Marianne Cronin has done it again with her second novel, Eddie Wiston is Looking for Love. Ninety-year-old Eddie is absolutely charming as a romantic gentleman who, surprisingly, has never been kissed. When he befriends Bella, a twenty-something whose beloved has recently passed away, they set out on the mission of getting Eddie his first kiss and they find a lot more on the way.

Both Eddie and Bella are wonderful characters, and the author does a wonderful job of weaving bits and pieces of both of their backstories into the course of the book. It is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking, in the most wonderful of ways. With a fantastic cast of characters, the writing reminded me of one of my all-time favorite novels, A Man Called Ove, a feat that is quite impressive. Eddie and Bella will not soon leave my heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the digital ARC of Eddie Winston is Looking for Love. The opinions in this review are my own.

What an absolutely wonderful and tug on your heart strings novel. Eddie is ninety and has never been kissed. Bella is nineteen and grieving the death of her boyfriend. They meet when she drops off her boyfriend’s effects at the charity shop where Eddie works. As their friendship develops and grows, you learn about them and see the closeness grow. It is a touching look at two unlikely individuals helping each other with life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

good mystery about a couple and staying in a house and the other couple there. kept me on my toes . good mystery and figuring stuff out.

Oh what a sweet read. Eddie Winston is looking for love is another feel good book written by Marianne Cronin. Eddie is the sweetest, most lovable, most charming, hopelessly romantic 90 year old I have ever encountered in a book. All he wants is to find love and to be kissed for the first time before he dies.

While at times the story is a little disjointed it doesn’t prevent you from truly loving Eddie and his many friends, especially Bella. Bella is 24 years old, sweet and lovable like Eddie. She becomes his confident and I absolutely fell in love with her as much as I fell in love with Eddie.

This is the same author who wrote The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot which was a solid 5 star read for me. Cronin has a way with words that brings the characters in her books to life making you feel like they are standing next to you, engaging in conversation with you.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great friendship story! Eddie is a 90 year old retired professor who works in a thrift store. He befriends 23 year old Bella when she comes in to donate her recently deceased boyfriend’s belongings. When Eddie tells Bella that he has never been kissed, she makes it her mission to find someone for him to love which helps her focus on more than her grief. The story is told in dual timelines, going back to the 1960s when Eddie found love but was in an impossible situation. Bella and Eddie have some adventures together and meet some quirky characters but the real story is their unusual but close friendship which is so meaningful for both of them.
This is a real feel good story, perfect for getting a lift between reading tense thrillers, depressing historical fiction or intense nonfiction, not to mention an escape from our current events and political climate. The characters are so likable and both Eddie and Bella have attitudes that demonstrate how important their friendship is without being concerned with what others think. Although the unusual characters that they encounter seem to possess the same strengths and are supportive and encouraging. Sigh - if only more people could be as accepting as these characters are! A really good “light” read - recommended for fans of Arthur Truluv and A Man Called Ove.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book. I enjoyed reading it a lot!

Thank you Harper Perennial and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review. This book did not do it for me. I DNF but read about 80% and skipped to the last chapter. This books just dragged and dragged and while I get where it was going it wasn’t for me.

this is a beautiful, heartwarming, funny story about eddie winston and his new friend, bella. eddie is 90 years old and has never had a first kiss while bella is 24 years old old and just lost the love of her life. it follows their quest to find love for eddie while weaving in the story of his past. it is so well written and really made me fall in love with the characters. it does such a good job of highlighting the power of friendship and how it’s never too late to try again. highly, highly recommend (but, be warned, you might need tissues)!

thanks to netgalley and harper perennial for my advance copy of eddie winston is looking for love by marianne cronin. all opinions are my own.

I'm actually gonna sob EDDIE IM OBSESSED WITH YOU OH MY. This book is so beautifully written and optimistic. I literally need an Eddie immediately.

Eddie Winston is a 90 year old who laughs easily and loves with all of his heart.

An incurable romantic, Eddie spends his days volunteering at a charity shop, where he sorts through donations and secretly salvages love letters and other items that he knows will be missed. It is here that he meets Bella, a 24 year old who has just tragically lost the love of her young life.

When he sees the items she is donating, he sets them aside, knowing that one day she will regret parting with them. And, when that day comes, and he is able to return them to the heartbroken young woman, a fast friendship is formed.

When Bella learns that Eddie has yet to be kissed, she resolves to help Eddie Winston finally find a love that can be reciprocated. You see, he knows what love is having spent his life hopelessly devoted to a devout woman who would never break her vow to another.

Helping Eddie (and his Guinea pig, Pushkin) find love, is healing for Bella too.

And, the ending to this story-chef’s kiss! But will it lead to a kiss for Eddie?

This heartwarming little tale can be read in one sitting as the chapters are very short and move things along at a brisk pace. If you need a “feel good” story to start the new year with, this gem will be available on December 31, 2024.

Thank You to Harper Perennial for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

Another lovely story from Cronin featuring an intergenerational friendship. Eddie, 90 years young and happily working in a charity shop, befriends Bella, a young woman who has lost the love of her life. Eddie is a wonderful character, full of life and interested in everyone and everything around him. I enjoyed all the other characters as well, but Eddie was definitely my favorite. This is a book about friendship and love, the power of kindness, and the message that it is never too late to try something new. If you need a feel-good, heartwarming read, pick this up when it comes out. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for a digital review copy.

I read One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot on a flight to Vegas and was overcome by the characters and the deeply emotional story. Marianne Cronin sure does have a way with words.

When I saw she had another story coming out I could WAIT to get my hands on Eddie Winston is Looking For Love. It did not disappoint and was the perfect sweet, heartfelt story with the same vibes as Lenin and Margot but a little less… well sad.

This story is a giant hug with the exploration of deeper topics like grief and loss layered with hopefulness and lighter moments. I really loved the character development and the dual timelines.

This story will fit right into your heart and one I can’t wait for you to read!

Thank you @netgalley and @harperperennial for the early copy!

This one is out 12/31!

4.25⭐

I don’t think anyone is as kind and genuine as Eddie Winston. He is a gentleman with a heart of gold, but his heart has been broken for many years since he lost the love of his life, Birdie, as he called her. They formed a special bond when they met at university; he was a student, and she worked in a departmental office. Birdie was married to a selfish man who treated her disrespectfully, but her Catholic upbringing prevented her from leaving him. Being the gentleman he is, Eddie would not compromise her situation, and thus, they parted ways.

The novel begins in the present day when we find Eddie, 90 years young, working in a charity shop. He discovers special treasures that he holds on to in the hope of reuniting them with their original owners. Eddie has a guinea pig and has never been kissed. When he meets Bella, a young woman who has recently suffered a tragedy, the two form a friendship and embark on a journey to help Eddie find love.
The book uses a dual timeline, allowing readers to learn about Birdie and Eddie's past while exploring Bella's efforts to help Eddie in the present. The two timelines converge near the end of the novel.

This story is both humorous and heartbreaking. It speaks to the enduring human spirit and the unwavering hope that we carry. Although the storyline differs from Marianne Cronin’s first book, “One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot,” clearly “Eddie Winston is Looking for Love” captures the same spirit of kindness and connection.

Don’t miss this lovely novel. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Oh these characters are fabulous. The prose is beautiful and poignant. The growth, the relationships, the overall story and vibes are all just perfect. You should read this, and you should go in blind so all the details can delight you as they happen. I’m going to think about this one all the time. 6 stars.

Many many thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. 🙏🏻

After finishing The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, I knew I'd be a longtime fan of Cronin's work, but I couldn't have imagined a better follow-up than Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love. Eddie and Bella are a dynamic, unexpected duo that absolutely warmed my heart.

I can't wait to read whatever Cronin writes next!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC! I can't wait for the world to read this one in December.

A good read with a solid plot and well-written, well-developed characters. The only draw back is that it seemed to go on longer than necessary.

A fantastic story of an unusual friendship between two people with a vast age difference. Marianne Cronin has a true skill, telling uplifting and enjoyable stories with relevance to today's society. Love this book! Worth the wait. Waiting for her next book now!

Marianne Cronin has delivered yet another utterly delightful read with Eddie Winston is Looking for Love. As a huge fan of her previous work, I was thrilled and honored to receive an ARC of this novel, and it did not disappoint. Cronin’s signature warmth and wit shine through every page, bringing Eddie's world and the charming cast of characters to life in such an engaging way. The pacing is spot-on, with a couple of unexpected twists towards the end that kept me eagerly turning the pages to see how everything would unfold. This book is both heartwarming and refreshingly relatable, making it a perfect choice for anyone who loves a story about love, self-discovery, and the beautiful complexities of human connection. I’d gladly gift this to a friend—and highly recommend it to any reader looking for a bit of joy and surprise.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this wonderful book!

What a sweet book! Eddie Winston is Looking for Love was a super charming story about an unlikely friendship that helps both heal grief and move forward after lost love. Both characters really came alive in ways that kept me invested in the dual timeline format of the story. I wasn't familiar with this author, but now certainly will be going back to read her previous novel. Highly recommend!

[arc review]
Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love releases December 31, 2024

Eddie runs a local charity shop with Majie, and is known for taking home small items that come in with donation bags — things that would’ve held sentimental value to its owner, but would likely have little to no monetary value at the charity shop.

Chronicling friendship, grief, and love in all their stages, this is the most endearing and heartwarming story of a 90-year-old on a quest to experience his first kiss, and his new vicenarian friend whom he is accompanied by.

As much as you might think this story is about a first kiss, it’s really about so much more. It’s about first loves, loves you’ve lost, friendships yet to come, the experiences that shape you and hold value in your life, moments in time that turn into sentimental objects of remembrance, the unknown and unpredictability of this thing we call life…

Cronin shows us that there is beauty in intergenerational friendships, life-altering love, romantically hopeful outlooks, and in knowing that it is never too late.

Eddie’s disposition reminded me a lot of my late great-grandmother and I found so much unexpected comfort within his story. I can already anticipate this being a book I pass on to my loved ones for that reason.