3.5*
A heartwarming story of loneliness and new found friendships when you least expect it but need it the most.

Though contemporary fiction is not my favorite genre. The premise caught my attention and the author wove a storyline that kept me engaged throughout.

You will smiling through your tears, so keep your tissues close by. Perhaps it’s just the timing of the read. But it may have been a bit too heavy a read for me personally. There are many fabulous five star reviews to be found.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an ARC to read and review

I enjoyed reading this one. I found it to be a cute story that was well written. I had a hard time putting it down. I recommend it to others.

You know how sometimes publishers or advertisers start a book synopsis by saying "If you loved ____ book, then you'll really love this one?" or this books is for "Fans of ___." This is the first time I read one of those and thought to myself OMG I loved ___ book, so I'll love this one. But I think that doomed this not to be a five star review right from the beginning. I kept waiting for the book to get as good as that one and it just didn't.

That being said, it was a good story. It follows Missy, who is living on her own in a big house after the kids have grown up and is learning to be happy again. It was a bit sadder/more depressing in the early parts of the book and the ending was a bit abrupt for me. I wanted to know what happened after that last page. Overall a good read. Probably really a 3.5/5 start for me. Maybe could have been a 4 if I hadn't set my expectations so high so early.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the early copy to review.

I am a sucker for any book with a band of quirky characters. I love how often quirky characters remind me of myself and Missy Carmichael is no exception. There were numerous times throughout the book that I saw myself in Missy. At times I found that hard to process but I digress.

I was not familiar with Beth Morrey and was impressed this is her first novel. But this book has made my all-time-favorite list of books. Get your tissues out because you will need them. My daughter was sitting next to me as I was reading and as tears were streaming down my face. She patted my arm and said "they aren't real, mom." but to me, Missy, Bobby, Angela, Otis and the others had become real. These characters took up residence in my heart and mind.

I know this book has been compared to Ove and Eleanor while some may find this off-putting and others a plus, I think all should start this book with an open mind and sit back and wait for these characters to weasel their way in to your heart.

I will definitely be looking for more books by Morrey.

On paper this should have been a new favorite- a British coming of old story with a found family, eccentric characters and a dog. I think it's unfair to compare it to A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant because it can set some pretty high expectations. The story kept me interested until the mid-way part when it started to drag a bit. For me, I could have used a little more humor and a little less woe. All that aside, this was a valiant debut and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Having started this book with no expectations I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into this book and I certainly had little sympathy in the beginning for Missy. But then I kept reading!

At the beginning of the book, Missy is 79 years old, her husband has passed, her son and family live in Australia and she is on bad terms with her daughter. She is sad, lonely and not coping well. There are flashbacks of a young Missy and the high profile life she had with her college professor husband. There are also hints of a terrible secret that Missy has been burdened with throughout her life.

Not quite like Eleanor Oliphant, but still heartwarming.

I thought the story dragged for me and the time jumps got confusing at time. I did enjoy how Missy adapted to her life with Bob and all the people that came to her aid when she needed it the most. Would recommend this story to readers in the 50+ age range.

I connected with Missy. Although not quite as old as she is, even with a husband who is dealing with dementia, loneliness is too easy to find. I so enjoyed the variety of people who came into her life and brightened her days.

I loved this book! Great character development. I particularly loved seeing their friendships grow. The connection between Missy and the dog. This book solicited an overwhelming emotional reaction. I Loved it!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey was not a great read for me. It wasn't really even a good read. The first few chapters were a slog, but, I'd heard good things about the book, so kept reading. Although the writing and structure got better, the characters simply weren't my cup of tea. I found the main character, 79-year old Missy Carmichael, largely unlikable and fabricated, and the supporting cast was not much better.That said, the book's theme of the redemptive power of friendships was one I'll continue to enjoy and explore, just not with these characters.

The books opens with the main character alone, miserable, whining and well on her way to drunk. I didn't find anything charming about that, and I didn't find much authentic about the character, either. To me it felt like Missy was a young person's image of what old people are like, and that first impression didn't get much better with time.

Characterization aside, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael was well written and fairly well paced. After the first couple chapters, the structure took on a natural rhythm of present day and backstory, which was mostly effective in revealing the main character's motivation and response. Other than the riff with her daughter, which I thought was over advertised, the information brought forward in backstory was solid.

Not every book is for every person, and I know a lot of people will probably fall in love with Missy Carmichael and her ragtag band of friends. I just wasn't one of them. But, that's the good thing about books - there are plenty out there to meet the needs and expectations of every reader, all we have to do is be open to finding them. Or, as my grandma used to say, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince, ;)

This review was based on an advance copy read.

I really love the story and I admit I spent the last 10% crying like crazy, Also there wasn't a lot of movement in the story, lots of character growth though, which I know seems odd, but not much happened besides internal growth of the characters, and Missy coming to terms with her life.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

As soon as I heard a few friends rave about this book, I knew I had to read it. And while I haven't read either of the two books that it is being compared to - though they are both on my list - I have to say...this book charmed me like no other.

I adored Missy. She might be my new favorite character. She is quirky and set in her ways but at 79, isn't that to be expected? She's not mean, but she's had some things happen to her in life that have made her become the way she is. Luckily, all it takes is meeting some new people, allowing them into her life, albeit begrudgingly at first, to realize how she has closed herself off and what she has missed in by doing so.

This book warmed my soul. It was the perfect book to read during this time of uncertainty. It's a slow-moving book, but once you get there (and you will know what I mean once you read it) you will want to savor every word and interaction that occurs. Being a dog person, I particularly loved the way Missy slowly grew to love the dog - so much so that she even started talking to it! I talk to my dogs all the time :)

I loved learning about Missy's life as she reminisces about her life and her family. In the beginning of the book, she's not the most likeable of characters, but as time goes on and we learn more about her, she really grew on me and I found I really cared about her and what happened to her. I love books like that, where you become so invested in a character that you only want the best for the characters, especially ones that you didn't particularly love in the beginning.

This is a truly a special book and I am definitely going to be watching to see what comes next from Beth Morrey. She has such a way of creating characters you care about and evoking such strong emotions. Have those tissues ready when you read this...you'll need them!

“Middle-aged women,” the subject heading of The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey. I’m always looking for books appropriate for older women like myself but most books coming out seem to be about 20- and 30-year-olds.

Missy is on her own at 79 (hardly middle aged!) living in Great Britain. She and her daughter are not on good terms, her son and her only grandchild live in Australia, and her husband is gone. She has not developed any friendships having always been busy taking care of children, a home, and her husband.

One day she ventures out in the neighborhood and comes across a couple of women who will help her find her place in the world again. This involves dog-sitting with a wonderful dog named Bob. Her days are up and down but thanks to her joining the world of dog walking, Missy makes a whole series of friends who come to her aid in her most needy moment.

Beth Morrey, a new-to-me writer, gives a nod to the power of friendship in this heart-warming novel. I found she fooled me on one point in the plot, but it made for an even more tender story.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting April 27, 2020.

I’d like to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review..

Missy Carmichael heads to the park one day and her life is forever changed. Her chance encounters there lead to new relationships and as these relationships grow, Missy's life is unfolded to us; how she got here and why she is so lonely. The characters are rich and all that Missy learns can be applied to our own lives. Seeing Missy show kindness and compassion to others and eventually herself, has given me a lot to think about in terms of my own life which is always the sign of a good story. What a wonderful treat this book has been, especially now in the midst of a global pandemic. It has been a great reminder of how important community is, including all our canine friends.

I really enjoyed this story.

The character development was very thorough. The cast of supporting characters, especially Angela and Silvey, were my favorite. In fact, they carried the story for me.

Missy, however, was not likeable until the end of the book. The welcome plot twists made me a bit more sympathetic to her struggle, but not entirely.

Overall, a fun read that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for something quick and uplifting.

I loved this! The characters were so great. I loved seeing their friendships blossom and grow. I loved Missy's connection with Bobby, the dog she agrees to sit for. I loved the unexpected things that happened. And it even got me to shed a tear. Loved it!

What a gem this story is! I fell in love with The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey around the middle of chapter one and just kept falling as I read. This book was the type of book I really love-a great character driven story about family. A story of biological family and how that shapes you, how family loves each other, and how they accept and protect each other. And also a story of those we choose to be our family, and how those relationships work also. And there’s a wonderful dog-Bobby (who’s a girl), through whom Ms. Morrey also wonderfully depicts true love. I laughed, I cried, and I didn’t want this story to end!

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an advanced e-copy of this story. I’m only sorry I didn’t read it sooner!

This book sounded like something completely different than the traditional ‘romances’ that I tend to pick up when I am looking for something different.

When I read the description, the main character is 79 years old. I was like oh, interesting….which immediately put it into the category of something different for me. Plus I loved that it said the novel was a ‘coming of old’ story. Not going to lie it made me laugh and I usually tend to pick up books that feature young heroines so reading something with a much older heroine sounded new and exciting.

Plus this debut has been getting a lot of buzz lately and I didn’t want to miss out on something new and exciting, not to mention the sweet dog cartoon on the cover basically sealed the deal.

Summary
For readers of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and A Man Called Ove, a life-affirming, deeply moving “coming-of-old” story, a celebration of how ordinary days are made extraordinary through friendship, family, and the power of forgiving yourself–at any age.

Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Woman meets dog…

The world has changed around Missy Carmichael. At seventy-nine, she’s estranged from her daughter, her son and only grandson live across the world in Australia, and her great love is gone. Missy spends her days with a sip of sherry, scrubbing the kitchen in her big empty house and reliving her past–though it’s her mistakes, and secrets, that she allows to shine brightest. The last thing Missy expects is for two perfect strangers and one spirited dog to break through her prickly exterior and show Missy just how much love she still has to give. Filled with wry laughter and deep insights into the stories we tell ourselves, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael shows us it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. It’s never too late to love. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book hit me right in the feels. I mean don’t you ever stop and look at an older person and wonder what their lives have been like? What heartaches they have had, what triumphs? I have older parents (my mom is 66 and my dad is 80) and now that I am a mom, I look at my parents and start to wonder what were their lives like? This book takes that notion of life regrets and experiences from a new perspective and I absolutely loved it!

I mean this book is definitely more emotional that I was expecting but it was emotional in a good way. I loved that it touched on a number of different issues about the complexity of families, love, and life. It had a lot to unpack and digest and I do not think that readers will be bored in the least. I found the main character, Missy, to be stubborn and cantankerous but at the same time there was something about her that made me want to know more about her.

Not only is the story itself beautiful and touching it packs so much emotion. While this book isn’t necessarily a romance even if the title has ‘love story’ in it. Sure it touches on romance and love but it’s also a story of life, family, and memories.

This book was even more special to me because I have a little boy and honestly little boys are the best and I love being a boy mom so reading this book really endeared itself to me in a number of different ways. I also loved Bob the dog.

This book was a home run for me, it took a little bit for me to get into it but once I did I enjoyed it quite a bit and was glad to read it! This was a great debut and will no doubt be a fan favorite as well as an ideal book for book clubs!

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published April 7th 2020 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
ISBN 0525542442 (ISBN13: 9780525542445)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Putman, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: contempo, fiction

4.5 stars rounded up. I finished this a little over a week ago and wanted to sit with it before writing a review. This is the poignant story of Missy Carmichael, an older (late 70's) woman coming to terms with a new chapter in her life. At first glance, Missy is not particularly likable and she is certainly not embracing her new chapter. A chance encounter with some neighbors and a dog start to bring Missy out of her self-imposed shell.

The beauty of this story is how memories of important events in Missy's life help us understand how and why she functions and interacts with people as she does. Also, as she self-reflects, she stretches and challenges her own perspective and starts to make different choices.. For me, it's a story of the importance of caring and compassion for both oneself and others. Sometimes the first step really is just showing up. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to G. P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group / Putnam for this arc.

I found this a delightful read about second chances. A character driven story with real characters. Missy's honesty with herself was refreshing and her ability to step out of herself admirable. Missy's story flipped back and forth between her past and her present time offering insight into her character and circumstances. While not particularly fast paced, the questions raised between the past and present kept me engaged and reading steadily. Some tough issues were dealt with in a reasonable and satisfying manner.

4.5 stars rounded up.