This was everything I needed and more. Its been a week and I’ve yet to formulate more coherent thoughts. I see a reread in my near future.

We follow Hannah, who is at a retirement resort for queer women in Florida in 2067 and she is going to throw her goodbye party.
The chapters alternate between the present and past, where we learn more about Hannah's life.
The story is about friendship, relationship, break-up, death and secrets.
Hannah is waiting for her the love of her life who she hasn't seen in forty years to show up. In the meantime she discovers that her best friend has kept a secret from her, concerning her ex girlfriend.
I really like following the events of Hannah's past and present life.
The characters were all lovable.

The ending was so sad but I enjoyed this book!

I really wanted to love this one but sadly, it fell a little flat for me. Billed as a rowdy queer romp at an end-of-life party in a retirement home set amongst a dying planet, while this was a quick and well-written read, it was very superficial. Many of the characters lacked the depth to be truly engaging, the big secrets were revealed early and were a bit of a wet fart, and I found myself frustrated and disbelieving that fourty years would pass and the lives of several key characters essentially stagnated. There were so many missed opportunities to expand the story: Florida dying, how all these queer retirees ended up here, Hannah’s miraculous yet paper-thin world-changing business, her childhood best friend. The humour was there, but everything else was lacking.

Palm Meridian offers an intriguing premise and promised Grace and Frankie vibes. It's set in a Florida retirement resort for queer women in 2067, where residents embrace life with vigour despite the world's climate challenges. The novel centers on Hannah, who, facing a terminal diagnosis, has chosen a medically assisted death. The story unfolds over a single day as Hannah throws a farewell party, to reconcile and make peace with her past and go out with a bang.

While this setting offers potential for rich storytelling, for me, the execution falls short. The narrative's attempt to blend humour with poignant moments often feels disjointed. The futuristic backdrop, meant to add depth, sometimes distracts from the core emotional journey.

I also found the pace felt quite slow and once I put the book down I struggled to want to pick it back up again. So, in conclusion , Palm Meridian has a compelling concept but it didn't quite land for me as much as I wanted to love it.

Thank you to Dialogue Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

This book's post-apocalyptic setting drew me in straight away. It's set in 2062 in a Florida retirement resort, with a group of elderly people who are living their best lives even though most of Florida is underwater, and inaccessible from the rest of the US.

The story centres around the final days of Hannah Cardin and how she is trying to make peace with her life and choices. It also includes chapters based on pivotal past moments of her life. It's really interesting take on the future from an LGBTQIA+ lens.

As Grace Flahive's first book, it's outstanding, and I would definitely read more by this author.

Thanks to Grace Flahive, Avid Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC, in return for an honest review.

This is, I believe, Grace Flahive's debut - and what a debut! It's about to come out in the UK (not sure whether it's out in the US), but it's definitely worth picking up and Grace Flahive is one to watch!

The setting is just fabulous - it takes place at Palm Meridian Retirement Resort in Florida, 2067, and this particular retirement home is exclusively for queer women! It sounds like an absolute riot there; I loved the idea of these people in their 70s, 80s and 90s having full out parties basically every night, and just LIVING, getting round their mobility issues, medication etc very deftly - the virgin cocktails flow just as freely as the regular ones at Frankie's, the bar there, and everyone very kindly looks out for each other (except, perhaps, when they're too drunk - which, it's implied at least, happens quite a lot!).

The entire book is set over the course of a single day: the day before Hannah, our loveable MC, is going to die. Because she's had a diagnosis of terminal cancer and she's opting for euthanasia. What do you do at Palm Meridian when you're going to die? Host a fantastic all day/all night party, of course! Not just her closest friends are invited, but the whole community at Palm Meridian because - well, we want everyone to have fun, right? Hannah sees her childhood friend, Luke, for the first time in a few years, has great fun with Esme who she's known most of her life, and parties <i>really</i> hard with all her fantastic queer friends from the resort.

But she really, really wants to see Sophie. Sophie is special. Without spoilers, I won't say why - but they haven't seen each other in years. Hannah knows she's got her invite and didn't reply, but <i>of course</i> she's coming. It's Sophie - she does things on a whim, she's going to turn up because... well, she's Sophie. Right?!

As the hours tick by and Sophie doesn't appear, Hannah's anxiety rises and truths from the past begin to emerge...

There are extensive flashbacks to various scenes throughout Hannah's life, exploring her love life, her career, her friendships - and they're all engrossing, and tender. Sweet. Really sweet.

I realised partway through that Hannah is only a tiny bit older than me (I mean, we're basically the same age, and I feel so OLD now! *cries*), and I started wondering: wow, what will things be like if I reach that age? Will the world be like that? Will I find a magical Queer community too? There's a touch of dystopia to it - Florida is burning, so many people have had to relocate, and other (hotter) parts of the world aren't mentioned, so you can only imagine... I also wondered if I have the friends NOW to make up Hannah's party then - if that makes sense. At this point, I started comparing myself to her at every life stage, and the enjoyment soured a little, but that is completely personal.

It was a bit clunky to get into, and there were parts where I wanted more - this is a very short novel! It was very North America-centric; what was happening in the rest of the world? If Florida was that badly affected, then wasn't there a global crisis? I know that wasn't Hannah's story, but it feels like it would have deserved a mention... Still, a 3-star rating isn't bad (I'm quite harsh with stars); I enjoyed it a lot, mostly the fantastic celebratory Queer community.

Hope to hear more from Grace Flahive.

Funny, heartwarming, and full of charm, Palm Meridian is a vibrant queer rom-com that had me smiling from start to finish. Grace Flahive delivers iconic characters with sharp wit and real heart—each one bursting with personality and depth. It’s a joy to read something that balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotion so effortlessly.

It's 2067 at Palm Meridian Retirement Resort, Florida, and the last day of Hannah's life. Tomorrow, as the sun burns the dew off the lawns, she'll close her eyes for the very last time.

But she won't be going quietly. Tonight, Hannah's throwing an end-of-life party: the drinks are on ice, and the palm trees are strung with lights beneath technicolour skies. And though Hannah has less than twenty-four hours left, she's holding out for one last, impossible thing...

Amongst the guest list is Hannah's long-lost love Sophie - the woman who Hannah can't forget, even after forty years. Hannah has to give her greatest love one last try.

Soon, the party is in full swing. Hannah waits nervously, unaware that before her last ever dawn breaks, a devastating secret will come to light. If Sophie shows, how can Hannah say goodbye all over again? And is there enough time to fix the past?

An old people's home for lesbians what fun! This book immediately grabbed me and from the start
it cracks along at a fair pace full off joyous enthusiasm
I quickly discovered, however, that there’s something not quite right the book is set in a dystopian future where parts of Florida are underwater because of climate change. I wanted to know more about this dystopian future and although it’s mentioned at times throughout the novel, it really doesn’t take upas much of the stories as I had hoped for being a big fan of dystopian fiction.
Without the dystopian element, the story stands up well on its own and it follows one elderly woman who has decided that she wants to end her life by euthanasia. Before this happens, she plans a huge party and we meet her at the beginning of the novel as she is getting ready for this.

As the story progresses we discover through historical flashbacks how she has ended up in the situation and we know more about her life and the lives of friends and fellow residents in the retirement community.
The author has a beautiful flowing writing style I particularly loved this sentence “ripples at age 19 and 26 and 34 seared through her hours skittering through her blood “

The author describes her characters in detail with such real touches that to be really know these people at the end of the novel
I read a copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased review. The book is published in the UK on the 19th of May 2025 by Dialogue-renegade books.
This review will be on NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones.

This was a brilliant debut! Such an interesting concept which drew me in immediately and I loved the setting of a queer retirement home in an almost inhabitable Florida in 2067. So beautifully written, yet so heartbreaking. Cried my eyes out after finishing it!

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

I received an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
Palm Meridian was overall an enjoyable and easy read. Character development was quite good and the pace was excellent. I think the concept was great and fun, however, I personally do not enjoy miscommunication tropes (which this book relies heavily on) so this has decreased my rating.
I think it could be a 5-star read for those who enjoy this kind of trope or are not bothered by it.

Beautifully diverse and queer characters whose friendships and connections left me feeling quite warm and fuzzy inside but I found it hard to feel invested in the “mystery”, although that’s possibly because I had to dip in and out of reading this one because of life.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this, very funny and easy to follow but I feel like the whole ‘end of the world’ situation that’s hinted to didn’t really bring much to the story. If the author is wanting to make a strong argument about climate change it didn’t need to happen here and doesn’t land as well as maybe it would with a different story.
These are really picky things but all round a really good debut novel and a great one for queer literature.

I gave up on this book after a few chapters. No disrespect to the author but it didn’t hook me in and wasn’t what I was expecting. A group of gay women living in a retirement village in the future in a Florida that is quickly disappearing due to global warning. Not my cup of tea

An interesting story and thought provoking. Enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to others. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

‘Palm Meridian’ by Grace Flahive is a gorgeous, emotional and unexpected festival of life, love and tragedy, set in a Floridian retirement resort in 2067. We begin as long-term resident Hannah is preparing for her end-of-life party, and learn about her life past and present, especially her long-lost love Sophie. As sunset gives way to sunrise, a devastating secret is revealed which makes Hannah’s last hours even more enlightening, precious and bittersweet.

I adored the memorable characters and the celebration of queerness, and the glimpses of America’s burning future. The way Hannah’s choice to die by euthanasia was discussed rationally was refreshing - the novel did not skirt away from themes of devastation, beauty, loneliness, comfort, sickness and autonomy.

The writing, complete with rollercoasters of emotion on single pages and immersive world-building within a perfectly restrained page count, was extremely accomplished for a debut novel! I absolutely cannot wait to see what story author Grace Flahive turns her talents towards next. This gets 4.5 stars from me.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Dialogue Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What a brilliantly hilarious, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking story.
A beautiful read about love, loss, friendship & the wonder of life. This one will stay with you long after reading.

This book gave me Black Mirror San Junipero vibes - and I mean that as a good thing. This is the type of place I want to end up when climate change inevitably ruins everything.

I found the characters a little hard to keep track of at first, because it felt like we were introduced to so many all at once. I didn't think I felt attached to any of them but then found myself sobbing at the end so proved myself wrong there. Also I loved how you kind of forgot how old they were, then all of a sudden they're talking about softening their stool, and you are reminded that this is a retirement resort.

I would recommend to anyone who wants a sapphic romance book with a hint of apocalypse.

Palm Meridian is a vibrant book about living life colourfully.
The resort setting is fun, a bit kitsch and still full of life. This is the kind of retirement you wish to have for sure.
I found the story to be reflective, heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one.
One thing this book has is standout quality, this is through the vivid setting and unique characters.
I really hope this becomes a film as I think it would translate to screen beautifully.
If you want a bright and engaging story look no further.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that simultaneously made me laugh, cry and think as much as this one did.

Palm Meridian is filled with questions and longing, a cast of likeable and queer characters without their queerness feeling forced or being used only as a coming out storyline and an exceptional and unique plot,

I was rooting for Sophie- Hannah’s love from their twenties almost 50 years ago- to arrive at the party Hannah was throwing to mark the end of her life as she chose euthanasia rather than suffer through a terminal illness. This is a book of contradictions (complimentary), set in the future with flashbacks to current times and with some things so much better than now but others the same, or even in relation to the climate disaster, even worse. I loved this book and want to reread it, also think it would make a great and visually stunning limited tv series.

The premise of this is really interesting - diverse queer characters at a Florida retirement resort, bringing in elements of climate change and grappling with growing older.

Parts of it were really heartwarming and I really loved the friendships. It was interesting looking at Hannah's life too and her long lost love Sophie.

However, I just struggled to really get into this and the writing style wasn't really my cup of tea. I found the pacing was a little off.

But it was still an enjoyable read and I think lots of people will love it!