'Heart-warming and life-affirming, full of humour and compassion' ADELE PARKS, PLATINUM

'A beautifully warm-hearted tale of friendship and hope' MY WEEKLY

'I loved this incredibly touching book...[it's] a life-belt that will help any reader through a tough patch' VERONICA HENRY

***

In life's stormy waters, it's your friends who keep you afloat...

Maddy Wolfe's life has just capsized. After her twenty-year marriage suddenly implodes, she heads to Brighton to search for her estranged son, Jamie. But he's nowhere to be found and for the first time, she's totally alone. That is, until she meets the Salty Sea-Gals, a group of feisty sea-swimmers.

Seventy-two-year old Helga is determined not to slow down, while thirty-something Tor is still figuring out who she is. Bereaved Dominica is trying to find a reason to carry on, and busy mum Claire is learning to put herself first for a change.

As their regular cold-water plunges become a lifeline for them all, Maddy starts to realise that these brave women might just help her find both Jamie and herself. Together, will they turn the tide?

'Inspiring, heart-warming, utter joy' TAMMY COHEN

'A beautiful read. You'll love this one' LOUISE BEECH

'An absolute delight of a book!' CELIA ANDERSON

'Oh, this is such a wonderful read' BISHOP'S STORTFORD INDEPENDENT

***

Readers LOVE Josie Lloyd's heart-warming novels:

'Inspiring and warm, heartfelt and real. I really loved this story'

'I rarely cry when reading but I was so emotionally impacted by this read I had a few cries in the bath reading it... a heart-warming portrayal of true friendship'

'Expect tears, laughter and a lot of fist pump in the air moments!'

'A bloody brilliant, inspirational book of friendship and hope'

'Heartfelt and empowering'

'Affirming and inspiring... this book will give you all the feels!'

'I loved this book from the very beginning to the very end; it is a story that will resonate with every woman'

'Full of humour and compassion... I laughed and I cried'

'I absolutely loved this book. A testament to the power of friendship'

The most heart-warming and hopeful feel-good novel of summer 2023

About the Author

Josie Lloyd's first novel, It Could Be You, was published in 1997 and since then she has written 15 bestselling novels (under various pen names), including the number one hit Come Together, which she co-authored with her husband, Emlyn Rees, which was number one for 10 weeks, published in 27 languages and made into a Working Title film. Josie has also written several best-selling parodies with Emlyn, including We're Going On A Bar Hunt, The Very Hungover Caterpillar and The Teenager Who Came To Tea.

Reviews

Praise for Lifesaving for Beginners:

'The uplifting new novel about female friendship shows that together, mates turn tides... I laughed out loud' Sun

'This heart-warming, life-affirming novel is full of humour and compassion' Adele Parks, Platinum

'A beautifully warm-hearted tale of friendship and hope' My Weekly Summer Special

'An inspiring book about the power of female friendship.'My Weekly

'I loved this incredibly touching book about courage, resilience and the power of friendship... A lifebelt of a book that will help any reader through a tough patch and encourage them to reach out, be bold and make a difference. And never give up. An absolute joy.' Veronica Henry

'A beautiful read. You'll love this one by Josie Lloyd. An uplifting joyful book about friendship, cold-water swimming and searching for loved ones. An eclectic mix of characters jump off the page.' Louise Beech

'Inspiring, heart-warming, deeply comforting. Lifesaving for Beginners is like a DryRobe in book form. Utter joy.' Tammy Cohen

'Strong friendships, dry wit and a fabulously authentic setting make this a book to dive into. An absolute delight!' Celia Anderson

'Oh, this is such a wonderful read' Bishop's Stortford Independent

Praise for The Cancer Ladies' Running Club:

'Amazing, heartbreaking and inspiring' Jenny Colgan

'A love letter to the power of friendship, honest and uplifting' Jill Mansell

'A fiercely positive story, about the power of hope' Mike Gayle

'Uplifting and positive' Prima

'An honest read that, despite its heart-wrenching topic, will uplift and inspire you' Heat

'An amazing story that shows us all the strength of the human spirit and the power of friendship. An inspiration!' Magic Radio

'Uplifting... an inspiring read' Good Housekeeping

Book Information
ISBN 9780008373696
Author Josie Lloyd
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint HQ
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 280g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 30mm