Pocketful of Poseys

by Thomas Reed, Thomas L. Reed Jr.

When your dying mother has one last request, how can you say no? Grace Tingley and Brian Posey are forty-something twins whose lives have gone in very different directions. Grace, now a private school teacher in coastal Connecticut, was a PhD candidate at Yale when an unexpected pregnancy threw her plans into a tailspin. Brian, an adventure travel executive in Seattle, barely scraped through an obscure New England college and recently married Ella, after three years in an intimate relationship with a charismatic man from Jamaica. When their widowed mother Cinny, a charter member of Woodstock Nation, is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Grace and Brian are there for her last days in hospice care. This is where Cinny reveals her staggering plan for the They’re to sprinkle her ashes, mixed with their father’s, at a series of exotic locations around the globe—some remote, some challengingly public, all known and loved by the Poseys. Joined by their own immediate families, Grace and Brian set off on a funereal odyssey that uncovers more about their parents’ relationship, and themselves, than the twins find it easy to admit. By turns hilarious, profound, jarring, and poignant, Pocketful of Poseys bounds dizzily across the United States to New Zealand, Thailand, Italy, and more, as the last of Cinny Posey’s secrets are exposed, and her survivors are forced to confront the strength of the ties that bind them all together—for worse and for better.

368 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2023

About the author

Author also writes under Thomas L. Reed Jr

Reviews

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

After their mother, Lucinda “Cinny” Maynard Posey, passes away in an assisted living facility in Hanover, New Hampshire, twin siblings Grace Tingley and Brian Posey, now both in their forties, embark on a “funereal odyssey” in keeping with her final wishes. As per Cinny’s wishes, they are to spread her ashes along with their father Frank’s in several locations across the globe – places that hold a special meaning for them. Each location comes with specific instructions and letters in which Cinny shares stories about these places and what makes them special for her. The novel follows Grace and Brian and their respective spouses, Jack and Ella, and children, Grace and Jack’s daughter Chelsea (in her twenties) and Ella’s sixteen-year-old daughter from a previous relationship Sage over their three-week trip across New Zealand, Thailand, Rome, Grindelwald and Oxford with a final stop in New Jersey. In the course of their trip, Cinny’s children and their families work past their reservations and past resentments, connect with new members of the family and reconnect with one another in an emotional journey filled with heart, laughter, a sense of shared loss and opportunity for personal reflection.

Beautifully written with real and relatable characters. I found Pocketful of Poseys by Thomas Reed to be an insightful, entertaining and thought-provoking read. I enjoyed the humor, the heartfelt moments and the journey as a whole. Not only do we get to know more about the siblings and their respective relationships and family members, but we also get to know more about their parents and the special moments they shared. Each of these individuals is flawed, each harboring secrets and insecurities that impact their personal relationships. They are quick to judge each other, but the forced proximity enables them to reevaluate their priorities, take responsibility for their actions and try to understand one another. The author touches upon several sensitive topics such as sibling rivalry, sexual orientation, infidelity and the death of a parent, among others, with empathy and compassion. I should mention that the circumstances surrounding Cinny’s death were heartbreaking and I think readers might find certain aspects of the same quite disturbing for distinct reasons. I did feel the novel was a tad long drawn, but at no point did I lose interest in the story. Overall, I found this novel to be an immensely satisfying read.

I received a digital review copy from the publisher via Edelweiss+. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on September 19, 2023.

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[Lauren Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you Beaufort Books and NetGalley for my e-copy of this book!

When I read the synopsis for this one, I was immediately intrigued! Two siblings and their families work together to fulfill their mother’s dying wish after having a strained relationship for years.

They take the vacation of a lifetime to scatter the ashes of their mother and father in significant places around the world through the instructions in letters written by their mother, Cinny. They have to work through their differences to cope with the grief and discovery of family secrets Cinny unveils as she writes.

This book had a lot of promise, but it felt a little scatter brained at times. I found myself getting confused about what was happening and having to reread sections. The beginning of the book was a lot longer than it needed to be, but I did appreciate having the background information as the story progressed.

I loved learning about Cinny and their father, Frank, through the family stories sprinkled in. And I really enjoyed learning about the family as we traveled around the globe with them. I kept reading because I wanted to know more about what happened in Cinny and Frank’s relationship as well as the siblings. Plus it was heartwarming to see the new relationships and friendships developing between family members on this trip!

The pub date for this guy is September 19!

[Reading Fool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book.

Grace and Brian are fortysomething twins whose mother Cinny has just died. Before she died, Cinny wrote specific instructions, through a collection of letters, for Grace and Brian to take their respective families on a journey to various locations around the world where they are to spread the ashes of Cinny and their father Frank. What ensues is a trip to New Zealand -> Thailand -> Italy -> Switzerland -> England -> last but not least, New Jersey. The storytelling here reminded me of Richard Russo. This is a cast of characters, each with his/her own flaws and funny (so funny!) quirks and anecdotes. I traveled along with the Poseys as they discovered their parents' secrets and learned about themselves in the process. This was a joy to read.

[Erin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pocket Full of Posey's is a slow build... on family relationships, family history and family trust. It has a lot of love, a lot of humor and a lot of chutzpah. At their mothers dying request two fraternal twins and their respective families are charged with basically traveling the world to scatter their parents ashes at specific spots where their mother Cinny has felt strong connections. Lots of travel adventure, lots of family interaction, and quite a bit of family surprises ensue. I really liked this book, especially the ending. The author summed up all of us as human beings traveling through life really quite well. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC version: grammatical errors present in edition
My main critique for the entire book is if sage is going to be the woke youth trope questioning Brians sexuality in relation to everything Ella, Grace, his humor, etc is not very bi-visible. I almost DNF the book if it wasn't for the potential and maybe the authors intention. No matter how many years pass peoples mindset tend to be you are either straight, gay, or lesbian. The spectrum of sexuality is every growing changing and vast. It was also intriguing to see the wealth and opportunity this white family was given due to sacrifice. This book allowed me to think on many things & I truly enjoyed it overall!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story filled with funny, if dark, humor and so many tender family moments.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed following the Poseys around the world as they dealt with their grief and worked through personal family matters. I felt that the beginning part of the book was a little drawn out, but appreciated the background it provided for the remainder of the book. I loved the new relationships that developed between family members during their travels. A beautiful reminder to embrace the family and moments we have. 

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was reading this book for a book club so I forced myself to finish it (but almost quit several times). I gave it two stars for the cute premise and characters. But the author needed a much more critical editor. Scenes had way too much extraneous chatter. This book easily could have been 1/3 to 1/2 shorter. It was very tiresome for me.

[Catherine Sacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Clockwork

This novel reminds me of Tolstoy's quote (from Anna Karenina) All happy families resemble each other. Each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

At the center of this unhappy family are 40-something twins Grace and Brian.
Grace has been carrying the family "laundry" for years, and it's appropriate that on page one she's struggling with a basket of her mother's clothes as she tries to finagle the lock and handle on the door to her mother's cottage.

Perfect Grace, the former All-Star Student and Athlete has never had a "handle" on her oblivious, carefree mother, Cinny, whose Soul was burnished at Woodstock. She has spent her life "settling", correcting everyone's grammar, scowling at their "inappropriate" behavior. She's a bitch. How I so wanted to find a good therapist for Grace. How silly of me! Grace wouldn't tolerate therapy. Her walls are too thick. She'd be too busy correcting the therapist.

Meanwhile, living on the opposite coast (in Seattle) is her twin brother Brian. In contrast to Grace's academic prowess, he moseyed through school. I can't remember if he actually finished college. Did he? Anyway, he's been "getting away from all that" - family, cultural, social expectations - for a living. He plans adventure tours and vacations for people.

Things are about to change for 'ol Grace and Brian when Cinny hands them some letters -along with instructions to gather their families and to bury her ashes and those of their father in all the countries they loved. (New Zealand, Thailand, Rome, Switzerland, England, and here in the US, at a Molly Pitcher truck stop on the NJ turnpike)

This 3-week odyssey for Grace and Brian and their families could have gone either way. It could have driven resentments and feuds deeper still, or it could have shaken loose all the mortar and stones of their walls and allowed these folks to let go of old hurts, forgive each other, and build healthier bonds.

This novel achieves the latter. It's a novel about a family finding their rhythm, their way back to each other. Tense adventurish moments along with their reflection on the sobering personal experiences that Cinny reveals in her letters, shakes everyone's walls loose, yielding tender moments, and healing gestures.

There's a lovely scene in Switzerland when Grace's husband Jack, whose fascination with watches, and who ironically has always felt out step with the Posey family, explains in loving detail the intricacies of a particular watch -impressing even the fancy/schmancy Swiss Salesman. It's a moment where Grace starts to appreciate the endearing traits of Jack. The guy whose out of sync gets the family clock started again.

[Averi Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Thomas Reed is a mesmerizing exploration of the interplay between humanity, nature, and the emotional landscapes within us all. This book has an earthy depth that feels almost like a timeless fable, yet it’s deeply rooted in the intricacies of modern life. The poetic title, hinting at traditional rhymes and folk wisdom, beautifully reflects the soul of the story.

From the first page, Reed’s storytelling grips you with its lyrical prose, pulling you into a world that feels as tactile as it is ethereal. His characters are striking in their authenticity, layered and flawed in ways that feel raw and relatable. The protagonist is someone who, while grounded in reality, appears to drift between the delicate boundaries of dream and reality, much like a flower swaying in the wind—a fitting image given the book's nature-driven themes. Reed’s writing has this dreamlike quality, effortlessly capturing moments of stillness and the subtleties of emotion with descriptions that linger like echoes long after you’ve read them.

One of the most captivating aspects of this book is how Reed weaves the natural world into the fabric of his characters’ lives. Every interaction with the environment, every vivid image of flora and fauna, feels purposeful and rich with metaphor, adding layers of meaning to the characters' journeys. Reed’s depiction of the natural world is not just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right, quietly powerful and profoundly affecting. It's refreshing to read a novel where nature isn’t an afterthought but an integral part of the story, as alive and dynamic as the characters themselves.

The pacing of the book is almost meditative, encouraging you to slow down and savor each word, each carefully constructed scene. Reed doesn’t rush through his narrative; he lets moments unfold, trusting his readers to appreciate the subtlety. This deliberate pacing mirrors the way nature itself moves—never hurried, always precise, with a rhythm that’s its own. While it might not appeal to readers looking for a plot-driven thriller, those who appreciate character-driven stories that offer room for reflection will find "Pocketful of Poseys" to be a deeply satisfying read.

As a lover of books, I found myself completely enchanted by Reed’s attention to detail. His prose is rich without feeling overwrought, poetic without losing clarity, and he masterfully crafts an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and hopeful. There’s something about the way he writes that feels like he’s pouring his heart into every sentence, and as a reader, you can’t help but feel that. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why you love to read, one that makes you appreciate the beauty of language and the power of a well-told story.

[R Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Pocketful of Posies, Thomas Reed rewards his readers with an interesting premise, strong characters, and a real sense of place (many places in this case). He does this with humor, realistic dialogue, and an obvious knowledge of the circumstances and the places he is writing about. As the novel opens, Cinny Posey, a child of the sixties and author of some truly bizarre children's books, has just entered an assisted living facility in Hanover, New Hampshire. She lived with her husband, Frank, now deceased, who was an English professor at Dartmouth College. Her rapidly advancing Parkinson's disease has lead her to decide to end her life by refusing food and drink.She uses her remaining time to write a series of instructions, sealed in envelopes, to be carried out by her family after her death. They are tasked with taking a round-the-world trip to scatter Frank's and her ashes in places that were important to them during life. Her fraternal twin children, Grace and Brian, their partners, Jack and Ella, and children, Chelsea (age 23) and Sage (age 16 going on 40) arrange a three week trip with stops in New Zealand; Thailand; Rome; Grindelwald; Oxford, England; and... well, I won't spoil it by mentioning the last place. Despite being gone, Cinny is very much a participant as there is a letter to be read at each stop that explains its importance and provides instructions for depositing some of the ashes. In addition, she reveals some things about herself and Frank that are very surprising. Each of the places also has a role to play and this "sense of place" is one of the great things about the novel. Along the way, the characters come to know themselves and each other far better, old wounds are opened and aired, and they grow as both individuals and as a family. In the end, I would have to say that the novel is ultimately about love and how it is nurtured and expressed, warts, bumps, and all. To sum up, this was a great read. It's plot is unusual, but believable, the characters are distinct and well developed, they grow throughout the book, as do their relationships, the dialog is both witty and profane, and the ending follows naturally from what came before. I recommend it highly.

[Taylor Ahlstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pocketful of Poseys isn't the type of book I would typically read (or, perhaps, it used to be), but a friend recommended it to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The dialogue was witty, the story was poignant, the world Reed painted was visceral, and the characters he created often jumped off the page.

I disagree with some other reviewers that the story starts off a little slow, as I think the beginning was an important part of building Cinny's grit, defining her unique and defiant personality, as well as laying the groundwork for the rift between her two children. As it went on, I found the storyline engaging, the characters well-developed, and the journey through loss, hurt, long-buried secrets—and eventual healing—a poignant one. I wouldn't call it a page-turner by any means, but I also don't think it's meant to be one. It's a story about growth and family and about coming to terms with our shared pasts. It's a story about appreciating life for the gifts it offers and remembering every so often to forget about all the bullshit we get caught up in—and forgive those who got caught up with us.

I think anyone who enjoyed Joyce Carol Oates' We Were the Mulvaneys would also enjoy this. Although, let it be known—the Mulvaneys had a far more tragic backstory than the Poseys.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out kind a slow. The story line was good, but it did not have that excitement and wow factor that had me staying in my seat and turning page after page.

The story starts out with the mother in a nursing home. Her daughter visits often because she lives close. Her son however lives out of state, so he does not.
There is a bit of rivalry between the two. As the mother gets closer to death, she starts to write letters to her children. She tells her daughter that she is sending her and her family along with her brother and his family on a word wide trip to several places the mother and their father lived or visited during their lifetime. In each of the places they visit, there is a letter to open from their mother. This all takes place after their mother has passed on.
In the letters her children learn many things about their mother they did not know. And as they travel, the two families get to know each other better and become close.

Of course, there is many other small things the author writes into the story line to try to make that wow factor. But I don't feel like he succeeded to make it that exciting. As I write this, I see other people give this book 4 stars. It was a likeable story to me but not a 4 star.

[DCG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pocketful of Poseys checks all the boxes. It’s funny (laugh-out-loud humor both witty and dark), poignant (have your tissues handy), and insightful. It takes you to lushly described locations as you travel with a crew of memorable characters. Twin adults (Grace and Brian and their partners and kids) are charged with sprinkling the ashes of their mother (Cinny Posey) and their father (Frank) around the world, with each stop revealing more of the family’s secrets, thanks to Cinny’s letters that accompany them. Some reviewers mentioned a slow start but to me every word set me up to fall in love. Cinny is about as quirky as they come, bawdy in one moment (her line at the thanksgiving table is one for the ages) and eloquent in another (as I said, get your tissues ready). The strengths and flaws of the characters are revealed as they face the risks and rewards that inevitably come from travel, handling not only stark logistics but, in this case, managing raw emotions, too. I was sad to finish Pocketful of Poseys but have found the deeper questions that the story raised (family dynamics, forgiveness, acceptance) are lingering. Pocketful of Poseys would be ideal for book clubs to read and ponder. It would also make a spectacular movie!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely does a book ACTUALLY make you laugh and cry, despite reviewers’ being so fond of making such a promise. This book will… I promise. I try to keep up with top recommendations from The New York Times, The New Yorker, etc., and I would put Pocketful of Poseys up against any of the books I’ve read this year in terms of how much I enjoyed it. The book dwells solidly in a sweet spot for most readers: it’s not a literary slog, but it’s also not a book to be relegated to the beach or airplane (though you’ll enjoy reading it there, too!). The writing is artful and the pacing is wonderful. Reed, a retired literature professor (and it shows, in the best way), is meticulous in constructing a story that is in turns - and sometimes simultaneously- hysterical and profound. I can hardly believe the bawdiness of the fictional matriarch, Cinny, just like I can hardly believe how much I’ve fallen in love with all the rest of the Posey/Tingley family. The settings, too, are beautifully wrought (New Zealand, Thailand, Rome, Oxford, and more… something about his writing tells me the author knows these places well). Stop reading reviews and get the book already. You won’t regret it.

[Jud Landis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pocketful of Poseys is a rich, funny and satisfying novel, deftly paced and skillfully wrought. The Posey matriarch’s assigned odyssey to scatter ashes worldwide at sites of family significance provides for armchair global adventuring that engages and carries the reader along in this story of family love - its sorrows and joys, its petty annoyances and subtle, deep satisfactions. The opening sequences are especially effective at rendering the experience of bearing witness to the last days and hours of a parent, with its simultaneous earthiness and profundity, humor and abject grief. As the sister and brother at the center of the story progress with their families on their journey, their experiences are in turns amusing, exhilarating, troubling and frightening, and sometimes all of these at once. As some of the more difficult truths of the lives of their parents are gradually revealed, and old wounds are uncovered and salved, the two siblings' understanding of themselves and each other grow, and their bond matures and solidifies. While it may be better to travel than to arrive, at the end of their expedition each family member does arrive - changed, enlarged, more at home with each other and in the world.

[Sharon Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this textured and sometimes meandering narrative that used the death of one character and locations around the globe to tell the story of three generations of a family. The characters were conflicted individuals with appealing, interesting, and distinctly unlikable traits -- quite imperfect and authentic.

This is clearly a family of privilege, with the character of Jack offering the best glimpse of what it feels like to step into this life without feeling a sense of belonging to this world. I would have liked to see this thread of the narrative deepened, but perhaps it gained voice through Sage's relationship with Jack and her challenges to inequities.

I ordered this book because the author is a former professor of literature, film, and writing at Dickinson College. As an alum who graduated in 1977 (psychology major, English minor), I was intrigued. Thomas Reed came after my graduation, but I could experience in his writing the pleasures of deep learning from those years. I appreciated the literary references, both in terms of content and grammar. (I heard the voice of a few of my own English professors.) And I enjoyed the choice of characters' names, many hinting at multiple meanings.

I also experienced a poignant return to that era with the reference to 1977 and Molly Pitcher in a later part of the novel. Although the name held a different meaning in the story, given the place of Molly Pitcher in the local lore of Carlisle, PA, home of Dickinson College, the reference felt like a playful "hello" to all who know Dickinson College and the little town of Carlisle.

I imagine that the different eras, locations, and characters will give many readers their own unique ways to connect with this story.

[Connie Rockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Reed walks a fine tightrope in the early chapters of this book between sentiment and snark. We meet Cinny Posey as she enters hospice care, unwilling to continue the long decline of Parkinson's disease. Her strong and eccentric personality is on full display as her adult children are presented with their mother's dying wish, that they mingle her ashes with their father's and sprinkle them in a variety of places around the world, sites that hold significant memories for the family. Accompanied by their spouses and children, the fraternal twins - Grace and Brian - embark on an odyssey that will reveal much about themselves and their relationship to each other. The compelling and enriching story of their travels and travails is told in such an engaging narrative that you will not want to put this book down until it is finished ... and then you will want to start all over again. The characters spring to life, reminding us that all families have their unique stories to tell. This is a treat not to be missed.

[Heather Barksdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Pocketful of Poseys” introduces fraternal twins, Grace and Brian, as they come together to support their dying mother, Cinny. She’s been dealing with Parkinson’s disease and not responding well to the meds. She believes hospice is her best option and her children support her in her decision.

Overall, I really enjoyed this tale. The story is told through the eyes of several of the characters- past and present. This allows for development of the main characters without having to utilize a lot of conversations recounting what happened in the past or guessing at motivations and backgrounds of characters. It also provides some suspense for the main/current timeline as to what is occurring and what Cinny had in mind for her family. The author does a nice job in connecting emotion to Cinny in a small amount of time so that you truly feel it when she passes. It’s an emotional scene and very well written. Find the blog review at heatherlbarksdale.com

I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Beaufort Books for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to promote and review as part of their Review Crew last year.

This was my first time reading a Contemporary Fiction Novel by Thomas so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i really liked this book at first but i quickly got boring with too long chapters and non-sense storylines surrounding Cinny's Children and Grandchildren which took away from what the book was about especially when there were Political Jokes put in that werent necessary and didnt relate to the Main Storyline.

The Characters were fun and interesting to read about. Grace, Cinny, Chelsea and Brian were definately my favorites but i felt like their backgrounds could of been builtup a little more.

The Setting was OK but could of been more descriptive especially since Grace and Brian had to travel to other countries to spread their parents ashes.

Overall an OK Contemporary Novel by could of been so much better!! I will read more by Thomas in the future but i hope his other books arent like this one was.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Death by starvation as opposed to other types of suicide. Why does Cinny Pose not go to neighboring Maine or Vermont instead of harshly starving herself? After all, Cinny survived Woodstock and many other outlandish adventures. The advance copy of this novel is tightly bound and one had to wrestle the book to actually read each page. Another fault rests in the lengthy chapters that endured for too many pages. Thomas Reed follows a misconception that every reader must find delight in the sex life and intimate secrets of all his characters. Jack Tingley projects an image of a middle-aged man caught up in expensive possessions. Brian Posey, Grace’s twin brother, struggles with his sexual identity. Six individuals, related by blood or by marriage, must visit five areas and deposit the ashes of Frank and Cinny Posey. An interesting study, but falls short with all the issues of each person. A few of the travelers could have been left at home.

[Beth Withers · Rating 3 out of 5]

.* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program. *

Various members of the Posey family, including twins, a brother and sister, are charged with dispersing their parents' ashes in several locations around the world to commemorate places that meant a lot to them. I literally laughed out loud through the first portion of the book, but once the journey began, I didn't find it as humorous. After a while, it became a series of adventures taken on by people with a lot of money who get away with breaking rules at times. I never connected with some of the characters and found others rather annoying. There are a lot of good messages throughout the book about appreciating the people we love and the time that we have on Earth. The book was ok, but I wouldn't reread it.

[Mary Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join Bryan and Grace and their families on an around the world adventure to fulfill the last wishes of their mother, Cinny Posey. The journey is both heart wrenching- revealing and resolving long buried secrets, interpersonal conflicts, and realities from their childhoods that were unknown to them, as well as joyous and beautiful in the reaffirmation of family, love, and acceptance as each family member develops a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other. The extensive knowledge and world experiences of the author shine through in the descriptions of the many destinations that are visited so that readers will feel they are truly sharing in the transformational adventure of this quirky, loving family.

[John Ravenal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Full of humor, both clever and dark. The emphasis is on the group dynamic of a wonderful ensemble of characters as they pursue the somewhat madcap last wishes of their departed mother/grandmother. But each has their own backstory, which gets revealed over time. As we come to know what makes each of them tick, we feel increasing sympathy while still maintaining an amused regard. The book has a cinematic quality—you can imagine it as a hilarious dramedy, with the group moving from one exotic travel destination to another. There’s equal parts situational comedy and satirical wit, as well as touching moments of insight and connection. A great read!

[Cameron Speth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Pocketful of Poseys and I’m sorry I finished it because I miss the characters already. The reader really gets to know the Posey family in the book. They are very real – they made me laugh, they made me cry, they made me question some ideas (theirs and mine), they made me wonder. The book takes us on a journey around the world which is fun and scary and full of surprises. It is well-written and tells a fascinating story. I enjoyed it a lot. I hope the author writes a sequel.

[Fred Seebeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the clever conceit underlying this entertaining novel does not entice your interest, the well-crafted characters and compelling family dynamics should. While the children’s odyssey carries us around the globe, their interactions and revelations convey universal truths about family relations and responsibilities. Plenty of laughs punctuate every stage of the journey, too. I’m grateful not only for the engrossing saga of Cinny and her offsprings but also for the invitation to reflect on my own family, our bonds, our quirks, and our deep love and trust for one another.

[Theresa St.John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing and crying from the first chapter on. When I finished it, I wanted to start all over again. All the characters are terrific and talk like real people, but Sage, the spunky 16-year-old who is the youngest member of the family, is a powerhouse of wit, irreverence, and vulnerability. What a character! If you like dark comedy that rings true to the human experience, you'll love this book. I don't do reviews, but I had to do this one.

[Gary Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Reed’s poignant narrative, Pocketful of Poseys, beautifully captures the heartfelt odyssey of a colorful family dispersing their parents’ ashes. Through vivid storytelling, Reed skillfully weaves the intricate tapestry of each character’s past, fostering a deep emotional connection with readers. With a kaleidoscope of personalities, readers are immersed in the lives of the family, relishing every step of their remarkable journey. A truly captivating and meaningful read, not to be missed.

[Jan Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

My favourite reading time is bedtime. Usually, I fall asleep reading a book but not with this one. I just had to keep on reading till I made a conscious decision to put it down. I was absorbed from start to finish. I loved the character development and the way one of the central characters reveals her past...slowly! And, of course, being a Kiwi, I love that my country gets a mention!

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, touching, and heartwarming, Pocketful of Poseys is one of the best novels I've read in a long while. The Posey family's journey around the world is lushly rendered, and the well-developed characters and witty dialogue were delightful (and often laugh-out-loud funny). In short, I found this novel un-put-downable, and a total joy to read. (And, as another reviewer mentioned, it would make for a fantastic movie!)