‘Ι don’t do Audrey Hepburn or Liz Taylor to order. I’m Ruby Devereaux, and this is what you get.’’

12 men become Ruby’s vehicle as she creates her swan song, her memoir narrating a turbulent life, a journey through decades, adventures, relationships. But do not make the mistake of thinking that her affairs define her. Never. Not even for a moment. Her father, her editors, her assistant, and her lovers, all become companions in a fascinating odyssey.

London. New York. Berlin. Paris. Saigon. Budapest. Stops in the course of Ruby’s amazing journey. Through her travels and relationships, not only do we witness a woman blazing her path through life but we delve deep into the ways our world changed from the end of WWII to our days. The Cold War and the endless espionage game, the conflict in Vietnam, the political upheaval brought on by the vile Communist regime, the socio-political issues that erupted during the 80s, all seen through the eyes of a writer who jumped into the fray and darn the consequences. We are also allowed valuable glances into the publishing world and the acting industry - no less a battlefield - and the story becomes even richer with literary, film, and music references.

Ruby’s fascinating character shares her thoughts on womanhood, motherhood, sexuality, secrets, shocking losses, the bond between fathers and daughters, and naturally, relationships. The relationships that shaped her life, but not her character. It is a token of an excellent writer to create a story told through the point of view of a single person with men as the narrative focus and not turn the novel into a hopelessly boring romance. If you expect endless rumpy-pumpy, you’ll be disappointed. This novel is sensual, yet never sexual in the sordest ways possible.

What we find here is a story, told to perfection, a hymn to a woman who lived life by her own rules, from the last traces of young innocence to the days when age catches up with us, when memories become confused, yet even more acute. This is a beautiful novel with an enticing, moving heroine, in every sense of the word.

‘’Lord knows who wants to read the ramblings of a grumpy old woman about to die. It may be feast or famine, but it is you, reader - always my eternal employer who will decide.
Welcome to my life in twelve men. Enjoy. Because I very much did.’’

Many thanks to Aria and The Pigeonhole for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ ( )

The trials and tribulations of Ruby Devereaux spanning over 70 years from the 1940s until the present day. Ruby is 90 years young and a successful author. She has been requested by her publisher to write her memoirs with the help of the typing services of Jude, her transcriptionist. It’s an eye opener so you are in for a treat!

Oh, what a wonderful and colourful life Ruby has had! We follow her on her journey through various trips to London, to New York, to Venice, to Saigon, to Budapest and to Cornwall with the help of twelve men. She’s had a stab at espionage, living in a commune and visiting conflict zones to name some of her escapades. Being an author, Ruby’s adventures inspire her books. This is a brilliant read from beginning to end. It’s beautifully written with some fantastic characters, Ruby obviously pipping them all to the post with her joie de vivre. Such an exhilarating ride, full of fun but also with some sad moments - I loved it! ( )

When 90-year old Ruby Devereaux is told by her publisher she must write one more book to fulfill her contract obligation or potentially face the legal consequences, Ruby sets out to tell the long-awaited memoir of her mostly illustrious, sometimes sketchy, always entertaining life. As her arthritic fingers are beyond their capacity to type such a long manuscript, Jude, a young student, is hired for the job. As Jude and Ruby begin to form an unlikely, if not unusual bond, Ruby pours out the story of the twelve men who have shaped her life. From the cousin she shouldn’t have known ‘in that way,’ to the loss of the love her life, to the spy, and her son, Ruby divulges all while secretly hoping to save her young scribe from himself. When the last chapter is all that is left, Ruby is dumbstruck by her publisher’s revelation that no one (including this reader) saw coming.

This book is one of those I feel I need to break my comments into two parts: The book and the writing.

The book is good, beyond good, very good, better than most good. Ruby is a hoot. She’s fresh, feisty, independent, witty, carefree (read doesn’t give a *bleep* about what anyone things), and is looked at as much more of a writer than she gives herself credit for. As for it being scandalous, the only thing truly scandalous is that some may think her 12 men are nearly a dozen too many. I for one, thought it refreshing to see someone write about a woman’s escapades rather than keeping the female boxed into a moral one or two lovers.

As for the writing - have your dictionary or your Google close at hand while reading this one. I absolutely LOVE that Mandy Robotham did not dumb down her prose for the reader. I guaranty, there will be more than one word or turn of phrase you will learn from this one; why don’t more authors write this way? The flow of the sentences, the clever descriptions, again, the broad usage of language took what may otherwise have been a more average book to another level. Well done, Mandy Robotham. I will look for more of your work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Head of Zeus and Aria & Aries for this advanced reader copy. All views are my own and unpaid. ( )