Life: A Love Story: A Novel
A warm, intimate novel starring a spunky ninety-two-year-old woman that reminds us to keep daring ourselves to dream bigger—by the New York Times bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv and Open House
“This gentle story of appreciation for the people and things that make up a life will renew your spirit.”—Oprah Daily (Best Books of Spring)
As ninety-two-year-old Florence "Flo" Greene nears the end of her life, she writes a letter to Ruthie, the woman who grew up next door to her, describing the items Flo is leaving Ruthie in her will. But as it goes on, telling surprising stories about those “little” things Flo will leave behind (What could possibly be the worth of a rubber band kept in a matchbox tied up in red ribbon?), an unforgettable portrait of the life she has lived emerges.
The letter starts off as an autobiography in things, but it turns out to do much more than that: ultimately, it will transform Flo and those around her. In the time she has left, Flo decides to take herself up on tiny dares. She encourages Ruthie to reconsider her impending divorce by sharing a startling, long-buried secret about her own perfect-seeming marriage. Flo has never had a pedicure before now, and as long as she's going to a beauty parlor, she arranges to have a blue streak put in her hair, too. And as these adventures lead her to make new friends, Flo helps them, too, find the fulfillment that living a full life has led her to understand.
Full of Elizabeth Berg's characteristic mix of warmth, humor, and poignancy, Life: A Love Story is a reminder that whatever your circumstances, as long as you're alive, you can keep on investing in life. The joy will inevitably follow.
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Community Reviews
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This short book is indeed heartwarming, and it's a very wholesome read; however, it's also a bit saccharine for me. I do not say that to attack the author or to even belittle this book. This book will be (it has been!) enjoyed by many people that will absolutely adore the story. Maybe I would've enjoyed it better had I been in more of a cozy mood or perhaps at a different time in my life (or even different time of the month 🤣). I appreciated the underlying message within the story, but I didn't care for the way it was written or just how overly sentimental and "perfect" everything seemed to be - it was just a little 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘻𝘺! Lol I would still recommend this read because someone will find comfort amid the pages. I actually loved that it was so wholesome though, because that's pretty hard to find these days.
Flo Greene has come to the end of her life and has no heirs. She is leaving her life’s possessions to a neighbor’s daughter, to whom she felt a special attachment as the girl was growing up. She is writing a letter to her to explain what she will inherit and what value these things held for her.
It was difficult to stay in this story, perhaps because I am not sentimental. Or, it could be that I know my personal treasures hold meaning only to me. To others, they are objects. I expect nothing else. It is not uncommon for friends to say their adult children are not interested in any of their things after they pass. They have their own taste, their own homes, their own lives and. don’t want to live in a museum built by their parents. Others would cherish the opportunity, and they are the likely audience for this story.
Many thanks to Random House for providing this ARC.
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