Ruth is a 70-ish widow (The timelines are fluid and you can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out exactly what year it was or what songs were popular when or when cellphones became part of you so don't even try.). She baby sits to earn some extra money, is estranged from her sister and has had a self-sacrificing and difficult life.

The moral, if there is one, is that it's never too late to discover (or re-discover) who you are and that as long as you are alive, almost anything is possible. And even a Cinderella story can be in your future. That is the drawback of this very fine novel. Can a happy ending really result from a painful, boring and introverted life? ; Marshall Fine says yes and can maybe convince you that it is. The scenes with Veronica, Ruth's sister's illness and death are heartbreaking and real. The 5th high school class reunion not so much. Still, The Autumn of Ruth Winters is worth a read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Press for a chance to read this ARC copy.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book.
I was hooked into Ruths's story from the beginning but then something happened and what was a totally believable plot became a bit, well, unbelievable and then I turned the page and the story ended so abruptly that 3had to check I hadn't made a mistake.
A promising start turned into a bit of a disappointment.
Thanks to Netgalley.

While this book isn't something I would necessarily read, I enjoyed the transformation of lonely (though she didn't realize it) Ruth Winters into someone who became compassionate and collected a few friends/relatives along the way. I can't say I loved the book and I felt the ending was abrupt, but if you're looking for a read similar to A Man Called Ove, then give this one a try.

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A witty, enduring, sweet story about an quirky, aging widow facing the second part of her life. Ruth Winters is forced to confront past regrets, complicated familial relationships and paths she didn’t take in this charming book by Marshall Fine.

Admittedly this novel is out of my genre but I was throughly entertained. Fine has managed to create one of the most lovable curmudgeons.

Easy read, good paced plot, relatable characters with depth and emotion in a story with an important message about Life. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Union Lake Publishing for letting me read this advanced readers copy.

Ruth was an unique FMC and reading her story was exceptional. I liked the adversity she faced. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Well done!

I was hooked in the beginning of the book but felt it got a little slower and did more telling than showing throughout the rest of it.

When I started book I didn’t look at authors name so was surprised when I got to the authors photo at the end, it was a man.
Book had good female characters and was well written, quite an easy read and I enjoyed it.

This book reminded me so much of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which I loved!!! Ruth is Eleanor!! She’s funny and quirky but at the same time has such a warm presence to her. This book is about second chances which happens to be a favorite trope of mine. Highly recommend this one!

This is a heartwarming story about flawed relationships and the love of sisters. I loved the familiar minnesota settings and the character growth in this book. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Well, I usually do like character-driven stories with older characters, especially the ones with a lof of stories to tell.
Ruth Winter certainly has a lot to tell, but I was expecting a deeply emotional narrative - personally, I didn't feel invested in her character, not even with the relationship with her sister.
I guess I was expecting something else.
I don't have bad things to say about this book, but it didn't please me as much as I hoped it would.
Other readers might enjoy it much more than I did.

I must admit that the premise didn't necessarily draw me in, but only because I feel like we have seen quite a few books with similar premises. The grumpy curmudgeon gets a second chance at life, etc. However, I am really glad I read this one because it is thoroughly enjoyable. Fans of A Man Called Ove and similar novels will certainly admire this one. Ruth Winters is slightly bitter but also very engaging, and I loved her journey. Her life changes in a meaningful way throughout the course of the story, which is what we want with this type of plot. She eventually learns about forgiveness and is given a second chance.. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-galley; all opinions in this review are completely my own.

A very heartwarming story about second acts and second chances, Ruth Winters a widow and retiree, very much set in her ways, is resigned to spending her life as she has every day. Then a series of events changes her daily routine and causes her to take a different approach to her life and look at her past with a different lens.

This story caught my attention from the first chapter, I fell in love with Ruth and even though I am not her age, I felt a kinship with her and her outlook on life. Even more so in her relationship with her sister and the social awkwardness she had with the rest of the world.

I love to read books in which I can find some sort of connectedness between myself and the main character, and just as with Eleanor from “ Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” I could identify with Ruth and her struggle in life. The story caused me to take a look at relationships in my own life and reevaluate.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves stories with quirky female characters who find their strength after years of dismissing their value to the world and others.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC

The Autumn of Ruth Winters somehow felt like a warm blanket in autumn. When you're really freezing and wrap yourself in a blanket, it takes a little time before you actually feel warm.

We follow Ruth Winters, a retired woman who is searching for a new purpose in life and who is navigating a difficult family relationship.

At the beginning I didn't really care about the characters and the story started off a bit slow. But boy once it got me, it got me good. In the beginning Ruth felt a bit shallow and bitter. She was honestly just complaining a lot. But as the book went on Ruth gets more rounded as a character and you learn where all the bitterness and complaining comes from. Ruth as a character really grew on me. The interactions with her sister felt real, with real feelings and within a timeframe that felt realistic. All in all I was pleasantly surprised by the story of Ruth Winters.

Thank you NetGalley for making it possible to read The Autumn of Ruth Winters by Marshall Fine coming out on November 5th 2024.

This is a lovely story of elderly widow Ruth Winters. Living alone with no children and laid off from her job of 40+ years she has taken to babysitting the local children for some extra income. Apart fom that she's chosen to isolate herself from the world - and barely speaks to her own sister Veronica after lifelong squabbles with each other. When she gets a call from Veronica one day to let her know she has cancer, things are turned upside down and they have to rebuild their relationship whilst there's still time. This wouldn't be a read for anyone dealing with those issues at the moment, I found some of it a little upsetting, but it is ultimately a heartwarming read.

I must confess that when I saw that this was a book about a 70 year old woman, written by a man, I had reservations. However, Marshall Fine has created a wonderful character in Ruth and he developed the story well. Yes, one could argue that Ruth copped a raw deal after her parents' accident, but there is a bigger story here. The flashbacks to the teenage years and how so many of us get it wrong about ourselves and other people were beautifully done. The reconciliation with Veronica was handled with empathy and subtle humour, which stopped it getting mawkish. A fine piece of writing that I thoroughly enjoyed, and appreciated the gentle unfolding of the details. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

The Autumn of Ruth Winters, while slow to unfold, finally hooked me as the author shone more light into the character of Ruth. As an introvert, Ruth’s quirks and quick retreats back into herself gave the story an almost personal feel. The dynamic between the two Abraham sisters, who are like night and day, was so realistic to modern family struggles and really made this book relatable. I enjoyed this story. I gave four stars because the book was a little slow to unfold and then ended as the characters really start to develop. I would love to read more about the reconnection between Ruth and Martin.

it was so slow and boring i expected more of it but it wasn’t that great.
the plot is dragged and there are some parts that were repetitive like i get it you don’t have to mention it in literally every chapter.
it had the potential tho but the execution was not.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of this book. I really enjoyed the story of Ruth Winters and her opportunity to change her life. She was uncomfortable getting out of her regular routine of babysitting small children but when her estranged sister reaches out to her needing a ride for cancer treatments she steps in. Meanwhile she was invited to her high school reunion, which she has no interest in attending, until she starts communicating via email with an old classmate she once went on a date with before he moved away. She starts branching out by talking more with her neighbors and looking forward to being the Godmother for her niece's baby. It was a nice story with a sweet ending. I would recommend.

Ruth Winter’s life takes a turn when she finds out her estranged sister is dying of cancer. The events that follow push Ruth out of her comfort zone and push her to examine her life in a way she hasn’t before. Ruth ultimately learns about forgiveness, openess and starting over.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.