Confessions of a Forty-Something F--k Up

The New Bridget Jones for Our Times

By: Alexandra Potter

Narrated by: Sally Phillips

Read by Sally Phillips

Meet Nell. She’s like the thousands of women who’ve fallen in love with her story. Because most of us wonder why life isn’t turning out quite as we imagined. From bedside to poolside, this book is the perfect summer listen. It will make you laugh and it may make you cry. But above all, it will remind you that you’re not on your own. If you enjoy Bridget Jones, Dolly Alderton, Ruth Jones and Marian Keyes – you’ll love Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up.

'The new Bridget Jones' – Telegraph

'Say hello to a book that will have you laughing with every page, whether you're 20, 40 or 80' – Heat

A 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. And who is desperately trying to figure it all out when everyone around them is making gluten-free brownies.

Meet Nell. Her life is a mess.

In a world of perfect Instagram lives, she feels like a disaster. But when she starts a secret podcast and forms an unlikely friendship with Cricket, an eighty-something widow, things begin to change. Because Nell is determined. This time next year things will be very different. But first, she has a confession . . .

'Brilliant! Laughing out loud' – Emma Gannon, podcaster (Ctrl Alt Delete) and author of Olive

'Funny but layered, light-hearted but surprisingly deep' – Red

As recommended on Davina McCall's Making the Cut podcast.

Critic reviews

A funny, feisty tale about the highs and the oh-so-lows of having to start over in your forties with a smart, sassy character at its heart who you'll be cheering on from start to finish. (Mike Gayle, author of All The Lonely People)

Nell’s journey to mid-life happiness is hilarious, moving and filled with clear-eyed wisdom about what it means to be a woman of any age, proving that the best happy ever afters come when you fall in love with life. (Lucy Dillon, author of After the Rain and A Hundred Pieces of Me)

I loved this book so much. It’s very funny and painfully true. Confessions of a Forty-Something F*ck Up is perfect comfort reading for anyone who thinks life isn’t working out as they want it to, whether they’re forty, fourteen or eighty-four. (Chrissie Manby, author of Three Days in Florence and A Proper Family Holiday)

Say hello to a book that will have you laughing with every page, whether you're twenty, forty or eighty

The new Bridget Jones for our times

Brilliant! Laughing out loud (Emma Gannon, podcaster Ctrl Alt Delete and author of Olive)

Funny but layered, light-hearted but surprisingly deep

Just what I needed right now!

Don’t pass up this book! Great narration. A narrator can make or break a book and this was a great match. The story is uplifting and laugh out loud or sometimes just a little giggle. Either way I’ll take anything that can make me smile right now.
if you’re wondering wtf am I doing with my life. I think this book will especially hit home for you, Even if you’re not feeling like that right now, I bet you have at one time or another. This book will strike a chord with you.
Fun and light, but also real, and perfect for us f--k ups ;)

F*** Up

I loved this. I laughed & cried & binge read it in 2 days at work.

It gave me hope & encouragement just when I needed it.

Love this author’s writing. Will read all her books.

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Loved this!

Super interesting and fun account of Nell’s return to London after a sojourn and failed engagement in California, when she tries to figure out where she made the wrong turn and ended up single, barely employed, and living as a lodger while all her friends are married parents with lovely houses. Funny, touching, but never soppy — delightful.

Different

The style of the book was very different than I’m use to but it came together for me towards the end. Very enjoyable.

Loved it!

This incredibly entertaining novel made me laugh, cry and see myself in so many instances even though I’m now well past my forties!! I look forward to having even more fun and f’ups as I continue to age on my terms!