When Lizzie Stevens was eighteen, her best friends Harriet and Anna headed off on a dreamy interrailing adventure across Europe while she stayed behind, stuck in a sensible bank job and an ordinary life. Decades later, at sixty-four and freshly divorced from a painfully dull husband, Lizzie gets the chance to rewrite her story. Unexpectedly reunited with her old school friends, she declares: this time, she’s getting on the train.
What follows is a gloriously chaotic rail trip from Paris to Venice and then along the sparkling Croatian coast. The three women are older, wiser (well, mostly), and far less flexible than they were in their teens, but they’re determined to make up for lost time. Expect plenty of laughter, questionable decisions, sore feet, and the kind of heartfelt conversations that only happen when you’ve known someone for forty-plus years.
Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Old resentments bubble up, secrets come to light, and the friends don’t always see eye to eye. Yet through every argument and every stunning sunset, their deep affection for one another shines through. And then there’s the mysterious “Mr Grumpy” who keeps popping up wherever they go… Is he following them? You’ll have to read to find out!
Maddie Please has created three wonderfully real, flawed, and lovable heroines. Lizzie especially stole my heart — watching her finally step into the life she always wanted was genuinely uplifting. This book is funny, tender, life-affirming, and full of second chances. It’s the perfect reminder that it’s never too late to chase adventure, rekindle friendships, or even find a little holiday romance.
If you love feel-good stories about women rediscovering themselves later in life, pack your bags (and your sense of humor) and jump on this train. You won’t regret it.
You can order a copy here.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
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