This was a beautiful poignant read of finding a new purpose and meaning in life and of moving forwards and coming to terms with life changing.

This was a sensitive heartwarming and at times heart wrenching read of love, loss grief and friendships and how the power of friendships can pull you through the darkest of times.

The characters were engaging and relatable and this was an all round uplifting and engaging read that gives hope for the future.

One of my favourite books of 2023 so far.

This book is not at all like the books I normally read, however I have been trying to branch out into more general, take on life style fiction and this book did not disappoint.

This tells the story of Mabel Beaumont, a lady in her 80s who has watched life disappear over the years without really realising that she had the power to change.

Our story begins when Mabels husband, unexpectedly (to her) passes away and leaves Mabel one last quest, in the form of a post it note.

From there we go on a journey of self re-discovery, of friendship, of longing of grief and love and expectations and it is just beautiful.

Mable makes an unlikely band of friend to help her on her journey and we see the impact this has on this little old ladies life and how she in turn impacts those around her.

I adored Mable, the instant feeling of homely, grandparent style love and personality that came from her was so well executed. The humour for the reader as well was brilliant, watching Mable make choices she knows she shouldn't make but will do anyway because no one questions a pensioner, it's a get out of jail free card 😂.

My only criticism of this book was the overuse of a full stop. Initially this was quite jarring for me and took me a while to settle into the writing style and accept that is how this book is written. I felt it took away from the sorry at times and kept making me come out of the book per se. This was also evident in the chapter changes, the book lacked fluidity at times and this too was jarring but it did not overall impact the enjoyment of the book!

Full review to come on my blog, please see the link in my bio!
Thanks to Boldwood Books for approving the receipt of this ARC via Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely wonderful book by Laura Pearson. I just loved reading about Mabel, her life and friends, I could not put the book down and devoured it in one day. It is so beautifully written, so empathetic and although covering sad topics it has many light moments too which made it a perfectly balanced book. Mabel and her family and friends will stay with me for a very long time. Well done Laura, thank you for writing this book. Highly recommended, but put time aside to read it, you will not be able to put it down!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an enjoyable book. The characters were easy to identify with and I was happy that things didn't go according to Mabel's plans. My slight niggle was that I wasn't totally convinced that everyone would be quite so forgiving of her interference. The story felt complete, with a satisfying conclusion. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I loved meeting Mabel and her new friends. A lovely story about the importance of being our true selves if we are to enjoy our lives.

This was a truly beautiful read. Mabel and Arthur were together forever. When he passes away after 62 years of marriage Mabel is bereft. When she finds the last list he left for her she knows she has no choice, but follow through for him. This is no small feat for her as Arthur who was outgoing, adventurous and always ready to try new things, whereas Mabel was quiet and happy with the status quo. So after some time she decides it is time to honor his memory and finish up the very last list he left her. She goes on a amazing journey that changes her world from black and white to color. An emotional wonderfully written story of love, loss, moving forward and that it is never too late to to start a new chapter. I cried, laughed and loved every moment of this book.

This is the second book I've read by Pearson, and this one was much more uplifting than "Nobody's Wife.", which I thought to be a bit bleak. I thought the pace of Pearson's latest book just right. It's well-written and insightful. I liked all the characters. I liked the fact that the story was ultimately about female friendships. With the theme, 'it's never too late', the fact the story was told by a woman in her eighties was refreshing. I loved seeing how Mabel came out of herself. But oh, I did feel for poor Arthur. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful book

This book had me in tears within the first chapter It is A delightful story of the development of a women’s friendship group, with with women all the different ages and experiences truly lovely
The author writes real characters, and I definitely recognise myself and people that I know within the book
The novel tells of many of the challenges of womanhood and we meet a cast of characters, including a teenage lesbian, not understood by her family and and 70-year-old woman who runs their dancing class and had an affair with a famous celebrity back in the day . It is notable that even the minor characters are well developed, and this is a particular strength of this author. I had read two of the authors previous books, and particularly enjoyed I wanted you to knowit made me cry and was a similarly emotional read. I was there for expecting this book to be emotional probably not one to read on the train if like me you like me you are an ugly crier.
I would recommend if you like a relationship based novel with fabulous character development. if you liked A man called Ove by Fredrick Backman, or A little Hope by Ethan Joella then I think you will enjoy this book

Reading this novel reminded me of the need to keep going. Keep changing, whatever age you are
The novel is released in the UK 4th of August 2023 by Boldwood books.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK, good leads and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com

Mabel Beaumont has just lost her husband of 62 years and when she discovers he's left a note saying 'Find D' it leads her to attempt to track down their old friend called Dot. In doing so, Mabel's previously sheltered life opens up to new friendships and possibilities. This is gentle and easy going, a really lovely comforting read much like The Last Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to preview The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson. I finished this book three days ago but needed time to assess how I really felt about it. It was a mixed bag of emotions for me. At many times it was depressing to think about living your life not taking chances or not being true to who you are. It was uplifting seeing a bunch of ladies of all ages coming together to help each other with varying issues they are going through. It was a relief to see each character, who you grow to like very much, find their true happiness. You definitely finished reading the book with a valuable learning experience that you should live each day to the fullest, take risks and be happy with who you are. Be true to yourself.
Without a doubt, I recommend this book!

I really liked this novel. A refreshing and cozy read about friendship, relations, love and affection.

Couple of weeks ago I completed reading “A man called Ove”. And this book leaves with similar emotions and vibes. It makes you all warm and fuzzy inside.

I would recommend this book to all who likes to read about second chances, love and relationships. And about life!

If you ever read and liked The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, then you will find that The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is similar, but different.

Both are stories of protagonists in their later years trying to find someone they knew in their youth. And both, although in Mabel’s case, it doesn’t come until the final chapters of the book, have a reason they must find this person, because of what they meant to them.

Mabel has lived a marriage of not love, but of friendship, and she doesn’t know why. She is comfortable with her life with Arthur, who loves to make lists, and be organized, vs her who is not.

So, when he dies, she finds one last list, which says “Find D” and that’s it. She had a friend, Dot, who she loved like a sister, and she realizes that she needs to find her again.

Along the way, she makes friends with other women, in her quest, until…well, you would have to read the book now, wouldn’t you.

I like the gradual build up, of Mabel making mistakes, because she thinks she is doing things for the best, such as trying to get her new friends back with their ex’s. Or trying to help a young shopgirl who wants to come out to her parents.

I liked how realistic it was, trying to find someone who you only knew the maiden name of, 60 years after the fact. And I like how Mabel grew along the way, and how her friendships grew as well. I also like how she kept adding to her list, beyond finding D.

I would recommend this book, to those who liked The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, and if you haven’t read that, I would recommend reading that as well. Both books, by the way, are written in British English, so if you are unfamiliar with it, you sometimes have to look up what they are talking about. :)

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 4th of August 2023.

Mabel lived a pleasant if a bit boring life with her husband, Arthur. Upon his death, she found one last item on one of his infamous to do lists that sparked her to step out of her comfort zone, and search for her long lost best friend. Along the way, Mabel unexpectedly forms lasting friendships with a group of women, and her world begins to expand in ways she never imagined.

I really enjoyed The Last List of Mabel Beaumont! It had strong elements of the importance of female friendships, and that it’s never too late to make changes in your life. It was quite refreshing reading a book featuring a main character in her eighties, while still remaining appealing to a younger audience.

when Mabels husbands dies he leaves her a note, she is to find her long lost friend. I loved this story. and the characters.

This book was mildly interesting, at first, and then I found myself becoming totally engaged with the characters, particularly Mabel. She is eighty-six and her eighty-nine year old husband Arthur has recently passed away after a sixty-plus year marriage. Whereas Arthur was always up for new adventures and loved making to-do lists, Mabel wasn’t very adventurous and only reluctantly was willing to go out with Arthur. She wasn’t exactly unhappy, and she did love Arthur, but the years had passed without children or passion in her marriage. When she found that Arthur had started another list before he died that said simply “find D” she thought it meant that she should try to find her childhood friend Dot, whom she has been completely out of touch with for over sixty years. It is obvious that she had a special relationship with Dot, but why did she suddenly leave and never again make contact with Mildred? She ends up with four new friends of different ages who become invested in Mildred’s quest to find Dot. They each have a unique story which is not immediately forthcoming. As Mildred endeavors to find her lost friend, she also becomes invested in helping her friends. Before long she is no longer lonely or afraid to try new things. She is changing in positive ways. The book is sweet, poignant, and explores different types of love. It demonstrates that it is never too late to love, learn, and grow. I ended up loving this story and highly recommend it.

What a beautiful book about truth, love, relationships & how it's never too late to follow your heart. It's moving, funny & emotionally clever. Highly recommend!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I felt like I was part of Mabel's family. I wanted to join along in her journey.
I did not want this book to end. It left me happy and sad at the same time.

I highly recommend this book.

Oh, who doesn't love a feisty, old lady? She made me laugh out loud with her comment about a certain bully who didn't understand his potty training until he was five.
I can easily imagine the author enjoying to get the characters to develop, how Mabel might be like Erin only for her to realize that Erin is more like Dot.
And yes, we all have something that's hurt or broken us, I'm guessing. Mabel mentioning that nobody gets away unscathed? Despite the facade people keep up...

However, I cant't help but feel a tiny bit off with all the smaller storylines being a bit too good to be true; to be brave being emphasized; and the lack of diversity. It was a bit flat when it comes to skin color, religion, history, cultural background, income (or lack of), and chronics. Even if it was just in the background... couldn't Ben have been in a wheelchair? But I could add that to a lot of reviews on books I've read recently.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

Mabel Beaumont isn’t your typical heroine. She’s 86, and has spent most of the past half dozen decades slowly creating a rather small world existence for herself. While her thoughts are strong, her voice is quiet, or even not there at all. When her husband Arthur dies, she finds a list he left, “Find D,” which spurs her on a 62 year delayed journey to reconnect with her long-lost best friend, Dot. Along the way she picks up a cast of characters, women of all ages, who are figuring out how to get what they want out of life.

I have become very attached to Mabel Beaumont and her story. Society often shows us older women who are helpless, have no inner life, and are content with the status quo, and Mabel is none of these things. She is bright and precocious and feels the losses in her life deeply. At times she is over enthusiastic in her efforts to support her new friends, but she is written with such authenticity that I cannot fault her trying.

Readers who enjoyed Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting, The Collected Regrets of Clover, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club will all find something to love here.

*4.5 stars*

“A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty.”
― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking


89 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.

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.

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.

This novel is about finding new meaning in life, whatever your age, overcoming fears that have limited the possibilities that could have been, making new friendships that on paper shouldn’t really work and it’s really touching.

The writing is simply exquisite, and captures so well the problems that come with age, not just in medical terms, but at how the passing years bring about a need to re-examine life and decisions - take life by the horns, take chances, do what the ever hell you want with it!

This is a well crafted story, with beautifully observed scenes and characters, and I found it really touching.