Within a few sentences, I was enthralled with Bernice Hart and her magnificent adventure. BERNICE RUNS AWAY by Talya Tate Boerner is a deep dive into a fascinating 81-year-old woman who runs away to a beloved lake because it's what she wants to do, changing her perspective of the life she's lived and the life she has yet to live, including a realistic untangling of a past romantic relationship and the memories she has held close for decades. Bernice is a unique, entirely believable, wonderful person to spend a story with -- and I deeply enjoyed every moment with her. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I’m not having good luck with books lately. This one didn’t work for me. Bernice was not an interesting main character. If I wanted to hear someone reminisce and complain I would just talk to myself. Cantankerous but not in a fun way is a way to describe Bernice. Her relationships lack depth, no wonder she wants to run off.

3.5 rounded down.

I picked this book on a whim and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it.

Eighty-one year old Bernice is reasonably happy with her life in the town of Savage Crossing, Arkansas. Despite burying her son when he was only 18 and her husband, Max, quite some time later she has her friends, her church group, her current cat, Dolly Parton and her comfortable home. But when her daughter Sarah gives her a Marie Kondo book about death cleaning and tells her she and her husband are building a carriage house in their back garden for Bernice to move into - in Atlanta, Georgia, Bernice is horrified!

She has no intention of moving to Atlanta. But she does think de-cluttering her house is a good idea before she runs away! So she tidies up her affairs, packs her car, Miss Fiona, to the gills with things she absolutely cannot part with, and Dolly Parton of course and heads off to Cooper’s Bluff where she spent some wonderful summer holidays with her parents and where she met her first love, John Marvel. She has rented a Lakeview cabin and in the back of her mind she wonders if John Marvel is still around, he had abruptly stopped writing to her after they swore undying love and planned to get married!

After a trip with a few unplanned detours she finally arrives and is charmed all over again by the lake, the cabins and the very friendly caretaker, Jason.

So how does it go? Does she reclaim her lost love? Does she manage to smooth things over with her daughter? You will have to read the book. It was very heartwarming and an honest look at many of the issues surrounding ageing and family. It was a little on the pedestrian side and I do think it would appeal more to older readers. Nevertheless Bernice and her family, friends and Dolly Parton were engaging characters and the book had a positive slant towards life. Many thanks to Netgalley and One Mississippi Press for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Looking for a great story, with a character that I could root for, I certainly found it in Bernice!!

Bernice is a widow, still living in the house in Arkansas that she and her husband shared for 50 years. Her life is o.k. She has a great friend, Marlene, and also church friends that she talks to every week. She finds great companionship in her cat Dolly, but lately she has been feeling a bit tired of everything!

Her daughter, Sarah, who only wants the best for her mother, wants her to come and live in Atlanta where they are turning the carriage house into a home for Bernice.

NOT SO FAST – Bernice has no desire to move to Atlanta. She loves her daughter but is irritated that she seems convinced to talk Bernice into moving. She gifts her with a Marie Kondo book and, grudgingly, Bernice does start to do some clearing of closets, which is long overdue.

While cleaning she comes across a photo of her first love, John Marvel. She was just 17 when they had been young and in love while vacationing at Lake Norfolk. While John broke her heart, she has many fond memories of her summers at the lake.

Berice decides to run away – or perhaps forward – and decides to spend some time at Lake Norfolk. She is delighted when she contacts the owner of some quaint cabins right on the lake.

There is a lot more to this book than just the feeling of an older person being tired of their rather stagnant life.

While at the lake she finds a great shop and decides to upgrade her wardrobe and gets a new haircut in the process. She meets some new friends and connects with an old love.

What’s really happening is a kind of metamorphosis from “Old Bernice to New Bernice”. I will leave you to enjoy the novel and all of it’s surprises!

What I loved about this novel is that none of the things that Bernice does are out of character for an intelligent, fiercely independent 80 something woman. She has her aches and pains and has learned to live with them. She does learn more about herself, her past loves and how deeply she will forever feel the grief at the loss of her husband and son.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this great character and I hope that I will be as strong willed when I’m at that age as she is. With four adult daughters who often “caringly” suggest we no longer need such a large house, or maybe a vegan diet would be healthier for me – I know the feeling of wanting to continue to be my own person.

I can recommend this book for as a well crafted novel about moving on and moving ahead. Some changes are good and Bernice carries these changes back to Savage Crossing, Arkansas.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

#BerniceRunsAway
#NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley, Talya Tate Boerner, and One Mississippi Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bernice Runs Away (coming out October 1st!) was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Written about a woman in her 80s, it provides an often ignored perspective and validates the worthiness of each person’s life, and each person’s right to autonomy, no matter their age. The writer heavily focuses on seemingly mundane details in Bernice’s day to day, but the plot never felt slow or boring. Boerner finds a way to keep things interesting and compelling, and as Bernice makes a decision to bring about a big change in her life while simultaneously looking back to make sense of her life journey up until now, it’s easy to get sucked into the story and root for her (even if she does seem pretty curmudgeonly and grumpy much of the time!) The author’s writing was wonderful and kept me engaged the entire story.

I did have a few small complaints, the first being that at times it was tough to be in Bernice’s head for so long. She’s irritable, negative, and old fashioned in ways that much of society has tried to advance past (like feeling tripped up at an Indian surname, or feeling like girls should dress like girls and boys like boys, that sort of thing). We already got the sense that she felt like the world was moving on in a direction that worried/overwhelmed her, so these specific thoughts felt unnecessary to include for her character development. My other small complaint was that the whole book leads up to Thanksgiving, but when Thanksgiving finally arrived, I wished more time was spent there. The Thanksgiving chapters seemed so fast, after such a long wait to get there! And last, I dislike that the author was specific about the year. We could have gathered the general idea of the time period by the use of cell phones and left the chapter titles as just month and date. But by placing it in 2019, it’s hard not to think about the end of the book when she is making plans for the spring of 2020; readers know that her plans will be upended by the Pandemic.

Anyways, those were just small notes — overall, I really liked this book!

Bernice Runs Away is a heartwarming story about finding home, closure and yourself.

Bernice is 81 years old and needs to get away. She can’t stay in her small town single home anymore. It’s too cramped, she’s tired of the people and she won’t let her kids talk her into moving in with them. Bernice decides to leave without telling anyone and stay in a little lake town she went to when she was younger. It’s also where she met and lost her first love. Bernice goes on a journey of change, both physical and mental. She discovers her voice and what it is she really wants.

Bernice Runs Away is a very nice story overall but it did not need to be this long. I read it on kindle but here on Goodreads I think it’s like 350 something pages? There is soo much that we just did not need. We still could have had all the sweet awe touching moments with way less.

Thank you NetGalley and One Mississippi Press LLC for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a sweet and heartwarming book. Bernice is eighty-one years old and has had ups and downs throughout her life. She is fairly content with her life the way it is. Her daughter and son-in-law are building a small house for her behind theirs. Bernice would have to move from her hometown in Arkansas to Atlanta. Bernice refuses to move, but her daughter won't listen, so Bernice decides to run away. She makes plans and confides in only one friend about what she is going to do. She decides to go to a lake that she used to spend her summers as a child and then took her own children to when they were growing up. Those were some of the happiest days of her life. Once she gets to the lake, she spends some time revisiting the past and making new friends. She begins to realize that sometimes what you think you really want is not what makes you happy. Bernice also finds out that at any age, you can learn and grow as a person. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Bernice has had a steady life, living for sixty years in the same house, in the same small town. Now her daughter is urging her to “downsize” and prepare to move to Atlanta to live in her backyard carriage house.. Bernice may be 81, with a new hip and some age related problems, but, oh no, she is not ready to give up! So she packs up Miss Fiona, her car, puts her cat Dolly in car carrier and leaves her home filled with its detritus of memories. She heads for the lake where she spent her childhood vacations and her years as a young wife and mother. She rents a cottage for the Fall and settles in, becoming friends with her young landlord and several other residents. And she changes herself, both her physical appearance and her emotional outlook.

How much did I love this beautifully written story? So, so much and you will too. It’s a transcending tale of change, of regrets and forgiveness. Bernice shows us that it is never too late to find happiness. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, One Mississippi Press LLC and Talya Tate Boerner for this ARC.

Bernice turned out to be one of the most endearing fictional characters that I have ever met.

Bernice is 81 years old. Her daughter is bound and determined that Bernice should move to a granny flat in their backyard, a few states away. And, Bernice is just as determined that she does not want to do that. So as the title says, she runs away!

The book is definitely character driven. The reader is privy to all of Bernice's thoughts. There is a lot of introspection on her part as she reminisces about her past and thinks about the present and future. Bernice is outspoken, she knows her mind. But she carries some baggage in her heart from years gone by.

I worry about Bernice, as I worried about my aging mother. She has memory problems. And, sometimes she doesn't make wise choices. We follow along with her adventure, sometimes a little meandering leading to misadventure. Bernice evokes emotions: pathos, admiration, concern, hope. But, such a sweet lady. In some aspects, she's trying to make peace with her past and herself. And, she does find peace.

The story sort of ambles along…..not for someone who is looking for thrills or lots of action. The pace picks up in the second half. I think I would describe it as a cozy read. It would be great to indulge in a Seven-Up with gin while reading.

The ending was almost satisfying. The thing that dissatisfied me was that I wanted to continue with Bernice so I could find out what became of her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I loved this book ! It has humor, a great character and is a fun read throughout. .Its both heartwarming and touching . I highly recommend everyone read this book . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. This is a book you do not want to miss.

Bernice is 81 , fit, active and healthy. She has her own home, has retired from her librarian job and buried her husband and son. She likes living alone with her cat and her memories, her friends and activities. She has a nosy pushy daughter who is making plans for here to move in with her and does not listen to her Mother when Bernice wants to stay in her home . The daughter does so far as to put her home on the market without telling her and that is the last straw. Bernice is fed up and packs her car with only what she loves, her cat and drives off without telling anyone. What follows is a wonderful story of living life to the fullest and finding joy in your life in any age with new experiences. I so loved this book as it brought humor, courage and possibilities to life through Bernice. Bernice brought joy to all she meets on her journey. I adore Bernice as a strong , couragous woman who lives life on her own terms. I hope Bernice will live on through another book as she is one of the best charcters I have read in a long time . A fun read I read cover to cover laughing out loud and cheering on Bernice to the end.

Tayla Tate Boerner has given this book a warm insight to an elderly woman feeling an independence and new start to prove noone else is her boss but only she is her own boss.
I love reading books that star the elderly. Im not that elderly just yet but when an author can describe an emotion and the elder character's wisdom and courage even at an older age to others through a story, I get wrapped in their world as well.
Bernice Hart made me laugh,smile, and frown. at some of her decisions but her bravery and spotaneous choices
kept me cheering her on.
Sarah,her daughter who lives in Atlanta...wants her to move into the little carriage house being built in their back yard. What Sarah doesnt realize the roots and 50 years of memories holding Bernice's heart there in Arkansas. How can she throw all that way especially after she is now a widow .
Bernice has the companionship of Dolly Parton , her cat , her freind MArlene who is her constant bestie and helper whenever needed, plus her freinds.
She decides she has to run away, but where...then the photograph she finds while decluttering...of John ,first love as a teenager.
She is a retired librarian,so books are a must to take.
The steps she so carefully plans out, and books included,a new Victrolia to play her LP's, the withdrawal of her bank acct....the humor in her adventure was such a delightful read, and I didnt want this story to end,so I took my time reading it.
I watched Bernice grow and rediscover herself ,physically and mentally and learn about about Home is where the Heart is.
I can't wait for Book Two and read more adventures Bernice will have for us! Thank you Netgally and One Mississippi Press for this ARC in advance.

Thank you to NetGalley and One Mississippi Press LLC for my digital copy.

"A charming story of second chances and the transcendent power of love, Bernice Runs Away clears away life’s clutter and gets to the truth of what is essential in life."

When I picked this up, I was expecting Bernice to go on some crazy adventures right off the bat. I had a different expectation but I still enjoyed it even though it is quite slow-paced. This book actually took me back to my time as a worker at a personal care home. Bernice reminded me so much of my favourite elderly residents through descriptions of her routines, personality, and thought process. At one point, I could just imagine how she would be to work with (lots of spunk!). The way she reminisces about her past also reminded me of times when residents would share stories about their amazing lives and their fond memories. Talk about the power of books!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Bernice and found her story very wholesome and inspirational. Thank you Talya Tate Boerner for such a heartwarming book. <3

I loved Bernice! She's 81 years old, living a predictable life, has become melancholy, and as she looks around the house she shared with her late husband for decades, she sees how aging has affected its foundation as much as it has hers. She wakes up one morning and decides to run away. I love the idea of an older lady "running away" to find herself. The things Bernice learns about herself, her past, and even the secret her daughter Sarah holds allow her to see her future in a whole new way. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late to start over, you'll learn that it never is!

81 year old Brnice "Birdie" Hart doesn't want to move into her daughter's back yard.
Widowed over two decades, she's become accustomed to her life.
She has friends and is active in her Arkansas Delta comunity home.
She is downsizing using the Marie Kondo book, when she decides to take control of her own destiny.

I LOVED this book even though parts of it made me cry.
Overall this is a heartwarming read.
I love Bernice's gumption and the friendships she cultivates.

I have just finished “Bernice Runs Away” by Talya Tate-Boerner. Written from the viewpoint of 81 year old Bernice, her memories take us back to a simpler time. The experiences Bernice has navigating the day to day modern world will make you laugh and yes, sometimes cry. Her relationships with family and friends lead her to do the unthinkable for a woman her age. I highly recommend going along with Bernice on her journey. Bernice will make some new friends and reminisces about old friends. Talya does a wonderful job of detailing Bernice’s thoughts and memories without giving away too much too soon in the plot. A wonderful read I could not put down!

Bernice is in her 80s and after a fight with her daughter, who wants Bernice to move in with her, she decides to run away to the lake where she spent time as a young girl. This was a decent book. I liked Bernice and it was nice to see her evolve and make new friends and so on. 3.5 stars rounded to 3.

I generally like reading about senior characters that is why I chose this book, but I have mixed feelings about it.
I liked the main idea, but I found the first half of the book sometimes too slow-paced, Bernice's musings too lengthy and the details too much. I also found connecting with the main protagonist Bernice a little difficult at first.
I even felt tempted to give up on the book altogether. Luckily I did not.
In the second half the story picked up. I still had a feeling that the author put too many themes into one story, but one by one, Bernice was able to lay some ghosts, restore her relationship with her daughter, and realise what she really wanted from the last part of her life.
In the end even Bernice had grown on me and I was sorry to say goodbye to her when the book ended.
To sum it up: give it a chance and you will get an interesting story of a remakable elderly lady.

Coming October 1, 2022!

We’ve all had moments of wanting to run away. At age 81, Bernice actually does it. Bernice has had her fair share of struggles in life, but overall, has been fairly content with her life in small-town Arkansas, where she was born, raised, and plans to someday die.

She receives a rude-awakening when her daughter Sarah decides for Bernice that it’s time to sell everything and move into Sarah’s backyard bungalow in Atlanta. Suddenly Bernice feels trapped in her home, confident she’ll never get to make her own choices again.

Bernice realizes she is not ready to give up. So, she packs her car to the brim with her cat Dolly Parton, essential books, and heads out without a word to Sarah or friends, except her faithful bestie housekeeper, Marlene.

Next thing you know Dolly really runs away, Bernice begins “not-really-stalking” her first true love, throwing back a beer with the boys, creating a “capsule wardrobe,” and taking command of her life for the first time in decades.

Bernice Runs Away is an easy read about a quirky woman that teaches us we’re never too old to choose our own future and explore past “what if’s”. At first, I felt sorry for Bernice and wondered if I could finish a book with a heroine I pitied, but I soon realized that’s because Bernice felt sorry for herself.

She initially views herself as old, weary, taking up space. She slowly grows in confidence throughout the book. She begins to realize it’s never too late to start over and experience new things. And I begin to love her, even identify with her, throughout the book.

Talya Tate Boerner uses Bernice’s story as a reminder that insecurities are always present; whether or not we entertain them is entirely up to us. Our life is our own to live. She skillfully takes Bernice from living a life full of doubts and questions to a life of depth and adventure.

I appreciate the excellent job the author did painting visual images of Bernice’s world so I felt as if I were a fly on the wall. I could visualize myself smack dab in the middle of the diner or feel the cool breeze while overlooking the lake. The plot may not be attention-grabbing, yet Tayla keeps the reader engagingly immersed into Bernice’s world from beginning to end.

Overall, Bernice Runs Away is a fun, charming read that can be enjoyed by adults of all ages. It will keep you giggling through her routine life into her growth as a confident, stylish sojourner. Age doesn’t change anything. Get a pre-order now so you can curl up with it and a glass of 7Up and gin when it publishes in October.

I have read many books that have characters of the older generation. I really enjoy all the wisdom that they have from living many years. I have to say this book is totally different from any other book that I have read with an older character previously. I honestly had no idea what path this book was taking me on. I was really afraid that the main character, Bernice, was headed for a lot of trouble. I won’t go into whether that was the case or not because you should read this and find out for yourself!

I was totally engrossed in the story from the beginning. I read this book at every possible moment that I had free. Now that I have finished, I am sad to leave this world that the author created. As in other books I’ve read that have touched me very deeply, these characters will not leave me. I will go on and wonder what they are doing now after the story has ended. I can make their future whatever I want it to be.

This was the first book that I have read by Talya Tate Boerner. I was drawn to it by the book cover and title. Then when I read the summary I knew that it was a book that I would enjoy. I am so happy that I found this author, and I definitely will be reading her other books.

If you like to read books that have characters of various ages, that have a lot of emotion both joyous and sad, and have you guessing what will happen, I think you should read this fabulous book!

I want to thank One Mississippi Press LLC and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This book is a gem. 81-year-old retired librarian Bernice Hart finds herself wanting to run away from her life when her daughter Sarah begins insisting she give up her independent life in Arkansas and move in with her in Atlanta. Thoughts of Bernice's first love lead her to rent a cottage at a lake town where her family used to spend summers. With her car full of books and her cat Dolly Parton in tow, Bernice sets out on an adventure and manages to both shake up her life and make peace with her past and present. There are quite a few laugh-out-loud moments, and Bernice is a wonderful character. Her ability to keep forging forward despite the challenges life has given her is inspiring and heartwarming. Thank you to NetGalley and One Mississippi Press for a digital review copy.