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!

This title sounded and looked inviting but OMGoodness, I battled to understand what was happening! I tried a few times to continue but the story just didn't seem to move! A very slow start which made it even harder to follow this book. Sorry but couldn't get into this title.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

This was so far out of my normal reading genres I wasn’t sure what to expect! Hannah is our main character and she really brings the life to the party. I overall enjoyed the futuristic version of the world, not in a holograms and teleportation way, but a view of what is probably to come with climate change and the ever rising oceans. I liked the build up and the characters were quite engaging. My only criticism is the feeling like the plot didn’t know where it would got from around 30 to 60 percent. Nice plot twist though! Heartbreaking ending for sure!

Thank you so much to Renegade Books, Dialogue, Grace Flahive and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Palm Meridian] before it’s released on 29th May 2o25!

I need this to be made into a show or movie because I need to see Palm Meridian Retirement Resort for myself and I need to watch this story unfold and for my heart to subsequently break all over again. I haven’t cried this hard since I read The Bright Years earlier this month.

This is a story that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve finished reading it. I should know, it’s been a few hours and it’s all I can think about. I know it’s going to be a fave of 2025 for me, one that I will think about always!

how is a book about a dystopian age and a life coming to a haltingly quick end hopeful. i dont know why dont we all ask Grace how she does it. because she does. the characters themselves gives you a marvellous feeling. the story was smart,quick and witty. and i mean this is a group of woman of a certain age. and lets face it, more than half the time they can be just the best of folk.
the book is set in a retirement village. there is one woman who has been given a cancer diagnosis so has taken the decision to end her life,medically. but shes going out with a bag of course. and we quickly realise she wouldnt have it any other way. shes going to be throwing a party. and she invited two very important guests.
this is a party of the now, but very much we get to see how Grace has lived with gorgeous snippets into her past bringing it right up to the night in question.
we dont just learn from Hannah though. all the characters have their perfect placing. i felt instant connection to them all and was feeling up and down along with them. the ending too, oh my!
this book had me caught up in all sorts of emotions. and i felt like i wanted to be hugged and go hug all those i love them and tell them just how much.
this book hit me so much deeper than i thought it would. and it did it with ease which is testament to the skill of the author.

While I enjoyed reading this book I was a bit disappointed in how it ended. Was hoping for more. I enjoyed the characters and the description of Florida in the future

When I read the blurb for this I knew I wanted to read this i absolutely adored Hannah she left a special imprint in my mind, I loved the back & forth flashbacks of her life and her no nonsense way on life. This book was a breath of fresh air, yes there is some heartache some times when your smiling, and have a all round of emotions, but this book will definitely stick with you. It’s beautifully written and a easy read

A MUST READ !!

Such a good story !! And I will recommend this to anyone and everyone !!

Wow !!

I don't know where to start... it's been a while since a book made me feel this much. I'd also like to point out that I'm writing this review around 2 weeks after I finished it, so it's not like I've got the immediate post-read high to blame - I feel the same now as I did when I finished the last page. This was a beautifully-crafted, hilarious, fun, camp, heartwarming, moving masterpiece, and frankly I can't believe it's a debut.

I always have a soft spot for elderly characters, because I have such great respect for my elders in real life, and there's often a sense of reminiscing about my grandparents. Hannah, though, was different to any other elderly character I've read about, and I adored her with my whole heart. Her carefree nature, loyalty to her friends and openness to love were so inspiring and heartwarming to see. In fact, all of the Palm Meridian crew were a delight to spend time with, and I was inspired to adopt more of their energy *now*, nevermind when I'm in my 70s!

The premise of the book sounds simple, but it unfolds in the most beautifully complex way. I really loved the flashback chapters to Hannah's past with her best friend, Luke, and the love of her life, Sophie. However, I also loved the present-day chapters that take place over the course of the night during Hannah's End of Life Party. The underlying tension that ran throughout these parts of the book was enough to bring a lump to the throat, and I truly felt like I was right there with Hannah experiencing her turmoil.

This was such an enjoyable read, and despite the heavier topics and some of the emotional moments, there was still a sense of hope and magic about it. I truly haven't been able to get it out of my head since. I'm SO glad I followed my heart and requested a copy.

This was so good, I didn’t really know what to expect when I was given the opportunity to read this as part of an ARC via NetGalley but this story blew me away! I would have read this in a day if my life had not got in the way, the run up to the end was so hard to put this down!

I honestly don’t want to say too much prior to the release on the 29th May but this is a must read. There is so much to enjoy from the MC, the bunch of loveable members of her found family and the sense of connected communities.

There are so many points that touched me deeply with the ups and downs along with the cleaver use of the past mixed into the present retelling a story of love. So thoughtful and moving as well a joy and general enjoyment through the friendship as well as the heartbreaking truths.

I still feel emotional now but honestly it’s a celebration and there is so much to enjoy. I highly recommend this, read this and pass it onto the next person to enjoy.

This beautifully written book was thought provoking, hilarious and heartbreaking all at once. Set in a care home for queer women - a truly unique setting! - in the future where the world is very different due to climate change it raises many questions. I found myself truly thinking about how I would spend my last day alive if I knew it was my last day, as well as really thinking about what I can do to reduce my carbon footprint. I honestly couldn’t stop reading, and oh my goodness, that ending!!

Poignant, reflective, emotional and funny Palm Meridian is an excellent read. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.

Palm Meridian painted a vivid picture in my mind from the outset – a utopian haven for queer women embracing their golden years amidst a partially submerged Florida of 2062. The synopsis promised a poignant exploration of life's final chapter, and while I certainly shed tears, I was delightfully surprised by the abundance of laughter and the surge of gratitude I felt for my own cherished connections.
Grace Flahive crafts a truly unique setting in Palm Meridian, where the vibrant energy of its residents – from hula hoopers to fiercely competitive book club members – leaps off the page. Hannah's decision to embrace her impending medically assisted death with an end-of-life celebration felt both brave and deeply human. The anticipation surrounding the potential reunion with two pivotal figures from her past – Luke, her steadfast childhood friend, and Sophie, the long-lost love who still holds a piece of her heart – created a compelling emotional undercurrent.
The novel beautifully interweaves Hannah's present-day preparations for her farewell with poignant flashbacks to the significant moments of her seventy-year life, particularly the tender and enduring love she shared with Sophie. These glimpses into the past are where the story truly shines, painting a rich tapestry of shared joys and inevitable heartaches. The supporting cast of vibrant and unforgettable women at Palm Meridian adds another layer of warmth and humor to the narrative.
However, while the premise and characterizations were strong, certain plot developments felt somewhat less impactful. The "devastating secret from the past," while intended to add a layer of complexity and potentially make Hannah reconsider her decision, didn't quite land with the emotional weight I anticipated. This aspect of the story felt a little rushed and didn't fully explore the potential ramifications.
Despite this minor reservation, Palm Meridian is ultimately a moving and thought-provoking read. It's a joyful yet audaciously bittersweet celebration of aging, friendship, and the enduring power of love in its many forms. It serves as a poignant reminder that life, at any stage, is what we choose to make of it. While a few narrative threads could have been more fully developed, the book's heart and its wonderfully drawn characters left a lasting impression.

I really tried with this book, it just didn’t click with me. I think the pace was too slow and I tried twice.
Unfortunately I just couldn’t vibe with it.

One of the most charming, heartwarming books that I have read in a while. I absolutely loved the cast of characters, the world of the story and the friendships and romantic connections that fuel this story. What a clever idea for a queer story. I want to buy it for all my close friends.

A retirement village in the wilds of Florida. Not the Florida of the now but the future. Climate change has affected the weather and most of the state is unhinabatable.
Hannah is throwing a a party to celebrate her life before ending it the next day. Medical intervention due to terminal diagnosis.
Looking back at a wonderful and fruitful life will make you smile and realise that everyone is unique.

First of all this is where I want to retire to! Sounds absolutely wild!

This is a lovely life affirming book. Ticks all the boxes, great characters, witty and emotional.

Flahive elegantly weaves together the story of Hannah’s life with her dystopian present.

Totally recommend and will be buying copies as presents.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy to review.

Hannah has decided to throw a luxurious and indulgent end of life party the day before her schedduled death. It is 2067, Hannah lives in a retirement complex in Florida, she has terminal cancer, and has opted to medically end her life, rather than deteriorate in pain. The party guests will be full of new friends, and old friends, people she has known for decades, people who can tell her story, as the party descends into decadence Hannah awaits the final, most wanted guest to arrive. Full of emotions, and regret, and, friendships, and pensioners behaving very badly!...Read it! (and cry, and laugh out loud)

Such a beautiful story of lost love, friendship and just life in general. It's equal parts heart-warming and equal parts devastating. I didn't want to leave the characters and I need a sequel so we know what happened to them all!!

I want to retire to Palm Meridian! What a fabulous group of characters are Hannah and her friends.

For a book about some-ones last day before medically assisted death after a terminal cancer diagnosis this book is so full of life and proves that life doesn't stop once you are beyond a certain age.

The bittersweet ending was perfect for this story.

Loved it.