This book was so sweet. Anyone who reads this will look at the elderly in a different light.
Eudora is old and tired and keenly aware of her own mortality and is in the process of planning her death on her own terms when her new neighbor 10 year old Rose bursts into her life. Rose is exuberant and fast talking and Eudora’s gruffness does not stop Rose from working her way into Eudora’s life and heart. Interweaved is the story of Eudora’s past and the hardships she endured that shaped her into the gruff old woman she was. I loved watching the sweetest cast of characters unknowingly piece each other back together.
This is a very special book that is easy to fall in love with. So much to learn by in this book.

The journey of Eudora Honeysett was lovely and wholesome, even if readers can potentially see where this story will end. I found the two parallel stories, one in the present and another in the past, quite well done. The slow exploration of Eudora was very pleasant to read. If I could change a couple of things, I would encourage the author to add more variability in Rose's character. I found her to be too well-behaved and predictable and caring for her age, in comparison to the kids I have met.

I absolutely loved this book and all is characters! What a refreshing break from the thrillers that I normally read!

I really enjoyed this book. It definitely had A Man Called Ove vibes, but those are great vibes to have!! Eudora is so ready to be done but she has so much more loving to do--both to give and to get. I loved reading about Eudora and Rose's relationship. Such a sweet read and have recommended to friends!

I really liked this book! It was a heartwarming story of life, friendship, and facing the reality of our death while balancing living our life. The characters were wonderful and this was definitely the feel-good story that I needed in between some more intense books. I would definitely recommend this book, and I will look for more by this author. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Called a "female version of A man called Ove by Fredrick Backman", The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is about Eudora, an eighty-five-old woman who has lived a full life, witnessed countless facts and is still suffering of old age.

I found Eudora dialogues with ten-year-old Rose Trewidney quirky and refreshing at times. In addition, I always enjoy a good dry humor. Nevertheless, I think that the story overall lacks momentum and I wasn't invested in the story at all. It is a heartwarming story with beautiful message yet I was waiting for something more to happen. Lastly, I just didn't have the patience to keep up with the story.

DNF @20%

Eudora is an 85 year old lady that lives alone with her cat. She contacts a company in Switzerland so that she can choose how she does. She doesn’t want to die alone in a hospital. One of the things they discuss with her is to choose life in every moment.
After she contacts them she becomes friends with a little 10 year old girl that moves in next door to her. Her name is Rose and she is full of life. Through Rose, Eudora meets Stanley, a widower and becomes friends with him as well. It is a story of friendship, hardship and accepting death told through alternating timelines. “Life may be precious but is is uncertain too. It’s wise to be prepared for all eventualities.”


Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett was, in 1 word, brilliant!

Eudora is an elderly woman who decides that she wants to end her life with dignity. She has separated herself from society, choosing to spend time in her own company, rather than deal with the younger people these days. All of this changes, though, when a new family moves in and ten-year-old Rose decides to befriend Eudora.

This book was so unbelievably sweet. The interactions between Eudora and Rose had me laughing out loud, and I loved to see how both Eudora and Rose benefited from their friendship. Lyons does a fantastic job handling difficult topics such as death, grief, guilt and bullying and the inclusion of these topics gives the book incredible depth.

I also really enjoyed the flashbacks to Eudora's childhood and early adulthood. Eudora becomes a much more relatable character when you understand what she has endured and I found myself rooting for her happiness.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this great ARC!

I could not get in to this book, so I did not finish reading it......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Why did this book have to break my heart the way it did?? I absolutely loved every second of this book, and can see why so many others do as well. Eudora is a tired old woman who is ready to end her life, until she gets a new neighbor who starts to show her how good life can be. Her internal dialogue had me laughing out loud at some points, heartbroken at other parts. The way Annie Lyons wrote this book was incredibly moving, and I think everyone should check it out. Just be prepared to hurt a little bit.

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons is such a delightful read about choosing to celebrate your life and death on your own terms. Eighty-six year old Eudora is perfectly content to be left alone. She is not depressed or lonely or sad in any way. She is simply old and increasingly affected by this. She has already made her plans so she takes no interest in meeting her new neighbors until 10 year old Rose comes banging on her door. To her dismay, she finds Rose is not one to be ignored. Rose is outgoing, bubbly, with a love of all things fashion, glitter and unicorns. Eudora is more practical, dependable, and predictable and prefers that people do not make a lot of fuss. Even though they could not be more different, they soon become best friends and have grand adventures along with another elderly neighbor named Stanley. I love the way Rose is so persistent and precocious. Eudora is also feisty when she wants to be with no tolerance for things like tardiness or bullies. Together Rose and Stanley manage to gently nudge Eudora to open up about her past and try new things. It is so touching how everyone embraces Eudora even though she never knew she needed to be loved. While this book did make me cry at one point (I will not spoil it for you), I loved it. This book absolutely begs to be made into a movie! Thank you to #netgalley for a chance to review this book. #TheBrilliantLife ofEudroraHoneysett

Have you ever gone into a book knowing it was going to be one that made you cry?

I had no doubt that The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett was going to be one for me ... especially after hearing it compared to A Man Called Ove (which I loved!). This book was like a hug for your soul, one you didn’t even know you needed until it happened.

On the surface it may not make sense that an 85 year old and a 10 year old can be friends. But then you wouldn’t know Eudora and Rose. They are exactly what the other needs in this season of life. Rose brings light and life into the mundane of Eudora’s every day that she is trying to escape. While Eudora brings understanding and acceptance to Rose who has not found that among her own peers. Their friendship may have started as something to fill the time, especially for Eudora. But it doesn’t take long for Rose to weasel her way into all the cracks left by the lifetime of tragedy in Eudora’s heart.

Death is a large part of this book. The topic of death is often shied away from in discussions. A conversation often pushed aside until there isn’t much time left. As a nurse, I have had to navigate those conversations with families, often when they are not wanted or even when it is too late. But death is inevitable and for Eudora, she wanted to choose her own time. I loved how this book discussed death and the need for conversations with those around you. I also loved how we saw for Eudora, that support can be found in the least likely of people, if you are willing to open yourself up to let them in.

“All you need to do is talk. Because death is as important as birth. We celebrate one but fear the other. We don’t need to do that anymore.”

Annie Lyons' The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is a book that is both emotional and joyous. It's great for fans of books like A Man Called Ove.

I have a particular love for the redeemed curmudgeon genre, so this was right up my alley. Eudora Honeysett has decided she's done with the world, but the world isn't quite done with her. When Rose Trewidney, her 10-year-old neighbor, and the recently-widowed Stanley come rushing in, Eudora realizes that things that come at the end of her life might just be the most rewarding after all.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Beautiful story of old age and facing one’s likely impending death. The main character while determined to end things her own way, discovers that there is still time to develop the friendship and love of others. The young girl Rose who befriends her, and Stanley the widower neighbor are amongst those who deliver unexpected happiness and affection to Eudora at the end of her life. Probably more than she experienced in her younger years. While the ending is still sad, it is satisfying.

As the book opens we meet Eudora Honeysett who is aware of her morality and willing to take that decision and timing into her own hands. She is not ill or unhappy, just ready to be done after 85 years. We quickly meet her charming next door neighbor Rose, who has just moved in. The story continues as we follow Eudora and Rose developing more than a friendship, they become family. Rose helps Eudora realize she is not as lonely as she feels, and Eudora helps Rose realize how special she is amongst the bullying she is experiencing at school. They need each other.
This book was a quick read, the story captured me quickly and held my interest all the way through. I needed to keep reading, because I needed to see where the story went, where the friendship went and how it continued to develop and ultimately what Eudora's decision would be in the end.
I highly recommend this book.

This book was amazing! The characters had me engaged with them from the beginning. It was a story about love--found and lost, friendship and family. I didn't want to put it down.

I enjoy this author and I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and heartfelt and you got to know the characters. I love the friendships between the young and the old. I love how if we open ourselves up to new things, it can be magical.

Thank you Harper Collins for this advanced reading copy.

This is a lovely story of Eudora who is 85 and decides she's ready to leave this life. Shortly after the opening of this book she meets her new neighbor Rose, 10, and they become very good friends. The plot follows Eudora through her current day struggles and triumphs as well a flashing back through her life and moments of sorry. This book ended differently that I was expecting but I was connected to the characters and their lives and didn't want the book to end.

Oh, I loved this book. Eudora is another one of those lovable, odd characters that begs to be cared for and tended to. If you enjoyed Where'd You Go, Bernadette? or Elinor Oliphant is Perfectly Fine, you will enjoy this. Each character is unique, but each needs love and kindness in her own way.

This is a fabulous book about an old woman set in her ways who makes up her mind regarding a life-altering decision. As fate would have it, new neighbors moving in next door opens her eyes to new experiences and relationships, while exploring her past to explain how she came to this point in her life. This story reminded me of A Man Called Ove. Heart-warming and emotional