In a new novel, Elizabeth Berg uses her gift for writing to create a lovely story about three lonely people at different stages of their lives. Arthur Moses misses his wife who died six months ago. Maddy feels disconnected from everyone in school and alone at home. Lucille, Arthur's neighbor, is a retired teacher who also lives alone.

Arthur takes his lunch and a portable chair to the cemetery every day to sit at his wife's grave. He tells her every bit of news he can think of, eats his lunch, and then goes back to the bus stop and travels home. The trip is the highlight of his day. At home, Arthur has Gordon, the cat, and he settles in for a night of thinking of Nora and doing the little chores he has around the house. Arthur's situation is sad for me. I think it is hard for older people who have been married for many years to think of that space in their lives when a partner dies. Arthur feels it strongly. It resonated for me as I remember my father's grief when my mother passed away. There is little comfort in the first year.

Berg steps in and gives Arthur a young girl to think about when he sees her frequently at the cemetery. He wonders why she isn't in school and waves to her when he catches her eye. After a time, they meet and learn about each other's lives. Maddy lost her mother when she was a baby. She has always been sad, living with a father who is distant. Maddy has never made any friends at school. Fortunately, there is an English teacher who seems to understand, and he gives her confidence and support.

Arthur and Maddy learn about each other through short conversations. Arthur worries about Maddy and begins to take a fatherly view of her and why she spends so much time out of school. He gives her his name and address in case she ever needs someone to help. In the meantime, Arthur continues to visit with his neighbor, Lucille, who is a magical baker. If Arthur goes over and sits with Lucille on her porch, the rewards include cookies and companionship.

Eventually, all three characters come together to form an unlikely alliance. The story is lovely and heartwarming. It helped me get through the painful parts of aging and loss. Maddy decided early on to call the old man in the cemetery Arthur Truluv, a name that suits Arthur well. He was a man who had a capacity for love we need more of in this world today.

Advanced copy from NetGalley and Random House.

Publish date November 21.

An ode to the home made family, an homage to Age, and a paen to kindness. Honest, funny, and so moving tears will never be too far from your eyes.

82 year-old Arthur Moses lives with his cat Gordon and lunches in the cemetery with his dead wife every day. Lucille is the nosy neighbor who may (in her 80s) finally have a chance at love when her high school beau shows up out of the blue. High school senior Maddy Harris (nicknamed “Saddy”) often hides from school in the cemetery. She has no friends, no mother, and a father who detached when her mother died two weeks after Maddie’s birth. When something happens that causes her to leave home, it is Arthur to whom she turns, and Lucille who pushes her way into the mix.

Beautiful writing and impressive descriptions of the wisdom that one accrues with time, the values that live at one’s core, and the powerful bonds that result when people bring courtesy, understanding, and gentleness to their interactions with others. It’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with Arthur (and why wouldn’t you want to?) and to wish you could spend a little time in Mason, Missouri with the rest of them. One of the warmest and most uplifting books I’ve read all year.

I loved this endearing novel about the unlikely friendship between widower Arthur "Truluv", Maddy, a teenage girl in need of a friend, and Lucille, Arthur's lonely elderly neighbor. I fell in love with the characters and could not put this book down.

This book was such a wonderful, gentle read about aging, loneliness and the people who become our families. The story centers around Arthur, who visits his deceased wife at the cemetery every day, and Maddy, a teenager who is struggling with life. They meet at the cemetery and their friendship enriches both of their lives tremendously. They join forces with Arthur's older next door neighbor Lucille and form a little family of their own.

I really felt this book portrayed elderly people in an illuminating light. Too often, older people are overlooked instead of valued for their talents and experience. Really a lovely read.

An interesting and believable story of the friendship between an older man and a teenager. Well written, engrossing, touching.

Thanks to the publisher, Random House, via NetGalley for an e-Uncorrected Proof in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy reading novels by Elizabeth Berg and this was no exception. It's a wonderful, charming story about three lonely people who find each other. Each of them, Arthur age 85; Maddy, age 17; and Lucille who is elderly and a neighbor of Arthur's; lose the person they love most in the world. For Arthur, it's his wife of many years. He takes the bus to the cemetery every day and eats his lunch by his wife's grave. He talks to her and imagines the lives of those buried nearby. Maddy, a loner, lost her mother at a very young age and her father, in his grief, shows her very little emotion as she grows. Lucille is a retired teacher, likes to bake, is very lonely until she reunites with a former classmate who was her first love.

Maddy, who does not fit in at school, skips lunch and goes to the nearby cemetery. Eventually she and Arthur meet and become friends. Arthur is compassionate and helps people he knows. These three people need each other and find the comfort of family when they are together. The side stories are interesting and tie the story into a terrific novel. The characters are so delightful in this emotional, uplifting book that should be another best-seller for this talented author.

What a charming and sweet story! I loved Arthur, an 85-year-old widower, Maddy, a 16-year-old high school student who has no friends her age, and Lucille, Arthur's elderly neighbor who loves to bake and share her sweets with Arthur. These are three lonely people who come together in a most unusual way and form a bonding and loving friendship. It was sad in parts but yet very uplifting and just so beautiful. This is one that I would pick up and read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy of this book.

Elizabeth Berg never fails to disappoint. Her stories are comparable to fine wines. I think every reader would befriend each character if they could.

Any fan of Elizabeth Berg will not be disappointed in this one. Spot on characters that grab your heart. Charming story. Loved every page.

I adore Elizabeth Berg's books, and this one tops my list. Is it possible to say a book is sweet and heart-breaking at the same time? Her characters are so real and the story is beautifully told. I'm spreading the word about The Story of Arthur Truluv to every reader I know. So good.

I want to thank Random House, NetGallery and Elizabeth Berg for allowing me to have this ARC to read and review. It is hard to write this review without giving too much away and I think this is one of those books that is better read without knowing much about the plot.

This gentle story tells of three people – two senior citizens and a teenager - with absolutely nothing in common except their own feelings of loss, grief and isolation, and how they chose to bond together and restore purpose and joy to one another’s lives. This is a story of friendship, love, and the family that you have as well as family that you choose. The writing is polished and gives vivid pictures of each character and event. I’ve enjoyed other books by Elizabeth Berg, but this one was, to me, a step above the others. One thing that was a bit unusual is that there are no chapters in the book. Some found it off-putting; for me it was only a problem in that I kept on reading (where with a chapter break I might have put it down). As a result, I finished this in a couple of sittings, sooner than I was ready to leave it.

Several reviewers have compared this (and not always favorably) to A Man Called Ove. I think there are definite similarities but each stands on its own, not least in that in this book, Arthur is always positive and loving, with none of Ove’s curmudgeonly grumbling and demeanor.

I will say that this was nearly a 5-star read for me, except for an improbable pivotal event in the teenager’s life that just didn’t ring true. Otherwise, very well done, Ms Berg!

This is a gentle and heartwarming story about a widower in his 80s who visits his wife's grave every day at lunchtime. Arthur catches a bus each day, fold up chair and lunch in tow. As he walks among other people's graves, he makes a spiritual connection with the deceased, reciting in his mind what they looked like, what lives they lead and how they met their end. While faithfully keeping lunchtimes with Nola at her grave for months, he has seen a young woman out of the corner of his eye also holding court at the cemetery. For lonely and melancholy teenager Maddy finds a certain kind of peace among the graves that she does not find under normal circumstances. Arthur and Maddy have been aware of each other's presence at the cemetery for awhile, but finally approach each other one fateful day. This sets the stage for a loving and unexpected friendship that heals loneliness and warms hearts.

The story is rounded out by a third character, Arthur's neighbor Lucille. She calls herself a "master baker" and often lures Arthur up onto her porch with promises of her delectable orange blossom cookies. A long retired teacher and never married, Lucille is a wonderful cook and baker who hasn't given up on romance. She is another broken facet in this story who finds quiet comfort in Arthur's compassion.

Arthur is an old man with a heart of gold, wisdom and a generous soul who through his loving gifts, also receives. This is a very easy and effortless read that will make your heart glow.

This was a charming and moving story of Arthur, a recent widower in his 80's who meets a 17/18-year-old Maddy. A girl without a mother and a distant father. Maddy is a smart young lady but falls for an unsavory young man. When she turns up pregnant her fathers reaction leads to a fracture in their already strained relationship. 

Maddy finds solace at the cemetery. Sitting peacefully in the tree line watching and listening. When Arthur, who visits his wife's grave every day to lunch with her, sees Maddy he strikes up a conversation that leads to an unlikely friendship.

Arthur has never been an outgoing person. But he tries to be neighborly to Lucille, his elderly neighbor.

Three people feeling alone in the world. Three people who change each others worlds just by being there. By filling holes left by the ones they loved. Proving that a family is not necessarily the people you are related to but the people you relate to.

This was a charming story of hope, love, and family. I enjoyed it immensely.

Netgalley/Random House    November 21, 2017

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "The Story of Arthur Truluv" is a charming story. I devoured this little gem in one sitting.

I loved this sweet story! There are times when everyone needs to read a heartwarming story and The Story of Arthur Truluv is the perfect choice.

Arthur recently lost his wife and he visits her at the cemetery on a daily basis. One day Arthur meets a lonely teenage girl while at the cemetery. They strike up an unlikely friendship. Meanwhile, Arthur’s neighbor Lucille, is struggling with loneliness and the loss of an old flame that she had recently rekindled.

When Maddy is faced with a life-changing event, the three band together and create their own little family, finding happiness and fulfillment along the way. It was refreshing to read about such kind characters who are willing to open their hearts to others.

This was a solid 4.5 star read for me. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

I have never read this author before but the storyline intrigued me. Boy, was I not disappointed! Such a lovely uplifting, heartwarming story. I loved the interesting characters. Great storyline, great characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this new book by Elizabeth Berg. This is a sweet story about love, loss and new life. I have read a few of Elizabeth's books and have never been disappointed. Since this was an uncorrected proof, I would like to re-read this again once it's published. Yes, it reminded me of A Man Called Ove, but Arthur is so loveable and sweet. He reminded me of the love my deceased parents and grandparents had for each other. I teared up now and then, but the tears were happy ones.

I was kind of nervous going into this story because I had a fear that it will remind me too much of A Man Called Ove (which I LOVED). Fear not, it’s nothing like it – it’s a special story all on its own.

I hope everyone that decides to read this will grasp the unwritten words as well. It was really emotional for me and I don’t mean it being a tear-jerker but more on how we live and see life.

Do we live our life for us or others?

What’s the true definition of family?

Does everyone deserve second chances?

The Story of Arthur Trulov is heart-warming, sad, yet uplifting. It gives us hope that no matter our age and where we may be in life – happiness is around the corner as long as our hearts welcome it.

I really loved this book. I felt as if I knew all the characters intimately. Arthur, a widower, meets Maddy, a loner teenager, and their lives are changed forever. When Lillian, Arthur's neighbor joins the group, it is true meeting of lost and lonely souls finding joy in each other. This was a sweet and beautiful book.