The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village

Name: The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village
Brand: Hachette UK
Availability: InStock
Author: Joanna Nell
ISBN: 9780733640889

Author: Joanna Nell

Narrator: Deidre Rubenstein

Unabridged: 11 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 09/25/2018

Categories: Fiction, Humorous, Women

Synopsis

Joanna Nell's life-affirming debut is a moving, funny, heartwarming tale of love and community in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Grace and Frankie

The life of 79-year-old pensioner PEGGY SMART is as beige as the décor in her retirement village. Her week revolves around aqua aerobics and appointments with her doctor. Following a very minor traffic accident, things have turned frosty with her grown-up children and she is afraid they are trying to take away her independence.

The highlight of Peggy's day is watching her neighbour Brian head out for his morning swim. She dreams of inviting the handsome widower - treasurer of the Residents' Committee and one of the few eligible men in the village - to an intimate dinner. But why would an educated man like Brian, a chartered accountant no less, look twice at Peggy? As a woman of a certain age, she fears she has become invisible, even to men in their eighties.

But a chance encounter with an old school friend she hasn't seen in five decades - the glamorous fashionista ANGIE VALENTINE - sets Peggy on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

'Lively and whimsical ... with some serious points to make about ageing, love, community and friendship' Sydney Morning Herald

'This heartwarming story about growing old gracefully - and disgracefully ... is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages' Daily Telegraph

'I haven't been this entranced by a character since Eleanor (Oliphant, of course). This book is a joy - it's a celebration of age instead of an apology for it, and a reminder that life is always an adventure if you let it be. I loved this uniquely endearing book' KELLY RIMMER

'I loved it! I want to be Peggy when I'm older. With many laugh-out-loud moments, this book is sure to make you see "getting old" in a different light. A refreshing, funny, realistic and warm read' FIONA PALMER

'The perfect blend of funny and moving: had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story' NATASHA LESTER

About Joanna Nell

Joanna Nell is a British-Australian writer, GP and advocate for positive ageing. Her essays and short fiction have won multiple awards and been widely published in magazines, journals and literary anthologies. Her first four novels, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home and The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital, were national bestsellers. Joanna lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Miriam on May 13, 2019

"It's never too late to grow old disgracefully...." If I could give a book more than five stars then "The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village" written by Joanna Nell would be it! I could have kept on reading about 79 year old Peggy Smart and her refusal to grow old gracefully forever and i......more

Goodreads review by Louise on October 02, 2018

The life of 79 year old pensioner Peggy Smart is as beige as the decor in her retirement village. Her week revolves around aqua aerobics and appointments with her doctor. The highlight of Peggy's day is watching her neighbour Brian head out for his morning swim. Peggy Smart is still grieving the loss......more

Goodreads review by Darla on June 19, 2022

This is a delightful tale told with humor and heart. Peggy Smart is almost 80. But she's not dead yet. The discovery of a friend from decades ago will help her to take a new look at life. And that cute new neighbor might just give her some incentive, too. Her kids may think she has one foot in the g......more

Goodreads review by Nina (ninjasbooks) on July 07, 2024

I love life-affirming stories from people at the end of their lives, and at times this novel gave me perspective and hope. But somehow I wasn’t completely charmed by the characters, which is a shame.......more

Goodreads review by Veronica ⭐️ on October 30, 2018

*[URL not allowed] I was quite torn by this book. It was funny and entertaining but I also found it easy to put down. I was easily distracted by other things and it ended up taking me a week to read. I wasn’t drawn into the story or the characters, just a mere bystander. I could......more

Quotes

The perfect blend of funny and moving. Peggy Smart had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story

I loved it! I want to be Peggy when I'm older. With many laugh-out-loud moments, this book celebrate life in the later years and is sure to make you see "getting old" in a different light. A refreshing, funny, realistic and warm read

It is a hoot! I don't think I've laughed out loud at a book as much since I read Marian Keyes' Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married. Regardless of your age, I can highly recommend you snuggle up with Peggy Smart and her band of old-timers who have a lot to teach us about growing old, and it's not about doing it gracefully

I loved this warm and witty story of an older woman learning to stand up for herself, and found myself cheering for her to succeed. A terrific feel-good read

It was so refreshing to read about characters at this stage of their lives. It touched my heart and will have real staying power in the hearts and minds of readers

Review

This is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages.

This is an enjoyable, easy read

This novel is bound to be the feel-good book of Christmas giving as it is a book to love whether you are in your late teens or into a new century. Guaranteed to be a word-of-mouth hit well into 2019

The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is an uplifting look at growing old 'disgracefully' and not letting society (or your own flesh and blood!) make you think you can't do what you want to...even at almost 80 years old!