I cannot gush enough about The Lost Ticket by @freyasampsonauthor . Oh my heart. It is the story of strangers who unite on a London bus to help an elderly man find a woman he met and fell in love with on that same bus in 1962. The quest causes Libby, the main character, to realize that she also deserves happiness and love. These characters are such likable, relatable, well-developed characters who banter about in such a clever and witty way. The book exudes kindness and compassion. It emphasizes how one little kind act can make a difference in someone’s life. It emphasizes how you cannot judge a book by its cover and how people may surprise you. It emphasizes that you need to open your heart and let others in so you can be truly happy. Such an uplifting, perfect book that I just want to hug.

I just loved reading this book! It's heartwarming, sweet, and touching. It got me teary eyed more than once, and I just wanted to hug the book close at the end. I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy books about the connections between people, kind of similar to Remarkably Bright Creatures or Anxious People.

While the main premise of the book is Libby trying to help Frank, the focus is the characters and the coincidences of life that connect or separate people. There are the two main characters: 80-year-old Frank, who's looking for his missed connection, Libby who is trying to figure out her new life. Then there's Dylan, a punker who's so caring, Esme who's bold and hilarious and other characters on the 88 bus.

These characters are very well written and make for a beautiful found family. Reading this book is at times heartbreaking, at times bittersweet but all in all beautiful. I loved watching them slowly become a band of unlikely friends, and even a family.

I connected to these characters so much, that even though there isn't necessarily a page turner intrigue to it, I couldn't put the book down. I read it in one day. They're all so easy to root for, I wanted to make sure that they all get the happy ending they deserve.

There's also a romance in here that is really sweet as well. I loved that the love interest is not the kind you usually see in books. Despite his tough exterior, he's a cinnamon roll who was so thoughtful and loving towards Libby. I really enjoyed seeing him slowly shed his protective layers to show his true self to her.

I had a few nitpicks about the book, like how terrible the "villains" of the story were, and the fact that it had the third act breakup even though it didn't really need it. But these were small issues compared to how much I enjoyed reading this book.

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

This book is beyond beautiful. It is heart-breaking & hopeful, sad but also brilliantly optimistic. I cried not once while reading this, but at least three times. I will admit at one point, I had to put my kindle reader down because I couldn't see through my tears. The characters are deep, dimensional flawed humans that just want to be loved and be seen who they really are. Sometimes the smallest moment, or a random person you meet on a bus can change your life forever. Its every small and every big choice that we make that shapes who we become. And who we become may one day help shape someone else's future.

I was blown away by this book & I will definitely being recommending it to all my reader friends. A book that makes you feel something so deeply that you have a visceral reaction to its words is a book I will always want on my shelf.

This book is simply amazing as I'm left clutching my heart after its story. Jump aboard the 88 bus in London for a beautiful ride that brings strangers together to change their lives forever.

Meet Frank, in 1962, met the women of his dreams on the 88 bus. Ever since their fateful meeting, he never gave up hope he'd see her again after he loses her number. Now nearing 80, and facing memory challenges he meets Libby on the 88 bus line who makes it her mission to find his lost love. She befriends Frank's carer Dylan, a punk rocker with a mohawk who becomes her unlikely partner in plastering the the bus route with flyers in search of this women.

Libby's life is in shambles after a bad breakup and all she wants to do is bring happiness to Frank. Together, Frank, Libby and Dylan form a bond for an uplifting story of family, friendship and love. The Lost Ticket will make you believe in humanity.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the ARC.

When Libby moves to London, the first person she meets is Frank, an elderly man riding the 88 bus. He tells her about a woman he met 60 years ago on the 88 bus, and despite connecting with her, he never saw her again because he lost the bus ticket with her number on it. He’s been riding the 88 bus for 60 years hoping to see that woman again. After hearing this story, Libby is determined to help Frank find his mystery woman.

This book ripped my heart out and put it back together again. This was one of the most unexpectedly beautiful stories I’ve read in a long time. Each of the characters was quirky and delightful. I loved how this group of strangers came together to try to find Frank’s mystery woman, and in the process helped each other heal and became their own little family. If you are looking for a book that will warm your heart and put a smile of your face, look no further.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy

This beautiful and heartwarming book centers on the 88 bus in London. This bus drew strangers together and changed their lives forever.
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In 1962 Frank met a girl on the bus and he’s been searching for her ever since. A cast of strangers unite to try to find the lost woman, but in the process become a family themselves and learn to grab on to love before it’s too late. Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming this book will hit you in all the feelings.
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading two books by Freya Sampson I can say that she knows how to write moving stories. The heart of this story were the three main characters – Libby, Dylan, and Frank, and the beautiful connections they made with each other while dealing with their personal difficulties.

Libby had recently been dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years. With no other options, she accepted an offer to stay with her sister. She adored her adorable nephew, but her relationship with the rest of her family was a bit strained. Their judgements only compounded the hurt and insecurities she was dealing with following the break-up. Being in the company of Frank and Dylan was quite fortifying for her. They recognized her strengths and encouraged her in ways others never did. Her personal journey and all the progress she made filled me with happiness and pride.

Frank was something special too. He spent 60 years searching for the woman who changed his life. He had one conversation with her, on the 88, and it convinced him to make a bold decision which altered his life’s trajectory. What a story! And, Frank was such a kind and beautiful soul. Not only was Libby gun-ho to help him find this mystery woman, but she was joined by his carer, Dylan, as well as people who had been impacted by Frank’s kindness in the past. I revel in stories of connection and humanity, and you know my heart grew two sizes from all this.

The main focus of this story may have been Libby picking up the pieces of her life, but the search for the Girl on the 88 and the wonderful “family” she found were some of the best parts of the story for me. I fell in love with this crew, and appreciated that they were able to find happiness after weathering their personal storms. Such a touching and ultimately feel-good story. There were so many themes woven into this tale including love, loss, aging, acceptance, and family. I don’t know how to articulate my affection, but I laughed, I cried, I LOVED this book!

Frank, a man in his 80s, has been searching for the woman who changed his life. In 1962, he met a spirited red-headed young woman on his local bus. The two had an immediate connection. An aspiring artist, she drew a quick portrait of him and gave Frank her name and number on the back of her bus ticket with plans to meet. She also encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. When he got home, he realized he had lost the ticket. Frank never saw the woman again. Decades later, after a career as an actor, Frank has never stopped looking for "his girl". He rides the same bus route hoping he'll see her again. On one ride, he meets Libby. She is about to turn 30 years old and has just been dumped by Simon, her boyfriend of eight years. Without a job and nowhere to live, she moves in temporarily with her sister and brother-in-law, helping with the care of her nephew. An unlikely friendship develops between Libby and Frank as Libby, with the help of his caregiver Dylan, an imposing man with tattoos and a mohawk, set out to find the girl Frank met on the bus all those years ago.

The Lost Ticket completely captured my heart. Author Freya Sampson has created a lovely and moving story that brings together a group of people who provide love and support for one another at a time when they truly need it. It's also a page-turner that keeps the reader wanting to desperately know if Frank will ever find the woman he is searching for. I became very attached to all of the wonderful characters. I'm so glad I took a short break from thrillers and heavy historical fiction to read this touching book that tapped into so many emotions.

It is hard to find inspiring stories with lovable characters that satisfy the soul, but this one made a sweet impression on the simple people we meet and the ones we pass by. Frank meets the most delightful red headed girl with excellent artistic talent in 1962 on Bus 88. She inspires him to move from his comfort zone and be what he wants to be even if it is against his parents' wishes. She was quite the example that dropped her parents' dream for her own to become an artist. This conversation on that one fateful day made an impact on Frank's life. He pursued his dreams to become an actor. She gave him her number on a bus ticket and with intentions to meet for a date to an art gallery. Frank lost the ticket, her number and her existence with no name to pursue.

60 years later, Frank is still searching for the red haired girl to tell her thank you for helping to make his dreams come true. As Alzheimer slips in to steal his plans and his independence, he has little hope of finding her. One day while he is riding Bus 88 he meets Libby, a young 29 year old with her heart broken by her boyfriend of 8 years. Together they become a team to pursue his fantasy of finding her. She meets his caretaker Dylan, a questionable character, who helps her hang posters of Frank's story.

Everyone will enjoy this moving, heartwarming story of every day life, love and happiness....an unfortunate heartbreak.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a gifted galley of THE LOST TICKET by Freya Sampson for an honest review. Thank you to PRH Audio, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE LOST TICKET follows Libby, a young woman staying with her sister and her nephew after a breakup leaves her broken hearted. When she meets an elderly man named Frank riding the number 88 bus, he tells her his story. Back in 1962, Frank met a girl on this same bus line and the encounter was one that changed the entire trajectory of his life. The girl gave him her number, but he was heartbroken to realize that the ticket she wrote it on is missing when he gets home.

Sixty years have passed and he’s never given up looking for his lost girl as he rides the bus so he can thank her for the way she helped shape his life. Frank is dealing with a worsening case of dementia and a likely need to relocate to a care home so there is a time clock in play, but Libby is determined to help him find his lost girl.

This is a book that just settles into your heart! I felt so much for poor Frank and the life he has spent which was rich, but also a little sad in that missed connection with his lost girl. I loved how Libby was able to set aside her own heartbreak and reach out as a friend to this man through another chance encounter. We get to see more of Libby’s life with her ex, her family, and with new friends along the way, but that is only part of the story with the quest to find this woman at the heart.

The story took some twists and turns that I didn’t expect, but I loved how everything wrapped up in this one. I think it dealt with the topic of dementia very well and the heartache that such a condition brings. It also gave a very big nod to caregivers of all types which I appreciated.

I absolutely recommend adding this to your TBR!

4.5 stars

This was one of my favorite reads so far of 2022!

Sampson's debut is a roller coaster ride of emotions. I loved, loved, loved Frank and Libby and Dylan and Esme and... you get the picture! (Okay, so I wasn't so crazy about Simon, but I did like how he developed throughout the story.) I want to applaud the author for including more mature characters than I'm used to reading (and I adored their interaction with the younger characters, particularly Frank and Libby). I had to smile each time the 88 London bus was mentioned, as it's such a great tie-in throughout the story. Numerous life lessons can be learned from this book, which would make it a great option for a book club read. It's hard to read this one without a smile on your face and a tear in your eye.

Libby arrives in London broken-hearted and with her belongings stuffed into two bags. When she boards the bus feeling low, a friendly stranger named Frank strikes up a conversation with her. His story about his missing girl from the 88 bus gives Libby a mission, and sets her life on a very different course. While helping Frank find his missing girl, Libby discovers she is stronger than she ever thought and carves out a new life for herself along the way….maybe even finding love in an unconventional heartthrob.

My thoughts:

I love books with elderly people in them. I loved that the main fella mentioned in the book is a punk and not your typical “crush” material. There was a lot to love in this book actually. So many great characters with lovely story building scenes.

This book was such a lovely surprise for me. I was immediately drawn and Riley beautiful cover and the beautiful storyline kept me captivated.

There are two main story lines going on in this book. One follows Libby a newly singled female, who is down her luck and moving in with her high strong sister after her boyfriend of 8 years decided I needed a break.

Then we also have the storyline of Frank. Many years ago Frank met a girl on the 88 bus. This woman really changed his life and they had plans to meet, but unfortunately Frank lost her number and has spent the last 50 years searching for her.

There too wife’s get Intertwined and makes a beautiful story of love, compassion, and hope. I highly recommend this book.

The Lost Ticket is the latest in Freya Sampson’s iconically heartwarming British romances. This story starts decades ago when a man meets a woman on the 88 bus in London who changes his life, even though he accidentally never sees her again. Flash forward to present day, and Frank is still riding the 88 bus, searching for his long-lost woman and making friends along the way. Libby crosses paths with Frank and determines to help him on his search before it’s too late!

I absolutely loved the ensemble in this book, and that the dual-perspective was between Libby and the mystery woman who we hope crosses paths with Frank. Both stories were compelling even beyond their Love, Actually-like crossing!

If you loved Freya Sampson’s The Last Chance Library, The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley, How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry or This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens - you’ll adore The Lost Ticket!

I will be interviewing Sampson this week for my book show, Writer's Voice. This was a lovely book, a real page turner with many twists and turns and a deeply humanist story. A great read for pleasure!

This book was so good and I didn't want it to end. Frank had me swooning, and Libby and Dylan were such drawn out characters I felt as if I knew them. If you're looking for a feel good, absorbing, and heartwarming read, The Lost Ticket is a must read. This is one I will be reading and re-reading again because I love it so much.

When Libby got on the 88 bus, she was lost, lonely, and heartbroken. By the time she got off, she had a family.

This books is lovely wonderfulness at every stop. There is magic in Freya Sampson's writing. Anyone who's ever people-watched on mass transit will be completely entranced, and if you haven't, you'll start now.

THE LOST TICKET by Freya Sampson (The Last Chance Library) is a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good novel. In many ways, the story begins in 1962 when Frank met a young, red-haired woman artist on London's 88 bus. He somehow lost her number and has searched for her for sixty years – yes, that's when he meets Libby, also red-haired and an aspiring artist on the same bus. Moved by the tale, Libby seeks to help find the mysterious #girlonthe88bus and she is joined in the attempt by Dylan, who wears a distinctive Mohawk and is Frank's caregiver. There are many rides on the 88 bus where "there's always the chance for a bit of drama or a brief chat with a stranger, the nugget of something new." London landmarks and neighborhoods are featured prominently, too. Relationships evolve, including amongst several rather dysfunctional families, but the story is ultimately heart-warming – as is Sampson’s note to all "who have championed my work ... writing stories has always been my dream, and it's thanks to all of you that it continues to come true." Looking forward to her next!

Freya Sampson, you are officially on my list of must read authors. I penciled you in after The Last Chance Library, but now you are there in permanent marker! The story of Libby and Frank and Dylan and the search for the girl on bus 88 captured my heart. I live in the US in the suburbs and never ride the bus. Still, your story made me feel like I was on that bus route with them day after day. There were many unpredictable moments and in the end this was such a satisfying read. Thank you for weaving a tale for us that warms our hearts and reminds us of the joys of friendship and the hope we give one another.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

One of these days I'll figure out that "heartwarming" often ends up meaning "you'll have your heart placed on a funeral pyre of despair and go through 3 boxes of Kleenex ... if you survive."

I think I need a good murder next. Those almost never make me want to cry.