4.5 stars!! What a lovely, charming, brilliant book! It has such a lovely ending. I'm not going to go too much into the plot - you can read that summary anywhere.

a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.

I loved the character of Eudora Honeysett. She's had a long, and mostly good, but solo life. When 10 year old Rose enters her life, everything changes. Their relationship is charming.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books about what it means to live and love, and yes, even what encompasses a "good death."

Eudora is sad, lonely and is ready to end her life until she meets her new, 10 year old neighbor, Rose. Rose and her other elderly neighbor, Stanley, slowly show her how to make the most of her life again. As the three unlikely friends spend time together, laugh and grow closer, Eudora reflects on her past and whether to listen to her doctor when she says "life is precious and as long as we have a reason to continue we should follow that path."

This book was difficult to put down! The alternating chapters between past and present gives the reader a peak into why Eudora feels the way she does about life. The way Eudora and Rose's friendship blossoms is heartwarming and real. Five stars!! Thanks to NetGalley, Book Club Girls and Annie Lyons for an advanced readers e-copy of this book.

This was a very moving story. It dealt with a tough topic, but there were tons of moments of humor, especially observational humor. Eudora's backstory was a bit melodramatic, but one could get a sense of how she came to be the way she was. The secondary characters were delightful.

Eighty-five-year-old Eudora Honeysett uses her taciturn expression and formal, acerbic speaking style as a suit of armor, meant to repel any advances. She has learned that making herself vulnerable to other people only leads to disappointment and heartbreak. And so here she is, living in her lifelong home, with no friends or family, and nothing but her daily routine of crosswords and swimming—and a grumpy cat—to get her up in the morning.

Despite exercising nearly every day, Eudora can feel her body failing. She is horrified by the idea of a long, undignified institutional end. She is ready to go and ready to take action to achieve her goal.

But the new Trewidney family next door, especially 10-year-old daughter, Rose, are impervious to Eudora’s armor. Every day she is dragged into more and more activities by Rose and her neighbor Stanley, a widower also pulled into Rose’s web.

This dual-narrative novel alternates between flashbacks to the events of Eudora’s life that so crushed her spirit and made her close herself off from others, and the present-day story of how Rose makes Eudora shed her armor, bit by bit.

The way things are in our world right now, it would be easy to roll my eyes cynically at this novel. But I’m finding during this pandemic that so many neighbors and members of the community are reaching out to care for others. That’s what we see in this novel, and I can’t be cynical about that. This is an entertaining and heart-warming novel that should appeal to readers of Frederik Backman.

I just adored this book. Obviously it is about the life of Eudora. But the main focus is on the end of her life and friendship. The main characters were well developed and just fit together so well. It gives one a lot to think about. The book is well written and I was really sad when it ended.

Eudora is 85 years old and is done with life. She wants to leave this world on her terms. She makes an appointment at a clinic in Switzerland and just waiting for approval. Then, 10 year old Rose and her family moves in next door. Rose has made Eudora her new BFF. Rose also makes friends with Stanley, an older gentleman who just lost his wife. The 3 make an unlikely group of friends but it works so well. Rose shows Eudora love and that life is still worth living. Will Eudora go through with her clinic appointment or will she realize she still wants to live? If I could give this book 100 stars I would. I loved the characters in this fantastic book! Eudora has lived a life with many hardships but she is so wonderful with her friends Rose and Stanley. Rose is the sweetest, full of life little girl and cares deeply for her friends and family. Stanley is a sad lonely man brought back to life with the help of Eudora and Rose. I felt like I was with Eudora, Rose,and Stanley on their adventures. I loved this incredible book with my entire heart and soul! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Annie Lyons perfectly balances the emotional roller coaster of heartbreaking and heartwarming in The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett. Eudora is 85, alone and ready to be done with life - on her own terms. But as she begins the process of applying for assisted suicide a bundle of energetic, rainbow sunshine enters her life in the form of her new ten year old neighbor, Rose. Along with fellow oldie Stanley, Eudora begins to experience life and interactions that bring joy to her life just as she's ready to end it. The story alternates back and forth between a Eudora in current times that could probably be described by most, including the reader, as cranky, curmudgeonly and short-tempered, and Eudora growing up. And Eudora went through so much with her family that's it hard to blame her for who she is at the end of her life, giving new perspective on older generations. My heart breaks for her that her promise to her father was so important that she sacrificed so much personally throughout her life to try and fulfill it. But it's certainly joyful to see what Rose, Stanley and their families bring to Eudora to make her wonder if life is still in fact worth living.

Olive Kittridge meets Elinor Oliphant. Predictable but you grow to love the characters. Would be good for a discussion about death and dying.

This was an easy read with a sweet story. There were some sad moments and also some funny moments that made me laugh. The storyline was somewhat predictable and overall it was just mediocre for me.

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is a heartwarming tale of a 10 year old girl who draws two lonely, broken people in their twilight years into her orbit, brightening their lives and giving them a reason for living.

The book starts out with Eudora contacting a Swiss center for assisted suicide as she begins her crusade to persuade them to accept her application to end her life. Shortly afterwards, Rose, a 10 year old who has just moved in next door, knocks insistently on Eudora’s door and inserts herself into Eudora’s life. Rose then proceeds to befriend Stanley, a widower with two small dogs, and soon the trio begins a series of adventures, which draws the two elderly people into the outside world. Alternating with the present are snippets from Eudora’s childhood and adulthood, which slowly unveils the reason she has become closed off to life and love.

Although this theme of the curmudgeonly elder restored by a young child has been done before, this novel has its own unique charm. The characters are well drawn and lovable, making the reader care about their fates. Moreover, it is one of those novels that make you think about the characters long after you have put down the book.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader’s ebook copy of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons. Eudora Honeysett, 85 years old, feels that she has experienced everything she can about life and is ready to take charge of her death. But, with the arrival of 10 year old spunky, talkative Rose who moves in next door and an unfortunate run in with her neighbor Stanley, Eudora finds herself surrounded by new friends. She reluctantly realizes that happiness comes from unexpected sources and that maybe there’s more life left to live. A funny, moving, and heartwarming story that you will recommend time and time again.

One of the sweetest novels I've read this year. A story of an 95 year old lonely woman finding family in the best of places.

This story is about an elderly lady, Eudora Honeysett, who has decided she will die on her own time frame and as she sets things in motion to achieve that goal her life begins to change. She meets her new neighbor ten year old Rose and the recently widowed Stanley and the group become friends. Eudora flashes back to her own life and it's many disappointments in between embracing her new friends and activities. Suddenly her perspective changes about life and death and whether she is ready to die or is ready to embrace the time she has remaining.

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons is a great, heartwarming novel that talks of second chances in life, especially when one thinks all is lost.

Just when the elderly Eudora thinks it is all over for her and she has nothing left to live for, a spunky, vivacious 10 year old Rose moves in nearby to bring Eudora a breath of fresh air. Between the adorable Rose that winds her way around Eudora’s heart and their newfound friend, Stanley, Eudora is once again introduced to the hope, life, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and sense of humor that she felt she had lost long ago.

A fun, sweet, quirky, and memorable read.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I loved this sweet story about living life to its fullest. Rose was the perfect foil to Eudora. She was utterly delightful and softened Eudora’s dour nature perfectly. Fans of A Man Called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Perfectly Fine, and Me Before You will find this a fabulous choice.

Eudora is old. Eudora is tired. She is ready to die but on her own terms. But when a spirited 10-year old moves in next door, Eudora starts to question her choices. Wonderful story! Reminds me a lot of A Man Called Ove. I loved the characters of Eudora and Rose and as someone who lives with an elderly grandparent I could definitely sympathize with Eudora. This is a great book for anyone looking for an emotional and heartwarming story.

Eudora Honeysett is 85 years old and feeling her age. She is alone in the world, has never married. She decided to apply to a clinic in Switzerland for death on her own terms. Meanwhile 10 year old Rose Trewidney moves in next door. Between Rose and Stanley, a recently widowed neighbor, Eudora discovers that life is worth living. As Eudora embarks on some new adventures with Rose and Stanley, her past history is explored in flashbacks. Be prepared with your tissues nearby. As much as you will laugh at Rose’s antics, you will weep at Eudora’s lifetime of putting herself aside in service to her family. This new entry into the crotchety old person turning into a friendly, lovable human is definitely worth the read.

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

This story reminds me of A Man Called Ove in the best way! I love character driven novels and this is just that. By remembering bits of her past while living in the present, 85-year-old Eudora drew me in and grabbed my heart. Her irrepressible new 10-year-old neighbor Rose is delightful too. As the story opens Eurdora is simply tired of living. Then Rose and her family, and the elderly neighbor Stanley, being to insert themselves into Eudora's quiet little existence. A lovely, heartwarming, charming story.

Eudora is old. Her life has been long, and she is tired and ready for it to end. She doesn’t want to die in a hospital being kept alive by machines, she wants to do it on her own terms. Luckily for her, a woman she runs into in a waiting room offers her the information she seeks of doctors in Switzerland who will help you go on your terms. She is into the process of paperwork when a new family moves in next door and their daughter Rose decides to take Eudora under her wing. Will Eudora find a reason to keep alive?

This one brought on all the A Man Called Ove vibes! Rose was an absolute gem of a character, even if she did make people love her because she just wouldn’t go away!! She was such a breath of fresh air to Eudora’s life and I adored their relationship as it grew throughout the book. I also really enjoyed that the book went back and forth between present day and Eudora’s childhood.. She took on so much as a young girl and truly gave up everything to care for her family. This one definitely had me tearing up at some points, but also brought me so much joy seeing Eudora end up with such a lively group of individuals that loved and cared for her. If you loved A Man Called One, you will love this one! It’s out on September 8th which also happens to be the day Fredrik Backman’s new book is out. I highly recommend placing a pre-order for them both!

I loved Eudora and Rose from The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons. In their own ways. Eudora and Rose had so much wisdom and love to share.