The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village cover art

The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village

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The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village

By: Joanna Nell
Narrated by: Deidre Rubenstein
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About this listen

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. Noticing her memory isn't what it used to be, Peggy is taking ever more inventive steps to cover up her dwindling faculties.

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 80s.

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.

©2018 Joanna Nell (P)2018 Hachette Australia Audio Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Fiction Funny Village Feel-Good Heartfelt Witty Comedy
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Most relevant  
The plot not very engaging but I think it’s the fault of the reader. Very ponderous reading with equal emphasis on everything - so that asides and subtle wit lost its humour and the main character sounded whiny.

Reader didn’t do justice to the author

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this was a lovely enjoyable book. Easy,funny and a little romantic. Imagined my mothers retirement village

Enjoyable

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Must admit I almost returned this book after 3 chapters but decided to plow on. It wasn't a bad read, certainly relatable when I remembered my own mothers demise.

Hmmm

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Very amusng and poignant and oh so true. Hated having to finish the adventures of the ladies. and gentlemen.

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I'm in my 30's and loved this story (and narration). It was funny, moving and the characters have stayed with me long after listening.

A must listen for all ages

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loved it, as a continence nurse, disappointed she never went to see her lol 😊

continence review

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Really enjoying Joanna Nell’s stories. Loved the Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home and this one was just as good. I found the narrator a tiny bit slow but once I put speed up to 1.1 she was great and really bonded with her.
The positive messages from these books re ageing are fabulous

Another great read.

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I really enjoyed the story & the presentation from the reader.
The true to life twists & turns made it very interesting.

Most Enjoyable.

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This book has it all, Rivalry and love the characters are so relatable Jim the rocker, Brian the gentleman, Angie the jet setter of course the wonderful if not slightly incontinent Peggy
Life truely can begin at 80
Funny, glamorous grannies and heart warming friendships
Feels like Shirley Valentine meet Angie Valentine

Growing old can still be a whole lot of fun

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Loved every minute of this well written book !
Characters were fabulous
Can’t wait to be like them in a few years

Oldies

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