The Last List of Mabel Beaumont: The unforgettable book everyone is talking about in 2023

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I wasn’t sure about Mabel at first, she seemed rather cold and a little uncaring but with unexpected support she blossomed and emerged from her previously constricting life into one of self discovery. I loved the element of intrigue surrounding her friend Dot; as the former fiancee of Mabel’s beloved late brother Bill, she would always be in her thoughts and Mabel’s quest for news of her friend kept me hooked. Why did she disappear so suddenly? The last list he left had one item on it, Find D. Mabel thinks he must have meant her old friend Dot. Although she hasn’t seen Dot for over 60 years, they were completely inseparable for many years. Dot left without so much as a goodbye and it’s bothered Mabel ever since that day.

THE AUTHOR: Laura Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She lives in Leicestershire with her husband and their two children.

This book is an absolute gift! I loved it. It was so not what I was expecting. I enjoyed the way that the author introduced her various diverse themes into the story, and I particularly liked the way that Mabel literally seems to come to life more and more as she understands that she still has a life to live. Arthur loved to make lists and leave them for Mabel to find, from the ordinary everyday grocery items to ‘I love today, tomorrow, always’. But now Arthur has gone, passed away in the gentle manner that was his way in life, quietly without a fuss. Charming, warm and moving… A beautifully written story about love and longing, and a poignant reminder that it’s never too late to follow your heart.’ Holly Miller Laura Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She lives in Leicestershire, England with her husband and their two children. There is nothing startling in the storyline; it's all pretty predictable. And Mabel's "secret" (What would Arthur have done if he had known? Well, sorry Mabel, but I think Arthur did know) was blindingly obvious.

All in all, this is a really sweet and touching book, filled with moments of love, care and concern. I guess the only negative for me was that even in its USP, it doesn’t venture much out of its comfort zone. Still, if you want a warm and fuzzy read, this is a great book for that mood. Having a geriatric lead character is quite a trend nowadays, but to read about one who is willing to step out of her comfort zone is a nice experience. Mabel is an endearing protagonist, a good mix of interfering and caring. I love how she doesn’t restrict her friendships only to women of her own age, and isn’t judgemental about the younger generation. I also appreciate how the plot never made her justify her decision of not wanting children. What a beautifully written and heartwarming story about love, aging, friendships, self-discovery, loss, grief, loneliness, regrets and second chances. Most of all, it relates to having the courage to make a change and becoming the person you were always meant to be despite expectations of society. I absolutely loved this book so much!! The characters were so real and relatable and I was so emotionally invested. I could just picture myself spending time with this amazing group of women. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not stop reading! ALL the emotions!! 💙💙💙💙I did enjoy the friendship between the women. A bit unrealistic, but the characters were well-developed and appealing. What wasn't appealing was the horrible intrusive things she did to her new friends, in the "I know best because I've lived over eighty years" and "I'll fix this for you". Honestly, talk about bringing me out of the story. If I hadn't liked the narrator and secondary characters so much this would have been a deal breaker, DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Apart from the list Arthur has also paid for Mable to have a carer 2-hours every day. While Mable does not feel she needs a carer she finds Julie comforting and soon become friends. She confides in Julie that her husband has left her a list directing her to find her long lost friend and Julie is immediately on board to help in the search. Another reason I didn't warm to Mabel was Ollie, the dog. Mabel really didn't like Ollie, couldn't be bothered with him, and Ollie didn't much like her in return. I always trust a dog's instincts.

This is a well crafted story, with beautifully observed scenes and characters, and I found it really touching. Mabel (86) and Arthur (89) have been married for over 60 years and when Arthur dies suddenly, Mabel is left completely alone. They never had children and Mabel’s only companion is Olly, an anti-social dog who only really bonded with Arthur. When Mabel finds a note written by Arthur, simply saying ‘Find D’ she is confused but then realises that the note must refer to her best friend Dot; someone she suddenly lost touch with 60 years ago and who she has never forgotten. And so Mabel embarks on an adventure she never imagined possible, as she creates an ever-growing list of her own. Most surprising of all, she discovers that she is not quite as alone as she thought she was. Mabel and Arthur Beaumont were married for over sixty years, and when he dies suddenly, Mabel is left isolated and grieving. Then she finds a list that he left her saying "Find D", and Mabel decides to act on it. I was left with a range of feelings and questions about the consequences of our decisions, how life could be so different if we had chosen a different path.I finished this in the same 24 hours as I started it. Oh… what a beautiful story… Poignant and inspiring!’ Jennie Godfrey

Arthur was always the list maker but Mabel made her own task list to accomplish. Despite her age, her judgement seemed rather questionable at times although the decisions were made with good intent and I did worry at what the outcomes would be. This beautifully written story of friendship, love, loss and second chances captured my heart. It's a tender and uplifting read and I adored Mabel and her unlikely gang of colourful characters... Leaves you feeling warm, hopeful, and satisfied.' Lisa Timoney, authorAbsolutely heart warmingly brilliant! I devoured this in one glorious afternoon/evening where I was totally absorbed and alongside Mabel, Erin, Julie and co. It seems impossible. She doesn't even know if Dot's still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she's still no closer to finding Dot. But then Mabel finds that Arthur left her one, unfinished list: “Find D”. It’s cryptic, to say the least, and Mabel’s really not in any frame of mind for game-playing. But once she’s taken some time to think about it and to realize that her life didn’t stop when Arthur’s did, she gives the ‘list’ some thought. Could Arthur possibly have known he was dying? And did he mean that she should go and find her long-lost best friend Dot? She hasn’t seen her since she suddenly disappeared just before Mabel and Arthur got married. It’s been a very long time! A completely heartbreaking, beautiful, uplifting story, guaranteed to make you smile but also make you cry. Perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Keeper of Stories. Readers are loving The Last List of Mabel Beaumont: The friends she slowly begins to surround herself with (much to her astonishment) show her that everyone has their own secrets and struggles and that what you see on the surface might not actually reveal someone’s true inner story. People only tend to show the parts of themselves that they feel others can handle. Mabel slowly shows her new friends that despite having isolated herself for so long, she does actually have an innate understanding of the workings of the human spirit. She might not get things 100% right, but her perceptions are often spot-on. In turn, these women show Mabel the importance of having female friends, through all ages and stages of our lives, regardless of how strong our romantic and family ties might or might not be. Instead of experiencing deep regret for all the years she missed out on, Mabel instead embraces what she’s found, and makes the most of it, although she obviously wonders “What might have been?”.