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Yes, And: A Novel
🎧Run Time = 6 hours and 59 minutes
He lost his ambition. She can't find her perspective. Will joining forces bring them the meaning they need?
College student Toby is desperate for direction. Pausing his higher education, he relocates to Portland and rents a townhouse in hopes of reconnecting to his roots. But he didn't expect his passion for soap operas to lead to the relationship he's always needed.
At 87-years-old, Jo's mind and body aren't what they used to be. But even at her senior age, she's sharp enough to know her nursing aids are after her generous family trust. So when a kind and honest young man moves in next door, she quickly enlists his help in catching the sneaky bandits.
Forging a deep connection with his elderly friend through their scheming, Toby finally lights upon his purpose. And with her partner in crime helping her navigate everyday adventures from roller skates and uneven ground to downtown parking, Jo rediscovers a joy she had long forgotten.
Will this unlikely duo unlock the secret of life?
He lost his ambition. She can't find her perspective. Will joining forces bring them the meaning they need?
College student Toby is desperate for direction. Pausing his higher education, he relocates to Portland and rents a townhouse in hopes of reconnecting to his roots. But he didn't expect his passion for soap operas to lead to the relationship he's always needed.
At 87-years-old, Jo's mind and body aren't what they used to be. But even at her senior age, she's sharp enough to know her nursing aids are after her generous family trust. So when a kind and honest young man moves in next door, she quickly enlists his help in catching the sneaky bandits.
Forging a deep connection with his elderly friend through their scheming, Toby finally lights upon his purpose. And with her partner in crime helping her navigate everyday adventures from roller skates and uneven ground to downtown parking, Jo rediscovers a joy she had long forgotten.
Will this unlikely duo unlock the secret of life?
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First published April 8, 2020
338 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 8, 2020
I loved reading this story! Toby was so great with Jo - he knew just what to do and say! I liked how it was a different subject matter than most other books I read. It was interesting that the book is all in present tense. I recommend this book! Very sweet, how the young can have such an impact on the elderly!
April 21, 2020
It was so easy to get drawn into the story, and so hard to put it down! It made me reconsider the important relationships in my own life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the rich and very real characters as author Cindy Gunderson takes us in a totally new direction. Gone are the futuristic troubles of the Tier Trilogy, replaced instead by the current and very real struggles of Jo, a maybe not-so-sweet little old lady struggling with the progressive loss of control of her life. Gunderson takes a deep dive into what it takes to build a relationship with someone who, on the surface, may not be so likeable. She exposes feelings from both sides with insight and tenderness. Her characters quickly come to life as she carefully shapes the many facets of their decisions.
I thoroughly enjoyed the rich and very real characters as author Cindy Gunderson takes us in a totally new direction. Gone are the futuristic troubles of the Tier Trilogy, replaced instead by the current and very real struggles of Jo, a maybe not-so-sweet little old lady struggling with the progressive loss of control of her life. Gunderson takes a deep dive into what it takes to build a relationship with someone who, on the surface, may not be so likeable. She exposes feelings from both sides with insight and tenderness. Her characters quickly come to life as she carefully shapes the many facets of their decisions.
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April 26, 2020I found this book very easy to read and relate to the characters. The characters are very real and I could not leave it . I finished it in two days and found so much pertaining to my life as an elderly person. Cindy has a way of filling in details without making the reading story line fractured. So different from the Tier Trilogy and matching now with current life questions and problems to be faced, I truly found it engrossing reading.
March 8, 2021
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
5th March 2021
TITLE: Yes, And: A Novel
AUTHOR: Cindy Gunderson
Star Rating: 5
‘A feel-good story with strong characterization. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
The strength of a novel is often found in its characters. And this is very much the case in this novel. Cleverly plotted, the author exhibiting an excellent understanding of human nature, it follows two central characters. Toby, a young man trying to find himself, and Jo, the old lady living next door to him. This is a story about connecting, about two characters born so many years apart but still being able to form a strong bond and bring the best out in each other.
Whilst reading this book, two things particularly struck me. Firstly, how important it is not to pigeonhole the elderly; it's so easy to think a very old person has nothing left to offer the world. But they do. Everybody is always in such a rush; that or glued endlessly to a telephone screen looking for whatever they think will make them happy. But often happiness can be found much closer to home. And, in the case of Toby and Jo, next door. The second thing that struck me was how enjoyable it was to read a novel that was focused on character and not plot. Yes, there is a plot in there, Jo strongly mistrusting her caregivers resulting in a lot of scheming, but it's the characters which gels this story together. This emphasis on character and developing the relationship between them, was refreshing. And the joy they brought to each other gave joy to me too.
So, can I recommend this book? Absolutely. Although there is the odd niggling problem (mostly to do with speech tags; there's nothing wrong with the word ‘say’) , this is a gem of a novel. I suspect anybody who's looking for a feel-good story filled with interesting, charismatic characters and a strong, underlining humor, will find this highly entertaining. It might even persuade you to pop in next door and check on your elderly neighbor. And that can't be a bad thing.
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
5th March 2021
TITLE: Yes, And: A Novel
AUTHOR: Cindy Gunderson
Star Rating: 5
‘A feel-good story with strong characterization. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
The strength of a novel is often found in its characters. And this is very much the case in this novel. Cleverly plotted, the author exhibiting an excellent understanding of human nature, it follows two central characters. Toby, a young man trying to find himself, and Jo, the old lady living next door to him. This is a story about connecting, about two characters born so many years apart but still being able to form a strong bond and bring the best out in each other.
Whilst reading this book, two things particularly struck me. Firstly, how important it is not to pigeonhole the elderly; it's so easy to think a very old person has nothing left to offer the world. But they do. Everybody is always in such a rush; that or glued endlessly to a telephone screen looking for whatever they think will make them happy. But often happiness can be found much closer to home. And, in the case of Toby and Jo, next door. The second thing that struck me was how enjoyable it was to read a novel that was focused on character and not plot. Yes, there is a plot in there, Jo strongly mistrusting her caregivers resulting in a lot of scheming, but it's the characters which gels this story together. This emphasis on character and developing the relationship between them, was refreshing. And the joy they brought to each other gave joy to me too.
So, can I recommend this book? Absolutely. Although there is the odd niggling problem (mostly to do with speech tags; there's nothing wrong with the word ‘say’) , this is a gem of a novel. I suspect anybody who's looking for a feel-good story filled with interesting, charismatic characters and a strong, underlining humor, will find this highly entertaining. It might even persuade you to pop in next door and check on your elderly neighbor. And that can't be a bad thing.
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
December 3, 2022
It starts out confusing, and maybe a bit creepy. The connection between this young (twenty something?) man and this old woman just doesn’t seem natural. I almost stopped reading. I’m so glad I didn’t.
This will be a short review because I cant say much without spoilers. But this is a good book, well worth your time to read. I give this my highest recommendation.
This will be a short review because I cant say much without spoilers. But this is a good book, well worth your time to read. I give this my highest recommendation.
May 17, 2021
An enjoyable read that moved quickly and kept me ready to know what would happen next. Jo wasn't the easiest person to understand but Toby made such a wonderful difference in her life. Every "Jo" needs a "Toby", and I wish there were more "Tobys" in this world. Their dynamics made this a story on which to reflect how we treat others, especially those who may be like Jo.
July 27, 2021
A good quick read
I knew nothing about this book when I started it. I am glad I read it. Yes, And was a fun story and inspiring
I knew nothing about this book when I started it. I am glad I read it. Yes, And was a fun story and inspiring
April 6, 2021
I laughed, cried, and smiled listening to the adventures of Jo and Toby. A well written book that makes you pause to think about your relationships with older generations. Listening to this book, makes me want to reach out to my grandparents more to make sure they know how truly special and loved they are.
This is the 2nd book I’ve listened to from Cindy Gunderson and both have been fantastic!! I’ll definitely be listening/reading more of her books.
This is the 2nd book I’ve listened to from Cindy Gunderson and both have been fantastic!! I’ll definitely be listening/reading more of her books.
April 22, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It is the story of a developing unlikely friendship between a young adult and a senior citizen showing signs of dementia. They are surprised to find themselves giving support and receiving insight from each other as they navigate their very different immediate life challenges. It was light-hearted yet still gave real-life examples of the challenges of family communication and expectations. A quick read, too!
July 4, 2020
An Unusual Relationship
I wasn't quite sure what I thought of this book after reading the first couple of chapters. It's written in the present tense, which I always find distracting rather than immersive. The author also did a fair amount of head-hopping, sometimes even in the middle of a paragraph! Or a section looked like it would be wholly from either Jo's or Toby's perspective, and it would veer off suddenly. I also didn't like that the author used so many dialogue tags other than “say.” There's a reason why authors are advised to stick mostly with “said” or “say”--the dialogue tag sticks out like a sore thumb.
But, I found a developing relationship between Toby and Jo (as well as the one between Toby and his older sister, Clara) to be too fascinating and despite these distracting elements. There was just something so sweet about this young man caring so much for his elderly neighbor, wanting to help her in so many ways. He definitely wanted her to live a little more and get out of the house! It turns out something really connects them, but I won't spoil that here. Jo is 87, and the parts written from her perspective were particularly fascinating to read as she is an unreliable narrator because of her dementia. But her voice still rang true, and it helped us understand her turbulent mind. It really made you sympathize with the poor woman who saw danger and disapproval everywhere. I am an RN, and I thought some medical aspects were not quite accurate. I'm also an Oregonian, and I didn't always think that her depiction of our state was wholly accurate either. But, all in all, I found this to be a read that I couldn't put down.
3.5 rounded up to 4 because of wonderful characters
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
I wasn't quite sure what I thought of this book after reading the first couple of chapters. It's written in the present tense, which I always find distracting rather than immersive. The author also did a fair amount of head-hopping, sometimes even in the middle of a paragraph! Or a section looked like it would be wholly from either Jo's or Toby's perspective, and it would veer off suddenly. I also didn't like that the author used so many dialogue tags other than “say.” There's a reason why authors are advised to stick mostly with “said” or “say”--the dialogue tag sticks out like a sore thumb.
But, I found a developing relationship between Toby and Jo (as well as the one between Toby and his older sister, Clara) to be too fascinating and despite these distracting elements. There was just something so sweet about this young man caring so much for his elderly neighbor, wanting to help her in so many ways. He definitely wanted her to live a little more and get out of the house! It turns out something really connects them, but I won't spoil that here. Jo is 87, and the parts written from her perspective were particularly fascinating to read as she is an unreliable narrator because of her dementia. But her voice still rang true, and it helped us understand her turbulent mind. It really made you sympathize with the poor woman who saw danger and disapproval everywhere. I am an RN, and I thought some medical aspects were not quite accurate. I'm also an Oregonian, and I didn't always think that her depiction of our state was wholly accurate either. But, all in all, I found this to be a read that I couldn't put down.
3.5 rounded up to 4 because of wonderful characters
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
April 22, 2020
A nice, thoughtful book with sweet characters you can relate to. A delightful, sentimental read about a young man and his elderly neighbor. Sure to put a smile on your face!
April 22, 2020
Well-written, well-developed characters. Pulled me in reasonably well. I enjoyed it overall.
February 22, 2024
Several of Gunderson’s books on the list on Goodreads are rom coms. This is not. A 20 year old guy, Toby, who has chosen to take some time off from college, moves next door to a crotchety, distrustful, 80 year old woman named Jo. She is in the beginning stages of dementia. He starts spending time with her and the time together enriches both their lives.
The story sheds light on the lonely frightening life of far too many elderly. It shows how companies set up to manage things for the elderly often make things worse by not hiring and training empathetic, patient employees. Brett is an example of who shouldn’t work with dementia patients. There is a surprise twist towards the end that helped explain a lot of things.
A tender-hearted book with a valuable lesson.
The story sheds light on the lonely frightening life of far too many elderly. It shows how companies set up to manage things for the elderly often make things worse by not hiring and training empathetic, patient employees. Brett is an example of who shouldn’t work with dementia patients. There is a surprise twist towards the end that helped explain a lot of things.
A tender-hearted book with a valuable lesson.
June 12, 2020
Elderly Woman Finds Friends at the End
This is a wonderful story of women's fiction and the story of family. While the reader may guess at certain things as the story goes on, it is the journey that is so wonderful. Having recently lost my 95-year-old mother, I can relate to the personality of 87-year-old Jo. To be alone and of that age can be very scary. Having a nice young neighbor to be friends with is such a gift. The fact that he was there was more of a comfort than he could possibly imagine. This is a wonderful and very touching story that I will remember forever. I received this ARC book from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
This is a wonderful story of women's fiction and the story of family. While the reader may guess at certain things as the story goes on, it is the journey that is so wonderful. Having recently lost my 95-year-old mother, I can relate to the personality of 87-year-old Jo. To be alone and of that age can be very scary. Having a nice young neighbor to be friends with is such a gift. The fact that he was there was more of a comfort than he could possibly imagine. This is a wonderful and very touching story that I will remember forever. I received this ARC book from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
April 26, 2022
Good read
I have read so many books lately about aging , dementia and Alzheimer's. This was a page turner that was able to keep my interest. I was a little disappointed to find out that Toby and Clara were Jo's grandchildren. I was thinking they were only befriending an aged neighbor, thus doing a good deed.
I have read so many books lately about aging , dementia and Alzheimer's. This was a page turner that was able to keep my interest. I was a little disappointed to find out that Toby and Clara were Jo's grandchildren. I was thinking they were only befriending an aged neighbor, thus doing a good deed.
July 5, 2022
An interesting look at aged relationships, and family and friendships. Jo was an interesting character, and so too Toby. There was a lot to learn and some things weren't revealed until the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 2, 2022
Excellent
Great story. I loved Toby's positive attitude and how kind he was. I appreciated the many references to the correct way to talk with and treat people with dementia. It is a feels good, sometimes funny story.
Great story. I loved Toby's positive attitude and how kind he was. I appreciated the many references to the correct way to talk with and treat people with dementia. It is a feels good, sometimes funny story.
July 7, 2020
Sweet, heart warming, and with a twist I didn’t see coming.
June 20, 2022
It’s a cute book about family. Had some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting but made everything in the end make sense.
August 31, 2022
Really enjoyed this book.
Sort of the same vein as where is Luis Vedas. I read it one setting. I have already mentioned it to my book club
Worth a read
Sort of the same vein as where is Luis Vedas. I read it one setting. I have already mentioned it to my book club
Worth a read
September 9, 2022
sweet book.
This book may renew your trust in humankind, or at least young people. Enjoyable, nice characters, realistic story line. I want to read more from Ms. Gunderson
This book may renew your trust in humankind, or at least young people. Enjoyable, nice characters, realistic story line. I want to read more from Ms. Gunderson
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May 22, 2021I loved the characters in this book. Jo - because I am almost her age. Tony - reminded me of my grandsons, who are both caring like him.
I liked the ending, and I was surprised to find out who Jo was.
I look forward to reading more of her books.
I liked the ending, and I was surprised to find out who Jo was.
I look forward to reading more of her books.
September 29, 2021
Yes
Very moving story, great character development. Sweet story about family and some of the struggles older members have to deal with often. Also, the struggles young adults have in finding their way.
Very moving story, great character development. Sweet story about family and some of the struggles older members have to deal with often. Also, the struggles young adults have in finding their way.
September 30, 2021
Heart wrenching.
When I first started reading, I thought this would be a light-hearted, piece of fluff book. I was completely drawn into the emotions wrought be the family dynamics. Definitely a good read.
When I first started reading, I thought this would be a light-hearted, piece of fluff book. I was completely drawn into the emotions wrought be the family dynamics. Definitely a good read.
November 11, 2021
This book was phenomenal! From the first page so was drawn in… with the characters . ❤️ enjoyed 87 year old Jo, Toby and Clara. As my parents are aging , it made me think of relationships with them as they get older… and even more importance of spending time with them ❤️
May 24, 2021
Surprising Twists
Very book book, hard to put down! Definitely not predictable in a very good way! Characters had me flipping back to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Strongly want more!😁
Very book book, hard to put down! Definitely not predictable in a very good way! Characters had me flipping back to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Strongly want more!😁
July 5, 2021
Wonderful
What a great story! It brought me joy and sorrow. I love the Toby character and wish I knew more people like him
What a great story! It brought me joy and sorrow. I love the Toby character and wish I knew more people like him
September 7, 2021
Beautiful. Lovely. Gentle.
A beautiful story about love and care of our loved ones. This is a gentle book that touches at the theme of looking beyond ourselves and nurturing others.
A beautiful story about love and care of our loved ones. This is a gentle book that touches at the theme of looking beyond ourselves and nurturing others.
October 25, 2021
Interesting story about a young man who decides to leave college to figure out what he really wants to do and moves close to his sister. He befriends his 87 year old next door neighbor who is struggling with aging. The friendship that develops gives both of them a new lease on life. There are a few twists but a good perspective on aging and finding what makes you happy.
March 9, 2021
Toby is a 21 year old man who befriends Jo an 87 year old lady. I loved hearing how they forma a bond and a unique relationship. Thought they were good for each other. I usually read sweet romances so this was a change and one I really enjoyed. Highly recommend. I listened to this book on audible and will be a book I will listen to again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews