The Runaway Wife: A laugh out loud feel good novel about second chances

This was, in turns, hilarious & bittersweet. So many memorable characters with 66 year old retired housewife & grandmother deciding she wasn’t happy being put upon by her family, ignored by her husband. Her adventures were fabulously fun, eye-opening, heartwarming, & helped her also finally deal withe the anniversary of her late 12 year old son’s death, when he was killed by a drunk driver. The anniversary acted as a catalyst, spurring her on to revisit memories & make new ones. Her return home was a twist on an usual stereotype, but oh what a shocker, providing explanation for so much of the status of her marriage! Absolutely brilliant, & I want to know MORE.

Was she bored? Was she being silly? Was she tired of being dutiful? Perhaps all three-so Connie crawls out of her domestic rut and hops in her little green car. She leaves her safe and staid Sussex life and head towards freedom and the “thrill of being naughty.” Goodbye to boring golfer husband Roger, three fine adult children and an uninspiring retirement bungalow. Connie leaves a note for Roger by the kettle, emails her kids and heads off on the This is Your Life Tour. And it is so much fun for us to travel along with Connie, as she explores where her parents lived when they were young, reunites with friends from her past, and meets some interesting folks along the way. As she wends her way to Scotland, she beings to sort herself out. What does she want the rest of her life to look like? And how does dull but responsible Roger fit in? Will she go home? Will she leave Roger? Serious questions for sure, but this is not a serious book. It’s a loving and light-hearted look at life, as viewed by a pleasant and caring 66 year-old woman. Connie has a change of attitude-life is for the living and for Connie, living means being more “determined, less guilty, and less dithery”. It’s a good thing Connie becomes more open to living in the moment, because quite a moment awaits her at the end of this creative and witty “laugh out-loud feel good novel about second chances”.

This book is excellent. It's so fun to find a mature protagonist who is positive about life. Not just moaning over sad events, awaiting rescue. This heroine is someone you'd like to be, strong, resilient, and interesting. The author tells a great story that incites the reader's interest and empathy. It's clearly, and concisely written, hopeful, but not unrealistic. It's a fun read.

Fast paced. Excellent storytelling. Thank you for writing such an excellent book. It's really fun to take the bull by the horns and live our best life. Thanks, again!

I liked this fun lighthearted read quite a bit actually but there was nothing spectacular that makes it a four star for me. In fact about half way in there was a little twist I wasn't prepared for and wasn't sure I would have written it that way but Dee wraps it up nicely in the end. The characters were my favorite part of this book as it is with most of my favorites. Everyone Connie meets along her journey finds a place in your heart. The story moves along perfectly with little to no boring bits. For my friends that are easily offended with a little content, there is very little, but some.

I bought this book for vacation and it was perfect. I didn’t laugh out loud, but it made me smile, included a few delicious run ins, and some fun adventures. It didn’t carry me away like some beach reads have, but I enjoyed the characters and the story very much. From a more literary perspective I found it pretty predictable, but it was exactly what I wanted while I listened to the ocean on the porch of my vacation rental.

Great fun reading this book! Just wish there was a follow up book! Book club recommended, we had a great time discussing fun, quirky characters.

I was looking for a funny and uplifting book. In the opening chapters of "The Runaway Wife," by Dee MacDonald, I thought I had chosen unwisely, because I found it mildly depressing that protagonist Connie McColl, at 66 years of age, was so unfulfilled and unappreciated. Her husband, son, and one of her daughters took her for granted, depending on Connie to meet their needs (cooking, cleaning, and childcare.) One day she decided she had enough. She loaded up her old car, sent text messages to her family announcing she was leaving for some alone time and didn't know when she would be back. Selfishly, her husband and one daughter concentrated only on how inconvenient Connie's absence would be for them. Her other daughter's reaction was more of a "Good for you, Mum!" Connie set out with no real agenda other than to visit some places which held memories of her mother, who had died when she was very young. The fun began as she met a host of interesting and flamboyant characters along her journey. For example, against her better judgment, she picked up a young man who was hitchhiking and dropped him off at his destination. By chance, she met him again later on her trip. The actions of some of the characters she befriended provided the "laugh out loud" moments, which made me think the book would be even funnier if adapted to the big screen. In addition to the humorous segments, Connie cared for a woman in hospice, met a romantic interest, and had quite literally the time of her life. Eventually, she had to return home. In the finale to the book, I experienced one minor surprise and one major shock at a twist that I never saw coming, thanks to the skillful word choices of Dee MacDonald. This was a story of self-discovery and liberation, which completely erased the sad feelings I had while reading the opening chapters.

Loved this book, it made me laugh a few times but has some important messages also. A very easy read.

It's an amusing read even if not The Laugh Out Loud as described. It'll make many women dream of ditching their mundane routine and taking to the road. It reads like a road-movie with some Forrest Gump style encounters - most are very improbable but make for enjoyable reading.

A beautiful book - a light read but by no means a shallow one. A lovable heroine who's not perfect but perfectly adorable. A wonderful novella prooving that age doesn't have to be more than a number. I found myself reading for hours and not wanting the story to end. 5 stars and more! :)

When I read The Runaway Wife I had just finished a very serious non fiction mental health memoir so The Runaway Wife was a breath of fresh air. Light and easy to read, with just the right mix of tongue in cheek humour pointed at the male of the species and a good old rollicking road trip, the novel is a good read. I think most of us can identify with some aspect of Connie's life as a wife, mother or grandmother. Weather it will inspire a generation of "women of a certain age" to pack their bags and leave home to find themselves or not I don't know, but it is a good fantasy. If you are looking for a bit of escapism (pun intended) you won't be disappointed.

It’s a beautiful story of a woman really finding herself. Funny, real and very touching. Would definitely recommend as a vacation read.