I absolutely loved this book… I adore an older protagonist… who is feisty and not afraid to speak her mind. The story is like a warm hug – but it had spark and wit and humour too. I was bereft when I finished it (far too) late last night!’ Clare Swatman This is a melancholy tale about living the life that was expected of you, instead of the one you want, but it’s also about the ways in which the saying “When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens” is absolutely true. I adored it… A heartbreakingly beautiful story about love in all its different forms. (And she made me cry again, of course). Bravo.’ Nikki Smith Apart from the list Arthur has also paid for Mable to have a carer 2-hours every day. While Mable does not feel she needs a carer she finds Julie comforting and soon become friends. She confides in Julie that her husband has left her a list directing her to find her long lost friend and Julie is immediately on board to help in the search. Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautifully written and heartwarming story about love, aging, friendships, self-discovery, loss, grief, loneliness, regrets and second chances. Most of all, it relates to having the courage to make a change and becoming the person you were always meant to be despite expectations of society. I absolutely loved this book so much!! The characters were so real and relatable and I was so emotionally invested. I could just picture myself spending time with this amazing group of women. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not stop reading! ALL the emotions!! 💙💙💙💙 year old Arthur and 86 year old Mabel have been married for 62 years. Though Arthur is more outgoing, more excited by new possibilities and Mabel is the introvert, not interested in new experiences, they can take the small silences that older marriages are comfortable enough to endure.

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A completely heartbreaking, beautiful, uplifting story, guaranteed to make you smile but also make you cry. Perfect for fans of My Name is Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Keeper of Stories.Readers are absolutely loving The Last List of Mabel Beaumont: He also knows that his reclusive wife may need a little help transitioning to a life without him in it-even if she has never loved him quite the same way that he has loved her.

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow,always’. I finished this in the same 24 hours as I started it. Oh… what a beautiful story… Poignant and inspiring!’ Jennie Godfrey This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.I am not sure if the complete personality change in Mabel after Arthur's death was intentional in the "I am out of prison now, so I no longer have to pretend" or if it was just a plot device to show character growth, If it was a plot device, it failed for me, because the change was so dramatic. With the home health aide's help, Mabel develops three close friendships and reaches out on her own to a young adolescent. These three women come to support her in her quest to find her best friend, Dot, who disappeared right before her wedding to Arthur. The young adolescent allows Mabel to be giver.

This beautifully written story of friendship, love, loss and second chances captured my heart. It's a tender and uplifting read and I adored Mabel and her unlikely gang of colourful characters... Leaves you feeling warm, hopeful, and satisfied.' Lisa Timoney, authorSurprisingly, Arthur has prepared for his passing by hiring someone to come in to their home for two hours each day. This carer is named Julie, and despite Mabel's initial misgivings, Julie becomes a true friend, helper, and confidant. Through Julie, and her own newfound courage, Mabel meets other friends. A teenager who works at the local market. A seventy year old dance instructor, and a young mother with a tiny daughter. Suddenly Mabel doesn't feel so alone and she is experiencing camaraderie for the first time in decades. She has a new lease on life at the tender age of eighty-six. Her new friends set about to help Mabel find her old friend Dot. Gorgeous... Tender and beautiful... As hopeful as it is heart-breaking... I loved it.' Amy Beashel, author Eighty six year-old Mabel and 89-year-old Arthur have been married for more than sixty years. He’s all about moving forward, trying new things and loves a list, whereas she is about quiet contemplation and reflection. The couple are the proverbial chalk and cheese. Now Arthur has suddenly gone and it’s just her and what will she do without him? The final entry on Arthur’s last list says “Find D“. Does he mean Dot, a good friend who drops off the radar who Mabel hasn’t seen for 62 years? After some understandable wallowing due to his loss, she gives herself a metaphorical shake and makes a list of her own, five things which includes “find D“. Though this task seems impossible with the help of new found friends, Mabel is determined to try. And so Mabel embarks on an adventure she never imagined possible, as she creates an ever-growing list of her own. Most surprising of all, she discovers that she is not quite as alone as she thought she was. Secrets On The Estate” by Mel Sherratt – Book Review @writermels #SecretsOnTheEstate #EstateSeries #BookReview#NovNov23 November 28, 2023

Mabel begins reaching out to others, opening up her formerly closed off life. Mabel learns to explore new things, something she refused to do for much of her marriage. She also realizes that she isolated herself, and she begins the process of reaching out and making friends. The women she brings into her life range greatly in ages and experiences, and all have their own troubles. All the women, including Mabel, gain tremendously from their new relationships with each other.Laura Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She lives in Leicestershire, England with her husband and their two children. This novel is about finding new meaning in life, whatever your age, overcoming fears that have limited the possibilities that could have been, making new friendships that on paper shouldn’t really work and it’s really touching. In the end, what bothered me most is that while I understand Mabel's motivation, and I do feel sorry for her, she wasn't written as caring. Maybe if the author had balanced it a bit -- Not showing so much of her sorrow for the loss of her brother and best friend 62 years in the past but balancing it with examples of her caring for Arthur, or even being a friend to other people during her marriage. I was left feeling that 62 years were wasted, and she only came alive after he died. Such a poignant story. Brought a lump to my throat... Will really appeal to fans of Joanna Cannon.' Karen Angelico, author