Readers' rating:
Published in USA
Apr 2020
352 pages
Genre: Novels
Publication Information
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.
The world has changed around seventy-nine-year-old librarian Millicent Carmichael, aka Missy. Though quick to admit that she often found her roles as a housewife and mother less than satisfying, Missy once led a bustling life driven by two children, an accomplished and celebrated husband, and a Classics degree from Cambridge. Now her husband is gone, her daughter is estranged after a shattering argument, and her son has moved to his wife's native Australia, taking Missy's beloved only grandchild half-a-world away. She spends her days sipping sherry, avoiding people, and rattling around in her oversized, under-decorated house waiting for...what exactly?
The last thing Missy expects is for two perfect strangers and one spirited dog named Bob to break through her prickly exterior and show Missy just how much love she still has to give. In short order, Missy finds herself in the jarring embrace of an eclectic community that simply won't take no for an answer--including a rambunctious mutt-on-loan whose unconditional love gives Missy a reason to re-enter the world one muddy paw print at a time.
Filled with wry laughter and deep insights, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is a coming-of-old story that shows us it's never too late to forgive yourself and, just as important, it's never too late to love.
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"Morrey has deftly created a series of love stories, interwoven together and told in snippets through time...There are no saccharine moments to mar this tale. Pain, grief, and hurt are all part of life in this moving portrayal of the many forms love can take." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Here is a love story of the most important kind: that of coming to love oneself through accepting and returning the love of others—be it people or dogs." - Elizabeth Berg, author of Night of Miracles
Masterful and a real page-turner. Missy is a joy...the humor and courage with which she faces loss and aging are handled with such wit and empathy. The world needs more assured female voices like Beth Morrey's. Her novel is a breath of fresh air!" - Felicity Hayes-McCoy, author of The Library at the Edge of the World
"For everyone with an Eleanor Oliphant-shaped hole in their heart, this is the book to fill it. Gorgeous characters, heartfelt storytelling and the sort of book that lifts your heart." - Eithne Shortall, author of Grace After Henry
"Deeply moving, charming, and filled with wit and empathy - you can read on every page the love and care that Morrey has for each of her characters and by the end you'll love them too." - Kathy Wang, author of Family Trust
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Beth Morrey's work has been published in the Cambridge and Oxford May Anthologies and shortlisted for the Grazia Orange First Chapter competition. She lives in London with her family and dog. The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is her debut novel.
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