“A Million Things,” by Emily Spurr (Berkley) introduces readers to Rae and her dog, Splinter. Rae and her mother have their regular routines, which includes her mother’s (usually) short disappearances to clear her head. Self-reliant, Rae soldiers on until Mum’s return.
However, this time Mum doesn’t return. Rae keeps on doing what she knows she must: taking care of the house, going to school, buying groceries and more.
After a few days, Lettie, the nosy old lady from next door, expresses her concern. Rae, who has so far managed to elude any questions from authority figures, tries to put her off, so Lettie is careful to offer her help in small bits. After a few days, the youngster and her elderly friend begin to forge a friendship of sorts.
I thought this was a well-written book, and the story sucked me in immediately. I wanted to see what happened to Rae, Splinter and Lettie.

Rae at 10 years old is living on her own with her dog, Splinter, when her mother leaves, as she often does, and then does not return home.

What ensues is fifty-five days of Rae surviving, going to school, and attempting to live on her own until her mom returns. Her neighbor, Lettie, has a fall and calls out for help; it’s then that Rae makes a friend and lets her guard down.

Rae’s worst fear is that her mother’s abandonment will be discovered, and she does everything she can to keep up appearances.

A Million Things hooks the reader from the very first chapter. What a heartrending opening. It goes without saying that Rae is a resilient character and wise beyond her years. The writing is smooth and quick-paced, which had me reading the story even faster. I was invested and had to know what would happen next for Rae. I appreciated how the author addressed mental health, including depression and hoarding.

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy.

Jess Davis is a brilliant single mom with abandonment issues. When she learns about a new DNA matchmaking company, she thinks this could be her chance until she is paired with the company’s founder, Dr. River Pena. She knows him and doubts that they could ever be compatible. When she is offered money to try, she cannot refuse. A funny and thought provoking read about what makes a soulmate. Fans of Christina Lauren will enjoy this contemporary romance. 3.5 stars.

I expected this to be a quick middle-grade. Boy, was I wrong...

Throughout the book there's this tension. It's coming off in waves from Rae, the main character, through which the whole story is told. The tension makes you want to keep reading to figure out what happened (though you get numerous clues throughout the book, you still want to know for sure).

As I'm writing down this jumbled review, my mind is all over the place and I'm not sure what to write down, nor will this review make any sense. Apologies. However, this is a very heavy but important book, and it will stay with you for a long, long time.

Not to mention the fact that my eyes kept leaking for the last 20%.

Reading this novel was an adventure as facts normally announced at the beginning of a book were revealed a little at a time. The reader has to determine who the main character is. A boy or girl? Age? Location of the story? Who is this "you" the main character speaks to? Like the peeling of an onion, the main character is revealed as a ten year old girl, Rae who is living alone in Australia with her dog Splinter in a small house. Where is her missing parent "you"? Is it her mother or father?
She navigates her day getting to school, walking Splinter, buying groceries, cooking simple meals, cleaning the house, doing her laundry, paying bills and keeping all adults in her world ignorant of the fact that her parent is missing. Her neighbors who at first seem nosey, standoffish and strange slowly reveal their true characters. The daily stress in Rae's lonely world as she tries to keep her terrible secret from her teacher, neighbors, authorities and a nosey little boy all come to a head in a near tragedy.
This is a wonderful story of a brave, resourceful young girl whose daily life leaves the reader wanting to know more about what is going to happen next.

This was a lovely yet heartbreaking novel. Despite the sadness, there was hope for the characters, and it was satisfying to watch them grow and develop. The hoarder condition was described well, and the characters' choices were believable and relatable.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rae is only 10 years old when her mom goes missing. The reader has no idea what happened but it's obvious that Rae knows what happened.

Rae is caring for her dog Splinter (who is adorable btw) and herself. She is surviving just fine until she needs help. Cue Lettie, her adorable hoarder old lady next door neighbor.

Lettie and Rae form the cutest relationship.

This book is heartbreaking, adorable, horrible, and perfect. A little girl has to grow up too fast in this world but luckily has people around her who care.

All ten year old Rae has known is life with her mentally ill mother and her beloved dog, Splinter. Routine is the name of the game and it's Rae who keeps up that routine, doing the chores of a functioning adult, to keep the household going, even during the times when her mom disappears, can't get out of bed, can't function at all. Rae is the adult in this house but this arrangement works until her mother can't keep going at all anymore.

There comes a day when Rae's mom doesn't come back from that dark place in her head, doesn't come back indoors from the shed out back. Now Rae's constant task is trying to mask the smell, to discern everything that needs to be done to make things look like the routine of this household has not been disrupted. But a ten year old can only do so much, time is running out, Rae needs a hug, an adult, someone to hold her up.

Lettie, the nosy old goat next door (Rae's mom called their neighbor an old goat and Rae likes to call her that, too) worms her way into Rae's life. Their cantankerous friendship warmed my heart, two people very much in need of human companionship and kindness who also feel the need to hold off closeness because of the hurts in their hearts. I love how the story shows us the kindness of strangers, acquaintances, and new friends. There really are people out there who care even if most people feel the need to stand back a bit until they know it's safe to open up.

I feel drained after this story. You know that things can't keep going on the way they are for ten year old Rae. She's just trying to keep up her front for another day, knowing that this pretend life is going to fall down on her head, since her real life has been blown up by the actions of her mother. I skimmed through the last part of chapter 48 because something happens to the dog, Splinter, who is as much a character in this story as Rae and Lettie. Thankfully friends had warned me about this part of the story and things do get better, even if they are different for Rae and Splinter.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for gifting me a copy of A Million Things by Emily Spurr to read and review.

I went into this story with an open mind because I had such high expectations from the synopsis. I wish I could say that I loved this book, but it was, at times, difficult to read and I felt like the story was slow. I knew from the first few chapters, which direction the book was heading. It was sad, but once everything was revealed and I finished the book, I wasn't left feeling anything.

This book is about a 10 year old girl Rae, who has been abandoned by her mother in the worst possible way. Throughout the book, Rae puts on a facade for her neighbours, school and everyone, pretending she’s going home to the care of her mother. She’s actually just returning to an empty house and her dog Splinter. She’s taking care of herself. The story is told from the perspective of Rae, which really made me think because how often do you see the safety and security you provide to the children in your life, from their lens? It was heart wrenching. It was so full of harsh reality. It will probably make you cry. If you enjoy books that move you, this is it. There were lots of unexpected twists and turns and a strong message about friends that become family and mental health.

I usually have a million things to say about books after I have read and then need to narrow it down for my reviews. After reading this one, I don't have much to say because I didn't pick up on the depth of the themes of resilience, mental health, and abandonment.

Things I didn't love

I feel like because a story is written in a child's POV, we are EXPECTED to automatically feel heartbroken and emotional pain towards the child's struggles; however, I have to find the character convincing. I struggled to buy into a ten-year-old girl taking care of herself and her house and managing those heartbreaking emotions for 55 days after her mother disappeared.

While I loved the relationship between 10-year-old Rae and her elderly neighbor Lettie, I again didn't find them convincing enough to provoke the emotions I expected to feel, and I couldn't buy into their dynamics.

I really do feel I missed something here because after reading a few reviews from friends, I was expecting a sad, heartbreaking story but instead, I found it a heartwarming, hopeful story that wrapped up a little too neat.

What I did love

Even though I didn't find the character convincing, I cared about them and wanted to know how their story ended.

Wow. Just...what? This book. OK, collecting my thoughts...here goes. #bookreview time! A Million Things by Emily Spurr is my book club's pick for November. It wrecked me. It was also just so achingly beautiful at times, it made my heart swell. But the lows were so low. I don't know how to rate it 🙈. I was given a trigger warning before reading and I still started panicking reading *the* part. I had to stop reading, ground myself firmly in reality, then skip ahead to bypass it. I just couldn't believe how alternately dark and sweet this book got. I'm giving it 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐💫. It definitely could have been 5 though if it either hadn't gotten *quite* so dark, or maybe if I had a stronger stomach and wasn't so HSP about everything 😅. Really though, it was so well written and the sentiments were beautiful. I'm in a glass case of emotion over the darn thing 😂.

A Million Things was full of characters that I cared about. Rae is a strong, mature little girl who just picks up and carries on with life when her mom disappears. Her dog, Splinter, is her best friend and sidekick. Lettie is her neighbor, with secrets of her own. Rae and Lettie form an unlikely friendship as they discover that they need each other to help with their respective secrets. I was rooting for these two and hoped that after the book finished, they would move on to easier, happier lives.

The reason I can't give this book 5 stars is that I personally didn’t like the writing style, where the author used symbolism and poetic words to allude to things, but didn’t outright say the thing…I personally prefer books that use more straight forward language. I spent a good part of the book trying to figure out if what I thought happened to Rae's mother is what really happened. I know this writing style really works for others, though, so many would probably love it

It was a really hard read for me to get through. I felt so sad reading as I struggled through it and cried through parts. I spoke to a few others and they it was sad but not as hard to get through. I wonder if this is because I grew up in a single parent home.

Reading about a ten year old whose mother was away while Rae pretended her mom was home and pretended things were “normal”. The book is well written and a good book. But it left me shattered while reading it.

The book is well written and many beautiful pearls of wisdom throughout the story. I love the book but find it hard to recommend because the sadness of the story.

I do look forward to seeing what else she writes.

A Million Things is the story of fifty-five days in ten-year-old Rae’s life. After her mom disappears, Rae continues to carry on like normal. She does make an unlikely friend in her neighbor, Lettie. The book is told from Rae’s point of view, and you can feel Rae’s anxiety about when her mother’s disappearance will be discovered.

THIS WAS GUT-WRENCHING. It was so good, but it was so intense.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Berkley for my ARC!

I cannot say enough about this book, which made me laugh and cry. An emotionally gripping story, we meet Rae, a young girl with a troubled home life who befriends her grouchy neighbor, Lettie. Lettie has issues of her own, as she is a hoarder, but the relationship that develops is absolutely beautiful. Themes of mental illness, death, grief, motherhood and so much more moved me in a way that few authors can do so successfully. I highly recommend this book, and thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read such a special, heartfelt story. You will fall in love with Rae and Lettie.

What a gut-wrenching, beautiful debut. A MILLION THINGS grabbed me from the first page. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to bear it—the intimate, wise narration of a young girl and her dog alone in the world under horrific circumstances. But the tender, insightful writing wouldn't let me go. Rae takes us on a journey—through denial, self-reliance, acceptance, unlikely friendship, compassion, and love. She's a character you won't soon forget.

“Silence isn’t really silent. It’s not loud, exactly. But it sits under things, making the little sounds stand out.” – Emily Spurr, A Million Things

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁
-Told from the POV of a 10-year-old girl named Rae, this book covers 55 days in her life after she wakes up one morning and discovers the back door open and her mother gone.

-Rae knows her mother has disappeared before and eventually comes home, so Rae calmly continues their daily routine and takes care of herself and her dog, Splinter.

-As days go by, Rae continues keeping house which eventually includes grocery shopping and paying bills online. One day she hears the old woman who lives alone next door calling for help and comes to her aide. The two form a reluctant bond and become unusual but mutual allies.

I Thought
This debut novel was beautifully written and is both devastating and uplifting. Rae is innovative and resilient as she navigates in a grown-up world with a pragmatic attitude. She put up an excellent front to the school administration about her mother’s absence. Still, it’s heartbreaking to think of this little girl caring for herself for days on end without anyone noticing.

An unlikely pair, Rae and Lettie form a bond as they reconcile their need for human connection with the fear of opening old emotional wounds. I loved both characters and the small, supportive community they find around them. I had to ignore my growing sense of dread as the days go by and knowing that their lives will soon dramatically change once authorities discover Rae’s mother is missing.

Although not autobiographical, the author has drawn on her own life experiences with mental illness and created unforgettable characters who will stay with you a long time. Highly recommend this book to your reading lists.

It is rare that I give a book 5 stars, but this one truly deserves it. The emotions I felt while reading this ran all over the place. The first one was hurt...I hurt for Rae...why would a child have to go through being abandoned by her mother. Granted, you think maybe it is for the best but she is only 10 and it is th eonly life she has ever known.

Thankfully, there is redemption and a glimpse into what can happen, and family that isn't blood, but that you form a bond with nonetheless. A fabulous read and one I highly recommend.

CW: abandonment, depression, anxiety, suicide, hoarding/addiction, child loss

A Million Things was nothing I expected, but so much more than I anticipated. I assumed this was a YA novel... but upon reading it, realized that wasn't the case. Despite the story revolving around Rae, a 10-year-old little girl, the themes of abandonment, mental health, and familial relationships are far too deep for young minds to even begin exploring. The story is both gut-wrenching and inspiring. Life-giving and heart breaking. Emily Spurr writes with an honest and authentic look at grief, depression, and desperation. The parallels between Rae and her elderly neighbor, Lettie, are woven into the story as Spurr writes about the intricacies of grief. Whether young or old, we're all fighting our own battles. A Million Things is about families - broken, beautiful, blended, and everything in between. There are essentially a million things that make up each family, each person in the family, and the lives that intertwine them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.