Bittersweet feel good novel for fans of The Lido. Missy has always been socially awkward, convinced people won’t want to spend time with someone as dull as she is. Now she’s alone with her beloved son and grandson living in Australia, her daughter estranged after an awful row and her husband Leo has succumbed to a dreadful illness. All that changes when she faints in the local park and some of the ‘popular’ people take her in charge. Really enjoyable if predictable read to curl up with on a cold winter’s day to banish the winter blues.

Review
Lovely book and I think a real reality of loneliness for elderly people who lose their partners and families move away.

This is how Millicent Carmichael AKA Missy finds herself. She misses her husband Leo and her son Ali who lives in Australia with grandson Arthur. Plus she has fallen out with Mel, her daughter. She is terribly lonely, nervous and lacking in self esteem when she does meet anyone. This is until she meets a new friend, Sylvie who introduces her to Angela and her little son, Otis. Missy finds that her life changes for the better in so many different ways. She steps out of her comfort zone in tiny steps which leads to so many good things, including finding love with a fostered dog, Bobby.

It was really enjoyable following Missy’s life, her emotions and her ups and downs. So many aspects of her life were easy to relate to and it made me realise how one could find themselves in that situation.

However, and this is a BIG however, it was just too unbelievable in places. Friends paying for her hair cut and colour, buying her a new outfit...please tell me how I can meet these friends. Then all of them gathering in the garden when she was at a particularly low point. I don’t know about you, but trying to organise for only a small group to get together with such little notice is nigh on impossible. Goodness knows how they managed to get all of her friends there.

I rate this book 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟 because the book in the main was good.

Thanks
Thank you to the author Beth Morrey and Publishers Harper Collins for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an independent review.

Thank you so much for the chance to read a review copy of this book, it was just wonderful!
It covers so many topics - friendship, growing older, loneliness, but is never preachy or trite. Not ashamed to say I cried at several points in the book (I won’t describe them because of spoilers) and that’s down to the deft touch of the author and the non-maudlin way she approaches the subjects. The final twist in particular was heart-wrenching.
I found the descriptions of Missy’s early life at university fascinating and recognised many themes that affected women in academia at that time. Missy herself is a fantastic character, no meek little old lady she! The author gives her such an authentic voice and never tries to portray her as a saintly grandma or mother. I did have to slightly suspend disbelief that everyone in her dog walking group had exactly what she needed even when she didn’t want to realise or accept that, but I don’t know why, because I know full well how fabulous dog owners can be. The little asides about the characters of their dogs were spot on and hilarious and of course Bobby, lovely Bobby; the author must have known at least one dog like her in her life.
I can’t wait to review this book on Amazon and my personal social media when it is published as I know several people who will love it just as much as me and I hope to introduce it to many, many more.
Eagerly awaiting whatever Beth Morrey writes next as she has incredible skill as a writer and whatever her next subject I’m sure she will do it justice (hope she includes just a little bit of dogness though!).

Missy is Millicent Carmichael, a 79 year old woman rattling around on her own in the family home. Her son has moved to Australia, where his wife is from and her daughter lives in Cambridge.
For something to do Missy goes to see the fish been electrically shocked in a local pond so they can be moved. While she is there she blacks out and starts the chain of some unlikely, but rewarding friendships.
This must ring so true for many women who give up their careers to have a family and then when they are all gone find themselves so very alone.
Lots of laughter and lots of tears, you definitely need some tissues to hand.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.

For anyone who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, this is one for you.

A 79 year old woman who feels alone and isolated and can't forgive or forget her past actions, suddenly finds a family amongst new friends and a dog. Truly heartwarming; I've laughed, cried, got cross but adored every second

Missy is an elderly lady who has become very lonely in her later years. This is a heartwarming story of how she builds new friendships with the most unlikely people and how she starts to enjoy living again.
A really beautiful and we'll written story.

A sweet and warm-hearted book, which deserves to be very popular, as it is such a feel-good story. The characters are appealing, and the writing genuinely witty. I had thought everything would be very formulaic, but I was wrong. The ending was unexpected, and all in all this book is a complete joy.

Missy realises how much her life has closed down as she reads an obituary of David Bowie. With no family around her she sets of on a local walk to jolly herself out of herself.
This book contains good insights into being alone, being single, being older and the effort that needs to be made to have a fuller life.
Missy is supposed to 79 years old. This works well at times, but at others she seems more like a 50 year old – it just jars a bit.

Overall an interesting insight into a life.

What a wonderful emotive read!
Missy is an elderly lady,lonely, missing her husband, children and grandson whilst rattling around in an empty huge townhouse with no purpose in her life!
All this changes fortunately with the arrival of new friends met whilst out in the park one day!
The gift of friendship and company is truely life changing for missy, the greatest gift of all is being bestowed a dog bobby to look after, Bobby gives missy a reason to get up and get out each day and in doing so her social circle widens and great friendships are developed I particularly liked the relationship with little Otis demonstrating how multi generational relationships are so beneficial!
Friendship and camaraderie are so very important especially to the elderly who have a wealth of memories and experience to share which we can all benefit from! A truely heartwarming read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to read this book.
It has its ups and downs,sadness and happiness which is what we all deserve.
This 79 year old lady lives alone in a big old house.Her son and family are in Australia with her beloved grandson.Her daughter and her really don not hit it off,with reasons which become apparent. Missy ( Millicent) is very lonely and decides to go for a walk in the near by park, and meets up with several different characters who through the book become close friends .
She is asked to care for a friends dog which after some persuasion she takes on the responsibility and she is pleased she did.This dog gives her a reason to carry on.Lots of walks,meeting up with friends alike and enjoying life again.
There are lots of twists and turns which is the making of a wonderful read,If this is a first book from Beth Morrey I cannot wait for the next one. In fact this book is so good I have now read it twice !!

What a heart warming read - the must have book for next year i'm sure of it.

I couldn't put this touching read down - read in 48 hours.

Missy is stubborn and set in her ways , with a touch of magic from a new found pet and some new friends she gains a new lease at life.

It just shows you to reach out to that lonely neighbour or smile at that person who passes you in the street. You really can change someones lonely life into happiness.

I am lucky enough to have read this before its release date and its touched my heart.

@sam_sumx

What a lovely, hopeful and heartwarming book. So nice to have a novel about women and their lives that is not based just around romance. All the main characters are strong independent women coping with life as best they can. I felt involved in their lives and read it in one sitting keen to know how it would turn out. The ending held a twist that I didn’t see coming. Will look for other novels by this author.

Missy is a lonely old lady who gets a new lease of life when she looks after her friend's friends dog. We learn about her earlier life along the way. A real feel good read which had me hooked from the beginning; I couldn't put the book down.