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Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase
His dying wish was to set her free. So why does she feel so trapped?
Jack had two dying wishes: that his wife scatter his ashes somewhere ‘exotic’, and that she not give up on life once he was gone. He intended to spur her on to new adventures, but despite clinging to her red suitcase, Geraldine Verne hasn’t left the house for three months.
It takes an accident for Geri to accept help from her friends, but when Meals on Wheels arrive she is mortified. Yet heartbroken volunteer Lottie brings with her more than cottage pie and custard. Like Geri, she too is struggling to cut loose.
As a gloriously unlikely friendship blossoms, Geraldine begins to feel a long-lost spark of life and a newfound confidence. Perhaps what both women needed most, after all, was each other.
Jack had two dying wishes: that his wife scatter his ashes somewhere ‘exotic’, and that she not give up on life once he was gone. He intended to spur her on to new adventures, but despite clinging to her red suitcase, Geraldine Verne hasn’t left the house for three months.
It takes an accident for Geri to accept help from her friends, but when Meals on Wheels arrive she is mortified. Yet heartbroken volunteer Lottie brings with her more than cottage pie and custard. Like Geri, she too is struggling to cut loose.
As a gloriously unlikely friendship blossoms, Geraldine begins to feel a long-lost spark of life and a newfound confidence. Perhaps what both women needed most, after all, was each other.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2021
225 people are currently reading
2722 people want to read
About the author
Jane Riley
2 books62 followersHi, I'm Jane Riley!
I was born and raised in New Zealand. After graduating from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in French and English literature, I headed to Europe to practise my French, got waylaid in Germany and ended up in Australia.
I’ve had a varied career in public relations, publishing, freelancing as a writer and editor, and launching an online e-commerce business, which involved writing a design blog interviewing makers and creators. I’m now a full-time author.
I split my time living in Sydney and London with my husband, and two daughters who now call London home.
You can find me on TikTok @janeriley_author.
I was born and raised in New Zealand. After graduating from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in French and English literature, I headed to Europe to practise my French, got waylaid in Germany and ended up in Australia.
I’ve had a varied career in public relations, publishing, freelancing as a writer and editor, and launching an online e-commerce business, which involved writing a design blog interviewing makers and creators. I’m now a full-time author.
I split my time living in Sydney and London with my husband, and two daughters who now call London home.
You can find me on TikTok @janeriley_author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 13, 2021
Life was ‘Apple Crumble Days’ for super baker Geraldine until her beloved husband Jack died. Now her red wheeled suitcase is her world and within the confines of their house it feels like he’s still there. She’s struggling to cope let alone fulfil Jacks remaining wishes to ‘not give up’ and to scatter his ashes somewhere exotic. This is a wonderful sweet story about grief and the power of friendship struck through the unlikeliest of connections.
Despite the fact this book is about the different stages of grief it is actually very uplifting. Geraldine is simply wonderful as is the glorious friendship she makes with Lottie as they help each other to move on. Though Jack is obviously not actually present (!) this man of dreams fills every page with his sense of adventure, indomitable spirit and love for Geri. They are surrounded by a terrific community of young, old, eccentric, vibrant and caring people. The messages of the book are really good and are presented with originality. It’s funny in places too especially Benny and Ruby, two lovely children who are Geri’s neighbours. They are adorable. As you would expect there are some bitter sweet moments but it’s never mushy or maudlin, in fact, it’s the opposite. I love the progression through the different parts of the novel of the developing friendship, the clever chapter headings and the ending.
Overall, yes, this is about ‘misslieness’ ( a solitary feeling of missing someone or something you love) but it’s also very positive and life affirming. Yet again Jane Riley entertains with her quirky characters and lively writing style.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Despite the fact this book is about the different stages of grief it is actually very uplifting. Geraldine is simply wonderful as is the glorious friendship she makes with Lottie as they help each other to move on. Though Jack is obviously not actually present (!) this man of dreams fills every page with his sense of adventure, indomitable spirit and love for Geri. They are surrounded by a terrific community of young, old, eccentric, vibrant and caring people. The messages of the book are really good and are presented with originality. It’s funny in places too especially Benny and Ruby, two lovely children who are Geri’s neighbours. They are adorable. As you would expect there are some bitter sweet moments but it’s never mushy or maudlin, in fact, it’s the opposite. I love the progression through the different parts of the novel of the developing friendship, the clever chapter headings and the ending.
Overall, yes, this is about ‘misslieness’ ( a solitary feeling of missing someone or something you love) but it’s also very positive and life affirming. Yet again Jane Riley entertains with her quirky characters and lively writing style.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2021
EXCERPT: I stared at the clock on the wall. It said one-thirty, but surely it wasn't the afternoon already.
I sunk further into the sagging back of the chair. I felt small and sad and very sorry for myself. Things that had previously consoled or even gladdened me were no longer doing the trick. I felt out of kilter, like a crooked painting on the wall, or a cheese straw without paprika. A house with no windows. A dog with one ear. I could go on. I could go to the library and look up section 400-499 English Language to find the perfect metaphor, but would it actually fix anything? I glanced at the clock again. It was still one-thirty. Had the clock stopped? Who knew? All I did know was that I was frozen in time, shackled to my self-pity, my grief, my fears. I was like the 'i' in the middle of my name, trapped between other letters, unable to break free. I wanted to be alone, yet I was lonely. I wanted to stay home, yet I felt isolated. I wanted to be with my husband, but he was dead. Tears sprung forth as if I was chopping onions, and my heart flapped so vigorously that, had it been windy outside with no roof over the house, I may have taken off. I couldn't bear the sight of the clock looming over me, reminding me of my fate, any longer.
With a surge of adrenalin and rage, I exploded from the armchair, my focus solely on pulling the wooden-framed clock with its black numbers and unmoving hands off the wall. I saw nothing else, not even Jack. I should have, because there he was, in the way. My foot clipped the underside of the suitcase and got stuck. I upended the wheels, lost my balance, and floundered. A flaying arm knocked the christmas tree, the suitcase handle right-jabbed my chin and I fell as if in slow motion, landing with a thud on the living room floor, two suitcase wheels and five christmas tree branches needling me in the back. My right ankle was at a wrong angle and my left wrist in pain. And it was still one-thirty.
ABOUT 'GERALDINE VERNE'S RED SUITCASE': Jack had two dying wishes: that his wife scatter his ashes somewhere ‘exotic’, and that she not give up on life once he was gone. He intended to spur her on to new adventures, but despite clinging to her red suitcase, Geraldine Verne hasn’t left the house for three months.
It takes an accident for Geri to accept help from her friends, but when Meals on Wheels arrive she is mortified. Yet heartbroken volunteer Lottie brings with her more than cottage pie and custard. Like Geri, she too is struggling to cut loose.
As a gloriously unlikely friendship blossoms, Geraldine begins to feel a long-lost spark of life and a newfound confidence. Perhaps what both women needed most, after all, was each other.
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this book. I loved Geraldine. I loved Lottie. I enjoyed every tear I shed as I was reading, and every laugh that escaped my lips. And there was plenty of both. I even loved the chapter titles: 306.7 Love; Apple Crumble Days; Toilet Paper; Whisky and Cake . . .
Divided into four parts, the story is told entirely from the perspective of Geri (Geraldine), mostly in a linear timeline with occasional flashbacks in the form of memories. It is a story of grief, the grief of a woman who has lost the love of her life after more than 50 years together. Geraldine describes their relationship as being like a pair of shoes, one left, one right. They were not the same but complemented one another, they worked well together. But now that she is only one shoe . . . well, you see her problem.
She thinks that if she just pretends he's still there, and he is, then everything will be all right. She still makes him cups of tea, puts out biscuits for him, dances with him. And if she can shut out the world that is going to remind her that he's not there, all the better. But the world has other plans for Geri, as did 'Jackie-Boy'.
Geri is one stubborn lady. I have to admit to seeing more than a little of myself in her. I loved her kind heart, her sense of humor. I loved her devotion to Jack. I loved Jack.
Even the supporting characters are 'characters'. I am sure that we all know a Len, a Crystal and a Sue.
The first part of this book is sad. I cried a lot, and laughed a little. The second part I laughed a lot and cried a little. Parts three and four are mostly humorous, heartwarming and just occasionally sad.
This is the second book by this author, but the first that I have read. I will be seeking out her first.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#GeraldineVernesRedSuitcase #NetGalley
I: #JaneRiley #AmazonPublishingUK
T: @JaneRileyAuthor
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #mentalhealth #mystery #sliceoflife
THE AUTHOR: Hi, I'm Jane Riley!
I was born and raised in New Zealand. After graduating from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in French and English literature, I headed to Europe to practise my French, got waylaid in Germany and ended up in Australia.
I have had a varied career in public relations, publishing, freelancing as a writer and editor, and launching an online e-commerce business, which involved writing a design blog interviewing makers and creators. When The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock was published, I achieved my dream of becoming a full-time author.
I live in Sydney with my husband, an energetic but scared-of-heights Australian cattle dog-staffy cross, and two daughters old enough to not be living at home anymore. I volunteer as an English language tutor for the Adult Migrant English Program, am learning the piano and teaching myself Italian.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK for providing a digital ARC of Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase by Jane Riley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I sunk further into the sagging back of the chair. I felt small and sad and very sorry for myself. Things that had previously consoled or even gladdened me were no longer doing the trick. I felt out of kilter, like a crooked painting on the wall, or a cheese straw without paprika. A house with no windows. A dog with one ear. I could go on. I could go to the library and look up section 400-499 English Language to find the perfect metaphor, but would it actually fix anything? I glanced at the clock again. It was still one-thirty. Had the clock stopped? Who knew? All I did know was that I was frozen in time, shackled to my self-pity, my grief, my fears. I was like the 'i' in the middle of my name, trapped between other letters, unable to break free. I wanted to be alone, yet I was lonely. I wanted to stay home, yet I felt isolated. I wanted to be with my husband, but he was dead. Tears sprung forth as if I was chopping onions, and my heart flapped so vigorously that, had it been windy outside with no roof over the house, I may have taken off. I couldn't bear the sight of the clock looming over me, reminding me of my fate, any longer.
With a surge of adrenalin and rage, I exploded from the armchair, my focus solely on pulling the wooden-framed clock with its black numbers and unmoving hands off the wall. I saw nothing else, not even Jack. I should have, because there he was, in the way. My foot clipped the underside of the suitcase and got stuck. I upended the wheels, lost my balance, and floundered. A flaying arm knocked the christmas tree, the suitcase handle right-jabbed my chin and I fell as if in slow motion, landing with a thud on the living room floor, two suitcase wheels and five christmas tree branches needling me in the back. My right ankle was at a wrong angle and my left wrist in pain. And it was still one-thirty.
ABOUT 'GERALDINE VERNE'S RED SUITCASE': Jack had two dying wishes: that his wife scatter his ashes somewhere ‘exotic’, and that she not give up on life once he was gone. He intended to spur her on to new adventures, but despite clinging to her red suitcase, Geraldine Verne hasn’t left the house for three months.
It takes an accident for Geri to accept help from her friends, but when Meals on Wheels arrive she is mortified. Yet heartbroken volunteer Lottie brings with her more than cottage pie and custard. Like Geri, she too is struggling to cut loose.
As a gloriously unlikely friendship blossoms, Geraldine begins to feel a long-lost spark of life and a newfound confidence. Perhaps what both women needed most, after all, was each other.
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this book. I loved Geraldine. I loved Lottie. I enjoyed every tear I shed as I was reading, and every laugh that escaped my lips. And there was plenty of both. I even loved the chapter titles: 306.7 Love; Apple Crumble Days; Toilet Paper; Whisky and Cake . . .
Divided into four parts, the story is told entirely from the perspective of Geri (Geraldine), mostly in a linear timeline with occasional flashbacks in the form of memories. It is a story of grief, the grief of a woman who has lost the love of her life after more than 50 years together. Geraldine describes their relationship as being like a pair of shoes, one left, one right. They were not the same but complemented one another, they worked well together. But now that she is only one shoe . . . well, you see her problem.
She thinks that if she just pretends he's still there, and he is, then everything will be all right. She still makes him cups of tea, puts out biscuits for him, dances with him. And if she can shut out the world that is going to remind her that he's not there, all the better. But the world has other plans for Geri, as did 'Jackie-Boy'.
Geri is one stubborn lady. I have to admit to seeing more than a little of myself in her. I loved her kind heart, her sense of humor. I loved her devotion to Jack. I loved Jack.
Even the supporting characters are 'characters'. I am sure that we all know a Len, a Crystal and a Sue.
The first part of this book is sad. I cried a lot, and laughed a little. The second part I laughed a lot and cried a little. Parts three and four are mostly humorous, heartwarming and just occasionally sad.
This is the second book by this author, but the first that I have read. I will be seeking out her first.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#GeraldineVernesRedSuitcase #NetGalley
I: #JaneRiley #AmazonPublishingUK
T: @JaneRileyAuthor
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #mentalhealth #mystery #sliceoflife
THE AUTHOR: Hi, I'm Jane Riley!
I was born and raised in New Zealand. After graduating from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in French and English literature, I headed to Europe to practise my French, got waylaid in Germany and ended up in Australia.
I have had a varied career in public relations, publishing, freelancing as a writer and editor, and launching an online e-commerce business, which involved writing a design blog interviewing makers and creators. When The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock was published, I achieved my dream of becoming a full-time author.
I live in Sydney with my husband, an energetic but scared-of-heights Australian cattle dog-staffy cross, and two daughters old enough to not be living at home anymore. I volunteer as an English language tutor for the Adult Migrant English Program, am learning the piano and teaching myself Italian.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK for providing a digital ARC of Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase by Jane Riley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 29, 2021
A happy/sad story about Geraldine Verne who is unable to cope after the death of her much loved husband Jack. She withdraws into herself and her home, stays in her nightdress all day, and forgets to bathe and eat. At the same time she is embarrassed by herself and will not let her friends help her.
Geri keeps her husband 'alive' by putting his ashes and some selected memorabilia in a red suitcase which she talks to and takes everywhere with her. She seems to be sinking beyond recall, but life has a way of dragging you back, and a new friend plus a couple of near disasters with the suitcase eventually show her a new future.
This is a sweet story told with humour and kindness. I enjoyed the author's style and the way she writes her characters. Even Jack, although he is only represented by the red suitcase, shines as a lovely man who you would like to have met. There are kind neighbours, library staff and meals on wheels volunteers, all of whom are looking out for people like Geri and are willing to lend a hand. It makes one feel positive about the human race!
A very enjoyable and comforting read with a satisfying ending.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Geri keeps her husband 'alive' by putting his ashes and some selected memorabilia in a red suitcase which she talks to and takes everywhere with her. She seems to be sinking beyond recall, but life has a way of dragging you back, and a new friend plus a couple of near disasters with the suitcase eventually show her a new future.
This is a sweet story told with humour and kindness. I enjoyed the author's style and the way she writes her characters. Even Jack, although he is only represented by the red suitcase, shines as a lovely man who you would like to have met. There are kind neighbours, library staff and meals on wheels volunteers, all of whom are looking out for people like Geri and are willing to lend a hand. It makes one feel positive about the human race!
A very enjoyable and comforting read with a satisfying ending.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 8, 2021
After spending fifty years of her life with Jack, Geraldine is alone, with only the urn holding his ashes to hold onto, while she struggles to navigate a life without him. It’s only been three months, but her grief has isolated her and she finds herself unable to let go of the grief which now serves as her companion. She’s let herself go in the process, no longer caring about how she appears to others.
She spends her days trying to lose herself in television or watching the neighbors children through her window, or reliving moments with Jack. The first time they met, in her days as a librarian, she recalls his love of butterflies, many of which he framed and are still on the walls of their home. A reminder, these days, as sweet as those memories are, that he is gone. With no children for family, her only family was Jack. The memories she treasures most were formed with Jack. Their adventures, their travels, chasing butterflies, their life and love was complete. But now that he is not there, she is left with only the memories and his ashes, and can’t bring herself to open the door and her heart to imagine a new life without him.
Neighbors stop by now and then to check on her, but her main interaction begins with the children across the street, after noticing the muffins and lemonade they seem to be selling, she hesitantly opens her door and remembers the children she never had, the children they had wanted. She calls them over, still unable to bring herself to venture beyond her door, and the girl crosses alone, offering her a muffin. She overpays for the muffin, and gives her some sunscreen at the same time. A friendship begins.
When she finally does manage to venture outside, she has a fall which requires a brief hospitalization, and a neighbor arranges for Meals on Wheels to deliver meals for a time. Another friendship develops with one of the young women delivering the meals.
Grief serves as a paralysis of life and love, for her the only person she feels capable of talking about her grief with is the one person she is grieving for. But these new people who enter her life offer brief moments where she begins to let a bit of light in. In listening to others, she begins to see that she is not the only one struggling, and her new journey begins.
Shared in the vein of the quirky charming ways of Harold Fry’s Pilgrimage, I felt like those people cheering him on as he neared the end of his journey, and cheered Geraldine on as she slowly begins to let herself relive those memories, holding onto the joys, after all, ’isn’t that what grief is, a form of love?’.
Many thanks to Sandy, whose review prompted me to read this, please check out her review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Published: 29 Jun 2021
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Lake Union Publishing / Amazon Publishing UK
June 27, 2021
Loved this. It’s a sweet, well thought through real life experience. Thought provoking and heart wrenching but lovely. The ending was quite abrupt and I’m bereft, shedding a tear. An easy and uncomplicated read and just love the quips and metaphors. More detailed review to follow.
July 6, 2021
Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase is the second novel by Australian author, Jane Riley. Retired librarian Geraldine Verne has been a widow for three months, and she’s not coping too well. She’s not yet ready to let Jack go: his urn is inside her battered red cabin-luggage-sized four-wheeled suitcase, so he can be with her all the time. She can even twirl him round, have a dance together.
Jack was as close to the perfect husband as she could get: clever, and much funnier and more romantic than you’d expect an accountant to be. He was an adventurer, and their trips to exotic places on butterfly-spotting tours were always exciting. The Butterfly Room in their house is testament to that. This was a man who, even in his last weeks, set up a cryptic conundrum, clues for his Geri-pie to follow to his final, sentimental gift for her.
Their good friend, and widower of Geri’s best friend Pam, Len Goodman is trying to get Geri to come out to Bingo, to the club, but she’s resisting: ��The thing was, when it was only Jack and me in the house, it felt like he was still with me, but in the presence of others, it was disturbingly clear that he was very much gone.”
Geri knows she should try but: “It wasn’t that I no longer cared, rather I felt less bothered, as if I was hooked up to an IV drip of apathy, a slow transfusion of listlessness.” She really prefers to stay inside and just watch what happens in the street: the kids across the road with their lemonade stall, the passing parade of life.
Panic attacks mean she can no longer make herself walk out to get the newspaper, and shopping online is coming in very handy. She does wish the neighbours would stop trying to involve her in things like Neighbourhood Watch and the community Nature Strip gardens (Jack’s innovation a decade earlier). “I felt stuck in a loop of self-isolation and brain fog, and no good to anyone. I knew the outside world didn’t mean to badger, but I wanted to hide from it.”
Len tells her she may have Complicated Grief Disorder; Geri thinks she’s feeling “every form of CGD – from Crotchety Geriatric Disorder to Common Garden-variety Disinterest.”
Then a trip and fall, a trip to hospital, a sprained wrist and twisted ankle: with the best of intentions, Len organises Meals on Wheels, just until he’s back from his vacation. Geri grudgingly accepts, but keeps the volunteers at a distance… except for one: Lottie seems to have a sense of humour and, despite more than forty years between their ages, they can relate to each other.
Which is handy, because it turns out they need each other. Jack’s last wish: “I don’t want you to die with me. I want you to keep on living. When I’m gone, when I’m reduced to ash, take me somewhere exotic so you can take yourself somewhere exotic too” isn’t going to happen without some help.
Riley gives the reader a story that’s sad and funny, sweet and romantic, heart-warming and uplifting, and will certainly bring to mind A Man Called Ove for some. The community that surrounds Geri is one that many would wish for in advancing years. Riley has a lovely turn-of-phrase, making this a very enjoyable feel-good read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
Jack was as close to the perfect husband as she could get: clever, and much funnier and more romantic than you’d expect an accountant to be. He was an adventurer, and their trips to exotic places on butterfly-spotting tours were always exciting. The Butterfly Room in their house is testament to that. This was a man who, even in his last weeks, set up a cryptic conundrum, clues for his Geri-pie to follow to his final, sentimental gift for her.
Their good friend, and widower of Geri’s best friend Pam, Len Goodman is trying to get Geri to come out to Bingo, to the club, but she’s resisting: ��The thing was, when it was only Jack and me in the house, it felt like he was still with me, but in the presence of others, it was disturbingly clear that he was very much gone.”
Geri knows she should try but: “It wasn’t that I no longer cared, rather I felt less bothered, as if I was hooked up to an IV drip of apathy, a slow transfusion of listlessness.” She really prefers to stay inside and just watch what happens in the street: the kids across the road with their lemonade stall, the passing parade of life.
Panic attacks mean she can no longer make herself walk out to get the newspaper, and shopping online is coming in very handy. She does wish the neighbours would stop trying to involve her in things like Neighbourhood Watch and the community Nature Strip gardens (Jack’s innovation a decade earlier). “I felt stuck in a loop of self-isolation and brain fog, and no good to anyone. I knew the outside world didn’t mean to badger, but I wanted to hide from it.”
Len tells her she may have Complicated Grief Disorder; Geri thinks she’s feeling “every form of CGD – from Crotchety Geriatric Disorder to Common Garden-variety Disinterest.”
Then a trip and fall, a trip to hospital, a sprained wrist and twisted ankle: with the best of intentions, Len organises Meals on Wheels, just until he’s back from his vacation. Geri grudgingly accepts, but keeps the volunteers at a distance… except for one: Lottie seems to have a sense of humour and, despite more than forty years between their ages, they can relate to each other.
Which is handy, because it turns out they need each other. Jack’s last wish: “I don’t want you to die with me. I want you to keep on living. When I’m gone, when I’m reduced to ash, take me somewhere exotic so you can take yourself somewhere exotic too” isn’t going to happen without some help.
Riley gives the reader a story that’s sad and funny, sweet and romantic, heart-warming and uplifting, and will certainly bring to mind A Man Called Ove for some. The community that surrounds Geri is one that many would wish for in advancing years. Riley has a lovely turn-of-phrase, making this a very enjoyable feel-good read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
January 7, 2026
This is one of those books that handles some difficult themes well. In short, she uplifts and inspires the reader instead of depressing him or her. There is humor, but for me at least, not a lot of LOL moments, which is fine. I did cry twice while listening to this. Rosalyn Landor is a favorite narrator and she did a terrific job with this.
Geri has lost her husband of over fifty years and she feels unmoored. She carries an urn with his ashes in it in a rolling red suitcase and takes it with her everywhere. At the start of the book it has been three months since his death and she is unable to leave her home. She is not really eating or bathing. He was her soulmate.
Unsurprisingly she experiences a lot of growth in the story. A catalyst is Lottie, her Meals on Wheels volunteer. My husband recently retired and started working PT for MoW. It is a special organization and they are doing lifesaving work. People must qualify due to illness or income (at least, in our area) and most truly see MoW as a lifeline. There have been so many governmental cuts. I don’t think the politicians doing this really see these seniors as human beings who need to eat. But tax cuts for billionaires are a definite! This is a travesty.
Please consider donating to or volunteering for this lifesaving organization.
https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ Thank you!
Geri has lost her husband of over fifty years and she feels unmoored. She carries an urn with his ashes in it in a rolling red suitcase and takes it with her everywhere. At the start of the book it has been three months since his death and she is unable to leave her home. She is not really eating or bathing. He was her soulmate.
Unsurprisingly she experiences a lot of growth in the story. A catalyst is Lottie, her Meals on Wheels volunteer. My husband recently retired and started working PT for MoW. It is a special organization and they are doing lifesaving work. People must qualify due to illness or income (at least, in our area) and most truly see MoW as a lifeline. There have been so many governmental cuts. I don’t think the politicians doing this really see these seniors as human beings who need to eat. But tax cuts for billionaires are a definite! This is a travesty.
Please consider donating to or volunteering for this lifesaving organization.
https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ Thank you!
October 2, 2023
4.5 Stars. This story of Geraldine & Jack’s 50 year marriage is a beautiful love story. After Jack’s passing Geraldine’s grieving and coping are understandable and poignant. It is written with a great deal of empathy for those who have had a loss in their lives that leaves such a gaping void. It also is written with subtle humor-even to the chuckle out loud point. I loved it! Glad I made the decision to buy a copy (unfamiliar with the author) because it was not in my library system. Recommended!
June 4, 2021
Wow, I am finally done with this book. It took me a while to read but I got through it. I think it had more to do with reading about a character dealing with grief than the writing style that forced me to slow down. It wasn't the author's fault since I knew what I was diving into. Geri's loss had been depicted beautifully to the extent that I thought I was experiencing the same loss.
I loved Geraldine's characterization. She was a quirky and smart woman who loved to bake, read, and bingo.
Even when she didn't have any children or grandchildren, side characters helped her experience that form of love. Geri's friendship with Lottie and Len was admirable. The little neighborhood kids were adorable too!
I couldn't understand why this book was written in Geri's narrative. Things were happening in the lives of Lottie and Len, things that were talked about in detail but the first person narrative just didn't suit it since it felt like excessive information without direct impact toward's Geri's character. (Especially the situation with Len.) Sure Geri's compassion and kindness were apparent but it served no purpose truly.
Ah, Jack. What a sweetheart and gentleman. The cake. That just... it ripped my heart out and this is exactly why I have such high expectations for men! WHO WOULD EVER STAND THROUGH IT ALL?
Also, it kinda bothered me how there was no actual scene regarding the other characters' reaction to eating that cake. I would've liked it a lot if Len or Geri would've shared their thoughts.
Overall, it's a sweet book that takes you through a rollercoaster. The writing style clearly depicts the storm that brews inside of Geri. Each character had their little parts to play and was distinguished, which isn't easy to write. The ending was unforeseeable but cheerful nonetheless. I enjoyed reading it.
Additionally, I would love to mention the research the author has done with regard to the lives of butterflies! That was something I just had to mention. Thank you for educating me on that aspect, I love books that teach me something new.
I received a complimentary advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blog: https://periwinklepens.wordpress.com/...
I loved Geraldine's characterization. She was a quirky and smart woman who loved to bake, read, and bingo.
Even when she didn't have any children or grandchildren, side characters helped her experience that form of love. Geri's friendship with Lottie and Len was admirable. The little neighborhood kids were adorable too!
I couldn't understand why this book was written in Geri's narrative. Things were happening in the lives of Lottie and Len, things that were talked about in detail but the first person narrative just didn't suit it since it felt like excessive information without direct impact toward's Geri's character. (Especially the situation with Len.) Sure Geri's compassion and kindness were apparent but it served no purpose truly.
Ah, Jack. What a sweetheart and gentleman. The cake. That just... it ripped my heart out and this is exactly why I have such high expectations for men! WHO WOULD EVER STAND THROUGH IT ALL?
Also, it kinda bothered me how there was no actual scene regarding the other characters' reaction to eating that cake. I would've liked it a lot if Len or Geri would've shared their thoughts.
Overall, it's a sweet book that takes you through a rollercoaster. The writing style clearly depicts the storm that brews inside of Geri. Each character had their little parts to play and was distinguished, which isn't easy to write. The ending was unforeseeable but cheerful nonetheless. I enjoyed reading it.
Additionally, I would love to mention the research the author has done with regard to the lives of butterflies! That was something I just had to mention. Thank you for educating me on that aspect, I love books that teach me something new.
I received a complimentary advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blog: https://periwinklepens.wordpress.com/...
December 18, 2023
Oh Geraldine! We have so much in common! Geraldine retired from the library in 2012, I retired from the library in 2015. She was married for over 50 years. I have been married for 46 years. I'm only four years younger than her, and, we both love books, baking, and Baileys. LOL
Geraldine's beloved husband Jack passed away mere months ago. Now she is bereft, adrift, and mourning. She has found that her love of people and life in general has completely diminished. She is living in a bereavement induced limbo. She does not venture out. She keeps Jack's ashes in a red wheelie suitcase and wheels him around the house with her wherever she goes.
An inopportune fall leaves her with broken bones, a limp, and a bandaged hand. Her husband's best friend Len arranges for her to have 'Meals On Wheels' at his expense. She is adamantly against the idea of strangers in her home.
One of the Meals on Wheels volunteers in a young woman named Lottie. Despite her initial reluctance, Geraldine finds herself caring for this vibrant young woman. The budding friendship blossoms, giving newfound vibrancy to both their lives.
This novel was written with great empathy, more than a little humour, and an uncanny understanding of loss. It explores the physical and mental manifestations of grief, yet it ends on a joyous note. Women's fiction and Uplit that will be appreciated by many readers.
Geraldine's beloved husband Jack passed away mere months ago. Now she is bereft, adrift, and mourning. She has found that her love of people and life in general has completely diminished. She is living in a bereavement induced limbo. She does not venture out. She keeps Jack's ashes in a red wheelie suitcase and wheels him around the house with her wherever she goes.
An inopportune fall leaves her with broken bones, a limp, and a bandaged hand. Her husband's best friend Len arranges for her to have 'Meals On Wheels' at his expense. She is adamantly against the idea of strangers in her home.
One of the Meals on Wheels volunteers in a young woman named Lottie. Despite her initial reluctance, Geraldine finds herself caring for this vibrant young woman. The budding friendship blossoms, giving newfound vibrancy to both their lives.
This novel was written with great empathy, more than a little humour, and an uncanny understanding of loss. It explores the physical and mental manifestations of grief, yet it ends on a joyous note. Women's fiction and Uplit that will be appreciated by many readers.
June 26, 2021
Geraldine’s hubby of 50 years passes away and during the whole book she grieves for him in ways I’ve never heard anyone doing. She lugs him around in a red suitcase and takes him everywhere with her. It’s a very touching book and heartbreaking at times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2021
I got this eARC from Netalley in exhange for a honest review
Geraldine "Geri" was sort of alright, but i did not feel that the character had much development , but some - yes. But the story was boring.
Geraldine "Geri" was sort of alright, but i did not feel that the character had much development , but some - yes. But the story was boring.
July 4, 2021
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
Overall, this was a sweet story of letting go and it's mostly about grief and dealing with it. Geraldine is a childless woman in her 70s who's just lost her beloved husband and she's dealing with it in increasingly weirder and more dysfunctional ways. The story is about how her friends helped her deal with it and how she got better.
It was meant to make you feel warm inside, I could tell - but I know I won't remember the story after I close the book, and I found myself bored quite a few times. However, there will definitely be readers who will be more in tune with the themes, so I think it can be a meaningful and enjoyable story, just not for me. It does have a few triggers though, they are
In this book, I was only really uncomfortable with one thing - the hobby of the main character's husband, catching butterflies and pinning them in boxes. It's talked about as if it's romantic, but... It's just killing. It's killing beautiful butterflies. It's even mentioned that it's not allowed anymore, because species are going extinct. And I do get that it's realistic that pensioners of now might have had this hobby in the past, back while it was perfectly acceptable. But it was quite upsetting for me to read 'romantic' descriptions of a man waiting to catch AND kill a beautiful creature, to put it in a box in his room. Catching and killing butterflies was described as sensitive and romantic. Not something I'll ever understand, and I don't feel like this is something that should be romanticized.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Overall, this was a sweet story of letting go and it's mostly about grief and dealing with it. Geraldine is a childless woman in her 70s who's just lost her beloved husband and she's dealing with it in increasingly weirder and more dysfunctional ways. The story is about how her friends helped her deal with it and how she got better.
It was meant to make you feel warm inside, I could tell - but I know I won't remember the story after I close the book, and I found myself bored quite a few times. However, there will definitely be readers who will be more in tune with the themes, so I think it can be a meaningful and enjoyable story, just not for me. It does have a few triggers though, they are
In this book, I was only really uncomfortable with one thing - the hobby of the main character's husband, catching butterflies and pinning them in boxes. It's talked about as if it's romantic, but... It's just killing. It's killing beautiful butterflies. It's even mentioned that it's not allowed anymore, because species are going extinct. And I do get that it's realistic that pensioners of now might have had this hobby in the past, back while it was perfectly acceptable. But it was quite upsetting for me to read 'romantic' descriptions of a man waiting to catch AND kill a beautiful creature, to put it in a box in his room. Catching and killing butterflies was described as sensitive and romantic. Not something I'll ever understand, and I don't feel like this is something that should be romanticized.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
June 23, 2021
I was thrilled to be asked to read an arc of Jane Riley's second, book, not least because the blurb hooked me right away.
The grief of losing someone is intense, and we all deal with that grief in different ways.
Geraldine Verne, or Geri to her friends, is floundering. She is lost without her soulmate, Jack.
Upon his passing and subsequent cremation, she finds herself unable to let go of his ashes, and rather than display the urn on her mantlepiece, as some do, she finds solace in wrapping Jack up in special mementoes and placing him in a red suitcase they used to travel with, using it as both a physical and emotional crutch.
An accident forces her to rethink her ideas, as she is suddenly in need of help. More help than ashes and a wheelie suitcase can provide her.
My heart went out to Geri. A woman in her later years, with nothing more than her husband's remains, and his collection of butterflies as her support.
The way she shut everyone out, in order to wallow in her grief, really hit home with me.
But I loved the way her saviour came in the form of a Meals on Wheels volunteer, and now, despite their age difference, and background, they actually helped one another accept the way their lives were going to be.
Grief can hit us duer to the loss of a loved one, who has passed away, as well as one who has left us and our life, whilst still living theirs, and this book explores that whole topic in a very sensitive, yet entertailing way.
The grief of losing someone is intense, and we all deal with that grief in different ways.
Geraldine Verne, or Geri to her friends, is floundering. She is lost without her soulmate, Jack.
Upon his passing and subsequent cremation, she finds herself unable to let go of his ashes, and rather than display the urn on her mantlepiece, as some do, she finds solace in wrapping Jack up in special mementoes and placing him in a red suitcase they used to travel with, using it as both a physical and emotional crutch.
An accident forces her to rethink her ideas, as she is suddenly in need of help. More help than ashes and a wheelie suitcase can provide her.
My heart went out to Geri. A woman in her later years, with nothing more than her husband's remains, and his collection of butterflies as her support.
The way she shut everyone out, in order to wallow in her grief, really hit home with me.
But I loved the way her saviour came in the form of a Meals on Wheels volunteer, and now, despite their age difference, and background, they actually helped one another accept the way their lives were going to be.
Grief can hit us duer to the loss of a loved one, who has passed away, as well as one who has left us and our life, whilst still living theirs, and this book explores that whole topic in a very sensitive, yet entertailing way.
August 20, 2024
Awww a very sweet book about a woman who was married for 50 years and has now been widowed for three months but can’t come to terms with it. She’s stopped leaving the house, stops allowing people in, pretty much puts her life and self-care on hold. One day she falls, twisting her ankle and spraining her wrist and her good friend (who only found her on the floor because he was worried so he peeked through a window) sets up Meals on Wheels which she is extremely angry about. Grief is such a personal thing and there’s no time limit on it but can she finally learn to live without Jack?
Read
January 20, 20263.5★
June 9, 2021
Geraldine Verne the main character has been mourning the passing of her husband Jack, and does not know how to get on with her life.
This is a wonderful story of Geri's, slow progress to rejoin society. Her friends have tried to get her to go out and do things, but Geri would rather sit at home with Jack's ashes, which she takes with her everywhere in a red suitcase. The red suitcase was one of a matching set that she and her husband used when they traveled, in search of his passion, Butterflies.
Eventually with the help of two children, an old friend and a young woman who worked for meals on wheels, Geri finally started to slowly relive a life her husband wanted for her, and to fulfill one of his dying wishes.
I loved the character development and the issues that arouse, to make Geri once more, step out of her comfort zone.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book.
This is a wonderful story of Geri's, slow progress to rejoin society. Her friends have tried to get her to go out and do things, but Geri would rather sit at home with Jack's ashes, which she takes with her everywhere in a red suitcase. The red suitcase was one of a matching set that she and her husband used when they traveled, in search of his passion, Butterflies.
Eventually with the help of two children, an old friend and a young woman who worked for meals on wheels, Geri finally started to slowly relive a life her husband wanted for her, and to fulfill one of his dying wishes.
I loved the character development and the issues that arouse, to make Geri once more, step out of her comfort zone.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book.
July 6, 2021
There are some book themes that are hard to read. They bring you down or take you to a place that you don’t want to go to and you would think that a book which revolves around the theme of grief would be a book you would want to stay away from. Not Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase. It is simply wonderful.
Geraldine Verne’s husband has recently died and our journey with Geraldine through the novel is watching how she deals with grief and ultimately acceptance of her new situation. Her life without her beloved Jack.
Ultimately, Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase is a celebration of life, love, and the people who stick by you in the hard times and the knowledge that you will survive grief. Similar to The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase is a life affirming warm hug of a book and one you should all add to your TBR.
Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase by Jane Riley is available now.
Geraldine Verne’s husband has recently died and our journey with Geraldine through the novel is watching how she deals with grief and ultimately acceptance of her new situation. Her life without her beloved Jack.
Ultimately, Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase is a celebration of life, love, and the people who stick by you in the hard times and the knowledge that you will survive grief. Similar to The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase is a life affirming warm hug of a book and one you should all add to your TBR.
Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase by Jane Riley is available now.
June 24, 2021
What a delightful read from a new author to me. Geri's husband has died and left her alone, They were never blessed with children, but had many friends. However, Geri doesn't want to be consoled by them and develops a fear of leaving her home. After an accident, Geri begins receiving meals from Meals on Wheels and with the help of a new friend she meets through this service, Geri learns to let go and live again.
This story tells of the unbearable grief of the loss of a spouse.. Told through a series of chapters cleverly entitled--some even referencing the dewey decimal system, Geri communicates her love story in such a way the reader feels she simply is having a conversation with an older friend. Though the subject matter is depressing, the first person narrator has such a way with words and descriptions, the reader will cry and chuckle at the same time. The writing was exceptional. You will walk away glad you took this grief journey with Geri!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest opinion. Honestly one of the best reads of the year so far.
This story tells of the unbearable grief of the loss of a spouse.. Told through a series of chapters cleverly entitled--some even referencing the dewey decimal system, Geri communicates her love story in such a way the reader feels she simply is having a conversation with an older friend. Though the subject matter is depressing, the first person narrator has such a way with words and descriptions, the reader will cry and chuckle at the same time. The writing was exceptional. You will walk away glad you took this grief journey with Geri!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest opinion. Honestly one of the best reads of the year so far.
May 2, 2024
Wow, this one was a surprise! It was emotional and touching. I loved Geraldine and her grief and her struggles. I loved learning of her life and then hear meals on wheels. Her reluctance but then wonderful connection with her friend. This book was touching, emotional, and with great little moments of humor. The book felt tender, handling the tough topics well, and I was completely wrapped in the story. It felt quick because I didn't want to stop reading. So glad I gave this one a try!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 7, 2021
Geraldine Verne. What a character ☺️ I absolutely adored stepping into her world and reading about her life. It was heartbreaking at first to see Geri so isolated and full of grief. And Jane Riley paints a very vivid image of how Geri is living a life stuck in the haze of memories.
In steps Lottie, the girl from the Meals On Wheels. It's safe to say that Geri isn't pleased with the idea of having her meals delivered to her. But Len knows best and boy we could all do with a friend like Len in our lives 😍
The intergenerational relationship that develops between Geri and Lottie is heartwarming and refreshing. Both women are dealing with their own emotions and troubles. But like the saying goes "A problem shared is a problem halved" once Geri is willing to allow Lottie into her life the blossoming relationship is beautiful.
I smiled, I cried, I giggled and I felt a tug to my heart. Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase is a story of inspiration, of friendship. It's a story of pure joy.
Many thanks to the publishers for my gifted copy as part of the blog tour.
In steps Lottie, the girl from the Meals On Wheels. It's safe to say that Geri isn't pleased with the idea of having her meals delivered to her. But Len knows best and boy we could all do with a friend like Len in our lives 😍
The intergenerational relationship that develops between Geri and Lottie is heartwarming and refreshing. Both women are dealing with their own emotions and troubles. But like the saying goes "A problem shared is a problem halved" once Geri is willing to allow Lottie into her life the blossoming relationship is beautiful.
I smiled, I cried, I giggled and I felt a tug to my heart. Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase is a story of inspiration, of friendship. It's a story of pure joy.
Many thanks to the publishers for my gifted copy as part of the blog tour.
November 10, 2021
A very sweet story, a calming read. It didn't seem to go anywhere but it didn't seem to matter, it was enjoyable. The writing was good, and it was easy to visualise the character, her situation, and her ideas, and her comings and goings.
March 26, 2024
A quick, heartwarming read about how grief manifests and the journey of healing.
June 12, 2021
Geraldine Verne’s Red Suitcase- Jane Riley
When Jack Verne died, his wife Geraldine wanted to keep him close by so they could still be a team. Not like a photo tucked in a purse but the whole of him in an urn. She decides to use one of their red suitcases so wherever she goes, Jack can go too.
But Geri hasn’t left the house for 3 months, she is shrinking within herself and fading from living a life.
Then she has an accident and has to accept help from her friends and worse still meals on wheels has been organised and she doesn’t want it. Told to stop wallowing and sinking into self pity she grudgingly accepts. And so things begin to change for her.
I did feel quite sad reading about Geri at the start, a very genuine portrait of grief and loneliness and it struck a chord with me due to a recent bereavement. All the things that you remember about a person that pop into your head, especially after a 50 year marriage which Geri has had. She is frozen, fearful, and isolated and needs help and it’s a little bit heartbreaking.
Then she meets Lottie who brings the meals and a real friendship slowly begins to develop, they help each other and slowly Geri begins to enjoy life again.
This book will pull at your heart strings, I defy you not to love Geri, Lottie and Len. I felt quite a connection to the characters.
Geri really reminded me of my Granny who lived life to the full in her widowhood, had gumption and did some amazing things This is heartwarming, gently funny and quirky and simply just a lovely read.
It’s given me a few ideas for when my time comes that’s for sure!
✩✩✩✩
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Thanks to Jane Riley, Fmcm Associates ,Rhiannon Morris and Lake Union Publishing for my copy of this book.
August 24, 2021
Loved it😢🥰…
This book deserved 20 stars because it was beautiful, anyone who has loved and lost 😞 can really understand the emotions running through Geraldine.., Grief, comfort, Sadness, love and happiness… I experience them all 😞😊😢🥰😁
This book deserved 20 stars because it was beautiful, anyone who has loved and lost 😞 can really understand the emotions running through Geraldine.., Grief, comfort, Sadness, love and happiness… I experience them all 😞😊😢🥰😁
November 27, 2021
Loved this book, and, if I could, I would give it 6 stars for the author using my favorite word, "penultimate."
May 25, 2022
This is a simple, but powerful, book dealing with grief. It was sad, funny, and full of loveable, caring characters. I am missing my daily walk with them. They taught me how to patiently care for someone going through the grieving process. I highly recommend this novel.
June 17, 2021
Awww. With a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye, I sadly put own Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase.. I have read other novels of this genre...;Widowed older lady (or man) grieving the death of a beloved long-term spouse. But Jane Riley's book was simply delightful reading, beginning to end. Quirky Geri, having lost a few of her marbles after her Jack's death can still turn a phrase that makes you stop and re-read it because it is so perfect.
After 50 years of a wonderful marriage, losing her husband makes Geri kind of weird. She stops cleaning her house, eating meals, or going out. She keeps her husband's ashes in a red wheeled suitcase which she takes everywhere.
Fortunate to have good friends and neighbors, and a young and caring Meals on Wheels deliverer, Geri works her way back to life in Riley's charming and cleverly written book. It has enough suspenseful moments to keep you interested. But i urge you, hang around for the flying finish.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the chance to spend a few hours in good company.
After 50 years of a wonderful marriage, losing her husband makes Geri kind of weird. She stops cleaning her house, eating meals, or going out. She keeps her husband's ashes in a red wheeled suitcase which she takes everywhere.
Fortunate to have good friends and neighbors, and a young and caring Meals on Wheels deliverer, Geri works her way back to life in Riley's charming and cleverly written book. It has enough suspenseful moments to keep you interested. But i urge you, hang around for the flying finish.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the chance to spend a few hours in good company.
June 22, 2021
I absolutely loved this book and the main character Geraldine. She gripped my heart from the first chapter and never let it go. The author created an amazing character who seemed so real she could have been my mother or grandmother. The storyline was a mix of laughter and tears that spoke to me and I read late into the night to finish the book. I was sad to be done and I will miss Geraldine. I haven’t read such a. heartwarming story in a long time. A must read for anyone looking for a reason to smile amd appreciate life. ❤️
June 12, 2021
This was a beautiful, sympathetic story showing grief in all its forms and the slow recovery that follows from a loved one passing.
I absolutely loved Geri as a character - she was witty, quirky and loving - I really felt for her throughout her journey of rediscovering life. There were so many details in this that demonstrated just how low grief can bring you - from having two cups of tea to the sheer panic of losing the suitcase and it's contents. But it's also a wonderful reminder of life and how joyous it can be. Of how important friendships are - old ones and new ones - in bringing someone back and of helping them find joy again in life.
I loved how the relationship between Geri and Lottie wasn't just one-way - that they both actually needed each other. I also loved the interweaving of the backstory between Geri and Jack and the use of the Dewey Decimal System throughout the book which gave her grief so much context.
Absolutely wonderful book and I would highly recommend.
**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **
I absolutely loved Geri as a character - she was witty, quirky and loving - I really felt for her throughout her journey of rediscovering life. There were so many details in this that demonstrated just how low grief can bring you - from having two cups of tea to the sheer panic of losing the suitcase and it's contents. But it's also a wonderful reminder of life and how joyous it can be. Of how important friendships are - old ones and new ones - in bringing someone back and of helping them find joy again in life.
I loved how the relationship between Geri and Lottie wasn't just one-way - that they both actually needed each other. I also loved the interweaving of the backstory between Geri and Jack and the use of the Dewey Decimal System throughout the book which gave her grief so much context.
Absolutely wonderful book and I would highly recommend.
**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **
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