The Love Story of Missy Carmichael
Books | Fiction / Literary
4.2
Beth Morrey
For readers of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and A Man Called Ove, a life-affirming, deeply moving coming-of-old story, a celebration of how ordinary days are made extraordinary through friendship, family, and the power of forgiving yourself--at any age. At a time when people are having to isolate, [this novel is] a balm, offering an expansive sense of love and possibility at a time when the main characters feel like those chances are gone. --Christian Science Monitor The world has changed around seventy-nine-year-old librarian Millicent Carmichael, aka Missy. Though quick to admit that she often found her roles as a housewife and mother less than satisfying, Missy once led a bustling life driven by two children, an accomplished and celebrated husband, and a Classics degree from Cambridge. Now her husband is gone, her daughter is estranged after a shattering argument, and her son has moved to his wife's native Australia, taking Missy's beloved only grandchild half-a-world away. She spends her days sipping sherry, avoiding people, and rattling around in her oversized, under-decorated house waiting for...what exactly? The last thing Missy expects is for two perfect strangers and one spirited dog named Bob to break through her prickly exterior and show Missy just how much love she still has to give. In short order, Missy finds herself in the jarring embrace of an eclectic community that simply won't take no for an answer--including a rambunctious mutt-on-loan whose unconditional love gives Missy a reason to re-enter the world one muddy paw print at a time. Filled with wry laughter and deep insights, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is a coming-of-old story that shows us it's never too late to forgive yourself and, just as important, it's never too late to love.
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Author
Beth Morrey
Pages
339
Publisher
Penguin
Published Date
2020
ISBN
0525542442 9780525542445
Community ReviewsSee all
"Listened to the audiobook on and off. I liked this book more than I thought without having read a synopsis nor looking at reviews either. I think if I read it, I might find the story to be slow or would not have taken an interest in it like I did, but hearing the narrator read and do the voices? *chef’s kiss. I love the woman they chose to narrate it, and everything sounds better in a British accent.<br/>I enjoyed getting to know the main character Missy and how she practically makes new friends at her ripe age of 80 and just goes to show that community is important to make you feel loved, accepted, that you have purpose/meaning in your life, and to accept help from others. I liked hearing the lore/context for Missy and her husband Leo with their 2 children and how intricate the author made the character, the relationship between her and her family, truly bringing her to life as well as getting some character development in there. I loved how she stood up for Angela and became good friends with her, Sylvie is my favorite side character, and Bobby the dog? Loved her most of all.<br/>I was really upset about Bob (Bobby) and how the author blindsided me with that incident at the end of the book. Made me sad but glad Missy seemed to still get a happy ending. <br/><br/>"
"If I could do 3 1/2 stars I would, but I rounded down rather than rounding up because I had difficulty really having much empathy for Missy, although I know it’s partially a generational thing. Also, there were a few plot points that were too predictable. That being said, I do have a thing for dogs, so the half star was in honor of Bob."
"Good book to read. It kind of put some perspective in life, in my opinion, about having certain people helping you get out of your funk. Spoiler alert: towards the end it is a tear-jerker (dog dies). I know some people don't like reading books about something like that. "
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Sheila Felipe