Suddenly Single at Sixty (Jo Peck, Text)

Not long after Jo Peck’s 60th birthday, her husband drops a bombshell—he’s leaving her for a (much) younger woman. She is shocked and heartbroken that the life she’d worked towards—full of friends, travel, long bike rides and good food—has gone up in smoke. At the start of this memoir, Peck is hurt, angry and lost, before undergoing a journey of personal growth. The memoir also delves back into Peck’s past as she wonders how she ended up in this situation, and the web of memories of her childhood and the early days of her relationship are enlightening. While she rebuilds her life with therapy, yoga and a strong community of friends, and ventures into online dating, the transitions between these experiences and her reflections on the past can seem abrupt and disjointed. Peck writes about her experiences with extreme candour. She is open about the dynamics of her marriage, her own wilful ignorance, all things sex and dating. She generously reveals her most inner workings, creating a narrative with humanity and depth, and making it clear that life does not end at 60. Suddenly Single at Sixty is strongest when it describes the people Peck loves—her parents, her partners, her chosen family (the network of friends she has cultivated)—and their honesty and empathy with each other. This is a story of exploration and empowerment from someone in an age group society often ignores. Ideal for fans of Kitty Flanagan and Caitlin Moran.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Fay Helfenbaum is a freelance writer and editor and was a bookseller for five years. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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