When Ray's neighbor has a heart attack in Ray's home, a misunderstanding by the ambulance crew leaves everyone thinking Ray himself has died rather than his neighbor. When his estranged family comes to clean out his house, Ray is forced to revisit his past. This was really good. I liked Ray a lot, especially his past stories of working as a caretaker at a boarding school, and I enjoyed the ending a lot. 4.5 stars rounded to 4.

This book grabbed my attention solely based on the title. I am glad that it did. James Goodhand beautifully explores the complexity of life. Love lost, time lost, friendship, heartache as well as the impacts and aftermath of codependency within a mother and son relationship.

This beautiful story is a reminder not only to live life fully and in the present but also to love those in our lives and be present, while we have the opportunity to do so.

Publication July 1st, 2025

I had this opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley.

A cute little book that got me thinking. It flows easily and handles such deep things with hope and leaves you feeling optimistic about the lives you touch, knowingly or otherwise.

Full review to come.

This is a feel-good story with a unique and interesting plot. If you're looking for a heartfelt read that will make you smile, here you go!

Ray is a bit of a hoarder and a hermit, but he’s also humble and kind. So when a neighbor he hasn’t spoken to in years shows up needing help, Ray doesn’t hesitate—he lets him in, makes him some tea, runs him a bath, and even heads out to pick up takeout. Unfortunately, that neighbor dies, and due to a simple mix-up, the community mistakenly believes that Ray is the one who passed away. Rectifying that misunderstanding proves to be more complicated than he expects.

The plot is easy to follow and engaging, with a nice pacing that keeps the story moving. Ray is an endearing character, and I enjoyed many of the others as well. However, I found myself a bit frustrated with his love interest, Junie, at times—though that arc did add both tension and tragedy to the story.

The book explores themes of abandonment, lost opportunities, mentorship, and the complex bond between mothers and sons.

One of the things I loved most was its reminder to keep moving forward, even when it feels like the best of times are behind you. Ray's journey shows us that if you spend too much time looking back, you might miss the good that’s still ahead.

I also appreciated how Ray embodies the power of small acts of kindness. Simply listening, offering patience, and giving people the space to grow into the best version of themselves can be far more transformative than rushing to judgment and. offering criticism.

I read most of this book in one sitting on the train and smiled when I finished. If you’re looking for something cozy and uplifting to fall into while your tea goes cold beside you, I highly recommend it.

A wonderful feel-good book that kept me guessing and wondering and turning pages. It's rare that a book makes doing good without the hope of reward look appealing, but this book did just that.