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Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time
A woman has no choice left but to enjoy the adventure of life―and its surprises―in a funny and emotionally moving comedy of errors about the gifts of growing older. Olivia Strauss is turning thirty-nine. No major milestone. She still considers herself young. At least young enough to assume she has decades (emphasis on the plural) to check the unchecked boxes of her life’s to-do list. Ballerina? Too late. But not too late for poet. Or for reigniting the romantic spark in her marriage, spending more quality time with her son, switching careers, learning to cook, or even dyeing her hair a bright bohemian pink. She’ll get to that one. There’s time―until Olivia’s best friend, Marian, gives her a birthday present she could have lived without. It’s a visit to a trendy wellness clinic with a state-of-the-art genetic test that can predict the exact date of one’s death. It’s just what Olivia’s always an expiration date. As for her aspirations, who knew they were limited-time offers? One thing’s for sure. Olivia’s got a lot of living to do. At this point, what could go wrong?
363 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews
December 5, 2023
More like 2.5 stars. I appreciate the message the book is trying to present, but I didn't find it was done in a particularly relatable way. Maybe it will resonate with others, but I'm the same age as these characters and I don't feel nearly as old or regretful as they all seem to. The first half moved very slowly with a lot of naval gazing, the 2nd half pulled together a bit more
December 11, 2023
Nope. Didn’t like this. I soooo wanted to. I loved Olivia’s voice, but the story was extremely erratic. Most of the characters were not likable; the relationship between Marian and Olivia was confusing and frustrating. I guessed what was happening early on as well. I’m glad I got this as a Prime First Read and didn’t have to pay for it.
December 9, 2023
Looking over the reviews, and am glad to see that I am not the only one who felt that the main character was self-centered and un-relatable. All the dialog and pretty much the way everyone behaves seems inauthentic. There are so many places where I wanted there to be discussion and discovery, but there were always convenient interruptions that seemed to be there just to draw the story out.
I started the book because I thought the premise in the synopsis was interesting. I kept reading because it was easy to read and there were some parts with the clinic that felt like it might veer into some magical realism, but no. Just page after page of self-absorbed whining with some flowery prose in an attempt to be "literary."
I started the book because I thought the premise in the synopsis was interesting. I kept reading because it was easy to read and there were some parts with the clinic that felt like it might veer into some magical realism, but no. Just page after page of self-absorbed whining with some flowery prose in an attempt to be "literary."
February 21, 2025
TITLE: Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time: A Novel
AUTHOR: Angela Brown
PUB DATE: 01.01.2024
A woman has no choice left but to enjoy the adventure of life―and its surprises―in a funny and emotionally moving comedy of errors about the gifts of growing older.
THOUGHTS:
I love Olivia as a character - she is 39 and a genetic test may just reveal her expiration date. Author Angela Brown explored all these questions on the what ifs, should have, and would have questions in life. I found the read interesting with its wonderful premise, and relatable storyline and characters. The writing is fantastic and found myself highlighting many beautiful quotes from the book.
My favorite is "There is no such thing as a perfect life. There are only perfect moments".
QOTD: Do you sometimes feel like you are running out of time to do things you've always wanted to do?
#oliviatraussisrunningoutoftime #angelabrown #suzyapprovedbooktours
AUTHOR: Angela Brown
PUB DATE: 01.01.2024
A woman has no choice left but to enjoy the adventure of life―and its surprises―in a funny and emotionally moving comedy of errors about the gifts of growing older.
THOUGHTS:
I love Olivia as a character - she is 39 and a genetic test may just reveal her expiration date. Author Angela Brown explored all these questions on the what ifs, should have, and would have questions in life. I found the read interesting with its wonderful premise, and relatable storyline and characters. The writing is fantastic and found myself highlighting many beautiful quotes from the book.
My favorite is "There is no such thing as a perfect life. There are only perfect moments".
QOTD: Do you sometimes feel like you are running out of time to do things you've always wanted to do?
#oliviatraussisrunningoutoftime #angelabrown #suzyapprovedbooktours
January 14, 2024
Olivia Strauss is running out of ways to be a terrible human being. Can’t really say she had any redeeming qualities. Maybe how she steps in to help Sunshine, though that was probably more out of her own need to do something to keep her busy. She never thought to check in with her supposed best friend. Everyone annoyed her. And then, when she finally finds out her friend is dying, Marian can only talk to her husband because Olivia can’t handle it. More like Marian has enough going on with DYING to deal with Olivia making it all about Olivia.
I guess a point of this book would be that none of knows how much time we have left and to embrace what time we have…. so the next time I’m reading a book this awful, I’m going to DNF it.
I guess a point of this book would be that none of knows how much time we have left and to embrace what time we have…. so the next time I’m reading a book this awful, I’m going to DNF it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2023
five stars but also one star
I don’t know how to rate this. I found myself loving it and then hating it over and over again. Something profound would be said and I’d be into it- and then a strange stylistic decision would be made and I’d be out of it again. Part of the ending made me angry as well. I feel as conflicted about this book as the protagonist felt about her life choices. Maybe it hit too close to home with my birthday nearby and I can’t actually be objective? Also yes.
I don’t know how to rate this. I found myself loving it and then hating it over and over again. Something profound would be said and I’d be into it- and then a strange stylistic decision would be made and I’d be out of it again. Part of the ending made me angry as well. I feel as conflicted about this book as the protagonist felt about her life choices. Maybe it hit too close to home with my birthday nearby and I can’t actually be objective? Also yes.
December 10, 2023
This just hit me the right way. I think it is a great book to read in the New Year. The MC is pretty self absorbed and it deals with death so not exactly what I’d call a “feel good”. But I thought the writing fast-paced, often funny, and reflective. There were so many parts where a lot of authors fall into clichés, like the annoying neighbors/mothers, but she allowed them some depth and realness that surprised even the MC. It was an emotional read and spanned them all. It’s funny, silly, thoughtful, introspective, annoying, and a tear jerker at different times. One of the better Amazon First Reads for me (Dec 2023).
January 15, 2024
Olivia Strauss (aka “Liv,” in case the metaphors of this novel weren’t sufficiently on the nose for her to have any other name) finds herself feeling a bit listless and unfulfilled, in the days leading up to her 39th birthday. Sure, she has a decent job as an English teacher at a prestigious high school and is expecting a promotion. She lives in a cute suburban house, in a nice neighborhood, near mothers of similar age, who regularly engage in social get togethers with one another. She has a supportive, kind, and helpful husband, and an adorable / well-behaved son. She also has a fun best friend from college, who shares her same birthday, and who periodically invites her out for impulsive jaunts in the city, where the latter still lives.
And yet, everyone around Liv is suddenly negging her about being “old.” She has to schedule an appointment for a mammogram, and to see an endocrinologist. Her (very unprofessional) doctor is making rude comments to her about her biological clock ticking down on her ability to have a second kid. Her neighbors are giving her gag gifts relating to sagging boobs and trying to sell her anti-aging creams.
Plus, Liv is starting to regret not doing all the things she’d promised herself she’d do when she was younger. She didn’t become a “professional poet!” She doesn’t exercise, or cook, or party at bars like she used to in her twenties!
All of Liv’s sudden misgivings regarding her age, her accomplishments, and her life path, are thrown into sharp focus, when her best friend Marian “gifts” her an appointment at a strange, cult-like, health center that claims to be able to predict the exact date of one’s death. As it turns out, Liv may not have as much time left on Earth as she once thought . . .
How will Liv spend what very well might be her final year on Earth? What changes will she make? What bucket list items will she manage to cross off? And what will she discover about herself on her journey?
OK. So, I’ll start by saying that I appreciate what Angela Brown was attempting to accomplish in this novel. She undoubtedly didn’t want to go the “expected” route, and pen a “Last Holiday”-type fairytale, in which the lead character magically learns to truly “LIVE (there’s that word again)” and welcome all that life has to offer, in the face of potential death . . . thereby, helping the reader to see that there is ALWAYS time to live the life you dreamed, if you just have the courage to reach out and grab it.
Sure, it’s a great message. But it is ultimately a somewhat trite one, that has been done many times before. It’s also probably a bit narrowly focused. It fails to accept some hard truths about real life. Namely, sometimes, it IS too late to make certain changes in your life, or at least impractical to do so. Plus, unfortunately, not everyone gets the same amount of time on this Earth to accomplish the things that they want.
My issue with Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time was not that its message about mortality was pragmatic, and ultimately, somewhat cynical. I was frustrated by the kind of maudlin and mean-spirited way in which it conveyed that message. Strangely enough, the novel seemed to THINK it was hopeful and life-affirming! Additionally, the novel’s occasional attempts at humor fell flat for me. I found them to be a bit tonally discordant with the more depressing aspects of the tale.
Basically, in order for “Liv” to have her epiphanies about appreciating her life, while also making changes and taking risks, all the other characters in the book had to suffer. Liv’s year-long journey reads less like a “fun” life-affirming adventure, and more like a selfish, impulsive, and occasionally weird, early mid-life crisis.
She neglects her job and belittles her colleagues. She’s evasive, withholding and reckless with her husband and child. She’s judgmental of her neighbors and her best friend, when they try to ingratiate themselves to her. She’s insensitive to anyone else’s problems other than her own (except to the extent that their suffering provides her with schadenfreude and help her to feel comparatively better about her own life). She’s exceptionally ageist when confronting characters who are younger than her, older than her, AND EVEN THE EXACT SAME AGE.
Did I mention that SO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE have to DIE and/or have MAJOR HEALTH SCARES in this book, during the course of a single year, in service of Liv’s epiphanies? Or that the book talks about hitting middle age, as if everyone suddenly reverts from young, hot, and full of promise, to THE CRYPT KEEPER, overnight, once they pass their 39th birthday?
Oof. I don’t know. Maybe my strong feelings about this novel say more about ME than they do about IT. After all, aging and mortality are personal journeys for everyone. These are aspects of life with which we all have to grapple, in our own ways. I just probably would have personally preferred a novel, and a protagonist, that painted these important topics with a slightly kinder, gentler, and more uplifting brush.
And yet, everyone around Liv is suddenly negging her about being “old.” She has to schedule an appointment for a mammogram, and to see an endocrinologist. Her (very unprofessional) doctor is making rude comments to her about her biological clock ticking down on her ability to have a second kid. Her neighbors are giving her gag gifts relating to sagging boobs and trying to sell her anti-aging creams.
Plus, Liv is starting to regret not doing all the things she’d promised herself she’d do when she was younger. She didn’t become a “professional poet!” She doesn’t exercise, or cook, or party at bars like she used to in her twenties!
All of Liv’s sudden misgivings regarding her age, her accomplishments, and her life path, are thrown into sharp focus, when her best friend Marian “gifts” her an appointment at a strange, cult-like, health center that claims to be able to predict the exact date of one’s death. As it turns out, Liv may not have as much time left on Earth as she once thought . . .
How will Liv spend what very well might be her final year on Earth? What changes will she make? What bucket list items will she manage to cross off? And what will she discover about herself on her journey?
OK. So, I’ll start by saying that I appreciate what Angela Brown was attempting to accomplish in this novel. She undoubtedly didn’t want to go the “expected” route, and pen a “Last Holiday”-type fairytale, in which the lead character magically learns to truly “LIVE (there’s that word again)” and welcome all that life has to offer, in the face of potential death . . . thereby, helping the reader to see that there is ALWAYS time to live the life you dreamed, if you just have the courage to reach out and grab it.
Sure, it’s a great message. But it is ultimately a somewhat trite one, that has been done many times before. It’s also probably a bit narrowly focused. It fails to accept some hard truths about real life. Namely, sometimes, it IS too late to make certain changes in your life, or at least impractical to do so. Plus, unfortunately, not everyone gets the same amount of time on this Earth to accomplish the things that they want.
My issue with Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time was not that its message about mortality was pragmatic, and ultimately, somewhat cynical. I was frustrated by the kind of maudlin and mean-spirited way in which it conveyed that message. Strangely enough, the novel seemed to THINK it was hopeful and life-affirming! Additionally, the novel’s occasional attempts at humor fell flat for me. I found them to be a bit tonally discordant with the more depressing aspects of the tale.
Basically, in order for “Liv” to have her epiphanies about appreciating her life, while also making changes and taking risks, all the other characters in the book had to suffer. Liv’s year-long journey reads less like a “fun” life-affirming adventure, and more like a selfish, impulsive, and occasionally weird, early mid-life crisis.
She neglects her job and belittles her colleagues. She’s evasive, withholding and reckless with her husband and child. She’s judgmental of her neighbors and her best friend, when they try to ingratiate themselves to her. She’s insensitive to anyone else’s problems other than her own (except to the extent that their suffering provides her with schadenfreude and help her to feel comparatively better about her own life). She’s exceptionally ageist when confronting characters who are younger than her, older than her, AND EVEN THE EXACT SAME AGE.
Did I mention that SO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE have to DIE and/or have MAJOR HEALTH SCARES in this book, during the course of a single year, in service of Liv’s epiphanies? Or that the book talks about hitting middle age, as if everyone suddenly reverts from young, hot, and full of promise, to THE CRYPT KEEPER, overnight, once they pass their 39th birthday?
Oof. I don’t know. Maybe my strong feelings about this novel say more about ME than they do about IT. After all, aging and mortality are personal journeys for everyone. These are aspects of life with which we all have to grapple, in our own ways. I just probably would have personally preferred a novel, and a protagonist, that painted these important topics with a slightly kinder, gentler, and more uplifting brush.
December 11, 2023
An easy read with a nice message as we head into a new year. The main character is a bit frustrating with how self centered she is, especially regarding her precious gem of a husband, but she turns it around in the end. She did give me anxiety for a decent part of the first half though. Without spoiling anything, there were some moments that were equally heartwarming and terribly sad that made me cry. Sunshine was a really great addition to the story, although I wished Olivia would have rediscovered that fortune she had gotten in her Chinese takeout that said “her days would be filled with sunshine” to make it all come together since that could have easily been overlooked.
January 16, 2024
Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time, is the book to read when you feel like you’re stuck in life. When the should have, could have, would have inhabits your mind and won’t let go.
Olivia is almost 40 and feels like she has nothing to show. What happens when you take a test to find out the exact date you will die? Will you panic and stay still or would you knock things out on the to do list? I loved the premise of this story however I felt it lacked excitement. I found Olivia to be one of the biggest complainers in literature and in the end I didn’t feel like she accomplished or realized anything substantial. I do wish that we would have gotten to know Marian a bit more and the falling out the two had was so minor it was annoying. Great writing I just felt like there was no big moment where I wanted to get people to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angela Brown, and Little A for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia is almost 40 and feels like she has nothing to show. What happens when you take a test to find out the exact date you will die? Will you panic and stay still or would you knock things out on the to do list? I loved the premise of this story however I felt it lacked excitement. I found Olivia to be one of the biggest complainers in literature and in the end I didn’t feel like she accomplished or realized anything substantial. I do wish that we would have gotten to know Marian a bit more and the falling out the two had was so minor it was annoying. Great writing I just felt like there was no big moment where I wanted to get people to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angela Brown, and Little A for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2023
Ahhhh….This book had my emotions all over the place! I laughed at Liv’s self-reflection and deflecting humor. I wanted more of Marion at the end, but I understood her feelings. I could have used less Dahlia/Poppy talk (a little repetitive), but it all tied together in the end. I wanted the first half to speed up and the second half to slow down. I was frustrated with Olivia and Marion’s friendship but wanted to hug them in certain spots.
Overall, I loved it because, well….I connected with a lot of it.
I’ve said it before about the 40-year-old life crisis…IT👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 REAL👏🏻! Putting things on hold, regrets, making lists (just look at my planners 😬), and feeling stuck. Wondering what have I accomplished and what the heck am I someday leaving behind.
I was highlighter happy while reading because there were so many passages that I need to slap on post it’s and keep as reminders!
This book is bit quirky, a little predictable, an easy read, a little drawn out, but a book I’ll recommend to my over over 40, legging wearing, side hustle partying, suburban mom friends because I connected with that too. 😉
👉🏻This book has:
•Decades Long Friendship •Self-Reflection •Sacrifice •Marriage •Parenting •Aging •Grief •Comedy
🤔 If you could find out your “expiration” date, would you want to know?
Overall, I loved it because, well….I connected with a lot of it.
I’ve said it before about the 40-year-old life crisis…IT👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 REAL👏🏻! Putting things on hold, regrets, making lists (just look at my planners 😬), and feeling stuck. Wondering what have I accomplished and what the heck am I someday leaving behind.
I was highlighter happy while reading because there were so many passages that I need to slap on post it’s and keep as reminders!
This book is bit quirky, a little predictable, an easy read, a little drawn out, but a book I’ll recommend to my over over 40, legging wearing, side hustle partying, suburban mom friends because I connected with that too. 😉
👉🏻This book has:
•Decades Long Friendship •Self-Reflection •Sacrifice •Marriage •Parenting •Aging •Grief •Comedy
🤔 If you could find out your “expiration” date, would you want to know?
April 28, 2024
“No matter who you are or what you do or how you live, your time- just like mine- is ultimately running out.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall I thought it was good. It’s a quick book and easy to read. It does a great job of making you acknowledge the ephemeral nature of our existence. It even made me tear up some.
There were a lot of parts of the book I was able to personally identify with and I loved the little nuggets of wisdoms throughout the book and the overall message of living life to the fullest and chasing your dreams.
My biggest dislike from this book was the FMC. And seeing how you spend the entirety of the book in her head, it greatly affected my rating. In my opinion, Olivia is self-absorbed, at times very selfish, and sometimes just plain rude and unpleasant. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a snarky character, but it needs to be done right.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall I thought it was good. It’s a quick book and easy to read. It does a great job of making you acknowledge the ephemeral nature of our existence. It even made me tear up some.
There were a lot of parts of the book I was able to personally identify with and I loved the little nuggets of wisdoms throughout the book and the overall message of living life to the fullest and chasing your dreams.
My biggest dislike from this book was the FMC. And seeing how you spend the entirety of the book in her head, it greatly affected my rating. In my opinion, Olivia is self-absorbed, at times very selfish, and sometimes just plain rude and unpleasant. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a snarky character, but it needs to be done right.
Read
February 14, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Miscarriage
Cancer
Miscarriage
Cancer
December 28, 2023
More like 3.5. I found some parts better than others. I never felt I had a good grasp, or understanding, of the central best friend relationship. It didn't really resonate with me. But the book touches upon a lot of major themes - how to best live your life, friendship, death... And I think it'll stay with me for a while. Parts of it regarding suburban mom life were funny and rang true.
December 6, 2023
I loved this book
I’ve thought about it in different ways as I was reading it, but am so thrilled with it now that I finished that I think everyone should read it.
I’ve thought about it in different ways as I was reading it, but am so thrilled with it now that I finished that I think everyone should read it.
June 30, 2024
At first, I thought the main character was going to ruin this book for me - I found her rude and self-centered buuuut can now say this book changed my life a little. And also made me cry.
January 3, 2024
A great start to a new year…
“Please never settle for anything in your lives.
Dream big. Listen to the voice inside you.
And keep moving forward. Always.”
“Please never settle for anything in your lives.
Dream big. Listen to the voice inside you.
And keep moving forward. Always.”
January 4, 2024
Be warned: this one will make you cry. 😭
But it’s such a great story! ❤️
And the perfect start of year read, reminding you to do all the things and take life full force.
But it’s such a great story! ❤️
And the perfect start of year read, reminding you to do all the things and take life full force.
December 14, 2023
"But that’s the thing I’ve only recently come to understand about birthdays. They’re not about presents or streamers. They’re not about parties or pictures or petite pastel candles on your cake. They’re about having a brief sense of hope. For that one day, we’re able to close the door on our mistakes and cling to the false idea that we’ll approach the next year wiser. We make wishes. We blow out candles. We tell ourselves this will be our year."
When I first started reading this book, I thought this was going to be a 5 star book for me. I was immediately drawn to Olivia -- as someone of a similar age, I too have often found myself struggling between "I have plenty of time" and "time is running out." I enjoyed the premise of the story -- the idea of a test that will tell you exactly when you will die. If you had the chance, would you want to know?
My 5 star feeling went down by the 50% mark -- not that it's a bad story, it's not. It's one of the better Kindle First reads I've read. The book starts to get repetitive (I started skimming parts of the story) and with the exception of Olivia (and maybe her best friend Marian?), everyone else was bland. The husband is bland. The son is bland. The neighbors are unnecessary. I guess her farmer's market/yoga friend was OK? Is it bad I can't remember anyone's names?
I didn't mind the twist, although it's very early on and very obvious.
Overall, I liked the message, and being able to strongly identify with Olivia early on in the story, struggling with my own notion of time left (although I hope I'm not as self-centered as Olivia ends up being). It's not my favorite Kindle First, but it's definitely not the worst.
When I first started reading this book, I thought this was going to be a 5 star book for me. I was immediately drawn to Olivia -- as someone of a similar age, I too have often found myself struggling between "I have plenty of time" and "time is running out." I enjoyed the premise of the story -- the idea of a test that will tell you exactly when you will die. If you had the chance, would you want to know?
My 5 star feeling went down by the 50% mark -- not that it's a bad story, it's not. It's one of the better Kindle First reads I've read. The book starts to get repetitive (I started skimming parts of the story) and with the exception of Olivia (and maybe her best friend Marian?), everyone else was bland. The husband is bland. The son is bland. The neighbors are unnecessary. I guess her farmer's market/yoga friend was OK? Is it bad I can't remember anyone's names?
I didn't mind the twist, although it's very early on and very obvious.
Overall, I liked the message, and being able to strongly identify with Olivia early on in the story, struggling with my own notion of time left (although I hope I'm not as self-centered as Olivia ends up being). It's not my favorite Kindle First, but it's definitely not the worst.
February 4, 2024
52 Book Club - Prompt 30 - Picked without Reading the Blurb
Spoiled suburban mom has midlife crisis and misses the bigger picture.
The two big "twists" were obvious from the beginning and I would not like Olivia much in real life. She's so self-centered and misses major points in the lives of those around her over and over again.
Spoiled suburban mom has midlife crisis and misses the bigger picture.
The two big "twists" were obvious from the beginning and I would not like Olivia much in real life. She's so self-centered and misses major points in the lives of those around her over and over again.
February 12, 2024
I was interested enough to stay up late to finish it, but in general I had a difficult time with the book because the main character’s actions felt very unlikely. I quite liked several of the other characters. If half stars could be given it would be 2.5 for me.
May 24, 2024
The way this book makes you think about your own life and where it's going is very good. I struggled sometimes because of this as my mind would trail to think about my own life. I enjoyed this book.
November 26, 2024
Such a good book about friendship, family and making the most of the time you have in this life.
February 9, 2025
I loved this women’s fiction book about a woman, Olivia, who on her 39th birthday goes with her best friend to a New Age type clinic and gets some unexpected news on her life expectancy.
Olivia who was already feeling unsatisfied with her life starts questioning what she can do with herself during this “borrowed” time.
This book was funny, sentimental, and had a few twists that made it a page turner. I felt like I was along for Olivia’s ride as she has a year of self discovery.
Olivia who was already feeling unsatisfied with her life starts questioning what she can do with herself during this “borrowed” time.
This book was funny, sentimental, and had a few twists that made it a page turner. I felt like I was along for Olivia’s ride as she has a year of self discovery.
February 29, 2024
3.5 rounded up. book is kinda predictable but also pretty sad. not sure if it was the best book for me to read a week before my birthday but here we are! also don't like the fact that the bestie's bday is the same day as the MC and my bestie's bday is 3 days after mine... don't like that. idk just overthinking things now.
May 24, 2025
This novel couldn't decide what it wanted to convey. Olivia is self-centered and difficult to like. The author clobbers you with the message. I'm thankful that I got it as a First Reads - I wouldn't have wanted to pay for it.
December 14, 2023
I gave this book a 3 instead of the 4 it could have had because of the terrible editing. The premise is thought provoking and really made me think. I liked the idea of the book a lot! Our MC, Liv, is turning 39 and suffering from fears of aging and not fulfilling her goals and dreams in life. Her best friend comes along and surprises her with a trip to a medical center that claims to be able to pinpoint the date of a persons death with some genetic and blood testing. Olivia is skeptical but also begins to really ask herself some universal questions about what would she change about her life she knew her end date? When she actually gets a “death date” she’s got decide whether she believes the results and what that means for her life going forward.
There’s lots of shenanigans in between and a pretty expected twist at the end. But the editing issues…just ugh! It really kept me from fully enjoying the book. Here’s a few examples:
Liv and her friend go back over and over to this medical center with no real results or forward progress. The trips could have been cut down to 1 or 2 streamline the story bc the multiple trips were pointless. An editor should have pulled that back to make sure everything was purposeful because readers don’t want to waste good reading time on things they don’t move the plot forward.
Many times there were issues with consistency, like errors in the timeline when the characters say something happened several months earlier when it couldn’t have because the two women weren’t speaking. Or when her child’s plant sprouts a seedling but it’s 4-5 months later and seedlings sprout in days/weeks. Or just weird little conversations that don’t work right between characters. Like Liv asks her friend why she lived in the same apartment for almost 20 years and the friend’s response is because she bought it a couple of months ago. The answer makes no sense and a good editor should have caught those parts of the story that are incoherent. Every time something like that occurs, it pulled me out of the story and broke the flow.
So while I wouldn’t say it’s a waste of time to read. The writer is talented and the ideas are there. This could have been a standout book but the editing just let it down.
There’s lots of shenanigans in between and a pretty expected twist at the end. But the editing issues…just ugh! It really kept me from fully enjoying the book. Here’s a few examples:
Liv and her friend go back over and over to this medical center with no real results or forward progress. The trips could have been cut down to 1 or 2 streamline the story bc the multiple trips were pointless. An editor should have pulled that back to make sure everything was purposeful because readers don’t want to waste good reading time on things they don’t move the plot forward.
Many times there were issues with consistency, like errors in the timeline when the characters say something happened several months earlier when it couldn’t have because the two women weren’t speaking. Or when her child’s plant sprouts a seedling but it’s 4-5 months later and seedlings sprout in days/weeks. Or just weird little conversations that don’t work right between characters. Like Liv asks her friend why she lived in the same apartment for almost 20 years and the friend’s response is because she bought it a couple of months ago. The answer makes no sense and a good editor should have caught those parts of the story that are incoherent. Every time something like that occurs, it pulled me out of the story and broke the flow.
So while I wouldn’t say it’s a waste of time to read. The writer is talented and the ideas are there. This could have been a standout book but the editing just let it down.
December 4, 2023
Sorry not sorry! I hated this book. Depressing. I felt like the plot never went forward. It was just a mess of rambling from the FMC. Side characters were never fully fleshed out. I couldn’t live in this woman’s voice for a moment longer.
September 15, 2025
Some boomery live for today yaya bullshit. The main character Olivia is a fairly self centered judgmental woman and she doesn't change much by the end. Despite clear signs that her friend is going through something she ignores it in favor of her own drama. once that drama is resolved she continues to devote very little time to thinking about her friend until her friend informs her that she (predictablaly) was the one that was actually dying.
There's so much in this that I'm not a fan of. I recall the mention of the bucket list. when the dying woman puts on her bucket list to run a marathon to seem like a better person than she was, I couldn't help but question this moment. how does running a marathon make you a better person? why is having a husband and child not enough for Olivia? she claims she wishes she spent more time writing but once making changes in her life the only change we see is spending more time with her family. the thing she specifically felt bad about because it's neglected her writing. THE THING SHE STILL ISNT DOING.
Also about the kids these days bullshit. those chapters at the school were insufferable. Olivia refuses to have a conversation based on merit and instead chooses one based on age which seems unimportant to the point the character made. her coworker brings up that a book selection she made was sexist against men and while his point was padantic and vapid she choose to confront it from a point of age which is irrelevant to the discussion. as if her age makes it easier for her to see the merit in a book. if you feel your age gives experience on a subject perhaps explain that experience and don't just say you're older therefore know more. let's hear what you know not just that you know it.
I understand the message of live for today and don't backseat your dreams because you don't know when times up. this message had been said many times before and I don't think this book developed on it in an interesting way. I think this book had the opportunity to discuss mortality and relationships but chose not to in favor of a message thats been said a million times and that's disappointing.
There's so much in this that I'm not a fan of. I recall the mention of the bucket list. when the dying woman puts on her bucket list to run a marathon to seem like a better person than she was, I couldn't help but question this moment. how does running a marathon make you a better person? why is having a husband and child not enough for Olivia? she claims she wishes she spent more time writing but once making changes in her life the only change we see is spending more time with her family. the thing she specifically felt bad about because it's neglected her writing. THE THING SHE STILL ISNT DOING.
Also about the kids these days bullshit. those chapters at the school were insufferable. Olivia refuses to have a conversation based on merit and instead chooses one based on age which seems unimportant to the point the character made. her coworker brings up that a book selection she made was sexist against men and while his point was padantic and vapid she choose to confront it from a point of age which is irrelevant to the discussion. as if her age makes it easier for her to see the merit in a book. if you feel your age gives experience on a subject perhaps explain that experience and don't just say you're older therefore know more. let's hear what you know not just that you know it.
I understand the message of live for today and don't backseat your dreams because you don't know when times up. this message had been said many times before and I don't think this book developed on it in an interesting way. I think this book had the opportunity to discuss mortality and relationships but chose not to in favor of a message thats been said a million times and that's disappointing.
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