The Invisible Women's Society
Published September 9th 2019 by Audible Studios, Audible Audio
Lou is a woman with a fresh mission. It involves three of her old school mates, forgetting the husband she's just separated from, and an odyssey into the Australian outback. These warm, wise, feisty, fabulous 50-something women are all approaching the 'Age of Invisibility' - but they won't go quietly into that gentle night. . .
The comedic audio drama by esteemed writer Nikki Gemmell (author of 'The Bride Stripped Bare') is a pertinent multicast story about female friendship and embracing the next phase of life. 'The Invisible Women's Society' explores the experience of middle-age female invisibility through the eyes of the newly separated Lou and her friends as they return to the dustbowl hometown they'd long left behind. Tensions mount as a school reunion goes awry, betrayals resurface, old flames are revisited and visits to estranged parents get awkward.
These women all become someone else as the trip into this desert heartland progresses. Perhaps they are becoming the people they'd always wanted to be. Looser, braver, wilder,. Because the Age of Invisibility has been bearing down upon them all. Ungrateful kids, husbands (or not quite), being ignored at bars, sexual discrimination and job restlessness be damned, these women won't go out with a whimper. The time has come to ROAR.
This series contains mature themes, and listener discretion is advised.
©2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd. (P)2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
The Invisible Women’s Society is a free Audible Australian drama serial, more like a play than an audiobook in many ways, as it features different actors in each role, telling the story mostly through dialogue rather than narration. I listened to it while weeding and it was half entertaining, half annoying but I did eventually get into the story even if I disliked most of the characters.
Lou is a divorced publishing editor struggling to balance her career with raising three sons while their father parents a new baby with his much younger second wife. Frazzled by menopause and infuriated at being overlooked at work and in bars in favour of men, she wonders where it all went wrong. Her three best friends, Flick, Chip and Bianca conspire to drag her away on a road trip into rural South Australia, hoping to get her back to their home town in time for a school reunion - and hope that a tour of vintage clothing stores and a hook-up with her first love, Julian, now a famous author - with give her back her pizzazz. It’s all fun, sequins and Chardonnay until secrets start being revealed and long-standing resentments are aired -will these fabulous fifty-somethings survive the treacherous Aussie desert - and each other?
This opened with one of my pet peeves - a woman moaning about how hard it is to have kids and a job, so I was put off Lou from the start, and her subsequent behaviour did nothing to change this - throwing strops at her friends, whining about her ageing body, prick-teasing the kindly bar owner in the first place they stop, making everything about her... The best character was easily Flick, an award-winning journalist who put aside the racism about being Aboriginal to become a TV star - but hasn’t forgotten her roots, but I did also have sympathy for Bianca, the GP who longed for a child but never found the right bloke. The acting here was pretty good and I could mostly follow who was who all the way through.
This has complete sound effects, ranging from the mildly distracting eg bird noises which had me constantly looking round the garden, to the totally revolting snogging noises for the love scenes. There’s also intensely irritating music in between each scene - either a zingy guitar solo, for the dramatic moments - same one, over and over, or a softer tune for the emotional bits. Each chapter is 35-45 minutes long, and it was annoying enough having to deglove to start the next one without having to listen to the title and music again.
I did like the discussions the women had on all sorts of topics, from parenting and relationships to Brazilians and middle-aged sex - although if you’re of a delicate disposition be warned there’s lots of swearing and smut. I’m the right age as the characters here and could relate to a lot of it - wondering when the last time you got wolf-whistled at then deciding you really don’t are, worrying whether you can still get away with a mini-skirt and thinking, of course I can!
The funniest scenes were at the school reunion, when they realise that all the girls still make an effort and look good, while the boys they used to lust over have gone to seed but still think they’re in with a shot...
Overall this was like an Australian menopausal Sex & The City, so Sex & The Outback, with some serious messages, a few laughs, a lot of cringing and a satisfying ending, that certainly livened up my long-overdue garden-time.
Rating: really liked it
Never have the words "This audiobook contains mature themes, and listener discretion is advised." ever been more true. This was like an Australian Sex and the City. They talked about anything and everything. I would love to listen to this again just to see how many times the F bomb is dropped.
This was different. It's like we were hiding in the closet listening in on someone's life. The kissing sounds were just a wee bit over the top. Let's not do that the next time we record one of these books. 😁
This is a hard review to write. i didn't really care for this book(?) at all at first. There just wasn't any substance to it. But then when they are all in the desert, it started getting interesting. I had to see how things turned out. I ended up thinking it was good. It just wasn't mind blowing.
I do recommend it though for a quick entertaining listen. I listened through Audible Escape.
Narrators: they all were great. Perfect for their own roles.
Rating: really liked it
A really entertaining way to convey the story, almost just like watching a series on TV but obviously without the imagery, I thoroughly enjoyed it, the complexities of each of the ladies lives, their outlook on life, the mini dramas that they deal with, which I'm sure are relatable for so many woman out there. It was a fun light hearted story which I was able to enjoy while going for walks/ cleaning the dishes! You learn to love these ladies =)
Rating: really liked it
*Audiobook*
I really liked the way that this book was done more like a series then an audiobook. I loved having the different voices rather than one narrator, it reminded me of the old radio shows. I enjoyed the stories and relationships and would love to have enjoyed it even longer.
Rating: really liked it
This was one of Audibles freebies and it wasn't great but it wasn't awful. For the most part it was ok. It wasn't narrated, more like acted by several people which was ok but the one thing I could have done without was the kissing sound effects. They made me want to rip my tympanic membrane out through my arse so I'd never have to hear something like that again. There should have been a warning. That's not ok. Over all, this book is a resounding meh.
Rating: really liked it
Slow to start. Honestly I started it last year but didn’t like it. Felt I should finish it and was planeada rly surprised. 4 stars is a bit generous but 3 is too low. Some things are a bit corny (sound effects of kissing, etc) ... Def worth chugging thru the first few chapters ... I also prefer a single author reading but thus has multiple readers ...
Rating: really liked it
1 out of 5 stars
I really wanted to like it but I was just not a fan of it.
Rating: really liked it
Bit pants, really. Bunch of middle aged women doing stupid things and laughing about it while drinking and wearing sequins.
Spoiler alert
Who jumps into bed with someone who broke their heart years before, upon meeting him literally five minutes earlier, and then blames him for not wanting a relationship? Who tells their 15 year old daughter that Mummy is having an affair because Daddy told her it would put the spark back into their marriage? Who drives off into the Australian desert not knowing where they're going and without telling anyone, because they're 'upset'? These are supposed to be women in their fifties, not kids! This did *not* do anything to further the advancement of older women because they were all so stupid. Except Flick, who saved everyone's lives. And WHY did they have to end up rescued by a man, who was also a potential romantic partner? Why?! Safe to say this is not something I recommend.
Rating: really liked it
For me this was a listen of a different kind, almost like a TV show but in audiobook format. This was what spiked my interest as well as it’s being an Australian production, meaning I don‘t often get the chance to listen to things like this from home whilst living here in Germany. So it gave me the possibility to be transported back home, had a bit if nostalgia etc. The themes were prevalent to me, being also the age group of the main characters. I found I could identify with a lot if this but not at all with the characters behaviours. The swearing did get a bit much, didn‘t like the music, very repetitive. And the last part of the story was not very realistic.
Rating: really liked it
honestly thought I wouldn’t fancy this once I realized it was more legit radio show vs book via audio but it’s actually been surprisingly great & reminding me of my best friends and how we’d probably be in our 40s/50s (we are all 29, nearing 30), tbh! it was just so charming and HILARIOUS! I thoroughly enjoyed it & am v glad it was on Audible Escape to borrow! Definitely a good light hearted one to pick if you’re feeling down or stressed!
Rating: really liked it
Honestly, this was, unexpectedly, close to heart.
It's a heartfelt read, you, undoubtedly, will get some "sex and the city" feels if you ever saw it, which what made me connect with the characters more than I thought I'd, tbh.
I'm not a middle-aged woman by any means, but, in this, I felt them all like I was one of them, with their life experiences and failures.
I didn't expect all this drama to happen near the end, but it wasn't all that off putting.
All in all, I kind of love this.
Rating: really liked it
I am so I happy I downloaded this book. I listened to it on audible and it was as if listening to a play. The main characters were lovable and I found a lot in common with a few of them. It’s the story of love, loss of youth and most of all friendship. I would highly recommend d this book and wish there was a sequel.
Rating: really liked it
This is an audiobook, and does stretch the idea of what a “novel” is as there is little description, and I think of it more as a radio play. Also I must admit fully that I am not in the demographic for whom this was written, being neither female, young or particularly party driven. However, the characters are interesting and the ending raised the rating for me from a 3 to a 4.
Rating: really liked it
I enjoyed the book. I just felt like the author dragged it out a little causing me to forget what I thought was the point. A group of friends wanting to assist their friend in trying to rediscover her gin self. Along the journey they realize while they are trying to reignite her passion for life they end up confronting the issues no one is aware of.
Rating: really liked it
Nikki Gemmell’s career defining book was Bride Stripped Bare, this one doesn’t live up to it.
Essentially it’s a chick flick about a group of older women who feel like society overlooks them because they’re old and not attractive, so they all go on a road trip in a crombie to their childhood town.
There was nothing innovative of particular interesting about this book but it was good fun.
