Kathy Lette ‘I've Never Even Had A Threesome!'

The iconic Australian author is back with her 15th novel – Husband Replacement Therapy – and it could be her sharpest yet

Kathy Lette, 61, tells us about her midlife crisis, her perfect life escape plan and a rather juicy wishlist.

Where were you (in life) when you came up with the idea for this book?

I do all my research in a scientific, in-depth fashion – over cocktails with girlfriends. What I discovered is that life is in two acts – the trick is surviving the interval. Post-menopause, women want to carpe the hell out of diem. They want adventure before dementia. Sadly, so many of their husbands just want to turn into couch potatoes. So, the idea of HRT – Husband Replacement Therapy – was born.

Was it therapeutic to write?

I only write because it’s cheaper than therapy! It was great fun writing about women growing older disgracefully and swinging off chandeliers with a toyboy between their teeth, instead of becoming invisible. Society tends to cast older women out into social Siberia.

Why is it important to be selfish as we get older?