Mrs Winterbottom takes a gap year by Joanna Nell

Alan and Heather Winterbottom are country GP’s who have worked together for 40 years and are preparing for their retirement. They both, however, have very different ideas of what an idyllic retirement looks like. Alan is looking forward to developing his green thumb, while Heather dreams of exploring the Greek Islands. Heather makes the bold decision to set out on her own, seeking her own adventures, away from home, away from her marriage.

We all dream of retirement, but is it something we are truly prepared for?  ‘Later’ isn’t a guarantee, and Heather knows this only too well with the death of her friend Esme. 

Full of stunning descriptions of Greece, the beautiful islands, swimming in the ocean, sumptuous food and wine, the laid-back lifestyle and historical sightseeing, this is a beautifully written story about Heather fulfilling a promise she made to her dear friend Esme, finding herself along the way, albeit with some hilarious mishaps. Heather is such a highly relatable character, she has a sense of adventure and humor that endears the reader, as she discovers more about herself and her relationship to Alan that she could ever have had during their long medical career and marriage.  One of the warmest and funniest stories I have read in a long time.

Themes: Retirement, Change, Aged, Greece.

Ruth Tipping