THE DARE CLUB

 When Nick, Colette, Alysha, and Emma meet at a course to help newly separated people deal with a break up, they don’t seem to have much in common apart from their relationship statuses. Single-parent Nick’s been struggling to take care of his kids ever since his wife packed her bags and headed off to Australia to ‘find herself.’  Primary school teacher Colette’s still dealing with the health problems that caused her selfish husband to walk out on her. And 22-year-old Aleysha’s in denial that her seven-month marriage to Matt is really over at all—after a little taste of freedom, surely he’ll come running back. Meanwhile, although she’s hesitant to admit it to the others, youthful grandmother Emma has just dumped her perfectly kind, reliable partner because she was bored out of her mind. Her daughter thinks she’s crazy. In the middle of the night, when she feels most alone, Emma’s inclined to agree.

 As far as friendships go, it's not a very promising beginning. But as the weeks pass, the unlikely foursome begin to bond and when Colette’s suggests that they form a dare club, it seems like a good idea. If they challenge their comfort zones and do things they find scary it’s bound to help them to forget about their troubles. At the very least, they’ll have some fun, and who knows …  it might just change their lives forever.

But as the four plunge themselves into their challenges and emotions are engaged, it soon becomes clear that, sometimes, telling someone how you feel about them, can be the scariest thing of all.

PERFECT RESPONSES

Self-help author Corrine Walker is dead—but that’s hardly the end of her story. Instead of moving on to heaven, Corrine’s stuck currently in Limbo. Her reason for not making it through the pearly gates: she didn’t live by the same advice she gave others in her self-help book. Because Corrine’s belief that neutral responses lead to a better life? Well, she forgot all about that after her husband dumped her and she decided to get revenge. Now she’ll remain in purgatory until an angel, Nessa, can prove that at least three women down on Earth have benefited from her teachings.

Except Nessa hasn’t been sent to help just any women. Instead, God has paired her with Janet, who’s been abandoned by her fiancé just before their beach wedding in The Gambia; Janet’s daughter Debbie, who’s having a hopeless affair with her married boss; and Janet’s pregnant friend Kate, who’s married the love of her life—only for him to turn into an uncommunicative stranger overnight.

The three women’s happiness—not to mention Corrine’s eternal future—is at stake. Fortunately, Nessa’s got some tricks up her celestial sleeve, even if she does have some unfinished business of her own to clear up. But can self-help really empower Janet, Debbie, and Kate to become the best versions of themselves? Or are they looking for answers in all the wrong places?

THE GODDESS WORKSHOP

When Janet and her friend Gwen sign up for a workshop in the local church hall promising “a garden of earthly delights,” they’re expecting horticulture lessons—not a sexy boudoir with leopard print and a giant illustration from the Kama Sutra. Gwen storms out, expecting Janet to follow. But Janet’s had enough of bossy Gwen—and of using sex with her husband as an opportunity to plan dinner and work out knitting patterns. If she learns to scale the sensual heights her mysterious and charismatic tutor, Jade Gate, is describing, it’ll give her marriage the new lease on life it so badly needs. And maybe she’ll make some new friends along the way.

 It's just too bad the other workshop participants have their own agendas. Estelle’s a high-powered company director who only cares about adding sensual pleasure to her list of accomplishments so she can quit faking it with her married lover. Reenie’s at the class because her husband of four decades, who’s become more of a roommate than a bed mate, suggested it. Trouble is, Reenie’s still grieving for her son, and she’d rather wear carpet slippers than risqué lingerie. As for Kate, she’s still fizzing with anger following her divorce from her cheating ex-husband and is only taking the course because she lost a drunken bet with her drinking buddy, Geoff.

To locate their “inner goddesses,” Jade expects the women to speak frankly about their sexual relationships—but their differences and defensiveness stand in the way of true connection. Yet Jade’s just persuasive enough to keep them showing up to class, and the four slowly begin to open up to each other. But just when fulfilment and friendship feel like real possibilities, their personal lives—and the outraged vicar’s discovery of what’s really going on in his church hall—puts their futures in jeopardy. With reality calling, can the women harness their newfound confidence to face up to personal challenges and move forward on their own terms?