Reading Skywards – Your Friendly Bookshelf

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BOOK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 2023
Format:  Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook, and ebook
Print length ‏ : ‎ 314 pages
Genre: LGTBQ+ Romance Fiction

WHY DID I GET THIS BOOK?

I do watch a couple of BookTubers, and one of them is the Pastel Bookshelf which in the past I followed one of her recommendations, and it was a solid good book. This time, I was listening to her in one of her videos, and this book was recommended. When I checked in Libby, the book was available to borrow, so I went and borrowed.

MY PERSONAL OPINION: “THE LAST LIST OF MABEL BEAUMONT”

I have just finished a couple of books that were more in the dark spectrum (The Good Girl by Michelle Dunne), and I felt the need to light up the mood, and this was a perfect fit.  I do not read the premises of the books I read, so I have a vague idea of what it is, and I go with it.  I am glad this was the case with this book. The book was an absolute delight. It was cozy, and lovely, and sad, and full of friendship, and tenderness, and towards the end, of love.

I am glad I read this book, and after I read it, I found out there is a second book, and I will be looking forward to reading the second one.  

The book follows Mabel Beaumont, who, after 62 years of married life, is suddenly widowed.  Mabel’s reflection on her past, and the new need to reconnect with a long lost friend, embarks her on an adventure filled with unexpected friendship, hope, and yes, love.

PREMISE OF THE BOOK AS FOUND IN AMAZON / GOODREADS:

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.

But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’.

Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.

It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot’s still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.

What she doesn’t know is that her list isn’t just about finding her old friend. And that if she can admit the secrets of the past, maybe she could even find happiness again…

MY RATING: 4.0

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LAURA PEARSON

Laura Pearson is the author of ten novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write.

OTHER BOOKS BY LAURA PEARSON

• The Last Marriage of Dot Brightmore
• The Woman Who Met Herself
• The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up
• I Wanted You To Know
• Missing Pieces