Hands down highly recommend. A sweet story that is heartwarming and enlightening. I love Beth Torrey and this did not disappoint. 5 start read.

Broke my heart in two. Missy is estranged from one of her children, daily drinking away her sorrows of that broken relationship and being a widow. She is lonely yet one day runs into a few people that start new friendships with her. I think it was just what she needed of pull herself out of this lonely rut. It gives her a new sense of living.

This was a sweet book! We need more stories that are centered around familial and friendship love especially for an older protagonist. But, I felt this book was a little long and became redundant at times. Overall, I appreciated the story but do not think it was executed as best as it could be.

I hate to be this person, but I did not finish this. I listened to 25% of the audiobook, and I did not have any interest in continuing.

I haven’t read many of these heart felt books. It will pull at your emotions. But I totally recommend The Love Story of Missy CarMichael.

Missy Carmichael is nearly 80, alone, and prefers that way. Having given up on the magic of life's possibilities, Millicent Carmichael drinks too much, and is spiraling towards certain eternal loneliness. But when a few unexpected characters begin to weasel their way into Missy's solitary life, she's pleasantly surprised when they become.... friends. Emotional and endearing, this is a treat of a book for anyone who's ever worried about starting a second chapter in life, or moving on from the life they used to know.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for advanced access to this title!

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Millicent “Missy” Carmichael is alone. She is widowed, estranged from her daughter, and her son and grandson live in Australia. So she drinks and cleans.

But then Angela and her son Otis enter her world, and Sylvie, and a girl dog named Bob, and she discovers that she does have something to offer, and love to give.

If you like A Man Called Ove, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, or Arthur Truluv, give this book a chance!

DNF. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy! I decided to not keep reading this one, it was not for me. Thanks!

I enjoyed reading this lovely story - a coming-of-age story of sorts, except the person coming-of-age is almost 80! Missy Carmichael is a lonely widow estranged from her children and separated by distance from her adored grandchild, and she needs to find a reason to go on- to laugh and love again. It is about embracing the pain that life gives you, starting over and being able to be happy later in life. This beautiful story will resonate with anyone, no matter what his or her age, who has had to “start over” with life. I adored the characters and felt myself wanting to meet them in real life.
Thanks to Beth Morrey, Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Poetic characters, authentic world building and compelling. Enjoyed the story very much. Saving Missy is a poignant and heartwarming debut novel from Beth Morrey about ageing, loss, friendship, and forgiveness.

Missy is a seventy nine year old woman ,she lives alone with her dog a solitary life.In this wonderful sweet story she opens her heart makes friends gets involved with life.A book that treats loneliness in an open honest matter a book that had me cheering Missy on.#nettygalley#putnambooks

I love a good character story that centers on an older person finding new meaningful relationships and meaning for life. That's what I expected this to be and at first Missy seemed to be a character who might be endearing. However, she soon reminded me too much of Eleanor Oliphant who I couldn't stand. Once that comparison got in my head I couldn't connect with Missy. I thought the writing was good, the dog was enjoyable but overall this wasn't for me.

Missy Carmichael is approaching 80, sad and lonely. Having made an effort to get out of the house so she'll have something to tell her son when she talks to him she stumbles upon some unlikely friends who will ultimately change her life. They're love and attention to her, while asking nothing in return, completely turn her life around. I felt for her in sadness in the beginning and rejoiced with her new happiness. Definitely timely.

Author # Beth Morrey has a beautiful novel #'The Love Story of Missy Carmichael'. A coming of old story. Touching on forgiveness, You wouldn't even know this is her debut.For a full review please check out my Instagram blog at Maddie_approves_book_reviews this week.🌟🐾🐾
Thank you,
#Netgalley, # Beth Morrey, and # Penguin Books for the advanced copy

Missy gave up her librarian life when she married a very vibrant historian, raised her children, and ran the household as one does. One day, her love and children are gone and she rattles around her place all alone. Quirky and heartwarming (Eleanor Oliphant comes to mind), Missy begins a late in life coming of age story. Her community becomes a friendlier place when she opens her eyes to the possibilities of friendship with the rag tag gang at the dog park or coffee shop. Perhaps they aren't so rag tag after all.

Delightful, sad, insightful, surprising.....beautiful. This book is full of so many insightful statements about life including its simple pleasures, relationships with friends, family, and the ever important companionship of a dog, as well as, the ups and downs of life that confront each of us. It spoke to me on so many levels. Plus, it all starts at a pond where they are shocking fish to move them....original indeed!

I was hoping for a quirky main character to fall in love with, bur Missy just didn't do much for me. I struggled through the book and in the end, just didn't relate to her story. Sadly, a miss for me.

Sometimes we read great books, but at the wrong time. And that's how this book started out for me. When I first started I really struggled to get into it. However, recently I picked it up again and simply devoured the remaining 80% in a couple of days and I am so so glad I did! This was such an unexpected delight. Miss Carmichael was a complicated, yet intriguing character. Once the dog Bobby came into the picture, it was like she was able to open up and become a different person. Her story still had moments that made me sad, like the fact that she's been carrying about guilt over on decision from 60 years ago. Yet, there were beautiful moments too. And some unexpected twists in the end that gave me a whole new insight into Missy and her life. Honestly I would recommend this book to anyone and am so glad I gave it a second chance.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the eARC!

DNF. I got through the first half of this, but then got distracted by another book and found that I was never invested enough to return to this one.

Sometimes I need to read a book that will make me feel. A book that will explore human nature and relationships with an eye opening insight. This book was just the right fit for me, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The progression of Missy's character from a lonely and often grouchy older woman to a loving and happy person was heart-warming and at times emotional. All characters were flawed and sometimes quite irritating however I could not help myself but love them all. And Missy's dog was just a cherry on top.

I recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys sweet and joyful stories with a punch of emotional twist. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.