top Sante and Elle. She writes a monthly column for Sainsbury’s magazine and is a Contributing Editor at Red magazine.

Fiona lives in Scotland with her husband, their twin sons and daughter. She likes to draw, run 10k races, play her saxophone and lie in the bath with a big glass of wine, although not all at once.

Reviews

[Sally Cowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cosy feel-good story about two friends who were in a band tgether as teenagers but fell out and had become estranged.

When their former bandmate Ravi passes away they are brought together again at her wake.  They find out that Ravi has left them a challenge to finish the tour up North that had ended so abruptly. They decide to borrow a friend's camper van and see what happens!

I always really enjoy Fiona Gibsons novels, easy to read and lots of likeable, relatable characters!

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real book of self discovery, first loves and friendships. This was a great read, perfect for a trip away. I couldn’t put it down once I had started it. Josie is a woman of a certain age with a dodgy boyfriend and a stuck up daughter and son in law. She hears from her oldest friends mum that Ravi has died and she goes back to her old home town for the wake and party. Once home she meets her first true love Shane and they are given the task of revisiting some of their past. The trip they go on is thought provoking, heart breaking, fun, gentle and beautiful all wrapped up in a not really converted ambulance camper van. It’s a great read.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to review this new title by Fiona Gibson, author of 'The Woman who got her Spark Back'.

Josie speaks for many of us more mature ladies as she bumbles along through life, dealing with family, work and menopause, without feeling seen or heard.
When she hears of the loss of an old school friend, things begin to find perspective in her life. She starts to re-evaluate her life, and discovers that she's settling, not living.
The opportunity to change all that arises, and Josie embarks on a journey that "turns her life around".

I really loved the setting of this story, the characters are fabulous and relatable, and the laughs are pure joy.
Whilst the story evokes memories of all teenager's dramas, of love, friendship, and the inevitable squabbling associated with adolescent life, it also highlights that even as adults, few of us have it all figured out.
A thoughtful, reflective and amusing story of what can happen when we take a chance and move out of our comfort zone.

[Rustic_reads_ (Donna) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around’ is a humorous account of one woman’s journey of self discovery, after years of feeling like she was in a rut.

30 years after last seeing her teenage friends - and boyfriend Shane- Josie is thrust reluctantly into a reunion at the funeral of their close friend Ravi. What ensues is a journey of self discovery, healing and the potential for second chance romance, with laughter and tears and self reflection along the way.

I feel like a lot of us can relate to Josie. Growing older comes with regrets, and it’s how you deal with them that really matters.

This was a fun, easy and lighthearted read. However it also held a lot of nostalgia for the past - and a lesson for us all that it’s never too late to go after what you want. Whether the end result is what you expect, it’s always worth trying to find that happy ever after- in whatever form you find it.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around is a wonderfully uplifting story about second chances, old dreams, and the courage it takes to rewrite your life when everyone else thinks the best years are behind you. It’s warm, funny, and quietly empowering — the kind of novel that leaves you rooting for its heroine with your whole heart.

Josie is instantly relatable: stuck in a dead‑end job, tangled in a relationship that’s more draining than supportive, and trying to navigate a grown daughter who doesn’t quite want her input anymore. Her life feels small, muted, and far from the bright, loud future she once imagined with her band. And then Ravi — their fearless frontwoman and Josie’s oldest friend — dies, leaving behind one final request that changes everything.

What follows is a gorgeous, chaotic, deeply human road trip of healing and rediscovery. Watching Josie climb into a retired ambulance with one mattress, one map, and Shane — the man who once broke her heart — is both hilarious and unexpectedly moving. Their shared history hums beneath every mile, every argument, every moment of quiet understanding. The book captures beautifully how old wounds can soften, how grief can push us toward clarity, and how sometimes the life we want is still waiting for us, just a little further down the road.

The story balances humour with tenderness, nostalgia with growth, and heartbreak with hope. Josie’s journey isn’t about becoming someone new — it’s about remembering who she was before life got in the way, and choosing to step back into her own spotlight.
Warm, witty, and full of heart, The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around is a celebration of friendship, music, and the bravery it takes to give yourself an encore. A truly feel‑good read that lingers long after the final page.

My thanks to Fiona Gibson, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Stephanie Coniff · Rating 4 out of 5]

👩‍🎤🎸👨‍🎤❤️ The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around by Fiona Gibson
Genre: Romance
Length: 272 pages
Spice Level: 🫑🚫
Pub Date: February 20, 2026
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Summary:
Josie, Shane, and Ravi (age 20) were a trio of friends who grew up together and eventually started a rock band. Hoping to 'make it big', they went on a mini tour around the North of England, only for it to stop short toward the end after a big blow-out argument.

Thirty-seven years later, Ravi passes away. Shane and Josie see each other again at her funeral for the first time, after never speaking since that tour, and after having been very much in love.

Ravi left them a letter with her dying wish: for Shane and Josie to go on their 'tour' again and visit every town on the list. Shane and Josie have almost four decades of lives lived, and things left unsaid, but decide to honor their former band mate and friend. Will sparks rekindle between them, or will this 'tour' prove just as disastrous as the original?

Review:
Gosh... Fiona Gibson really knows how to make her characters feel SO real. They never feel like two perfect people that just end up in their HEA, fairytale-style. I loved how different both Shane and Josie's paths were to get to the present. The author really captures life's struggles with jobs, exes, parenting (even grandparenting in Josie's case) and how all of us are so complex in our humanity. This book was equal parts sweet, hopeful, sad, nostalgic, and a fun journey following the dual POVs of Shane and Josie. You will absolutely adore both characters and really root for them to find other again in this heartfelt love story.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been 37 years since Josie last saw Shane. At that time, they were young and had a band complete with their friend, Ravi. Now, all these years later, Ravi has passed away and Josie and Shane have gone to her celebration of life. They learn that Ravi left them a request. She wants them to finish the band tour they started years ago and didn’t finish. As Josie is in between jobs and Shane is due some time off, they borrow a man’s converted ambulance and take off.

Josie is single and Shane is divorced. Shane’s ex-wife’s new boyfriend is quite wealthy and can give her and her two children lavish vacations while Shane plugs along at his job. Josie’s daughter and her over-bearing husband are reluctant to let Josie see her new granddaughter much so this trip will be fun for her.

Shane and Josie take off and begin to revisit each place and take a Polaroid picture of it. It’s along the way that they open up about their lives and their remembrances of their times together with Ravi. Both of them find themselves attracted to one another but try to fight it until they cannot. But again, something comes up to try and break them up. Will they ever be able to be honest with one another and maybe become a couple?

I enjoyed “The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back” but this book didn’t quite measure up to the hype. It many ways it was depressing due to the mediocre lives these characters have led and the death of their friend. I kept feeling like I wanted to give them some money so they could go have a nice drink somewhere. I’m sure that I will enjoy more books by this author in the future.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shane, Josie, and Ravi were best friends and band mates when they were in their 20s. Music was their dream. Nearly 30 years later, Ravi has passed away. Josie and Shane reunite after many years at the celebration of life ceremony for Ravi. Ravi leaves both Shane and Josie with one wish: recreate the itinerary from their tour when they were a band.

For Josie, this trip is a chance is for a fresh start and connecting to the dreams and hopes she had when she was younger. It’s also a chance to connect to Shane again. We also see not only the history of Josie’s past, but also her life currently in her 50s.

The journey allows Shane and Josie to have the honest conversations they needed to have: to be open about their feelings. They’re honest with each other about their past and their present and what they want for their futures. We see their history through flashbacks, which allow us to understand why they drifted apart.

I found this story to be heartfelt and hopeful. There’s also levity during the road trip scenes when traveling in a converted ambulance from town to town for a camping holiday.

Both Josie and Shane’s stories were human and honest. We see their challenges as well as what they hope for their futures.

This novel is a story of second chances, new beginnings, moving away from our comfort zone, finding love and happiness, and defining life on our own terms.

Thank you to Fiona Gibson and Love Books Tours for the gifted copy and opportunity to be part of the tour! I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of Fiona Gibson's new novel, The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around. The title appealed to me, and the story of two former bandmates who reconnect because of a deathbed wish by the third member of the trio sounded promising to me when I signed up, but I didn't know what to expect since I had not read any of Gibson's other books before.
Josie and Shane have a tumultuous past thanks to secrets kept, miscommunications, and fear, which causes the breakup of the band they'd formed with their friend, Ravi, as well as the dissolution of their friendships. But a "gift" they receive at the celebration of Ravi's life and the circumstances of their own lives send them on a strange and nostalgic road trip through the stops of their last (only) tour.
Though I hadn't read any of Gibson's previous work, I will probably read more after this because what I found in The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around was an at times funny, at times heartfelt story of how our past experiences stay with us and how we can get in our own way. Josie and Shane's experiences - their hurts, their triumphs - feel genuine as do their reactions to their interactions with each other and the people in their lives.
As for the writing, the story moves slowly at first, but once the pair hits the road in "Doris", the pace really picks up. This book was mostly a joy to read, but the ending seemed forced as Gibson tried to tie Ravi back into Shane and Josie's story. Also, I didn't feel that the title doesn't quite fit the story because it leaves Shane's story arc out.

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, heartwarming and uplifting story that made me feel every emotion possible.

I absolutely adored Josie & Shane. Their 2nd meet-cute (if you can call it that) had me laughing with how wonderfully awkward it was.
Their chemistry and banter was fantastic.
Again, it is great to read older characters as I can relate to them a lot more especially Josie and the realities of menopause and doctors dismissing women’s bodies & health.

This is definitely about Josie and Shane and their individual journeys as they revisit the past amidst the pressures and challenges of their current lives with the hope of a second chance at life and love.
It may have been a bittersweet tragedy that brought them back together but it comes at the right time for Josie & Shane. And, even though Ravi isn’t with them on their adventure (the second time around), she is present in all they do and her last letter was beautiful and got me a little teary.

I would have liked Josie to confront her daughter and son in law because they are awful but I guess it’s a reflection of real life. There are just some battles we aren’t ready to face yet.

Wonderfully written with warmth & humour that made this a delightful read. I can’t wait to read more from Fiona.

#LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview #ad #fionagibson

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around by Fiona Gibson is a warmly humorous romp through the English countryside that illustrates that making silly mistakes through lack of communication is not just the purview of the young.
I enjoyed the older main characters, Josie and Shane, who were torn apart through their own actions when they were young, and are brought together decades later through the passing of a dear friend with whom they'd both lost touch. Ravi has left a request for her former band mates - retrace the steps of their first and last tour as a band. Thus is the former couple thrown together, and the journey they take through the north is both physical and emotional.
Told from the point of view of both characters, the story sees the pair struggling with the past and their current situations as they get to know each other. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking in parts, and the characters are realistic and relatable. The book is superbly written, with humour and fun tempering the lesson of the need to communicate honestly with those you care about.
Thank you for the ARC of #TheWomanWhoTurnedHerLifeAround to #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley.

[Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had thoroughly enjoyed Fiona Gibson's The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her newest release The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around.

Josie, Shane and Ravi were high school friends who formed a band. Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances the three friends lost contact. Fast forward to Josie and Shane being adults when they hear the news that their dear friend, Ravi, has passed away and left them both something.

Ravi's message that she leaves her friends before her death, asks the remaining two to retrace their band's tour route before their friendship fell apart.

Josie and Shane embark on a tour of remembrance. There are some funny parts to their journey but there are also some very sad parts.

This was an enjoyable read. I had a bit of trouble connecting to the FMC hence three stars and not higher.

Possible triggers: Domestic abuse, infidelity, child abuse, and cancer death.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Debbie Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona Gibson does it again, I devoured this book in two days and as usual Fiona’s writing made me laugh out loud at points and I love the way as a woman in her 50s I can so relate to what her characters are dealing with (let me assure you however fantastic for readers of all ages). In this book Josie finds out her old school friend and co band member Ravi has died and has been asked to attend the funeral in her old home town. where Shane, her first love, is also in attendance
Ravi leaves a letter for them setting out her wishes for them to visit their old haunts when they were in the band together and Josie agrees to go on this with Shane in the ‘campervan’ Shane has borrowed and what follows is a trip with heartbreaking memories, fun times and a chance for Shane and Josie to reconnect.
A genuinely thought provoking and heartwarming story but with humour too and a real page turner that I had to read at every opportunity.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book however all opinions are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of ‘The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around’ by Fiona Gibson, due to be published on 20 February 2026 by Boldwood Books.

Josie & Shane find themselves flung back together after over 30 years of not speaking to each other, sent on a quest by their friend and former bandmate Ravi following her death, to revisit the venues of their one and only tour.

Each chapter is told from either Josie or Shane’s point of view as they both deal with their unexpected adventure together at a time when they are both at a crossroads in their lives, with each seemingly unable to tell the other that they really want to.  

This was a light hearted read, amusing and heartfelt - both Josie and Shane were likeable, even though you want to bang their heads together! The same cannot be said for all the supporting characters, with a couple of really unpleasant people in their lives. A good, quick and uplifting read. 

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around by Fiona Gibson

I always enjoy Fiona Gibson's characters. They're just so relatable! This was an uplifting second-chance romance from a favorite author.

Unbeknownst to Josie, our menopausal FMC, her former best friend, Ravi, has been ill and passes away. Ravi leaves Josie a letter with a mad scheme for her and their former band-mate Shane to relive the tour their band started decades ago, but was dramatically cut short. Along the way, Josie and Shane rediscover who they are and who they want to be.

4/5 stars. There's humor, reconciliation, and realistic recovery from past trauma. I was hoping for a little more resolution in one of the plot lines, but that's just life. You don't always get closure. Recommended as a great heartwarming escapist read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Fiona Gibson, and Boldwood books for the opportunity to read the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books & Fiona Gibson for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unrequited love/second chance romance with main characters in their late 50s. A beautiful, realistic picture of life when it doesn't all go the way we hope or plan. I don't think we see enough stories in the romance genre at this stage in life- and this kind of floundering. Life isn't over after our 20s, 30s-- there is growth and thriving in 40s, 50s, and beyond.

My heart ached (still aches) for Josie's relationship with her grown daughter, Cora as effected by her spouse. I would love to unpack that more- so maybe this a request for that story? :)

Characters 9
Atmosphere/Setting 9
Writing Style 8
Plot 7
Intrigue 8
Logic/Relationships 7
Enjoyment 8
Average Score: 8
CAWPILE rating method used. All credit to creator Book Roast on YouTube!
Does the title make sense to the story?
Yes, and very on brand for many of the authors other books.

[Sally Tyrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Another great read from one of my all time favourite authors! I love Fiona’s writing style so totally relatable, frank , funny and entertaining!
This book really resonated with me as being a similar age to Josie the main character and going away in a camper van!
Josie and Shane old friends from many years ago are thrown together by Ravi a mutual friend who has sadly passed away but leaves a challenge for them to complete!
Josie and Shane have to complete the challenge as frugally as possible hence the camper van but in doing so being placed into such close proximity they discover lots about each other and themselves as they go on this journey of past memories and self discovery together.
A great read full of reality humour and second chances would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Fiona Gibson for letting me read and review this book before its publication date.

I've read several of Fiona Gibson's books before and have really enjoyed them, so I was pleased to have this opportunity to read her latest book.

As usual I loved it, being a bit older now (early 40's) I find it often relate to at least one of the main characters (being a parent of teenagers for example or the dreaded menopause!)

This story was a bit different to previous books, flicking back in time to tell us about the characters history then back to the present. It wasn't confusing though.

It was a lovely read, it made me a bit teary at times and laugh at the funny moments too. I do love a happy ending-and this didn't disappoint!

Thank you again!

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book, very much enjoyed reading it
Josie and Shane have been given a challenge - to finish their tour that they cut short all those years ago.
It'll be an adventure, a borrowed camper, close proximity, what could go wrong?
But the camper turns out to be a retro-fitted ambulance, with very little fitting done, mattress on the floor and not much else, the vision of a camping holiday is far from ideal
The only gripe I have with this book is there is an unfinished story in there (no spoiler, but possibly for another book with the same cast?)

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attending the memorial party for friend and bandmate Ravi , Josie and Shane are reunited for the first time in years.
A misunderstanding at their final gig as teen-agers means embarrassment and anger means they both blame eachother.
Life hasn't gone to plan for either of them but Ravi has a plan.
Leaving a letter with her parents for Josie and Shane to complete the tour they abandoned years ago.
Travelling together makes for fun and understanding but can they move forward together?
A book that will make you smile

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie and Shane haven’t seen each other since they were teenagers but the death of their close childhood friend brings them together.

Josie was a brilliant character and totally relatable to me being in my early 40s and struggling with menopause.

I enjoyed how the book took us back in time and this really added to the story and helped the reader understand the relationship between Josie and Shane.

The ending was lovely and had me in tears.

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

[Kim Melbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolute cracker from Fiona. .her books never disappoint. A really warm, easy read with plenty of humour as middle aged Josie and Shane are thrown together to complete a challenge set for them from a mutual friend who has passed away.
Relatable, likeable characters that were easy to like and highlighted some challenges of life as we get to our 50s and begin to question our values and needs.
Brilliant read, highly recommend.

[Sans Washington]

Yea! Relateable, older characters! The chapters of Gibson's humorous new book bounce back and forth between former band members and lovers Josie and Shane. As the story opens, neither of our main characters is satisfied with the trajectory of their lives. However, with the beyond-the-grave guidance of another member of their former group, Josie and Shane explore their past, looking at it with fresh eyes. This is a funny, warm-hearted read that can't help but make you feel more optimistic.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun five-star read. Shane and Josie will keep you on your toes, the journey they face is a tough one, losing someone you were so close with and then sadly drifted away from, is such a tumultuous time to face. You get pulled into the journey and their back and forth, and with Josie having such strange situationship with her other half, that will have you wanting to make her know what she is truly worth. This is a great story and one that will make you smile so many times.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely read about Josie and Shane. They were in a band when they were younger, but had to give up the tour so they decide to try again. Ravi a band member has died and wants them to finish the tour. Off they go in an old ambulance and not much more. How will it go? It’s a feel good read about an older woman doing something for her, which we stop when we become parents. It’s a funny, feel good read. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie and Shane are challenged to complete a task for old friend Ravi after she passes away. What follows is a story full of amusing interludes, emotional flashbacks and relatable characters,

Easy to read and lots of fun, it is a story about reclaiming love and youth, proving you're never too old. I really enjoy Fiona Gibson's stories, I like that she doesn't shy away from having older characters as the central figures, it makes her words far more relatable for most readers!

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a winning story of second chances for two once band members. Their first love ended badly and time marched forward until the death of the third member. She leaves a note and Polaroid camera to them requesting they revisit their tour. Battling fears of old, they embark on a journey of memories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie and Shane were childhood friends but haven’t seen one another for decades after an argument tore them apart. They come together over the death of another friend and maybe it’s time to build some bridges. This book has some serious moments as both Josie and Shane have had their share of life’s challenges, but the humour throughout keeps it light and makes this an enjoyable read.

[Rona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous read by this author. What a great reason for a roadtrip to revisit a highlight and lowlight of your past. As usual the author creates a cast of warm and lovable characters, facing very relatable problems with growing families and independent children. Funny and warm and sweet, in more senses than one. A big hug of a book that makes the world seem a better place.

[Jane Couttie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it is good to see a main character being of an older age and who still feels like there is more to come. Josie and Shane meet again at their friend - Ravi’s memory day, a whole lifetime had happened since they last saw each other and seeing him again sends Josie into a tizz! They end up on a journey of the past - will it influence their future?
Easy reading and enjoyed!