This story takes a little while to get into. It takes the reader awhile to get invested in the characters. However, I felt like this was perfectly fine because it felt like the exact way it was meant to unfold. So often we don't stop to listen to each other's stories and especially characters (people) like Missy, who are older and alone. Missy represents those that are often just passed over in real life. If you can take a break from your busy lives I encourage you to invest in this book, in Missy's story, and you will end up feeling for her and care about her story.

I am so glad I had a chance to read this book!
This story focused on Missy Carmichael; a mother and wife. Her 2 children are adults with their own lives and all we know is her husband is gone. Missy is very isolated in her life. Her son and his wife and son live in Australia and she rarely gets to see them. And her daughter lives a few hours away, but after an argument the year before they haven't talked since.
After making friends with people in the park one day her isolated life begins to fill again. Soon she even finds herself with a dog, which is a big turning point for her. Her new companion, Bob; is not something she wanted, but she agreed to take her in to help Angela, a single mom who was helping a friend leave a bad situation.
As many dog owners know, having a dog is like a best friend you can confide in and they love you even with all of your faults. This bond is just what Missy needed. She opens up about her life and her relationship with her husband and her children and through this emotional novel you realize that she needed this relationship to find happiness again. Through the next couple years, Missy is able to build friendship, find happiness in her life, and work on her relationships with her adult children.
The writing was well done and the story was very sweet, there were times I wish there was more buildup with her relationship with Angela and Sylvie, it seemed very sudden and pushed fast to get the rest of the story. Overall I enjoyed the book and the ending, although heartbreaking and emotional, was beautiful!!
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this arc for an honest review!

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey was a treasure of a book. It was heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. I love when a story makes the reader laugh and cry.

This novel is the story of Missy Carmichael, her past, her present, and everything in between. It is a story about one woman’s life’s journey, and how friendship gave Missy Carmichael a new outlook on life.

Missy Carmichael is lonely. Her children are grown; her husband is no longer with her. She lives in a large home, but she is scraping by. But, when all hope seems lost, one day can change everything, and it did for Missy Carmichael. With a cast of charming, quirky characters, an adorable little boy named Otis and a lovable, unforgettable dog named Bob, Missy Carmichael transformed her life. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

One of our greatest gifts is HOPE, for with it, all things are possible. Without it, nothing is possible.

Millicent Carmichael is 79, living a life alone...no friends, no husband, no family...rattling around in a sad dilapidated old house without hope, living with the memories that shaped her life. So begins The Love Story of MIssy Carmichael. This lovely story weaves its way back and forth through Missy's history towing the reader along a meandering river of memories filled with regret about the things she could have or should have done, until two women and a bouncy, enthusiastic dog enter her life.

This book began with a sense of utter hopelessness and ends with joy. Let me close with this quote,
"H.O.P.E. - Hold on Pain ends."

As she has grown older and suffered more and more losses in her life, Missy's world has become quite small - she has no friends, is estranged from her daughter and her son lives overseas. When taking her daily constitutional she falls, two women rush to help her, to her everlasting embarrassment, but the door which has been so firmly slammed just has just cracked open a bit. With each passing week, Missy's life becomes more.
A life lesson for all who shut themselves in because ' no one cares'. Sometimes one has to talk to strangers and put one"s self out there in order for those strangers to become friends and people who at least care.

This is one of the few books that I tried and couldn't finish. It is rare that I DNF a book.

I think the story was just ok, I just couldn't get interested in Missy Carmichael and its hard for me to continue reading when I can't get into a main character.

An absolutely charming yet meaningful novel about a 79 year old lonely woman and how she comes into her own and finds community in the unlikeliest of places. For dog lovers, wives, mothers, friends, and dog lovers everywhere!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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This was such a wonderful story! It reminded me a lot of A Man Called Ove with the way these complete strangers (and a dog) forced their way into Missy’s life and showed her how much of her life she was still missing. It’s not easy when the love of your life has passed and your children either live halfway around the world or are estranged. These characters were so funny and down to earth, I felt like they could have been my own friends. And while there were moments of sorrow and regret, there were so many more of happiness, love, and forgiveness.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3225131432

Not the book for me. I can’t handle books with animals dying, and this one was just too much. I was drawn in by the comparison to “Eleanor Oliphant” and “Man Called Ove,” but they don’t have dead pets. Nope, not worth it.

If you love the transformative power of dogs, this book is for you.

Missy Carmichael is lonely widow who always expects the worst and over analyzes every social interaction to her detriment. A chance faint in the park brings her into contact with a set of likeable -- but definitely not average -- characters including a lovely mutt who you can't help but fall in love with.

I might be one of the few who has not yet read Eleanor Oliphant, but I absolutely adored A Man Called Ove, so I was compelled to give Beth Morrey’s new book a go. The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is about an elderly, lonesome woman enduring her hardships and struggles on her own, without purpose or direction, but then finds that friends and companionship help fill her life with meaning again.

I had such high hopes for this book, but I must say, I felt underwhelmed by the story of Missy Carmichael. The first third of the book was about Missy ignoring her issues and generally isolating herself from society, while feeling sorry for herself. The second-third of the book was about her kind of making friends, but still boo-hooing about her lot in life. The last third of the book was the best part. Missy finally became a dynamic character, instead of the dull, flat one we got for the first two-thirds, and I genuinely enjoyed the end.

In general, I found it very difficult to relate to Missy as a character. I understand loneliness and depression can create a life that does not seem worth living, but it was extremely difficult for me to garner any sympathy for Missy Carmichael. Her personality came across as adolescent, rather than that of an 80-year-old woman. It felt almost forced sometimes, as if it were a chore to act so abysmal toward life, and that made it a chore for me to keep reading.

Things I did like: other characters that Missy eventually befriended were dynamic and had so much growth and impact on the story. Like, the story literally could not exist if these characters disappeared. I wouldn’t want to even touch the book if these characters didn’t exist. They were relatable and fun, and they pulled me along through the story and Missy’s struggles. I also liked Missy’s animal companion; I think animal therapy is underrated and so beneficial toward mental health – the author thoughtfully portrayed the relationship between Missy and her furry friend and I really enjoyed watching it play out.

I mentioned that I really enjoyed A Man Called Ove, so why didn’t I like this book as much? I think much of it had to do with the writing style. It was a quick read, but the style in which the story played out felt cumbersome; I couldn’t relate or sympathize with the main character, and I didn’t really care what happened next. Perhaps I’m just not at that point in my life yet, and a reread down the road will present a different opinion. However, if you are also someone who enjoyed Backman’s book or Eleanor Oliphant, definitely give this book a go! Maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

This is the story of Missy Carmichael in her twilight years. It tells how she came out of her shell and became more social. The story also gives glimpses into her past which show how she became who she is today. There were some surprises along the way. I'm not a big fan of the character Missy and I found that everyone accepted her into their circle rather quickly. Seems all you need is a dog. It was a quick read with a little more to it than others in this genre. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Missy Carmichael spends her entire life subjugating her personal ambitions and personality in favor of molding herself into the woman she feels will capture and keep the man of her desire. While she is successful in maintaining a very long-term marriage, her anger and resentment build throughout the decades but her love and desire for her one and only Leo remains strong.
What cost the sacrifice? She is distant by both geography and matters of the heart to both her now adult children. She holds dear a secret that she feels will destroy her marriage even so many years after the fact. She is isolated and now old without any prospects of changes in her life.
Enter a whole slew of characters that worm their way into Missy's ordered, sad and lonely life and her heart. But none so much as Bob. Bob the dog. Bob the dog that Missy doesn't want but somehow ends up watching for a woman in need.
This is not a dog book. This is a book about how it's never too late to find friends and love and peace within. It might not be what you were looking for or wanted but the kind you needed all the same.
Lovely book with a less than lovely protagonist and cast of characters that will ultimately lift your spirits.

An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a pleasure to read! It is a coming-of-age story of sorts, except the person coming-of-age is an elderly woman named Missy Carmichael! It is the story of a lonely woman who journeys to find a reason to go on- to make friends and laugh and love again. It is about embracing the pain that life gives you and turning it into something beautiful. This beautiful story will resonate with anyone, no matter what his or her age, who has had to “start over” with life. Missy will inspire readers not to give up on life because something amazing might be waiting just around the corner. This is a brilliantly written debut novel, and I look forward to more from Beth Morrey. As the kids say, “it gave me all the feels!” Thank you so much NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Beth Morrey for the privilege of reading and reviewing an digital advanced copy this marvelous book. Five stars, hands down!

Charming and sweet but very predictable. Still an enjoyable read. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I always think I'm going to enjoy these cute and slightly corny books, but unfortunately I never do. I wish the storyline was a little more quirky. The whole plot was so predictable. You can tell early on how this book is going to end. My expectations were way too high for this one. The writing was decent though, but the characters were a little flat and too straight-forward for my taste. I like characters that are more multi-dimensional. Everyone was either grumpy or cookie-cutter. Thank you, G.P. Putnam for the digital ARC.

Release date: April 7, 2020

The love story here is basically just Missy learning to love herself and let others love her. I wouldn't have gone with this title really but here we are. Predictable and a bit meh.

Was enjoying this mostly until the "reveal" which wasn't much of a reveal and kind of threw a spoke into Missy's whole story. Definitely made me like her much less. The highlight of the story was that of Bobby the dog. Angela seemed a right mess, poor Otis. Sylvie seemed more lonely than Missy but acted nonplussed. Denzil was interesting but a side character.

Would have preferred more of the story behind Leo and Missy instead of all of the other drama. I'd say the first 75% of this book was an enjoyable Sunday afternoon read. The last 25% was a big let down.

Sweet, albeit predictable, story of a lonely 79year-old.
It takes a while to get into the book, or to feel for Missy Carmichael at first. She starts off a bit irascible and crotchety.
But she grows on you.
The narrative arc is pretty predictable but a breezy read for a Sunday afternoon.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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!

4 Oikos Stars!

Another charming story of an elderly woman, Missy, and her travels through life. The loneliness, her life growing smaller, shutting people out, regrets and secrets. Until she finds her purpose again, expands her heart and her life. She finds herself a reluctant substitute caregiver to a female dog named Bob. They become fast friends and faithful companions. Missy's world has grown. She's gained friends. She is interacting. She is finding small slices of joy again. Ahhhh, but bad times always come again. None of us are immune. Then we have the choice to either retreat or boldly stand there and claim our place in the world and remain vibrant and steadfast against that which chooses to try to break us. What will Missy choose? What would you choose?