Hugely entertaining and uplifting story of friendship. Four Scottish women, friends from their school days, struggle with the invisibility that society bestows on women in their 40s, and take action. The novel tells the tale of the injustices each have faced throughout their lives, whether real or perceived, and how a small act of rebellion allows each of them to reclaim their lives and restate their identities.
Amy, a 40-something plumber is angry. Called out to a job, she’s refused entry and patronised because she’s a woman and clearly knows nothing about plumbing. Irked by the blatant sexism, she calls together her best friends for a drink, because she has a plan.
Susan is a librarian with little confidence, doting on her 16 year old son who she does everything for. Teacher Lenore is a gym-bunny after being overweight and invisible as a teen. Frustrated that her ideas are ignored at work, her former partner left her for a younger woman, her solution is to bury herself in exercise and calorie counting. Glamorous Carole has a wealthy banker husband and 4 sons and her “work” is the home and the family. From the outside, she has it all, but incensed by the treatment of Amy, she examines her own life and finds something is lacking.
Living in the Scottish town of Hamilton where they all grew up and went to school, the 4 women share in Amy’s anger, all feeling invisible, unfulfilled and under-appreciated. And so they meet up late at night and graffiti messages on the walls of the Miners Institute that had refused to allow Amy to do her job. And so starts the Graffiti Girls.
The novel then dives into the story of each of the women in turn – their growing up, their lives now, the injustices each have faced. For each of them, this small moment of rebellion ignites something big, forcing them to look at their lives and what has been making them unhappy, and make changes. Screaming about the injustices in spray paint somehow empowers them, and other women who read their words.
I loved this inspiring tale, how such different women have stuck by each other and back each other up always. The story is hilarious and sad in equal measure, but carries a message of hope. It’s also empowering to see the women take back control of their lives, not just letting life happen to them, no longer accepting the cards they’re dealt.
This uplifting novel is beautifully written and narrated, with such warmth, and I loved the friendship between the women, the acceptance that each of them is different, but the bonds they have are strong and lasting. The audio is brilliantly read with everyone well characterised, and I couldn’t stop listening once I started!
Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher HQ for a digital advance copy of this novel.
Leave a Reply