This was really sweet. I loved the progression of Missy: she started as a lonely, sad widow, and transformed into this being so full of life and love that you can't help but smile when reading about her.

I loved this story! It's so touching and heartwarming! Missy is such a relatable character and the story was very believable. I will look out for this author for sure!

Thank you GP Putnam and Sons and Netgalley for a copy of The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey for review.

What a lovely story about a grouchy but very lonely elderly women learning to let people in to help. So cute how she learns that maybe things aren't perfect but with the help of a few friends and one dog she can find some joy. There was a few really really heartbreaking parts that made me sob. Overall, just a lovely little tale.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This story was perfectly fine. The quaint details were hard for me to connect with but I can see it resonating with an older audience. The story was overall a little unorganized.

This was such a wonderful book. There aren't enough books written about older women, and this one was so great. I loved Missy. I really connected with her. And I loved the message of it never being too late for a person to find a fulfilling life.

THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL by Beth Morrey is, as the publisher notes, perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and A Man Called Ove. Morrey's new novel features seventy-nine-year-old Millicent Carmichael, aka Missy, who spends most of her time alone, at home. The crushing isolation is lifted when she begins to care for a dog named Bob and to become more involved in lives of single mom Angie, her young son Otis, and friend, Sylvie. Like the Authenticity Project, Missy tentatively and almost inadvertently builds a community of sorts. Along the way, she really is inspirational in learning to be more accepting of herself and others. Flashbacks give the reader insight into Missy's life and her relationships with her now gone husband, estranged daughter, and far away son and grandson. It takes courage for Missy to find meaning and companionship as she gradually becomes more comfortable with once again caring for those outside her family. THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL, an uplifting debut novel, received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus.

The entire book was endearing in so many ways. For fans of A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant, the tender moments will have you in your feels.

This love story really took me through a range of emotions as I read it from cover to cover. Missy Carmichael is 79 years old and finds herself in a new world that she isn't sure she is ready to be in. Her son and grandson live in far away Australia; her relationship with her daughter is tenuous, at best; and the love of her life is gone. Missy doesn't expect a spur of the moment trip to a local park to have such a tremendous impact. Suddenly two complete strangers are making their way through all of Missy's barriers and finding a place in her life.

The characters in this novel are so well written and real. I would go from being a cheerleader for Missy to feeling she had let me down and then back to empathizing with her. All of the relationships were unique and compelling. It was a wonderful transformative journey to go through with Missy and I am grateful for reading this book. What seems like a simple story in some ways is so multi-layered and touching that I will remember it for some time.

I received this novel courtesy of Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putman Sons in exchange for an honest review.

Missy Carmichael is suffering the ravages of old age. She lives alone in a house full of reminders -- of her ancestors, of her husband, of her son who now lives in Australia with her only grandson, of her estranged daughter. Her life is quiet and lonely until she meets Angela.

This is a lovely story; one that could have been depressing or sickeningly predictable & sappy, but instead is filled with wonderful characters and humor, pathos, and surprises. Morrey writes with feeling and adds unusual details that add to the depth and emotion of the story. Something as simple as and attic filled with handmade clothing from the 20s, or tiny details about coping with suddenly being in charge of a young child or a dog after years of living alone. There are lots of people populating Missy's neighborhood and each one is distinct and endearing (or annoying). I was completely enthralled with Missy's life and the lives of those around her. Loved this book!

Terrific story, characters and writing. Missy Carmichael is a lonely 79 year old woman, a curmudgeonly character, who doesn't care much for interactions with other people. When she's at her lowest she is befriended by two women she meets in the park, and their forceful and friendly personalities bring something out in her self that she never knew existed.
She has friends, and a dog, and a better relationship with her daughter. She is enjoying life despite herself.

I really loved this story. It just makes you feel good after having read it.

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey

I loved this book for its quirky 79 yo character - always makes me wonder how it would be like when you are older, spouse has passed away and her children have their own lives, and life choices causing her children to become estranged from her. I enjoy this debut novel where no matter how old you are, it is never too late to still make changes and see the arc and change in the characters - it is a story full of hope and love. This endearing and heart felt story with interesting and quirky characters was such an amazing read for me. Many days after, I am still emotional about this story I absolutely enjoyed. I highly recommend this book.

Written in the vein of ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE and ALL ADULTS HERE, Beth Morrey’s THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL is both a love song to growing old and a quiet, introspective look into the stories we tell ourselves.

For the first time in 79 years, Millicent “Missy” Carmichael is entirely alone. Her beloved husband, Leo, has died; her son, Alistair, has left England for a new life in Australia with her only grandson; and she is estranged from her daughter, Melanie. Cooped up in her big, empty house, Missy has settled into a quiet but lonely routine. She drinks wine, wanders the corners of her home, and dwells on her regrets. Every day she tries to find something new to do and email her son about, but she’s quickly running out of ideas. Finally, the town announces that they will be electrocuting the fish in a local park’s pond to transfer them to a new pond, and Missy sees her opportunity for something really big to share with Alistair. Expecting a quirky story about shocked fish, she heads to the park and finds so much more.

There, Missy comes across a frazzled, red-headed woman named Angela and her young son, Otis. Angela is brassy and bold, and though she is initially critical of her parenting, Missy finds herself longing to be introduced to the two, dreaming of her own grandson whom she misses immensely. When the time comes for the big electrocution, Missy faints and finds herself being prodded awake by Sylvie, the first stranger she has spoken to in weeks. Naturally, Angela and Sylvie are acquainted, and though Missy is desperate for friendship, she declines their invite for coffee, worried that she will be seen as an intruder...or, even worse, a lonely old woman with no other plans.

As the weeks without Leo draw on, Missy finds herself crossing paths with Angela and Sylvie again and again, and soon catches herself sitting at the cafe longer than usual, or parking herself on a park bench, hoping to run into one or both of them. With time, she strikes up a careful friendship with them, drawing her out of her self-imposed exile. Before she knows it, she is heavily entwined in their lives, and even finds herself caring for Angela’s friend’s dog, opening her home and heart to more than just her new furry friend. As she learns more about the warm, comforting Sylvie, and the brash journalist Angela, Missy starts to realize that there is life in widowhood, but only she can give herself the permission to live it.

Alternating between Missy’s forays into friendship and her early life with Leo, Morrey tells us the story of how Missy first fell in love and began cultivating her life with her late husband. Paired together, these timelines draw a portrait of a timid, insecure woman who is certain only of her morals. As she begins to fall for and share her life with Leo, an outspoken and acclaimed historian, she struggles to find an avenue for her own goals, often drowning in the tasks of motherhood and childcare. At the same time, her dealings with Sylvie and Angela reveal a woman who, while quietly disapproving, is a bit of a pushover. Luckily for her, her eagerness to please results in her agreeing to some incredible and deeply necessary strides in character development. Along the way, we learn that Missy has been hiding a few secrets that paint her in a not-so-favorable light --- most notably a big, dark one that has left her estranged from Melanie.

As with Eleanor Oliphant, readers will find that Missy Carmichael is not the warm, instantly relatable main character they might expect from a book with “love story” in the title. She is intensely judgmental, but Morrey writes her with such sophistication and careful pacing that it is clear that her judgments come more from insecurity than maliciousness. In this way, Missy represents the worst in all of us --- and displays it with the comfort and openness that could only come from an elderly character who already has lost all she holds dear. Where Morrey shines is in her slow, measured reveal of Missy’s past and how it has molded her.

When writing an older character, an author must always be careful to highlight both the protagonist’s growth and his or her journey so far. Morrey does both here --- and she does it impossibly well. Even at 79, Missy experiences tremendous growth and Morrey develops her fully, satisfyingly and just plain beautifully. Though somewhat unlikable at the start, she is so fully rendered and expertly drawn that even her flaws become endearing (and did I mention there’s a dog?).

Heartwarming, poignant and raw, THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL is the perfect book for anyone ready for a change, for hope, or for a solid love story rooted in something more.

This was just an okay read for me. I had high hopes going in and I love the cover art but it wasn’t a memorable read.

Delightful is the best one-word description would give to The Love Story of Missy Carmichael. Nothing is more inspiring than reading about an elderly woman who finding herself at long last. And even better, it’s when a dog enters her life that the tables start turning and the domino effect begins.

There seems to be a new trend of books that star a cantankerous older person and how they find their way to happiness. With so many books out like this, the plot needs to be quite different with the ability to suck you in form the start. I started this on audio and ended by reading it. There’s something fun about listening and reading the same book because the character’s voices, cadence and tone stay in my head.

This story is a slow burn and learning to sympathize with Missy took some time. Once you understand her back story, how she grew up, the ins and outs of her marriage and her relationships with her children, you’ll see her through a new lens. The supporting characters were all unique and for the most part believable. I loved Bob, the dog, and sweet Otis, the young boy.

Overall, it was an easy, enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book. It was a pleasant break from the current world turmoil. If there were a genre called Cup of Cocoa this would be included. A book about people opening up and helping each other is a comfort and delight. The story is not cloying, the people are realistic and the story unwinds in a satisfying manner.

This was overall an enjoyable read. The last 25 pages or so are page turners, the rest, not as much. I felt that I kept putting this down and then saying "oh, I have to finish this novel before moving on" many times, but the end kept me interested.

I loved this book! It was so heartfelt and made me cry while I was reading. I loved the character of Missy. I am a fan of books that feature older main characters. This book was touching and I really didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read more from Beth Morrey.

This story was a very sweet and nice but it didn't really have anything too interesting or even exciting in it. I wouldn't say it was bland per se but it was just... I don't know. Nothing special in my eyes.

I really enjoyed the writing, the author seemed to have a great way of putting words to paper. But holy geez the pacing in this story was s l o w. SO SLOW. I had to skim a lot and even with the skimming I could keep up with what was going on. On top of that, there was a lot of jumping and hopping around. When that happens it makes it a very inconsistent read. The Love Story of Missy Carmichael was definitely a book where I wish I could have beta read it LOL!

Saying that this story is comparable to Eleanor Oliphant is such a stretch in my opinion. This story doesn't come close to Eleanor's. Eleanor was an incredibly likable and complex character that had the best quirks but Missy was just an okay character for me. She won't be one that I remember like I do Eleanor. While the writing and the characters were good, the story was just meh. It was slow and tedious and at times seems very inconsistent.

A Quirky novel that had Promise but didn’t Quite Deliver.

Missy Carmichael is a 79 year old woman whose life is not a happy one. Taking care of her husband who has dementia has taken quite the toll on her. Happiness doesn’t seem attainable for Missy until she meets some new friends, and a sweet canine companion named Bob, all of whom make her believe in the power of friendship.

Though this was a sweet novel, it didn’t quite warm my heart the way I had hope when I read the premise. This might simply be the case of my being the wrong reader for this novel, as others really loved this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam - GP Putnam and Sons for the arc.

3.5*
A heartwarming story of loneliness and new found friendships when you least expect it but need it the most.

Though contemporary fiction is not my favorite genre. The premise caught my attention and the author wove a storyline that kept me engaged throughout.

You will smiling through your tears, so keep your tissues close by. Perhaps it’s just the timing of the read. But it may have been a bit too heavy a read for me personally. There are many fabulous five star reviews to be found.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an ARC to read and review