"Horace Winter doesn't have friends. Ever since the long-ago day when the Very Bad Thing happened, he prefers to spend his time studying butterflies - less intimidating, less likely to disappoint.
The last thing he wants is to retire from his job at the bank, but he has no choice - and now faces an endless number of empty days where he has nowhere to go and no one to need him.
Then he receives some surprising news. And he meets Amanda, and Max, and discovers a mysterious letter his father never posted. Suddenly he finds his previously unexceptional life filled with important things to do. Before he'd thought he had too much time. Now he may be looking at not enough. But can he find the courage he's sought for so long to finally start living?"

I was so looking forward to reading this book and the beginning was brilliant and I could not wait to finish the story.
However, I was only able to download a sample instead of the entire book so was bitterly disappointed. Still a 5* beginning.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Hachette Ireland and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Horace Winter Says Goodbye. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Horace Winter has his job and not much else in his life. When he is involuntarily retired from the bank at 65, Horace finds that there is nothing remarkable to fill his days. After discovering a mysterious letter, will the man find his purpose?

Horace Winter Says Goodbye was not as depressing as I was expecting and was, in fact, uplifting in places. I wish the author had spent more time developing Amanda's character, as she becomes very central to the plot. The woman just appears as part of the plot and the reader is not given enough information to really flesh out her motivations. Horace Winter Says Goodbye does remind me of A Man Called Ove, as well as Millard Salter's Last Day, though there are a few differences. Horace is a much more likable character and his fixation on butterflies leads to some interesting observations on his part. Overall, I would recommend Horace Winter Says Goodbye to other readers and I look forward to reading more by this author.

A charming story about a man who discovers there's more to life than that he's known. It will remind you of other novels (if you like this sort of thing) but it's a good read.

After spending his life working at a bank Horace is now faced with retirement which he doesn't seem to take very well. He's not sure what to do with himself so he hangs around the bank making a nuisance of himself. (I understand this completely - I spend the work week wishing for the weekend then the weekend wondering what people do with spare time!). Amanda comes in to his life with a whole host of new activities and a brand new way to see life.

It's a charming story and different to anything else I've read. It was well written too. I only gave it 3 stars because I could have quite happily put it down at points, but I didn't feel I gained anything from reading it. I loved the cover and the title though and I would happily try another book by this author!

Fans of A Man Called Ove will enjoy Horace Winter Says Goodbye.

A rather sad story about a lonely man. Horace Winter has lived a quiet life. When a surprise medical condition comes into his life, he decides to make some changes. Befriending Max and Amanda, Horace finds the family and people he's always needed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Horace Winter is not taking retirement too well. After working 48 years in the same bank, he is finding it hard to let go. So hard, in fact, that the bank takes out a restraining order against him. He is socially awkward, has no friends, and his life seems to have no meaning any more. His love of butterflies and moths are not enough to battle his intense loneliness. When a neighbour discovers him collapsed at his doorstep, she invites herself into his world and teaches him that “life is full of endless possibilities”.
Horace is someone we all know. A solitary figure with a love of routine and lack of confidence. He still regrets failing his Leaving Cert English exam, almost 50 years earlier, and feels responsible for a young child inadvertently being taken into care. He sets out to rectify these incidents and his days take on new meaning. However, he is not a young man, and his health is failing. Amending past errors is not quite as easy as he thought. A humorous and endearing novel with a truly charming protagonist.

Horace Winter Says Goodbye by Conor Bowman is a fictional novel about living. Horace retires from his job, which aside from his mother was the main focus of his life. Shortly after he receives a life changing medical diagnosis. The story can be a little hard to follow as it jumps from past to present. Horace also compares everyone to either a butterfly or a moth. Once I adjusted to this, the story pulled me in. Horace's choices affect himself as well as all those he encounters. The book is a reminder that it is never too late to start living.

I had a rough time reading this book, I'm not sure why, it just was difficult to hold my interest while reading it. I was sad that Horace Winter's life was so boring and status quo and just when he can finally do anything he wants he gets devastating health news. What is even worse is that there are so many people just like Horace out there in the world right now living in a little bubble fearing to live life outside of their comfort zones.

Horace compares everyone he meets to a butterfly or a moth, which became a bit distracting however the story of Horaces life and how he finally breaks free of his daily routine and finally spreads his wings is inspiring if not bitter sweet since Horace doesn't have long to appreciate it. The message in the book is to not let anything hold you back, take chances and things are not always the way you see them.

What Horace accomplishes when he finally leaves his status quo position at the bank is a good lesson for us all to learn. Don't get complacent, always seek to learn, take a chance now and then, break free of your comfort zone and don't be afraid to enjoy life. Travel, try a new food, help someone in need.

Thanks Netgalley. loved this book's no-nonsense approach to telling Horace's story.

Horace Winter has had a sad life. He's retired from a job he held for 47 years and lived with his mother until she died a couple of years ago. When an unexpected medical diagnosis has him deciding to live his life more fully, he makes friends with Amanda and young Max. He teaches Max all about butterflies and moths in the hope that when he grows up he'll enjoy their beauty. Amanda becomes a good friend and caretaker as Horace gives in to his illness. A wonderful story of an older man who grows and begins to enjoy his life. The people who populate this story are flawed but enjoyable. It reiterates that childhood shapes your life but you do have the power of choice to change your ways.

This was an endearing book about Horace Winter, a forced retired banker who learns late in life about life itself. After the early loss of his father, Horace became somewhat obsessed with moths and butterflies and the classifying of those around them as various species. Throughout the book, the reader follows as Horace struggles with his new found freedom. This is juxtaposed against Horace's strong memories of a failed sports game, a lost love, and his overbearing and disapproving mother. As events, both within and outside Horace's control, play out, the reader watches as Horace begins to let himself live a life of his own. A well written book that will give the reader the warm fuzzies without being overly sentimental.

Poor Horace. I really loved him. This was a very dear story and I will be recommending it

I loved this book's no-nonsense approach to telling Horace's story. Reminiscent in parts of The Rosie Project, this whistle stop tour of Horace's life fluttered past me like a butterfly, and left me wishing I could have had a bit longer with him.