Palm Meridian takes place in 2067 at The Palm Meridian Retirement Resort in Florida. The book follows Hannah, who, after receiving a devastating diagnosis, is throwing an end of life party to say goodbye to her loved ones. On the guest list is Hannah’s long-lost love, Sophie. If Sophie shows, will there be enough time to fix the past?

This book was very unique, and I enjoyed the premise and the utopian, queer retirement resort. The book jumps from the present (2067) back to different points in Hannah’s life, exploring her career and relationships.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the writing style, which felt overambitious. I found the pacing very slow going until quite far into the book, and I didn’t find myself wanting to pick this book up once I put it down.

However, this book did a great job of exploring life’s ups and downs, and complexities around getting older. I also really enjoyed the genuine friendships and relationships portrayed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue/Renegade Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive is a poignant and strikingly original novel that blends a futuristic setting with the timeless themes of ageing, love, and friendship. Set in 2062, in a world where much of Florida is underwater, the story takes place in the Palm Meridian Retirement Resort, a vibrant and quirky haven for women embracing their later years. In this utopian community, the residents are full of life, engaging in everything from roller-skiing to heated book club debates. Yet, at the heart of the novel is Hannah Cardin, a long-time resident who, after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, has decided to end her life with a medically assisted death.

As Hannah prepares for her final day, she plans one last hurrah: a grand end-of-life party attended by her childhood best friend, Luke, and the love of her life, Sophie, who she hasn’t spoken to in forty years since their sudden breakup. As the day unfolds, memories and emotions resurface, and Hannah confronts long-buried secrets that make her question whether she's made the right decision.

What makes Palm Meridian such a captivating read is its ability to explore heavy themes with a light touch. The writing is descriptive, beautiful, and often funny, even as it tackles the crushing weight of terminal illness and the complexities of life’s final stages. The vibrant and deeply human characters are a joy to follow, with their various quirks and unresolved pasts creating a deeply moving narrative. The novel is a delicate balance between grief, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Flahive masterfully paints a picture of a not-so-distant future where environmental degradation and societal challenges are ever-present. Yet, despite these bleak aspects, the story radiates ingenuity, warmth, and the possibility of redemption and renewal. Palm Meridian is a celebration of life in all its forms, a reminder that it's the choices we make and the connections we nurture that truly define our existence, no matter how much time we have left. This beautifully crafted novel will leave a lasting impression, offering both tears and laughter along the way.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

"Palm Meridian" offers a heartfelt glimpse into the lives of a beautifully diverse cast of queer characters at a retirement resort in Florida. The story shines through with its genuine portrayal of love, heartbreak, queer friendships, the complexities of growing older and death. It was a joy to read about older queer folks finding connection and joy, which filled me with warmth. Yet, the story’s bittersweet ending left my heart aching—in the best way. Even though it is set in the dystopian future, it did not feel like it at all. The writing wasn't for me as it felt a little bit overambitious at times, but I'm positive many people would like it.

Recommending this to all queer readers out there, as it captures experiences and emotions that feel both intimate and authentic.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.

It's 2067 and the world is burning, but the residents of Palm Meridian Retirement Resort are living their best life. After all, is there ever a better time to be unapologetically, truly yourself than at the end of ones life? (The retirement home is a safe place for the queer community and that's the first time I teared up a little while reading this book)
Hannah, a resident, recently got a diagnosis that would significantly affect her quality of life and so she decides to take matters into her own hands: she will throw herself an "end of life party" to properly say goodbye to her loved ones...which includes Sophie, the "one that got away".
Initially, it took me a second to get into the book. I'm a fan of straight forward writing, I always feel like a lot of stuff goes over my head when people "overly" describe stuff, but that's definitely a "me problem". The second the first characters were properly introduced, I was hooked though. It's a kaleidoscope of identities and sexualities and even ages and I loved that. I'm a sucker for quirky, funny, full of love characters and Hannah definitely had a few of those around. What I didn't necessarily love was the plot twist hitting. I liked the build up of Hannahs life story, the art of telling it through time jumps and I'm a fan of drama, but not a fan of (in my opinion) "cliche" problems that could be solved by just talking to each other. This dragged on forever and wasn't solved in a way that satisfied me. And while I get that life is just...life sometimes, it's messy and unfair, I just feel like Hannah deserved better.
Overall, i loved that the book span decades of Hannahs life and her loved ones, didn't like that it also took almost as long for her problem to be a thing (i can't articulate this without spoilering I'm sorry).
I'd nonetheless recommend this book if you're looking for something different, the retirement home setting was definitely fun and even though the world was ending, this group of people still found a way to enjoy it ✨️
side notes: if anyone wants to be my luisa, I'm down🤭 also need a library wedding in my foreseeable future thanks

What a breath of fresh air! This is a beautiful book. Complex characters and a captivating plot are weaved together with some stunning prose. It is gloriously queer and I appreciated how effortlessly inclusive it felt throughout, I found the environmental sub plot an interesting addition as well. Palm Meridian is filled with happiness and heartache, it's a rather poignant read, but is balanced out by plenty of little moments of joy.

I'd definitely recommend to others. Queer readers will no doubt love it, but I think Palm Meridian's appeal could easily be wider. Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.