Living the Good Life: A BRAND NEW hilarious, uplifting read from the author of A New Lease of Life for 2025

A heartwarming, feel-good story about embracing new beginnings, from the BESTSELLING author of A New Lease of Life 💚🎈 Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Maddie Please and Judy Leigh! New beginnings. Old wounds. And a village with its own secret to happiness. . . ✨🦋 The peaceful village of Willowbrook seems to be the ideal place for a new lease of life – at least according to Nell’s husband, Barney. With an empty nest and coming towards retirement, he’s persuaded her to try country living. Their cottage even has an annexe that’s perfect for Barney’s widowed father, Frank.

Nell is less sure about this fresh start… and it’s not long before cracks in her thirty-year marriage begin to appear. Instead of spending more time together, she and Barney seem to be drifting apart. Frank, too, is unsettled.

A weekly community group exploring the secret of happiness provides a way for Nell and her father-in-law to navigate their new surroundings. Nell finds some friends, and Frank is quickly taken in hand by the neighbourhood matriarchs – the self-styled ‘Saga Louts’!

But will questioning what makes her happy push Nell even further away from Barney, especially when she discovers the secrets her husband has been keeping? Or can opening up to others help old wounds heal and bring them back together once more? What really is the secret to happiness?

Praise for Celia Anderson:

'Perfect for anyone looking for inspiration to make the very most of life whatever age they are.' Kate Storey

'Celia Anderson's characters leap from the page in her beautifully observed stories.' Sue Moorcroft

‘Warm, romantic and different, in the very best way’ Katie Fforde

'Celia tells a story with warmth and heart - you'll be rooting for her wonderfully vivid characters, and want them to be your friends too!' Fiona Gibson

'Funny, sad, relatable and superbly crafted, this is a real hug in a book.' Judy Leigh

'Celia's stories are always a delightful read.' Bella Osborne

‘I absolutely adored it!’ Ruth Hogan

‘Certain to make you laugh and cry’ Jenni Keer

‘Wonderful characters make this a great read’ Good Housekeeping

© 2025 Boldwood Books (Audiobook): 9781836171522

Release date

Audiobook: July 19, 2025