This is not among my favorite Rachel Joyce books. Let’s just admit it - Maureen is hard to like. She is difficult, she is negative, she finds fault, she is frozen in grief and has been in that state for thirty years. She is angry and that anger is eating her alive. She sees no future for herself and admits to living a ghost life. Whew, tough stuff when you lay it alongside sweet and likable Harold Fry.

The road trip doesn’t enliven the story. She is stuck in the car alone “with no Harold to dilute here”. - the story circles the drain. Even the modicum of redemption late in the book didn’t make me like the book or the character. What I did like was Rachel Joyce’s writing and her ability to embrace and define Maureen.

Thanks to The Dial press and NetGalley for a copy.

I highlighted this book on my Booktube channel. The video can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/9zGyYxseXLc

If you have been following The Erudite Bibliophile with Wanderlust since the beginning, you have seen UK author Rachel Joyce featured many times here with her beautiful canon of novels. In fact, she was the very first author chat interview posted here for her novel MISS BENSON’S BEETLE! (Which you can find in the videos tab on this page if you missed that golden nugget gem!) Rachel is also known for her award-winning bestselling novel THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY that not only took the world by storm, but in the span of a decade was spun into two subsequent novels: THE LOVE SONG OF MISS QUEENIE HENNESSY and MAUREEN, making the book trio into the HAROLD FRY NOVEL Series. The book adapted movie with screenplay by Joyce herself was casted perfectly, starring the spectacular and extraordinarily talented duo of Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton will be released in UK cinemas on April 28. I am over the moon and so happy for Rachel and am highly anticipating a hopeful movie release here in the US. Until then, readers in the States can whet their bookish appetite with Joyce’s latest release MAUREEN.

MAUREEN tells the story of Harold Fry’s wife, Maureen, from her point of view as she does her own pilgrimage to visit Queenie’s garden that has a memorial to her son David. Glennon Doyle has famously coined the word “Brutiful” in her novel UNTAMED, and to me that is the perfect word to describe this novel and Maureen’s journey too — beautiful but brutal at the same time — ‘brutally beautiful’. It is full of grief, self-realization, and hard truths but also acceptance, renewal, rebirth, and love. The author doesn’t shy away from grit and lows or from presenting characters in all their good, bad, and ugly glory. Rachel is a character master and has shown in all her novels a commanding and deft hand when crafting and skillfully painting her characters. Character building is her forté and this latest book release MAUREEN again shows her exquisite artistry in this technique. She writes flawed and difficult characters with all their cracks and weaknesses, but with understanding, grace, and forgiveness — she reveals and revels in the beautiful complexity and twisted difficulty of humanity.

To enhance your reader experience, listen to the audiobook version of MAUREEN where you will be lucky and grateful to hear the incomparable Penelope Wilton narrate. Incidentally, Penelope will also be portraying Maureen in the upcoming Harold Fry movie, making her the perfect pairing for the audiobook narrator. Rachel began her journey with Harold Fry, with the novel helping her deal with her father’s cancer diagnosis, but readers who are also experiencing grief and difficult times may also find great comfort and peace in this book series. Some takeaways from this book through author interviews and excerpts include: we can always be and try to do better AND plant the flowers - beauty for the function and sake of beauty.

**OF NOTE: the UK title of this book is MAUREEN FRY AND THE ANGEL OF THE NORTH
**for a behind the scenes look at the movie THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY, click the link below:

https://fb.watch/j_rmhgz1xS/?mibextid=uc01c0

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Maureen by Rachel Joyce.

This is the third book in the series The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. But full disclosure, I've only read the last two books, I haven't read Harold Fry's story yet. And it's okay, because these books, while I'm sure are richer with the context of their predecessors, stand well on their own.

Maureen is the cantankerous wife of Harold Fry who finally decides to go on a quick pilgrimage of her own. After hearing that there is a memorial in place for her son, she is determined to go see it. But it is not in Maureen's nature to collect friends, or endear people to her. She is prickly and quick to judge. But perhaps she will find the exact right people to help her in the way she needs to be helped.

Initially I was so turned off by Maureen, but I believe that's the whole point. Not ever protagonist has to be charming and likable, but they can still warm the hearts of those around them, while making unlikely friends. This was a short and sweet read that left me feeling hopeful at the end.

Thank you so much to Random Publishing house. This was a interesting read from Harold's wife Maureen point of view. And you can really feel her emotions jumping off the page at you. I will be honest, I have only read the first Harold Fry stories so it was a little harder to read since I had missed #2 but I was still able to follow along.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC

I just couldn’t get into this story, I found it sad and boring. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I received an arc copy of Maureen from NetGalley without realizing it is the 3rd book of a trilogy. I decided to dive in anyway and am so glad that I did. You don't necessarily have to read the first 2 books to understand what is going on, but I'll definitely be reading the books that led to this poignant story of a mother that has lost her son to find him again.
Maureen is grumpy, but oh so likable. You can't help but pull for her. I love how it all wrapped up. It was full of love and hope. My favorite messages these days.

Having read and truly enjoyed The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, I tried reading the second book in the series, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, but I gave it up. Then I read and enjoyed Miss Benson’s Beetle which provided another good story. Lately, I’ve read Maureen: A Harold Fry Novel. I can’t say that it met my expectations, especially after reading about Harold’s long walk. In reading about the trilogy, I see that many reviewers indicate the books can be read as standalone novels. I would agree with that, but, to be candid, reading all three would make a difference in a reader’s understanding.

Ten years ago, Harold Fry set out to mail a postcard to his ailing former workmate, Queenie Hennessey. At the first postbox, he decided to continue walking to the next one before mailing the postcard. That decision turned into the six-hundred-mile walk to hand the card to Queenie in person, a journey Harold certainly had not planned to make. It just happened. Along the way, other people joined him for periods of time and then dropped away as others joined. The people asked Harold for advice.

When people start asking Harold for advice, that reminded me of Tepper Isn’t Going Out by Calvin Trillin. Murray Tepper just wants to sit in his car in NYC and read the newspaper in peace, but people keep getting into the car and asking his advice.

But I digress; this review is called Maureen, and it is about Harold Fry’s wife of many years. After the death of their son, Harold and Maureen found themselves in a deep depression. They live in the same house, but they pass one another without much interaction. Near the end of Harold’s walk, Maureen joins him, and their reconciliation begins.

Still, their lives have not returned to any kind of normal interaction between the two. Maureen decides to visit Queenie’s garden because she has learned that Queenie honors David, Maureen and Harold’s son there. She is jealous and does not understand how Queenie even knew David.

Unlike Harold’s walking trip, Maureen’s pilgrimage involves a long drive to Queenie’s garden. The story unfolds slowly, even for a short novel, 132 pages. Maureen sets out on her journey, but she encounters a series of problems. Even when she arrives at Queenie’s garden, she is disappointed and still feels empty as if she has made the trip for nothing. She does not find any resolution.

While Maureen is billed as a standalone novel, I recommend that readers first read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Those who are really gung-ho may wish read The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey.

I felt I would have appreciated this book more if I had read the other books in the series. Reading it as a standalone was difficult since I felt I really didn't have the background on Maureen, Harold, David or Queenie in order to really appreciate the story. I'm sure for those who have read the other books, this will be a welcome addition to the series.

After having read and loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey, I knew I would want to read the conclusion of the trilogy.

The first two books show the different journeys that Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessey go on as Harold makes his way to her and as she relives her life in a letter to Harold. Maureen is Harold’s wife and this book is about her journey.

I didn’t realize the book was a novella until I abruptly reached the last page!

Unlike the other two books, which take place at the same time, this book takes place 10 years later.

I really wish the author would have had Maureen’s story take place at the same time as Harold’s and Queenie’s, because Maureen really did go on a journey within herself during that time. We were given glimpses of ways that she changed and what she was doing while Harold was on his journey and I would have welcomed learning more about that. Seeing more details. She really did grow as much as Harold and Queenie during that time, perhaps even more than them.

Instead, she is on a journey, several years later to go see Queenie’s garden because Queenie had placed something in her garden representing David, Harold and Maureen’s son. She does grow and change during this journey, but it seems so disconnected from the original stories.

I loved the first two books so much, I wish this one would have been longer and given Maureen as much depth and story as Harold and Queenie. I received an arc of the book.

I enjoyed reading Maureen’s story and feeling her emotions. This was s good ending to the trilogy and well written.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Having read "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" in 2014 with my book group, I was interested to read more about Harold's wife. Maureen is a tough cookie. She has not gone to therapy to deal with their son's death by suicide. It does not seem that she has anyone to talk with about that awful event. But she decides to take a solo road trip to see the garden that Queenie created because she knows that there's a tribute of some sort to her son.

Since Maureen doesn't travel much, the journey itself is arduous for her, despite it being on the highway. Without a GPS to guide her, she relies on maps, written directions and the kindness of strangers. At times her story was painful to read but as a parent, I have a lot of empathy for her her loss and I'm glad I read this book.

I do think it would be tough to read this without having read 'Harold Fry'' to be honest. Although there are plenty of references to that novel,, things make more sense with that knowledge.

Maureen is the third book of Rachel Joyce’s Harold Fry trilogy. As such, it completes the story begun 10 years ago with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by allowing his wife, Maureen, to venture into the world herself in search of answers or closure on problems that have been crushing her for years. She will drive, not walk, but she will also make a northward journey, encountering strangers and having no clue how to deal with them. She is not Harold. Along the way, we learn of her love for Harold but also of her biggest disappointments and her distrust of much of everything else in her life.

I do enjoy the way Joyce uses the natural world in this novel (and in her others) as it almost feels like another background character at times. While Harold remains at home as her steady rock, Maureen goes in search of an answer to an unspoken question connected to the late Queenie. The novella’s question then is will she be capable of true change, of moving on and leaving the decades of bitterness behind.

Definitely recommend this to all who have read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and the Love Song of Queenie Hennessy as it completes Maureen’s story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

A complex woman trying to make a reasoning out of the death of her son thirty years ago and just discovering herself.

Maureen is a woman, tough on the outside, but tender and fragile within. Through her husband's, Harold's journey, Maureen feels that she must go on her own journey ten years after Harold's famous walk. She leaves taking the car and along the way we are listening to her thoughts, the difficulties of her life, her failure she feels as a student, and mother.

Maureen is a lesson in struggling to find oneself. She is afraid of friendship, and is fearful of what lies ahead. Fortunately, through Harold's trip, she has reconnected with her husband, but has not yet reconnected with herself.

The book is written beautifully with the reading audience coming to know and welcome Maureen into our hearts. It is a worthy ending to the journey of the Fry's

Thanks you to Rachel Joyce, Dial Press, and NetGalley for this poignant story which has already published.

The longest journey begins with the first step, but often that step is the hardest of them all.

A touching story about heartbreak and healing. This book was a great follow up to her other books. Maureen must take a pilgrimage to come to terms with her past. She struggles to form binds with people. The book shows us we all have a little Maureen in us.

Maureen is the last book in the Harold Fry trilogy, written by Rachel Joyce. Having not read the previous books, I wasn't sure if this would make a lot of sense to me, but the back story was filled in nicely. Probably what lacked was any emotional connection to the adjunct characters from the previous books, and since was more of a novella, and clearly focused on Maureen, we don't get much here. In fact, that was what I found most lacking. I wanted more from some of the delightful folks Maureen meets on her journey.

I did enjoy Maureen's pilgrimage. Her interactions with people met along the way were priceless. The author gave us some poignant reasons for some of Maureen's reactions. There were some scenes that I found very emotional and I even shed some tears, which is not my norm. Kudos to the author for utilizing 'show not tell' style of writing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC of Maureen by Rachel Joyce.

Maureen and Harold have settled into a quite life, when she gets a message from a friend. In this book, she must go on her own journey to help. She struggles along the way, and has to find a way to make it all work so that she can help her friend.

Maureen by Rachel Joyce is a very unique and thought provoking novel about an older woman whose son has died. She journeys to see a garden where a tribute to her son can be seen. Her journey is one of despair and also quiet comfort. She comes to many personal revelations about her life. This novel reinforces that belief that life is worth living and that strangers are able to assist you in your life journey. Thank you to netgalley, Rachel Joyce and Dial Press Trace for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review..

This was a beautifully written novella and a lovely ending to the Harold Fry trilogy. While Maureen seems prickly at first, once you see her vulnerability and all the people that are kind to her on her journey she becomes endearing. This is a great exploration of motherhood, grief and forgiveness.

Maureen!! How you deserved your own main character treatment. This is a terrific addition to the first two books about Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy. It will not pack as quite a punch as it did without reading the first two books; in fact, something significant would be lost if you read it as a standalone.
Maureen takes her own pilgrimage to help with her lifelong grief over her son's death. She does it as only she can; not like Harold with his meandering and existentialism and and not like Queenie with her demanding sense of purpose while writing her letter. Maureen fumbles, offends others, and begrudgingly accepts help. I'm so happy she received the spotlight she deserves! My gripe is only that her story seemed slight compared to the rich, wholehearted storytelling of the first two books in the series.