Mabel and Arthur Beaumont live in a small Surrey town and have been married for sixty-two years. They are the best of friends. When she wakes one morning to find Arthur has passed away in the night, she feels adrift. They never had children and now she is completely alone... When Arthur was alive he structured their days around lists he would make. Mabel finds his last, unfinished list which says only "Find D". Her mind immediately goes to Dot, her best friend, whom she hasn't seen since before her marriage to Arthur. Did he want her to find Dot again? My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Last List of Mabel Beaumont”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. The friends she slowly begins to surround herself with (much to her astonishment) show her that everyone has their own secrets and struggles and that what you see on the surface might not actually reveal someone’s true inner story. People only tend to show the parts of themselves that they feel others can handle. Mabel slowly shows her new friends that despite having isolated herself for so long, she does actually have an innate understanding of the workings of the human spirit. She might not get things 100% right, but her perceptions are often spot-on. In turn, these women show Mabel the importance of having female friends, through all ages and stages of our lives, regardless of how strong our romantic and family ties might or might not be. Instead of experiencing deep regret for all the years she missed out on, Mabel instead embraces what she’s found, and makes the most of it, although she obviously wonders “What might have been?”.

Wow. Seriously. Just beautiful. So many wonderful elements… So many memorable characters… Beautiful and utterly affecting.’ Louise BeechGorgeous... Tender and beautiful... As hopeful as it is heart-breaking... I loved it.' Amy Beashel, author Surprisingly, Arthur has prepared for his passing by hiring someone to come in to their home for two hours each day. This carer is named Julie, and despite Mabel's initial misgivings, Julie becomes a true friend, helper, and confidant. Through Julie, and her own newfound courage, Mabel meets other friends. A teenager who works at the local market. A seventy year old dance instructor, and a young mother with a tiny daughter. Suddenly Mabel doesn't feel so alone and she is experiencing camaraderie for the first time in decades. She has a new lease on life at the tender age of eighty-six. Her new friends set about to help Mabel find her old friend Dot. Arthur took seriously his job of taking care of her. Soon after his funeral, a home health aide appears at her door. Arthur had pre-paid for the service, to help her adjust to his death. A completely heartbreaking, beautiful, uplifting story, guaranteed to make you smile but also make you cry. Perfect for fans of My Name is Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Keeper of Stories.Readers are absolutely loving The Last List of Mabel Beaumont: Underneath” by Anne Goodwin – Book Review #NovNov23 #novella @inspiredquill #Underneath#BookReview November 22, 2023

But then Mabel finds that Arthur left her one, unfinished list: “Find D”. It’s cryptic, to say the least, and Mabel’s really not in any frame of mind for game-playing. But once she’s taken some time to think about it and to realize that her life didn’t stop when Arthur’s did, she gives the ‘list’ some thought. Could Arthur possibly have known he was dying? And did he mean that she should go and find her long-lost best friend Dot? She hasn’t seen her since she suddenly disappeared just before Mabel and Arthur got married. It’s been a very long time! Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’. This beautifully written story of friendship, love, loss and second chances captured my heart. It's a tender and uplifting read and I adored Mabel and her unlikely gang of colourful characters... Leaves you feeling warm, hopeful, and satisfied.' Lisa Timoney, author Mabel and Arthur Beaumont live in a small Surrey town and have been married for sixty-two years. They are the best of friends. When she wakes one morning to find Arthur has passed away in the night, she feels adrift. They never had children and now she is completely alone… When Arthur was alive he structured their days around lists he would make. Mabel finds his last, unfinished list which says only “Find D”. Her mind immediately goes to Dot, her best friend, whom she hasn’t seen since before her marriage to Arthur. Did he want her to find Dot again?

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At the surface level, the story seems quite easy-going. But Mabel’s life contains many secrets, and as we learn her thoughts through her own first-person perspective, we understand how her life isn’t what it seems. While her biggest secret was quite guessable to me, it was still written well. I love every word of this heartwarming novel with the odd tear and some profound moments. I feel so sad the book is over as it’s one I don’t want to end and so I slow down to savour the last few wonderful moments. Quite simply, I love Mabel. At the age of eighty-six, Mabel Beaumont loses Arthur, her husband of over sixty years. Mabel is a quiet and reserved individual and her husband was the one who was relatively more outgoing and expressive and also fond of making lists. As Mabel grapples with her loss, she finds her husband’s unfinished list with an item “Find D” on it. Mabel believes Arthur meant to find Dot, once Mabel’s best friend and her deceased older brother’s love interest. After Bill’s sudden demise and Mabel’s engagement to Arthur over sixty years ago, Dot disappeared from their lives. Mabel embarks on a quest to find Dot and finds a kindly and supportive group of people who are intent to help her – Julie, the new caregiver Arthur had arranged for her; Kristy a kindly neighbor and new mother in her thirties; Patty, a dance instructor in her seventies and Erin, a sixteen-year-old girl who Mabel meets in her local grocery store. For someone who has mostly kept to herself all her adult life, Mabel finds herself increasingly involved in the lives of her new friends, adding more items to her (Arthur’s which she expands upon) list and reflecting on people and events from her past – the people she loved and lost, her regrets and secrets about herself she has never been able to share with anyone. Mabel's quest for Dot and her plans to help her friends, (though efforts don’t always produce the desired results), each of whom is struggling with personal problems, gives Mabel a sense of purpose, in turn inspiring her to approach her own life from a fresh perspective.

This is a well crafted story, with beautifully observed scenes and characters, and I found it really touching.

Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life” by Helen Fisher – Book Review @RandomTTours #BlogTour #BookReview @simonschusterUK #JoeNuthinsGuideToLife @HFisherAuthor November 20, 2023 Arthur loved to make lists and leave them for Mabel to find, from the ordinary everyday grocery items to ‘I love today, tomorrow, always’. But now Arthur has gone, passed away in the gentle manner that was his way in life, quietly without a fuss. Mabel and Arthur have been married for sixty-two years and have never had children. He loved making lists and would leave them for her to find. Suddenly, Arthur passes away and Mabel doesn't know what she will do without him. Then she finds his last list he must have left for her. It had only one thing listed which was to Find D. What or who is D?? Mabel is convinced he meant her best friend, Dot. The problem is that Mabel has not spoken to or seen Dot in sixty-two years. Is Dot even still alive? Mabel decides to find Dot and add a few items to the list. Moving forward, she meets a group of women who are all in different stages of their lives. They become amazing friends and want to help Mabel find Dot. Mabel slowly finds herself opening up and not as lonely anymore. Secrets from the past are revealed as the search for Dot continues. Will