Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a slow burn story about two widows, 50 years apart in age. Evelyn is a 71 year old spunky, nosy busybody who isn’t afraid to dispense her opinion about someone else’s life. Evelyn is a recent widow & she befriends 27 year old Lena, who is also a recent widow. Lena is everything Evelyn is not. She is meek, mild, & numbly stumbling through life after the sudden death of her husband. As the two women strike up an unlikely friendship, we begin to learn more about each woman’s life. Lena begins to realize that her marriage wasn’t as idyllic as she thought, & that if she has any chance of a happy life, she needs to deal with her tragic past.

The book is told in short chapters, alternating between Evelyn & Lena’s viewpoint. I really liked Evelyn’s zest for life & her can-do attitude. However, every time she gave “advice” to her daughters, I cringed along with them. It reminded me of my own mother, who also dispensed unwanted advice & criticism in the guise of “just trying to help”. Evelyn is tuneless to the notion that she’s not “helping”, but rather criticizing her daughters & not respecting their right to make decisions about their own lives. The book starts slow, but eventually picks up steam. If you like a slow burn, character-driven story about grief, depression & friendship, pick this book up. It’s available now & well worth the read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Kate Rock Book Tours & J.L. Cole. All opinions are my own.