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Grave Talk by Nick Spalding
4.0
slow-paced
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes

GRAVE TALK was both a sad and sweet book about getting over the loss of a loved one.  Or rather, becoming more FAMILIAR with a life without that person.  It reminded me of Ricky Gervais’s beautiful series After Life, which poignantly covered his raw emotions and feelings of intense loss after losing his wife, and his friendship with Anne, whom he met at the cemetery.

Alice has lost her healthy forty-something husband unexpectedly to a heart attack, and Ben has lost his older brother to cancer.  They happen upon each other while visiting their loved ones at nearby gravesites, and form a sweet friendship when seeing each other over the years at the graveyard. 

If you are thinking this is a romance, I’ll tell you (gladly) that it’s not.  GRAVE TALK is more about connecting with others, and how those connections can help you slowly heal over time.  I really enjoyed the progression of both Alice’s and Ben’s friendship over the years.  Just be aware that the pacing is on the slower side, and you’ll probably shed a few tears.  But their stories are meaningful and worth reading.  This was a wonderful First Reads choice!