A witty and touching tale about mismatched expectations and living life in the moment, from the bestselling author of The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital.
Husband and wife GPs Alan and Heather Winterbottom have worked side by side in their idyllic rural practice for over forty years but now they’ve decided to hang up their stethoscopes and retire. Joy! Celebration! Or not… Heather dreams of exploring the Greek Islands, of escaping the shackles of her routine life and embracing an exciting new adventure. Alan dreams of growing his own vegetables.
When things come to a head at a family lunch, Heather announces that she has decided to take a year off. From her old life, from her marriage – from Alan. Alone in beautiful Greece, Heather embarks on her very own odyssey – complete with unforgettable experiences, pitfalls and temptations. But could what’s waiting for her back in Netherwood be Heather’s biggest adventure yet?
Joanna Nell is a General Practitioner who has carved out a niche area in uplifting fiction. She is the author of bestsellers such as The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home and The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital. Her novels are witty, warm and, with their older protagonists, advocate for positive ageing.
Her latest novel is her best yet. Married couple Heather and Alan have spent their careers working together as small-town doctors and just retired, only to discover that they both envision very different post-working lives. Alan is looking forward to gardening, while Heather dreams of travelling to Greece. Without revealing any spoilers, Heather’s best friend Esme and Homer’s The Odyssey are the catalysts for her not just dreaming about Greece, but actually going. In fact, she’s taking a full gap year from her life.
Heather’s family see this as a bold move, but it’s not surprising to the reader who is bearing witness to her discontent. And it’s this internal struggle that Nell renders so beautifully. Heather is a wonderful protagonist, and her journey here is both heart-wrenching and hilarious. There’s a very funny chapter where she’s buying some marijuana outside a church from a former patient, and another that includes prawns – you’ll know when you read it. It’s just two of many times I laughed out loud. I was also cheering Alan on from the sidelines – we all know an Alan or two – and I loved how his character developed.
Another highlight is Nell’s vivid descriptions of Greece and Heather’s adventures there. I was transported away, compelled to dust off my own old copy of The Odyssey – or book a trip to Greece.
Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year is a wonderful, very funny read about family, growing older, grabbing hold of life and, ultimately, of where our dreams lie. For the over-fifty set, you’ll recognise yourself and your friends in Heather, so be prepared to be inspired.
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