I tried very hard to like this book. Especially since it was compared to A Man Called Ove. Missy Carmichael is now a widow whose sone and daughter live abroad. She is trying to navigate the world and find herself as an independent elderly woman throughout the book. She gains friendships, companionship in an unlikely place, and even new work. However, I only read just past page 200 and couldn’t not find the motivation to continue to pick it up to finish it. I loved the dog aspect as I own six puppies myself, but Missy did not connect to me at all as a mother, grandmother, or friend. This was a DNF for me. Thanks @Netgalley for the chance to review.

4 Oikos Stars!

Another charming story of an elderly woman, Missy, and her travels through life. The loneliness, her life growing smaller, shutting people out, regrets and secrets. Until she finds her purpose again, expands her heart and her life. She finds herself a reluctant substitute caregiver to a female dog named Bob. They become fast friends and faithful companions. Missy's world has grown. She's gained friends. She is interacting. She is finding small slices of joy again. Ahhhh, but bad times always come again. None of us are immune. Then we have the choice to either retreat or boldly stand there and claim our place in the world and remain vibrant and steadfast against that which chooses to try to break us. What will Missy choose? What would you choose?

Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Woman meets dog...
The story begins when we first meet Missy. She is 79 years old, her husband is gone, her son and family live in Australia and she has fallen out with her daughter. She is sad and lonely and not really coping.
A chance encounter and the kindness of strangers at the park suddenly turn Missy’s life around. Missy finds herself with the most unlikely of friendships that gives her life a whole new meaning and purpose.
The story jumps form present to past and back again, as we get glimpses into her marriage and childhood memories. After all, we are all products of our past and delving into Missy’s definitely gives context to the person she is today.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and A Man Called Ove

This story was quirky and cute. A great coming of age contemporary read that will keep you wanting to know more about Missy Carmicheal. The dog was a great touch to the story. Who doesn't love an animal companion in stories? The novel was filled with discovery yourself.

This is such a sweet and heartfelt book about love, loss, friendship, and the joy that only a canine companion can bring. At times light and funny as new dog owner Milly adjusts to life with a dog and makes new friends. And at times deeper and heavier than I expected, as Milly is newly alone and navigating life without her beloved Leo, children, and only grandson. It was so uplifting to see how true friendship can affect a person's life. I loved the British humor and as a dog lover, am totally here for a dog saving the day!

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Group Putnam through NetGalley.
Though this book begins slowly and the main character is not very likeable, stay with it. Morrey reveals insights to Missy's life throughout the book. No spoilers as part of the joy of this book is seeing how past events shaped the main character's life and interactions with her family and friends. I will say that Missy grows and learns to celebrate herself in the year or so of her life we see.
The book begins with her 79th year and takes us through her 80th birthday and beyond. The last few chapters do reveal a surprise character that continues to shape her life and provide the final pieces of why she behaves as she does. Missy's outlook did a complete reverse as she began to see joy, find friends and community and forgive herself for past actions.
Morrey has created a community that readers will relate to as we all have people like them in our lives.

This is a heartwarming story about Missy, an elderly woman who at what she had perceived as the end portion of her life, is actually the start of a wonderful new one. Through friends, family, and especially a sweet pup named Bobby she learned to open up her heart and banished her lonely lifestyle. This is a cute book that is well written.

This is the first book by Beth Morrey and I am looking forward to many more. She has a nice touch for expressing the feelings of a widow attempting to find herself after her husband's death. This isn't something we usually think about when we are young but will all face someday. There are lessons learned from the main character, Missy, on making friends and making a new life whether you want to or not. Excellent first book. I received an advanced copy of this book; it will be published in April.

I don’t usually finish a book when I don’t like the lead character but this was interesting enough to keep me going. So much of Missy’s traits bothered me, especially her attitude towards her children when they were young. What a crappy self-absorbed mother! Almost punched my kindle hahaha. Her misfit friends are all very sweet and it almost makes a person want to get a dog just to meet people! Well, not me, I’m a cat person. Dogs are too much work. The many layers of Missy’s life is well done and this is an author I will follow!

Missy is a 79-year old women living alone after losing her husband. Her daughter is estranged and her son and grandson live across the world. After a few chance run-ins with two spirited women, a kid, and a couple lovable dogs, Missy is embraced by a new community.

The first third of this book is just okay - kind of slow. It jumps between Missy’s past and her present, to give us a clear picture of who she is. (If you’re finding it a little dry, keep reading, its worth it!)

The next third is good - interesting and rewarding. Missy starts to come out of her shell. She begins to realize that she still has a purpose in life. Watching her progress in her relationships, learning, growing, and loving, was so so rewarding. This section felt like a hug.

The last third is fantastic. It had me grinning then crying then laughing through my tears. Saying more would likely spoil part of the ending, so I’ll leave it here: keep the tissues close.

Overall, I loved it, and I’m definitely hoping we’ll get another installment from Beth Morrey!

*Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

Can you believe that one of the most wonderful romances that I've read this year featured an 80-year-old protagonist? Such a great, heartwarming story.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Beth Morrey, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

I so enjoyed Missy Carmichael's "love story." It begins with Missy as a nearly 80-year-old, unhappy woman who feels unlovable. However, by accident she meets a couple of ladies who become her good friends. As the story opens up, the reader learns of Missy's earlier life over the past 60 years and is able to see why Missy feels so unhappy with herself. But slowly, over time, she learns that she is lovable and can be happy with the help of friends and opening up to her family about some of her deepest feelings.

It is a good story about how a person's life, lovability, usefulness, etc. are not over as long as there is love and a sense of community that bonds friends and loved ones. This is certainly a "feel-good" story and a "pick-me-up" if you need one!

A few months ago, while perusing NetGalley, the cover of this book grabbed me.  I mean how can you ignore a little old lady sitting on a park bench with a dog? What was her story? I needed to know.

One page in and I was hooked.
Yes… one page.

When we meet Missy Carmichael, she is on the median of two worlds.  One, a comfortable and ceremonial life she has lived for the past eighty years. The other, a world outside her comfort zone.  All she has to do is take the plunge.

When Missy decides to dip her toe into the unknown and go to the park, the planets align to show her that once you cast your fears aside, the world is a more welcoming place than you may think.

Beth Morrey does a phenomenal job of capturing the essence of aging and all the fears it may encompass while also crafting a story that encapsulates the many facets of love. Not easy to do and beautifully done.

Please grab this when it comes out on April 7, 2020. It’s worth the purchase AND a place on your shelf
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Hands down = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re a fan of Evvie Drake Starts Over or Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, you will love and adore this book. It’s all about character development. It’s warm and it’s honest. But, it just missed the mark for me.

This book started off so good! I mean this title and this cover alone are amazing. It was a great hook and introduction to the characters. From there it was a confusing a slow start where we jumped from present day to back when Missy’s children were young. In the present day, Missy’s two children are grown and her son has a son of his own. Her house no longer feels like a home. When she meets a little boy about her grandson’s age, Otis, her world is turned upside-down. Missy ends up becoming the care-giver for a sweet dog. As a dog-lover, I was expecting a bit more.

I personally found it hard to relate to Missy but I know many people who have read it and identified with her entirely.

Missy Carmichael rambles around her large house alone, having grown children overseas or estranged, alone in here aged-ness. Through flashbacks and memories, the reader learns Missy's life story and the details of her marriage, education, and current life. Over the course of her 79th year, her world expands with new friendships, experiences, and repaired family relations, largely due to a dog she fosters, in a way. Well told and somewhat breezey, the lightness somewhat betraying deep connections and larger issues. A few surprising twists at various points, an enjoyable read for fans of Fredrick Backman, Gail Honeyman and the like.

Captivating story of a lonely old woman who pushes people away and then discovers friends through taking on a dog to keep. Missy has gotten used to her spartan home and solitary life without her husband. Her son and her daughter have lives of their own and have disappointed her. When a new acquaintance forces her to take care of a dog, she ventures out into the world and sees that she enjoys people and begins to revisit and accept her past.
Morrey creates believable and lovable characters. Couldn't put it down!

A sweet story about loss, friendship and a life well-lived. Missy is at a loss. Her husband is gone, her kids are grown living their lives elsewhere and she is hiding from the world. Slowly after giving way to persistent neighbors she begins to put herself out there and becomes a foster parent to a wonderful dog named Bob and pseudo grandparent to the little boy. As her circle expands she finds it in herself to forgive and finds that in helping others, she helps herself. Missy shows us that life is not over at 80 if you have a tribe. Anyone who knows the value of friends, close siblings or a precious furbaby will totally get this book with its quirky characters. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

While this started a little slow for me, the characters grew on me. It gives the appearance of being the typical formulaic “Ove” or “Eleanor Oliphant”, but there are some surprises in here.

This book was addicting. You wanted to continue reading even long after it was over. The characters felt so real and relatable, and the story was so original.

Loved this book. I felt so many emotions while reading it. Laughter, sadness, hope. I loved the character of Missy from the beginning. She is so easy to relate to, even though she is 20 years older than I am, and lives in the UK.! I felt the book was so heartwarming and poignant. The author does a great job of getting all the emotions through to the reader. I cried my eyes out at the ending! Bravo, great job!