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Younger #2
Older
"In the hotly anticipated sequel to the beloved Younger-now a hit TV series from the creator of Sex and the City starring Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff-Liza Miller is torn between two cities and two hearts when her bestselling novel is picked up by a major television network"--
361 pages, Library Binding
Published July 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
May 29, 2020
This book is . . . bad. It is just bad. I have spent far too long staring at the empty review window, trying to think of an eloquent way to explain its badness, but really it's as simple as: every element is bad.
Let me back up a moment. (Like an uninspired episode of TV following its dramatic tease with "24 Hours Earlier. . .") I really enjoy the TV show Younger, based on Redmond's previous book of the same name. I read Younger the book and found it not great, but still imbued with enough of the TV show's charm for me not to hate it, and for me to be grateful for what it spawned.
This sequel claims to have an amusing premise: that protagonist Liza had also written a book about her experiences pretending to be younger to get a job in publishing after her divorce, and that book is now being made into a TV show by her BFF Kelsey -- a TV show with a lot of amusing meta-connections to our world's Younger show. Then, when she goes to L.A. to work on the pilot, Liza finds herself falling for the actor who's playing her character's boss on the TV show, which is a reference to the real world TV show, time is a flat circle, etc. That sounds fun! Silly! Bring it on!
Except what this book is actually about is how every character is actually a deeply horrible person. I think Redmond wanted it to secretly be about how motherhood is hard and the choices women have to make vis-a-vis having children and maintaining their careers are incredibly difficult -- important topics. But exploring this takes up much more time than the fluffy rom-com the description promises. Worse, it requires, at various points: Liza to be a selfish, awful friend; Kelsey to be a selfish, awful, friend; and Liza's other best friend Maggie to -- you guessed it -- be a selfish, awful friend. These characters spend more time fighting than in any way seeming to like each other. Do you know what's one of the things I like best about the show? The women's friendships.
Worse, though -- Liza has apparently raised a complete monster in her daughter Caitlin, who fully expects her mother to be her new baby's unpaid, live-in caretaker. Liza repeatedly tells Caitlin she doesn't want to do this and patiently explains that Caitlin and her husband -- yes, she's married -- have other options, even if they both want to keep their jobs. Oh, but daycare or a nanny are out of the question, Caitlin says -- she could never trust her child with a stranger!
W
H
A
T
When Liza goes to L.A. for work, she's presented as the bad guy for "abandoning" her daughter in the later months of her pregnancy, despite her daughter being, you know, an adult, with a husband and a support system. After the baby is born, Liza is coerced into being the unpaid help (and at one point thrown shade by Caitlin when Caitlin comes home from work and Liza hasn't also made dinner). Eventually, after giving me a coronary, this plotline peters out so Liza can have her textually unsupported and unsexy affair with a movie star, which ends in a marriage proposal after two seconds. Caitlin decides to have a second baby right away, to like . . . get it over with. And Josh, the only character in the book (and in the show's later seasons) who is consistently likable, is written off as unable to have a happy ending -- but it's cool for Kelsey to use him for his sperm though, lol.
W
H
Y
I hated this book. The writing is bad: at one point early on, Liza is so surprised, that, she says, "My stomach dropped into my vagina." So I guess some of this is on me. But just--yikes. I don't know what else I can say. I'm getting too old for this shit.
Let me back up a moment. (Like an uninspired episode of TV following its dramatic tease with "24 Hours Earlier. . .") I really enjoy the TV show Younger, based on Redmond's previous book of the same name. I read Younger the book and found it not great, but still imbued with enough of the TV show's charm for me not to hate it, and for me to be grateful for what it spawned.
This sequel claims to have an amusing premise: that protagonist Liza had also written a book about her experiences pretending to be younger to get a job in publishing after her divorce, and that book is now being made into a TV show by her BFF Kelsey -- a TV show with a lot of amusing meta-connections to our world's Younger show. Then, when she goes to L.A. to work on the pilot, Liza finds herself falling for the actor who's playing her character's boss on the TV show, which is a reference to the real world TV show, time is a flat circle, etc. That sounds fun! Silly! Bring it on!
Except what this book is actually about is how every character is actually a deeply horrible person. I think Redmond wanted it to secretly be about how motherhood is hard and the choices women have to make vis-a-vis having children and maintaining their careers are incredibly difficult -- important topics. But exploring this takes up much more time than the fluffy rom-com the description promises. Worse, it requires, at various points: Liza to be a selfish, awful friend; Kelsey to be a selfish, awful, friend; and Liza's other best friend Maggie to -- you guessed it -- be a selfish, awful friend. These characters spend more time fighting than in any way seeming to like each other. Do you know what's one of the things I like best about the show? The women's friendships.
Worse, though -- Liza has apparently raised a complete monster in her daughter Caitlin, who fully expects her mother to be her new baby's unpaid, live-in caretaker. Liza repeatedly tells Caitlin she doesn't want to do this and patiently explains that Caitlin and her husband -- yes, she's married -- have other options, even if they both want to keep their jobs. Oh, but daycare or a nanny are out of the question, Caitlin says -- she could never trust her child with a stranger!
W
H
A
T
When Liza goes to L.A. for work, she's presented as the bad guy for "abandoning" her daughter in the later months of her pregnancy, despite her daughter being, you know, an adult, with a husband and a support system. After the baby is born, Liza is coerced into being the unpaid help (and at one point thrown shade by Caitlin when Caitlin comes home from work and Liza hasn't also made dinner). Eventually, after giving me a coronary, this plotline peters out so Liza can have her textually unsupported and unsexy affair with a movie star, which ends in a marriage proposal after two seconds. Caitlin decides to have a second baby right away, to like . . . get it over with. And Josh, the only character in the book (and in the show's later seasons) who is consistently likable, is written off as unable to have a happy ending -- but it's cool for Kelsey to use him for his sperm though, lol.
W
H
Y
I hated this book. The writing is bad: at one point early on, Liza is so surprised, that, she says, "My stomach dropped into my vagina." So I guess some of this is on me. But just--yikes. I don't know what else I can say. I'm getting too old for this shit.
January 11, 2021
Am so hungry for women's depictions of what it's like for women in the U.S. to age. Ones that aren't smarmy yet aren't one grouse after another. "Older" is fun enough to be mistaken for breezy, honest enough to know it isn't. Sutton Foster gives it a wonderful audiobook performance.
September 5, 2020
⭐️3 Stars⭐️
I have to admit I have not watched the popular TV series Younger or read the book but I have heard about it, this book Older is the sequel to Younger !
Liza Miller is approaching her fiftieth birthday and it’s time to grow up and own her own age! Liza's bestselling novel has just been picked up by a producer to turn it into a TV show. Her novel is about Liza’s life where she tells of her experiences pretending to be a younger twenty something year old when she is really in her forties.
In this new book Older, Liza finds herself making some tough decisions when her daughter gives birth and selfishly expects Liza to babysit full time and give up her own career needs. What should she do, be a carer as expected by her family or be involved with the production of her story for TV?
There were some things I really liked about the book but also some not so great moments like Liza’s episode with hallucinogenic mushrooms, which seemed out of place.
A quick, comfortable read with a romantic ending.
I wish to thank Netgalley & Hachette Australia for an advanced copy to read in return for an honest review
I have to admit I have not watched the popular TV series Younger or read the book but I have heard about it, this book Older is the sequel to Younger !
Liza Miller is approaching her fiftieth birthday and it’s time to grow up and own her own age! Liza's bestselling novel has just been picked up by a producer to turn it into a TV show. Her novel is about Liza’s life where she tells of her experiences pretending to be a younger twenty something year old when she is really in her forties.
In this new book Older, Liza finds herself making some tough decisions when her daughter gives birth and selfishly expects Liza to babysit full time and give up her own career needs. What should she do, be a carer as expected by her family or be involved with the production of her story for TV?
There were some things I really liked about the book but also some not so great moments like Liza’s episode with hallucinogenic mushrooms, which seemed out of place.
A quick, comfortable read with a romantic ending.
I wish to thank Netgalley & Hachette Australia for an advanced copy to read in return for an honest review
July 15, 2020
This was a very charming, utterly adorable, clearly fictionalized memoir of sorts about Younger (the author’s first book in this series about Liza) being made into a TV show. I came to this book as a fan of the actual TV show (I’ve seen every episode!) who embarrassingly had not read the book first. So imagine my surprise and dismay as a staunch member of #TeamCharles (on the show) to learn that Charles never existed in the book, and was created by the TV producers later on.
I was able to quickly recover from my devastation though, because this book has Hugo. Ahhh, Hugo. I’ll let you discover him for yourself, but he’s the movie star who is starring in the book’s version of the TV show.
This book will satisfy any viewer of the show, because in addition to having a great continuation of Liza’s story, there are many thinly veiled and humorous tidbits about the making of the TV show that sound suspiciously true. Most of the other great characters from the show are there (though I learned some in the book are different from the show, and fell in love with them as well), and some new ones. I was fully charmed by this book and now intend to hop online and order the first book, Younger.
4.5 stars from me rounded up. I love Pamela Redmond’s style of writing - it’s a romance/chick lit style that is empowering, truthful, and not too cheesy. I’ll be back for more.
Thanks to Gallery Books, Pamela Redmond and NetGalley for the advance copy. I am once again thankful for the many book discoveries like these that I make on NetGalley, because I would have been super sad to miss this lovely book!
I was able to quickly recover from my devastation though, because this book has Hugo. Ahhh, Hugo. I’ll let you discover him for yourself, but he’s the movie star who is starring in the book’s version of the TV show.
This book will satisfy any viewer of the show, because in addition to having a great continuation of Liza’s story, there are many thinly veiled and humorous tidbits about the making of the TV show that sound suspiciously true. Most of the other great characters from the show are there (though I learned some in the book are different from the show, and fell in love with them as well), and some new ones. I was fully charmed by this book and now intend to hop online and order the first book, Younger.
4.5 stars from me rounded up. I love Pamela Redmond’s style of writing - it’s a romance/chick lit style that is empowering, truthful, and not too cheesy. I’ll be back for more.
Thanks to Gallery Books, Pamela Redmond and NetGalley for the advance copy. I am once again thankful for the many book discoveries like these that I make on NetGalley, because I would have been super sad to miss this lovely book!
April 18, 2024
Just watch the series 😂 it’s much, much better!
May 30, 2020
I flew through this book. Before I knew it, I had finished a book that is so important for all women to read. The idea that growing older makes life easier is so prevalent that we forget to deal with the reality of the fact that we still need to make choices as homemakers, mothers, professionals, and women. This book comes to terms with the guilt we as women feel after any choice is made.
June 26, 2020
What a fun, clever, smart romp of a book! It felt like multimedia to read a novel whose characters are so real to those of us who lived for the series YOUNGER. To be able to picture Maggie and Josh and Liza's faces and outfits, to hear Hillary Duff's voice--all of this made OLDER an even better read. My only question is: how long do we have to wait for MIDDLE-AGED?! Highly recommended.
June 1, 2020
This was a delightful sequel to “Younger” that I literally couldn’t put down. The characters made me laugh and cry, and the storyline was well developed. Highly recommended!
June 2, 2020
If you watch Younger on TVLand, you're going to easily enjoy this summer read! I loved that from the first page I already knew the characters and their personalities--made the book that much more enjoyable. A few new characters are thrown into the mix as well. You won't find Charles in here FYI. This was a super quick read and a perfect match for my beach vacation. Didn't require much effort--just pure fun!
October 2, 2020
4.5 Stars. Older such a fun story! I admit I haven't read the prequel, Younger, or seen the TV show but this was still an entertaining book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy. This was Books With Heart's September book club pick.
July 14, 2020
As Liza Miller is about to turn 50 she returns from her cabin in the woods and publishes a novel, loosely disguised story of her life posing as a younger woman in the workplace. Sound familiar? The little troupe had split in many directions; Sexy Josh concentrating on his successful business in Brooklyn, Maggie now a mom and Kelsey is quickly building her career in Los Angeles as a producer. It is time for Liza to once again reinvent herself and more than anything she wants the truth to set her free. When Kelsey ops her book for a TV show, Liza heads west and gets caught up in an LA movie star crush. With all the fun flirting and crazy antics of Younger, this group never fails to entertain. Fans will go wild for this sequel to a show we wait for with bated breath. Pure rom-com enjoyment, an absolute must read for the beach this summer. Thank you Pamela Redmond, just the right amount of “Take me away!" during these crazy times!
December 2, 2020
Hated it! I read the first book Younger because I really like the show and was curious to read the book it was based on. After getting used to the name changes and differences from the show I really liked it. It was cute, heartwarming, and left me with the same feeling the show would leave me with. I was ready for a continuation of that story when I picked this up but was immediately turned off. Instead of continuing the story this book changes all of the character names to match the show and to explain that away they tell us that the original book was not book one of this series, but a fictional novel within the story that our Liza/Alice wrote pre this book starting. What????? On top of that this book does not have continuity with the original book OR the tv show. And if you are a fan of Charles (who is in neither book) you will hate this especially because of a Pierce Brosnan type she includes as a Charles substitute. Garbage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2020
Thank you #Netgalley for the advaced read!
As someone who has loved the show "Younger" since the beginning, I love this book! I want to see it play out on TV :) I enjoy following Liza Miller and she navigates her "mom" life and her career. I think the ending also leaves for another book, I want more!
As someone who has loved the show "Younger" since the beginning, I love this book! I want to see it play out on TV :) I enjoy following Liza Miller and she navigates her "mom" life and her career. I think the ending also leaves for another book, I want more!
July 1, 2020
OMFG This is literally the best thing I have read this summer! As a huge fan of younger I was anticipating this book since it was announced. I really hope that it is made into a TV show I just think it will make a fantastic show!
August 17, 2020
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Liza has shed her "younger" self, but was now faced with a plethora of major life choices as she resumed her "older" life.
As a fan of the show, I thought this was a fun follow up which showed me how Liza ended up after she stopped being younger. She was turning 50, published her first book which was optioned for TV, and she was becoming a grandmother. There were so many things going on in various parts of her life, many positive, but she was still uncertain about her future.
I totally understood a lot of the floundering Liza was doing. She was presented with many opportunities, but was torn between falling back into old patterns, taking a leap of faith in a new direction, and repeating old mistakes. I rather enjoy seeing Liza explore her options and prioritize herself, her wants, and her needs for once.
Redmond gave Liza such a fantastic send off with this book. I loved the turns it took there towards the end, and I was left overjoyed and excited about Liza's future.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Liza has shed her "younger" self, but was now faced with a plethora of major life choices as she resumed her "older" life.
As a fan of the show, I thought this was a fun follow up which showed me how Liza ended up after she stopped being younger. She was turning 50, published her first book which was optioned for TV, and she was becoming a grandmother. There were so many things going on in various parts of her life, many positive, but she was still uncertain about her future.
I totally understood a lot of the floundering Liza was doing. She was presented with many opportunities, but was torn between falling back into old patterns, taking a leap of faith in a new direction, and repeating old mistakes. I rather enjoy seeing Liza explore her options and prioritize herself, her wants, and her needs for once.
Redmond gave Liza such a fantastic send off with this book. I loved the turns it took there towards the end, and I was left overjoyed and excited about Liza's future.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 16, 2020
Funny and oddly heart-warming, this tale by Pamela Redmond may have some readers checking to see if it is based on a true story. No, OLDER is pure fiction and the second in a series based on the shenanigans of a middle-aged single mother. In the first book, she dresses and acts 15 years younger than her age, in order to score a job in her preferred career, post-divorce. In this book, she chooses to re-enter her own age and meet her peers ‘back into the real world.’ I found the book engaging and delightful and could easily read more in this series. Although, I’m not sure what the character might do next, I enjoyed this book enough to want to find out. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 29, 2020
My favorite quarantine read so far! I enjoyed following the exploits of my favorite characters in "Younger," but more importantly, this novel explores what it means to reinvent oneself in mid-life. I identified with Liza's struggles in navigating career and responsibilities toward family, and how challenging it can be to throw off that inbred impulse to please everyone else! Also poignant for me was the reality of finding love later in life, when cellulite and sagging arms are a reality. A special nod to Redmond for nailing the chapter when Liza tries magic mushrooms and has a "bad trip" that ends up reaping ample rewards. Every "older" woman should read this book!
December 2, 2020
YOUNGER FANS WILL HATE THIS, LIKE I DID, I got the audiobook.
in the last 2 hours of this book I was rolling my eyes so much it hurt. I wanted to give it 2 starts but now I give it 1 star and sadly if I could i'd give it a zero. THIS IS THE WORST BOOK FOR A TRUE YOUNGER FAN. IF ANY OF THE TV SHOW PRODUCERS SEE THIS PLEASE DON'T DO THE SAME WITH THE TV SHOW. BE BETTER.
Pamela's writing is good as the first book, BUT THIS STORY RUINED ALMOST EVERY CHARACTER. for real now, I truly love Sutton Foster and I think it's so fun for an actor to see his name in a book- but this WAS NOT IT. this is the FIRST out of 30 books of my 2020 I give this low ranking.
If Pamela created Liza as Alice, she should have not written this book in such a different tone. I hated Liza and her choices in this book, at 50 years old she's being the worst CHILD. The last two hours were the worst, THE WORST. Liza fucking using Josh as a play toy and admitting it, making him leave his girl with manipulation because he's so madly in love with her, just to go sleep with this fake a## hollywood actor Hugo Filding. F him.
I did not enjoy Stella nor Hugo. Hugo in my opinion is better than Charles, but they both SUCK. The TRUE MAGIC of YOUNGER is that Josh make Liza see she's still magical and have a future no matter her age. THIS IS BULL.
I gave the first book 5 stars even tho the characters are different, but at least the first book got the job DONE. this book is a money grab and I think it might be the only book i'll return from Audible.
THE ENDING WAS HORRIBLE. where the f is JOSH? and okay, I get that in the show they made a pretty cute scene between Josh and Kelsey, but this brings me to the other worst thing about this book, I HATE KELSEY.
EXCUSE ME SISTER, isn't Kelsey the girl who had an affair with her autor Anton? or was this all a LIE? Then you go and judge Liza for the same stuff you've done? why bother create a piece of art if you trash your previous one in the making?
I HATED LIZE, KELSEY, and KAITLYN IS HONESTLY SUCH A BRAT. she was one in the first book too, but f this, she's even worse in this one, "I don't want to be a mommy, you take my kid MOM" common, this is the worst Younger book out of all of them (4 as far as now)
It's so sad and I truly hope JOSH will get justice, even if we get an annoying "My true love is maggie and my friends" kind of ending on the show (and that's bad too), I still need JOSH SOMEWHERE.
Why the hell is Liza shipping her past lover with her best friend? like I said, a CHILD.
I think mentioning Darren Star was a disgrace, because he saved Liza from this horrible ending Pamela gave.
And if Pamela sees this by chance, YOU ARE A GREAT WRITER, but do justice for your characters! this book is so unbelievably bad. so upsetting, I WAS HOPING FOR SO MUCH MORE FROM A BOOK CALLED "OLDER", she's a fn CHILD in this book. so annoying.
Maggie and the gender fluid partner are both great, nothing to get into there.
THE ONLY TWO CHARACTERS THAT HAD POTENTIAL WERE MRS WHITNEY AND JOSH.
Mrs Whitney was sweet and much more Female Power than the annoying and boring Charles. She was a close friend and I enjoyed her a lot.
Josh will always be my baby, he's the best character in this franchise, he never goes wrong, has a heart of gold, and Liza is giving zero Fs about him(Both in this book and the TV Show)
On TV, Liza is more calm but still LOVING, in season 6 finale she's holding on to their tattoo, she still has love for him in her heart. in this book she was like "Who the f is Josh and why should I care?"
WHO THE F IS HUGO FILDING AND WHY DO I CARE ABOUT HIS BORING FEATURES?
1/5 stars, 0/5 if I could. Do better Darren Star on the Show finale, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! This book ending was a warning sign, so bad. sadly.
I feel bad for writing such a bad review, but sometimes being honest is better. Do better on the TV show.
(I GAVE SUTTON 5/5 on NARRATORING this book, she's done an amazing job with boys/girls/them and was charming to listen to.) Sutton, Love you.
in the last 2 hours of this book I was rolling my eyes so much it hurt. I wanted to give it 2 starts but now I give it 1 star and sadly if I could i'd give it a zero. THIS IS THE WORST BOOK FOR A TRUE YOUNGER FAN. IF ANY OF THE TV SHOW PRODUCERS SEE THIS PLEASE DON'T DO THE SAME WITH THE TV SHOW. BE BETTER.
Pamela's writing is good as the first book, BUT THIS STORY RUINED ALMOST EVERY CHARACTER. for real now, I truly love Sutton Foster and I think it's so fun for an actor to see his name in a book- but this WAS NOT IT. this is the FIRST out of 30 books of my 2020 I give this low ranking.
If Pamela created Liza as Alice, she should have not written this book in such a different tone. I hated Liza and her choices in this book, at 50 years old she's being the worst CHILD. The last two hours were the worst, THE WORST. Liza fucking using Josh as a play toy and admitting it, making him leave his girl with manipulation because he's so madly in love with her, just to go sleep with this fake a## hollywood actor Hugo Filding. F him.
I did not enjoy Stella nor Hugo. Hugo in my opinion is better than Charles, but they both SUCK. The TRUE MAGIC of YOUNGER is that Josh make Liza see she's still magical and have a future no matter her age. THIS IS BULL.
I gave the first book 5 stars even tho the characters are different, but at least the first book got the job DONE. this book is a money grab and I think it might be the only book i'll return from Audible.
THE ENDING WAS HORRIBLE. where the f is JOSH? and okay, I get that in the show they made a pretty cute scene between Josh and Kelsey, but this brings me to the other worst thing about this book, I HATE KELSEY.
EXCUSE ME SISTER, isn't Kelsey the girl who had an affair with her autor Anton? or was this all a LIE? Then you go and judge Liza for the same stuff you've done? why bother create a piece of art if you trash your previous one in the making?
I HATED LIZE, KELSEY, and KAITLYN IS HONESTLY SUCH A BRAT. she was one in the first book too, but f this, she's even worse in this one, "I don't want to be a mommy, you take my kid MOM" common, this is the worst Younger book out of all of them (4 as far as now)
It's so sad and I truly hope JOSH will get justice, even if we get an annoying "My true love is maggie and my friends" kind of ending on the show (and that's bad too), I still need JOSH SOMEWHERE.
Why the hell is Liza shipping her past lover with her best friend? like I said, a CHILD.
I think mentioning Darren Star was a disgrace, because he saved Liza from this horrible ending Pamela gave.
And if Pamela sees this by chance, YOU ARE A GREAT WRITER, but do justice for your characters! this book is so unbelievably bad. so upsetting, I WAS HOPING FOR SO MUCH MORE FROM A BOOK CALLED "OLDER", she's a fn CHILD in this book. so annoying.
Maggie and the gender fluid partner are both great, nothing to get into there.
THE ONLY TWO CHARACTERS THAT HAD POTENTIAL WERE MRS WHITNEY AND JOSH.
Mrs Whitney was sweet and much more Female Power than the annoying and boring Charles. She was a close friend and I enjoyed her a lot.
Josh will always be my baby, he's the best character in this franchise, he never goes wrong, has a heart of gold, and Liza is giving zero Fs about him(Both in this book and the TV Show)
On TV, Liza is more calm but still LOVING, in season 6 finale she's holding on to their tattoo, she still has love for him in her heart. in this book she was like "Who the f is Josh and why should I care?"
WHO THE F IS HUGO FILDING AND WHY DO I CARE ABOUT HIS BORING FEATURES?
1/5 stars, 0/5 if I could. Do better Darren Star on the Show finale, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! This book ending was a warning sign, so bad. sadly.
I feel bad for writing such a bad review, but sometimes being honest is better. Do better on the TV show.
(I GAVE SUTTON 5/5 on NARRATORING this book, she's done an amazing job with boys/girls/them and was charming to listen to.) Sutton, Love you.
September 9, 2020
The best thing about getting older is that you finally get to be yourself” — I liked this quote 🌼
Liza Miller, adorable, funny, lively, amazing, independent lady who is an incredible author of “Younger” is still confused and kinda stuck between her choices and responsibilities, dreams and realities.
Obviously, Not without a reason.
Liza’s life takes a twist and turn when her friend Kelsey wants her book to turn into a TV show which is picked up by a major television network already.
Not Enough! New york or Los Angeles? Romance or Commitment? Younger or Older?
Older is her journey from leaving many things back as well as her boyfriend Josh, her pregnant daughter, her best friend Maggie to start over a new career, new life with new people that is also when she is going to turn 50.
This book is the sequel to the novel Younger which is now a popular TV series from the creator of Sex and the city starring Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff.
What I liked:
I should mention this thing that Liza changed my stereotype mindset about getting old especially when you are a woman. I was stuck in my mind that if anyone is getting old crossing 40 then 50 they have no life for themselves. All they have to do is take care of their children then grandchildren, stay home and rest, no parties and wearing fancy clothes, no meetings with fancy people.
Why not?
At the age of 50, if they can breathe and the heart can beat, they can live their life the way they want. There is no age barrier in dreaming, having ambition and a fancy career, making love and flying free.
I loved Liza Miller. I could imagine her doing all those crazy things she did and I genuinely enjoyed her character a lot. She decided to live her life the way she wants and not the way her daughter or anybody else wants.
All characters were well-rounded and kept me engaged till the end.
Liza’s friendship with her best friend Maggie, then with Kelsey made me feel envious. Again her bonding with her publisher Mrs. Whitney was heart melting.
I always love to read stories about authors and books, and this book gave me a beautiful experience of the journey of an author from turning her popular book into TV series. And the best thing when that popular TV series already exists.
What else I enjoyed is Hugo fielding’s character and Liza falling in love with him which she can’t even express.
Last but not the least, I must praise the writing style of the author. I never felt lost but always connected. It was a happy read for me.
What I didn’t like:
There is nothing specific that I can complain about the book.
As I felt so connected to Liza, I will tell one thing about her which annoyed me a lot, that is she was switching her phone off when the situation was getting worse or she was in a bad mood.
Liza Miller, adorable, funny, lively, amazing, independent lady who is an incredible author of “Younger” is still confused and kinda stuck between her choices and responsibilities, dreams and realities.
Obviously, Not without a reason.
Liza’s life takes a twist and turn when her friend Kelsey wants her book to turn into a TV show which is picked up by a major television network already.
Not Enough! New york or Los Angeles? Romance or Commitment? Younger or Older?
Older is her journey from leaving many things back as well as her boyfriend Josh, her pregnant daughter, her best friend Maggie to start over a new career, new life with new people that is also when she is going to turn 50.
This book is the sequel to the novel Younger which is now a popular TV series from the creator of Sex and the city starring Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff.
What I liked:
I should mention this thing that Liza changed my stereotype mindset about getting old especially when you are a woman. I was stuck in my mind that if anyone is getting old crossing 40 then 50 they have no life for themselves. All they have to do is take care of their children then grandchildren, stay home and rest, no parties and wearing fancy clothes, no meetings with fancy people.
Why not?
At the age of 50, if they can breathe and the heart can beat, they can live their life the way they want. There is no age barrier in dreaming, having ambition and a fancy career, making love and flying free.
I loved Liza Miller. I could imagine her doing all those crazy things she did and I genuinely enjoyed her character a lot. She decided to live her life the way she wants and not the way her daughter or anybody else wants.
All characters were well-rounded and kept me engaged till the end.
Liza’s friendship with her best friend Maggie, then with Kelsey made me feel envious. Again her bonding with her publisher Mrs. Whitney was heart melting.
I always love to read stories about authors and books, and this book gave me a beautiful experience of the journey of an author from turning her popular book into TV series. And the best thing when that popular TV series already exists.
What else I enjoyed is Hugo fielding’s character and Liza falling in love with him which she can’t even express.
Last but not the least, I must praise the writing style of the author. I never felt lost but always connected. It was a happy read for me.
What I didn’t like:
There is nothing specific that I can complain about the book.
As I felt so connected to Liza, I will tell one thing about her which annoyed me a lot, that is she was switching her phone off when the situation was getting worse or she was in a bad mood.
November 12, 2020
If you are going to read this book, you need to remember that it is based on the original book of Younger, NOT the television series. I've only seen the television series, so not having Charles and Diana around threw me for a loop. I also had the casting for the show in my head (for Liza, Maggie, Josh, and Caitlin), so it was meta that they were referring to some of them as actors in the book. However, this was a fun story and I could definitely relate to the aspects of finding balance between motherhood and work and whether you can truly have it all.
There were some great moments throughout, although I wasn't too keen on the drug usage. The synopsis was confusing as it said she turned fifty already, but the prologue showed she had more time until her birthday.
Overall, it's a light and entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed Younger (either the book or television series).
If a spinoff series for Younger is in the works, here are my casting recommendations:
Hugo: Hugh Jackman
Stella: Isabella Miko
Ruth: Holland Taylor
Ravi: Avan Jogia
There were some great moments throughout, although I wasn't too keen on the drug usage. The synopsis was confusing as it said she turned fifty already, but the prologue showed she had more time until her birthday.
Overall, it's a light and entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed Younger (either the book or television series).
If a spinoff series for Younger is in the works, here are my casting recommendations:
Hugo: Hugh Jackman
Stella: Isabella Miko
Ruth: Holland Taylor
Ravi: Avan Jogia
July 21, 2020
I couldn’t put this down! Younger was a incredible show and I’m ashamed I didn’t know it was also a book! When I saw this on NetGalley I requested it instantly!
Liza’s third book is a fictional adaptation of her life and the lie she told to pose as a millennial to get a job! Never did she think her life would become a book, but now Kelsey wants it to be a TV show.
Liza struggles with wanting to be in New York with your family and friends but also in LA living her best life and being a carefree woman! Hollywood sweeps her off her feet as does Hugo. Dramatic actresses and script changes has Liza rethinking the whole idea.
Catlin goes into early labour and Liza rushes back to New York to be there. Thankfully Maggie was there to step it. She gives Liza the reality check she needs. She decides that she’s not going back to LA.
It would be younger without Josh and a love triangle. It’s so hard not to wrap this up without any spoilers, Life works out in the end, she’s happy and her family is healthy, bittersweet she lands her dream job and lives happily ever after at 50.
The second this was approved by the publisher I squealed with excitement and instantly devoured it! Thank you NetGalley.
Liza’s third book is a fictional adaptation of her life and the lie she told to pose as a millennial to get a job! Never did she think her life would become a book, but now Kelsey wants it to be a TV show.
Liza struggles with wanting to be in New York with your family and friends but also in LA living her best life and being a carefree woman! Hollywood sweeps her off her feet as does Hugo. Dramatic actresses and script changes has Liza rethinking the whole idea.
Catlin goes into early labour and Liza rushes back to New York to be there. Thankfully Maggie was there to step it. She gives Liza the reality check she needs. She decides that she’s not going back to LA.
It would be younger without Josh and a love triangle. It’s so hard not to wrap this up without any spoilers, Life works out in the end, she’s happy and her family is healthy, bittersweet she lands her dream job and lives happily ever after at 50.
The second this was approved by the publisher I squealed with excitement and instantly devoured it! Thank you NetGalley.
September 2, 2020
I was worried that I was missing out on something by not reading Younger first, but I didn't have to worry since this book essentially told the entire story of that book. So just in case you were wondering if you should read Younger first, don't! Jump right in. But I must say that out of pure curiosity and liking this author's style, I am going to be reading that book next!
Because of what I had read about this book, I had thought that I was going to get an insightful look into someone close to me in age, their friends, and their relationships. What I got was more or less a cast of unlikeable character's going through teenage problems, attitudes, and issues with a few adult problems thrown in.
I can't say this was a bad book; I actually enjoyed it and found it slightly amusing. Perhaps it would be more entertaining to someone younger, who hasn't reached their fifties yet.
*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
Because of what I had read about this book, I had thought that I was going to get an insightful look into someone close to me in age, their friends, and their relationships. What I got was more or less a cast of unlikeable character's going through teenage problems, attitudes, and issues with a few adult problems thrown in.
I can't say this was a bad book; I actually enjoyed it and found it slightly amusing. Perhaps it would be more entertaining to someone younger, who hasn't reached their fifties yet.
*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
August 9, 2020
Fans of the tv show YOUNGER will love diving a bit past the show's timeline to see what happens to Liza, Josh, Kelsey, Maggie, Caitlin, and some new-to-me characters that were not in the show but perhaps were in the original book. I'm not sure! But I found this an entertaining and enjoyable book with lots of fun winks to the show. Thank you to netgalley.com and Gallery Books for the review copy.
September 26, 2020
What a fun read! True confession: I haven’t read Younger or watched the TV series but guess what? That’s not necessary to enjoy Older. It’s a treat by itself!
Soon to be 50 year old Liza Miller returns from a long stay at an isolated cabin in Maine where she went to write and to recover from her latest breakup with Josh, her younger lover. Nonstop action starts as soon as she enters her best friend Maggie’s apartment. There’s a party that night celebrating the release of her new book. Among the guests are her pregnant daughter Caitlyn with husband Ravi, Josh and his new fiancee and her former coworker Kelsey, now a television producer. She wants to turn Liza’s book into a TV show. In a few whirlwind days, Liza is in Hollywood writing scripts, dealing with feckless producers and actors and really enjoying the California party scene. Only a near tragedy back home makes her realize what is truly important.
Pamela Redmond weaves several themes through this comedy/romance. What do we expect from our mothers, our friends and our lovers? By rejecting the expectations of others, Liza finds what she really wants to do in the second half of her life. Older delivers unforgettable characters, snappy dialogue, great locations - the Manhattan art world and behind the scenes looks at TV filming in Hollywood and New York. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Pamela Redmond for this ARC.
Soon to be 50 year old Liza Miller returns from a long stay at an isolated cabin in Maine where she went to write and to recover from her latest breakup with Josh, her younger lover. Nonstop action starts as soon as she enters her best friend Maggie’s apartment. There’s a party that night celebrating the release of her new book. Among the guests are her pregnant daughter Caitlyn with husband Ravi, Josh and his new fiancee and her former coworker Kelsey, now a television producer. She wants to turn Liza’s book into a TV show. In a few whirlwind days, Liza is in Hollywood writing scripts, dealing with feckless producers and actors and really enjoying the California party scene. Only a near tragedy back home makes her realize what is truly important.
Pamela Redmond weaves several themes through this comedy/romance. What do we expect from our mothers, our friends and our lovers? By rejecting the expectations of others, Liza finds what she really wants to do in the second half of her life. Older delivers unforgettable characters, snappy dialogue, great locations - the Manhattan art world and behind the scenes looks at TV filming in Hollywood and New York. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Pamela Redmond for this ARC.
August 15, 2020
Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Older.
So I was shocked to find out the TV show that I love, Younger is actually based on a book. (How did I miss that??) But when I read the synopsis for Older I was excited to read it. I didn't read Younger, but with knowing the TV show I was able to be ok.
I loved that this felt like a behind the scenes peak at what happens to get a book adapted into a tv show and how that's a totally different process.
I loved seeing the characters in the book (and want to go read Younger now), and love the whitty dialogue and the stories of friendship, love and family. That getting older isn't a bad thing, but at some age you need to learn to speak up for what you want.
Recommend this book for fans of her first book and the TV show!
So I was shocked to find out the TV show that I love, Younger is actually based on a book. (How did I miss that??) But when I read the synopsis for Older I was excited to read it. I didn't read Younger, but with knowing the TV show I was able to be ok.
I loved that this felt like a behind the scenes peak at what happens to get a book adapted into a tv show and how that's a totally different process.
I loved seeing the characters in the book (and want to go read Younger now), and love the whitty dialogue and the stories of friendship, love and family. That getting older isn't a bad thing, but at some age you need to learn to speak up for what you want.
Recommend this book for fans of her first book and the TV show!
April 9, 2021
"... For a long time I felt lonely, incomplete.
And then lonely turned to peaceful. Incomplete became whole, strong, perfectly balanced on my own two feet."
Older tells us what happened after the happy ending of Younger. Everybody how read Younger for sure is interested to learn about Lisa's (aka Alice's) life further. The title "Older" truly lives for itself, it is a story about acceptance of age and everything it brings. The motto of the book is "Life is what we have NOW".
It is quite difficult to leave your younger self behind and settle into reality. However, it is possible and not that painful as it seems ))
And then lonely turned to peaceful. Incomplete became whole, strong, perfectly balanced on my own two feet."
Older tells us what happened after the happy ending of Younger. Everybody how read Younger for sure is interested to learn about Lisa's (aka Alice's) life further. The title "Older" truly lives for itself, it is a story about acceptance of age and everything it brings. The motto of the book is "Life is what we have NOW".
It is quite difficult to leave your younger self behind and settle into reality. However, it is possible and not that painful as it seems ))
October 8, 2021
This was a very enjoyable read- especially if you loved the TV Land show Younger. It’s light and sweet as it follows Liza as she approaches her 50th birthday, now that she’s actually getting “older.”
July 11, 2020
I’ve been missing Younger on tv this summer, it’s delayed this year of course. I was really excited to find this book on NetGalley, to get to spend some time with these characters that I love.
Reading the book, having only watched the show and never read the first book, makes this book pretty meta. It just dives right into that and literally even refers to something within the story as meta.
I’m going to guess that everyone who watches the tv show is either #teamJosh or #teamCharles. I’m team Josh. I mention this for a couple reasons: 1)if you’re either Team Josh or Team Charles it’s going to be hard to get used to the new live interest Hugo 2)Charles doesn’t seem to exist in this book.
Liza is about to turn 50. She’s been living in her boss’ cabin in Maine for quite some time, trying to write. She’s only just gotten back to NYC when Kelsey contacts her and says she’d like to make Liza’s previous book Younger into a tv series. Kelsey has been living in California and working in tv.
Liza agrees and is able to get the publisher’s approval to make it happen. She even decides to go to California for awhile to work on the screen play. Her daughter doesn’t want her to go because she’s pregnant. Maggie supports her. And she meets up with Josh long enough to wonder whether she should give him another chance.
Both on the show, and in the book, I continue to get frustrated with Liza for telling Josh that he shouldn’t give up having kids to be with her. I really believe Josh loves her enough to chose her but Liza often doesn’t think he shouldn’t. So, anyway, that’s always been my pet peeve and continues to be.
Liza goes to CA and meets a movie star names Hugo. He is being considered for a part in the tv series. They’re basically writing a role for him, the role of the now male boss. So, he’s kind of the Charles here.
Liza starts falling for Hugo.
She winds up back in NYC again and her daughter begs Liza to move in with her to help with her new baby. That seemed so unfair. Liza pushes Josh away because she doesn’t want another baby and then she winds up staying home to help with her grandchild.
I’m not going to say how long any part of this book lasts (NYC, CA, writing, tv pilot, Hugo, caring for the grandchild) because I don’t want to spoil anything. I’d also love to comment on my feelings about the ending but I’ve already said I am strongly Team Josh, so you’d be able to guess the ending if I told you how I felt about it.
It was good to revisit these characters. I don’t think Kelsey got enough time in this book, but I heard her tv character is getting a spin-off, so she deserves her own story too :)
Reading the book, having only watched the show and never read the first book, makes this book pretty meta. It just dives right into that and literally even refers to something within the story as meta.
I’m going to guess that everyone who watches the tv show is either #teamJosh or #teamCharles. I’m team Josh. I mention this for a couple reasons: 1)if you’re either Team Josh or Team Charles it’s going to be hard to get used to the new live interest Hugo 2)Charles doesn’t seem to exist in this book.
Liza is about to turn 50. She’s been living in her boss’ cabin in Maine for quite some time, trying to write. She’s only just gotten back to NYC when Kelsey contacts her and says she’d like to make Liza’s previous book Younger into a tv series. Kelsey has been living in California and working in tv.
Liza agrees and is able to get the publisher’s approval to make it happen. She even decides to go to California for awhile to work on the screen play. Her daughter doesn’t want her to go because she’s pregnant. Maggie supports her. And she meets up with Josh long enough to wonder whether she should give him another chance.
Both on the show, and in the book, I continue to get frustrated with Liza for telling Josh that he shouldn’t give up having kids to be with her. I really believe Josh loves her enough to chose her but Liza often doesn’t think he shouldn’t. So, anyway, that’s always been my pet peeve and continues to be.
Liza goes to CA and meets a movie star names Hugo. He is being considered for a part in the tv series. They’re basically writing a role for him, the role of the now male boss. So, he’s kind of the Charles here.
Liza starts falling for Hugo.
She winds up back in NYC again and her daughter begs Liza to move in with her to help with her new baby. That seemed so unfair. Liza pushes Josh away because she doesn’t want another baby and then she winds up staying home to help with her grandchild.
I’m not going to say how long any part of this book lasts (NYC, CA, writing, tv pilot, Hugo, caring for the grandchild) because I don’t want to spoil anything. I’d also love to comment on my feelings about the ending but I’ve already said I am strongly Team Josh, so you’d be able to guess the ending if I told you how I felt about it.
It was good to revisit these characters. I don’t think Kelsey got enough time in this book, but I heard her tv character is getting a spin-off, so she deserves her own story too :)
July 4, 2023
The novel, "Older," is so funny, as is a sequel to her other book, "Younger," which was made into a television series. This novel was just as hilarious and is perfect even as a stand-alone novel. In this book, Liza Miller is off to LA to help make a TV movie about her life of pretending to be 25. There she meets the dashing brit and is torn between her life in New York and possible life in LA. This book explores what happens when a woman rejects societal expectations, embraces her experiences, and trusts her gut.
There is a scene when Kelsey and Liza meet Stella Power at her house and Liza's having hair envy that made me laugh out loud:
"How do you get your hair to look like that?" I blurted.
She laughed exactly like Barbie might laugh if she could. "Easy compared with sitting around all day being a creative genius."
"I think the hair is harder," I said, utterly fascinated.
"Well, some of it is extensions,' Stella said, reaching up and fiddling around as if she were trying to tease out a nit and removed a huge hank of hair.
I nearly screamed.
"And then I had stem cells injected into my scalp to stimulate hair growth. It's amazing."
I told Stella I'd never heard of such a thing.
"It's still experimental.'"
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/pam...
There is a scene when Kelsey and Liza meet Stella Power at her house and Liza's having hair envy that made me laugh out loud:
"How do you get your hair to look like that?" I blurted.
She laughed exactly like Barbie might laugh if she could. "Easy compared with sitting around all day being a creative genius."
"I think the hair is harder," I said, utterly fascinated.
"Well, some of it is extensions,' Stella said, reaching up and fiddling around as if she were trying to tease out a nit and removed a huge hank of hair.
I nearly screamed.
"And then I had stem cells injected into my scalp to stimulate hair growth. It's amazing."
I told Stella I'd never heard of such a thing.
"It's still experimental.'"
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/pam...
June 9, 2020
This is a tricky book to review (and it was probably trickier to write). It's a follow up to the book Younger, which was later made into a TV show. Some of the characters' names and identities from the original book were changed for the TV show, which is perfectly normal. However, it means anyone who is a fan of the show that picked up the books would be totally lost since the names have been changed and characters have been added/deleted. The author came up with an interesting workaround- the previous book was a fictionalized version of life, so therefore names were changed to protect their identities. But this book is about the characters' real lives so they all have the same names as the characters on the show- also real life. Confused yet? If you haven't actively watched the show, it's a lot to process. As a fan of the show, it was a fun albeit quirky read. But overall, I don't know why this book needed to exist. It comes across more as a piece of fan fiction where someone tries to link the book and the show, but it doesn't do much other than offer Liza a happy ending- though, who knows if the show will even try to stick with that- and then, does it matter?
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