I’ve read a number of books recently that focus on an elderly woman – Saving Missy, The Lido, Three Things about Elsie, Elizabeth is Missing – and I’ve found them all incredibly charming. When I read the blurb about this book, I was hoping that it would be just as charming and I wasn’t disappointed – this is my favourite book of the year!
Eudora is a cantankerous 85 year old who has decided that she’s had enough of life, until 10 year old Rose enters her world with her wacky wardrobe and determined outlook on life. There are lots of endearingly comical moments between the two unlikely friends and the story is a delightfully poignant tale of friendship and love.
It’s a beautiful, gentle tale, interweaving between the past and the present. It made me laugh and it made me cry and it deserves every one of the five stars I’ve given it.

Eudora wants to die. On her own terms. No being found weeks after the fact for her. No. She is taking control and has booked herself into Dignitas for a pain free sleepy ending. That is, of course, until her new neighbour moves in along with young Rose, aged 10. Rose and Eudora form a beautiful bond and Eudora begins to find the joy in life again. The back story gives us an insight into who Eudora used to be before her life view became so negative. The writing in this book is beautiful and really thought-provoking, not least about how we so often forget to connect with our neighbours. Eudora is lonely, a state all too common in today's society. So it is so joyful to see someone reached out to and connected with by of all people, a child. Highly recommend.

Eudora Honeysett is 85 years old and lives in Cornwall alone with her cat Montgomery. She has had a long life but now she is ready to die on her own terms. She has contacted a clinic in Switzerland to discuss ending her life. She has had enough of life and wants to end it peacefully without any fuss. Not in a hospital where there is a lot of strangers hooked up to a machine. Nobody will miss her. Her family a long ago dead and she only has acquaintances not actually friends.
One day a young family move in next door. They have a little girl Rosa. A bright and bubbly girl. Who is completely different to her? So, when the family introduces themselves to Eudora and cat Montgomery it changes Eudora’s life forever. As Eudora spends time with Rosa, for the first time in her life she has hope. As she has had no kids of her own, Eudora experiences new things and this is all happening because Rosa has come into her life and vice versa. She also meets Stanley and they become great friends. She is enjoying life for once. Not feeling guilty for what happened in the past.
Thank you NetGalley and One more chapter for a copy of this book. This is heart-warming and moving book with I really enjoyed. This has likable characters, great story and goes to show that with help from others, people can change and have more life left to live for. This is a great book. I highly recommend.

A lovely tale of friendship forming at an unexpected time in life. 85-year-old Eudora Honeysett is done with life and contemplating assisted suicide, until she meets 10-year-old Rose. Annie Lyons has created a group of well drawn characters that you'll fall in love with. A 5 star read with tissues required.

Eudora Honeysett has had enough. She is 85 years old and quite ready to die. Betrayed by her aging body, she begins arrangements to end her own life in Switzerland. Enter Rose, a precocious 10 year old and Stanley, a fellow octogenarian widower.

I have read a couple of very similar books to this and found it rather predictable. However, the characters are nicely written and I enjoyed the interspersed chapters covering Eudora’s early life. It’s a gentle, unassuming read with lovely cast of characters and a warm tone throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

This is an absolutely delightful and moving book, telling the life story of 85 year old Eudora and how her life is changed when 10 year old Rose moves in next door. It moved me to tears more than once. The book goes back through Eudora’s life, interspersed with present day. I will now look for previous books by Annie Lyons.

I greatly enjoyed this book, thank you for giving me a preview copy. The plot was interesting and fast paced and I sympathised with the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but I hope it will not be the last!

This is a very heartwarming story of friendship, life and even death featuring some memorable characters including the eponymous Eudora and her colourful young neighbour Rose. The flashbacks at the end of each chapter go a long way to explaining why Eudora is so self contained but told alongside the main story you can see what lies within too. This is not morbid in the least but does make you think about the inevitable end we all face but also the life we can lead up to that point. This was a joy to read and a beautiful ending 9/10

A delightful novel, but it will feel very familiar to anyone who has read 'A Man Called Ove'. Lonely, awkward elderly person decides that it is time to shuffle off this mortal coil. New neighbours move in and adopt him/her as an honorary grandparent. Time moves on and the elderly person decides that perhaps they don't want to die yet.
To start with, I was annoyed that the storyline appeared to have been directly copied, but then I got further into the book and became involved in the characters and the charming relationships painted by the author.
This would get 5 stars if not for the overwhelming similarity to A Man Called Ove.

This was an absolutely brilliant and beautiful read and was also very comforting the way that it sensitively dealt with live events pArticularly death. I absolutely loved the character of Eudora and reading about her tales of the war and dance halls reminded me of my nan as used to love her stories. For years Eudo're has put her own life on hold putting others happiness before her own. She is a very quiet lady whose only company is her beloved cat and once rose moves i next door she starts to find friendship and experienced that she has had before. This book makes you realise how precious life is. A truly life affirming and emotional read.

Very poignant book. Loved it . Eudora is a very grumpy 85 year old who has had a lot of sadness in her life but also joy. Look forward to reading more from this author.

Eudora is an 85 year old who is very set in her ways and feels that she has had enough of life.
When new neighbours move in next door Rose a ten year old girl, decided to form a friendship with her and Eudora’s peace and quiet is now a thing of the past.
A feel good story to lift your spirits with some laugh out loud moments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins - One more Chaper for inviting me to read this book, I enjoyed it immensely.

Read this in one sitting and ended it in happy tears such a wonderful portrayal of different stages of life. How disappointment can cloud your view on life together with a sense of duty which has long reaching effects. This is a story of Eudora and how Rosie opened the blinds in her world and how Rosie benefitted from the friendship. I lived this book through many of the characters and it gave me a warm glow. Sad I finished this book it should have gone on forever 📚😢💌

What an absolutely beautiful, inspiring and well written book this is and what an endearing group of characters from Eudora herself in her mid eighties and her friend and neighbour, the elderly and recently widowed Stanley to young Rose, the ten year old who moves in next door to Eudora and brings with her a rainbow of colours and a zest for living. This is at odds with what Eudora's life has been like prior to this. Constantly having her dreams snatched away and being let down by her mother, sister and fiancé, Eudora is used to things spiralling out of her control leaving her damaged and heartbroken. Flashbacks to her earlier life reveal these incidents but. now, as an elderly lady, she is wary, solitary and keeps herself to herself. The one thing she does have control over is the way that she will die. Having had an uneasy life, she can at least have a nice death and so she plans to go to Switzerland where she can achieve this in her own way. She had not anticipated the arrival into her life of Rose though. The girl breezes in with her brightly coloured array of outfits and bubbly personality and the desire to befriend Eudora. Little by little her exuberance begins to rub off on Eudora who begins to see life in a different way albeit that she still intends to end it in her own way. Will she go through with her plan to go to Switzerland? will Rose change her mind? Will she get to have full control of the last thing she will ever do on earth? You will have to read the book to find out. I'm so glad I did. I absolutely adored this wonderful book and am eager to read more by Annie Lyons. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

This book was like a big bowl of soup on a winters‘ day. Comforting, nourishing and good for you. Eudora has lived her life looking after others and is very late to find some wonderful friends who care about her. The characters lives build up around her and her stories are gradually told. A delightful read that may have you reaching for the tissues.

Eighty five year old Eudora Honeysett has had enough of life. Weary and stuck in her ways Ms Honeysett has decided to end her life on her terms at a clinic in Switzerland. Then a new family move in next door and the 10 year old daughter, Rose, soon declares her love and friendship for Eudora. Through Rose’s friendship and her outlook on life she encourages Eudora to make some other friends and when widower Stanley joins their little gang life becomes a little bit better.
This book has me roaring with laughter and then weeping. I have to say it’s one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Genuinely heartfelt and simply wonderful. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Beautifully written and moving story. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A different kind of story but I loved it. Made you think of old age. I was impressed how the author covered dignitas. Made you think. The friendship betweeb Rose, Stanley and Eudora. It helped them all. Just a great book.

Oh my goodness what a fabulous read. Warning though, I ended up pretty much sobbing.

This novel is the telling of Dora. Currently 85, and a bit grumpy. Through a friendship with a new next door neighbour who is 10 years old, Dora learns to trust and love again.

I loved the flashbacks of Dora's life. Hers was one that many women can empathise with. A perception that they should give up all for others.

I also particularly liked that present day Dora learnt to love again via friendship. So often it's assumed that romantic relationships restore us. This though showed how platonic love from a range of sources is so powerful.

Although I wasn't a fan, I imagine those who loved A Man Called Ove will like this book.

PUNCHY YET SOFT-CENTRED
At first I thought this book might be a bit depressing but how wrong I was.
Eudora has led a hard life; fulfilling a promise to her late dad to look after her mum & sister, always putting other's happiness before her own, which at times has cost her dearly.
Now 85 years old and alone in the world she starts to thing about how she wants her life to end, until Rose, a feisty little girl, moves in next door. To Eudora's dismay her neat ordered life is turned upside down yet gradually Eudora finds that she is starting to enjoy herself once she lets other people in.
This book tackles some difficult subjects including loneliness, bullying, grief, guilt and many aspects of death including assisted euthanasia but in a gentle, calm way.
I loved the relationships between Eudora, Rose and Stanley which made me giggle several times.. The old meeting the modern; people, traditions, manners, customs and technology.
A fantastic book which although sad in places shows what happens when people are kind to each other and look after one another.