_Eddie Winston is Looking for Love_ by Marianne Cronin is a heartwarming and romantic read with sympathetic characters. Eddie Winston is 90 years old, has never been kissed, and volunteers in a charity shop, when he meets Bella, a young woman who just experienced a tragic loss. Together they embark on a journey to find someone perfect for Eddie. This book will leave the reader hopeful and satisfied.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published December 31, 2024.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and she’s only written 2 books! While I enjoyed “The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot” I felt this book was much deeper.

I was immediately engaged with this book and the characters. A boy named Ham and Cheese. A mannequin who gets clothed in the thrift shop clothes. An unlikely friendship between 20-something Bella and 90 year old Eddie. There is so much to love about this book. You will laugh and cry. Themes include friendship, loneliness, death, regrets, missed opportunities and love.

I loved that Eddie Winston would “steal” things from the thrift store, things he knew were donated in haste and he held onto them hoping the owner might come back.

I appreciated the short chapters. It made for a quick read. My only complaint was there was a lot going on and at times it felt disjointed. The story unfolds in past and present, in letters and with many characters.

This is a wonderful, heart-warming story and I highly recommend it.

Such a joyful, quirky storyline - I aspire to be half as positive and amicable as Eddie. This reminds you to savor the good things in life and never settle for anything less than your dreams. Any book that makes me cry is an automatic 5/5 stars. Would recommend!

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC.

✨ARC Review✨Once in a while I read a book that moves me, heart and soul. Eddie Winston is Looking for Love is one of these beautiful books.

Eddie is a spry ninety-year-old man spending his retirement years working in a charity shop. One day a young woman walks in with a donation box of her boyfriend’s things. He doesn’t need them anymore, she says sadly.

Not long after, this young woman, Bella, and Eddie become friends. He tells her he’s never had his first kiss and she encouragingly says they’ll find his first kiss.

What follows is funny, tender, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and all sorts of emotions in between.

I cannot say enough lovely things about this book. ❤️ Preorder it now, add it to Goodreads, tag it in your library.

I received an ARC from #netgalley and @harperperennial. All thoughts are mine alone.

#contemporaryfiction #arc #eddiewinstonislookingforlove #mariannecronin #upcomingrelease

I really enjoyed 100 Years of Lenni and Margot, so I was excited to see this new book by the same author. In this dual-timeline story, we learn about Eddie Winston's missed connection with Bridie, the love of his life, fifty years ago. The book reveals their almost love story alongside the story of what Eddie is up to these days. In the modern era, Eddie befriends a grieving young woman named Bella. He sits with her as she finds her way through her grief over her boyfriend's death. She, in return, is determined to find a love for Eddie before it's too late.

This book was sweet. Although the characters were markedly different ages, their friendship rang true. There were many complicated feelings represented on the pages. I enjoyed the side characters and their reactions to Eddie. I think that without these outside perspectives, we wouldn't have gained a true insight into who Eddie is. He is alone, but not because he lacks social skills. He just has tunnel vision and some lack of awareness that things could have been different if his heart were not claimed at such a young age.

This was a light read and I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to the advance copy.

Marianne Cronin has done it again! What a phenomenal story! I LOVED The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, so when I saw Eddie Winston is Looking for Love, I was super excited, and it didn't disappoint. Side Note: If you are a fan of Lucy Gilmore, add both of these books to the top of your TBR list.

This story radiates empathy, compassion, and love. We follow 90-year-old Eddie and 24-year-old Bella as the unlikely duo navigates the aftermath of the death of Bella's boyfriend. Their relationship not only proves my theory that age is irrelevant but also topped off my faith in humanity. In a crazy world, I was reminded that there are still good people out there. I loved Bella's rebellious side, Eddie's sense of style, and that they were so supportive of each other. I need an Eddie of my own to be my bestie!

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperback for a copy of Eddie Winston is Looking for Love in exchange for an honest review. I guarantee this will be in my top 5 books read in 2024.

The setting: Eddie Winston, a retired academic, is 90 years old and never been kissed. A volunteer at a charity shop in Birmingham, UK, he sorts through donations of the living and the dead; keeping some stashed away for--whatever the moment. He meets Bella, 24, a bright woman [Oxford] who works as a cashier at a Sainsbury's ; she has brought in the belongings of Jake, her boyfriend and the love of her life who has just died. And so begins their friendship. I have not read [but will!] the author's previous book: "The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot" and believe this has a similar setting; a great friendship between the very young and very old.

Two timelines:
1960s and Eddie's infatuation with Bridie Bennet [who he calls Birdie], who wonders if she should, but does anyway, marry a cad, Alistair.
The present--where the friendship between Eddie and Bella takes root with frequent lunches and meetings. Bella is determined that Eddie get his first kiss and sets him up for online dating--fun!

Humor:
"A sturdy boat of a woman sailes into the shop."
"...Egg McMuffin, which as nothing like any muffin I've had before, or any kind of egg..."
Burger King referred to as burger monarch
banana peels/skin referred to as the its "unzipped paamas"
"saleschild" -- appears to be no more than twelve!

Heartwarming, of love and loss, grief and new beginnings, and odd choices of clothing--both [especially] Eddie's and Bella's attire.

The tales of online dating are fun as is Eddie and Bella's escapade to Corfu.

Just a feel good, easy read. This book was so sweet, BUT NOT TREACLY.
I loved everyone in this story: ESPECIALLY Eddie and Bella, but as well Marjie, Emmeline, and Ham and Cheese.

4.5; just what the doctor ordered!

I love her writing. The characters are so lovable and the story makes the reader want to follow them and find out what happens to them.

This is a delightful story of intergenerational friends healing from grief and holding onto hope for the future.

Short book, even shorter chapters
Safe for PG readers
Overall vibe: warm & fuzzy, hopeful

A solid 4 star read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

What a sweet and heartwarming book! Eddie is a 90 year old man volunteering at a charity shop. When he sees something he thinks is special, he keeps it hoping the owner comes back looking for it. This leads him to Bella. Eddie and Bella are two different but lonely people who find each other at the exact right time. Reading this was like hugging an old friend you don’t want to stop embracing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! If you're looking for a book that feels like a warm hug, this is it. Eddie is a sweet old man just looking for true love. His life intersects with a young woman who lost her love. The two form an unlikely friendship and help each other in ways they didn't know they needed. It's heartwarming and charming.

I loved this book. This is a wonderful, feel good story about a Man named Eddie Winston who is always looking out for others and finally has someone look out for him. It is like Eddie is a lucky penny for everyone around him and it seems he helps others to explore new and happy relationships that make them happy. He even finds happiness for his pet Guinea Pig Pushkin.

This story made me so happy, that at time I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Eddie is truly a kind hearted man who always tries to do the right thing by others, even when it means that you give up the love you want for being good person. He always tries to make people laugh,
Eddie works at a Thrift shop and when he see an item that might be important, he keeps the treasured memories safe in case the owners of those memories are ready, to take them back Eddie is the sunshine that everyone around him needed, and because he gave his friendship so easily that others couldn't help but to reciprocate. Bella became Eddie's friend when he gave her back her deceased boyfriend's shoes, he was safekeeping them knowing they were important. And its through Eddie's and Bella's connection that we find out Eddie, who is in his 90's, has never been kissed. So, Bella helps Eddie to try and connect with someone to love and get that kiss, and through the search we find a few interesting women who Eddie might find a connection with (Emmeline and Grace) who are marvelous women, but will they connect. In the end, life does a funny thing and returns Eddie's love back to him and it is wonderful.

I want to thank Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial and NetGalley for an advance copy of a story about a man that brings love everywhere he goes.

Eddie Winston is Looking for Love is perfection: the writing is fantastic, and the characters are completely loveable- I was utterly invested in what happens with each and every one. There were SO many moments in this book that made me stop and just…. gah, just stop and really appreciate what was said. I’m not typically a highlighter but I feel like if I were, I’d have at least half this book highlighted!
I’ll be honest, I don’t read a whole lot of this type of book, a “tugs on your heartstrings” kind of book. After reading this one, however, I think I need to seek them out more often. This is right up there among my all time favorite books now and I’ll definitely be looking to read anything else this author writes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing the advance copy and allowing me to share my honest review.

Eddie Winston is such a likeable... dare I say loveable character that will stay with me for so so long!! His story is told over a 60 year span and it is so very touching! I honestly have just finished soaking in this fantastic book and feel that "my" words will not do this review justice. I promise you that if you loved Ms. Cronin's debut 100 years of Lenni and Margot, this one has the same sentimental quality but without the painful tears!
Adored so many characters! Bella, Ham and cheese and Marjori. I believe you will love it too! Only drawback for me was understanding what happened in between the time that Eddie and Birdie's paths no longer crossed. Would love to have heard a little "summation" and I also wanted Bella to have a HEA as well. These were only my drawbacks but the book is really quite special!

Such a sweet book! Eddie is 90 years old and never been kissed. Bella is 24 and her boyfriend just died. Somehow, these two very different but lonely people strike up a lovely friendship that strengthens both of them. I absolutely loved Eddie, he was so funny and didn't take himself seriously. While this book was full of loss and sadness, it was at the same time uplifting, funny, and gratifying. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Eddie Winston has stolen my heart. What an incredible story. It’s sweet. It’s sad. It’s funny. It’s a tale of friendship and love and of being ok with wherever you are in life. It’s a book full of hope.

“Because friendship is just two people who can’t keep away from each other.”

I fell in love with all of the characters. This is one that I will re-read so that I can visit with my new friends.
💜💜💜💜💜

“And she will have love, wherever she goes.”

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this digital archive in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the Advanced Reader Copy!

I absolutely ADORED Marianne Cronin's first book The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, so I had high hopes for this sophomore novel, and it did not disappoint!

Eddie Winston, our main character, is 90 years old yet spends time sorting through objects in a charity shop. He meets Bella, a young woman grieving a huge loss. Bella learns that Eddie has never been kissed and makes it her mission to ensure he gets the kiss.

This duo filled my heart in much the same way Lenni and Margot did. Cronin is the master of these powerful friendships that span decades, and I look forward to her next
tale!

I wasn't a fan of The Hundred Years by Cronin, so probably should of expected for this one not to be my favorite. Still, I think plenty of our patrons will grab this one and enjoy it.

Charming, delightful, and sweet. This book really tugged at my heartstrings. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Marianne Cronin has done it again with Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love! After reading the synopsis, a 90-year old man becomes friends with a teenage girl and she helps him have his first kiss, I thought it might be too similar of a dynamic to The 100 Years of Lenni and Margot. However, it quickly became evident that this book is a fresh, exciting, hilarious, and wholesome exploration of love and friendship distinct from Cronin's first book but just as masterfully and beautifully written. She nails the quirks and inner thoughts of Eddie Winston and everyone he comes into contract with. The experiences of grief, regret, and love are explored with authenticity and depth. As someone who typically gravitates toward historical fiction, memoirs, and quite honestly, sad books, Eddie Winston was a wonderful change of pace. If you are looking for a book to sweep you up in the beauty and wonder of life together, this is it.

I cannot recommend this book enough. This is a must-read full of humor and hope.

Thank you Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.