The Big Finish takes place in an assisted living facility where death is around the corner, but life is everywhere.

This book was a delight from beginning to end.

Duffy is a grumpy old man trying to live out his remaining days in peace without getting kicked out of the only acceptable retirement home in town. Josie is his roommate's estranged granddaughter who breaks through their window shoeless, drunk, and with a black eye one night.

The Big Finish is their story of friendship, recovery and finally having something worth living and dying for.

3.5 stars

Offbeat novel with a fairly preposterous premise that is redeemed by its marvelous characterizations. Even the minor players are thoughtfully fleshed out with some depth.

Duffy is near 90, in assisted living, rooming with equally elderly Carl. Their not too unpleasant existence is rocked the day that Carl's secret granddaughter Josie sneaks in through the window to meet her grandpa.

One of the themes here is why being judgmental is dangerous. Carl is seemingly a pillar of rectitude and goodness but the appearance of the daughter of his daughter, the product of an adulterous liaison, changes that. And Duffy presents himself as the ne'er do well -- a man who spent most of his life as a drunk and has a lot in his past to be ashamed of. And yet things aren't always that clear.

Josie has a pile of problems, most of which she is untruthful about. She is an alcoholic in denial, is still torn apart by the recent death of her mother (Carl's daughter), has no money and no job, and is being pursued by a possibly abusive boyfriend.

Their shenanigans while trying to get Josie straight and out of trouble are endearing and entertaining. There is much joy in the supporting cast: Anderson, the cook at the facility but also a true friend to Duffy and a really interesting man; Nora, a nurse but also a friend; and Alice, who represents to Duffy all the love and goodness he has missed out on in his life.

It doesn't always hang together precisely. Duffy is really too old to be a Vietnam vet and that thread didn't add anything to the story. And the ending was a bit off-putting, not because of what happens but because of Duffy's reaction to it. But the humanity of the characters, their all too human foibles, and their ultimate struggle to help each other, makes for an intriguing and unusual read. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought I was going to like this one more than I did. The characters were great, but I felt that the story fell a little short. It seemed like nothing was happening or moving forward. I got a sort of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon vibe in Duffy and Carl. I could see them starring in the movie, if they were still alive.

Borrowed from another reviewer: Ah, curmudgeons. They seem to be everywhere ever since Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, especially in the old-person-meets-young-person-and-they-change-each-other’s-lives format. I really wanted to like this book more than I did, since the cover art made it look like it was going to be a warm, funny read. And a lot of early readers HAVE found it funny and endearing, and talked about how it made them laugh and cry. I got to the end and thought, “that’s it?”

A laugh out loud book! There are some truly funny passages, along with some black humor.

Duffy, resident of the local assisted living home, one misstep away from the worst - and only - nursing home in town, his straight-up roommate and the roommate's granddaughter, who crawls in the window early one morning, drunk and sporting a black eye. Duffy and Josie come to an understanding of sorts. Josie's grandfather Carl and the rest of the group from the nursing home join forces to see that Josie has the best of care. The staff even gets in on the act.

Easy reading and a heartfelt story plot. It's worth hanging out with this crew.

Brook Fossey's The Big Finish interested me from the very onset. I had some experience with assisted living facilities. However, it didn't turn out to be the comedy I had envisioned. Duffy and Carl are roommates and one morning their normal is up ended when a young girl crawls through their window. Josie claims that she is Carl's granddaughter. A granddaughter he knows nothing about. Prior to Josie's arrival the residents know that this is the last stop before they are shipped out to a nursing facility that will be their last permanent address on this earth. Needless, to say no one is eager to move there. So, when Josie says she needs a place to stay for a week Duffy and Carl are afraid they may get caught and that they will have to move. Josie forgets to tell them that she is an alcoholic but Duffy recognizes the symptoms since he is a recovering alcoholic. This is a moving story highlighting the end of life for a lot of seniors and their fears, a story of love and pain, a story of loneliness and hope. It is the story that connects generations and shows how they can help each other. I would recommend this book.

At 88 Duffy has one goal: stay put at Centennial, the assisted living home, and avoid at all costs getting kicked out to the only nursing home in town - a depressing, end of the road place to die. Duffy's roommate Carl is his first real friend. Carl's heretofore unknown granddaughter climbs through the window one night, and Duffy has decisions to make. Will he risk his bed at Centennial and even his friendship with Carl to give Josie the help he needs?

Can you come of age at 88? This definitely felt like a coming of age story. Even if parts were unrealistic, it was a heartwarming story. I really disliked Duffy at the beginning, but as he grew, that changed completely. I cheered him on to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is both funny and sad. Set in a nursing home, Duffy is 88 years old and worries about getting sent to the yucky home down the road if he behaves badly. When his room mate Carl's granddaughter climbs in the window one night their lives all change. Josie is on the run from a bad relationship and has no where to go. She brings life and laughter to the two old men. This is the first book I've read by Brooke Fossey and I like her style and story telling ability. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Duffy Sinclair lives at Centennial, a small assisted living facility. Although he has a natural rebellious streak, he tries to keep it in check, since he lives in fear of being sent to live at “Simmons,” the local nursing home. This could happen because he has run out of money, or because his health has deteriorated to the point that the staff at Centennial can no longer care for him, or because he’s too much trouble. But Duffy’s plans to stay under the radar run aground when his roommate’s granddaughter Josie climbs through their bedroom window one night, barefoot, bruised, and drunk. Duffy decides that providence has given him one last shot at redemption, so he sets out to save Josie from herself.

Ah, curmudgeons. They seem to be everywhere ever since Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, especially in the old-person-meets-young-person-and-they-change-each-other’s-lives format. I really wanted to like this book more than I did, since the cover art made it look like it was going to be a warm, funny read. And a lot of early readers HAVE found it funny and endearing, and talked about how it made them laugh and cry. I got to the end and thought, “that’s it?”

This one was a miss for me.. I would have liked more of Duffy's backstory and a lot less of Josie. I really didn't like the simplistic way that Josie's alcoholism is treated: just give her some drugs to get her over the withdrawal symptoms and presto, she's a fully functioning human being capable of making good decisions. It doesn't work that way - if it did, no one would have addiction problems (I was married to an alcoholic).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in return for a review.

I received an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When I started reading this book I wasnt so sure about. As I started to read it didnt seem like the type of book I would normally pick up. I am glad I kept reading it! It was such a good telling of not only the typical type of friendship but also friendships in times when you really really need it.

Amazing!

I was not sure about this book at first- just not something I would typically choose. But it did not disappoint! Such a beautiful, heartwarming book. You will laugh and you will cry as you follow Duffy and Carl's journey. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC Copy.

Oh Duffy - you are such a real character, loveable and frustrating. I enjoyed the relationship between Duffy and Carl but many times I wanted to know that Carl realized his mistakes; I’m not sure he ever did. Duffy was the one for whom we cheer. He is such a good person even though he doesn’t realize it until the end. Duffy wants to save everyone and finally does.

I loved this book!!! It made my heart full, made me smile and it also made me cry.

My emotions are all over the place and it's hard to put all my feelings into words.

I'll update this review in a day or two, but until then:

This book is meaningful, beautiful, thoughtful, emotional, and just an amazing book. I'm bursting with emotions right now, my eyes are still tearing up, my nose stings, I have a hard time letting go.

And the bromance in this book just killed me!! It was heartbreakingly beautiful.

The book is going to be one of my favorites of 2020!

This is the story of Duffy and Carl, two 80+ year-old men, roommates in an assisted living facility (NOT a nursing home, as they'll be the first to tell you). One day, while they are in their room, a 20-something woman comes through their window and into their lives. She is Josie and is looking for Carl. She is his granddaughter.

The book goes through a few days in their lives and the reader meets the other residents and the staff who care for them. Most of the characters are fleshed out enough where the reader cares about them without bogging down the story. I can see this being an Arthur Truluv situation, where the author writes more books about peripheral (or not so peripheral?) characters - they are that likable.

Josie's going through some things, her mother recently passed away from complications caused by MS, she has a drinking problem, and she really needs a place to hide out for a while. Carl and Duffy decide they will hide her in the home and help her get on her feet. Of course, they can't do this on their own and they can't risk having too many people know the situation, but a tightly knit group surrounds them and agrees to do what they can.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

“I’m offering my help because sometimes we need mending and sometimes we need somebody else to help us thread the needle.”
*
Oh, this book! ♥️ I was drawn in by the witty writing and quickly fell in love with this cast of characters. This quirky mix of characters that reside in a nursing home made me laugh out loud and shed tears, usually within the same chapter. This book ended up being so much more than I was expecting from the synopsis! It was witty and amusing but it was also emotional and full of heart. Duffy, the lead character, is full of spit and vinegar and I loved his feistiness. This book was heartwarming and took me by surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the shenanigans that went on in the nursing home. The writing is spectacular and I found myself laughing out loud many times. The author found the perfect balance between witty and heartfelt. I absolutely loved The Big Finish! 4⭐️. So much gratitude to @berkleypub for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the cover so much that I had to read the book and it did not disappoint! A lot was going on in here with family, alcohol addiction, health problems, retirement communities, but it was heart-warming and hilarious. The narrator is a spit-fire.

The Big Finish gives us a peak into life in assisted care. Carl and Duffy are roommates who are doing their best to be allowed to stay where they are because a move to the local nursing home is a fate worse than death in their minds. Their daily lives get shaken up when a visitor arrives through their window one day.
I laughed and wept through this book. Fossey delivers wonderful characters, and a mix of hilarious and saddening situations that all lead up to The Big Finish, as promised.
Thanks to #Netgalley for providing me with a chance to read an advanced copy of this book. #thebigfinish #BrookeFossey

The Big Finish is a story of two friends, Carl & Duffy, who live in an assisted living home and will do anything to make sure they keep their place there and not end up rotting in the old folks home across the way. But when Josie, Carl's granddaughter unexpectedly climbs through their window, their world is turned upside down.
Duffy doesn't want to be apart of hiding her, but he finds that he can't help but go along for the ride and enjoy the little bit of life he has left.
A heartwarming story, often humorous and fun!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was such a touching story and also very fun to read! Duffy and Carl are best friends, in their eighties and roommates in an assisted living home. Carl’s granddaughter, Josie, makes an entrance, through their window one night. Carl did not know of her existence having been estranged from his daughter , Josie’s mother, who has since died. The message in the story is to make the most of your life now, while you still can.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey is a bittersweet, touching story. Carl and Duffy (shades of Standler and Waldorf) will capture your heart. Very enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.