Published By: Boldwood
Pages: 310
Released On: 04/08/2023
The list he left had just one item on it. Or, at least, it did at first.
Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.
But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’.
Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.
It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot’s still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.
What she doesn’t know is that her list isn’t just about finding her old friend. And that if she can admit the secrets of the past, maybe she could even find happiness again…
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is such a sweet book, Mabel is adorable and I just want to keep her in a cuddly warm hug and never let her go.
There are some really hard subjects in this book: death, loss, grief, widowhood, sexuality, lost friends, fertility issues, relationship problems, affairs, loneliness, aging etc. I tend to associate Boldwood with uplifting, easy-to-read, light-hearted, fun books, and whilst this book does have those things, it is a lot more hard hitting than what I was expecting, but I really liked it. It gives an edge to the positives so it doesn’t become too saccharine sweet.
I admit I lost the thread slightly at first as to who was who, I’m not very good at remembering names, especially when they’re all women in a tightknit group, but I soon got my head around it and I liked them all the same. I liked the cross generational element, with friends that include teenagers, young women, older women, elderly women. They all have their own quirks and their ways and opinions, but at the end of the day, they’re all there for each other and they can all rely on each other, and that’s lovely to read about.
I love that Laura has made Mabel the main character. Old characters tend to be pushed to the background, are a bit 2D, a stereotypical old person. But Mabel is so much more. She’s got so much depth, and layers, she is kind and overprotective, sad but happy, lonely but surrounded by friends. She wants to badly to help others but often sticks her foot in it. But she means well. And by making the protagonist an elderly lady, it shows that we’re never too old to find new friends, to find a purpose, and to find love.
It is full of emotion. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself smiling, laughing and crying, sometimes on the same page, you’ll feel happy and sad, worried and angry. You’ll feel that these women are your women, and their story is your story.
I love the exploration of different types of love: romantic love for a partner, love for lost, old and new friends, love for your children and your grandchildren, love for your parents, love for your pets, and even love for strangers. This isn’t a one size fits all kind of love story.
It didn’t take me long to read. It’s such a lovely story that you get lost in it and forget about the page count. It’s definitely one I will be recommending because it is just so hopeful and shows the importance of friendship and community for all. Whilst it took me a little while to get into and figure out who everyone was, it wasn’t long before I was hooked and I felt genuinely sad that I’d finished it and had to leave these women.
I’ve not read a Laura Pearson book before but I will look out for any others. She’s found the right balance in this book, created loveable, flawed and memorable characters, shown the importance of love, and overall has just written a really lovely story.
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