‘I absolutely loved this… I couldn’t put it down, grabbing every opportunity to continue… Heart-wrenchingly sad but… also one of the most uplifting and heartwarming books… It had me crying (and I mean big heaving sobs!!)… I finished this book last night, and yet here I am 24 hours later still thinking about it!… Fabulous, amazing, wonderful!!’ Stardust Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Sometimes you have … ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sometimes you have to hit the bottom before you can float to the top.
Maria Birch is seventy years old and, for her, every week is the same.
On Monday, she does her weekly shop. On Tuesday, she goes for a blow-dry. On Wednesday, she visits the laundrette. But Thursday is her favourite day of all – everything hurts less on a Thursday.
Every Thursday Maria walks to her local café. Waiting for her at one of the red gingham-topped tables is Albie Young, a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and an impressive collection of tweed flat caps. Every week, the pair share a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea.
Except, one week, Albie doesn’t turn up.
When Maria finds out what has happened, her perfectly ordered life is ripped apart at the seams. Suddenly, she is very lonely. Without her Thursday friend – her only friend – she no longer has the energy to circle the weekly TV listings, she has no reason to leave her apartment, no reason to laugh.
Then she discovers that Albie isn’t who she thought he was, and she’s left wondering if she knew her friend at all. But Albie has left behind a legacy – a handwritten list of wishes he never got the chance to complete.
Maria is resigned to facing the rest of her days heartbroken and alone. But fulfilling Albie’s wishes could hold the key to her happiness – if only she’s able to look past his secret…
This life-affirming and heartfelt tale is for anyone who has ever looked at their life and wanted more. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Keeper of Lost Things will love this poignant story, which shows us that for the truest loves, the end is never really the end…
Readers are totally falling in love with The Wish List of Albie Young:
‘Wow! Wow! Wow! What a brilliant, beautiful, feel-good, heartwarming book! I absolutely loved it!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘You’ll have to have a heart of stone if you don’t find yourself shedding a tear or two during this stunning debut… It’s one of those stories that makes your heart burst with happiness… Totally adorable and a wonderful antidote of a read to the often heartless and harsh world we are living in. A must-read!!’ Books and Me Review, 5 stars
‘Beautifully written… I found the story was playing on my mind when I wasn’t reading it, and the pages turned fast while I was. I has hooked… and even ignored some of my work in order to finish reading as I was enjoying it that much… Fabulous writing, a story with a lot of heart.’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘This book was SO good. I laughed and cried. I cannot wait to read more by this author. I highly recommend this book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘The Albie Effect took my heart by a storm… Hope sparkled in every page like a rare diamond… The book affirmed, through its simple yet emotional story, one simple thing – life is today and now. And every moment is a good time to start living. If Maria could start life once again at the age of 70, why can’t I?’ Shalini’s Books & Reviews, 5 stars
‘Absolutely delightful, superbly written. A fresh, unique, sparkling debut.’ Holly Martin
‘Heartbreaking and sweet… I loved it from front to back.’ Margarita and Camouflage, 5 stars
‘What an absolutely fantastic book which I loved from start to finish. Very heartwarming and emotional but such a lovely story.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 starsmore
Love, loss and grief juxtaposed with friendship and thoughtfulness. I knew the type of story that would be told, and it was just what I wanted to read. It’s a feel-good novel that takes a while to get to the feel-good part, but eventually all works out (no spoiler as this is stated in the title).
Seventy-year-old Maria still blames herself for her daughter’s death 36 years earlier. She lives a lonely and predictable life in Brighton, a small seaside town in England. She was not particularly likeable, without friends or any direction to her life. For reasons that are never really explained, charming older man Albie Young begins to meet Maria every Thursday at a little tea shop and their friendship grows. When Albie misses a couple of their Thursdays together and Maria discovers why, she also learns about Albie’s wish list.
Now we are introduced to a variety of people that Albie befriended and Maria continues developing the relationships based on Albie’s wish list. This is where the feel-good part comes in, with some bumps along the way which makes the novel interesting and not altogether predictable.
“It’s wonderful to do something small that makes a difference to someone else,” Maria tells a young mother just before the novel ends. She finally recognizes this “do unto others” philosophy! She also sees how her life has expanded and she now has real friends who care about her – and she cares about them. By fulfilling Albie’s wish list and adding to it with her own thoughtful generosity, Maria has found the key to happiness.
Entertaining and easy to read. Had a tough time getting into book, it began rather bluntly. Would’ve enjoyed at least one tea with Albie. I enjoyed watching the main character grow up while helping others. It was fun getting to know the characters in the book.
This is a darling book. It is a quiet, calm story and just what I needed right now. It’s a story about a lonely elderly woman who learns that she can still matter to others. I loved the hopeful feeling of it and the ending was wrapped up so neatly with a pretty bow. I would love to see this as a film with someone like Judi Dench in the leading role. It would be lovely. I also can see this adapted for theater because it is such a character-driven work. It’s clean (but for one or two curse words) and charming and I highly recommend it.
Remember the old adage of dropping a pebble into a pond and watching an endless series of circles spread from the center? That is what this book portrays. Maria and Albie have been meeting at the cafe every day for four years to share a slice of marble cake and tea. It is almost two weeks after Albie missed their scheduled date that Maria learns that why he never showed up. Maria makes it her mission to comlete Albie’s wish list of various that he could help others. This incredibly heartwarming book made me cry and cry again. The overall message, though, is one of hope.
It did not grab my attention immediately, but I am glad I stuck with it. Interesting twist, great characters.
I absolutely loved this book. It was romantic and at the same time thought provoking.
Showing kindness to others with inheritance from a friend who passed away
Could not get through the first chapter…
The book starts slowly and the main character is hard to sympathize with. But as you get into the story it becomes engrossing. You see why the characters are as they are and love to see the changes. Great read.
I loved this book. it is very much like looking in a mirror at times. makes you contemplate.
This book was emotional and heart warming
This was truly a good book. It was different than most I had read. No formula here. You are cheering for the characters throughout that she encounters. Definitely recommend.
I loved this book! It is so beautifully written with wonderful characters..
New author, but one I won’t choose again. It purposed to describe a 70-year-old woman who finds meaning in her life. I’m a 70-year-old woman, so it sounded interesting. Not! Very dull for the first quarter, though the last parts of the book were slightly better as she tried to finish up Albie’s wish list of helping other people. Focusing on helping others is certainly a positive step, but it was a very unsatisfying end.
The reader never gets to meet Albie Young but gets a full sense of the man he was through the people whose lives he touched. One of those people, Maria, is tasked with finishing his wish list. Struggling with life in general, Maria finds new purpose in trying to fulfill Albie’s wishes, both for her and for others. This is a heartwarming story that is a wonderful reminder of how little effort it can take to actually make a difference in peoples’ lives and how far simple kindness can truly go. A must-read, and one of my favorite books of the year. For a more detailed review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a pre-release, digital ARC of the book.