Maria is seventy and her life is a quiet one lived alone. She has a strict timetable for her week and each day is uneventful, apart from Thursdays when she meets Albie Young in a cafe for a pot of tea and shared slice of marble cake. That is until one Thursday when Albie doesn't turn up. Maria eventually finds out that Albie has died. She has lost her only friend and isn't sure how to carry on without him in her world. Then she discovers a list that Albie wrote for himself and on it he details how he wants to help different people.

Marie decides that the best way to carry on Albie's memory and to pay him back for his friendship, is to continue completing his list and it's through this list that she slowly finds herself and a way forward with her life.

I loved this book! It's a beautiful book, beautifully told. It made me laugh and cry. Although in places it's sad, it is also very uplifting and I can't recommend it highly enough.

What a beautiful book! I wasn't sure when I requested this one whether it might get a little bit maudlin in places but Ruby Hummingbird has managed to make me cry with emotion without depressing me at all then lifted me up with hope and happiness.
The story follows 70 year old Maria Birch who has isolated herself in grief since the tragic loss of her teenage daughter many years before. She has timetabled her life so that she has total control and rarely lets anyone behind her defences. All that changes when cheeky chap Albie Young invites himself to share a table with Maria in the local café. They agree to meet there every Thursday and slowly but surely Maria starts to relax and enjoy Albie's company. Until one week he doesn't show up.
We then follow Maria as she comes to terms with Albie's death; she's angry, she's sad, she's overwhelmed. But through Albie's list of good deeds he had hoped to fulfil before he died she finds inspiration to live life to the fullest. She meets and talks to people she never imagined herself mixing with, she finds out how good it feels to do a good deed for someone with no other reason than to be helpful and then faces her biggest fear of all. All because of Albie's list.
I was glad I was all on my own reading this book as it made me cry on more than one occasion. I really felt for Maria, how she has punished herself for most of her adult life over something she had no control. Her and Albie finding one another was meant to be, they each found what they needed in one another. As much as this was a sad book it was also very heartwarming in its conclusion. There are some lovely moments between Maria and the people she meets on her quest to tick every entry on the list and some humorous chapters too. I felt very proud of Maria and all the things she achieved but my heart broke for her that she lost Albie when she had so little time with him.
I just hope that when Maria's time came she walked into a café in heaven and sat down with Albie to share another pot of tea and a slice of marble cake.

This is a wonderful heartwarming story i could not put down. This will lift your spirits, make you question yourself and teach you that kindness toward others is our moral obligation. I loved it. Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing this outstanding book. As a senior it truly touched my heart. Very well done! I laughed, I cried and most of all I enjoyed it cover to cover.

The reader never gets to meet Albie Young but gets a full sense of the man he was through the people whose lives he touched. One of those people, Maria, is tasked with finishing his wish list. Struggling with life in general, Maria finds new purpose in trying to fulfill Albie’s wishes, both for her and for others. This is a heartwarming story that is a wonderful reminder of how little effort it can take to actually make a difference in peoples’ lives and how far simple kindness can truly go. A must-read, and one of my favorite books of the year. For a more detailed review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a pre-release, digital ARC of the book.

Maria’s life runs like clockwork, her week structured to get chores done. Her favourite day is Thursday when she meets Albie in a cafe. But one week he doesn’t appear and she discovers the sad truth that he has died.
Maria is utterly bereft and loses her sense of purpose. She is astonished to discover that she is Albie’s sole beneficiary and inherits two million pounds. On her first visit to his house she finds a wish list next to his bed and is determined to complete the list in his memory.
At the end of each chapter we have memories of a single mum bringing up her little girl: how does this relate to Maria and Albie in the present day? By the way, I loved the 80s detail of the childhood years: they felt familiar (Tammy Girl, anyone?)
The devastation that Maria experiences on losing Albie, her one constant, is raw and desperate. I am not ashamed to admit that I was a blubbing wreck by the end of the book! Albie’s list brings Maria back in touch with people and helps her to find happiness. I was so sad to read of the wasted years that both Maria and Albie went though and this book reminds us that it is never too late, to be the best person we can be and open our hearts and our lives to others.
The Wish List of Albie Young has an important message about giving up time to help people in your community, how a smile can make someone’s day. It is also a reminder that the elderly often have few people to talk to and need us to be kind. Equally, we are reminded that small acts of kindness to everyone are important and not to judge people by appearance, whether they are homeless, disabled or monosyllabic teenagers.
Author Ruby Hummingbird gradually changes our perception of Albie and Maria as we find out more about them over the course of the book. I was initially frustrated by Maria’s grief and reticence which stopped her enjoying life and it was fascinating to read about Albie not being the idealised person she imagined.
Beautifully written and hugely emotional. Heartbreaking and heartwarming.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, it was absolutely wonderful. The characters and the story were brilliant, it was such an emotional journey and I feel privileged to be allowed to take that journey.

The Wish List of Albie Young is a simple concept yet one that touches your heart for sure.

Maria has closed herself off from the world, from people and she has her own routines and schedules that she sticks by, yet Thursday is her special day, her moment of joy when she meets Albie at the cafe. Until one Thursday Albie doesn't show...

It's through Maria how we as the reader get to know Albie, and we're alongside her as she discovers his secrets - uncovering so much more than she could of imagined!

Irrespecitive of age, loneliness is an all too common reality for so many people, but with personal experience of working many many years alongside the elderly, it really opens your eyes to how mundane, routine and lonely their lives can be - and that was rife from the very start of opening this book and meeting Maria.

With tiny steps Maria embarks on such a journey that's incredibly touching and with flashback memories to Maria's past the reader discovers why she is the way she is. and those fears that haunt her.

A tale of loneliness, imperfections and friendship, and how just one person can impact so significantly on your life - this book will make you look around you, pay a little bit more attention, and take a little more notice of those people around you.

A fabulous book with all the feels! I loved this book so much and didn't want it to end. When Albie Young dies suddenly the list of his "things to do for others" list is found by his friend Maria, for whom he has left everything to in his will. Maria, heartbroken and in need of a purpose decides to continue on with his list and meets some fabulous people along the way. Perfect time of year for a book like this.

This is a beautiful heartwarming book, filled with so many emotions.

Maria lives by herself and her days and weeks pass by like clockwork. Everything the same. She has no visitors and goes out once a week, on a Thursday to meet Albie. This is her life.

One Thursday Albie doesn’t turn up and Maria’s life is turned upside down, the highlight of the week is gone.

Through Maria, we meet Albie Young and his secrets, and a list he has made. Armed with this list Maria makes a decision.

It was really interesting to see the transformation of Maria through the book, and how she copes with things outside of her comfort zone as she tries to fulfil Albie’s hopes.

This was a really emotional read as the author explores the theme of loneliness, which unfortunately is an all too common reality to a lot of people, irrespective of age.

Highly recommended.

If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of relationships, imperfection, hope, secrets and humour then The Wish List of Albie Young by Ruby Hummingbird is a must-read for you!

From the get-go there was so much happening in this wonderful, coming-of age-tale of friendship, happiness and life!

Septuagenarian Maria Birch has a rigid schedule: on Mondays, she does her weekly shop; on Tuesdays, she goes for a blow-dry; on Wednesdays, she visits the launderette. But Thursday is her favourite day -Maria walks to her local café to meet Albie Young, a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and an impressive collection of tweed flat caps. Every week, the pair share a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea. Except, one week, Albie doesn’t show up.

When Maria finds out what has happened, she suddenly finds that she is very lonely. Without her only friend she no longer has any energy, no reason to leave her apartment and no reason to laugh.
But Albie has left behind a handwritten list of wishes he never got the chance to complete. Maria is resigned to facing the rest of her days heartbroken and alone, but fulfilling Albie’s wishes could hold the key to her happiness.

I was totally smitten with this book. Ruby Hummingbird instantly drew me into this lovely story with her thoughtful and exceptional writing. The story-line and plot were both intriguing and extremely emotional. Set in Brighton, there was a whole raft of characters that Maria encountered who helped to guide her while she went through Albie’s wish list. Even though the reader doesn’t actually get to meet Albie in person, his spirit was so abundant throughout the tale that he was as much-loved as Maria.

The Wish List of Albie Young is Ruby Hummingbird’s debut novel and there was no room for repetitiveness or boredom here! The story was humorous in parts and the serious issues, such as coping with loneliness and loss, were tackled with empathy and compassion.

I was rooting all the way through for Maria and Ruby Hummingbird rounded things off so masterfully which I fully appreciated. I think this author is a force to be reckoned with and I am eagerly awaiting her next contribution. I recommend The Wish List of Albie Young without a flicker of hesitation, so don’t miss out!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I read the synopsis for 'The Wish List Of Albie Young' and it certainly sounded like an emotional sort of read. Something in the synopsis screamed 'read me' at me and so doing as I was told, I sat down with a cup of tea in one hand and the book in the other hand. 'The Wish List Of Albie Young' was certainly an emotional read and then some. Overall I did enjoy the book but more about that in a bit.
I did warm to Maria in the end but at times I found that she made me sigh and shake my head in disbelief. In a sense, Maria has put herself into self imposed exile. She does function on a daily basis and she goes through the motions of going to the supermarket, going to the hairdressers and going to a local café once a week to meet her friend Albie Young. Maria lives for her weekly meet ups with her companion Albie and they share a slice of cake and cups of tea, whilst having a good gossip about all manner of subjects. When Albie doesn't turn up for his weekly catch up, Maria doesn't know what to think. She gives it a while before she tries to track him down, but even then she doesn't exactly spit it out when she goes to places where she thinks Albie might use or be at. I wondered why she had left it so long before trying to find out what had happened to Albie. She could have gone to the police or she could have tried to find him sooner than she actually did. This all changes with several phone calls from a solicitors' office about Albie Young, although Maria can't bear to listen to the full answer phone message. I get that she wanted to put off the inevitable difficult conversation but at the same time I knew that she should get the conversation over with. I could understand why she wanders around in a daze after getting the awful news that Albie is dead. It's the sort of daze that news of a sudden death produces. You wander around like a zombie not taking anything in and ignoring the world, which is going about its daily business around you. Maria just cannot believe that she will never see her friend again and his death leaves her with a big hole in her life. However Maria discovers that Albie left a wish list of things that he wanted to achieve before he died. His death means that he hasn't fulfilled all of his wishes and so the list is unfinished. Maria has to decide whether or not she is going to carry out the completion of Albie's wishes. Whilst she goes about her daily life, she discovers that Albie was carrying secrets and he wasn't quite telling the truth at times. What will Maria do? What are the secrets that Albie was carrying around with him? Will Maria build a new life for herself? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I must be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into this book and at times I did wonder about whether or not I would be able to finish reading the book. That has more to do with the fact that my concentration kept going for a wander and I was tired and should not be taken as a negative as regards the author or the quality of the writing. I am so glad that I persevered with the book because the further into the story I got, the more I was enjoying it. I would say that reading this book became addictive and at times I found it rather difficult to put the book to one side. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I wasn't able to binge read this book over the course of one day but I did manage to read it over the course of three days.
'The Wish List Of Albie Young' is well written. The author draws you into the story and once she has your attention she will not release it until the moment you have closed the back cover as it were. Ruby Hummingbird writes in such a way that means you find it easy to relate to the characters and you find yourself thinking about your own life and your own experiences. That's how I felt at any rate. Ruby also writes so convincingly and realistically that I felt as though I was part of the story myself.
In short, 'The Wish List Of Albie Young' is a good read with likeable characters. I found that I went through all sorts of contrasting emotions whilst reading the book. I felt myself well up at something I had read or smile at something else I had read. Ultimately this book left me with a smile on my face. I will definitely be reading more of Ruby's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

The debut novel by Ruby Hummingbird is one that will stay with any reader for a lifetime, it is a mesmerising and heart-breaking. I knew just going by the back blurb that this was going to be a tearful and emotional ride, but those few tantalising words at the back of the book really doesn’t do this book justice.
This is one of the most tenderly beautiful and heart-warming books I have read, it steals your heart with the simple, yet humbling story of hope, friendship and starting to live life no matter what your age.
70-year-old Maria Birch’s life is one of consistency, of habit, of routine. The only highlight is her weekly meet up with her friend; Albie, who she has met for tea every Thursday for the last four years, without fail. She rejoices in her weekly tea and cake with her friend, it perks Maria up and allows her to come out of her home for something other than the weekly shop, Albie is the only friend she has in her pretty lonely life so when one Thursday she goes to meet him as she does every week, only for him not to turn up she is hurt and saddened. Why would her friend just suddenly not meet her? She withdraws into herself, away from the world, you really feel for Maria here, the man she thought of as a friend as failed to meet her, she is at a loss as to what to do and why he didn’t show. She all but becomes a recluse, she loses interest in everything, not even wanting to watch TV.
So when she gets a call from a lawyer she receives the most confusing and yet life-changing news about her friend, who wasn’t the man who she thought he was, he had a lot of secrets that he had been keeping from her all these years. Albie left a list of wishes which he had never been able to complete, which is when Maria step’s in and decides to complete Albie’s wish list and in the process she begins to come out of her shell, she re-discovers life and begins to live again and it really is the most beautiful thing watching as this lonely and shy lady starts to find her feet and her way to happiness.
The story is so lovely, it’s a simple story with a beautiful and important message of living life to the full and the importance of friendship and family. I love how even though he isn’t there by her side, his presence is still around her, Albie makes her believe in her self and her self worth, he pushes her to keep going and to be happy, its a poignant and tender book that really does grab your heart, it is life-affirming and makes you really appreciate what we do have and how fragile and precarious life

If you love feel-good books, this is the perfect choice. The Wish List of Albie Young is a celebration of life, love, and friendship.
Albie dies and leaves behind a list of things he was doing and wanted to do for others. Kind of like a bucket list of tasks. Maria is shocked and saddened by his death, but takes it upon herself to accomplish the remaining items. I know, it sounds like something that has been done before, but it is such a sweet, fresh take on this. Maria is a somewhat timid seventy-year-old woman who reaches outside of her comfort zone to take on these tasks.
The characters are memorable and I was moved to tears a couple of times, especially in the end.

The whole premise for this story is so thoroughly lovely. Maria loses the one small moment of joy in her lonely life when Albie passes away. No more Thursdays at the cafe, sharing a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea, no-one to talk with about the books she’s read or the TV programmes she’s watched, no-one left who cares. But Albie has left a legacy in more ways than one – he had secrets, and a former life Maria knew nothing about. In an attempt to atone for some of the things he might have done wrong, he’s left a list – of people and the actions he’d planned to take to make their lives better. When Maria decides to take on his unfinished list, it changes her life too – and finally makes her ready to face up to some challenges of her own.

The characters Maria encounters are simply wonderful – the homeless man, the girls at the cafe and hairdressers, the teenager who becomes her companion and confidante, the youths at the skate park, Albie’s long lost sister and his old friend, Maria’s beleaguered neighbour – all drawn so well, with real depth and some surprises along the way. There’s a really strong sense of place too – mainly Brighton, but with some rather lovely excursions in pursuit of some of the actions on the list. I will admit I struggled a little with Maria herself at first – she’s 70, which is only a little older than me, but I did find it quite difficult to identify with her. The playing of LPs on her “machine”, her unfamiliarity with technology, the tweed and lace-up shoes, her strict routine, the lavender oil in the Thursday morning bath – she really felt a generation older. But as the story progressed and I got swept along with her voyage of change and discovery, that initial disconnection was entirely forgotten – I grew to love her, and so will everyone who reads her story.

It’s emotional, but beautifully handled and never cloying – and there were the loveliest touches of humour, lightness and unalloyed joy that moved me to tears perhaps even more than its moments of real sadness. I loved its messages, clear and never laboured – that people are sometimes so much more than you see on the surface, life is for living, it’s never too late for change, and that those you love will always be near when you need them most. A really gorgeous book, very different, and quite beautifully written – I loved it.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

Maria meets Albie every Thursday at the same place, same time for the same tea-time treats. Its the highlight of her week until one Thursday he doesn't arrive.
The reason why he doesn't show sends Maria down a path she normally wouldn't voluntarily go down - meeting and interacting with strangers.
This book is beautifully written - so poignant and honest - you are swept along on Maria's highs and lows as she attempts to complete Albie's wish-list. The hidden story of Maria constantly teases - until the heartbreaking reveal close to the end.
Along the way Maria discovers a part of herself that she shut down almost 40 years ago and she gets to know Albie so much better even though he isn't there.
The ending moves you to tears, it is just so beautifully written and the very end can be interpreted in two ways.
My take-away message from this book is that we should try live like Albie - look and see if there is any way YOU can make someone around you's life just that much better.
Just a small detail error: tulips are cultivated from bulbs and not seeds.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Oh, Albie Young, you little heartbreaker, you! Well, and Ruby Hummingbird, you've certainly set a bar for yourself, haven't you?

Maria is a character I wish I could just hug. It's pretty clear that she doesn't exactly ooze happiness, nor does she seem to have a reason to get up and go....until Albie Young. Maria loved getting prepped for her Thursday jaunt to the local cafe with Albie, until one day she turned up but he didn't. At the time, Maria had absolutely no idea as to why he never showed up, so she tried again the following week. Again, the same thing happened, and once again she was clueless as to why he didn't show up. Could something have happened to him? Or did he just not want to join Maria for a pot of tea on a Thursday, and wasn't entirely sure on how to break it to her?

All becomes clear as the storyline goes on, so I won't spoil it for you all, however the story highlighted just how deceiving appearances can be, and how strangers are so quick to judge someone based on a two second meeting or a two second glance. I mean come on, surely everyone is entitled to a bit more than that?

For me, Rosie is such an understated, shining star of a character who acted like Maria's fairy godmother, despite being 54 years her junior. Like they say though; age is merely a number. The unexpected friendship was so heartwarming, but I do think that Rosie deserves a huge mention in my review for simply being such a wonderful, wonderful human.

There is a lot to 'The Wish List of Albie Young' that will bring emotions of any sort, to the surface for anyone who reads the book and, whilst I didn't find the storyline to be a tearjerker, I was still able to appreciate the warmth and the determination behind the authors creation.

This is a storyline that is full of hope, second chances, and unexpected emotions; a story that is beautifully written and one that captures the true essence of friendship, happiness, and finding the courage to take that all important step into the unknown.

If this is the strength of books to come from Ruby Hummingbird, then we are all in for an absolute treat! Such a genuine, humbling, poignant read - I don't envy the author now as for a debut novel, she has set the bar incredibly high!

Unable to give feedback as issues with this and several other titles and unable to download another copy

An enjoyable but emotional read.

The highlight of Maria's week is a Thursday when she meets Albie at the cafe. one week he doesn't show up, and when she finds he has passed away she doesn't know what to do. When she finds a wishlist he left behind, she decides to complete what he never had chance to do. Along the way she makes new friends

A great book.

This book is just so wonderful. Maria is such a lovely character, but she has closed herself off from the world, and has her own little routine. It’s easy to see why as we get to know her better.

All of the characters in the book are so real, and all their stories interweave so well. Albie, of course, is central to it all, and even though he’s not there, we feel his presence as we get to know him through others, and through his legacies.

There are so many emotions to be felt in this book. There are so many humorous moments, so many heartwarming moments, and so many sad moments.

It’s a book that will have you crying one minute and laughing or smiling the next. It will make you think about life. I was torn between devouring it, because I loved it so much, and savouring it, so I could look forward to coming home to it at the end of the day.

An astonishingly beautiful and heartwarming debut. I just adored it.

Without giving away too much of this heart rending and poignant story, get your tissues and start reading...

Maria has her back turned on the world. She exists in a solitary, withdrawn and almost friendless life-except on Thursdays.

On Thursdays it's the day reserved for a luxurious lavendar oil bath, makeup and a little perfume, a sweet outfit (that hopefully he won't notice that she wore it before) and a feeling of butterflies and giddiness.
Because on Thursdays its Albie!

Thursdays are what keeps her young (70's) and excited (Albie). Thursdays are the best day of the week. Thursdays are magical.
Thursdays are Albie.

Other than Thursday, she has only her memories to keep her company. Reliving them over and over, hoping for a different ending, wanting a different ending. Needing that different ending...

But the ending hasn't changed. No matter how hard she wishes, no matter how far she withdraws from the world...except maybe on Thursdays.

5 star read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Ms. Ruby Hummingbird for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy.