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The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village

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( 5,821 ratings, 675 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell, we follow the story of Peggy Smart, who is navigating life with grace and grit in a vibrant retirement community. Her mundane routine is turned on its head when her glamorous childhood friend, Angie Valentine, moves in and inspires Peggy to embrace a new adventure. The book explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the joys and challenges of starting fresh, even in the later stages of life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This delightful novel is perfect for those who enjoy heartwarming stories of friendship, adventure, and unexpected romance in later life. It beautifully portrays the complexities, humour, and vibrancy of ageing, offering an uplifting and charming narrative that celebrates life at any age.

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Includes an excerpt from: The last voyage of Mrs Henry Parker.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell is praised as a charming and humorous tale that highlights love, friendship, and community spirit, set against the delightful backdrop of a retirement village. It captures the vibrant life of its elderly characters engaging in activities like aqua aerobics, delivering a heartwarming narrative that resonates with people of all ages.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780733642500

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 July 2019

Country: Australia

Imprint: Hachette Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 384

About the Author

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 five novels, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home, The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital and Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year, were national bestsellers. Joanna lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

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  • Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year
    Her best yet . . . a wonderful read about growing older and grabbing hold of life Weekend Australian An intriguing, warm-hearted novel challenging age stereotypes The Australian Women's Weekly Warm, insightful and funny . . . celebrates, so well, the treasures that life's later stages can hold DIANNE YARWOOD Husband and wife GPs Alan and Heather Winterbottom have worked...
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  • The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home
    The joyous, charming and utterly irresistible new novel from the author of the mega-bestseller The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village. At nearly ninety, retired nature writer Hattie Bloom prefers the company of birds to people, but when a fall lands her in a nursing home she struggles to cope with the loss of independence and privacy. From the confines...
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    A delightfully heartwarming story of four or more funerals and at least one wedding, from the bestselling author of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year. 'There are a lot of lonely people in the world, Martin. Especially when you get to our age. This is the one place you can come where nobody judges. Besides, you don't need to have...
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  • The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital
    The heartwarming and hilarious bestseller by the author of treasured novels, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria has been serving refreshments and raising money at the hospital for over fifty years, long after anybody can remember who Marjorie Marshall actually was. Staffed by successive generations of...
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  • The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker
    As the wife of retired ship's doctor Dr Henry Parker, Evelyn is living out her twilight years aboard the Golden Sunset. Every night she dresses for dinner - gown, tiara, runners - and regales her fellow passengers with stories of a glamorous life travelling the world in luxury. But now Henry is missing, and it is up to Evelyn to...
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  • The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital
    The heartwarming and hilarious new novel by the author of cherished bestsellers, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria has been serving refreshments and raising money at the hospital for over fifty years, long after anybody can remember who Marjorie Marshall actually was. Staffed by successive generations...
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  • Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year
    Her latest novel is her best yet... a wonderful read about growing older and grabbing hold of life Weekend Australian 'Heartwarming, tender and oh-so-funny' ALI LOWE Charming, funny and wise exploration of the pleasures and perils of retirement. If you want a laugh-out-loud holiday read that will make your heart swell, this is the book for you TRACEY SPICER An...
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    As the wife of retired ship's doctor Dr Henry Parker, Evelyn is living out her twilight years aboard the Golden Sunset. Every night she dresses for dinner - gown, tiara, runners - and regales her fellow passengers with stories of a glamorous life travelling the world in luxury, as well as showing off her superior knowledge of everything from ships'...
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