Many thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the chance to read this novel.

These types of character-driven novels are my absolute favorites. This was like a mix of A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which was right up my alley. I adore curmudgeonly characters who struggle to find their place among others in this world because I find them relatable. When I came across this title, I knew it would be something similar to these favorites and I couldn’t wait to dive in.

BLURB:

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.

Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Woman meets dog…

The world has changed around Missy Carmichael. At seventy-nine, she’s estranged from her daughter, her son and only grandson live across the world in Australia, and her great love is gone. Missy spends her days with a sip of sherry, scrubbing the kitchen in her big empty house and reliving her past–though it’s her mistakes, and secrets, that she allows to shine brightest. The last thing Missy expects is for two perfect strangers and one spirited dog to break through her prickly exterior and show Missy just how much love she still has to give. Filled with wry laughter and deep insights into the stories we tell ourselves, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael shows us it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. It’s never too late to love.

I absolutely loved watching the evolution of Missy’s character as the story drew on. It was great to see how her opinions on certain matters changed from that of a grumpy and lonely old lady to a woman with a new lease on life. This novel proved that it’s never too late to make changes in one’s life. I loved the overall hopeful message and feelings this story provoked, along with the nuggets of wisdom Beth Morrey conveyed through Missy.

“It’s hard to accept, when you have children, that your time isn’t your own anymore — it belongs to them, every precious second.”

Unfortunately, I struggled with the organization of the story. I’m not sure if it was due to me reading an unfinished ARC or if my feelings would have been the same if I had read the published edition, but the time jumps weren’t always clear. I struggled keeping up with where the story was going and where the past ended and the present started at times. This made the story drag a bit for me. Especially in the middle of the story, I was quite bored but decided to keep reading because I was attached to the dog in the storyline. Nonetheless, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael was heartwarming enough to get me through the slower parts.

Rating: 3 stars

Purchase on Amazon.

Social Media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram| BlogLovin’|Goodreads