Prue Laroe is still reeling from the loss of her older sister Lena. While other members of the family are coping in their own ways, Prue's grief and her unresolved anger are getting in the way of her other relationships.

When the building that they live in faces demolition, this threat finally jars Prue out of her isolation to find allies in her attempt to save the place where she still feels the presence of her lost sister. In the process, she also finds some answers to her questions about her sister's story.

This is a tale about love, grieving, loss and emerging from it. It is also about issues like gentrification and how that impacts neighbourhood, and what a community can be and do together. Worth checking out, it gets 3.5 stars.

I absolutely adored this touching book. This book shows how every stage of your life can look different but you’re never truly alone. Such a great read! So glad I was able to read this book.

Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars

"Surprisingly, it was the pigeons that ditched me first. It was the people that stayed..."

A warm and heartfelt middle-grade novel about grief, community and the meaning of home. Highly recommended for both adults and kids alike.

The Story:
Welcome to the Odenburg; an authentic New York apartment building with all the character and quirk of a building that has housed its residents for decades. Despite the protests of some of its people, the Odenburg is scheduled for demolition in just over a month, to make room for a newer and more modern apartment building.
No one is more troubled by the news than eleven-year-old Prue from 3B, who refuses to leave her family’s apartment. Not when it was the last place she lived with her sister Lina, before she lost Lina forever. When Prue launches a plan to save their home, the Odenburgh joins in—flickering lights, jamming elevators, triggering fire alarms—all to try and bring a building full of bickering residents together. In the process, Prue meets Lewis, an eccentric boy from across the street—and the only one who can help her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.

What I loved:
I absolutely love a good middle-grade novel that covers the topic of grief in a way that doesn’t feel patronizing or downplaying it for the audience. Some kids unfortunately have to deal with big events that come with big emotions, and Once for Yes is one of those books that understands that, and reaches out a hand to them.
Prue is such a wonderful and authentic character, that drew me into the story from page one. Her grief over her sister and her attempts to keep the physical space of her home the exact same to honor her memory were portrayed so incredibly well. I deeply felt for this girl, who is confronted with having to leave behind the house that holds so many tangible memories, when she doubts whether she’s even ready move her sister’s things around the room they used to share. It’s through the small moments that her grief speaks the loudest and it makes the experience so deeply relatable to both kids and adults alike. We are shown that the Odenburg didn’t just hold sad or bittersweet memories for the family either. Seeing Prue play her “radio-host” games with the landline for example, made for some great moments of levity and joy to balance out the heavier themes.
Lastly, I think adding the voice of the actual Odenburg building as one of the voices in this choir of a cast was a brilliant move. It helped us as the reader connect to this place that felt like a protector and friend to our characters, by literally portraying it as such. Some of the moments where the Odenburg attempts to subtly interfere in the events within itself, by halting an elevator or [offering comfort to Prue by answering her questions to her sister with knocks and growns were my favourites in the story. Bonuspoints for the narrator of the audiobook for providing the perfect (thickly NY-accented) voice to this character in particular.
Then there’s the ending… I think the emotional impact would’ve been great enough if we’d only seen Prue’s side of things, but adding in the perspectives of her neighbours and the Odenburg itself elevated it to a whole new level tear-jerking goodness.

What I didn’t love:
Although I loved almost our full cast of Odenburg-neighbours, Lewis was a bit of an odd-one out. I had a difficult time warming up to his character, and felt his storyline to be dragging a bit. It becomes clear early on that Lewis is hiding the fact that he had a connection to her sister before her death from Prue. To the reader, it’s very obvious what was going on here, but it takes Prue just a little too long to catch on. Once she does learn the truth, I don’t think she’s given enough room to process this, before she’s expected to “forgive and forget” in order for the story to move on. As an adult, this might make sense, but I felt 11-year old Prue needed a little more grace here.
Overall, I’m overjoyed to have discovered this book and add it to my ever-expanding library of grief-recommendations for readers of all ages.


Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and RB-media for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Really really enjoyed this new middle grade book about growth! A community coming together to see just how much their old Odenburgh apartment building means to them. I really liked reading this book but I LOVED the bits I listened to on audio. The classic New Yorker accent given to The Odenburgh’s perspective was a fantastic touch! Highly recommend to students, parents, and teachers alike.

“Sometimes, the idea that no one can hear you is all you need to bear for an idea.”

After Olivetti, Allie Millington did it again with Once For Yes. This is a middle-grade story, yet like the previous one, it can be read by people of all ages, with several layers of language and comprehension.
This time, it’s an old building, the Odenburgh, who takes the floor and becomes a character. This author has a special thing to bring inanimate objects to life, to give them a consciousness. That kind of magical realism is something that speaks deeply to me, and enhances how much “objects” can count in our life, be the vector of our memories and connect us to our roots or even bring a community together. And that is what Once For Yes is about (IMO); loss, grief and memory are sprinkled all around the building, lingering between the walls.
I discovered this story through this audio version and I can’t enlight enough how amazing the actors’ performances are. I especially ADORED the actors chosen to personify the Odenburgh, his accent was fabulous, and both performers brough just enough emotion to make the words even more unforgettable.
The inhabitants’ dreams, hopes, sorrow and griefs travel through the old and agonizing pipelines and a community –finally– blooms. They say it takes a village… and that’s exactly how this short book made me feel. Once again, Allie Millington’s words make me –deeply– feel and think, my eyes remain watery… I might have spent too much time listening to Prue’s show… who knows?

Thank you to RB Media and to the author for the ALC sent via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This was really cute! I requested it from NetGalley because I've been on a middle grade kick and it seemed cute and I didn't realize it was by the same author who wrote Olivetti which I really enjoyed last year and is about a sentient typewriter.

So this one is about Prue who is 11 years old and lives in an apartment building that is getting sold and they're getting evicted essentially. It's also told from the perspective of the building and how they want to be appreciated by the tenants and save themselves. Prue doesn't want to leave the building because it's the last place that her sister Lena was and just like in Olivetti, this book manages to tackle a really serious topic like the death of a sibling with grace and care and in a way that is appropriate for middle grade readers.

This one has a really eccentric cast of characters as you can imagine in any sort of apartment building there is a whole host of tenants and it's a lot about community care and organizing and showing up for each other in the face of greed and capitalism and such. It's really about what we can learn from each other and how we can love each other through hardships and happiness.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Losing someone is never easy and trying to learn how to move on without leaving the person who passed behind, is also difficult.

Prue has lost her sister Lina. She wants to do everything she can to save the apartment building where her sister’s remains are. This was a beautiful story and I loved listening to it. I really enjoyed Prue and Lewis, who was able to help her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Allie and RBmedia for the ALC!

Rating: ✨✨✨

#OnceforYes #NetGalley

Once For Yes is a heartfelt Middle Grade novel with themes of loss, grief, and healing. The story follows 11-year-old Prue, who refuses to leave her family’s apartment, The Odenburgh, when the building is slated for demolition, as it’s the last place she lived with her sister Lina, before she died. When Prue launches a plan to save their home, the Odenburgh joins in—flickering lights, jamming elevators, triggering fire alarms—all to bring the residents together. In the process, Prue meets Lewis, a boy across the street, who helps her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.

The story features multiple POVs, including Prue, Lewis, and the Odenburg, that create a multi-layered narrative with emotional depth and humor. Protagonist Prue is a lovable and intelligent character that readers will empathize with as she grapples with grief and the stress of losing a home where previous memories are still alive. The POV of the Odenburg is extremely unique and adds an element of magical realism—it’s a kind building that loves its residents and puts in great effort to help Prue, not only to keep the building standing but also to help her heal and move on.

The narration is superbly executed by Sophie Amoss and Johnny Heller. Amoss gives an emotional performance of Prue that perfectly captures the character’s childlike grief and tenacity over not wanting to move. Her narration also brings Prue’s family members vividly to life, along with their heartbreaking struggle to keep Lena’s memories alive. Narrator Johnny Heller portrays the Odenburg building with an authentic-sounding New York accent. He brings an enormous amount of character/charm to the performance—so much so that readers will fall in love with the old structure and be rooting for it to be saved!

Overall, Once For Yes is a beautifully crafted story suitable for all ages. Readers who enjoy uplifting reads about family & community bonds, healing, and moving on will love this book!

Characters: A house, a boy, a dead girl, and a little sister.

This story absolutely broke my heart. Even though it’s a shorter read (just around 5 hours), it packs an emotional punch. Once for Yes is a powerful exploration of grief, healing, and the importance of talking about what weighs on you instead of hiding it away.

The writing is quiet but impactful, and the characters—even the house—feel deeply alive. It’s one of those stories that lingers with you after you finish.

I received a copy through NetGalley, but this review is entirely my own and honest opinion.

I can't even give an real review because I haven't stopped crying since about page 40.
This was beautiful and I think everyone should read it.

Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: In Once For Yes, eleven-year-old Prue refuses to leave her beloved apartment building, the Odenburgh, before it’s demolished, sparking an unlikely alliance between a determined girl, a quirky neighbor, and the very walls around her to uncover lost memories and bring a fractured community together.

My review: Heartwarming and deeply emotional, Once For Yes is a beautifully crafted story about loss, nostalgia, and the courage to move forward. As in her novel Olivetti, where a typewriter served as an unconventional narrator, author Allie Millington once again delivers a unique perspective—this time through the eyes of the Odenburgh, an old brick apartment building witnessing its final days. The Odenburgh’s voice, brought to life with excellent narration (a heavy New York Italian accent? Perfection!), adds charm and depth to a tale that explores the bonds between people and the places they call home. With a touching mix of humor and heart, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves stories that remind us how the past shapes our future.

Once for Yes is scheduled was published on March 25, 2025, by Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends.

Once For Yes is an emotionally charged story of grief, healing, and what it means to move forward in the absence of our loved ones. This book is stunningly written, with multiple perspectives that truly enhance the emotional depth of the story. We follow Prue, the boy in the building across the way, Lewis, the Odenburg itself, and a few residents of the Odenburg. The point of view from Odenburg is superb and adds a unique and touching element to the narrative. The Odenburg itself is almost a character in its own right, a kind building that genuinely cares for its residents. It works tirelessly to give Prue signs to help her fight—not to keep the building standing, but to help her find closure and begin to move on.

I highly recommend picking up the audiobook when it releases. Sophie Moss gives an emotional performance as Prue. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her narration of other YA novels by Karen McManus and Holly Jackson, and this was no different. Instead of the tension-filled voice that we’d expect for a building mystery, Moss channels the choked-up emotion of a young girl whose whole world changed with the death of her sister. Her narration beautifully captures the grief and the struggle to keep the memories alive in the home that holds ghosts of all her best moments.

Then there’s Johnny Heller, who was outstanding with his NY/NJ accent as the Odenburg. He brought so much character to the building, and his narration made the reader fall in love with this old building that I too didn’t want to see demolished.

Overall, Once For Yes is an excellent middle grade read packed with emotion, community, grief, and love. It’s a beautiful exploration of loss, how we move through it, and how the bonds we create with others can help us heal. Sophie Moss and Johnny Heller take what Allie Millington beautifully created and breathes life into these characters and one building.

Once For Yes has been one of the most anticipated titles of 2025 for me, because I truly believe that Allie Millington is filled with magic. I was hooked after reading Olivetti, and Once For Yes confirmed that I will read everything Allie writes.

Once For Yes is the story of Prue, an 11-year-old girl who is grieving her older sister, and the Odenburgh, an old brick building that has been sold and is going to be demolished.

Like Olivetti, the Odenburgh has a delightful voice (this time with a gruff New York accent), and the sweetest soul, as it attempts to help Prue, and her newfound friend Lewis, to save her home and more importantly, her most treasured memories.

This is a story of community, love, family, and the importance of remembering in order to let go and live life to the fullest. It is about grace, understanding, and forgiveness.

Grief is not an easy thing to bear, but it certainly feels lighter once you allow others to help share the burden.

Thank you, Allie for such a beautiful story.

** spoiler alert **

A personified building set to be demoed (gentrification) is the narrator of this story. Prue is the main character and, after losing her sister, is hesitant to move because memories of her sister are tied to the building. With the help of the building (who can control the lights), Prue and neighbor, Lewis work to save the building. Very plot-driven, authentic pre-teen voice, wish there was a little more feminist angle for Prue.

CW: sibling death by driver texting, forced move from a sold building

A truly beautiful and unique story about childhood and grief. The alternating narrators in the audiobook did a fantastic job making you feel all the emotions of the characters. This is great story to introduce middle schoolers to opening up about their feelings about losing a loved one in a way that feels accessible without being preachy or overly done.

Allie Millington has done it again, weaving a heartfelt story where an inanimate object plays a crucial role in helping a child and family in distress. This time, the focal point is The Odenburgh, an old building on the verge of demolition to make way for a sleek, modern replacement. For 11-year-old Prue, the fight to save her home becomes intertwined with a deeper, more personal quest—to uncover the truth about her sister’s tragic death a year earlier at the age of 12.

Prue’s imagination shines throughout the book, particularly in the way she interprets people’s moods as weather patterns. This unique perspective adds depth to her character and makes her emotions feel vividly real.

The audiobook narration, performed by Sophie Amoss and Johnny Heller, is exceptional. Both narrators bring their characters to life with heartfelt emotion, enhancing the storytelling experience.

Millington’s first novel, Olivetti, was my favorite book last year—I even attended an author event to meet her and enthusiastically recommended it to others, gifting copies to friends and family. Her signature blend of empathy and humor is truly refreshing, and Once for Yes only cements her place as a must-read author for me. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley & RBMedia for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Dear Odenburgh, I love you and your proclivity to mention your beloved pigeons. I'm very glad that you exist because you've warmed my heart in a way you could never truly know.

"Friendships are like water leaks, who knows how they start?"

Once for Yes by Allie Millington

The biggest, heartwarming, bear-hug type of thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the ALC copy of this audiobook. It is something I didn't know I needed, and am inherently grateful for the opportunity and experience. This warmed my whole body and left me feeling happy and tearful. I knew it was going to be tearjerker from the get-go, but it is so much more than just being heartfelt, warming and a downright delight. It is a testament to community and a sister's love.

"Sisters don't just keep each other's secrets, they keep each other's promises."

The POV of the building, itself, is probably the most perfect idea I've encountered in a long time. This is the reason I love kids/middle grade books - there is so much creativity packed in such a small package. I always find myself leaving a kids book with a new or freshened perspective on life, and its why I come back to it all the time. Allie Millington gives a very New York voice and a full personality to The Odenburgh (Odie to me) and Johnny Heller brings him to life. The emotion, the kinship... I mean... I am not even sure how well I am able to convey how well these narrators did. I'm almost glad I found the audiobook before the physical because I miss out on the literal experience the narrators provide. Sophie Amoss brings the almost childlike sadness and hope to Prue and is a master of voices, it all feels so real.

"People didn't usually touch my walls. They hit them with hammers, jammed them with screws, drowned them in paint, pounded them to silence noisy neighbors. Never a touch, never so softly."

Once for Yes is perfect for any ages. It has themes of loss, feeling lost, finding community, hope, friendships and shows how even if things change, some other things are for forever. It is a tearjerker for us older folks, though, so bring a tissue or two (maybe a box.)

"Turns out, you can stand a lot stronger when you have something you're standing for. Or someone. Fine, I'll admit it, falling in love with the tenants wasn't so bad. It held me together as the rest of me was falling. Brick by brick by brick."



Blurbs:

"Its not like I could just ignore her, now, I might be horribly insulated but I wasn't that cold."

"When it comes to liars and lice, you have to be thorough."

"Lina filled up more in a single afternoon than most people do in a lifetime. She gave me something to do with my stories, a place to put them."

"A fresh start meant something else had ended. They couldn't just make a new home, because Lina would never be a part of it. She was a part of this one. The memories of her were all over the place... If they left their home, they'd be leaving these memories of Lina. They'd be leaving her."

"Change isn't always bad. Some of the best plays come from calling an audible."

"People packed, made plans, ate pizza, said goodbye. One by one, the tenants left me, but not one of them left me the same... Maybe my job wasn't just to give them a home, maybe it was to give them each other. To show them they're not alone."

"Then again, a lot could happen in an 'almost'."

As soon as I saw the cover of Once for Yes, it immediately caught my attention. The story is incredibly emotional, and I really liked how the author chose to use the apartment as a pov. The audiobook is short and lovely, featuring different narrators who bring the story to life. I highly recommend both the book and the audiobook. Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Once for yes by Allie Millington is about the gentrification of a building the last of its kind, and its tenants building community while dealing with loss.

For the audiobook, I thought it was interesting. I liked the story and the mystery of Prue trying to piece together the missing pieces of her sisters story and her loss.

I enjoyed the narrator's of this story, the duel point of views for this book. I also liked the short chapters.

This might be the loveliest middle grade book I’ve ever read. What an absolute joy & a testament to the best parts of humanity? & also the most devastating, grief stricken & most heartbreaking, too? I am truly caught off guard by this, an ALC I randomly picked cause i thought it sounded promising. It was more than promising, it truly gave what it said it would & more. If you are looking for a book told with gentleness & humor (that can be only accessed through books meant for kids, c’mon), but also a story about loss, nostalgia & moving forward (that rivals any sad novel on the market): literally look no further. When an 11 year old tries to fight the powers that be to keep their old apartment building from being sold & torn down, you already have a story. BUT when said girl is fighting to keep a hold on the last place that her sister was alive in, that their memories of her were in, you have my heart & soul. Beautiful. Breathtaking. I am utterly destroyed.

This was an easy 5 stars. Incredible, incredible narration, too!! The Odenburgh’s chapters told by a man with a heavy New York Italian accent??!! I’m literally sat. For anyone who loves middle grade, novels about hope & goodness, or just needs something quick to read—pick this up!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & RBmedia for this ALC!!