Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Linda’s Midlife Crisis by Toni Pike

Published on by dgkaye

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Toni Pike’s latest release – Linda’s Midlife Crisis. I enjoy Toni’s books and this one didn’t disappoint. This womens fiction/chicklit-ish story is about a neglected housewife with an unfulfilling job who learns to take back her power. Yay for Linda!

Blurb:

How does a fifty-year-old woman start a new life?

Meet Linda Lockwood: fifty, fat, frumpy and bullied by her horrible husband Ron and the vile students and principal at the school where she teaches English. But her life is about to undergo a total transformation.

Linda suffers a breakdown after a traumatic classroom incident, and that brings out the worst in Ron and devious principal, Wayne Forsythe. Then she is rocked to discover her husband has a shocking secret.

With her own determination and the help of friends and family, she starts to turn her life around. She begins to succeed, but there are still some more surprises in store Linda.

A feel-good and inspirational romance for older women who love second chances and chick lit.


***** “Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop!” – Goodreadsreviewer, USA

***** “Highly recommended for a beach read, or as a feel-good book.” – Reader’s Favorite reviewer, UK

My 5 Star Review:

Linda had finally had enough of her husband Ron’s neglect, insults and emotional abuse. She was 50 years old, about 25 pounds overweight, and had lost her sense of self-esteem. She was also childless because nasty Ron never wanted any kids.

Linda was an English school teacher, and even her students were mischievous brats who liked to play mean pranks on her. The last prank had kept her at home for a month in a depression-like state. Her husband couldn’t give a damn and continued to belittle her, demanding she cook for him in her near catatonic state. But Linda finally learned to pay him back with silence and neglect of her household duties, a type of revenge that finally had him asking for a divorce and leaving – to her delight.

Linda was clever and held the reins on her demands since Ron was the one leaving, also threatening him with getting a shark lawyer if he didn’t comply, worked well. She then went to her cunning school principal, Wayne Forsythe, to inform she was retiring, demanding a package, she eventually got, thanks to her persuasion of assuring him if he didn’t comply she would use the information she had on him about his devious doings. Linda was getting out of her slump and taking her power back.

After selling her house in Sydney, Australia, she moved up to Canberra where her sister lived, bought a beautiful condo, got a part-time job in a clothing store to keep her busy, made some new friends at work, went for long walks, changed her diet, lost her unhappiness weight, and began enjoying her life. But before she left for Canberra, when packing up her house, she packed up Ron’s stuff and left it on the front lawn for him, warning him to pick it up by day’s end. She got a shocking and infuriating surprise when Ron came to pick up his things – sorry, no spoilers.

Linda learns to love her new life in Canberra and takes up her passion for writing, begins to submit articles about her journey back to healthy lifestyle, and was hired to produce weekly articles.

Life was good, and one day she discovers Ron looking for her, begging for her back. Ahhh yes, sweet revenge! Linda learns to step back into the dating pool with her work friends and is pleasantly surprised to meet someone while out with the girls. Dr. Tran was enamoured by Linda and her new life was nearing perfect – if only Ron would stop showing up!

This was a fun and very engaging read. I could have read it in two days because I didn’t want to put it down, but life calls.

©DGKaye2022

101 thoughts on “Sunday Book Review – Linda’s Midlife Crisis by Toni Pike”

  8. Hi Debby, I just woke up to find this wonderful surprise. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing Linda’s Midlife Crisis – what a fantastic review. I will reblog in a couple of days. Toni xx

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    1. Hi Toni. It was my pleasure. I so enjoyed this book, rooting along for Linda. And by the looks of it, so have many others! I’ve also reviewed on Amazon and Goodreads. Hugs xx

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  10. I dont know how you do it Debby…. I have had one book on the go for two weeks and still only half way through it LOL..
    Toni’s book sounds great.. Life for me began at 50, then again it was better at 60…. I will let you know how 70 goes in a couple of years LOL
    Lovely review Debby.. thank you ❤

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    1. Lol Sue! Hey, don’t worry my friend. Often it takes me two weeks or more to read a book. Depends when I sneak in extra time – and lately, that’s a lot LOL Hugs xx ❤

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  14. Hi Debby – sounds like a really good read – excellent review you’ve given us. A book I’d definitely read – and probably in one go … can’t wait to find out the ending! Cheers Hilary

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  15. Great to see another lovely review for Toni’s book. I read and enjoyed this light and entertaining story, and now I need to write my review, lols. Huge congrats to Toni. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Debby. Hugs 💕🙂

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      1. I’m a man of the people.🤣 I’ve been to plenty of chicks flicks with my wife, and I have an even amount of male and female friends. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it even if it is geared more toward women.

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  18. A lovely review, our UB and Toni’s latest book is on my intention radar. Life can indeed begin at 50 and I look forward to reading this. ❤ xXx ❤

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  20. Life for a “fifty, fat, frumpy and bullied by her horrible husband” can only get better especially if her life is in the hands of a talented novelist, which Toni clearly is. Apparently many readers know this engaging author, new to me. Love the cover–and the occasionally chick lit. As you say, authors supporting each other are our own marketing team. Thanks, Debby! 😀

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  28. Wonderful review of Toni’s book, Debby! It sounds like a fun, quick, and uplifting read, especially for a woman who is approaching 50 herself. 🙂 I recently read another raving review for this novel on another blogger’s site. It’s quickly becoming a favorite!

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