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mrsp2603's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Infidelity and Mental illness
jillottaway's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
hullomoon's review against another edition
4.5
This is genuinely a nice little read. I really appreciated the intergenerational friendships and strengthening of familial bonds. I know this is supposed to be geared more as romance, and there is romance, but ultimately the romance was secondary for me because I loved seeing the friendships more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Death, and Grief
wordsofclover's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Lena Cotton isn't having a great time - she's just suffered a panic attack in work and has been granted a two-month sabbatical to get it together and finally face up to her grief after losing her sister to cancer. Lena's grandmother Eileen is also in a rut, especially romantically now her cheating husband left her for a younger dancer. The two decide to switch lives with Eileen taking on London's internet dating scene for the over 70's, and Lena coming home to Yorkshire to reconnect with her mother and help out on the neighbourhood committee - how hard can that be?
This was a charming, fun and often emotional novel that I really enjoyed and utterly charmed me by the end. I've read two other Beth O'Leary books and this one is definitely my favourite so far.
I think I actually liked Eileen's chapters best as I loved seeing an older character (she's a very sprightly 79) living her best life in London, and taking on dating, new projects and even battling her granddaughter's yuck boyfriend. I think this book did such a great job at showcasing how society often fails older people in so many ways and how there should be so many more facilities and events for people of a certain age who may be lonely to socialise. I also appreciated that the book showed through Eileen that you're never too old to find love again, or just enjoy a bit of a good time with a fling.
On the other hand, Lena's chapters and her time with the neighbourhood committee felt like it was something straight from The Vicar of Dibley in the best ways, and I came to really love the myriad of characters from Betsy, Basil and Penelope, not to mention Roland and his mobility scooter. The way Lena processed her grief, and allowed herself to heal and also understand and make up with her mother following the dark times of her sister's illness and death were done really well and I often found myself close to tears as I listened to the book. I think the subject of grief was done sensitively and showcased that while losing someone never gets any easier, you learn to live with it everyday and remember that person in lots of different ways and that includes speaking about them freely and easily instead of bottling everything up.
Overall, this was just a lovely read and I really enjoyed my time with it. I think I'll be getting a copy of this book for my gran too as she might just love it as well!
This was a charming, fun and often emotional novel that I really enjoyed and utterly charmed me by the end. I've read two other Beth O'Leary books and this one is definitely my favourite so far.
I think I actually liked Eileen's chapters best as I loved seeing an older character (she's a very sprightly 79) living her best life in London, and taking on dating, new projects and even battling her granddaughter's yuck boyfriend. I think this book did such a great job at showcasing how society often fails older people in so many ways and how there should be so many more facilities and events for people of a certain age who may be lonely to socialise. I also appreciated that the book showed through Eileen that you're never too old to find love again, or just enjoy a bit of a good time with a fling.
On the other hand, Lena's chapters and her time with the neighbourhood committee felt like it was something straight from The Vicar of Dibley in the best ways, and I came to really love the myriad of characters from Betsy, Basil and Penelope, not to mention Roland and his mobility scooter. The way Lena processed her grief, and allowed herself to heal and also understand and make up with her mother following the dark times of her sister's illness and death were done really well and I often found myself close to tears as I listened to the book. I think the subject of grief was done sensitively and showcased that while losing someone never gets any easier, you learn to live with it everyday and remember that person in lots of different ways and that includes speaking about them freely and easily instead of bottling everything up.
Overall, this was just a lovely read and I really enjoyed my time with it. I think I'll be getting a copy of this book for my gran too as she might just love it as well!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse
sparklycowboy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I was in the mood for something funny and easy to read (listen to) and this really fit what I was looking for!! A wonderful and entertaining storyline with hilarious, relatable characters. I love books with characters I can look to as role models or inspirations, especially because of the way they deal with the their own flaws.
I enjoyed the light romantic plot line that wasn’t overly erotic or graphic. Now, the book isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, there is conflict and sadness and grief, but it’s dealt with in humorous, wholesome and heartwarming ways.
I enjoyed the light romantic plot line that wasn’t overly erotic or graphic. Now, the book isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, there is conflict and sadness and grief, but it’s dealt with in humorous, wholesome and heartwarming ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Mental illness and Domestic abuse
annas_bookshelf_'s review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A mostly fun, easy read - predictable in the best way. While there are romantic subplots, I’d say the main focus of the book is on self-discovery and overcoming grief through human connection (friends, family, and community).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
danil_knits's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
molly_appleby's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
c_totume's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Grief
theonlybaillie's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Terminal illness