Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really really enjoyed this book and made me think of myself a few years down the line. All I can say is go for it Evelyn.

A beautiful read a book that tears at your heart emotional moving.Evelyn the lead character an elderly woman on a cruise ship searching for her husband a search you will not forget.So well written stays with you after you read the last page,#netgalley #hodderstoughton.

This is a delightful story of Mrs Henry Parker as she travels around on the cruise ship Golden Sunset. But where is her husband? She seems to have misplaced him. The crew all seem to assist her in the best way they can. After all her memory isn't what it used to be.

After reading and loving The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village I knew this would be a good book. But it was even better than I expected. This book has it all. It’s truly beautiful, moving, funny, heartbreaking. I have laughed aloud and sobbed my way through The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker. It’s a book everyone should read. Absolutely truly beautiful.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Both heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measures, An enjoyable book and an easy read, with en ending that made my heart soar with joy for an utterley endearing character.

This is a warm hearted account of Dementia and how it affects both the afflicted person, and all family members, who find themselves shut out from once shared memories. This is not a medical text book, but I can see it being used as a reference book, as a generalised story line, being used to subtly educate those who have had a family member recently diagnosed.
Mrs. Henry Parker, name of Evelyn, is the wife of a ship's doctor. They met when Evelyn was enroute to Australia as a newly qualified nurse, to take up a new job. They fell in love and Evelyn gave up her career to be a wife and mother, as that was the norm in those far off days.
Now Evelyn is on board a cruise ship, looking for Henry. As the story progresses, her anxiety and memory loss increases. She cannot remember recent events( STML) short term memory loss, but can vividly recall her early days of marriage and visiting every corner of the world on board large cruise ships with Henry, and eventually, deciding to live full time aboard, as a resident.
The crew on board, find Evelyn hard work. She is convinced that every utterance is correct, and constantly gives crew members the wrong name, and her inability to remember the time, leads to some unusual dress codes being observed!! She goes her own way, observed by the CCTV on board, yet, at times, shows an uncomfortable awareness of her illness and situation.
But, where is Henry? . The most unusual source of help in Evelyn's dark times is the ghost of Florence Nightingale. Her ' Notes on Nursing', prove energising and comforting to Evelyn and prove invaluable in a most unforeseen event on board! .
This book is very sensitively written, and demonstrates the fears and panic of being somewhere, but not knowing why or where. If I remember how scared I feel whilst swimming out at sea without my spectacles, then I am still nowhere near how terrifying the sense of being lost can be for those with Dementia. The repetition of life an board a cruise ship can be comforting in that there is a sense of routine, but it can also be a curse, in that every day brings new experiences, and there is no clearly defined agenda, like at home.
I have nursed for over thirty years, and I know the heartache and irritation of this horrible disease. The loss and searching for dead partners is a common event. The endless questions and repeated reassurances that count for nothing, as they are so quickly forgotten. The heartbreak of children not being recognised by their parents. The anguish of marriages being broken up, as husbands and wives refuse to share a marriage bed with a now not recognised partner. This book gives us an insight into these events and this disease. It is not meant to scare, but to make us aware and recognise the signs. I absolutely adored the previous book, The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Retirement Village, and this book also shows the great humour and empathy that can be enjoyed, despite trying circumstances. A worthy read, not preachy, but rather marvellous. Likeable characters abound in this book, and the ending is pretty decent too.

This book is amazing, full of emotions, it made me laugh and move to tears.
I loved how the author manages to handle topics like dementia and old age. There's a lot of empathy and tenderness and, at the same time, there's always some humour.
I loved the style of writing, the surprising and engrossing plot, the well written cast of characters.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
It'was a great reading experience, strongly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The last voyage of Mrs Henry Parker is a touching, funny and compassionate tale told from the perspective of Evelyn, former nurse and wife to Henry, a ship’s doctor.
This charming novel charts the Parkers’ lives spent aboard a cruise liner, cataloguing the ups and downs of a marriage spent largely at sea. Now in her declining years it is apparent Evelyn’s mind is wandering. She’s lost her husband somewhere aboard the ship and is on a mission to find him whilst reminiscing about how they met and their years together. The issue of dementia is at the heart of this gentle and endearing novel but it’s a wonderful love story too and a recognition that despite a failing memory, Evelyn is still Evelyn underneath all the confusion and bewilderment. The author writes with such empathy and shows there is humour to be found in the most challenging of circumstances. I love how Evelyn finds ways to remember names. Her newly acquired companions fizzy cola (Nola) and earnest (Frank) are by her side throughout her wanderings as is her steward tuesday’s child (Grace). Evelyn is such a loveable interesting character whose antics whilst at times hilarious (the disco scene springs to mind) do highlight a real and frightening condition that affects so many. Whilst it is obvious the crew understand Evelyn’s condition and are keeping a watchful eye on her, the reader is left guessing until the end exactly what fate has befallen Henry. Her ability to recall long ago events, quote constantly from a Florence Nightingale nursing tome and recite the poem The Ancient Mariner are all lovely touches that will pull at your heartstrings. The ending is bittersweet and definitely brought a tear to my eye! A lovely read with a cast of wonderful characters that I highly recommend. Thanks to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read ahead of publication.

Mrs Henry Parker is the wife of a retired ship's doctor she has spent most of her life at sea. She spends her days wandering the ship as if it is her home and her nights dressed up to the nines and entertaining the very  revolving round of fellow passengers of tales of her past adventures.

But Henry seems to have gone missing and Mrs Parker sets out with her 'Finding Henry' shoes to search the vast liner she is on.

However through this search she makes new friends and finds herself reminiscing about the past voyages while experiencing some new adventures.

The trouble is the new adventures are not memorable, but the events of meeting Henry on that first voyage, her nursing training and other poignant events are as clear as if they happened yesterday.

Mrs Parker cannot understand why everyone is so poorly dressed at breakfast, why she is in a colouring class, gambling in a casino, dancing in a nightclub and with mysterious injuries and what seems like the endless pursuit by the people in blue pyjamas and Tuesday's child. Amongst the muddle of Mrs Parker's brain it all makes sense.

All the time she is looking for Henry.

This voyage of Mrs Henry Parker has to come to an end and I was surprised by the twist it took, I had already made my mind up about that had happened to Henry and I was wrong. I am so glad I was.

Some might find this book uncomfortable, tragic in a way that such a thing was allowed to go on. But the author's insightful research and reading of someone who was suffering with senility was dealt with sympathy and kindness. It might have seemed a strange place to set such a story and how events unfolded, but I have heard first hand that this story is not in fact unique.

This is a wonderful second book from Joanna Nell and she has insightfully captured a rather difficult topic well and shown how important memories are and that we need to make so many of them.

Poignant and thoughtful this book will stay with me for a while yet. If you were a fan of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry or the story of Queenie Hennessy then you will enjoy this quiet book with so much to tell.

I absolutely loved this wonderfully written book and how it cleverly depicts the dark, confusing depths of dementia from a sufferer's perspective. It succeeds in taking a hard topic and prompting tears of laughter and sympathy. It's chock-full of charm and tenderness, with truly relatable characters.

Mrs Evelyn Parker is sympathetically drawn, easily evoking empathy and concern for her plight. Sadly, Evelyn's mental processes are not as reliable as they used to be, as she tries "to darn the hole in her threadbare memory."

She never gives up searching for her elusive husband, Doctor Henry Parker. Though she seems to have temporarily displaced him, along with her focus and memories. Recent events are perplexing because "there was terrifying wilderness where all her most important thoughts should have been."

But adrift as she might be, Evelyn succeeds in befriending Nola and Frank, who help her to feel less lost when her mind continues to stay rooted to the past. And she still retains clear memories of being a nurse, meeting her husband, Henry, and all their years of travelling together at sea.

Reams of memorised poetry return to her, as do lengthy passages from a book she reveres by Florence Nightingale. Her training comes in surprisingly handy at one point when she assists a troubled crew member. Although Evelyn's mind might refuse to update itself in the present, she is cheered to discover she can still be of help to someone else.

During this final voyage, she might appear pathetic at times, but she also seems perceptive, especially with her reflections on ageing: "When it came to ageing, the best you could do was to carry an umbrella. And a life jacket." Sound advice, indeed.

The mystery of Henry's disappearance becomes clear in the end, and their reunion is heartbreakingly touching. Evelyn "was lost inside a vast and featureless place that used to be her brain. She was all at sea." But she feels safe once more when she is with him. A gratifying ending to a story that touches lightly yet helpfully on the perils of living with dementia. Another stunning read from Joanna Nell. Highly recommended. Grateful thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC.

Started sad, but then redeemed itself by becoming sweet as can be! I enjoyed this story and loved the characters.

Yay for The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, another beauty by Joanna Nell. I loved every part of it! Things were sure different for women those days... (not that everything is perfectly alright nowadays) and Evelyn was a fierce and endearing character.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

I found this so moving yet so so sad. I couldn't finish it I'm afraid - its very hard to read about this and although I admire the book it's too sad.

What a sweet story this was, a perfect quick read if that’s what you’re after.

Evelyn (Mrs Henry Parker) is on a cruise – more to the point, she lives on the cruise ship, and is married to Dr Henry Parker, one time ship’s doctor... but she’s lost him. As she traverses the ship, crossing off locations on a map in her search for her husband, Evelyn makes new friends, relives old memories, and makes us laugh and cry.

It's a pretty predictable story, but none the less lovely for that. The kind of story that makes you ooh and ah in all the right places.

Joanna Nell after The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village has written of another elderly character in this novel, it appears Nell is beginning to become somewhat of an expert when it comes to depicting older characters. Here she writes with humanity and compassion about Evelyn, who introduces herself as Mrs Henry Parker to others. Henry was a cruise ship doctor, now retired and the couple have chosen to spend their retirement continuing to live on the cruise ship, The Golden Sunset, that has sailed on 662 voyages since they first came on board. Evelyn is embarking on another cruise after meeting her lawyer, Dobbs, although she can't quite remember what their conversation was about. She is wondering where Henry is, as she acquires some trainers from whom or where she has not a clue. However, she does find the trainers considerably more comfortable than her usual shoes, as they become her Find Henry shoes.

She finds herself in a colouring class, where she meets Nola and Frank, who have suffered personal loss and are on the cruise to get away from it all. They begin to take a close interest in Evelyn as she begins to tell them stories of her life as the ship doctor's wife through the years. Evelyn had become determined to become a nurse after reading about Florence Nightingale, a woman who had saved the lives of so many. Fending off attempts to dissuade her from her career, after the loss of her diplomat father, she embarks on a ship to travel to Australia to work as a nurse after her training. Suffering terrible seasickness in the Bay of Biscay, she first encounters Henry on board, working as a surgeon's assistant, soon to be promoted to ship's doctor. Despite unfavourable impressions of Henry at the beginning, the two begin to become closer on their journey, so much so that Henry proposes in Australia. The feisty Evelyn regales her stories of life on board the cruise ships to Nola and Frank, as we learn of the traumas she has faced in her past. In an often comic narrative, Evelyn continues her all consuming and dedicated search for Henry, having night time adventures in the casino, dancing in a nightclub, acquiring injuries and venturing into forbidden areas of the ship in what turns out to be her last voyage. But where is Henry?

Nell does a wonderful job in her characterisation of Evelyn, a woman with sharp memories of poetry, such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge poems, and the words of Florence Nightingale, but whose other memories of life remain elusive, or come and go, occasionally coaxed out, names are a particular terror for her to remember. Those of you who have elderly relatives and/or parents will find yourself recognising many moments of the all too human ageing process in this novel. Where the author excels is in painting a picture of Evelyn shot through with hope, light and fun, despite the many challenges that getting older often brings. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.

Mrs Parker is on her last voyage of many, she has "lost " her ship's doctor husband and gets very muddled. An enchanting novel, written from the view point of a person with dementia. Really enjoyable and an unexpected, happy ending

This is a tale of love, loss marriage and friendship
I loved the main character- she is endearing
A highly entertaining read which engages my emotions
A feel good read

What a truly lovely book about an elderly lady who has dementia. A perfect mix of sadness and laughter, I became extremely fond of Evelyn as I made my way through the book and she made her way around a cruise ship looking for her husband who has gone missing.

Having previously enjoyed The Single Ladies Of Jacaranda Retirement Village, I was pretty certain this book would be just as good, and I was right as Joanna Nell writes about older people is such an interesting way.

Poignant and heart-warming, this book is a must read! 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the invitation to review this book.

I’d like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker’ by Joanna Nell in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Evelyn is the wife of retired ship’s doctor Dr Henry Parker and over the years they’ve made Sunset Cruises’ flagship ‘Golden Sunset’ their home with the same cabin and dining arrangements. Evelyn joins the ‘Mindful Colouring’ class where she meets new friends Frank and Nola, telling them stories of when she trained as a nurse and met her husband onboard Orcades en route to Australia. When the ‘Golden Sunset’ sets sail Evelyn is a little perturbed that Henry hasn’t put in an appearance and decides to search all areas of the ship for her errant husband. Where is he, and why is she having problems remembering what she’s supposed to be doing?

This a gentle and entertaining novel of an elderly lady who’s opinionated and set in her ways. The description were perfect, especially the dreaded Muster Station which was spot-on, as anyone who’s ever set foot on a cruise ship will agree, together with the details of life onboard ship and the people she meets. The characters were so realistically portrayed that they made me feel as if they were friends. The subject of dementia was handled beautifully and with great sensitivity, and the final pages brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.

A poignant and heart-warming book. It is the story of Evelyn, an elderly woman on a cruise searching for her missing husband. It is both a funny and a sad story, written with a delicate and sympathetic touch. The central character of Evelyn is very endearing and the ending is so emotional. A truly beautiful book.