Beth MorreyRezensionen

I was really hoping for a sort of older woman coming of age, finds herself and her confidence and launches into a great second life story...this was not it. Millicent is a generally unlikable character who somehow makes friends despite hating herself. I won't give away any specific plot points but I went into this with a "it can only get better" attitude and left sad and defeated. Also, the level of alcoholism in this book baffled me. I kept on hoping that maybe Millicent might get some help for this and that was why drinking and hangovers were their own storyline but I guess I will post one spoiler in that she just keeps on drinking a lot.½

I like the cover for Beth Morrey's new book - Clover Hendry's Day Off. The title immediately brought Ferris Bueller's Day Off to mind. In the author's notes, Morrey alludes to the movie as well.
Clover is a middle-aged mom, daughter, sister, wife, friend and beleaguered employee. What would happen if for one day, she just did what she wanted and said what she wanted? Over the course of a day, Clover does just that. I think everybody has felt this way at some point and time. And how does that work out for Clover you ask?

Well, that's the fun in this book. Clover hasn't really thought about her actions, instead she just jumps in. Some of her behaviour is fun, but some is a little darker and hurtful. So, the book isn't all 'Ferris' fun. There are some family and past issues that finally see the light. Clover's job is also a large part of the day. She works as a television executive. Morrey has a similar background and these parts of the plot benefits from that insider knowledge. While I appreciated the details 'behind the scenes', I found my attention start to drift.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but I do think it could have been shortened up a bit½

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael was definitely a lifelong love story that you could never have imagined. From the love she felt for the friends in the park, to her daughter, son, and husband. Missy was definitely an onion with many layers. I felt it easy to sympathize with her, maybe because I consider myself an introvert with a heart. One of my passions is interior design, and I loved hearing about her huge mansion decorated from another time era. I like the fact that the story was interwoven with facts that let you know that the present was not too far off from 2020. And the way Missy felt about the dog that claimed her is the same way that I feel about the Pomeranian my husband forced me to adopt! It is a book you don't want to put down once you open it! It was also so different from any other love story I had ever read. It was also real. There were genuine HUGE conflicts within the book that many readers may appreciate. I can't wait to read more of Beth Morrey's books!

A gorgeous little gem of a book, Saving Missy made me laugh and cry and, most of all, fall in love with Missy herself.

At times a very hard character to get attached to, Missy undergoes a wonderful development over the course of the book, and I was delighted to see her slowly let her defences down and open up to the possibility of real, loving human relationships. The side characters were for the most part charming and well-developed, with a few who came across as a bit two-dimensional for my taste.

I had some issues with the pacing, as some parts (especially towards the middle) felt just too slow and a bit like filler content, but overall this was an excellent, heartwarming book.
I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Loved this book. Missy finds herself caring for someone else's dog and it opens up a whole new world for her.... usually a homebody, she is forced to walk the dog every day and as she does, she meets people that become friends and as a result deals with her past. It's British and witty and has lots of lovely characters.

Loved this book. It is a life come full circle. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended.½

Drawn to this book by the cover of the dog and the woman,
it was not predictable that the old trope of the dog dies would be used.

Worse yet was the introduction of Angela who takes her son to see All The Fish Get Killed.
Sure wish this subplot had not been included.

Instead of fleeing her, Missy - a self-pitying, needy, self-deprecating, enjoying her insecurity -
winds up inviting her to live in her "too big" house, after she stupidly ignores the messages from her bank.

Painful to read since there was no reason offered why the handsome and brilliant Leo
would want to embark on a passionless marriage with such an unhappy and unassertive and weak woman.

Book could be re-titled The Endless Rescues of Millicent.

This book made me laugh out loud several times. I could not be more delighted with this hilarious story of our heroine Clover Hendry and her twenty four hour romp of finely getting to do exactly what she wants for once in her life. Clover is a busy woman. She is a wife, a full time television producer, a mother with teenage twins who never says no to anyone. She has always put her needs last. She even bakes cookies for school bake sales that her children do not attend anymore! On her last day off she took her cat to the vet, browsed a Co-op and bought some AA batteries, Not exactly the spa day that she really needed. Riveting stuff? Not so much. Clovers mother raised her and her sister to be compliant so that along her life's path other people could continue this process. Clover's mantra has always been: "It's not easy making a fuss. Standing up for yourself can be awkward and embarrassing. Causing a scene is mortifying. Saying no is hard." All this mental baggage has held her back.
However all that changes when on her way to work one day she gets clipped in the head by a fellow passengers briefcase. She is helped to her feet by passersby but something has clicked in her mind, she feels different, powerful and full of chutzpah. Her inner snarkiness has been awakened! And all in a very good way. In the next twenty four hours Clover takes back her world by storm. And most importantly she learns to say no to others who want to monopolize her time, but also learns to say yes to herself.

Cheers to Clover, may she live long and prosper.! Very highly recommended. Five Stars.

Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read this AC.

I totally stole a galley of this at the end of Frankfurt last October and read at least the first half of it and totally forgot.

Delphine is a single mother, living with her talented daughter, Em, and caring for her withdrawn father. After a stroke of luck Delphine lands a new job in the Merhaba Cafe where she finds new friends and ends up practising French with eccentric Letty and singing in a band named ‘The Tiny Pennies’. She also has a secret which casts a shadow over their lives.

This is such a lovely, heartwarming tale with some fantastic, believable characters. It’s a story about grief, family and friendship, as well as about having the courage to start again. It’s never too late to try something new! Life is a journey, as we all know, and it’s not always a bed of roses. But we should never give in, we just have to put one foot in front of the other. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Delphine’s story, I was so sad when I turned the last page. I shall miss these wonderful characters very much. A beautifully written, absorbing and emotional read.

Many thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book.

Was enjoying the lively Missy until the diversity checklist struck at 58%. Of course

What a lovely read!! Millicent "Missy" Carmichael was many things when she was younger, a mother of two children, a lovely home to keep in order, and a highly creative husband who is an professor and a writer of many books.

Now, she is older, much older. As she turns 80, she looks back at the previous year when she was very lonely, hurt by a misunderstanding with her daughter, a son who has a wife and son and while she lives in England, he lives in Australia, and the losses that ocurred.

Missy's life is forever changed, when while walking in the park, she develops a friendship of a younger woman who is esoteric and highly unorganized, and who suddenly tells Missy she needs someone to take care of a dog, Missy accepts the dog and is no longer lonely.

Throughout her 79th year, she collects friends, works a bit at a local library, is happy when a designer friend removes items from the large attic, and brings them down to the living spaces, making them light and homey, and ruminates a lot regarding her relationship with her previous husband Leo.

Now that Leo is no longer with her, she is obsessive regarding nasty words said, words that should have been said, and their relationship of two very different people, who in the end discover while there wasn't fireworks, there was a steady, sure relationship.

While there seems to be a bit of rambling in the book, the author pulls it together, and this first work, is a beautiful book!

Four Stars½

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance by 2022 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.

Delphine is a single mom to Emma, a brilliant, advanced child, while living with and caring for her father, and working as a barista. Her life is in a rut, but an ugly encounter with a former classmate shakes Delphine out of her stupor and opens new doors and fresh opportunities for her, if she is willing to grasp them…

I really enjoyed this novel. Delphine lost her mother at a young age and her father completely shut down. Delphine was bright and very intelligent with a very bright future ahead of her when an unplanned teenage pregnancy knocked her off course. Though her life is bleak, she puts her hopes on Emma, but along the way she sees a glimmer of hope for her own future and betterment with an opportunity to do something meaningful to her.

With the help of her insightful daughter and good teachers and friends, Delphine finds the confidence to take a chance on herself, both in life and in love…

As with anything in life, there are some bumps in the road, and Delphine’s confidence is shaken a time or two, (sometimes comically), but she also knows that it is time to explain the missing pieces to her daughter concerning her absentee father. This requires a dual timeline format, to some degree, as the reader goes back in time to Delphine’s teenage years, her relationship with her boyfriend, and how she came to be alone and pregnant and why she made the decisions she did at the time.

The mystery eventually unfolds and allows her small family to make peace with the past and begin the process of living life to the fullest again.

I didn’t always agree with Delphine’s opinions- but I did admire the choices she made when she could have taken a different route, and she reaped the blessings, which are immeasurable.

Overall, a really nice story about a woman who has a personal awakening and takes charge of her life, because ultimately it was up to her to get things done- but it was also about the people in her orbit who encouraged her and inspired her and cared enough to help her along her way to a bigger better life.

4+ stars½

Em & Me is Beth Morrey's second novel. Despite having a lovely hardback copy of Saving Missy on my TBR pile I have yet to pick it up and I'm feeling rather annoyed with myself about it as Em & Me is absolutely wonderful and beautifully written, with characters and settings that leap right off the page.

The 'Me' is Delphine Jones. Her beloved French mother died when she was 13 and her life consists of herself, her clever daughter Em, and her father who is still struggling with his grief. To say their life is hard is an understatement but Delphine is proud and determined to cope. There's a big difference between surviving and thriving though and what was so special about this book was witnessing the awakening that Delphine experiences as she gradually realises her life can be so much more.

The characterisations in this book are superb and three-dimensional. As Delphine narrates her story we are able to see how each character helps to effect the change in her. New friends bring her out of herself, get her singing, playing music, and learning again after giving up so much when she had Em. I loved all the characters but I had a real soft spot for Letty, an elderly woman whom Em speaks French with, and who was hilariously acerbic whilst also giving Delphine some much needed self-confidence. This is very much a story of female strength, both the inner strength that Delphine must find everyday, and the strength her new friendships provide.

Em & Me is completely and utterly glorious, and I didn't want to put it down. I was enthralled from start to finish, thoroughly immersed in Delphine's life and her world. I think this is the kind of story that, when done well, is unforgettable, and that's what Em & Me is for me. I want to step inside the book, be a part of Delphine's new circle of friends, go to the jazz nights at Merhaba - the café where she works and now performs, meet Dylan from her band and his dog, Bernadette, and sit around a piano with her, her father and Em. I adored this uplifting, inspiring and joyous book.

'Saving Missy' is a feel-good book that has some great insights into being old, some well-drawn characters, and a way of telling Missy's story that creates suspense about what will happen next and deepens understanding with every revelation about Missy's past.

It's full of closely observed details of what it is like to be old and lonely and set in your ways. It shows how small your life can become and how hard that is to change. It understands that your past is important, it has shaped who you are, but it can't sustain you forever. Even for those of us who are naturally solitary, loneliness is a predator that feeds on your self-confidence and impedes your joy.

I liked the writing. The opening paragraphs of the book won me over not only because they resonated as being true but because they got that truth across with such a light touch. Here they are:

It was bitterly cold, the day of the fish-stunning. So bitter that I nearly didn’t go to watch. Lying in bed that morning, gazing at the wall since the early hours, I’d never felt more ancient, nor more apathetic. So why, in the end, did I roll over and ease those shrivelled feet of mine into my new sheepskin slippers? A vague curiosity, maybe – one had to clutch on to that last vestige of an enquiring mind, stop it slipping away.

Still in my dressing gown, I shuffled about the kitchen making tea and looking at my emails to see if there were any from Alistair. Well, my son was busy, no doubt, with his fieldwork. Those slippers he bought me for Christmas were cosy in the morning chill. There was a message from my daughter Melanie but it was only to tell me about a documentary she thought I might like. She often mistook her father’s tastes for mine. I ate dry toast and brooded over my last conversation with her and for a second bristles of shame itched at the back of my neck. It felt easier to ignore it, so instead I read the newspapers online and saw that David Bowie had died.

At my age, reading obituaries is a generational hazard, contemporaries dropping off, one by one; each announcement an empty chamber in my own little revolver. Morrey, Beth (2020-02-05T22:58:59). Saving Missy: The Sunday Times bestseller and the most heartwarming debut fiction novel of 2021. HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The thing I found myself less comfortable with was the purposefully uplifting nature of the book. It had about it the feeling of a romance written with a happily ever after ending in mind. Missy faced difficulties and experienced fear and grief and anger and regret, none of which was sugar-coated, but, as the title suggested, in the end, she was 'saved', not, in the traditional romance way. by a handsome age-appropriate male entering her life but by the friendship of two women, the love of a dog and the kindness of strangers. And that's the part that kept pushing me out of the story. I'd like the world to work that way and I was genuinely pleased for Missy but I couldn't make myself believe it. It seemed to me that there must have been a fairy godmother hovering somewhere off-camera, granting Missy's wishes.

Suspension of disbelief is a necessary part of reading fiction. 'Saving Missy' put my ability to suspend disbelief under significant strain. That's no criticism of Beth Morray's writing. I think it tells me something about myself that I can easily suspend disbelief to accept the existence of werewolves, of faster-than-light space travel and of detectives with an uncanny ability to live in the mind of a psychopathic serial killer, but I struggle to accept good things happening to an elderly woman because the people around her are nice. I think part of my problem was that the people and the situations were ones that I recognised but the outcomes bordered on winning the lottery - twice.

Even with its fairytale trappings, I enjoyed 'Saving Missy' and I'm looking forward to reading Beth Morray's second novel, 'Em and Me' when it comes out in a few days time.

The female answer to “A Man Called Ove”, this was a lovely read, if a little predictable at times. It’s nice to read stories that make you believe in the goodness of humanity.

* I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I might be one of the few who has not yet read Eleanor Oliphant, but I absolutely adored A Man Called Ove, so I was compelled to give Beth Morrey's new book a go. The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is about an elderly, lonesome woman enduring her hardships and struggles on her own, without purpose or direction, but then finds that friends and companionship help fill her life with meaning again.

I had such high hopes for this book, but I must say, I felt underwhelmed by the story of Missy Carmichael. The first third of the book was about Missy ignoring her issues and generally isolating herself from society, while feeling sorry for herself. The second-third of the book was about her kind of making friends, but still boo-hooing about her lot in life. The last third of the book was the best part. Missy finally became a dynamic character, instead of the dull, flat one we got for the first two-thirds, and I genuinely enjoyed the end.

In general, I found it very difficult to relate to Missy as a character. I understand loneliness and depression can create a life that does not seem worth living, but it was extremely difficult for me to garner any sympathy for Missy Carmichael. Her personality came across as adolescent, rather than that of an 80-year-old woman. It felt almost forced sometimes, as if it were a chore to act so abysmal toward life, and that made it a chore for me to keep reading.

Things I did like: other characters that Missy eventually befriended were dynamic and had so much growth and impact on the story. Like, the story literally could not exist if these characters disappeared. I wouldn't want to even touch the book if these characters didn't exist. They were relatable and fun, and they pulled me along through the story and Missy's struggles. I also liked Missy's animal companion; I think animal therapy is underrated and so beneficial toward mental health - the author thoughtfully portrayed the relationship between Missy and her furry friend and I really enjoyed watching it play out.

I mentioned that I really enjoyed A Man Called Ove, so why didn't I like this book as much? I think much of it had to do with the writing style. It was a quick read, but the style in which the story played out felt cumbersome, and like I mentioned earlier, I couldn't relate or sympathize with the main character. Perhaps I'm just not at that point in my life yet, and a reread down the road will present a different opinion. However, if you are also someone who enjoyed Backman's book or Eleanor Oliphant, definitely give this book a go! Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised.

A review I wrote in February 2020:

Saving Missy by Beth Morrey (4.5 stars)

A poignant and tender debut novel; beautifully written in a descriptive, strong prose, narrated in
the first person by Missy, and with a flowing, natural dialogue.

Missy, or Millicent, is 79 and she is alone. Despite living in a built up area, in Stoke Newington,
she has isolated herself from people around her and she is haunted by the emptiness of her large
family home. Her son and grandson are in Australia and she is estranged from her daughter. Can
she break out of her self-inflicted isolation and forge new connections with the people around
her?

I loved Beth Morrey’s characters, all very different but with warmth and humanity shining through
all sorts of circumstances. Although ultimately an uplifting read, with the wonderful message that
new starts can begin at any age, it’s also quite a difficult read for anyone who has experienced
aloneness and loneliness.

Tipped for big things by the publishers (there was a 10-way publisher auction for Missy!), this is a
book we’re going to be hearing a lot more about in 2020.½

Could not muster interest; did not finish.

Roman over een negenenzeventigjarige vrouw die eenzaam is. Haar leven neemt een wending na haar ontmoeting met twee vrouwen in een park

Kivasti vähitellen takaumin selviävä elämäntarina Englannissa. Missy on 79-vuotias yksin asuva yksinäinen vanhus, jonka elämä muuttu pikkuhiljaa hänen tutustuessaan uusiin ihmisiin ja varsinkin saatuaan hoitoon koiran, jota on pakko ulkoiluttaa.

Een tweede kans voor Missy. Door: Beth Morrey.

Fredrik Backman heeft er voor mij voor gezorgd dat ik een nieuw genre ontdekte: boeken met in de hoofdrol een bejaard iemand. Een groep mensen die vaak niet veel aandacht krijgt, ze maken bijna geen onderdeel meer uit van de populaire cultuur. Terwijl Backman en nu ook Morrey laten zien wat een toffe hoofdpersonages deze mensen vormen. Al hebben ze daar soms een beetje hulp bij nodig…

Die hulp komt voor de 79-jarige Missy in de vorm van 2 heel verschillende vrouwen, waarvan eentje met een kind, én een hond Bobby. Dit groepje mensen (en een dier) zorgt er al snel voor dat Missy’s leven een totaal nieuwe invulling krijgt, zozeer zelfs dat het voelt als een tweede kans. Hoewel Missy zelf twijfelt of ze die wel verdient…

Het knappe is dat Missy heel snel je hart verovert terwijl ze toch ook wel wat mindere kantjes heeft, net als de andere personages trouwens. Dat maakt hen menselijker natuurlijk. Het leven kan rare kronkels maken en zelfs tweede kansen lopen niet altijd over rozen.

Morrey schreef een boek als het leven zelf: met ups en downs, tegenslag, af en toe een lach en soms een traan. Missy toont ons hoe belangrijk het is om hoopvol te blijven, kansen te grijpen en moedig voorwaarts te gaan. Een mooie boodschap!

My favorite read of the year about learning to receive and express love no matter late it may seem.

Missy is the narrator of this memorable debut novel and, as the story gradually unfolds, her reflections on past events in her life offer us insights into the experiences and influences which have made her the prickly, emotionally cut-off, lonely, depressed and regretful person we are first introduced to. We get to know her as a child, enabling us to understand the continuing influences of her parents and grandparents; as a clever but self-doubting student at Cambridge in the 1950s; as the girlfriend, and later the wife, of Leo; as a mother who often struggled with mothering, particularly of her daughter; as someone who ‘sacrificed’ her academic brilliance for a life of domesticity; as someone who for decades had carried a secret which had, and still does, cause her shame, guilt and regret. There were times when her reflections felt almost unbearably painful to read but, as she began to allow her new friends, both human and canine, into her life and, in turn, came to accept that they equally valued their relationships with her, it felt very moving to see her discover that it really is never too late to make friends, to learn new skills, to make changes in our lives, to build bridges and to make reparation.
All the other characters felt very well-developed and three-dimensional, with each having a key role to play as the story unfolded. Missy had long harboured the belief that she was neither loveable nor worthy of being loved and so ‘deserved’ the life she was living – until her new friends began to change her mind. A recurring message in the story was the importance of having a group of supportive, loving friends, something Missy, with her classical education, described as an ‘oikos’, an ancient Greek word to describe a tight network that closely resembles a family. She used another classical reference when reflecting on the wonders of relationships:
‘Sylvie had a wonderful capacity for “philautia”, that boldest of Greek loves, the love of the self – a much finer quality than narcissism, which it’s often mistaken for. The way I saw it, with narcissism, you were just gazing at your reflection in a lake, with philautia, you were frolicking in the lake and inviting people to join you. People who truly liked themselves seemed to have a greater capacity for friendship, for letting people in. Perhaps that’s why I, in the past, was always rather solitary. But I liked to think I was starting to dip a toe in the waters.’
I must admit that one of the unexpected delights of the story for me was that it is ‘peppered’ with such classical references, Latin verbs, reflections on the etymology of words and their ongoing influences in our language.
Although there are many feel-good moments in this story, as well as some lovely moments of humour, one of the things I appreciated most was that the author didn’t shy away from exploring not only the darker, much more complex aspects of Missy’s personality, but also the various physical, mental and emotional challenges of aging. As a result, the story acquired a much greater and more satisfying depth than I had been expecting. There are also a couple of mysteries at the heart of the story and although at quite an early stage I accurately predicted what one of them was, the final revelation did come as a surprise. However, it was a ‘surprise’ which, reflecting back on the story, felt absolutely credible and added an extra layer of psychological integrity to author’s impressive observational and storytelling skills.
Had I not received an ARC of Beth Morrey’s debut novel but had just noticed it in a bookshop, I suspect that I know that I have been put off by the cover and the publisher’s synopsis because both suggest to me a rather lightweight, possibly overly sentimental story. In fact it is neither, rather it is a beautifully written, poignant and thought-provoking ‘coming of old age’ novel. In addition to being a satisfying personal read, I think it would make a good choice for book groups.
With thanks to Readers First and the publisher for my review copy.

Great story about getting old. Loved the animals and people in this book. Also did not get the twist.½