I was so excited to get an ARC of this book since I adored the author’s first book. I found this book just as enchanting . Eddie Winston is 90 years old and working in a charity shop, receiving the unwanted detritus of the newly departed. What meant so much to the living person is now just unwanted junk to whomever is clearing out the dead person’s things.? It’s a sobering reminder of the flow of life and death. This is how Eddie meets Bella, a 24 year old, at the charity shop and their friendship develops from there. Everything is a little too cutesy sometimes, but the story of lost love from Eddie’s younger years and holding onto those memories all his life is what made me love the story. Thank you NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book in advance.

WOW is all I can say! Eddie Winston, a 90-year-old charity shop worker, hasn’t had much luck in love — he has never even experienced his first kiss. He was once in love, but lost touch with his precious Bridie over 50 years prior. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her even after all their time apart.

Being the sentimental man that he is, Eddie has an eccentric hobby: keeping sentimental items that are donated to the shop in case the donator has a change of heart later on. That is how he meets 24-year-old Bella, who is donating her deceased boyfriend’s items. From there, a unique and genuine friendship begins. And alas, Bella decides to make it her personal mission to help Eddie finally achieve his first kiss, and possibly find love again.

I could not finish this book fast enough — I literally had to know what was going to happen next. Would internet dating work out for Eddie? Would he ever open his heart again after losing Bridie? Questions like that made this an un-put-downable read, as did the quirky friendship between Eddie and Bella. The short chapters made it an easily bingeable and quick read. One of my favorite parts about the writing was the naming of the chapters: it gave you enough context about what would be included in the chapter without giving anything away. This was my first experience with a Marianne Cronin book and if her others are anything like Eddie Winston is Looking for Love, she just found herself another lifelong fan!

Eddie Winston is a gentleman and a romantic. He is living a full life at 9o years old having retired from academia with a PhD. The book starts with Eddie working in a second hand shop, for something to do with his life. He enjoys going through donations and when he comes across something that he thinks was discarded accidentally or was thrown out in the "heat of the moment" he takes them home. He will hold onto these items, that someone must have loved, so that he can return them to the owners. Eddie understands loving someone so much that in the shock of death or breakup a person may impulsively throw out an item that reminds them of a certain person. Eddie is in love and has been in love with the same woman all his life. That love was never acted upon. Eddie, upon returning items, makes a young female friend who discovers that Eddie has never been kissed. She convinces Eddie that it is never too late for love, or even just kissing, by setting him up for internet dating. At the same time, Eddie helps her heal over the death of her lover. This was an extraordinary book: from the plot, to the setting, to the characters. This book gets 5 stars and if I could, I would add an extra star or two. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the digital ARC. This review is my own.

Ah, be still my heart. This is such a sweet story and I couldn’t love it more.

Eddie is 90 years old and has never been kissed. When his young friend, Bella, discovers this little nugget about him, she makes it her mission to find Eddie that first kiss. Eddie and Bella have the sweetest friendship. They have both endured sadness in their lives but finding each other has been both of their great joys. Eddie has wormed his way into my heart and I felt such warmth and happiness reading about his days and his beautiful outlook on life.

Do yourself a favor and read this. I predict you’ll love it as much as I did. I’d give this more than 5 stars if I could. Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the advanced reader copy.

I love this book with a fierce, protective love. It’s so, so sweet.

You will fall in love with Eddie Winston and his young friend, Bella. Eddie is the best, and I definitely want to be his friend. The conversations between him and everyone he meets are engaging, and Eddie’s thoughts and observations will often make you burst out laughing. He’s hilarious.

Bella finds out that Eddie has never been kissed, and she promptly sets out to remedy that. Hijinks ensue!

This is a must-read!! Coming September 2024.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

What a wonderful, feel good story about Eddie who is 90 years old and is looking for a first kiss.
He is kind and humble with a job that entails caring for the belongings of people who have departed this world.
Some times he feels he must find the person that needs these items.
Hence he meets a young woman who becomes a good friend. She is vows to make Eddie's wish come true.
A true novel of love, caring and so much heart!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Harper Perennial and paperback for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

I absolutely loved this adorable story of friendship and a man who has never been kissed! It was such a charming feel good story!

This is a sweet story about love and friendship and how it’s never too late to find love and change your life. I really enjoy the way that the author writes older characters. The thrift shop was the perfect setting for a look into people’s lives as their possessions are discarded, the things we value being left behind for other people to go through. The stores of people’s lives left untold.