This was just the sweetest book. It really touched my heart. I loved Joel and Frank and the relationship they formed. I know that there are many lonely people in nursing homes. I wish everyone could find a reason to be happy in their lives. Highly recommend this book!

Meeting the challenges of old age is difficult enough with the loving support of family and friends. However, when denied that support by death or by lack of understanding, depression comes in like a tidal wave. Adding to the emotional pain is the fact that many people, including those in the geriatric field, are inclined to treat those who are hurting as though they were recalcitrant children. And when the victims are, of economic necessity, confined to a nursing or old-age care facility, the pandering and threatening of those who should know better, is made even worse.

In this beautifully written story our protagonist, Joel, has watched the love of his life die quickly and unexpectedly in the nursing home where they had moved. The story takes place in England within the confines of National Health Care and some other restrictive laws we don’t have in America. Joel and his wife sold the home where they began their marriage and raised their family in order to benefit their daughter who was left in dire financial straits following her divorce. Retired from his business as a mechanic and without the asset of a home, Joel and his wife had to go into the care-home at government assistance.

As the story opens, Joel’s new roommate who is a comatose man, also dies unexpectedly in the same bed where his wife died.

Joel’s emotions take a serious decline.

This novel is a very poignant portrayal of those who have lost control over their lives in one way or another. Joel was in possession of all his mental faculties and most of his physical abilities (considering his advanced age), but was imprisoned by the system as well as by his own emotions.

As a senior citizen myself, I can attest to the reality of the story. Everyone is well meaning, but it’s very difficult to understand another person’s distress without having “walked in their moccasins.”

This was a wonderful book and well worth the consideration of everyone dealing with the elderly.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just absolutely adorable!!! It reminded me of the adventures of the 100 year old man! I loved Frank and Joel they are some of the best characters I've read about this book is so enjoyable I believe anyone would enjoy it! The characters make the story it was a joy and delight to read about their adventures it’s a must read!

Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Trade Publishing
Pub. Date: June 25, 2019

This tenderly written novel is both depressing and hilarious. The plot revolves around two old men living in a nursing home. Think “A Man Called Ove” meets “The Odd Couple.” One is an introverted curmudgeon who has been there for years and considers his place of residency a prison. He walks around all day in his pajamas. In younger years he was a working-class mechanic who owned the shop. Nowadays, he desperately misses being the boss. He has given up on life and has suicidal thoughts. The other old dude is a sweetheart who has just moved in. He once worked as a soap opera actor. He is flamboyant, extraverted and just happens to be gay. This man dresses meticulously and always wears an accent scarf. He makes the best out of the living in the home, though he too misses his working life. The author has them sharing a room opening up all sorts of humor. Mooney does a great job nailing their differences and incompatibility. In the “outside world” they would never have been friends, but “locked up” together they create an unbreakable ying-yang friendship.

The real meat on the bones of the story is how the elderly are often thrown aside and made to feel isolated and useless. Mooney shows this best when the two old men sneak out to visit the mechanic’s old shop. The reader will feel the weight of depression when the mechanic realizes that now he is just an intruder and is asked to leave the premises. The author skillfully handles the sensitive subject of suicide. And somehow manages to make humor work so it doesn’t read all doom and gloom. He does this without minimizing the seriousness of suicidal ideation. Not an easy task. At times the writing gets sweetly/schmaltzy with a family reconnecting. Nor is the plot always believable. If you have ever been in a nursing home you know that sneaking out is unlikely. Still, reading about two old man enjoying high school antics is fun to read. If you are in the mood for a story that will make you cry and laugh at the same time this one is for you.

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This is one of the times that I would love to rate a book more than 5 stars. I would like to give this book 100 stars. This book was an unexpected gem. This book has made my all-time-favorite book list. Hands down.

This book gave me all the feels. I laughed, I cried, I laughed so hard I cried, I was sad, I was angry, I was anxious, I was fearful, and I sobbed. I haven't sobbed like this when reading a book since Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale. I.SOBBED but I loved this book.

The writing style was effortless. It just flowed in a way that was so easy to read. The characters of Frank and Joel were endearing. The banter between these two men was so enjoyable that I could have read it all day long. Mooney's writing did an amazing job at not boxing the setting in so tight that imagination wasn't needed.

This book is so lovely that it once again made me desire to work in publishing, editing, or something along those lines. This book would be a great movie. All the parts are there for a perfect movie.

Don't miss out on this book. Pre-order it now. Add it to your TBR list. You will not be disappointed.

Nothing in this book was unexpected. A combination of sweet, humorous, and dark from start to finish, Big dectraction: thoroughly predictable.

Some of the descriptions had me chuckling. And/or sighing as bittersweet and often heartwarming. Yet...

Cantakerous curmudgeon [redundant?] Joel Monroe lives in a nursing home. His wiife, Lucey, dies [they were roomates there]. Gets new roommate, Frank de Selby, aka Frank Adams. Grumbles. Become friends. Yadda yadda.

Spark of life--his granddaughter Lily.

So, I found this often tiresome because it was so repetitious. Started off a 3.5, then maybe a 4, ultimately 3 as too much same old same old but moststly because I correctly foretold every turn.

I apparently have a soft spot for books about curmudgeons, and Joel is the ultimate curmudgeon. Rebelling against every aspect of life in his nursing home, he is succeeding only in making himself and those around him miserable. When his new roommate, the cheerful, energetic Frank appears, it causes Joel to question almost everything he knows. The adventures of these two unique characters were both funny and poignant and serve as a reminder of what really matters.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy**

Joel is a lonely old man living in a nursing home. His beloved wife died a few years ago, and since then he's become withdrawn and a grumpy and occasionally rude patient. He resents having to take his pills while the nurse watches, but if he rebels, his daughter hears about it. He's had restrictions put on him since he had a stroke while out of the home a few years back, and now he can't leave the property without his daughter's say-so.

Joel gets a new roommate - Frank, a former actor and a live wire, full of jokes and life. At first Joel resents him, but after a few weeks, he realizes he likes Frank a lot. He confides in Frank that he wants to kill himself, and Frank wants to help him plan it. Together, they sneak out of the home for a visit to a pub. Then they plan to escape over the fence via a large rock. Joel is having fun planning his escapes and starts enjoying life more.

This was a heartwarming story about what might happen to us if we stop enjoying life. Kudos to the author. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

This is the story of Joel and Frank …two unlikely compatriots who, after a rocky beginning, develop a heartwarming friendship. Joel is cranky and morose after his wife died three years ago. His life in a nursing home feels like prison and destroys any enjoyment he feels that life has to offer. Suicide seems like the obvious answer. As he and his flamboyant new roommate, Frank, scheme to find the perfect way to end Joel’s life, fun and games ensue.

This was a great story full of heartache, regrets, love, laughter, reformation, and social commentary. I was about to give up on it early on, but so glad I didn’t. A slow start made way to an engaging read. I recommend this book and thank Net Galley for the opportunity.

Thank you net galley for the advance read copy of this novel. This was a laugh out loud funny novel about two nursing home residents who sneak out into freedom. I enjoyed Joel's character so much and his interactions and dialogue with the other characters. He is just like a snarky grandpa who still has some gusto! Great novel!

I truly wasn’t expecting a book about two elderly men in a retirement home to be such a fantastic celebration of life. The Great Unexpected is a beautiful and raw story about grief, depression, old age, friendship, and love.

What a treasure! The Great Unexpected is a beautiful novel about grief, purpose and friendship that tells the story of 75 year old, cranky Joel Monroe, who has been forced to retire to a nursing home.The book is filled with colorful characters, humour and deep emotions. It is the story of friendship, finding oneself later in life and experiencing joy in the most unexpected places. I was reminded to enjoy life while I still have it. The characters are elderly people, but they feel so young! It reinforced my opinion that the elderly are really just young people in old bodies. A great novel about a man wanting to die and seeing life from a different perspective. I highly recommend this one! My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Talking about suicide should not be amusing. But somehow Joel and Frank make the discussion light hearted. It isn’t that they aren’t taking each other seriously just that they enjoy arguing over every idea. I loved their friendship and how it evolved. Everyone needs a Frank to teach them how to live life with gusto. The Great Unexpected gave me a lot to think about. Hopefully it will make me handle elderly family in a better manner than Frank thought he was treated

This was a cute story that was easy to read, but it needed better editing. I see that in so many books these days. We don't care if its long, but editing would definitely have made this one better.

This is a pretty entertaining read. I struggled through a few spots in this book where the writing didn’t feel smooth.
But I would recommend it for a leisurely read!

This book is a like a combination of “The Odd Couple” and “A Man called Ove”. There are some touching and humorous parts in this book of two older men living in a home for “the aged”. .. but there were times that the book dragged on a bit. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute story! It did take me a bit to get into and it went on to be a bit lengthy, but it could be my mood in the moment!

3 stars

Not at all what I expected. Not for me. However, others may Luke this book. I had a hard time getting into the book or connecting with the characters.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of The Great Unexpected by Dan Mooney and Netgalley. This is my fair and honest review.

This is the first time I’ve read anything by Dan Mooney and if there’s anything else out there I will definitely be reading that next The amount of heart and soul that went into this novel will blow you away. I read the blurb about the book and that’s what made me request it. SO very glad that I did. What a beautiful read. I couldn’t love the characters anymore if i tried.

The story just flowed; I didn’t want it to end. I felt every single thing the characters felt. They were only two other times in my life that a book made me cry and this is now the third. I don’t want to give the impression that it’s a depressing devastating book because it’s really not. It’s just so deep and so intense, so raw and REAL that you can’t help it help feeling truly empathetic. That being said, there were also times I literally laughed out loud. The two main characters were hysterical in their language and their antics.

I would 100% recommend this to anyone and everyone who will listen. You won’t be disappointed. If you like reading about real life situations, struggles both internal and external, overcoming (or not) those struggles and just the journey through-then this is the book for you !

Thank you so much Netgalley and thank you Dan Mooney for writing this jewel !

This is a delightful book drawing sentimentality about two gentlemen at odds with each other thrown together in the same room in their adult living facility. Their lives join to create the spark they both are missing enlivening both their personalities and the people around them. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book.