Mabel and Arthur Beaumont live in a small Surrey town and have been married for sixty-two years. They are friends, and maybe in love at one time, but they are comfortable with one another. When Arthur dies, Mabel is adrift. I know exactly how Mabel felt. Arthur was a lover of lists, he made them all the time and worked his way through them. After his passing, Mabel finds the last one that Arthur had started, but it only contains one thing and it was not complete, "Find D" was all it said. Mabel can only think of her best friend from before she and Arthur were married, Dot, whom she hasn't seen since before her wedding Did he want her to find Dot again? Mabel and Arthur were childless, so she is entirely alone, that is until Julie knocks on her door. Julie is a carer, who Arthur had arranged for before he died. Mabel didn't want anyone coming into her home and helping her, but eventually, she comes to look forward to their time together. Through Julie, and her own newfound courage, Mabel meets other friends. A teenager who works at the local market. A seventy year old dance instructor, and a young mother with a tiny daughter. Suddenly Mabel doesn't feel so alone and she opens up to her new friends. They decide to help her find Dot, and while doing that they develop wonderful friendships and new beginnings for each of them, in spite of Mabel's meddling that almost costs her those new friends.

I really enjoyed this book with it's quirky characters, multi-generational friendships, shared secrets and new beginnings. Mabel was an interesting character who had a huge secret, that had affected her own life. Her marriage to Arthur was comfortable, but they weren't really in love. I know a lot of people who live together, married and comfortable, very happily, but could they both have been happier. I loved how she interfered in her friend's lives. Although it almost cost her their friendship, she did it with good intentions, and it worked out in the long run. The way the friends went about finding Dot was interesting. There was some detective work, meetings with some people from Mabel's past and some dead ends, but they did it together and had fun. The secondary characters were all wonderful. They were all dealing with things in their own lives and these friendships helped the to make decisions and move on, all with some success. I enjoyed this story and recommend this one if you enjoy multi-generational stories.

I listened to this book via audible and it was that good I finished it in one sitting, it’s such an emotional and uplifting read that I adored every single chapter. A fabulous read with wonderful characters.

4.5 *

Why oh why did I let this sit on my NetGalley shelf for so long! A really heartfelt book with beautiful writing!

Mabel has been married to Arthur for over 60 years. At 89 years old he gently leaves the world one day. Now Mabel is alone at 86 years of age. Arthur loved to jot down things he needed to do or say in little notes His last note read, "Find Dot." Could he be speaking about Mabel's former best friend Dot who disappeared from her life over 60 years ago? Mabel goes on a quest to find her. She's got some help as she has made a few new friends since Arthur's death.

This book has so much heart! We follow Mabel on her adventure to find Dot and she also thinks back to her past and things that occurred. It's about friendships, loss and love but most of all about courage and second chances. It's a wonderful story ❤️‍🩹

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood books for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy. I only wish I'd read it sooner!

There's a lot to unpack with this one..

We follow an elderly woman newly widowed Mabel on her journey to find hope, friendship, and renewed life after the passing of her late husband Arthur who leaves a mysterious note about "FIND D."

The author's writing skills are great, very well written (the reason for the stars.) I really enjoyed the character Julie and Patti, then the last half of the book just started to drop out for me. This took a nose dive really quick. Without saying too much, this title should've been labeled in a different genre altogether and found its audience correctly. This was definitely a bait and switch kind of book and I'm sadly disappointed in the way the author did this. The whole dynamic of the book completely flipped, if it wasn't bad enough already that you're trying to feel for Mabel when she's just an angry woman to begin with. This book would not be recommended to anyone I know although I may give the author another chance to read more of her writing skills.

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A poignant and heartwarming tale of love, loss, and the power of friendship. Mabel Beaumont is left with a single item on her late husband Arthur's list: "Find D." Determined to track down her long-lost best friend Dot, Mabel embarks on a journey that leads her to confront the secrets of the past and find happiness once again. With its charming characters and engaging plot, this is a touching and uplifting read that will resonate with readers who enjoy stories of love and friendship

Mabel’s husband died. He left her a list as he has often done. Find D. She must find her long lost friend. Struggling after losing her husband, she begins her quest. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Realistic characters keep this story moving quickly.

After 50 years of marriage, Mabel wakes up one morning to find her husband dead beside her. He died peacefully in his sleep. Then Mabel finds Arthur's last list. Find D. Mabel decides to complete Arthur's last quest and begins a search for her best friend Dot. Mabel enlists the help of strangers and makes new friends in her journey and against all odds finds Dot and finally finds out why Dot left so suddenly and never responded to any of Mabel's letters. I like this story and especially enjoyed how Mabel grows and discovers a new life for herself.

A wonderful, heartfelt and heartwarming story. Themes of aging, friendship, second chances and love come through and I found the characters so real and relatable. An excellent read.

Married for over 60 years, when Arthur dies, Mabel finds a note that simply says "Find D". Used to her husband's notes and lists, she does what he asks. Thinking that D must be the friend she has failed to keep in contact after an eventful day some 60 years previous.

Beautifully written, this book shows you that you can make friendship at any age, with a cross sections of women. And that some of the lost friendships can still be rekindled in a different way.

A really emotional story and a lovely mix of characters to relate to. It was reassuring to know that in some ways we are all making lists for what we want in life and perhaps we don't always achieve it all. But we can have good old go trying!

One of my books of the year, no doubt.

I was truthfully underwhelmed by this book. I found the main character to be unlikeable and hard to connect with. It is understandable that she was grieving, but the way that she treated people who were trying to help her didn't sit right with me. Furthermore, as an American living in the UK who has been asked far too many times "why are you here?", Mabel's treatment of Patty (refusing to call her by her chosen name, insisting that her "oddities" were down to her nationality) didn't sit right with me. Pearson is clearly a talented writer, but this was just not the story for me.

I absolutely loved this book! Mabel is such a brilliant character and goes to prove that just because you’re 86, life does not have to stop! The female friendship was a beautiful thing and the way in which the characters supported and rallied around each other left me feeling all warm and fuzzy - but it did tackle some thought provoking issues too, a perfect book club read if you’re looking for something with humour alongside discussion topics.

Good, I think I would have appreciated it a little more if I was a little older but I did enjoy the story. It had a man called Ove vibes. It was sweet with enough of a little mystery to propel it.

This one started out ok but had a turn I didn’t love. The protagonist also rubbed me the wrong way with her actions and thoughts. They weren’t consistent with the person she had supposedly been for sixty years.

A big thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book! I hadn't heard of it before the publishers reached out, but I'm so glad that they did as I really enjoyed it, and found it to be quite moving and beautifully told. A really sweet, heartfelt, and emotional read.

✨ My Thoughts✨

This was so much more than I expected it to be, it’ll leave your heart so full with love, loss and second chances at life.

Mable is such a lovely woman and I adored her new friendships she made with other equally strong women.

I can’t give too much away because the magic of this book is reading it and not expecting anything that happens and just enjoying the lovely story unfold.

I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.

Mabel has been married to Arthur for 62 year, and cannot imagine life without him. It's not an exciting marriage, but they rub along well.
Arthur dies suddenly, leaving her alone with the dog, and Mabel is unsure what to do. Now that he's gone, she wonders why she married him. She finds a note from him that just says 'find d'. She doesn't know what he means, but remembers their old friend Dot, who they lost touch with just before they married. Perhaps he means 'find dot'?
After about a week of feeling lost, Mabel decides she must take hold of herself and get on with life.
She writes a list, at the end of which is 'Find Dot', and starts to tick off the entries...

This is quite a sweet book, good for a lazy afternoon, or holiday read.

I adored this book and loved this story and would highly recommend

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book

From the lovely cover to the heart shattering tale within, this is a story as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.

The moment we meet Mabel and Arthur, there are a few things glaringly obvious...
... they married young(ish) as they were together 60 some years, and though there was no passionate love affair, they were content with one another to muddle along. Is it the stuff of ballads and bards? No... but there's something to be said for carrying deeply for someone, and being taken care of. I was struck by how Mabel seemed to feel stuck after all that time, but then, once things started unraveling, I couldn't help the stutter of my heart. The forethought involved in the next steps Arthur took, the fondness of heart applied to his actions though he left her out of the equation in life where she wouldn't have been able to affect the outcome...it may not have been the stuff of legends, but it still showed how much he knew her, how much he cared. As the days progressed, and Mabel was pushed well beyond her imposed limits, the past gets a new spotlight, and the future can't help but shine brighter by default. The friends she makes along the way go towards not only growing her world, but helping her open her heart for all that's still to come... and trust me, you'll want to be there for it.

A touching tale that tells us there's no one way to be and the only truth that matters is the one we tell ourselves. So share your true self with the world because there's only one you, and those that you gather will be true friends/family that'll see you through good times, bad times, endings, and new beginnings!

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that stole my heart from the very first page.

Arthur and Mabel Beaumont have been married for 62 years, with a lifetime of memories between them. But then Arthur dies suddenly and Mabel is left all alone with nothing but their pet dog Ollie for company – and Arthur’s last list with just one thing on it: Find D.

Mabel is certain that she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot who she lost touch with more than 60 years ago. Mabel, Arthur, Dot and Mabel’s brother Bill were once inseparable, but then a tragedy tore them apart and Dot left without even saying goodbye. And now Mabel is convinced that Arthur wants her to find her long lost friend before time runs out. But Mabel doesn’t know if Dot is still alive. And if she is, will she even want to be found after all these years?

With her list getting longer by the day, Mabel finds her life opening up and changing in ways she never thought possible. With the help of her new friends Julie, Patricia and Kirsty, Mabel searches for Dot but doesn’t seem to be getting any closer to finding her. As her memories of Arthur, Dot and Bill begin to overwhelm her, will Mabel be able to admit to the secrets of the past? And, if she can, is there a chance she could find happiness once more?

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Mabel at first as she did come across as a little cold and unfeeling at times. But the more I got to know her, the more I came to love and understand her. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is a beautiful, life affirming story, filled with characters who I couldn’t help but fall in love with. Laura Pearson’s writing breathes life into them, making them feel like real people, with Mabel herself slowly stealing my heart as the secrets of her past are finally brought into the light, my heart shattering into a million pieces for her.

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is a life affirming book about love, family, friendship, heartache and grief. It’s a warm and gorgeously written story of how it can be possible to find happiness again after unimaginable loss… and that it’s never too late to become the person we were always meant to be.

Powerful, uplifting and emotionally satisfying, The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is an unforgettable read that I would highly recommend.

A wonderful , powerful and emotional book by Laura Pearsons. When Mabel’s loyal husband of over 60 years passes away she is left to assess her life. Although she loved Arthur she knew in her heart she lacked passion for him. She finds a list from Arthur stating ‘ find D’ and decides to embark on a quest to find her long lost friend Dot, whom she loved with all her heart. Mabel enlists the help of her new found friends Julie, Pattie, Erin and Kirsty, women who have their own problems that Mabel is now trying to help. The book is totally uplifting teaching us that it is never too late for second chances. I loved all the characters, especially Mabel who although at times her decisions weren’t right she meant well and others around her were inspired by her as a person.