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“One adorably British odd couple . . . Charming.” — People
“An exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death . . . heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting . . Everyone should read this book.” — Ruth Hogan, author of Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel
Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is … Hotel
Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.
It’s never too late to start living.
Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world—all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At eighty-five, she isn’t going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion.
Then she meets ten-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley—afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties.
While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose’s new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood—of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead.
But now that her joy for life has been rekindled, how can she possibly say goodbye?
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This was a feel-good story, even though it starts out with cranky 85-year-old Eudora Honeysett deciding to plan her own death and the sooner the better. The novel alternates chapters between Eudora’s poignant past and her present. We learn of her childhood as well as adulthood, and her relationships with her father, her mother and her sister, her fiancée, and her best friend. The present begins when Eudora meets her new next-door neighbors, especially exuberant 10-year-old Rose. Despite her resistance to Rose’s colorful and upbeat outspokenness, Eudora finds herself becoming a surrogate grandmother and trying to live up to Rose’s claim that they are BFFs.
The warm relationships Eudora develops with Rose and her family, as well as with personable fellow neighbor and widower Stanley, reveal the joys of life Eudora never really experienced. Now that she has people who care and value her, will Eudora cancel her death plans? How can she leave her new “family” when they love her, and she’s come to love them as well? The book has a sweet though tearful conclusion. I didn’t want this entertaining novel to end, and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Goodreads and William Morrow Publishers for an advance readers copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
Great character portrayal, good voice. Very well-written and charming throughout. Eudora and Rose were memorable and extremely realistic characters, the kind you fall in love with. Although there really was no other realistic way to end the story, the ending left me feeling a bit sad.
It’s an unusual story, one I wouldn’t ordinarily have read, but I bought a copy on the recommendation of a friend and I’m so glad I did. This story about an old woman in her twilight years deciding whether to choose a natural death over a planned death is remarkable. Wholly original with memorable characters. It shifts back and forth in time, with the past action enhancing one’s understanding of the present-day action and Eudora’s motivation. The character of 10-year-old Rose, an irresistible force of good who transforms Eudora’s life, is one I will long remember.
4.5/5 rounded up
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons was such a treat to read. It was emotional, funny, heartwarming, and the perfect book to read in December. I fell in love with Eudora and listening to the audio made me love her even more. Nicolette McKenzie voices the audio and I thought she sounded familiar but apparently, I haven’t listened to any books narrated by her before. I thought she was the perfect person to voice Eudora, and it really brought the entire book to life for me. There are so many great characters, and even though this book has it’s heavier and sad moments, it is also filled with so much joy and humor.
I haven’t read many books that focus on assisted suicide and I really liked the way Lyons handled it in this book. Eudora and Rose made an unlikely pair, but man were they amazing together, and I was happy with the way the book ended. The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions and it is probably a good idea to keep some tissues handy. I loved the way it switches between Eudora’s past and present and that really helps the reader understand the way she thinks, and ultimately why she makes the decisions she does.
This is my first book by Lyons, but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved her writing so much, and the book just seemed to fly by. I finished the audio in just 2 days because I didn’t want to put it down, and it really was just the sweetest thing. If you want a book that makes you fall in love with the characters, The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is that book.
I loved Eudora Honeycutt!!!! This book reminded me so much of A Man Called Over and maybe Eleanor Oliphant. Eudora has had a bit of a rough life and has gone through some not very nice things. She’s loved and she’s lost and she’s sacrificed much to take care of her mom. She is alone now and 85 and she wants to die on her own terms. She is working to be able to do that and into her life enters 10 year old Rose. Rose has moved in next door to Eudora with her parents and sister on the way. Rose has been bullied at her last school and has trouble making friends. You never know when a bright day of sunshine is going to walk into your life and change it.
The friendship that grows between Eudora and Rose is so precious and so beautiful. I love that Rose’s whole family takes Eudora under their wing. Rose and Eudora bring another elderly man and neighbor, Stanley, into their circle as well. It was just so beautifully written and poignant and lovely.
Eudora is 85 years old and is done with life. She wants to leave this world on her terms. She makes an appointment at a clinic in Switzerland and just waiting for approval. Then, 10 year old Rose and her family moves in next door. Rose has made Eudora her new BFF. Rose also makes friends with Stanley, an older gentleman who just lost his wife. The 3 make an unlikely group of friends but it works so well. Rose shows Eudora love and that life is still worth living. Will Eudora go through with her clinic appointment or will she realize she still wants to live? If I could give this book 100 stars I would. I loved the characters in this fantastic book! Eudora has lived a life with many hardships but she is so wonderful with her friends Rose and Stanley. Rose is the sweetest, full of life little girl and cares deeply for her friends and family. Stanley is a sad lonely man brought back to life with the help of Eudora and Rose. I felt like I was with Eudora, Rose,and Stanley on their adventures. I loved this incredible book with my entire heart and soul! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons is a great, heartwarming novel that talks of second chances in life, especially when one thinks all is lost.
Just when the elderly Eudora thinks it is all over for her and she has nothing left to live for, a spunky, vivacious 10 year old Rose moves in nearby to bring Eudora a breath of fresh air. Between the adorable Rose that winds her way around Eudora’s heart and their newfound friend, Stanley, Eudora is once again introduced to the hope, life, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and sense of humor that she felt she had lost long ago.
A fun, sweet, quirky, and memorable read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
This book touches on a subject that many of us may consider at some point in our lives. The author’s presentation is written well, offering unexpected insights on a controversial subject without becoming morbid or judgmental. Through wonderful character development, the author is able to present the reader with a charming read, some humor and an unforgettable journey of life with all its hardships, joy and closure.
4-1/2 stars. A gentle and wise tale of how life never stops presenting us with surprises, and that it’s never too late to change.
I chose this book for my bookclub and it was loved unanimously. And there are 2 professors (journalism and English) in there! No pressure : )
Nice little book. Not great literature, but worth reading.
Though this book was somewhat predictable, I loved the characters. The ending was a bit different than I expected.
I began this book with cautious optimism. The opening sentence of the book synopsis described it as a mix of “Me Before You” and “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine”, both books I have read in the past with differing levels of emotional impact.
In the end, my overall enjoyment of this novel drifted a little more toward the less impactful Eleanor Oliphant level. The main characters were well developed and played important roles in the overall evolution of the story. The controversial themes were investigated in a thought-provoking but open-ended manner that provided the reader an opportunity to form their own opinions based upon the thoughts and actions of all the characters, whether they were octogenarians or adolescents.
But… for some reason, my ability to “believe” the manner in which the overseas component of this novel took place left something to be desired. While I understand it wasn’t the main focus of the novel, it felt a bit lacking in depth and too formulaic, with the same things shared by those characters, over and over again.
Perhaps my wish for a romantic component to this story (similar to the one in “Me Before You”) is what caused my high level of expectations to not be completely met. It’s why I usually try to ignore the comparison comments in book blurbs (if you like X, you’ll love this story).
While this may not have been my favorite book of the year, I enjoyed the tender yet open manner in which a delicate subject was investigated, through the eyes of Stanley, Stella, Rose, and of course, Eudora. And it reminded me that life truly is brilliant, when we look at it with honesty and fill it with acceptance, and love.
It highlights what is really important in life
This only gets 4 stars because, for me, it was very slow to get into. But once I did, I truly enjoyed this book. As an older adult the subject of end of life is both on ones mind but also not something one can grasp. That our main character is so ready for it only because she feels she has nothing left to experience or enjoy is a bit sad. But some magic comes from a little girl who moves in next door who may not totally sway her but opens our elderly lady to a new world of adventure and joy. I think not having married and having children and grandchildren did leave me Miss Honeysett at a disadvantage in her old age as well as not developing lasting friendships.
This was a good book to read between more serious books.
One of my ew favorites. I loved every character portrayed in this book.
I loved the characters and their interactions.
This is not the genre of book i usually read but i decided to try it. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I love Rose. She is the real center of the book in my mind. Eudora is ok, but this is a book about the supporting characters. Relax and enjoy.