We meet Eva, an elderly woman living with her granddaughter Breezy, as she prepares to run away from Breezy’s house and make her way back to Cape Cod, where she grew up and raised her family. Eva is a flawed and unhappy woman, far from the sweet, nurturing grandmother type that we often see in fiction, and her frustration at losing her memories battles with the sense that there are some things from her past that she would rather not remember.

Finding herself increasingly confused and forgetful, her attempts are repeatedly thwarted. However, as Eva continues to plan her return to the Cape, she has various interactions with people in her life that stir up memories from her past. The kind friend and neighbour, Mabel, who encourages Eva to come along to funerals of people who will have few mourners at their services; her granddaughter Breezy and her fiancé Ian, who want to share their lives with Eva; Breezy’s students, who are a little afraid of Eva but remind her of her own daughter, Breezy’s mother. Each interaction lets us a little further into Eva’s life, which is in turn beautiful and heart-breaking.

This story could easily have left the reader with a sense of hopelessness, but it is actually full of warmth and optimism. It speaks of the human capacity for love and forgiveness, and the need to make the most of each day. This is one that will stay with me for a while…

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Eva Gordon is unkind. She knows she is unkind. But she also doesn't know how to stop it no matter what it cost her and her family. Raised by critical parents, Eva continues toxic parenting within her own marriage and family. Now many years later living with her granddaughter, Eva continues with her curmudgeonly ways while sad memories of how she treated her children and ex-husband begin to get past her defenses. Even though her mind is slipping and her ability to take care of herself is in question, Eva thinks she can hide from her past if she can just get back to her home and live by herself again.
Dementia is explored as well as caretaking in a compassionate manner with some humor and sadness along the way.
Thank you to Kregel Publication for my ecopy via US Book Show's Summer/Fall Grab-a-Galley. All opinions are mine.
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4

I picked up "The Forgotten Life of Evan Gordon" and could not put it down. MacKillop's weaving of such a rich story about an unlikely protagonist, was heart wrenching and heart warming. I loved it. Main character, Eva Gordan surprises the reader from the beginning, and it's clear the other characters are often surprised by her, as well. This story give beautiful insight into all the ways a person's past informs his/her future,even when that future is not always clearly within his/her control.