A completely heartbreaking, beautiful, uplifting story, guaranteed to make you smile but also make you cry. Perfect for fans of My Name is Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Keeper of Stories. I’ve been inundated with books in the uplit genre but this is by far the best I’ve read… moving, life-affirming and utterly wonderful.’ Matt Cain

I adored it… A heartbreakingly beautiful story about love in all its different forms. (And she made me cry again, of course). Bravo.’ Nikki Smith I adored it... A heartbreakingly beautiful story about love in all its different forms. (And she made me cry again, of course). Bravo.' Nikki Smith, author 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. It isn’t possible, to erase the lives we’ve lived. We only have today, and whatever future we’re granted.”Surprisingly, Arthur has prepared for his passing by hiring someone to come in to their home for two hours each day. This carer is named Julie, and despite Mabel's initial misgivings, Julie becomes a true friend, helper, and confidant. Through Julie, and her own newfound courage, Mabel meets other friends. A teenager who works at the local market. A seventy year old dance instructor, and a young mother with a tiny daughter. Suddenly Mabel doesn't feel so alone and she is experiencing camaraderie for the first time in decades. She has a new lease on life at the tender age of eighty-six. Her new friends set about to help Mabel find her old friend Dot. Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow,always’. This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. I am not sure if the complete personality change in Mabel after Arthur's death was intentional in the "I am out of prison now, so I no longer have to pretend" or if it was just a plot device to show character growth, If it was a plot device, it failed for me, because the change was so dramatic. With the home health aide's help, Mabel develops three close friendships and reaches out on her own to a young adolescent. These three women come to support her in her quest to find her best friend, Dot, who disappeared right before her wedding to Arthur. The young adolescent allows Mabel to be giver. 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.

In return, when Mabel strives to 'help' her new friends by interfering in their lives, she comes close to jeopardizing her newfound friendships. They all have aspects of their lives which they wish to keep to themselves, as does Mabel. Everyone of them has secrets... Eighty-six-year-old Mabel has just lost Arthur, her husband of sixty-two years. He loved lists, and while she is clearing his belongings, she discovers one last list by him. This has just a single item on it: “Find D”. Mabel understands that Arthur wants her to locate Dot, her estranged best friend whom she hasn’t seen since before her wedding. Is Dot still alive? Mabel is determined to find out. Without meaning to do so, Mabel finds a new set of friends who are willing to help her on her quest. Each friend is battling their own personal issue, and Mabel’s search ends up becoming a life-changing journey for all of them. Now that I have got that off my chest, we can proceed. I liked, but didn't love The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, just as I liked but didn't love Mabel herself. And the getting to like her took a while . . . EXCERPT: When Arthur woke, he asked what he had missed, and we told him nothing. But it wasn't quite true, I don't think. It felt like something had shifted infinitesimally, between the four of us. The truth was, and always had been, that he was the one I could have done without, the one I cared about the least. How strange he was the one I spent my life with, in the end. Secrets On The Estate” by Mel Sherratt – Book Review @writermels #SecretsOnTheEstate #EstateSeries #BookReview#NovNov23 November 28, 2023A fabulous cast of characters all rally round Mabel as she starts a quest. After finding a list made by her late husband, Mabel starts a search for Dot, her best friend. Supported by her new group of friends, we see how their lives become intertwined, as much as they are helping Mabel, caring for her and allowing her to do more; they have also become projects that she feels she wants to help out. What she doesn’t know is that her list isn’t just about finding her old friend. And that if she can admit the secrets of the past, maybe she could even find happiness again…

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. 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 Such a poignant story. Brought a lump to my throat... Will really appeal to fans of Joanna Cannon.' Karen Angelico, author year old Arthur and 86 year old Mabel have been married for 62 years. Though Arthur is more outgoing, more excited by new possibilities and Mabel is the introvert, not interested in new experiences, they can take the small silences that older marriages are comfortable enough to endure.

About this book

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? I absolutely loved this book... I adore an older protagonist... who is feisty and not afraid to speak her mind. The story is like a warm hug - but it had spark and wit and humour too. I loved it, and was bereft when I finished it (far too) late last night!... Gorgeous!' Clare Swatman, author The Piano Tuner” by Chiang-Sheng Kuo – Book Review #NovNov23 @skyhorsepub @arcadepub #ThePianoTuner#BookReview November 28, 2023 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. I adored every moment, I was hoping that this mystery quest would have a good resolution and that every character found the happiness they were looking for.