By: Catherine Newman
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
TLDR: Seriously – this a “RUN, don’t walk, situation”. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will laugh while crying. A book about loss, friendship, family, and other things in between. This is a quick and breezy read at about 200 pages, and it is by far one of my favorite fictional reads of 2022.
The Longer Review: Ash is a separated mother of two teenage girls, with a best friend who is dying of cancer. When Edi – the aforementioned friend – is referred to hospice care at the beginning of the novel, you’re prepared to shed a few tears. Ash becomes the primary relative involved in palliative care for Edi, and their beautiful, decades-long friendship is unveiled.
What I love about this book so much is that it is incredibly relatable; for those who’ve been affected by cancer, for those who’ve lost someone dear, and for those who have incredible friendships and wonderfully messy families. When Ash is faced with the existential questions that we all ponder at a time of loss, Newman gives us the plain, matter-of-fact reality through characters that feel like people we’ve all met before.
I was truly delighted at the author’s sense of humor, and her ability to weave it into what is undoubtedly a traumatic experience. This is not to make light of how all-consuming grief can be, but to truly humanize it and express all of the nuances of the emotions experienced in these situations. I found myself crying full tears and then chuckling through them while still on the same page. Newman absolutely nailed it with this book. It’s her first fictional novel (that isn’t a children’s book), and I think she’s just been added to my list of favorite authors. If you read this please share your thoughts!
