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gracer's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I like that O’Leary’s books (at least the two I’ve read) add a psychological element. It makes the book more interesting, more grounded, less fluff. This one still does rely on a misunderstanding a bit too long, which happens a lot in these types of books, but it was an enjoyable way to pass some time.
I don’t have much else to say about this book. It’s told by two narrators, who alternate chapters, resulting in rather a lot of characters - but somehow I found it wasn’t that hard to keep track, and in moments where I couldn’t remember someone, it didn’t really matter. It worked well that way.
It lacked the surprise gravitas that I found in The Flat Share, but it met expectations for a fun, light read with a couple surprises.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Infidelity
elizabethbest's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
itsbumley's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A lovely story, I particularly enjoyed the depiction of older characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse
_vicreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved loved loved this it made me laugh and cry the whole way through. Leena and Eileen are so wonderful & the plot was so fun! I loved seeing how they fitted into each others lives and how they grew through their grief. Beth O’Leary talked so beautifully on grief, and on relationships of all kinds (family, friendships, romantic) and how crucial they are to us. I can’t recommend this book enough honestly
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Cancer
zaramartin97's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Cancer
frankieclc's review
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship
aseel_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very lovely read by this author, as always. Fleshed out dual perspective and I loved the family aspect for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Cancer
Moderate: Infidelity and Gaslighting
my_weird_bookish_heart's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, and Death
velsbooknook's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.5
This book feels like a cozy blanket. I found this copy in a LFL and of course I had to get it home with me!
It tells the story of 79 year-old Eileen who is newly single and is just sick of her boring life in the Yorkshire country side. There also is her granddaughter Leena who is a workaholic and who really needs to slow down and escape her busy life in London for two months. Both decide to swap places for this time and try a new and different lifestyle.
This book was so funny and wholesome! I loved Eileen and her new found life, friends and romantic adventures in London. She definitely was the center of the story for me. Leena also had some very sweet and rememberable moments but her grandma was the real star. The book also dealt with grief, cancer and death which took the lighthearted and funny story to some darker places which disrupted my reading flow a bit.
I did not always understand Leena in her thoughts and actions and I would have been fine with only reading Eileen's POV.
It was exactly what I needed and I will definitely pick up another book by the author soon!
It tells the story of 79 year-old Eileen who is newly single and is just sick of her boring life in the Yorkshire country side. There also is her granddaughter Leena who is a workaholic and who really needs to slow down and escape her busy life in London for two months. Both decide to swap places for this time and try a new and different lifestyle.
This book was so funny and wholesome! I loved Eileen and her new found life, friends and romantic adventures in London. She definitely was the center of the story for me. Leena also had some very sweet and rememberable moments but her grandma was the real star. The book also dealt with grief, cancer and death which took the lighthearted and funny story to some darker places which disrupted my reading flow a bit.
I did not always understand Leena in her thoughts and actions and I would have been fine with only reading Eileen's POV.
It was exactly what I needed and I will definitely pick up another book by the author soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Infidelity, and Cancer
candournat's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death