Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED the moral of this story and I loved Nora! She was the most honest and realistic main characters. I loved how Nora worked through her depression and took charge of her life to make the most of her second chance at life. I just adored Nora’s journey and the whole book. This was so amazing!

You can’t help but root for Nora November in his heart wrenching, sweet and lovely book.

After a near death encounter (NDE) Nora November is determined to leave the life she led in “the before”. She has a reverse bucket list in tow, and a stranger who she survived a hostage situation with, and a new haircut in tow. Dual POVs as we get to know Nora and Jack, the mystery man from the corner store hold-up, but Nora is definitely the star of the show. She is vulnerable, honest and determined to overcome. What a great character.

🎧 audiobook review: I love Karissa Vacker and she was superb in this performance. She expertly conveyed both Nora and Jack — no easy task.

Trigger warning for depressive thoughts, body issues (from Nora’s mother) , alcoholism, NDE, and a hostage scene. I’m not sure if I’m doing that right, but it struck me as something that should be mentioned.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Five stars. I love you, Nora!

I found this book very interesting with the "before" and "after." I wondered how many of us would actually change ourselves if we had that second chance. Of course the classic Christmas Carol and Its a Wonderful Life are all about. Julia London just reminds us that we all should take advantage of our lives and make sure we are happy but also that we are loving others well.
Nora has a second chance at life. She had a horrible surfing accident and was actually dead. With this second chance she is setting about to make things right with family and friends.
With a grand sense of humor, London writes a light hearted-serious book. It makes for a very intriguing and thought provoking book.

Nice Work, Nora November by Julia London is an attention grabbing read filled with second chances. I love the character development and journey of self discovery throughout.

Julia London’s *Nice Work, Nora November* is a reflective and heartwarming tale of second chances and self-discovery. With a unique twist on the bucket list concept, Nora’s journey to embrace life after a near-death experience is both touching and inspiring.

Nora November is a relatable protagonist whose struggles with burnout, familial pressure, and depression make her transformation all the more compelling. Her decision to create a “reverse bucket list” of unfulfilled wishes—both mundane and extraordinary—creates a roadmap for a story that’s as much about internal growth as it is about external accomplishments.

The romance element, centered on Nora’s quest to reconnect with the mysterious man she met during a life-changing corner store holdup, is intriguing and unconventional. The chemistry between them unfolds slowly, allowing Nora’s personal evolution to take center stage. Their eventual reunion feels both earned and sweet, though it takes a backseat to her self-reclamation.

The book’s strength lies in its focus on the small, meaningful moments in life. Nora’s journey to clean out her grandfather’s garden or learn to cook is beautifully written, showcasing how simple joys can bring profound satisfaction. These quieter, introspective moments are balanced with humor and unexpected twists, keeping the narrative engaging.

However, the pacing is uneven at times, with some sections dragging while others rush through key emotional beats. Additionally, the subplot involving Nora’s demanding father and her high-pressure career could have been more fully explored, as it feels like an unresolved thread in her otherwise satisfying journey.

*Nice Work, Nora November* is a poignant and uplifting read about embracing life and finding joy in the everyday. While the romance is a bit underdeveloped, the novel shines in its portrayal of personal growth and resilience. Readers looking for a feel-good story with a touch of humor and heart will enjoy following Nora as she takes control of her destiny, one reverse bucket list item at a time.

There was a lot to unpack in Nice Work, Nora November, and several topics that some may find triggering. These topics included depression, suicide, and death of a parent, and while the author deals with these issues as "lightly" as possible, it could still be a lot for some individuals. Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It's a good story about doing what fulfills us in life and following our own journey. I enjoyed the deep meaning and the overall premise of Nice Work, Nora November, though it could have been a tad shorter.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the audio-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the narrator of the audiobook and if you want to read this book, I would recommend the audio version.
For me this book was just okay. I think the overall message of the book is very good and for the most part the pacing is pretty good (as for the romance subplot, this is either going to hit or be a complete miss- this one is for fans of the pining). This book handles some pretty hard hitting themes and issues but in a pretty "light" way, with a clear focus on positivity and change for the better. There were some issues that were handled better than others, Specifically, I felt that the depression and depression adjacent aspects of this story were a bit unrealistic. It felt a little bit like the author was saying that a person can snap out of it and choose to not be depressed anymore which is known to be untrue. I also felt that some of the side characters were a bit weak in their characterization- the parents are somewhat over the top caricatures, the sister's personality seems different in every scene she is in, and at one point a character who an literally an alcoholic calls the MC out on being unreliable and says that she can't be relied upon. But even with these issues, I think this is a good book because it doesn't shy away from hard topics but isn't difficult to read or depressing in and of itself.

I really enjoyed the audiobook version of Nice Work, Nora November. The story is about Nora, who decides to change her life after a near death accident. I don’t want to spoil too much of the book but I will say that often NDE books are about a person changing their perspective on life, and this book is really more focused on Nora grappling with depression and a seriously terrible family. There are sweet moments and I rooted for Nora throughout, but note that this isn’t a necessarily light-hearted read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely adorable and heartfelt.
Wholesome solid read.

After Nora has a NDE where she is reunited with her grandfather and dog , her venture back into her body changes her profoundly.. She creates a reverse bucket list and decides to take chances

It’s truly a sweet story.
Audio was great!

Thanks #netgalley!!!!!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

I really enjoyed this one! It comes across as fun and light but delves into some serious issues. It's really entertaining on audio. The narration is top-notch!

The book opens as Nora is awakening from a surfing accident. It's a Near Death Experience (NDR) and it really makes Nora evaluate her life now. She decides upon a "reverse bucket list." She's a lawyer and works at her family's Personal Injury Law Firm but she's not happy there. She vows to get a new job and learn new things and wants to tend to her late Grandfather's garden in his old apartment complex. She also wants to be more supportive of her sister and cousin. Before her NDR she was caught up in a Cornerstore Robbery and met a guy that she connected with. She vows to find him too.

Nora has a lot going on but she's found new strength and really wants things to change. You'll be rooting for Nora (and her mystery man) from the start. I really enjoyed this buddy read with my Darlin' Darla 💜 Please be sure to check out her wonderful review too!

Oh, I really loved the title and how it was mentioned a couple of times in the book. The last time was the best! It's a great book to read this month 😊

What better month to read about a character named Nora November? My reading buddy, the terrific Tina, and I were on the same page for the most part. Be sure to check out her review when it goes up a bit later.

Nora November wakes up from a Near Death Experience (NDE) and decides to make some changes. She makes a Reverse Bucket List:
Learn to cook
Grandpa's garden
Corner store guy (?)
Make art
Be a better sister to Lacey
Support Gus
Play basketball
Get a new job
Now the trick is actually following through. It's hard work and sometimes the "Nice Work" is delivered in a sarcastic way. I had two big questions: 1) How did Nora end up surfing in the Gulf and drowning? 2) Will she ever be reunited with Corner store guy (CSG)?

This has a bit of a "Sleepless in Seattle" feel as we know what is happening with Jack (CSG) and can see where their paths should cross. How long will it take?

There were some fun pop culture references: Darth Vader, Death Star, I Dream of Jeannie, Julia Child, and Taylor Swift are some of my favorites. I also detected a bit of a Where'd You Go, Bernadette vibe. Also kudos to Karissa Vacker for excellent narration.

A big thank you to HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for an audio ARC and to Harper Muse and NetGalley for a DRC.

I would say this book is 3.5 stars. It starts with a woman named Nora and how she has a near death experience and when she makes it out of her surfing accident alive she realizes she was miserable and crates a reverse bucket list of things she never got to do. Throughout the story she tries to find herself and along the way discovers things about herself, her family and what she wants in life and even some romance

Overall not my cup of tea, overall really hard to get into , and I wasn’t a fan of the narrator. The premise of the book itself was really interesting she falls in love with a guy from a corner store robbery , it’s a parallel perspective between those 2 characters, however she’s struggling to find herself throughout the book and that common for most people when they go through something life altering, she’s trying to go through a mental and physical rebirth of herself . She’s trying to find herself again with her reverse bucket list where she does everyday tasks I guess you’d describe them , where she wants to learn to cook and play basketball, I understand the story line but it fell flat for me .

I had a brilliant review written in my head, but did not write it immediately. Lovely allergy season. Now, I can't remember most of what I wanted to say.

I really liked this journey of self-discovery that Nora took. She was unhappy with all aspects of her life. Then she clinically died in a surfing accident. When she awoke, she realized she had all of these regrets. She decided to stop wasting time and do them. Much to the consternation of everyone around her.

I found Nora relatable and enjoyed her journey. I could sympathize with a lot of her feelings.

Karissa Vacker narrates the audiobook and is, as always, perfection.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nice Work, Nora November is a heartwarming story of second chances and self-discovery. After a near-death experience, Nora awakens with a determination to reclaim her life, making a "reverse bucket list" to accomplish what she left undone in her past. From quitting her unfulfilling job at her father’s law firm to restoring her late grandfather’s neglected garden, Nora embarks on a journey to reinvent herself.

Julia London skillfully blends humor and emotion, making Nora’s attempts at transformation both relatable and endearing. While the book touches on deeper themes like family expectations and the weight of past failures, it never loses its lighthearted charm. The quirky characters, especially Nora’s garden community, add warmth and levity to her path of self-growth. With moments of sweetness, particularly in Nora’s budding romance with Jack, this is an enjoyable and uplifting story of learning to live authentically.

Nice Work, Nora November by Julia London is such a good read. Nora November is inspiring, and I so appreciated the journey she went on in this book.

I appreciate that there was a romance, but that the romance was not the focal point of the story. It did not overshadow the very real and serious topics of addiction, depression, and suicide.

The audiobook narrator (Karissa Vacker) did a beautiful job! Bravo!

This is a really good story. You follow Nora, who has a renewed excitement to build a good life after an NDE. She tries to hard to do the things she never did and tries so hard to reach out to her friends and family. Unfortunately, many things go wrong, and she gets blamed and confronted with how she was before her NDE. You really feel for Nora in every way. You get excited when she has new motivation for fun things, and you get hurt when people throw her past at her. I think it does do well in showing how life can be with depression, and i never thought of what happens when you're not depressed anymore, and coming back from it seems just as hard.

Overall 100% recommend!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

In "Nice Work, Nora November," the titular character, Nora November is dealing with the after effects of near-death experience. She views her life as the Before and After time, even though she doesn't remember the exact circumstances behind her drowning.

What she does know is, everything about the Before makes her anxious and depressed. But in the After, she realizes there are many things she regrets not doing when she could. So she makes a "reverse bucket list" to tackle those things she wants to do after she died (and came back).

It includes simple things, like learn how to cook and paint, tend her grandfather's garden, and play basketball again. But the most important item on the list is to find "the one who got away." Jack is someone she met while they were both being held hostage during a convenience story robbery by a very inept thief wearing a Darth Vader mask. Jack and Nora found something about the whole situation hilarious, even though they knew they should probably be a bit more concerned. But their shared quirky sense of humor bonded them in a way no one else had ever come close to before.

Soon after, though Nora's depression took over and convinced her that it was all in her head, and he couldn't really be as in to her as she was to him. So, she never calls him. But that's about to change... if only she had his number or knew his last name!

In this story of self-discovery and learning to stand up for oneself, there's a lot of pain to overcome, not just for Nora, but for those who love her as well. But her mental illness is tastefully and realistically handled in such a way that you have to root for her as she strives to find the good in life and all the very many reasons there are to live for.

Thank you to Julia London, Harper Muse and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

good book. It was a funny quippy read. but it is also not great for my anxious soul, if you catch my meaning. great book though.