tillyjournals 's review for:

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior
4.0
hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Veronica is a lady in her mid 80s, believes she doesn't have any surviving blood relatives, but decides to make sure - and finds out she does actually have a grandson, Patrick. After a very disappointing first meeting, and a TV show about penguins, Veronica takes a trip to the Antarctic to see if a research centre is worthy of giving her millions of inheritance to....

This is a really lovely feel good book, about family and relationships, grief and hardships, and growth as a person. It's light-hearted, despite covering some quite heavy topics, and a really easy read. I really enjoyed the audiobook, and enjoyed that each characters chapters were read by different narrators - it makes it an even better experience. 

The diaries were some of my favourite parts, and I loved untwisting Veronica's history alongside Patrick. It was fascinating to hear her memories from the war, and also, was a stark reminder to make sure you know your grandparent's stories before it's too late. 

I really liked the epilogue, I didn't know I needed it but it put a big smile on my face. This is nothing remarkable or groundbreaking, hence the 4 stars, but is still an enjoyable read.