This is a lovely novel about grief and loss and how one woman is able to slowly move past the utter debilitating effect they can have on your life.

Maggie O'Malley is stuck in a quagmire after the death of her young husband, her childhood sweetheart, her everything. She wants nothing to change, comforted by the familiar, and not ready to feel anything outside of her cocoon of sorrow. Then, a new neighbor moves in and she can't avoid the changes that come with him.

Lydia Michaels did a stellar job of portraying a widow's grief. It is raw and unapologetic. It does get a bit long and repetitive in some parts and hinders the storytelling a bit - but guess what? That's what it feels like to go through it, too! 

Ryan McCollough, our MMC, is a unicorn of a man! He's sweet and caring without being domineering. He's incredibly patient and kind without being a pushover. He's a family guy without being a momma's boy. He knows how to have fun and knows how to be serious. He's a perfect complement to Maggie, and their love story is poignant and really apparent on the page.

This novel is filled with a whole cast of characters. I read it quickly, so I didn't struggle to keep everyone straight, but I could see that being a concern for some readers. Ryan's family is a large Irish Catholic one, and some of the characterizations and descriptions seemed a bit too old-fashioned - bordering on misogynistic - for my taste. It was light enough that I could sort of roll my eyes and move on. It didn't ruin the story for me.

Overall, this read felt like an affirmation of parts of my own experience as a widow. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others! I'll look forward to picking up future books in the series, too.


CW Major - Car Accident, Death, Grief
CW Moderate - Misogyny, Sexism
CW Minor - Infidelity, Toxic Relationship