Widowed Ruth Winters was made redundant after forty years working for the same company. Approaching her seventies, she supplements her income by looking after her neighbour's pre school age children, whose company she much prefers over adults. She is estranged from her younger sister Veronica, having been left to care for their ailing father until he died. Her only contact with her family is with Chloe, Veronica'a daughter. That is until one day, when Ruth receives a call from Veronica asking for her help. Still bitter towards her sister, Ruth reluctantly agrees to Veronica's
request. Socially awkward, Ruth likes routine and doesn't like change for changes sake. Then out of the blue she receives contact from someone she briefly went out with towards the end of high school, asking her to attend a school reunion with him. Ruth declines and continues to do so.

Much of the novel revisits the past, we learn why Ruth and Veronica are estranged. Old wounds begin to heal and we witness the slow but sure awakening of Ruth as she begins to become the person she could have been if her life had taken a different path. Despite the sadness, there is happiness and the chance of romance. Watching Ruth blossom from a curmudgeonly, lonely lady to someone who realises life can be an enjoyable social experience is heartwarming with the message you are never too old for a second chance at life.

An charming and enjoyable read.

With thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Published for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Ruth Winters, who is presumably autistic, had spent the entirety of her adult life putting herself last and giving up her dream of a career in the art world. She also suffers from social anxiety, which contributes to her aversion to change. However, after spending her young adulthood serving as caregiver to her incapacitated father and many more years married to her late husband who was more of a roommate than love match, she finds herself at loose ends after being laid off. So, life begins to change whether she’s ready for it or not.

Aside from the babysitting she falls into, her life is small and lonely. She only has her loving niece Chloe and a highly-contentiously relationship with her sister, Ronnie. Then, in anticipation of her 50th high school reunion, she hears from an old crush, Martin, who wants to see her. She also gets some awful news from her sister which sets them on the road to reconciliation. It’s both humorous and heartwarming watching Ruth’s self-confidence build as others come to rely on her and, with the attention from both Martin and her sister, witnessing her really come out of the self-imposed cocoon she’d been wrapped in for decades.

As a woman almost as old as 68-year-old Ruth, I could relate to so much of what she has gone through. Her transformation is really inspiring for those of us who have sacrificed so much for our children, or in Ruth’s case, for her father and late husband, especially when we find ourselves lonely for companionship, reminiscing about our youth, and questioning some of the decisions we made that have caused some degree of regret. I know I’m not alone in occasionally thinking about “the one who got away” and how it would play out if given the chance to reconnect.

I liked almost everything about this book except the very abrupt ending. I would have preferred to see more of Ruth and Martin’s relationship building and have some insight into where Ruth’s life was heading. However, it is still a worthwhile, character-driven read that has left me pondering my own life choices, which is a great way to get my mind off of current events that I can’t control. Recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Ruth Winters is living out her retiree years as a widow set in her routine. That is until her sometimes estranged sister calls her with news that she has cancer and needs a ride to chemotherapy. This phone call, along with news from her niece and an old highschool friend, upends Ruth’s routine. The book is about second chances and stepping out of a life that is only comfortable. This book started off cute and fun. Somewhere half way through it started to slow down a bit for me, but overall was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Lake Union Press, Marshall Fine, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this book... at first I did have my doubts but it's is a well written story about family, love, loss and second chances and by the end I honestly didn't want it to end. Ruth (and all the characters really) grew on me tremendously and I actually genuinely cared about them by the end of the book... a sign of a good book in my opinion!

Sweet story of changing no matter your age.

Ruth is set in her ways and does not like anything to change her routine.
Then her estranged sister, Veronica, reaches out for her help. While Ruth is not happy and feels that she is being used but she decides to go along with it anyway.

A feel good story about second chances.

A superb story that has everything: love, loss, the complexities of relationships, personal growth and how individuals navigate their way through their emotions. During a pivotal time in Ruth’s life, she finds herself on an emotional journey changing the course of her life. I really enjoyed this novel and the characters.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a very lovely book to read! I loved the sweet storyline, and thought Ruth was a wonderful character. I thought the writing was well-done and the storyline was easy to follow. I did feel like parts of the story were a bit predictable, which made it equal parts comfortable and overdone. However, overall I thought this book was like a favorite blanket- soft, gentle, and warm.

I liked the concept, it’s about sisters, grief, forgiveness, accepting new changes and how you can change your life at any age. however it was very slow and mundane then the ending felt very quick and abrupt. overall I just wasn’t very invested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Marshall Fine for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Winters, in her 70s, is retired and definitely set in her ways. Why change? Feeling like life has already passed her by, she sticks to her daily routines to avoid socializing. When her neighbor needs her help, an old boyfriend wants to get together, and her estranged sister has a special request, Ruth has to decide whether to let life pass her by or join the world and be happy. Her journey is fun, as well as emotional, but, a journey you’ll want to take with her. I recommended this book to all my friends.

3.5 stars

I love reading stories that are heartfelt mixed with sad moments. This book is just like that. It's about an ordinary woman who spent most of her life taking care of others. She's much older now and she has a hard time adjusting to change. The book chronicles her life as it keeps taking unexpected turns in every corner and how she overcomes it.

This is a really good book!

Ruth Winters doesn’t like change, not even in the grocery store aisles. Now 70 years old, she doesn’t like to socialize and hides behind a hard shell to avoid attention. She has worked for the same company for 40 years until she got laid off. Now she is babysitting for her neighbors and has organized her life perfectly. But then three things happen: she receives news from her niece, her estranged sister gives her an unexpected call and the guy she once dated in her senior year contacts her in anticipation of their 50th high school reunion. Ruth begins to reminisce about her past, her family and missed opportunities.
I really enjoyed this book, the flowing writing style makes it an easy read. I could relate to Ruth and understood her character. Life had dealt her a tough hand, and she always thought about others first. She was the dutiful one, never wanting anything for herself. When she starts babysitting, she is finally able to open her heart and lets her emotions and feelings lead her. A great story about family, loss, grief and second chances. 4⭐️
Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this advance copy. The above is my honest review and own opinion.

When I first realized Marshall Fine, a male, had written "The Autumn of Ruth Winters" from a female point of view and third person omniscient at that, I knew I was in for a ride. Not since I had read the short story, "The First Day" by Edward P. Jones did I experience such a feat done as smoothly and seamlessly.

On top of that, Fine tackles two themes about siblings: 1. Being free to let other people clean up your messes doesn't necessarily make you free, and 2. If two sparring siblings work out their grudges, they're more likely to move forward.

Through one of two reunions in this book, sisters trying to work out their differences before it's too late, and a fiftieth class reunion, Ruth Winters is able to face the world with anticipation instead of foregone conclusions and tired expectations.

I was afraid that this story would be entirely about Ruth meeting her Prince Charming. Instead, the story was about Ruth doing some heavy lifting in order to be able to recognize Prince Charming should he appear.

A decided departure from Marshall Fine's previous work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Press for this advance copy.

Ruth Winters is a woman who’s become accustomed to her life as it is. A widow who devoted much of her young adult life to caring for her father, she worked as a book-keeper for decades and is now - after being laid off - babysitting for children in the neighbourhood. Ruth has a difficult relationship with her younger sister, and first impressions heavily suggest Ruth is on the autistic spectrum.
The phrase ‘an odd duck’ is made for Ruth, but her bluntness and thought process as she navigates the world around her made her a more sympathetic character than you might imagine.
The book follows Ruth as she reconnects with her sister and finds herself starting to embrace small changes. Through her growing interactions we get more of a sense of her personality. I couldn’t quite get my head around how old she was, but it was hard not to find yourself drawn to Ruth. A feel-good story about family, second chances and finding the courage to move out of your comfort zone.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.

I loved the fact that this novel was really a coming of age story about a women in her 60s, such a refreshing, fun and interesting read. I really enjoyed how thoughtful and considered it was. I would definitely recommend.

I adored this book. Maybe it is because routine-focused, minimally social Ruth is a bit like me, but I loved her from the first chapter. I couldn't help but become invested in what Ruth would do with all of these changes coming at her at once.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Autumn of Ruth Winters" and all opinions expressed are my own. I have both the kindle book and audio book. I listened to the audiobook. This was a good story and I enjoyed listening to the book. The story is about grief but also forgiveness and second chances.

The Autumn of Ruth Winters by Marshall Fine follows Ruth Winters, a widow who doesn’t like changes. Some events have forced Ruth to reconnect with family and friends in a truly heart-warming way. I enjoyed Ruth and the premise overall.
A feel good story about second chances.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes the right book comes along at the perfect moment. I read this while traveling out of town for a funeral. The pages flew by at such a rate I finished it in a single day. The combination of pleasant writing with thought provoking messages made reading a breeze.

Meet Ruth, a septuagenarian, set in her ways with a no-nonsense approach. Much to her chagrin, life happens and shakes up Ruth's carefully structured world. Her estranged sister reaches out for assistance, her niece has big news, and an old flame bursts onto the scene. Ruth's reactions to getting slammed with catalysts was down to earth and won me over. The characters were flawed yet written with a dose of humanity. I enjoy when characters push themselves toward self-reflection in novels it inspires me to ask myself the hard questions.

Themes of forgiveness, grief, and stepping out of your comfort zone are explored. There is also humor, happiness, and fun to be discovered. This novel is a good reminder that as long as we wake up this side of the dirt it's not too late to make a change.

This was a moving debut story about estranged sisters, second chances, regrets and reconciliations as Ruth and Veronica find themselves unexpectedly reunited later in age thanks to a horrible cancer diagnosis.

The book was mainly told from Ruth's perspective, a woman who has mostly lived her life being misunderstood and ridiculed but yet always yearning for love and acceptance. I loved embarking on Ruth's journey of healing and forgiveness with her dying sister as they rehash their hurtful pasts.

Great on audio narrated by Joyce Bean and perfect for fans of books like How does that make you feel, Magda Eklund? Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I'm a bit torn about this book, because there were so many strong moments, but there were also times when it was very drawn out. The lengthier scenes were usually flashbacks that had too much detail and not enough impact. But, overall, I did like the redemptive plot and themes of forgiveness and second chances with love and family. It was hopeful and heartwarming.