The Dolce Vita Divas

By: Maddie Please

Narrated by: Penelope Freeman

A BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud, uplifting listen from the bestselling author of Old Girls on Deck, Maddie Please

Must-listen for fans of Dee MacDonald!'Sea, sunshine, romance and fabulous characters' Bestselling author, Judy Leigh

Sunshine, Sisterhood, and Second Chances

At the ripe (and fabulous) age of 64, Joanna Dawson finds herself seeking a new adventure. Her husband, Greg, has run off with a TBT (thin, blonde, trollop, obviously), her kids have flown the nest, and her social calendar is emptier than her wine rack.

As Jo's 65th birthday looms, she's left wondering: Is this it?

Enter Susie, her best friend, with an offer Jo can’t quite refuse: an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy to honour their late friend Ellen. Jo's not sure she wants to go all the way to Italy, but with nothing else to do and if only to make Susie happy, she agrees. A holiday is a holiday after all.

Capri is even more gorgeous than Jo imagined and soon she and Susie are having the time of their life, especially as Jo is reunited with her dashing first love, Paulo. The one who, most definitely, got away…

Things might have fizzled with Paulo decades ago, but in the land of sun, pasta, and far too much wine, Jo begins to wonder: Could this be her second chance at life…and amore?

Pack your bags for a heartwarming, fun, and sun-drenched adventure as Jo discovers that life after 64 might just be the most exciting chapter yet

©2025 Maddie Please (P)2025 Boldwood Books

Maddie does it again!

I love Maddie's character development. I can always identify with the women. I love how she throws in comic moments and often I laugh Outlook. I've listen to all of her books. this is one of my favorites. can't wait for the next one. The choice of her reader, Penelope, is perfect.

Bothered.

This was a predictable and uncomfortable storyline. It felt wrong that she was traveling to a funeral for a friend while also still hung up on the widower. It didn’t set well

Sweet and Sassy

Enjoyed all the characters and the sweet story of renewed friendship. Many go through difficult situations and I love how honest and inspiring this writing was.

By the end, I was thoroughly depressed

More melancholy than the others. It’s not as easy finding love in your 60s as this story would make you believe.

A Second Chance at 64

It’s not often I find a character in a book who’s my age, 64. Though my husband didn’t run off with another woman, and I never had an old flame, I could somewhat relate to Jo and found this book intriguing after reading a review on one of the blogs I follow. I’m glad I picked it up.

With believable characters and plot twists, this book kept me reading, smiling, and sometimes laughing. From the comfort of my recliner, I enjoyed traveling from England to Italy, staying in an old hotel on a beautiful island, and eating plenty of delicious food.

The narrator does an excellent job giving each character a distinct voice and using a variety of accents including British, Italian, and southern American. I love the ending. If you’re looking for a fun, feel-good human relations and travel story
without too much romance, The Dolce Vita Divas is for you.