Standalone

Nora November was living a life that she hated until she died. When she was given a second chance, she decided a more positive outlook and clear boundaries were how she would move forward. She started this by making a Reverse Bucket List of the things she denied herself in the Before. However, the people from her life in the Before were still affected by her choices from that time in her life and fixing those choices had to come first.

If you're looking for an interesting take on getting a second chance at life, this is the book for you!

Audio Review:
Karissa Vacker delivers the story effortlessly. She doesn't overdo the acting and allows the story to tell itself.

Julia London is one of my favorite authors, so I was pretty excited to read this book - even though it's a departure from her usual genre.

The story centers around Nora November, who is recovering after a near-death experience from drowning. She doesn't exactly remember the circumstances of the drowning itself, but what she does remember is seeing her beloved Grandpa in his garden during her 'NDE' (near death experience). Because of this, she vows to turn her life around and creates what she calls a 'reverse bucket list' - a list of things she regrets not going for or doing in the Before.

As you can imagine, things don't go swimmingly at first but she does eventually find her footing - and remembers what led to the drowning. Through it all she keeps her focus on the one thing she wants most - recapturing the sense of contentment she felt with her Grandpa during her 'NDE'. It takes making some new friends, including some feisty seniors with a love of the theatre and a young girl given to mocking Nora more often than not. to help her finally find a version of herself that makes sense.

I enjoyed this story very much, especially all of the additional characters. They made the story that much more interesting, and I hope there's more from these folks.

Nora was dead but is given a second chance and she has to now use this chance to make her life better in her “After”. Her before was miserable and so she needs to make real changes to live a better and happier life. This also means finding the man she really liked but never called, being a better sister and cousin, tending to the garden her grandfather left her and finding a job that she loves. Nora has been living under the shadow of who her parents expect her to be and not who she is and it’s time she come out into the sun.

This was an interesting novel to read because it explored really hard and dark topics but was written in a light handed way (not disrespectful, just lighter than one would normally expect). The novel was essentially about depression, alcoholism and abuse but the way it was written you felt in a way like you were almost reading a rom com. I want to say that I enjoyed it but I almost feel bad saying it - Nora spent the entire novel trying to break free from her depression but the story never felt particularly heavy. I write with the caveat that I have never experienced clinical depression so I don’t know if someone who has would find this book appropriate but I enjoyed reading Nora’s journey of self discovery. The novel didn’t necessarily always ring true (too many situations seemed out there to me) but the book engrossed me while I was reading it and I was rooting for Nora. The audio was excellent and I actually offered to make my daughter a main course for her potluck because I wanted to keep listening (plus teens never have a protein when they do potluck).

3.75 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC

Wow. As a long time reader of Julia London, this blew my already high expectations out of the water. "Nice Work, Nora November" on the surface, might not have been a book I would have immediately picked up for myself if not for Julia London's name on the cover. I couldn't be more pleased with the experience of reading this book however. This book encompasses the feeling you have after a life changing moment, or in Nora's case, a life changing incident. I closed this book ready to re-evaluate my own life and "bucket list" in an attempt to find a version of the same path Nora is on.

From the start, Nora finds herself waking to a new reality where she had almost died in a surfing accident. Moving forward from there, we journey with Nora as she takes stock of her life so far and where she wants to go from here. She creates a "reverse bucket list" that includes what you would assume would be basic tasks for most people. But to her, and us as the reader, we see them for what they are, an attempt to re-enter life, to be present and involved. Not only with others but within herself as well.

In starting this journey, you would think you know where this book is going, but it takes another swerve when most of what Nora tries to do/create fails epically, involving many side characters that made this read even better. She starts to succeed, but slowly, inching her way forward. You root for her, though even as I did so, I was comparing it to my own life and taking stock in the moment of how I also wanted to move forward. I'm sure I can't be alone in comparing some of her story to how depression can infiltrate your life and the lives of your family and friends. Watching her pull herself out of that, one tug of the rope followed by another while trying not to fall back was very inspiring.

Julia London had me remembering why I've always loved her books, there's always so much heart, even in the sadness and especially in the joy. Why aren't you reading this one yet??

My opinions are my own and freely given.

I really enjoyed this story. Nora comes back to life after a surfing accident and created a reverse bucketlist. Most of the things on her list are inspired by her late grandfather. Nora does everything she can to stop living for her parents (I hated them both) and to start living for herself with this second chance at life.

There are a few heavy topics but it is mostly a light story. Buttttt, make sure to read the trigger warnings to this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks.

I have posted my reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

Nice Work, Nora November
Rating: 5 stars
Thank you to the author/publisher for the NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book made me cry several times. Nora is dealing with so many things in her life and we are there for the ride with her. Her family relationships were so heart breaking and toxic (parents).
I'll be honest and say that it was not an easy read. At the center of the story is grief and mental health. We see Nora trying her best at giving herself a second chance at life and how her "before" self has created a chasm between those that she holds dear. It was sad to see how she still made mistakes while trying to make up for her previous ones.

Overall it is a wonderful story where we find ourselves rooting for Nora and cheering her on as she finally is able to live the kind of life she always hoped for.

Nora went through the ringer after her near-death experience. After getting her new lease on life she decided to do all the things she was afraid of doing despite what the people close to her might think.

That said, everything seemed to go wrong and it was this rollercoaster of being up one moment and down in the trenches the next. She was also fighting depression so I guess that had a lot to do with it.

She was trying to find the guy she had a connection with during a robbery at a store they were both at. He was close by all along, chatting with her in notes though they didn't know each other in person. We also got to see his own life.

I do wish they had met sooner, and that we'd get a chance to see their romance develop. They only had a few hours together initially, so having met in the end and everything being tied up perfectly in the epilogue a few months later just felt wrong to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. The audio definitely made it more bearable for me to finish.

I did feel for Nora and the lack of support from her parents. Her father, in particular, was an absolutely dreadful person. I liked the concept of Nora changing how she acted and achieving goals that she wanted rather than those that had been chosen for her. I did get a bit frustrated by the number of times Nora and Jack just missed meeting up with each other. I did enjoy the seniors in the community garden and the theatre. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although this book ends on a high note, I struggled with it because it was really depressing and not just because Nora herself suffered with mental illness. After reading the synopsis, I’d expected an “uplifting and heartwarming” story, and it wasn’t. I’d describe it as sad and highly dysfunctional with a few pages of hope and renewal at the end. From the moment Nora wakes up from a coma after her near-death experience of drowning, it’s obvious that her family puts the D in dysfunction. Her ethically-challenged father, a personal injury lawyer, is both emotionally and physically abusive, her mother is in major denial and lives to criticize and gaslight her, her younger sister has lost all faith in her after being disappointed too many times when Nora’s depression caused her to break promises, and her cousin Gus is a lonely, sad alcoholic who also doesn’t trust her.

As Nora goes through rehab and therapy, she re-evaluates her life Before (capitalized in the book) the drowning and decides that she needs to make some major changes, including trying to recapture some of what she lost. She creates a reverse bucket list that includes trying to find Jack, the man she met during a robbery hostage situation who she thinks may be The One, and tending to her late grandfather’s community garden plot that she let go wild while her mental health was spiraling. I didn’t understand London’s choice to have Nora fail at everything she tried, unless it was to highlight how easy it is to slip back into depression and self-doubt. One of the only highlights of the story is the group of senior citizen thespians she meets who knew her grandfather. They provide the only bit of comic relief in the book and are instrumental in helping Nora navigate her After life. There are also many deathbed vignettes of Jack’s hospice patients which were really interesting and set the stage for how kind and empathetic he is. I wouldn’t classify this as a romance, although there was an element of it, but women’s fiction instead.

As someone who has suffered from chronic depression and lost my father way too young, it was somewhat triggering to read Nora’s story, especially the joy she felt seeing her late grandfather while in the coma. So, I think it’s important to share trigger warnings. If you don’t want any spoilers, stop reading here.

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Depression, abuse, suicide, death, grief, alcoholism

This was not the book I was expecting but it was a beautifully written dark book that he had a wonderful lightness to it.
While dealing with a near-death experience, Nora feels a weight of all the things that she wanted to do or wished she could do, but for whatever reason didn't. She has partial memories of her time prior to her accent but no memory of the accident itself. She creates a reverse bucket list to help her grow in different ways.
Though there is a lot of growth and discussion of mental health, depression, narcissism, alcoholism, neglectful and dismissive behaviors, and the struggles that come from dealing with all of these issues, I feel all the discussion was done in a respectful and responsible way while still managing to find the lightness and joy.

#arc
#netgalley
#niceworknoranovember

Nora November has spent most of her life pushing aside the things that would truly make her happy, but when she miraculously survives a near-death experience, she returns with a fierce determination to start living her life on her own terms. She creates a "reverse bucket list" where she details all the wrongs from before that she is determined to make right, in the after.
The concept is interesting and Nora is inspiring in her determination to become the person she was always meant to be. Unfortunately Nora quickly discovers that even the best intentions and most positive attitude sometimes aren't enough to turn things around. Nora's setbacks are plentiful, sometimes mortifying and often quite humorous, but Julia London has created a strong woman in the character of Nora November, and despite the universe seeming to send numerous signs that she should give up, Nora perseveres.

Throughout the book there are chapters with a dual POV from Jack, the man that Nora met during a convenience store robbery/hostage situation gone awry. Nora felt a real connection with Jack, but because of her mental health struggles, opted not to connect with him after that night. Finding and re-connecting with Jack is one important item on Nora's reverse bucket list, and we see through Jack's perspective that he was just as affected by meeting Nora as she was by meeting him.

Although Nice Work, Nora November is generally an uplifting story of a woman finding her true self (with an element of romance thrown in), it also deals with some serious subject matter, including the depiction of mental health issues and emotionally abusive family relationships. In the "before" Nora battled depression, which negatively impacted many areas of her life. The struggles that Nora faced in dealing with her depression and her emotionally abusive father were depicted by London with honesty and sensitivity, but could potentially be triggering to some readers.

I really enjoyed going on this journey with Nora. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an inspiring story about someone working hard to become the person she was intended to be, and realizing that she is worthy of love and happiness.

Nice Work Nora November – Julia London
This was a different type of book for Julia London. I hesitated reading it, but it grabbed me from the first page. Meat of the story starts right away. Nora is single and a lawyer in the family law business. She doesn’t appreciate suing innocent people so the rich can get richer and her firm can get a big cut.
She has many things happening in her life, but almost dying changes her in lots of ways. This book explores her journey and deals with many real world problems – family dynamics, clinical depression, alcoholism and others. She does it by introducing us to a cast of interesting characters. Some are the “good” side of humanity and some show the “bad” side.
I was given an “arc” copy. It was not a light read, but I found it very riveting. A second chance at life is something many of us have considered. What would you do if you could change your life?? Would you?? If so, what would you change?? This book deals with how Nora answers those questions and how others around her also are changed.

Nice Work, Nora November by Julie London is a very different kind of take on near death experience and the aftereffects. Nora November has big plans for her After life but can she really do it all and get back her lost pieces? Including finding the corner store guy she got stuck with during a robbery.


This is more of a woman's fiction. It has few triggers like mental health issues, self harm, grief and dysfunctional family. Nora has been stuck in a colorless life. Trying to please everyone. Losing herself slowly. Depression took out all her energy. The drowning and subsequent self awakening lit a fire under her. She decide to be brave and a bit reckless and spontaneous. Reviving her grandfather's dying garden. Finding the corner store guy. Building back the burnt bridge with her sister and cousin. Learning to cook. But the most important part was to get away from the clutch of her manipulative, harsh and loveless parents.

It wasn't easy. The obstacles proved to be heavy. Nora messed up so many times. Her mental issues were dragging her down. But she kept on fighting even when she just wanted to give up sometimes. It was an inspiring story full of hope and resilience. It has adequate and well balanced humor with a vast and interesting group of secondary characters. I loved how the author connected and reeled in the thread between Nora and her corner Store guy aka Jack.This book was deeply emotional and equally entertaining.

Thanks for the review copy through Netgalley and the publisher

I was surprised by Julia London's NICE WORK, NORA NOVEMBER, the story of a young woman who returns from a terrible accident to live a do-over kind of existence, questioning all aspects of her life and acting upon all the second chance opportunities she is given. I enjoyed the frank, straightforward Nora very much and the story held my interest all the way through, tugging at heartstrings and holding my attention so that I burned dinner and was late to appointments. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

3.5 stars…I must say, I love Julia London’s books This was not an easy book to read. It is not a romance but definitely women’s fiction, and it deals with depression, dysfunction of a family, and Near Death Experience. Nora has been through the ringer with a family that truly doesn’t understand her and wants to sweep her troubles under the proverbial rug. Her grandfather who is deceased is the only family member that believed in her and when she has a Near Death Experience she sees him again, and he convinces her to she just needs to believe in herself. That is the crux of this story….that Nora believe in herself but with so many things working against her, we feel her ups and downs. For me, this was a difficult book to read, but eventually cathartic as well.

Nora November had a near death experience. And when she comes back again alive, she realizes that she has been missing certain things in her life. Nora has been trying to please her stoic father by becoming a lawyer and working alongside him, while unknowingly she suffers from depression. But after her near death experiences- Nora decides to try on certain things which includes learning how to cook and then trying to revive her grandfather's garden back.

This book was an interesting premise with an interesting plot. Nora clearly didn't want to become a lawyer and that she only became one to satisfy her father. Nora soon turns her interest towards cooking and gardening. In other words, the book as a whole teaches us valuable lessons in general. There are trigger warnings in this book as it also talks about depression in general. Also there were emotional and heartbreaking parts in the story that will make you cry as Nora makes decisions to make her life more improved.

Overall, this is a good read and worth three stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

I started this last night and could not put it down.

Nora November has a near death experience and it changes everything for her.

I really loved Nora’s character. She struggles with so many relatable things and I really found the mental health representation real and honest. I think so much of the time so many of us can be so hard on ourselves. I loved the themes of self forgiveness and standing up for what you really want.

I also really loved the idea of a reverse bucket list and started to think about my own bucket list. I think there are so many things that we can take for granted and I think this story made me think about that a lot.

This one will hit you in your heart and is a more layered and thoughtful read.

Nice Work, Nora November by Julia London took me a while to get into but then redeemed itself.

Nora was someone I initially felt pity for since her life seemed to be spiraling out of control. She had a career and job she hated, working at her father’s law firm, where she was heir apparent. Nora had coworkers she despised, and the feeling was mutual. Nora didn’t have friends, her family was completely dysfunctional, and she had no outside interests. But when she has a near-death experience while on vacation, she rethinks her life and makes a reverse bucket list, which is paramount to the story. But will it be enough to give her a second chance at the life she truly wants?

Nora’s parents are wealthy, always entertaining in their palatial home, and want to put on a perfect front for the outside world. But after Nora’s NDE, as it’s referred to throughout, she has a new outlook on life, and her parents are not happy with the changes she’s making to reinvent herself. It doesn’t help that she’s suffered from depression her whole life. Her search for the one who got away is time-consuming and takes on a life of its own.

The story has twists and turns but also unexpected outcomes and opportunities. The multitude of characters enriches the story and adds layers to it. The closure is satisfying but felt too rushed, and there is a happily ever after on several fronts. Ms. London is an author whose books I enjoy, both contemporary and historical.

Nice Work, Nora November is a women’s fiction novel that follows Nora’s life after a near-death experience and the many changes she makes to find happiness with the help of her newly created reverse bucket list.

The review is posted on NovelsAlive.

I went into this one blind, well sort-of, I forgot what the book was about by the time I started reading it. Nora November was clinically dead for a few minutes after a surfing accident. When she wakes up, she is surrounded by her family but has no recollection of said accident. The near-death experience brought Nora to realize her current lifestyle isn’t what she wants or needs anymore. The awful parental pressures and expectations that she has experienced her entire life have finally caught up to her and it’s time to put a stop to it. She deeply misses her grandpa which brings her back to his beloved garden, which is now just a plot of dead plants. As she despairs over the plot and how to revive it, she meets new unexpected friendships that bring her comfort when she needs it the most.

This book was unexpected, there’s quite a few heavy subjects, which really made this book feel important. I found Julia London’s approach to these topics to be done in a very pensive manner and although the book had a lot of important subjects, they were are all delivered in a loving and thoughtful way. The characters, minus Nora’s parents (they are awful), were light, caring and layered. I really just wanted to give Nora a big hug and tell her that she’s got this. The reverse bucket list was such a great way to rediscovery and reconnect with her loved ones who need her. There is also a cute romance sideline story, which felt like a goal I was excited to read more about.

*𝗉𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖼𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝖶𝗌 𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀！

Nora November almost drowns in a near death surfing experience. Well, she actually does die, but is revived. While she was dead, she’s welcomed into a beautiful garden by her recently deceased grandfather and childhood dog. She has such an overwhelming feeling of love and warmth, that the return to her regular life is jarring. She’s determined to do things differently in the ‘after’ NDE by creating a reverse bucket list, including complicated family relationships, working in her grandfather’s community garden she abandoned, taking a cooking class, finding the man she connected with during a hostage situation, leaving a job she hates but feels obligated to, managing her depression, following through on her commitments.

There is so much in this book, complicated family dynamics, struggles with depression, what it’s like to love someone with addiction issues, how to get out of your own way to live a life you love. What I loved about this book is the relationships Nora is able to forge in the ‘after of her NDE.’ I absolutely loved the geriatric thespians and the relationship Nora built with Willow. I enjoyed the kismet of her relationship with Jack and how they were so close to meeting again, but kept missing each other. I hated how horrible Nora’s family was - her dad was an abusive jerk, her mom seemed mostly disinterested, and even her sister, Lacey, was pretty unforgiving. It seems like the whole family lacked empathy or sensitivity, especially towards someone who struggles with depression.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and was glad for a happy ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read and review!