After thoroughly enjoying Confessions of a 40-Year-Old F***Up, I was thrilled to hear there was a sequel. I’ve had that title in my head since my late thirties,” says author Alexandra Potter, “when I used to moan to my friends, ‘Oh God, I’m going to be a forty-something f--- up.’ So I really fought for it!” Told in a diary style format by Nell (first person) be prepared to embrace what everyday life throws at you and how you deal with it . . . . . family,friends,laughter,sadness,gratitude.

I highly recommend this book, it is for every one of us, for the ‘outcasts’ like me (childfree by choice, gasp!) who try to walk life through a different path than one that is deemed acceptable, or for someone like you who may have achieved the so-called ‘milestones’ in life, is considered a ‘success’ by society but like Nell’s friends in the book may feel like a f-up nonetheless.

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Nell’s openhearted candor is proof that the more we love, and the more we give, the more love we have to give. Rather than her insecurities making her a viciously jealous Mean Girl, the bumbling heroine’s compassion and understanding make her an unwitting advocate for the downtrodden. As Nell navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery, I found myself nodding in agreement, pausing to reflect on my own life and decisions. Potter's witty prose and insightful exploration of life's messiness make for an unputdownable read that's both heartwarming and thought-provoking. Then there’s the stigma of not being a mother, which is why Potter was adamant her heroine should remain childless. “Just look at how we talk about Jennifer Aniston, when from the look of things she has a fantastic life. But unfortunately women are measured by that.” Potter says she doesn’t personally mind the constant, casual questions about motherhood, “and I realise why they come up, socially, but I know that for a lot of friends who couldn’t have children those questions can be a trigger”.

First of all, thank you NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and Alexandra Potter for allowing me access to this e-ARC!Of course, I realize this is just a new stage of life, and one that–if all this midlife stuff is to be believed–I should be embracing. But what if you’re not ready for this new stage? What if you haven’t even reached the old stage yet? Even if you’re not sure about having kids it’s comforting to know you’ve got options. No one wants to be The Woman For Whom Time Ran Out. You want to be the one making the decisions. Sitting on the fence is one thing, but what happens when the fence is taken away from you? Do you jump off joyfully or fall crashing to the floor?” The story of Nell Stevens’ struggle through her imperfect, messy life doesn’t just make brilliant fiction, it’s turning into a cultural revolution!' Matt Cain May 9, 2023 ] ‘Calm After the Storm’ and other treasures to support your childless heart on Mother’s Day Watch now] ‘Challenging the Lazy Stereotypes of Childless Women in Fiction and Films’. A free World Childless Week webinar: Thursday 14 September 2023, 7pm BST From that late urge to want motherhood to dealing with the beginnings of Perimenopause, friendships becoming fragile as everyone is dealing with their own issues and realising you might not actually have it all together, despite being closer to 50 than before.

The story of Nell Stevens’ struggle through her imperfect, messy life doesn’t just make brilliant fiction, it’s turning into a cultural revolution!' – Matt Cain I have read all of Alexandra Potter's wonderful novels and not one of them has disappointed. Her writing style is casual, flirty, accessible... her books are an absolute joy to read, delving into the characters' thoughts and feelings in a way that not only has the reader relating to them, but fully empathising with them. Single - nearly 29 and single, and I'm still being asked "when are you going to find a man and settle down? More Confessions is set 18 months after the end of the first book and follows Nell's journey as she and the rest of the UK navigate the return to normal after Covid. Having spent a large amount of her time alone in her flat, she's looking forward to being able to get out and about again with her boyfriend, Edward, and her friends. Finally they can gather at each other's houses with no restrictions, they can go to the pub and enjoy a drink and they can even have weddings again! In the hilarious and heartfelt follow-up to Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up Nell discovers that there's no such thing as having it all figured out.A funny and heartfelt novel for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here and why life isn't quite how she imagined it was going to be.