Retired librarian Elizabeth is resigned to spending her remaining days in a nursing home. Not long after her arrival, her passions and emotions are awakened by Cary, a young attendant.

Despite their age difference, they begin a remarkable relationship. Their uncommon liaison elevates Cary and Elizabeth to new heights of self-knowledge, enabling their bond to develop into a deep, intense devotion.

Haunted by memories of a domineering, class-conscious mother who forced her into a loveless marriage, Elizabeth is conflicted. Though eager to follow her heart, she must overcome hurtful gossip and deep insecurities about how to spend her twilight years.

Cary, reared by a single mom, is also challenged by numerous pitfalls, including an ultimatum that could endanger his union with Elizabeth.

Certain Sensibilities is a timeless love story about choosing a soulmate over adherence to social norms and what happens when two kindred spirits are granted only a brief time together.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

This was a hard book for me to get through. I found the writing stilted and there was way to much backstory. I wanted to stop about half way but decided to push through . I thought there might be a surprise ending but there wasn't. Two and a half stars for me. Sorry.

Well, I was hoping for so much more...
This is a story about an unlikely love relationship between a 35-year-old care worker and an old-fashioned woman in her eighties. As weird as it sounds, I've seen things like this in real life and these were beautiful relationships. That's why I was hoping for much more than I received.
Here Cary, who works in a care facility, comes as a creepy man, rather than an empathetic and loving human being. At the very beginning of the book, we see him meeting Elizabeth for the very first time. They connect instantly. Within the next few pages things evolve rapidly and, shall I say, dangerously. Cary after having conversations with Elizabeth a couple of times asks to be located to her, he wants to work with her on a daily basis. Nothing wrong in here. Suddenly he gives her his own private time outside of work. We don´t know how much time passes but after a few pages, we are (NOT) surprised to find out that there's been a complaint against Cary. The manager of the care home doesn't seem to be concerned at all about the situation, he offers Cary a transfer to another facility or resignation on his free will. Cary out of the blue says OK! I quit and take Elizabeth to my place, she will be living with me. The manager says... fine. Really??? If this is not a massive red flag, then I don't know what is! Not a word about legal matters, her opinion, not to mention how obviously creepy this is. Everyone in healthcare has one and foremost duty: duty of care. The manager should be fired instantly and be banned from working in care ever again.
Cary goes on to prepare his house for Elizabeth's arrival. Everyone knows his girlfriend is coming—the first one in God knows how long. He himself refers to her as "my lady." So when she finally arrives and he wheels her in and introduces her to his neighbors, no one seems to be surprised. It seems like it's a normal thing for a 35-year-old man to have a 50-year-old girlfriend. I'm sorry, but the psychiatrist is needed here as soon as possible!
What I was hoping the most was to see the evolution of relationship, the get-to-know-each-other process, and the slow coming over all the embarrassing, but humane difficulties such as health issues. I mean, Elizabeth is in a wheelchair. She found herself in that situation suddenly, she had no time to adjust to this situation, yet she seemed to be calmy accepting the position she was in. That comes as a surprise, because losing independence, especially rapidly, takes people through the same stages as the 5 stages of grieving. In other words, Elizabeth should be frustrated, grumpy, angry, snappy... What about her body needs? How does she feel when she needs to be taken to the bathroom, washed, and dressed by a 50 years younger man? Not a word about this! Believe me, this is the most important thing for all who need assistance - they have the need to preserve their dignity and privacy. Don´t we all?
To sum it up this book is a massive disappointment. This is supposed to be a romance, but the relationship doesn't seem romantic, it's creepy. Cary needs a psych evaluation, Elizabeth is a pompous, pretentious dame who is impossible to be liked.

Elizabeth, in her 80's is sent to live her life in a nursing home. she meets Cary, a kind attendant in his 30's. they find themselves attracted to each other.

Elizabeth finds herself resigned to her life in a nursing home, feeling as though her remaining days will be spent in solitude. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Cary, a compassionate young attendant who awakens her passions and emotions. Despite their significant age gap, they develop a remarkable relationship that transcends societal norms.

As their bond deepens, both characters experience profound self-discovery. Elizabeth grapples with painful memories of her past—particularly the influence of her domineering mother who forced her into a loveless marriage. This history creates internal conflict as she yearns to follow her heart but is also burdened by insecurities and the fear of judgment from others.

Cary’s background adds another layer to their relationship; raised by a single mother, he faces his own challenges and dilemmas that threaten his connection with Elizabeth. An ultimatum looms over him, potentially jeopardizing their union.

The story unfolds through alternating perspectives of both characters, allowing readers to witness their vulnerabilities and unfulfilled dreams. They share common interests that draw them together while also confronting personal regrets—Cary’s missed educational opportunities and Elizabeth’s estrangement from a childhood friend.

Despite knowing that Elizabeth’s health struggles are insurmountable, they cherish every moment together. Their relationship evolves into a deep emotional connection without crossing into sexual intimacy. The narrative captures the essence of love in its purest form—a touching exploration of companionship during life’s twilight years.

Ultimately, “Certain Sensibilities” is a poignant tale about choosing love over societal expectations and making the most out of fleeting moments shared between two kindred spirits.

This was a wise and brave book to write. The focus on the love between a woman in her 80's and a man in his 30's was so unique and kept me reading page after page. I found parts of the story a little boring, especially the long bits about the back stories of their friends' lives. I was more interested in Elizabeth's and Cary's stories. Also, for me, there was a spiritual element missing. Maybe it was meant to be understated, but I would have liked for the characters to have given voice to the fact that they may have been lovers/best friends in a former life (or two!). Other than that, I really enjoyed the journey of the two main characters. Kudos to the author for taking on this unique storyline!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced ready copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.