Review: The Cougar Club
Kat worked in advertising and lived happily with her younger boyfriend. Her world suddenly came crashing around her all in one day – she lost her job and discovered her boyfriend watching porn on his computer. Shattered, she returned home to St. Louis and rekindled her friendship with Carla and Elise – her two closest childhood friends.
Carla, the evening news anchor, is obsessed with staying fit and youthful, so she can keep her job. Her boyfriend is the station’s younger sportscaster.
Elise is a dermatologist married to her childhood sweetheart, a plastic surgeon. Their only child has gone off to college and they’re not only suffering from empty nest syndrome, but their marriage seems to have lost its spark. When Elise’s son’s old hockey coach comes to visit her about a rash, Elise is appalled by the attraction she feels.
The three friends are able to pick up where they left off and re-kindle their friendship. Along the way, they discover just how much good friends can mean.
I think the title of The Cougar Club by Susan McBride is a little mis-leading. Yes, the women are in their forties and they’re each involved with a younger man at some point in the book, but that’s not really what the book is about. It’s about being true to yourself and the importance of friendship. I enjoyed this book and I liked all three of the main characters, even though I didn’t like everything they did. I also think the book had a good message about surviving and taking care of yourself.
Susan McBride says the characters in the book don’t like the term “cougar” and at the end of the book she shares how she became an “accidental cougar”. She also shares:
Susan’s Five Fabulous Rules for Forty-Somethings
- Be your best self.
- Open your eyes to possibilities.
- Have fun all on your lonesome.
- Stop being a people pleaser.
- Never stop being curious.
I think those rules apply to just about any age, don’t you?
I was confused by the term ‘cougar’ but I am glad you cleared it up. Personally I intend to grow older disgracefully!
Yes, they absolutely do! Hey, I’m not going to knock a woman my age being involved with a younger man. Nothing wrong with that!
Great review! Love your points at the end too.
Yes, the rules apply to any age! I think this is a case where the title might be a disservice to the novel. I’ve seen it in many places lately but didn’t think about reading it until now, after reading your review.
This book has been on my radar for a while. Glad that it is a fun book even if everything doesn’t suit the reader. And yep, those pointers apply to any age!
Kathy I have been dying to find out what you thought of the book. Great Review.
The 5 fabulous rules sound like they could apply to a woman of any age – great advice!
Good review because really, I would not have guessed from the title that there was as much to it as you indicated.
Those are great rules for all ages! I’m glad to have read your review because the title alone made me think it wasn’t a book I’d want to read. Sounds like it might be worth checking out, though.
This book had no appeal to me before reading your review, but I love tales of friendship. I’m glad to know this one is deeper than the cover led me to believe!
Looks like a real fun read. But I have been seeing mixed reviews of it .Those 5 rules apply to all women I guess
See I came and commented ! WordPress rocks !
I like those 5 rules, I know them but a reminder does not hurt ;D
Good review Kathy. From the title I wasn’t interested in the book. Now I want to dive in and see what the author has to say. Yes, I like the five rules. They are good advice for all ages.
Those are some great rules to live by. Love your review.
Glad you liked this one.
Yes, fabulous rules for any age!
Glad you enjoyed this, Kathy – it’s not as light a read as I would have guessed. Not that there’s anything wrong with light reads when you need them
I actually hadn’t heard the term “cougar” before. I don’t like it much either!
Great review…this one is on my list to read next week!!
Mmmmm…I get the impression from this book that forty-something women want younger men in their life to feel they’re still worthy but discover friendship is what pulls you through? The way I see it, a woman is in her prime at forty. Not only is she still young but she’s got some experience under her belt to live life to the fullest. Great review, Kathy!
Being that I’m a woman in her 40s (albeit not with a younger man), I think this book sounds cute! Great review!
This sounds like it would be perfect for a friend of mine!
I don’t read a lot of chick-lit, but this sounds like it would be a fun read for me. I am in the market for something lighter right now, so I will have to look in to it. Thanks for the great review, Kathy!
So do you HAVE to be with a younger man to be a cougar? If so, I am one (thought Mr. Jenners is just a mere 1 year younger.)
The book sounds great! I love the rules and I think they would apply to older women, also. I would love to read this one..
“Susan’s Five Fabulous Rules for Forty-Somethings” applies to the thirty-somethings too! I’m in my early thirties and thank goodness I’m already applying the rules well ahead. LOL!
Now that u explain it, I also think the title is misleading. But this does sound like a fun and light read.
Thanks for the honest review.
Sounds good. I like books about women and friendships.
I agree, Kathy! Those rules should apply no matter your age. I wonder how the title of the book came to be if its not really about getting younger men as older women! Hmm…interesting. Thanks for the insightful review.
Great review Kathy! This sounds really good.
This sounds like a great read. I almost picked it up today at Target. I probably would have if I had seen your review. There is always Monday!
I’m glad to see you enjoyed this one too!