What to say? This brief and engaging novel delves into grief, dying friendship, love, marriage, parenthood and compassion. We encounter the lives of Ashley (Ash) and Edith (Edi) as Edi succombs to cancer and enters hospice. Their lives are explained through years of friendship - starting in preschool - and the love they continue to share. Ash is incapable of preparing herself, already grieving as she moves Edi into hospice care and visits daily, drawing support where she can find it and "acting out" in ways she cannot explain, all while helping Edi in every way she can. Beautifully written and heartrending, keep the tissues handy.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story of life and death. Two long time friends are together helping each other through one's death--one experiencing the end of her life and the other coping with the grief of losing her best friend.

This is a book of life and death and the characters who are going through it together.
It is very well observed, funny and heartbreaking often all at once. The characters are readable and likeable.
Even though the book is set mainly in a cancer hospice as Edi reaches the end of her life, it is still an uplifting and enjoyable read.

You could sense this book was written from personal experience, it felt raw, sad, inappropriate and funny as only someone who has experienced end of life care would know.
Ash is a great best friend and is with her childhood friend through the last few months of her battle with cancer alongside her husband and other friends and family. I can’t tell if Ash is on self destruct or if her actions are part of her normal chaotic life but it is entertaining to read about. What Ash has is an open, kind heart and lots of love and comfort to give.
I think my favorite moments are between Ash and her daughter Belle. Belle asks the great questions that I want to know the answer to and their conversations are brilliantly serious, even when talking of the ridiculous.
This is a realistic, gentle, tragic story and people that are lucky to spend time with their loved ones at the end but also railing at the unfairness of the situation.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. This is a great read.

This is a very poignant story of the deeply moving friendship between 2 women, Edi and Ashley. When Edi is facing death from terminal ovarian cancer, it is Ashley who becomes her caretaker. The strange situation is caused when the best hospice care for Edi is near Ashley’s home.

This is not an easy book to read, despite the deft touch, we go through the death watch with Ashley. The author injects the ironic note of Ashley’s sexual reawakening as the life force drains from her dearest friend.

This is a very interesting, thoughtful examination of the arduous process of death and bereavement.

Thank you Netgalley for this fine, though sad, novel.

Not sure what happened to my first review of this lovely book but I will try again. This story is just so beautiful. Left me with the biggest book hangover I’ve had in a long time. I laughed, cried and just felt so good reading it. The characters are so great, the relationships so wonderful. I’ve already told everyone that I want more of Ashley’s story. Her loves, her grief and everything else. Please! More! This author is now in my top three all-time favorites.