This is a 3.5 star read for me. I was disappointed that I did not fall under the "best read of the year" or "a 5 star read". I honestly don't get what all the hype is about.

*****SPOILERS at this point


This book is way longer than it needs to be. So much of Damon's story could have been condensed. It felt like we were reading (I listened to) every day of every week for the few years of his life. It was like reading his daily diary.
I was happy that Damon found a way through all that he was living but there was nothing happy in this story. I understand that life was no picnic for the rural areas of mining country but surely there was something to be happy about? Additionally, this story made every character sound ignorant of any the perils of opioids. 

The story is very predictable... of course a small-town boy that is in the crappy foster system finally finds a good place to stay and then a sport he is suddenly good at and becomes a temporary star because he blows out his knee and gets addicted to drugs and goes downhill from there, but in the end he magically is reformed and finally gets to see the only thing on his bucket list... the ocean (eye roll).

This is my first book from this author but I don't think there will be others. It just was not there for me.

I can definitely give 4 stars to the narrator Charlie Thurston. Excellent job at telling this story. Only thing is you need to practice on the female voices. (shrug)

I have a love/hate feeling about this book. After I finished reading it, I gave a 3 star review but did not write what I thought about it. I let the book sit with me for a few days and here I am writing this but still unsure of what to do.

I find that this story is the most relatable to me book that I have read for a very long time. My parents are aging, I am in my late 50's, been through menopause, my daughters are adults (one recently had a baby) and I've been married to my best friend & understanding husband for 34 years. I'm past menopause but not so far that I don't remember the difficulties of it. I can remember and commiserate with Rocky, the mood-swings, the irritability, and at times, how hard it is to be positive at times and find enjoyment in life. It can be a hard stage to get through. 

I don't relate to the keeping of a secret from her husband for that many years! A secret he really should have been part from the start. On the other side of it, I feel that Rocky was suffering from some undiagnosed postpartum depression at the time or even just depression over all. 
I didn't think I understood Rocky but now I realize I do. I liked Rocky for the most part, I could imagine meeting her in real life. I could see her as a real person. I think that for a reader to like the main character there has to be some experience from actually living and experiencing that stage of a woman's life. 

At the end of this review, which helped me reflect on what I read, I am now able to say that I can give this book a solid 4 star rating. There were parts of the book that were just over the top, including too much pro-choice referencing (I'm pro-choice but a Canadian so the politics was just too much) and for that reason I can't do 5 stars.


This quote is so real for me:
"Life is a seesaw, and I am standing dead center, still and balanced: living kids on one side, living parents on the other. Nicky here with me at the fulcrum. Don’t move a muscle, I think. But I will, of course. You have to."

I enjoyed this story about Phoebe, a divorced & childless professor who thinks she wants to end it all but instead gets caught up in the middle of a week-long wedding celebration. 
This is charming story full of laughter and feel-good warmth with lots of learning about self along the way. This "found-family" helps Phoebe learn what her life could really be like and helps her move toward the dream.
I really loved the ending, it was perfect but I found that about a third of the way through the story dragged a bit. Overall it was a solid 4 star read. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Alison Espach! 

I listened to the audio that was narrated by Helen Laser who did an awesome job of bringing the characters and this story alive for me. 

I would never have found this book if it had not been talked about on Currently Reading podcast. The hosts had lots of fun talking about it so I had to check it out to listen for myself :)
The book was entertaining at first and very easy to listen to but 3/4 of the way through it became just too much of the same thing. I started jumping ahead to bypass the sex scenes to have more story. 
I will likely not read the rest of the series.

Courtney Walsh writes a story that is both thought-provoking and inspiring. There is a romance that is included but it is a closed door/chaste for both women. The focus of this story is on the relationship between Kelsey and Georgina. Kelsey, 32, and Georgina, midlife, have an evolving new friendship that helps them each focus on their own personal growth. There is a blend of humour, emotion and reflection on life choices and regrets. 

There were moments when I laughed, was annoyed and was emotional right along with both women. And the ending was just perfect! 
There was one point that kept me from giving this story all 5 stars... the not-communicating trope is a no for me and there was almost a bit too much of this (but just a bit so I kept reading). 

I knew this was going to be a hit from the very first page when I actually laughed out loud at this:

"You're in the hospital." She smiles. "I'm Cecelia, and I'll be taking care of you."
Thanks to my parents, her name triggers an automatic Simon and Garfunkel response, and I find myself trying hard not to get down on my knees to beg her please to come home.

There is not enough books with the main character being over 40 so this was a big positive for me before I even started reading. I am over 50 and very much enjoy reading books where at least one main character is in my age group.

I was not aware until I had started reading this book that it was classified as christian. I probably would not have read if I had known that before hand. I do not like overly religious stories since I am not a religious person. This book is not that. There are a few references to religion but not enough to turn me off. So if you are like me, this book will not bother you.

I loved the Author's Note at the end. I believe many of us feel the same way, including me. I try to say "Yes" to as much as I can but still find I prefer my comfortable box way more.  

This was my first Courtney Walsh book but I am really looking forward to reading the next!

I'm not sure that this book deserved all the hype. It is good, yes but it was only 3.5 stars for me. There isn't anything that stands out about this book that would lead me to giving it even 4 whole stars. I was waiting for some big reveal toward the end and that never happened. 
I often got lost with the many different characters in the two timelines and took me a minute to get back on track. 

The narration was done well enough but the voice given to TJ often made me think that she was a boy and I had to keep reminding myself that this was not true. 

Such a strange book. And a sad family story with some “horror” thrown in. 
It could definitely have used some editing because I found at about 70% I was hoping it would come to an end. 

Was just a bit too silly amongst a serious topic for me. Plus there was too much about the pandemic. I don’t want to read about it after it was the only topic for too long.  

It’s just not for me.