A review by sarahesterman
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“What’s the fun in ageing gracefully?” said Daphne. “Personally, I intend to age as disgracefully as possible.”

What. A. Romp. This is my first book by Clare Pooley, but it certainly won’t be my last. 

And what a cast of characters! From Lydia, the 50-something Senior Citizen’s Social Club “leader” figuring out who she is and learning to love herself, to Art, the failed actor turned kleptomaniac, to Ziggy, the teenaged single dad trying to make a better life for his daughter, to Daphne, the… well, let’s not give away all her secrets—HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY features one of my favorite tropes: unlikely friendships and found family.  

Though the blurb might lead one to believe this book is about Lydia or the group as a whole—and it is, kind of—Daphne steals the show. She pulls everyone and everything together. And despite her not being the kindest or most trusting when we met her, I loved her from the start. I want to be Daphne at her age. Hell, I want to be Daphne at my age. 

Even so, Pooley had me invested in all of her characters’ lives and stories. I empathized with their sadness (and there was some of that), and I laughed along at their humorous exploits to save the community centre. HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY is definitely one of my top 10 books of the year so far. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. It was such a pleasure to read!!