Publisher: Avon Books UK
Release date: 25 September 2025
Back cover blurb: Lucy is fifty, frazzled and fed up. After spending half her life working, she’s tired, and her idea of inner peace involves a sofa, wine and a takeaway. But when her boss announces his retirement, Lucy gears up for a well-earned promotion – that is until Tara, her annoyingly perfect colleague, swoops in, dazzling the CEO with her #BossBabe energy and commitment to a wellness bootcamp so hardcore it sounds like a cult. Desperate to compete, Lucy lies about joining the same program — even though her body feels more landfill than temple. Now she’s trapped in four weeks of ice baths, crystals and green juices… not to mention jade eggs in unspeakable places. As the wellness madness escalates and rivalries flare, Lu starts to wonder if she actually might be growing as a person – or if that’s just the kombucha talking? And why can’t she shake the feeling that maybe Tara isn’t as perfect as she seems?
This novel is a joy!
Lucy is literally me in another life. Albeit with a different job title and a slightly different back story...
Lucy is HR Director at Beane and Co insurance, where she has worked for most of her working life. She has worked her arse off to get to where she is today, and covets the non existent role of COO.
When her boss announces his retirement, Lucy sees her opportunity to pitch the new COO role to his replacement. He is all for it, but he is also bringing with him his legal director from his existing company and guess what, she also wants to be COO.
Enter Tara. A younger, trendier, slimmer version of Lucy who is just as ambitious and already has the new CEO's ear. Lucy is livid, and immediately sets about some online stalking of Tara's social media (we've all been there..). She finds little of note, except that Tara is really into wellness.
On a whim Lucy signs up to a wellness course, even though she thinks it all bollocks.
Which the first couple of sessions are. Then she meets with Clio.
Clio is a revelation. Something rare amongst the other wellness bullshit that Lucy cannot abide. Tara says she has changed her life, and now Lucy thinks that she may not have been exaggerating.
Is this something that they could actually bond over, rather than fight?
Ah come on, where would be the fun in that?? Where Tara and Lucy are concerned, they both want the same job, and are totally up for the fight.
May the best woman win!
Live, Laugh, Leave Me Alone is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.
Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.