Really fun book about 80 something Veronica McReedy learns about penguins on TV and decides to travel to to Antarctica to see the penguins. Family drama, recollections of the war and more. ARC from NetGalley.

I thought this was a cute book. I enjoyed reading about Veronica story. I would give this book 4 stars.

*Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary copy for my honest review*

This story was absolutely adorable, I honestly expected that but not to this extent. It was heartwarming, joyous, and inspirational. If you're looking for one of the best feel-good books ever, definitely pick this up. The writing style kept me sucked in the entire time and I loved Veronica's character, I kept wanting to reach into the book and just squeeze her. Even though she comes across as a sullen, feisty woman, she pulls so much affection for the reader, you can't help but love her.

This book is a wonderful and good read-alike to A Man Called Ove. Western society and culture rarely center older individuals in stories and it's refreshing to read a redeeming book about an older woman who has gotten a bit stuck and bogged down from life. Veronica nonetheless made some choices that led her to a place she wasn't expecting. This story gets you thinking about what life is really all about and what it takes to include others.
I absolutely love penguins and my name is Veronica, so I had no choice but to read this one and I do not regret it one bit. You won't either.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2021 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2021/02/2021-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

A quirky adventure following an unusual heroine, “How the Penguins Saved Veronica” tells the story of wealthy 85-year-old Veronica McCreedy, who lives alone in a Scottish mansion. Feisty, stubborn and at times whimsical, McCreedy decided to use her large inheritance in funding a group of scientists who study penguins in Antarctica.

But all that money comes with one condition — she wants to meet the penguins.

“The main inspiration of my book was a friend of mine who’s obsessed with penguins,” author Hazel Prior said. “When her husband died, she found an extraordinary strategy of coping with her grief: she decided to travel round the world visiting penguins, her aim to get photos of every penguin species in its native habitat. She’s had such fun with her mission. I’ve always felt that the natural world can bring us healing in many ways, but I decided a story about healing through penguins would be extra-special.”

Prior said she decided to make Veronica older because she’s been incredibly inspired by people she knows who have started learning new things, from harp-playing to sky-diving, in their 80s and 90s.

“I love their 'it’s-never-too-late' attitude,” she said. “And they have experienced so many changes in their lives. Having an octogenarian as my main character gave me the chance to delve back into wartime history, which is another interest of mine.”

It’s also important for other reasons.

“Our society leads us to believe that it’s better in every way to be young,” Prior said. “It would have us think that at 30 the best part of your life is over, at 40 nobody notices you anymore and from 50 onwards you may as well not exist — particularly if you’re a woman. This is so wrong. I admire people who are hungry for life, who go out and seek new experiences regardless of their age. For example, a friend of mine started learning the harp at the age of 90. And my neighbor’s father took up skydiving in his 80s. These are extreme examples, but we never stop dreaming, learning or having new adventures. Every year that passes adds to our rich bank of experiences. The logical conclusion is that the older you are, the more interesting you are — so wouldn’t an octogenarian be the perfect heroine?”

Speaking of harps, when Prior was a student in Scotland, she found an old broken Celtic harp in a cupboard and decided to learn how to play it, which wasn’t quite as easy as it sounded.
“But the harp has always been a source of magic and wonder for me,” she says. “It’s an instrument with a sound that’s just so evocative and moving. The Celtic harp was the inspiration for my debut novel, 'Ellie And the Harp Maker.'”

Asked if she has any special take-aways for readers, Prior answered that she would like to highlight the importance of caring for this planet that we share with so much amazing wildlife. Adélie penguins are just one of the many species threatened by climate change.

“But overall, 'How the Penguins Saved Veronica' is a fun book,” she said. “Penguins are not only sweet and charming; they also set us a wonderful example of determination, gusto and cheerfulness in the face of hard conditions — a lesson that’s very relevant in our current times. If I could sum up the message of the book in one word, that word would be 'hope.'”

This is a charming story. I love the depth of the characters and the way the story is told from multiple viewpoints and formats -- including a blog and a diary in addition to traditional first person narration. And penguins are adorable, so reading about them way enjoyable!

How the Penguins Saved Veronica was one of my favorite quarantine spring reads. It was quirky and witty and everything I needed when the world felt like it had turned upside down. I loved the themes of accepting the past while making the necessary changes to move forward.

The characters are unforgettable and how can you not love a book that has penguins?! While this is a heartwarming story, it doesn't shy away from the complexities of life, and that balance is what made this one a win for me.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy. As always, all opinions are my own.

While reading this book, I felt like it was the perfect mashup of three books I loved, A MAN CALLED OVE, ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE, and WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE. If you liked any or all of those books, then I highly recommend this book. It’s witty, smart, funny, heartwarming, and it has penguins which makes it a winner in my book. I mean, who doesn’t like penguins?

Octogenarian Veronica has accumulated quite a fortune over the years, but not too many friends. She has no one in her life to leave her fortune to except her housekeeper, Eileen, and she doesn’t even like her very much. Veronica doesn’t wallow much in her past but instead keeps her secrets close, literally and figuratively. She wears a locket that holds her past to her heart and she is hesitant to let anyone know about it. Until, one day, she has her housekeeper do some internet digging and Veronica learns she has a grandson, living not too far away. With dreams of reuniting and finding someone to leave her fortune, she sets off to meet him, unfortunately with unfavorable results.

Instead, she shifts her focus to documentaries on the Adelie penguins in Antarctica. She becomes immersed in their lives and realizes she may be just the person to save them from extinction. So, what does a wealthy 86-year-old woman do? Travels to Antarctica to save the penguins even though the scientists there have told her in no way, shape, or form should she come. But, no one has really ever denied Veronica what she wants….at least not since that day from her past.

When Veronica’s story unfolds, everything will make sense and you will want to hold her hand and help her dreams come true. Her story takes a while to unfurl, as well as the story of her grandson, Patrick. But, as their stories come together, you may just need to have a tissue close by.


"Sometimes memories gather dust in the back crevices of your mind. Sometimes they hover over you like shadows. Sometimes they come after you with a club."


I appreciated the details of living in Antarctica and learning about the Adelie penguins. I have no doubt the extensive research Prior did to make sure all the information was accurate. But, she doesn’t bog down the story with scientific details, instead works them into her story through blog posts and Veronica’s experiences living with the scientists in Antarctica.

There is a lot of sadness in this novel, both past and present, for nearly every character in the novel. Each of them is dealing with a disappointment, a trauma, or a broken heart, yet they overcome and find a way to have joy. There is a hopeful tone to this story and it left me feeling happy and like I had just been hugged by my favorite person.


"Tears come when you’ve been too strong for much too long."

When I heard that Hazel Prior had another book coming out, I just knew I had to read it. Veronica is an 85 year old woman who is reconnected with her estranged grandson. She wants to find a worthy cause to leave her fortune to, and she decides to visit the endangered penguins in Antarctica much to the displeasure of the scientists working there. I love how Hazel Prior creates characters that are flawed but so lovable. The premise of this story reminded me of one of my school counselors from growing up. She is about the same age as Veronica and has a real love for penguins and has seen them in all of their natural habitats. The story alternates between Veronica's perspective and her grandson who is trying to get to know his grandma in whatever time they have left together. Overall, this story was charming and heartwarming, and I'm glad that I read it. It is a character-driven story, and I liked getting to see how they changed over time.

I enjoyed this book and zipped right through it. It is funny and sad. Set in the past and the present. You don't really like Veronica much at first, but it gets better. A clever book. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Veronica McCreedy is in her mid-eighties and lives alone in Scotland. She has been divorced for many years and has not maintained any ties to her family. Her days are spent conversing with her small staff who tend to her personal needs while tending her home. She is lonely and isolated and often unpleasant. Recently, she decided that it’s time to select a beneficiary for her sizable fortune.

Veronica has been spending her evenings watching a television series about penguins in Antarctica. She decides that this might be a worthy cause and has her staff contact the research facility. A big sticking point is that she must visit the facilities prior to any donation. Veronica also discovers that she has a grandson named Patrick. She is disappointed when they meet because he lacks direction and uses recreational drugs. Patrick is equally unimpressed with his authoritarian grandmother. While Veronica is in Antarctica, Patrick gets access to her personal journals and begins to unwind the mysteries of his roots.

How The Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior is about accepting the past and finding the resolve to move forward. People often get stuck and lonely and are in need of a catalyst to make the necessary changes in their lives.

While this story has a few darker plot points, overall it was a delight. Not only are penguins my favorite animal, but I am also a sucker for eccentric and/or socially misunderstood characters. The combo of both things made for a humorous and heartwarming read.

A sweet, lovely, uplifting book about family, friends, and penguins! What happens when a lonely, crusty 85-year-old woman falls in love with an Antarctic island full of penguins? Read How the Penguins Saved Veronica and find out!

86 year old Veronica is a cantankerous, independent woman used to getting her own way. She has little use for people, including her newly discovered grandson Patrick. After watching a documentary she pushes her way into the scientific station studying penguins in Antarctica regardless of the scientists opinions. As she spends time with the penguins and people she discovers that there is maybe more to life, even at 86. A very enjoyable read perfect for fans of "Eleanor Olyphant". #Indigoemployee

How the Penguins Saved Veronica is a lovely story about Veronica McCreedy. She’s on a mission to see penguins up close after watching a television documentary. No one can tell the octogenarian no because once she’s made up her mind there will be no argument. Veronica also wants to meet and get to know her grandson – someone she’s only recently discovered. The two will learn about each other’s past and could possibly grow to be close. This is a delightfully quirky story that had me laughing much of the time. There are also some deeply emotional scenes that gave depth to Veronica and Patrick. I enjoyed it all and loved the message spoken to Veronica by her father when she was a young girl: “There are three types of people in this world, Very. There are those who make the world worse, those who make no difference and those who make the world better. Be one who makes the world better, Very, if you can.”

Hazel Prior, author of "How the Penguins Saved Veronica" has written a heartwarming, memorable, and entertaining novel. The genres for this novel are fiction and women's fiction.  The timeline for this story is set in the author's present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events in the story. The story takes place in Antarctica and England. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, quirky, and flawed. The most delightfully adorable characters are the penguins.

Veronica McCreedy is a feisty, stubborn, determined 85-year-old woman, who doesn't think she has any family. Veronica is lonely at times, and starts watching a television show about Penguins in Antarctica, and arranges for her housekeeper to provide Veronica the information about transportation to visit with the penguins and the scientists. Veronica also finds out that she has a grandson Patrick. After locating him, she is extremely disappointed in him.

Veronica arrives in Antarctica properly dressed in the appropriate attire for the freezing weather. At first, she gets a chilly reception from the staff. Terry, the only woman is truly a penguin whisperer and introduces Veronica to the penguins. Veronica sees an abandoned orphaned penguin and insists that the team help rescue and take care of it.

Somehow by rescuing the penguin, and the way the other penguins survive enable Veronica to accept her past and move on to the future. She realizes that forgiveness and second changes are important.

 I appreciate the author's research into penguins. The author also discusses the importance of family, friends, belonging, love, and hope are. I would recommend this delightful and thought-provoking story.

Veronica McReedy is rich, comfortable, and old. She has no family, having divorced her husband many years ago, and her parents having died when she was a young teenager, during World War II. Well, she did have a baby, a very long time ago, but he was adopted, and she never saw him again. Eventually, she learned, from one of his adopted cousins, that he had died in a mountain climbing accident, in his forties. He had no children.

Except--she has found the box in which she stored some keepsakes, a locket with several strands of hair, and her diary notebooks, which she last wrote in during the war. And now she wonders, is she really sure? Would an adopted cousin really know, for sure, if her son had any offspring?

Patrick Fuller has just been dumped by his girlfriend, who is now living with a builder, and consequently has also lost his apartment, which her income had been essential for. He's working one day a week at Gav's bicycle shop, and his only other income is the dole. He's in a smaller, crappier apartment that Gav found him, not cooking healthy anymore like he did with Lynette, and even smoking marijuana again.

Veronica asks her housekeeper, Eileen, to find her a reliable agency, and sets them to work looking for any surviving relatives.

In the meantime, though, Veronica has also become interested in penguins. Adélie penguins, to be precise. She discovered them in a nature program, and is determined to help the endangered penguins survive--at least, if she can have confidence in the group of scientists working on that. To that end, she has Eileen email the chief scientist at the research station, and inform him that she intends to pay a visit, possibly for several months, with an eye to possibly making a will benefiting the penguin research program.

Dietrich (the head scientist) and his two colleagues do their best to explain that this is impossible, that they have no accommodations for a guest, that conditions are basic at best, etc. After some back and forth, the result is that Veronica will stay there for three weeks, the length of time between arrivals of the supply ship. And she will pay generously for her accommodations, at a rate suitable for decent accommodations in London.

While this is in progress, the agency finds Patrick Fuller, her grandson, and Veronica arranges to meet him. Patrick envisions the possibility of a sweet, charming, old granny with whom he might have the love and connection he hasn't had since his mother died when he was six. Veronica is envisioning an organized, capable, possibly worthy heir to the money that is, at this point, all she has.

Veronica and Patrick are both disappointed.

But Veronica has met Patrick when he's at a low point, deep in depression and with no idea what he even wants in life. And Patrick has met Veronica when she, too, is at a low point, with only the awareness that she has nothing in her life that she really cares about. Now Veronica is is heading off to Locket Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica, and, due to communication between Eileen and Dietrich, behind Veronica's back, Patrick is alerted to be at the airport to see her off. He takes the chance, feeling bad about his first interaction with his new-found grandmother.

And this gets both of them thinking, along new and more productive lines.

Meanwhile, I've said nothing about the Locket Island, the penguins, or the scientists. Suffice it to say, this book is all about living beings intereacting with each other, and learning from each other.

And healing, and growing.

It's a wonderfully warm,enjoyable book. Recommended.

I received an electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and reviewing it voluntarily.

I am obsessed with penguins. They are my absolute favorite. So when I saw How the Penguins Saved Veronica on NetGalley it was a must read for me and thankfully the publisher granted my request. It is about 85 year old curmudgeon Veronica McCreedy. She lives alone in Scotland and is inspired by a documentary she sees on penguins. She gets it in her head that she must go to Antarctica to witness the research on the penguins first-hand with the hope that she will leave her fortune to the research project once she passes. It was an adorable story with quite a few chuckles. I think fans of Backman's Ove and Grandmother books would really enjoy this one. 4/5

Veronica is stubborn, quirky curmudgeon who won't let anything or anyone stand in her way. All of which make her a fun main character. My husband loves penguins, so I was excited about that angle, and I learned some things about them along the way. At the core, this is a heartwarming, well-crafted story about family.