The Gin O'Clock Club

by Rosie Blake

Bring the sparkle and fizz back into your life with the help of The Gin O'Clock Club

Lottie is always in a hurry, rushing through her days ticking tasks off her to-do lists. Teddy is worried about his granddaughter - and he knows that his late wife, Lily, would have known exactly what to say to make things better. Now that Lily has gone, it's up to Teddy to talk some sense into Lottie.

With the help of Arjun, Geoffrey and Howard, the elderly reprobates who make up his Gin O'Clock Club, Teddy makes a plan to help Lottie find her way back to the things that really matter - family, friendship and love. But as Lottie balances a high-powered job with her reluctant attendance at whist drives, ballroom dances and bingo, Teddy wonders if she's really ready to open up her heart to the possibility of true happiness...

Laugh, cry and fall in love with this colourful cast of characters in THE feel-good novel of the year

Genres: Romance, Collections, Chick Lit

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2020

About the author

Rosie is a writer, vlogger and amateur Mum. She loves to chat and write about love, sex, dating and relationships. She has written features for Cosmopolitan, The Lady, The Sunday People, Reveal and Best Magazine. She has appeared on ITV, Sky and Channel 4.

Her first romantic comedy HOW TO GET A (LOVE) LIFE was published in 2014. Atlantic Books published HOW TO STUFF UP CHRISTMAS in 2015 and HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND in 2016. Her latest book THE HYGGE HOLIDAY is out in September 2017 with Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown. Rosie is represented by Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Agency.

Rosie wishes to continue writing romantic comedies, persuade Julia Roberts to be her best friend and discover the world’s greatest Black Forest Gateaux recipe.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my introduction to Rosie Blake's novels, and I adored it to pieces, it is funny, moving, with a wide cast of characters, all of whom I loved, set in London. It begins with the death of Cora, the much loved wife of Teddy, the grandfather of Lottie Campbell, who chose to live with her grandparents after her parents moved abroad. Hotshot barrister Lottie is now living with her beloved boyfriend, graphic designer Luke. Teddy is devastated, finding it hard to imagine life without Cora, and trying to support him through his grief, and desperately missing Cora herself, workaholic Lottie finds herself torn apart, although Luke is a rock, visiting Teddy regularly and supporting Lottie too. Stepping up to ensure Teddy doesn't drop into the abyss of depression are his elderly golfing reprobates, Geoffrey, Arjun and the brash Howard, relating his gory dating details, who organise activities and the tasting of various new flavours of gin in their Gin O'Clock Club.

Teddy worries about Lottie, it was always Cora who handled the emotional needs of those around them, and seeing her relationship with Luke needs help, he agrees to go dating, signing up to various apps, if in return Lottie and Luke agree to go on a variety of old fashioned dates organised by him and his golfing friends. This takes the form of an evening playing whist, where Lottie and Luke meet the elderly Margaret and Paula, an art life class with Arjun as the nude life model and more. However, as a stressed Lottie fails to prioritise Luke, indeed takes all her frustrations out on him, nor find time for her best friend Amy who has always been there for her, Amy is getting married and for a change needs Lottie, her world starts to creak to the point of collapse. Lottie has forgotten what matters in her blind ambition to be the youngest silk, as she goes in full on self destruct mode with her certifiable behaviour, is it going to cost her Luke and Amy?

Blake's characters and their development is stellar, I particularly loved Luke, Amy and the close knit friendship circle of the Gin O'Clock Club, their antics and behaviour are priceless, their friendship a joy to behold, as they take Lottie and Luke to their heart, invested in trying to ensure Lottie does not carelessly lose all that matters to her. Teddy is so endearing as he tries to step into the emotional space that Cora used to fill, and his letters to her are so incredibly touching in reflecting just how close and loving their long marriage was. This is the kind of contemporary fiction that I think any reader will love, it is entertaining, full of warmth, hilarious, and moving all at the same time, with a set of charismatic and memorable characters that you will come to love. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

Barrister Lottie is always in a hurry. She never seems to have time for her boyfriend Luke, it is all work, work, work. Her idea of a romantic night out is a quick drink in the local pub.

When her Grandmother dies, Lottie is heart-broken and is tries to split herself into three pieces so that she can be there for her grandad Teddy as well as at work and with Luke.

Teddy sees how stressed Lottie is and how much strain she is placing on her relationship. Together with his Gin O’Clock Club members, Arjun, Geoffrey, and Howard, they come up with a plan to help her. In exchange for Teddy signing up to a dating agency, now that he is on his own, Lottie and Luke are to go on old fashioned dates set up by them, but will their meddling work or will it be too much for Lottie?

The Gin O’Clock Club is nothing like I imagined it would be from the title (before I read the synopsis). I was expecting young women with their fancy Gin’s meeting up once a week/month etc. Oh no, this is a group of ageing pensioners who have been friends a long time who get together, their drink of choice being Gin.

The pensioners were certainly living life to the full and had some amazing and different dates for Lottie and Luke, such as life drawing, in which one of the pensioners is the naked model which wasn’t good for the imagination!

I can’t say that I took to Lottie at the beginning, there was just something that felt off about her and I took an instant dislike to her, however, as the story progressed she seem to change and become more carefree than uptight and I began to warm to her. Luke is the dish of the book. He is sexy, charming, well-mannered, and is madly in love with Lottie and would do anything for her.

It was nice to read a book with a mix of old and young characters in, as well as written letters from Teddy to his late wife Cora which just might bring a tear to your eyes. I also loved the little messages at the start of each chapter from an older, wiser, person on what love is.

This is a beautiful read that I rushed through as I didn’t want to put it down. I enjoyed every minute of it and it goes to show that sometimes fun can come from the strangest of situations and that the key to romance in the modern world might be to look at the past and to give each other your time.

[Claude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read, but of no interest to me. In fact, what really bothered me was the main character, Lottie. Why on earth her boyfriend, her grandfather or the woman she called her best friend would try to protect her when she was so incredibly selfish and unpleasant is beyond me. And why I did read to the end is also a mystery to me.

[Frenchorchidea · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh wow oh wow! That's how I would describe this book!!! Such a lovely surprise! I didn't know really what to expect and I am so happy that I gave this book a chance! It's a five stars out of five for me! This book is so beautiful!!!!! so so so beautiful! It's all about real love in a long time relationship, but also love between family members and love between friends. This book reminds you that the best way to show the other that you love him or her is to give your time to him or her. Time is the best gift you can give! It made me think and it's so well writen. 5 stars book!!!! EXCELLENT!!!!!!!

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect balance between making me feel really emotional and also making me laugh out loud.

I mean what a rollercoaster of feelings I had while I was reading this book. We have Lottie who seems to be in self destruct mode, a complete workaholic and seems to have let most things slide otherwise, although thankfully she has her boyfriend Luke, if he can put up with her moods at the moment.

And then between chapters we have letters to Cora from Teddy, which are full of Teddy's clear love for Cora, worry for his grand daughter Lottie and also his side of the plan to try to help Lottie reconnect with Luke and realise there is more to life than work.

So Teddy and his friends Arjun, Geoffrey and Howard decide that they want Lottie and Luke to do some good old fashioned wooing and set up all sorts of olde timey dates for them, while at the same time they are trying to persuade Teddy to date in the modern sense of the world.

So in one half of the story there is pensioners on tinder and taking part in an ice disco.... while the youngsters take part in a whist drive, a memorable art class, a hilarious evening of board games and an incredibly romantic weekend away - well with some rather hilarious chickens!

There are so many moments that had me laughing but at the same time its also a story of Lottie and Teddy coming to terms with Cora's death, and how they can move on from it.

It's simply wonderful and there is so much going on, it kept me incredibly engaged at all times. It's another fabulous book from Rosie Blake, who is an author I always seem to enjoy a large amount.

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

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

Meet Lottie, a young barrister with ambitions to take silk (get the title Queen's Counsel, or QC) before she's thirty. Lottie is so busy that she doesn't have time for her friends, or her boyfriend Luke. When Lottie's beloved grandmother dies she tries to help her grandfather Teddy but she's too busy for that too.

Teddy can see Lottie is unhappy but she won't listen to reason and she is lashing out at those she loves, especially Luke. So he hatches a plan to help Lottie to see what is really important in life; following a discussion of old-fashioned versus modern dating he proposes teaching Luke and Lottie about dating the old-fashioned way and in return he will try to meet people the modern way, through Tinder etc. Every week Teddy and his golf pals meet up to play cards and drink gin; his wife used to call it the Gin O'clock Club and the name stuck.

I requested this book because I had read Rosie Blake's The Hygge Holiday and really enjoyed the gentle romance. Well this is totally different, which isn't a bad thing - no-one likes to read the same book over and over - but I didn't feel the same love for Lottie as I did for Clara Kristensen. In fact, I thought Lottie was a nightmare and I really didn't understand why Luke and her friends either stayed with her or forgave her. Although, I have to confess that her comments about getting into a verbal fight with someone after a few drinks and not really understanding what you are fighting about but refusing to back down did strike a chord. Maybe Lottie struck a little too close to home and I didn't like what I saw?

Anyway, Teddy and his golfing buddies are a laugh riot as they try to show Lottie and Luke how to date the old-fashioned way, some of which works better than others. And I did have to laugh at Teddy's disastrous Tinder date.

I think Lottie's character overshadowed Luke, TBH he was such a paragon of virtue he didn't feel like a real character whereas everyone else was larger than life.

Overall, despite my negativity, this was a gentle, humorous tale about a young ambitious woman who has lost her way and needs her grandfather and his golf buddies to help her get straight again. There's vintage cars, ballroom dancing, picnics and art classes all accompanied by every flavour of gin you could imagine. perfect summer reading.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.

[Kirsty Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book! A heartfelt tale of a grandpa and grand-daughter, both at a heartbreaking crossroads in their lives and leaning on each other to find a way through a fog of grief into a new, more joyful way of life!

Rosie's writing is deliciously warm, with such well-drawn characters and heaps of comedy and heartfelt moments that bring a lump to the throat. A gorgeous comfort read that will keep you uplifted and hopeful during these crazy times we're living in. Read it!

[Fabulous Book Fiend]

I really loved the premise of this book. I liked the idea of someone being forced to slow down and the rule of dating being reversed so that young people went on dates like their grandparents and grandparents used dating apps and played the field like we have to do. I also loved the idea of a cross-generational novel. I am enjoying the surge of this trope in the market.


Lottie was an interesting character to spend this novel with but unfortunately I didn’t gel with her at all. I love a complex character and Lottie is definitely true to life but I really couldn't get along with her and found her scenes a little stressful to read. She has taken way too much on her shoulders and she is neglecting those around her. The trouble is no one is telling her that she is neglecting them and reminding her that she can’t do it all and so she carries on blindly. I did expect her to grow on me as the book progressed but I just grew to dislike her even more and I think if she had been my friend, I would have said something a long time ago.


I really enjoyed the fact that we alternate between Lottie’s scenes and her grandma's scenes which are told through letters to his late wife. I always enjoy books with letters in and it gave us a chance to really see things from his perspective and I found them to be a refreshing break from what was going on with Lottie to some extent.


There are definitely care warnings here for bereavement, especially if you have recently lost someone and I also found Lottie’s anxieties rubbing off on me and so do take care of your own mental health before reading. I loved the way this book is structured and loved the dual perspective we got but I really wish I had grown to love Lottie over time.

[Anitajt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really struggled to like Lottie in the beginning and felt for boyfriend Luke and her friends. Basically, Lottie is to busy at work to care for anyone including herself and this is why her grandfather decides to set into motion ways to make her see the importance of those special people in her life with the help of his buddies. If you enjoy stories of love, family, friendships and gin you’re in for a treat.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barrister Lottie Campbell is always in a hurry – the only thing that keeps her going is her work. She doesn’t have time for her boyfriend Luke and friend Amy and she often finds herself short – tempered and snapping at them. Then her beloved grandmother Cora dies, and Lottie is determined to re – evaluate her life, spend more time with her Granddad Teddy, Luke and Amy but the road to hell is paved with good intentions, right? Nothing changes, moreover, Lottie is even more under stress and her relationships are suffering but Lottie can’t split herself into four or more pieces to make everyone happy. But Teddy sees how stressed Lottie is, and how much her relationship with Luke suffers. Together with his friends from his Gin O’Clock Club, Arjun, Geoffrey and Howard, he comes up with a plan to help the young with old – fashioned versus modern dating. Is it going to help or will it be too much for all involved?

I’ll be honest, I was a bit afraid to read this book – I was scared that the octogenarian characters are going to spoil the reading experience totally, and not because I don’t like octogenarian characters but because it’s so, so hard and difficult to find believable octogenarians in the books. They’re either serene, having the whole world’s wisdom in them or too overdone and unrealistic. However, and oh my god, thank you Rosie Blake for this, she has written brilliant, real characters that I absolutely adored! The close knit group of Teddy’s friends must probably be one of the best I have come across in my books, their antics are priceless, they’re funny and authentic and their friendship and their support of each other were an absolute joy to read. They were prone to interfere, but within reason, and they really cared about what’s going to happen with Lottie and Luke. The dates they had in store for them were amazingly different! Finally something new and fresh and the dating the old – fashioned way was a highlight of this book. Though I must admit that I wouldn’t say no to more of Teddy’s modern dates.

I think that the author has done a great job in creating Teddy’s character, he was the unspoken hero of the novel. She has captured all his emotions so well, his devastation at Cora’s death, at trying to live life without his beloved wife and the desperation in him missing her so much was so palpable through the pages. Yet he tried so much to stay strong for Lottie and his friends and I really wanted to give him a standing ovation more than once, especially as he so often was forced to jump over his own shadow in trying to comfort Lottie, as it was always Cora who has handled all the emotional problems.

My only problem was Lottie. Yep. I liked her at the beginning though the more I got to know her, the more I felt myself taking a dislike to her. I really couldn’t understand the way she was behaving and really, she had better luck that she was surrounded by people who didn’t judge her and who had a lot of patience. I felt so sorry for Luke and for Teddy when she was in one of her moods, and I was all the time wondering how long are they going to cope with this? Yes, she was torn, I get it, and she really tried to prioritise the things she thought were important, but in the end she took all her frustrations out on people that were always there for her, and while yes, it works like this in real life, I simply didn’t want to see Lottie destructing even more in her life.

There is a lot happening in this story, there is not a single moment that you won’t feel entertained, and it’s full of emotional and unforgettable scenes, both funny and poignant ones. There is golf playing, women’s protest, vintage cars, art classes, ballroom dancing, music making and a lot of gin, of very different flavour. It is told in alternating narrations, between Lottie and her grandfather, and this last one in the form of letters to his late wife, and those letters were beautiful. Full of love and emotions, and it was great to see Teddy opening up, at least on the pages, writing how the things really are. And Teddy had a great sense of humour and was a brilliant observer!

Even though I had some problems with Lottie I still adored this book. It was brilliantly written and I loved the story – telling and the fact that it felt so refreshing and different. Rosie Blake has written a brilliant, uplifting novel, filled with a wide cast of colourful and unforgettable characters. This novel was entertaining, a bit thought – provoking, full of feel – good factor and touching moments at the same time. It was a story about family and friends, about grief and finding your way again that I highly recommend!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Heather Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, it’s all about love ❤️ I didn’t just simply adore this book, I absolutely loved it! It was a funny, moving and beautiful story with so much depth. A romantic comedy; it was really fresh and simple. A fantastic quick and easy feel good read.

This is Lottie and Teddy’s story, even though it’s about Lottie and Luke’s relationship to be honest. Teddy is Lottie’s grandfather and when he loses his wife, Cora, Lottie felt the need to look after him. However, it appears that Lottie needed looking after more than her grandfather.

You will laugh and cry at this, it is very moving, especially when Teddy writes his letters, sharing his thoughts, to Cora keeping her up-to-date with what’s going on even though she’s not around anymore.

I did find Lottie a tad frustrating, however I saw myself in her where my work and lifestyle balance used to be concerned years ago. She is a barrister with ambition, wanting to become a QC, very career driven and the pressures of work had a huge impact on her relationships with Luke, Teddy and best friend Amy. She was pulled in all directions. Can we have it all, be all to everyone? How frustrating life can be, having to deal with one thing after another. There’s not enough capacity to do it all and be all to everyone. The challenges, demands and expectations? This was Lottie’s life. Always in a hurry, work, work, work, always too much to do.

I loved all of the characters, and the members of the Gin’O Clock Club are Teddy’s golfing buddies who all rally around Teddy and subsequently Lottie after Cora died.

Teddy sees how stressed out Lottie is and how this is affecting her relationship with Luke and his golfing buddies can see what’s going on too and come up with a plan to help. Teddy has to sign up to a dating agency and in return Lottie and Luke have to go on old fashioned romantic dates.

Did this or did it not work? You’ll need to read the book to find out.

This is the first book I’ve read by Rosie Blake and it won’t be the last.

This is all about love, compassion, empathy, friendship, family, communication, loss, trust, jealousy, honesty and work life balance with a whole lot more thrown in.

‘Love doesn’t have to be perfect but it does have to be true’. ‘Love is in the little things’. ‘Love is a commitment you need to work at like any other’. Capiche 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this fabulous ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled to like Lottie, even at the end. I feel like she got off too easy from all the people who she had hurt and offended.

This book felt like a bit of a slog just because I found Lottie so utterly annoying. The camaraderie between the guys is what really saves this book and the letters from Teddy to Cora are what carries the story forward. Poor Luke is an absolute saint almost to the point of disbelief.


**Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me early access to this book in return for an honest review.

[Ceri Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled with this one and gave up after after 62%. It's a light read with some lovely characters but there was not enough romance, drama, suspense or intrigue for me personally. There were some comedic scenes though.

[Caroline Kerdouci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 stars

Although this is a tale of Lottie and Luke’s relationship, the overwhelming focus is on Lottie and grandad Teddy’s relationship, made more poignant with the recent loss of beloved wife and grandmother Cora. The tender beginning, in the voice of Teddy, as he lovingly speaks of caring for his bedridden wife sets the tone for the whole novel which manages to balance hilarity with many touching moments so that I laughed and cried in equal measure.
As granddaughter Lottie and Teddy struggle to navigate a new path in their relationship, with both of them stumbling through the days, it’s the members of the gin o’clock club (Teddy’s golfing buddies,Geoffrey Howard and Arjun) who think it would be fun if Teddy began embracing the dating scene whilst Lottie and Luke rekindle their romance with the aid of some old fashioned dates. Agreeing to this deal sees the couple swap twerking for ballroom dancing, rushed takeaways for champagne picnics, Netflix for whist drives, life art classes and board games with the hope that Lottie may just regain her sense of fun, forget about her next court case and find her way back to happiness. The results are hilarious and you couldn’t wish to be in better company than this cast of characters.

With love quotes from (presumably) fictional elderly individuals headlining each chapter, I quickly fell in love with this novel, wanting the best for Teddy, Lottie and Luke, knowing it wouldn’t be plain sailing. Poor poor Lottie! Her work home balance is completely askew. Within minutes of the author introducing us to this stressed out career driven barrister, my own anxiety levels were shooting through the roof. I recognised her predicament, trying to juggle a demanding job that takes up every ounce of her time and energy. With her time at a premium, grandad, boyfriend Luke and best friend Amy have to settle for precious snatched moments although Lottie is never entirely present, her mind always elsewhere. Hers is an impossible situation and one that sees Lottie making herself unhappy as well as all those around her. She is the epitome of women world wide struggling to be superwoman! Yes, she’s lost sight of what matters most in life but I couldn’t fail to like her and hope with the help of Teddy and Luke she will realise the error of her ways. Her tendency to wish bad things on people I found highly amusing, even though I knew she didn’t mean them.

Luke, inadvertently relegated to bottom of the pile in his relationship with Lottie reminded me very much of a Labrador puppy, full of boundless energy, eager to please, utterly faithful and impossible not to love. His enthusiasm to woo back Lottie with the help of the oldies date suggestions is infectious, the results hilarious and up to the reader to discover how successful! With the gin o’clock club members and their wider circle of friends invested in both Teddy and Lottie’s future happiness,this novel is charming all the way through. There’s not a single character superfluous to the storyline, each one providing laughs and surprises along the way, and to top it all they’re not afraid to sample some dubious sounding flavours of gin.

My favourite element of this novel are the words spoken by Teddy, always written in the form of a letter to his darling Cora. Full of updates of his latest japes with his golfing cronies aka the gin o’clock club, his grief at Cora’s death is glossed over by his stoicism and determination to carry on enjoying life, with his primary aim to make Lottie happy. These letters reveal his true feelings ,and whilst he firmly believes Cora was always much better equipped to deal with the difficult, emotional moments I felt that Teddy was doing fine, in his own inimitable style, always having Lottie’s best interests at heart. Caring and loyal he’s a great friend not just to Geoffrey, Howard and Arjun but to Luke also. For a man still in mourning, untethered by loss , Teddy is adventurous and always game for a laugh, proving to the youngsters that life is for living. Wouldn’t we all benefit from having a Teddy and or a Luke in our lives? I know I certainly would but I fear relationships as good as these exist only in the fictional ether!

The Gin o’clock club is an ideal lazy day read, which I devoured in one sitting. I know that mood can greatly influence how we interpret or feel about an author’s words and in this instance the compassion, the love, the camaraderie lights up every single page. I read the last pages wishing that I had been as lucky as Teddy to spend a lifetime with the “finest caretaker of my heart”, possibly the most beautiful words spoken in what I found to be an emotional but feel good read.
Delightful and tender, the final scene brought a lump to my throat and oh is that a bit of chilli in my eye?!?!
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

[Marthabethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read, but one that I found quite emotional.

When Lottie’s grandma passes away, she feels overwhelmed by all her responsibilities. She’s got to look after her grandad, manage her job and try and keep her relationship with Luke going smoothly. It’s all too much for her and her and Luke just keep drifting apart. Then, as a project for her grandad, his friends decide that he should try online dating and in exchange, Lottie and Luke will date the old fashioned way and do some proper courting. Cue a whole bunch of fun date ideas and heartwarming scenes.

What I loved about this book is that although it was a romance, it was different to a lot of romances in that it focused on an already established couple. It showed the realities of a real adult relationship and the challenges that couples face every day to balance everything in life. It felt real and realistic and I really appreciated that. Loving someone is never enough, you have to work at a relationship and this book showed that so beautifully.

I cried quite a bit at this book as it was quite emotional. I enjoyed it a lot and loved the old fashioned dating - so many fun and cute ideas. The characters were all fab and I loved how well crafted they were. The book was engaging and well written and I definitely recommend it.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so cute and adorable, you just want to press it to your chest and soak in its good vibes (not saying I did that, but not saying I didn’t, either…)

Lottie is always rushing places. She’s a barrister, and her workload means she almost never sees her boyfriend, Luke. The only person she does make time for is her grandfather Teddy: they’ve both been grieving the death of his wife, Cora.

But Teddy’s elderly friends have other plans. They’re the Gin O’Clock Club, and they’re about to change Lottie’s life. All they need is a walking stick or two, and plenty of gin, and they’re about to get Lottie and Luke’s relationship back on track- and perhaps rediscover a new zest for life themselves.

Thiis is a romantic book, but it’s also an overwhelmingly sweet one: one about the power of family, the ways in which relationships can change if not looked after, and a bit of elderly wisdom. For a book that’s so shaped by the death of Cora, this book is all about how to enjoy life- and how to remember how to enjoy life. I loved it, and if you’re ever looking for a pick-me-up, go no further: Rosie Blake has you covered.

[APrincessCutFromMarble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much! It is a great feel-good novel that quickly makes you fall in love with its adorable characters, from the main character Lottie to the gentlemen of the Gin O’clock Club. The story is interesting, flowing nicely and free of any major conflicts, so exactly the right choice if you want something to put you in a good mood. That being said, I still think that you can take some lessons from this for your own life if you sometimes feel overwhelmed by just about anything. I don’t think it‘s hard to identify with Lottie when it comes to her daily challenges.

[Fay Flude · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in this book are endearing. There is Grandad (Teddy) who has sadly lost the love of his life, wife Cora, and finds himself all alone and thinking about how amazing Cora was at negotiating all the emotional aspects of life.
Thankfully he has golfing buddies Arjun, Howard and Geoffrey, the Gin O'Clock Club members who help Teddy establish his equilibrium enough to set a delightful challenge to granddaughter Lottie.
Teddy is very worried about Lottie. She is a barrister, intent on being the youngest in her chambers to ever achieve silk, who works all hours, seems constantly tired, stressed, on edge and never able to have fun. Lottie lives with Luke, long term graphic designer boyfriend who seems so absolutely wonderful I found myself screaming at Lottie to notice what she has!
As a workaholic myself, I could empathise with Lottie and the incredibly high standards she places on herself, but had enough objectivity to realise that her approach to life had lost all balance and was threatening her relationship not only with Luke but with soon to be married best friend Amy and even her grandfather.
I felt tired to the bone just reading about Lottie's life as she struggles to help her granddad come to terms with his bereavement whilst mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother, catching endless tube trains and buses, reading brief after brief, trying to be a good bridesmaid for her friend, never sleeping and being pulled in every direction. Exhausting!
And so the challenge: Teddy will start dating if Luke woos Lottie old-fashioned style. Teddy produces a list of ideas and with the Gin O'Clock Club involved all the way the couple begin to have fun again, reconnecting with each other as they go to a life drawing art class, a whist drive, a treasure hunt and a weekend away.
Luke however appears the more committed of the two and in her attempts to keep all the plates spinning, Lottie drops a fair few, enough for her to feel her life itself is broken.
Will Luke and Lottie survive the turbulence or will others break them apart?
I loved this romantic and life affirming novel. It is sad in many places but ultimately hopeful and really funny throughout. I enjoyed reading Teddy's letters to Cora after her death. It is his way of trying to understand what is happening, how hopelessly equipped he is for meaningful and difficult conversations and the letters link to all the developments in the story as they play out. The letters are also a beautiful gift of Teddy's love which cannot help but stir the heart strings and make you love Teddy.
The author uses quotes about love from elderly people as chapter dividers, giving their first name and age and in this way we are treated to a very charming look at love, relationships and marriage.
I whizzed through the book in one day wanting a happy ever after.
You need to read the book to find out if there is a happy ending and to enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.
Thank you to Rosie Blake, the publisher and Netgalley for a brilliant read in exchange for this honest review.

[Ashima Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a question. Do you find yourself swamped with work, having lost all semblance of a social life?
Perhaps The Gin O’Clock Club’s gentle steering may give you direction, as it did to Lottie.

Lottie is always in a hurry, rushing through her days ticking tasks off her to-do lists. Teddy is worried about his granddaughter and knows his late wife, Cora, would have known exactly what to say to make things better. With Cora gone, it's up to Teddy to talk some sense into Lottie.

Engaging the help of Arjun, Geoffrey and Howard, the elderly reprobates who make up his Gin O'Clock Club, Teddy makes a plan to help Lottie find her way back to the things that really matter - family, friendship and love. But as Lottie balances a high-powered job with her reluctant attendance at whist drives, ballroom dances and art sessions, Teddy wonders if she's really ready to open up her heart to the possibility of true happiness.

One of the reasons I loved this book was because I saw myself in Lottie – in her letting work take priority, pushing everything else to the back burner until it is ultimately forgotten. As a character she is endearingly relatable, even though you often want to shake her by her shoulders, tell her to wake up and smell the coffee.

Luke, her boyfriend, is delightful, despite Lottie taking him for granted. The scene stealer, though, is Teddy who, while struggling with the death of his soulmate, is determined to help Lottie. The letters he writes to Cora, as a way to draw strength from her, are heart-breaking but also inspiring. The lifelong friendship between the club members is #goals and breaks many age-related stereotypes.

Family, friendships and a cross-generational camaraderie that is hard to come by, is what makes this novel different. Lottie's and Teddy’s stories are guaranteed to worm their way into your heart.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Sphere - an imprint of Little Brown Book Group UK.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an uplifting read, might I suggest this wonderful book? You might associate gin with ladies (perhaps of a certain age!) but this gin club is four elderly gentlemen friends who get together to drink gin – a different variety each week – and to play gin rummy.

We meet Teddy and Lottie, two people who are united in grief at the loss of a much beloved wife and grandmother. Teddy is just beginning to come to terms with the death of Cora while their grand-daughter Lottie seems to have lost sight of what matters in life, focusing so much on her high pressure job as a barrister that her friendships and her relationship with Luke are suffering. Teddy’s letters to his wife scattered throughout the book showing just how much he missed his wife were so lovely and so emotional to read.

Teddy and his friends hatch a plan to save Lottie and Luke’s relationship. Teddy agrees to look into the modern way of dating, if Lottie and Luke try some good old-fashioned wooing. This led to many hilarious scenes as Teddy investigates the merits of Tinder v Grindr and thinks he’s not fit enough these days for speed dating. By contrast, we have the gentle courting of Lottie by Luke as they find out whether the old ways really are the best. There was also one of the funniest hen parties I’ve read about and a rather unexpected life drawing class!

More than a few times though, I was happily reading, giggling away and then author would hit me with an unexpectedly poignant moment which found me with a lump in my throat. Rosie Blake is very good at playing with your emotions that way.

This is a wonderful book filled with fabulous characters, heart and warmth. It shows that it’s never too late to have an adventure, you’re never too young for old fashioned romance, and there’s never a wrong age to stick up for your rights! The Gin O’Clock Club was a joy to read and is a proper feel good treat!

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how wonderful this novel is by Rosie Blake. This story is about life in all it’s glory through the happy times and through the sad. I knew before I started reading the book that the story focused on Teddy coping with the grief of his beloved wife so I was a little prepared for the emotional storyline. I have recently been struggling with my own grief over the death of my father but what surprised me with Rosie Blake’s novel is how I felt comforted with the story. It is sad and it is bringing back emotions of what I’ve been through but the overwhelming feeling I received from this book was hopefulness, energising, uplifting and just the tonic I needed. I was totally immersed in the storyline and was annoyed of having to keep stopping reading for housework and food!

The Gin O’Clock Club is a group of retired gentleman who meet regularly to catch up with each other over a glass or two of gin. Teddy has recently lost his beloved wife and he’s coping in his own way but he worries about his granddaughter Lottie. Lottie is trying to have it all; she’s got a high powered career and is striving for the top, a loving boyfriend, family and friends but when life starts to get more stressful things start tumbling around her and she struggles to pick up the pieces.

Lottie’s late grandmother Lily was a great agony aunt and would have known what to say and do to help Lottie but now she isn’t here Teddy knows it’s up to him to help. Teddy is at a loss with what to say and do with Lottie and he knows he cannot do this alone so he asks for the wisdom of his Gin O’Clock friends to help. The men come up with a plan of action to get Lottie to see the lighter side of life and learn to slow down and enjoy the journey one day at a time.

We follow Lottie and the Gin O’Clock crew bringing fun, friendship, laughter and love back to the forefront of her life.

I love stories with a mix of ages in characters, there’s wisdom and youth blending perfectly with a few smiles along the way. The Gin O’Clock Club will break your heart but it will piece it all together again.

After finishing the novel I could totally reimagine it as a blockbuster rom com movie and I’d love Michael Caine to be one of the members of the Gin Club. In fact he’d make a wonderful Teddy. Emily Blunt for Lottie and Leo Suter for Luke.

I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve swooned and I’ve sighed. The Gin O’clock Club is simply marvellous.

[Emma's Things to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this book. It’s the kind of warm, heartening novel that 2020 needs.
Lottie is hard-working and dedicated and as a barrister she works long hours. Her determination to succeed means that sometimes she puts her personal life on the back burner.
She is spending less and less time with her boyfriend and she’s supposed to be bridesmaid for her best friend but has to keep rearranging their planning sessions.
When her grandmother dies, Lottie finds herself also having to look after her grieving grandfather.
Stretched too thin Lottie’s life starts to spin out if control as she finds herself exhausted and letting everyone down.
Grandfather Teddy and his group of friends come up with a plan to help Lottie reconnect with the good things in life – old-fashioned dates, activities with friends and readjusting her work-life balance.
I absolutely loved Teddy and his Gin O’Clock Club pals. They are kind and funny and so supportive of each other. When I’m older I can only hope to be so lucky as to have a group of friends like that.
The dates they arrange for Lottie are fun and sometimes hilarious.
This is a book about love – how important it is to all of us. This book will definitely make you think about jow you spend your time and who you spend it with.
This was a really enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it as a stocking filler if you’re looking for a joyful read to start 2021.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching read about life, career, family and relationships - and how hard it is to fit them all in!

Lottie is a career girl; a barrister, she aims to be the youngest ever silk but it needs an inordinate amount of focus. When her beloved grandmother dies, Lottie needs to support her grandfather and make sure he isn't lonely; as her best friend's bridesmaid she need to support her - and then there's her boyfriend Luke, ever supportive and undemanding. How will she fit them all in to her days?

I'm pretty certain this novel will ring a bell with many women; if only elastic was built into each 24 hour period, eh? But having to commit all to working hours (and later, with prep for the next day), doesn't leave a lot of time to fit everything else in. Add in grief, lack of sleep and we've all been where Lottie finds herself. The Gin O'Clock Club to the rescue! This group of men, friends of her grandfather's are a motley crew, lively and entertaining despite (or maybe because of?) their years. As young and old come together there is such a lot they have to learn from each other and in doing so they provide much entertainment. Uplifting and with huge injections of fun and laughter, this is a book with lots of highs and lows; the question is which will win out at the end of the day? A good read which I'm happy to give 4.5*.

[Hannah Sutcliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lottie is a barrister, always too busy to make time for the people in her life. When her grandmother passes away, she makes a deal with her grandfather, Teddy. He will try modern dating if she tries to court her boyfriend the old fashioned way. To start on a positive note, I absolutely loved the premise. The book has some seriously cute moments, but perhaps the funniest parts came from Teddy and his golfing buddies. Their hilarious banter had be smiling every time and I really loved the bond they all shared. The book also features letters from Teddy to his deceased wife. While they are beautifully written, I found them to be longwinded and it slowed the story down.
For all its positives, The Gin O’Clock Club has one major problem; Lottie. I don’t really understand why the author chose to make her so irrepressible, but if there is a reason then I’ve definitely missed it. While Lottie does have a redemption arc towards the end, for most of the book she is selfish, ungrateful, bitter and jealous. It was hard to connect with her and by the end, I really didn’t care to see anything good happen to her. I’d recommend this book purely for the light-hearted laughs, but unfortunately I can’t say this was a favourite of mine.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #theginoclockclub #netgalley

Lottie is a 30 something barrister who can only be described as someone who lives to work whereas her boyfriend Luke works to live. Suddenly they find their relationship in tatters after the death of Lottie's grandma so they join in with her Granddad's Gin o'clock club to try to repair the relationship.

The title was the thing that drew me into this book. Although the book wasn't what I expected.

Ok book which is designed to be an easy read and had a good plot line but very repetitive without feeling like your moving forward which makes it hard going towards the end.

You are left feeling like they've stuck a plaster over a tsunami and that they've not achieved anything.

Well what can I say about Lottie other than I've never disliked a character so much. She is rude and self centred nothing is her fault and always someone else's. She puts everyone down in order to boost herself up and you don't feel like she's learnt anything as the book goes on. It is sad to read in parts and others cringey. She sounds like she needs some professional help!

Sadly this book didn't do it for me although it had great potential and plot line is there.

[Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story from an author whose books always portray the emotions so well from the highs to the lows.

Lottie is a driven character who is so focused on work that she has stopped looking at what is going on around her and is always busy planning for her next case. After the loss of her Grandmother, Lottie is trying to spend more time with her Grandfather, aim for the promotion at work and fulfil her roles as bridesmaid to her best friend Amy and spend time with her boyfriend Luke.

As life continues to pile on the pressure she becomes so focused on work everything starts to fall out the bottom and her Grandfather tries to help her by getting her to join his gin loving friends for the evening.

This book is full of wonderful characters, I am a sucker for having a giggle with men who remind me of my Grandad and loved the men that formed the friendship group. This book made me laugh, it made me feel sad for Lottie and made me cry happy tears.

A superb book that takes you on a journey with a host of lovely characters that you just know you would love to spend time with. Another wonderful book by Rosie Blake and I can't wait to see what she releases next!

[Sara Clifford-gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a real heart warming story with engaging characters, I think if I had to choose a favourite it would be Arjun, although a sub plot was started with him, but never felt that it went anywhere, but he did steal my heart, and I would love to know what happened to him!!

At the start of the story, main character Lottie receives a phone call to say that her beloved Grandmother Cora has died, leaving husband Ted a widow. Supported by his friends and golf buddies, Arjun, Geoffrey and Howard, they become the Gin O’Clock club, and together they develop date ideas to try and reignite the flame between Lottie and long suffering partner Luke, who I really felt deserved a medal!!

The real lump in the throat moments during the book, are the letters that Teddy writes to Cora filling her in on all the comings and goings.

I found Lottie annoying and wanted to text her to tell her that she really should count her blessings rather than moan and whinge a lot, but hopefully that is what best friend Amy was for!!

A lovely book, and a beautiful cover – I’m off to pour myself a large G&T, and I may even put in a strawberry and a crack of black pepper – just for Arjun!!!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this in my monthly subscription book club box.

Lottie Campbell is always rushing and busy, busy, busy. She is a barrister who seems like she does not have time to slow down and enjoy the small things in life. Especially since she has such a supportive and loving boyfriend Luke, who would do anything for her.

Since the death of her Grandma Cora (whom she was really connected to), Lottie slowly develops a stronger relationship with her Grandad Teddy. I adored Teddy and his friends - especially the banter between the group made me cry laugh a bit. The Gin O'Clock club is based around Teddy and his mates who taste a different gin flavour every week and to catch up.

I love how the relationship between Teddy and Lottie blossoms from the way Teddy organises outings for her and Luke to go on that seem old fashioned- which helps slow down Lottie's life and she starts realising on the good she is missing or how she is hurting others around her.
In return, Teddy starts dating again slowly... he also writes heartfelt letters to Cora which makes my heart warm.

I don't think it would've been something I generally read but it was touching and an all around feel-good fiction.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book available to request on Net Galley, the cover art really drew me in. It’s taken me a few months to get round to it and I’d totally forgotten what the blurb had said. I was expecting an average girly romcom that would be a nice palette cleanser.
What I got was a truly pleasant surprise. This book is filled with heart, humour and romance, and beautifully navigates the journey of grief.

I didn’t like our leading lady Lottie (say that 10 times fast!) for a good chunk of the book, but I soon realised that was possibly the point. Lottie is in such a rut, she doesn’t know what she wants and she’s 100% in self destruct mode.
Her relationship with the lovely Luke is on the rocks, her Grandmother has passed away and she’s fallen out with her best friend.

Cue Grandad Teddy to the rescue who, with the help of his friends who fondly refer to themselves as the Gin o’Clock Club, helps Lottie to understand that sometimes the most important thing in life is applying the breaks.

[A.R. Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, hilarious, and infused with just the right amount of gin, The Gin O’Clock Club is a warm, multi-generational tale about grief, growth, and rediscovering what truly matters.

Lottie is sharp, ambitious, and completely overwhelmed—until her grandfather Teddy (widowed but far from defeated) teams up with his band of gin-loving octogenarian misfits to remind her how to slow down and feel again. Between old-fashioned dates, chaotic art classes, and some unexpectedly wise matchmaking, the book finds joy in both the absurd and the deeply human.

Teddy is the emotional core, his letters to his late wife are quietly devastating and beautifully sincere. The supporting cast, from blunt Howard to kindhearted Arjun, are quirky but believable, bringing both chaos and comfort.

Even when Lottie isn’t always likable, her journey feels real, and that’s part of the magic. Rosie Blake balances laugh-out-loud antics with tender moments in a story that’s both charming and unexpectedly profound.

Pour yourself a drink and dive in, this club is worth joining.