In a month where I finished 15 books, I am going to focus on three that had a similar theme. Going through my list this month, I realized that the books I loved the most all featured older main characters who get a new lease on life thanks to younger friends who force them out of their comfort zones. I think readers at any stage of their life will love these stories of found family late in life.
The Love Story of Missy Carmichael
By: Beth Morrey
Our protagonist in this sweet story is Missy. Missy is widowed, estranged from her daughter and her only grandchild is living in Australia. The young lady in this store shows up with a dog that needs a place to live and changes Missy’s life and begrudgingly gives her the social opportunities she has been ignoring. Missy and her friends are wonderfully written characters and it truly is a redemption story. **Trigger warning- scroll down
The Door-to-Door Bookstore
By: Carsten Henn
This book translated from the original german is a beautiful story of Carl, an aging bookseller whose life if transformed when he meets a nine-year-old girl at the same time he loses his job he had his whole life. Carl and his new sidekick deliver books to people and while their life changes so do the people who get their deliveries. A sweet story of how books can bring people together and change their lives for the better.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise
By: Colleen Oakley
Louise is elderly like our other protagonists, but after 21 year old Tanner moves in to take care of her, we discover she might not be what we thought. When Louise wakes Tanner in the middle of the night and tells her they have to run, we begin a wonderful adventure with them! I love the way these two play off each other and how they both help each other deal with the past and move on in to the future.
*Trigger warning- The dog does not make it to the end of the book. If you like to know these kinds of things ahead of time check out Does The Dog Die for all kinds of trigger warnings.
