Published September 24th, 2026 by Avon Books
Contemporary Fiction, Humorous Fiction
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
Everyone around 55-year-old Nell is absolutely infuriating. Her new boss is a sexist pr*ck, her clients can be selfish tw*ts, and the general public? They can p*ss right off!
But when Nell loses it at a children’s party entertainer (who definitely deserved it) her family send her to a rage room. Nell finds herself stood there with a baseball bat, being instructed to break as many things as possible by an annoyingly handsome man called Glen…
Still, as fun as it is to smash stuff, Nell finds it doesn’t quite hit the spot. Inspired, she starts a new space for herself and the women at work: Rent-A-Rant, a place just for them, to speak their minds, no holds-barred, and to finally be heard. Oh, and to eat loads of biscuits.
All these women have a lot to be mad about. But could it be that, instead of getting rid of their fury, they could channel it for good? With Rent-A-Rant’s help, Nell isn’t going to let everything fall apart ― she’s going to smash it up.
This hilarious and relatable coming-of-middle-rage novel from Harper Ford fights back at bullies and bastards one menopausal rant at a time ― the perfect read for fans of Alexandra Potter, Jane Fallon, and Riot Women.
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MY REVIEW:
55-year-old Nell is angry all the time. She finds everyone around her infuriating and loses her temper over the smallest thing. But it is after Nell loses it at a party entertainer that her family step in and gift her some sessions at a local rage room. But as Nell stands there with her baseball bat, she realises that what she really needs is a good old rant. So, Rent-A-Rant is born; a place where Nell and other like-minded women can meet for a rant about anything they like. Finally, instead of suppressing their rage, they are expressing it and being heard. But can they take that rage and harness it for good?
Hilarious, maddening, relatable and uplifting, this book made me feel seen. A story about female rage, the patriarchy, aging and bullying, Nell and her friends fight back against the bastards trying to grind them down. Harper Ford is an author I’ve had on my TBR for a while so I was glad of the opportunity to finally pick up one of her books. My only regret is waiting so long. Harper is a comedy genius who perfectly merges witty moments and snarky banter with important topics, which Harper handles with honesty and compassion. I was especially grateful to see her accurate and relatable portrayal of a character with endometriosis and adenomyosis. It is great to see a light shone on these illnesses and to have a character with chronic illness who actually feels recognisable rather than a misrepresentation.
The book is filled with a cast of charismatic characters and I loved every moment I spent with them. Like Nell, I’m middle-aged, menopausal, have a grandchild and freed myself from a controlling ex-husband, so I connected with her immediately. I also felt a strong kinship with Idil, Nell’s work colleague who is chronically ill. I adored Nell’s little grandson, Freddie, and enjoyed her romance with Glen, which brought a much-needed spark back into her life.
Feel-good fiction at its finest, this book is an absolute riot and every woman should read it.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Thanks you Avon for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Harper Ford is an author, much of the time. She started out as a writer of historical novels, then found out she was funny during lockdown so decided to write contemporary romantic comedies too. Harper Ford is the romcom pen-name for author Becca Mascull.
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx
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