A review by yvo_about_books
The Old Ducks' Hen Do by Maddie Please

4.0

 Finished reading: November 7th 2023


"It's so easy to always say no, it's much more fun to say yes sometimes."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

I remember seeing the first book mentioned when it was published in 2021, and I've been meaning to try this series ever since. I somehow never actually picked up the first book, but I still couldn't resist getting a copy of book two as it sounded like such a fun read. Then again, I do always have a weak spot for both a story with an older main character AND a travel element... And The Old Ducks' Hen Do has plenty of both. I'm glad that I decided to read this title, because it turned out to be a very entertaining ride indeed.

First of all I have to say that while technically The Old Ducks' Hen Do is a sequel, it can very easily be read as a stand-alone. True, there are some references to the first book (which only made me want to go back and read it even more to be honest), but there is no vital information missing and this sequel has a different character in the spotlight. The story is mainly set on Mallorca, and I just LOVED this setting. There are so many descriptions of the Spanish island, and it makes me wish I could jump on a plane and visit. I also loved how the island wasn't just a simple backdrop, but played a more active role throughout the plot. All those food descriptions made me hungry though, and especially craving Greek/Spanish food.

The Old Duck's Hen Do is without a doubt Denny's story even though she isn't the one getting married. While I'm not a big fan of the whole miscommunication trope and their lives could have been so different if they had just tried harder to communicate, I did like the whole second-chance romance vibe. The romance itself was quite slow to develop, which could become a bit frustrating... But thankfully there were plenty of hilarious moments to distract you from that. Oh yes, the Old Ducks are so much fun to spend time with, and there are many moments that will bring a smile to your face.

This story isn't all fun and romance though, as there is also some attention given to more serious topics including age discrimination, infidelity, toxic relationships and abandonment. As a whole the plot still felt mostly uplifting though, and I liked how everything was wrapped up in the end. The plot did feel a tad overlong, but that might just have been the reading slump talking... It was still quite easy to just keep turning those pages.

If you are looking for a fun and uplifting contemporary romance with a sunshine setting and older main characters, The Old Ducks' Hen Do fits the bill! I'm definitely going back to read the first book soon. 
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