Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this Advanced Review Copy.

It's a long time since a book affected me as deeply and thoroughly as this one did. The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot will stay with me. I chuckled. I laughed out loud. I cried. And I sobbed. ... Seriously, hubby had to fetch me the box of tissues while trying to work out why his calm wife was suddenly so distraught and snotty! No book has done this to me. Ever.

Every single character came alive. I didn't read this book, I lived it. This is one of those stories that pulls you in so deeply that you forget completely that you're actually reading a book. I devoured this read and only stopped once or twice because I had to.

Somehow, to give this five stars falls way short. I'd give it a hundred-one for each year-if I could. And I cannot believe this is a debut novel. For certain, I'll be checking out anything else that the author Marianne Cronin writes. Go and buy this book. You'll love it. And it will change you. By far the best book I've read this year.

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NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

This is a special read, dealing with death and loss in a way that is both warm but not over-sentimental.. I was worried it might be twee but Lenni is far from twee, she is feisty and brave and angry that she is dying. Her friendship with Margot is a joy and her questioning of the hospital priest is both funny and thoughtful. Savour this story as it will make you smile as well as cry.

A wonderful, life-affirming debut novel! This was a fantastic read that will have you crying and laughing throughout.

I loved the unlikely friendship of Lenni and Margot which was beautifully written. One of my favourite books of the year and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for a review.

OMG this book will break your heart in two and if you don’t have the tissues handy you are making a big mistake. This is a book about an unlikely friendship between lenni and Margot. Between them their age is 100 years old and though both of them are dying their life experiences are very different but between them they set out to tell their stories short and long through paintings all whilst trying to make sense and peace with death. This book left me crying and heartbroken but also smiling at the love and hope these two characters have given me. Death does not mean the end and sometimes you can be part of something even bigger.

This a touching read of a cross generational friendship forged in the face of mortality. Lenni and Margot have a combined age of 100 years (hence the title) and together they embark on art project to represent key moments of their lives. Marianne Cronin presents both Lenni and Margot and as sympathetic characters as they share their stories through the art they create. Full of wisdom and wry humour, I would recommend this novel as an ultimately uplifting read despite the inevitable tears.

A really lovely read. 17 year old Lenni and 83 year old Margot meet in hospital. Together they have lived 100 years and go about capturing those years to take all the it minds off the fact they are both dying. But this is not a book about dying. This is a book about living, of loving and it is full of positivity and kindness and joy. So although there will be tears and tissues required you are left with left with only good feelings.

The 17 year old Lenni meets the 83 year old Margot in the hospital. They strike up a very unlikely friendship as Lenni is terminally ill. The story is heart warming as it goes too and fro and their lives sharing experiences. It was rewarding to see that such diverse characters and beliefs could unite people and form strong bonds.

Hands down, this is the best book I've read this year and I've read almost 200 books!

The now hundred years of Lenni and Margot is poignant, its a tale of love, loss, death, marriage - it makes you feel every emotion under the sun.
Lenni is 17 and resides in a hospital, shes receiving end of life care. She meets Margot in the Rose room - a room set up for patients where they can go and paint and undertake other forms of art therapy.
The book's title refers to the paintings each character completes according to their age - combined they equate to 100 years.

Each of the stories that are told slowly interlink, each character is vitally important to the story.
I sobbed at the ending (ugly tears) as it was so emotional,

This is a story I will definitely read again.

This is going to be one of those books where you SHOULD believe the hype.
Though I'm not sure something so heart warming should make me cry.

A beautifully told tale of a friendship that changes the lives of an 83 year old woman,and a 17 year old girl.
As stories unfolded,I grew to like Lenni and Margot more and more.
This ones going to take a while to get over!

Exquisite and heartbreaking. A tale of friendship and love. I simply adored all the joys in the One hundred years of Lenni and Margot.

A wonderful journey that made me cry, laugh and wish for more.

Such a beautiful story with truly magnificent characters that will touch your heart.

Extraordinary. Exceptional. The story of Lenni and Margot is one that will make you laugh (a lot) and make you cry (a lot) and will stay with you long after you finish reading. A cast of wonderful characters but Lenni shines brightest among them. Despite everything she is going through, her quirky rationale and original concepts make her a perfect heroine. My kindle edition is filled with highlights - but the whole book is original, funny, thought-provoking, honest and intensely moving. Even before the end of 2020 I can tell you that this will be one of my books of 2021.

17 year old Lenni and 83 year old Margot don’t have much in common other than terminal illness but an unlikely friendship blossoms when they meet in the new hospital art room.. I was a little reluctant when I picked this up because I’d just read a really dreary crime novel and needed something cheerful but within a few sentences I was completely hooked. Yes it’s sad, I was crying long before the end, but even though they’re dying the vibrant characters are so alive and vital that I was captivated and needed to read on to find out what had brought them to this moment. It’s a beautiful bittersweet story and I look forward to reading more from Marianne Cronin.

I can assure you now, you will need a tissue or two to read this emotional but tender story about Lenni and Margot. I fell in love with Lenni and Margot and loved seeing their friendship develop, it was heartwarming to see. I really liked how the book is set out, we go from the past to the present where we find out more about their lives. This book really made me grateful for the life that I live and my family and friends. The ending really got me and I was glad to have a tissue. A beautiful tale of two friends who form an unbreakable friendship through tough times.