I first encountered Harper Ford reading her newest book Hot Not Bothered courtesy of NetGalley (out 10/10/24). There we had a 50something woman battling with the menopause, and it was hilarious as well as informative, but also covered more serious topics.

Here we have Frankie, 50, freshly divorced mother of 18 year old Jay, having escaped her emotionally abusive husband after twenty years of marriage and being so starved of affection and physical closeness that she gets a crash course in online dating from her younger BFF Bel, herself a new and exhausted mother. We learn a lot about the joys and pitfalls of modern dating, with glossary of terms and how to look out for catfish guys, among other things.

Soon Frankie is juggling the one-night-stands with the married cheaters and one particular hot but judgy twat (her words not mine). Stef is half Slovakian, and added complications are a Slovakian fiancée and a slightly overbearing mother.

The other topic is Frankie's quilting shop business and her quilting workshop where we meet a handful of very different women (from asexual to pansexual), with whom she shares her dating adventures. Apparently the collective noun for them is "a hotbed of quilters".

The tone of the book is light-hearted and funny, but goodness me, is it sweary or what. I liked this story a lot but it's not as good as Hot Not Bothered.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."