I was ultimately disappointed with this book. As far as plots goes it was a great one, a woman and her son grieving for a husband who died a sudden death at too young an age. It’s three years later and Willa is on her way to their beach home for the first time since his death, to clean it for sale, and confront old memories. Once there she reconnects with her husbands ghost, relives the past, her son comes down fleeing a bad girlfriend relationship, and her best friend and her daughter come to help. All good so far, then the book stalls, becomes a little preachy, and ends at what I would have considered the middle of the book. All the plots are resolved abruptly, decisions are made, and you’re left hanging wondering what ultimately happens with their decisions.

I love Beth Harbison. I've read every single book she's written, so I was thrilled to see that an advance copy was available to request on NetGalley. The formula is somewhat reliable, as Harbison does not deviate far from a combination of humor, well-developed characters and a little heartstring-pulling. I'd venture to say this is her most heartfelt, emotionally vulnerable book to date, as it deals, obviously, with the aftermath of death.
After losing her husband suddenly to a heart attack three years prior to where the story begins, Willa is still in an emotionally raw place as she returns to the couple's beach house (where her husband, Ben, actually died) to begin the process of cleaning it out on order to list it for sale. At first Willa questions her sanity as she catches glimpses of her deceased husband.... is he really there? Turns out, he is, in fact, appearing to Willa, sent from above to help her along in her grieving process and to remind her to LIVE . Start with a ghost--Throw in Willa's no-nonsense best friend, Kristin; Kristin's daughter, Kelsey; and Willa and Ben's son, Jamie, and you have yourself a party. This book had me hugging my own children and husband a little tighter at night, reminding myself that life is short, but also taking comfort in the fact that our loved ones never are truly GONE. It usually takes quite a bit for a book to move me emotionally, but this one managed to do just that. I really was able to relate to Willa's plight of carrying on with her life after experiencing death of the man she adored; I understood why she became distant from her teenage son. I understood why she was in no hurry to let go, no hurry to date.... But I cheered her on when she began to repair the relationship with her son. I was proud when she decided to let go of unhealthy attachments to the past in order to make room for healthy memories and for new experiences. It was a journey I was thrilled to be on with Willa. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to hug her son (and my own).... all in all, this is another wonderful book from Harbison. She long ago cemented her place on my must-read author list; Every Time You Go Away strengthened that foundation.

I absolutely loved this book! Could not put it down. Such a great story about love and loss and relearning how to do it all over again. Would highly highly recommend this book.

Another great read from Beth Harbison. I've long been a fan of her work since Shoe Addicts Anonymous and this book does not disappoint. Funny, tender, lighthearted in all the right spots, and with a touch of mystical. This is a perfect summer read.