Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Alice’s husband is buried next to Ben’s older brother Harry, who—as a parting practical joke in his will—insisted that Ben visit his grave each year dressed in an as-yet-undisclosed pageant of embarrassing fancy dress. With little but their grief and this one day in common, Alice and Ben form a very special, very strange friendship, meeting just once a year: same day, same time, same place—different silly costume. As the years pass and grief alters, can their unique bond help them cope with the hardest part of death: life?
I was in the mood for a heartwarming story when I came across this book, and it did warm my heart (and perhaps broke it a little).
I initially thought this was going to be a rom-com with something immediately developing between Alice and Ben, but it turned out to be a different kind of story, which I loved even more. The annual encounters felt realistic to me, and the bond they built over the years was the opposite of instant.
I really liked the idea that grief could start a friendship between two new people without anything in common. Alice and Ben might not have been friends under other circumstances.
This was a beautifully written story - it might be a little bit sappy in places, but not overly. The audiobook was done really well. I loved the calm, soft deliveries by both narrators, and they both kept the same pace so I didn’t have to change my listening speed between them.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for a gifted review copy)
EXCELLENT book about grief, loss, and the funny places it can take us
I absolutely adored this book. It was such a powerful insight into the grieving process for two very different individuals who end up bonding over their experiences. It follows the two main characters over a decade, showing how their losses affect their daily lives very realistically, but also told with a sense of humor around life’s absurdities. The character building was excellent, the bonding sweet and understandable, and the conflicts relatable and sometimes very amusing. I highly recommend this book.
I absolutely adored this book. It was such a powerful insight into the grieving process for two very different individuals who end up bonding over their experiences. It follows the two main characters over a decade, showing how their losses affect their daily lives very realistically, but also told with a sense of humor around life’s absurdities. The character building was excellent, the bonding sweet and understandable, and the conflicts relatable and sometimes very amusing. I highly recommend this book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief
What a touching story. Quirky characters navigate their way through grief together and find their own ways to move forward in life. A truly special book.
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes
Wow! That was beautiful. Definitely all the feels with this one.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No