4* Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin is warm, uplifting, quirky and a hoot. If you loved Margot and Lenni, you’ll enjoy this one just as much, if not more or more (and if you haven’t read One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot - get to it!).

Eddie is a good egg. At 90 he works in a Birmingham charity shop, where he rescues items of sentimental value which people might return for. When Bella comes into the shop to donate items from her boyfriend, an unlikely bond is formed between the two of them. And when Bella finds out that Eddie is still awaiting his first kiss, she sets Eddie a challenge…

Told across two timelines; modern day Eddie and Bella and 1960s Eddie and his first (and only) love, this is a laugh out loud, gut-wrenching and ultimately uplifting book. The characters are fabulous, the small details zing from the page and the last 3rd must be read on one go for required peace of mind. It’s a stunner. Thoroughly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Eddie is a sprightly ninety years old and volunteers in a charity shop. Following an unusual donation, he befriends a grieving Bella. Admitting to Bella he's never been kissed, she sets out to find Eddie someone to love.

Eddie Winston Is Looking For Love is the second novel by author Marianne Cronin. This author is new to me but I was immediately drawn to this book by the quirky title and cover. Add in the fact that it is described as "funny, feelgood, heart-lifting" and I was sold. Having finished the book I now want to hunt down the author so I can lock her away and force her to do nothing but write so that she has a huge catalogue of books to devour.

Eddie, a retired academic, volunteers at a small charity shop to pass the time. Along with the manager, Marjie, Eddie spends a lot of his time examining the items that are donated. Every so often Eddie comes across an item that can't be sold, items that are too personal such as photographs and letters. Not wanting to consign them to the rubbish, Eddie takes them home, becoming the caretaker for people's memories.

It is one such donation that sparks an unlikely friendship. Twenty-four-year-old Bella is grieving the loss of her boyfriend when she donates some of his goods to the charity shop. Eddie knows that the notebook and photographs are too personal to sell and the well-worn Converse trainers are special, so he decides to look after them in the hope that Bella will eventually want them back.

An unlikely friendship is formed between Eddie and Bella and they regularly share lunch in Pigeon Park. Gradually, we discover that Bella is struggling to move on with her life and that Eddie has never been kissed. Having fallen in love with a married woman as a student he was too honorable to do anything about it and still thinks about her. This is just the knowledge that Bella needs to give her life some impetus, she sets out on a mission to find love for Eddie.

Eddie is such a wonderful character, one of life's optimists, a genuinely nice person. Unrequited love hasn't left him bitter, it's left him sentimental. Ever hopeful, Eddie relishes the opportunities online dating brings. Refusing to conform, and why should he at the age of ninety, Eddie is always on the lookout for new ideas (and I'm on the lookout for an emerald-green silk shirt, printed with cheetahs, prowling, paws outstretched up and down the sleeves and the chest - cheetahs, not leopards, because cheetahs are slinkier). Despite knock-backs, Eddie doesn't give up and some new and exciting friendships are formed.

I laughed and I cried, I really didn't expect to have my heart broken (more than once) in this wonderful tale of optimism, generosity of spirit and second chances.

Sheer, sheer joy. Every page screams cute. I smiled throughout.

Do pre-order, do read.

Full review to come on my blog!

A delightful engaging read featuring a cast of wonderful characters.
An unlikely pairing of sprightly 90 year old Eddie Winston and 25 year old Bella as they embark on a friendship and Bella assists Eddie in his quest to have his first ever kiss.
A sweet but not sickly read proving that it's never too late to find love and that despite generation gaps you can find lasting friendships.
I'm grateful to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy with no obligation to leave my review

This is a sweet cosy read.

Eddie and Bella are best friends - Eddie is 90, Bella is 24. One of them's never been kissed, one of them has recently lost their partner, together they're an adorable team who help each other through life's troubles and back on to better things.

Recommended for those moments when you just want something easy and comforting to dip into.

I read Lenni and Margot a few years ago now and it genuinely brought tears for my eyes, so I was excited for Marianne Cronin's latest offering, and I was not disappointed.
I absolutely adored Eddie and Bella, and watching their beautiful friendship develop. I love reading of age gap friendships, and this one was done so well - both helping each other in their own ways.
There was a whole host of other lovable characters, all adding something unique.
I was so invested in this story, from Eddie's quest for his first kiss, to learning what had become of his previous Birdie.
Overall just a beautiful, heartwarming story - with the perfect amount of pigeons!

An absolutely wonderful story of Eddie, who is 90 years old, and never been kissed. He befriends a young woman who is grieving for her lost love and between them, they help each other. Well written characters and lovely plot, including the lovely little side story of finding love for his guinea pig! Was sad to finish it.

I absolutely loved this gentle book about 90 year old Eddie. A fabulous tale of friendship between retired academic Eddie and Bella, a 24 year old supermarket worker. Slightly quirky but somehow totally believable with Marianne's wonderfully drawn very likeable characters. Set in Birmingham in the present day with some background flashbacks. Engagingly low key and beautifully written with a touch of humour. An excellent second novel after One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

Another touching read from Marianne Cronin. Bella is delightful and her friendship with the lovable Eddie is absolutely charming and completely believable. The story is both funny and very moving and I loved every page as Bella works with Eddie to help him find love; but the real heart of the story is Eddie's enduring love for Bridie. Wonderful!

Eddie is a wonderful character- I love his new lease on life in his 90's, his crazy charity shop sartorial choices and his rescued items collection. The friendship that develops between Bella and Eddie is lovely- a true meeting of minds transcending the decades of age difference and the way that Eddies back story is covered through flashbacks to his time as a young university man are cleverly interspersed without ever spoiling the rhythm of the present day story.
Supporting each other to find a new path forward Bella and Eddie embark on the search for his first kiss and a way for Bella to move on.
This book is an absolute joy and the characters linger days and days after the final page is turned- 5 stars are not enough!

Eddie Winston is a 90-year-old pensioner who works as a volunteer in a charity shop in Birmingham. His life is about to be turned upside down when he meets 24-year-old Bella, who has been struggling to move on since the death of her boyfriend. Eddie's life has been full but he has never kissed anyone. Bella will do everything in her power to remedy the situation.

This story is an ode to friendship, kindness and love. I really liked the two main characters, both tortured souls. On the other hand, Eddie has had to give up his childhood sweetheart. He has never met his soul mate. On the other side, we have young Bella, who lost the man she loved far too soon. She struggles to get over it until she meets Eddie. Together, they form a seemingly motley duo. But in fact, they have a lot in common. They've both given up on love, even if they don't know what the future holds.

It's a story full of nostalgia. We go back into Eddie's past to find out what happened to Bridie, his childhood sweetheart. She too is a tortured soul. I really enjoyed these flashbacks. We learn a lot about Eddie who is a respectful man.

Eddie and Bella go on extraordinary adventures to reach their goal, even travelling far from Birmingham, unaware that the answer to their quest lies just a few steps away.

4-5 stars

The much anticipated follow up to the wonderful One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot is an equally wonderful read.

Meet 90 year old Eddie Winston, in a previous life he was a university lecturer and now he works in a charity shop in Birmingham with Marjie. Now, Eddie has quite the backstory but that would be telling and despite his obvious gentle and charming personality, he’s never been kissed. His newfound young friend in grief stricken Bella, who he meets via the shop, informs him that it’s never, ever too late to find love. So, he is indeed looking for love and is it never too late??

Oh Eddie, Eddie what an absolute diamond of a bloke you are and I love every moment of reading about you, your past life and your present day one, surrounded by an equally fantastic cast of characters. Bella, eclectic in her dress sense despite the dourness of her Sainsbury’s uniform, is absolutely brilliant and despite the huge age gap, her friendship with Eddie proves that age is no barrier, and it’s a thing of beauty. Marjie is great fun as are Ham and Cheese (you’ll have to read it to find that out!) and Emmeline, but let’s not forget Pushkin the guinea pig. It’s so refreshing to read a gentle and captivating story with quirky characters that are all so immensely likeable. It’s quite simply warms the heart, it’s a read with a smile but with some moving moments of loss. It’s beautifully written with some excellent dialogue some of which makes me laugh out loud.

Fabulous. Read it, you won’t regret it!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to. Penguin Random House, Transworld, Doubleday for for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This is another sweet tale of intergenerational friendship. I found it a bit twee to start with but Birdie’s story kept me reading. Eddie Winston is 90, never been kissed and volunteering his time in a charity shop. A natty dresser, he also takes certain items home from the shop, usually personal items of no monetary value and on day he discovers shoes and a notebook, both inscribed with Bella and Jake forever. Bella is a girl working in a supermarket and devastated by her boyfriend Jake’s death. The two of them start a tentative friendship. There is a cast of supporting characters, all colourful and passing by, but a parallel story set in the 1960s when Eddie was a student runs alongside the modern tale and talks about Birdie, a woman in an unhappy marriage. This is nicely written, sweet and engaging, and just perfect for escaping into.

I enjoyed this book but at the same time I found parts of it lulled. Eddie is a wonderful character whom I instantly warmed to, as is Bella; and the relationship between them in absolutely charming. But something was lacking for me unfortunately. It is well written and I like the author's writing style but I feel the story lacked, or perhaps it was just longer than it needed to be.

I think the fact that the proof copy was quite jumbled made it more difficult to read at times but you can't complain when you're getting to read a book in advance for free!

Marianne Cronin has done it again, this book is superb, it tugs at all the heartstrings and leaves you with something you didn't maybe realise you needed.
I adored getting to know Eddie, his blossoming friendship with Bella, the history with Bridie and the lessons we learn about love, friendship, life and heartbreak.
Such a positive and life affirming read.

An absolute delightful read … makes the reader want to meet 90 year old Eddie who still has a zest for life !! Eddie works in a charity shop spending his days sorting through donations but occasionally he finds items that he thinks the doner will want back so ‘takes ‘ them aside just in case . One day Bella brings in Jake’s old belongings … still raw from his passing Eddie puts aside some special items and offers friendship to Bella and so an unlikely bond is formed . Eddie shares his life history with Bella she does the same and the duo help each other navigate their next steps in life .This is a charming book about love, loss and taking every opportunity you get in life

I absolutely adored this book. My favourite read this year. Eddie is the most delightful character and his relationship with Bella is so delightful. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

This is the story of 90 year old Eddie who works in a charity shop, saves mementoes from destruction, owns a hamster called Pushkin and oh yes, has never been kissed. He happens to meet 24 year old Bella when she is donating items and the two strike up and unlikely friendship.

Oh how I loved Eddie Winston, what a charming gentleman. It is no secret that I love a tale with an intergenerational friendship and that I adored this authors debut so I had no fears that I was going to enjoy this book but I did not expect the huge smile on my face through my time with Eddie. The conversations between him and everyone he meets are witty, engaging, and respectful. Eddie’s internal monologue and observations are hilarious and I couldn't help but laugh out loud on several occasions.

I also loved the other prominent characters in this book such as Bella, Marjie, Emmeline, Ham & Cheese and not forgetting Bridie, they all add a unique perspective into Eddies 90 years and we a perfect blend to compliment such a fantastic character.

A heart-warming tale of love at last. Gentle, romantic Eddie has never been kissed and thinks he's lost his chance at love at his age. He keeps a bundle of unsent love letters given to the charity shop he works for, hoping to unite them with their intended recipient. His friend Bella helps him. Through flashbacks to the fifties and sixties, we discover his lost love and why they could never kiss. A quirky story, full of friendship.

eddie winston owns a charity shop that keeps objects with a lot of history behind them.

the storytelling cannot help but evoke a lot of emotions out of the reader.

the friendship between eddie and bella is such a wonderful part of the story, that the reader cannot help but love their relationship.

the ending was so heartwarming. i read this whilst i was sick and it just made me so happy.