Decent read (though fairly predictable) about Eudora, an elderly woman who decides she's about done with living. She wants to die with dignity and works to secure dignified death at a clinic in Switzerland before she becomes incapacitated or in need of extreme measures. However, a new family moves in next door and their daughter, Rose, becomes a bright spot in Eudora's days. She becomes close with her neighbor, Stanley, as well and starts to become more involved with her community. The ending was no big surprise but it was a fast, interesting-enough read. Eudora's sarcasm and wit were fairly entertaining. I did get a little tired of the flashbacks and reading about how Eudora's mother moped around the house.

I loved this book! I loved Eudora and Rose, they’re such brilliant characters. I enjoyed the dual time line and found myself eagerly turning the pages, wanting to learn more about Eudora and her history. As the story reveals her painful past, Eudora’s friendships in the present grow with Rose bringing new life and joy into Eudora’s world. Eudora soon realizes she’s surrounded by a new family of friends, by people who love and care for her. A beautiful story and there were several moments, especially at the end that brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the Book Club Girls for this advanced reader’s copy.

I absolutely loved this book. I fell in love with Eudora right off the bat and of course when Rose moved in next door, I fell in love with her too. I liked the way the author had present day at the beginning of most chapters and then right after in bold print delved into Eudora's past. That gave you a sense of how Eudora became who she is.
This book made me realize that friends and family (animals included) are an important part of life. They can also give comfort at your time of death. You can set yourself free when you decide to share your life with the people who you love and who love you back.

Thank you #HarperColllinsPublishers, #WilliamMorrow , #AnnieLyons and #netgally for an ARC of this most enjoyable read.

This was brilliant! A story of obligation to one's family and the ripple effects of our choices. Feisty Eudora is a prickly but lovable 85 year old woman and I enjoyed her look back at her life as a new chapter begins.

I love this book!
The main character is Eudora. She’s 85 and tired. She’s brave and sarcastic. I know people like this! Although she has lived these 85 years, she has not had a lot of unique experiences. She finds people annoying. Move on she thinks.
Told using flashbacks of earlier life events, the reader gains an understanding of Eudora’s quandary about choosing life or choosing to die.
Suddenly her life is interrupted by Rose. “This little girl is like a grenade packed full of joie de vivre.”
A widower also comes into her life and she begins to experience true friendships.
The story explores family dynamics, letting go of guilt, choices we make and their consequences. One other element of this story is the idea that dying is a part of life. The author explores this with sensitivity.
I highly recommend this book. I laughed and I cried. Certain clubs would find this to be a good book club book.
I want to thank #NetGalley #TheExtraordinaryLifeofEudoraHoneycutt #HarperCollins for an advance copy of this ebook.

If you are looking for a heartwarming book—this is it! Eudora Honeysett is 85 and is ready to die. She seeks to do so on her terms. Enter 10 year old Rose who is colorful, loud and talkative—words that are the opposite of Eudora. We also meet Stanley, a recently-widowed neighbor intent on being helpful to Eudora. This is the story of their friendship and how they teach Eudora to live. Such a nice story!

Heartwarming story about an 85 year old woman who decides that she wants to die. On her journey she bumps into an extended family who helps change her mind. Lovely description of her relationships.

This book was so delightful!! This is the story of Eudora as she moves towards the end of life at the age of 85 and the new friendships she gains. I frequently found myself smiling at something Rose said or did and they way Eudora would respond. It was so relatable in that parts of Eudora reminded me of my grandma. It was very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Reminiscent of A Man Called Ove, this novel is equally engaging and alternatively makes you laugh and cry. A good story of how people of all ages can profoundly impact each other’s lives and a reminder that kindness can make all the difference.

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year! Well-drawn, hugely satisfying characters, and an engaging story line that kept me turning pages into the night. I enjoyed the parallel story lines that slowly revealed Eudora’s past, just enough at a time until the her full journey was revealed. Emotionally relevant, and the character of young Rose added just the right Balance of lightness and laughter to an otherwise serious subject. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have just started to read this book and I am early in the chapters. But the story of Eudora has captured me from the begin. She sounds like someone I would want to meet.

Eudora Honeysett is getting older and has lived through a lot of hardships in her life. She decides she is ready to die and she is determined to do so on her own terms. A 10 year old girl, Rose, moves next door and she strikes up an unlikely friendship with Eudora. Eudora suddenly has so much left to live for and she questions everything she has begun to think about life as she knows it. This is a beautiful story on how an unlikely friendship can mold the decisions we make.

Sweet story of Eudora and a young girl who moves in next door. Eudora feel as she has nothing left to live for after her elderly mother dies. Eudora is fighting with demons from the past and feeling of being unlovable, when her little neighbor creates a whole new world for her. Bittersweet.

An enjoyable curmudgeon to companion trope in which 85 year old Eudora Honeysett evolves from planning her death and escape from the world 'filled with junk' to celebrating and valuing the people in her life. Planning your death may seem a heavy-handed subject for a novel, however, Lyons has a light touch and builds a sweet story around three unlikely friends and their growing bond. She alternates between present day and flashbacks from Eudora's life to show how she sacrificed for family and friends and felt like she came up short again and again. It's easy to see how Eudora could feel betrayal, guilt, loneliness, and loss from her earlier adversity. However, it's heartwarming to observe how human connection and community can send a positive impact like a pebble thrown into a pond. Brilliant Life publishes on September 8. Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for a preview copy.

This book starts slowly with a cranky older woman and a very excitable young girl who could not be more different. Eudora is ready to die and Rose is full of life. But they somehow find out that they need each other and become close friends. It’s a mix between A Man Called Ove and Me Before You. If you enjoyed either of these books you’ll enjoy this one. Five stars! I really enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley for the E Arc!

At 85-years-old, Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world—all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. She isn’t going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion. Then she meets 10-year-old Rose Trewidney, a pint-sized rainbow of color and sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley—afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties. While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer, Eudora realizes that she has come to really enjoy life and what lies ahead.

This book felt like a coming-of-age story for Eudora who goes from a grumpy old lady to a loveable grandmother figure. Although Eudora is difficult and spiteful, in a series of flashbacks throughout the book you realize that Eudora has had a difficult life that has hardened her to the world. However, once she meets Rose she begins to slowly change (or rather come to terms with her past and start seizing the day). This book reminded be a lot of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and A Man Named Ove. If you enjoy character transformations and are looking for a book that will make you feel all the emotions, I recommend this one.

Thank you William Morrow Books, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a gem!!! I received this free book & it's a wonderful story. To me, life gets better for this lonely woman who opens her heart to this young child!
Absolutely loved this!!! Thank you!!

A warm novel of friendship of a ten year old and an eighty five year old. Eudora wants die peacefully and soon. Rose moves in next door and gives Eudora new reasons to live and find joy. Eudora remembers her past, makes peace with it, and dies surrounded by love and friends.

Eudora Honeysett is 85 and has had enough of the world. It is loud, it is rude, and it does not care about her. She does not want her life to end without dignity--with a loss of faculties and living in a home or at the hospital. Eudora wants the end to come in her own way and so, she gets the ball rolling by placing a call to a specialized Swiss clinic. She is ready to embrace the end.

Then, 10-year old Rose moves in next door in a blaze of color and sparkles. Despite Eudora's desire to be left alone to plan for the end ahead, she is unable to avoid being swept up in adventures with Rose and another neighbor Stanley, who has recently lost his wife. Eudora soon finds that in order to move forward, she has to come to peace with her less than ideal past and decide what it really is that she really wants for her life.

This was so different from books I typically read, because I typically don't read books in which the main character of the book is an 85-year old woman contemplating death. Reading this, however has showed me that I really need to broaden my horizons and read more books with "elderly" main characters! The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is just so good. I was taken in from the start. I thought it would be one that that might take some time to get into...but that was not the case at all. I couldn't wait to keep reading. The way this story tackles old age and the idea and reality of death, not to mention the severe impact guilt can have on a person, is so important. Lyons weaves Eudora's past and present storylines so well and absolutely can craft a good story. However, I think creating characters is where her talent really shines. Each character felt compelling and real and important and I felt so attached to them and their trials and triumphs. I wanted to know them in real life!

I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy contemporary fiction. While I admit, I spent a decent amount of time weeping while reading this book, there are many funny and joyful moments. It was lovely.

Eudora is an elderly woman with no family or friends. She is very practical about things and is making plans for the future. Her life is just fine. All this changes when a new family moves next door. Suddenly, Eudora’s life looks very different and full. This was a very touching book. I love Eudora’s cranky-at-times character, and Rose is simply irresistible! This was a wonderful read!