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The Third Act of Theo Gruene
Theo Gruene, a seventy-year-old retired botanist, enjoys a tranquil life of solitude. When he isn't gardening or preserving dried plant collections for the local herbarium, he is cheering on his favorite baseball team or enjoying a cheeseburger at the best hole-in-the-wall in town. However, when a precocious young girl unexpectedly shows up on his front porch during a spring thunderstorm, Theo's world begins changing in ways he never imagined. This uplifting novel is a poignant and humerous exploration of friendship, forgiveness, and family. It serves as a joyful reminder that life holds wonder and surprise, even in the quietest moments.
307 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
14 people are currently reading
1155 people want to read
About the author
Talya Tate Boerner
11 books179 followersTalya Tate Boerner spent twenty-five years as a Dallas banker before following her literary dreams back home to Arkansas. When she isn't writing, you can find her gardening, reading, or raising butterflies on her back porch. She lives with her husband and two miniature schnauzers in the stunning Ozark Mountains of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Third Act of Theo Gruene is her fourth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 4, 2025
In a Nutshell: A contemporary fiction about an old man and a little girl thrown together by circumstances. Good characters but the girl is overly precocious and somewhat annoying. Okayish found-family vibes but the ending is too convenient. Decent plot but way too preachy on a multitude of unrelated topics. Too much telling rather than showing. A heartwarming option for those unbothered by the above-mentioned issues. Content warning: Covid pandemic and lockdown used actively in the plot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🥳 Theo. The best character of the book by far. Mostly sensible, except when he was being taken for a ride by the other two main characters
🥳 Some funny and touching moments, often thanks to the banter between Theo and Penelope.
🥳 The nod to one of my favourite books, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, and the use of Penelope’s “Boo Radley holes” in the plot.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 The senior-citizen-young-child combo is slowly becoming popular in contemporary works, and more often than not, the geriatric is shown as a grump with the child converting them towards sweetness. Not so in this book. Theo isn't a curmudgeon. (At least I didn’t feel so. I am surprised to see many reviews calling him cantankerous.) While I welcome this refreshing take, it also makes the proceedings a little boring. There is almost immediate acceptance from Theo and Penelope of each other’s presence, so there’s nothing to create sparks in the plot.
🤔 The start doesn’t mention the timeline. I just assumed it was present day, when the sudden mention of a ‘new virus’ corrected my assumption. To be fair, the blurb mentions the pandemic, but I totally forgot about it and was hence caught by surprise. Covid isn’t a trigger for me in general, but its portrayal in this book made me recollect the anguish of online schooling, the dread of social distancing, the fear of learning about deaths and the disquietude of the spiralling numbers. So yeah, realistically written, but a bit too realistic for my comfort.
Bookish Nays:
😒 I don't know if I'm the only one with such thoughts, so this might just be personal preference. But I'm a bit tired of precocious children in fiction. It has become a convenient way of pushing advanced thoughts and observations through child characters. In this book specifically, Penelope is precocious not just about 1-2 topics but about almost every single topic known to humankind. Politics, environment, dietetics, LGBT rights, history, geography… there’s no subject beyond her purview. Her opinions contain not just advanced vocabulary but also advanced observations on these topics. It is too heavyhanded an approach. Sometimes I wish fiction would stick to perfectly ordinary children - does a child character need to be so gifted in order for us to love them?
😒 Further, Penelope is often manipulative and lies blatantly to get her way, but this is brushed aside indulgently by almost every adult. This is probably the first time I found a child character more annoying than endearing. (I did like her, but only in some scenes.)
😒 Penelope’s mother Ivy starts off as a good character, but her later behaviour comes across as too entitled. Again, whatever negative she does is forgiven easily. Not a fan of such writing or such characters. Accountability is important even in uplit.
😒 Lot of telling in the writing not just in terms of what happens but also in offering an interpretation of what we should understand from something hinted/said. I don’t like being a passive reader, and this book didn’t allow me a single chance to read actively by being so in-your-face about everything. The worst was how it kept yapping on about Penelope’s smartness. We get it: She’s smart! Move on!
😒 The found family trope. Often works well, but in this book, poor Theo is barely given any choice in the matter and he doesn’t even realise it. A ‘found family’ storyline has to feel heartwarming, but this one feels mostly exploitative of Theo.
😒 The final quarter is way too dragged and overly convenient. One reveal is just too farfetched to be convincing.
😒 There are only three characters active for a major chunk of the book: Theo, Penelope, and Ivy. All the others are only mentioned, and there are barely a handful of scenes where a fourth character appears briefly. It seems like too sequestered a world for a believable story, even accounting for covid lockdowns.
😒 Too much of preachiness (mostly coming from Penelope, which makes it even more implausible and exasperating.) Pontificating on a couple of topics would have still been okay, but we get inputs not just on racial discrimination and “book banning by radicals” but also about the thread count of sheets and the importance of antioxidants. You might think these are good points, but the writing in these scenes doesn't flow smoothly as the topics feel shoved in. All such conversations hence sound awkward.
Overall, it’s not like the book is bad. The basic plot and Theo helped me enjoy a part of it. But I am fussy about writing styles and plot choices, and when a book indulges in so much telling and didacticism, I automatically zone out. (Probably the reason I cannot read self-help books without falling asleep!) Perhaps other readers who focus only on the emotions will not feel the same because the story does evoke the right sentiments.
After seeing the lengthy list of topics covered, I began wondering if this was a debut work, but to my surprise, it is not! The other books by this author seem highly rated, just like this one also is. (It currently has an astounding 4.65 rating on GR!) So mine is very much an outlier opinion. Please read other reviews and take a more informed call on the book.
Recommended only to those who enjoy moralistic novels, and are okay with the “telling” style of writing, overly precocious kids and the inclusion of the pandemic.
2.3 stars. (3 stars for the plot, 2.5 stars for the characters, 1.5 stars for the writing style. Averaged.)
My thanks to IBPA and One Mississippi Press LLC for providing the DRC of “The Third Act of Theo Gruene” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Arkansas. 2020. Seventy-year-old Theo is a retired botanist who spends his days preserving plant specimens for university research. Living alone after his wife died several years ago, Theo appreciates his solitude and his fixed routine. So when a precocious eight-year-old named Penelope comes barging into his life to escape from the rain outside, Theo is taken aback. He assumes that that their initial interaction would be a one-time thing so he does help her. But Penelope has no intention of leaving Theo alone. As her mother Ivy is a single mom struggling to raise her daughter alone, Theo finds himself cornered into agreeing to watch Penelope during the day. Little do they know that a life-changing pandemic is soon going to hit their town.
The story comes to us in Theo’s third-person perspective.
Bookish Yays:
🥳 Theo. The best character of the book by far. Mostly sensible, except when he was being taken for a ride by the other two main characters
🥳 Some funny and touching moments, often thanks to the banter between Theo and Penelope.
🥳 The nod to one of my favourite books, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, and the use of Penelope’s “Boo Radley holes” in the plot.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 The senior-citizen-young-child combo is slowly becoming popular in contemporary works, and more often than not, the geriatric is shown as a grump with the child converting them towards sweetness. Not so in this book. Theo isn't a curmudgeon. (At least I didn’t feel so. I am surprised to see many reviews calling him cantankerous.) While I welcome this refreshing take, it also makes the proceedings a little boring. There is almost immediate acceptance from Theo and Penelope of each other’s presence, so there’s nothing to create sparks in the plot.
🤔 The start doesn’t mention the timeline. I just assumed it was present day, when the sudden mention of a ‘new virus’ corrected my assumption. To be fair, the blurb mentions the pandemic, but I totally forgot about it and was hence caught by surprise. Covid isn’t a trigger for me in general, but its portrayal in this book made me recollect the anguish of online schooling, the dread of social distancing, the fear of learning about deaths and the disquietude of the spiralling numbers. So yeah, realistically written, but a bit too realistic for my comfort.
Bookish Nays:
😒 I don't know if I'm the only one with such thoughts, so this might just be personal preference. But I'm a bit tired of precocious children in fiction. It has become a convenient way of pushing advanced thoughts and observations through child characters. In this book specifically, Penelope is precocious not just about 1-2 topics but about almost every single topic known to humankind. Politics, environment, dietetics, LGBT rights, history, geography… there’s no subject beyond her purview. Her opinions contain not just advanced vocabulary but also advanced observations on these topics. It is too heavyhanded an approach. Sometimes I wish fiction would stick to perfectly ordinary children - does a child character need to be so gifted in order for us to love them?
😒 Further, Penelope is often manipulative and lies blatantly to get her way, but this is brushed aside indulgently by almost every adult. This is probably the first time I found a child character more annoying than endearing. (I did like her, but only in some scenes.)
😒 Penelope’s mother Ivy starts off as a good character, but her later behaviour comes across as too entitled. Again, whatever negative she does is forgiven easily. Not a fan of such writing or such characters. Accountability is important even in uplit.
😒 Lot of telling in the writing not just in terms of what happens but also in offering an interpretation of what we should understand from something hinted/said. I don’t like being a passive reader, and this book didn’t allow me a single chance to read actively by being so in-your-face about everything. The worst was how it kept yapping on about Penelope’s smartness. We get it: She’s smart! Move on!
😒 The found family trope. Often works well, but in this book, poor Theo is barely given any choice in the matter and he doesn’t even realise it. A ‘found family’ storyline has to feel heartwarming, but this one feels mostly exploitative of Theo.
😒 The final quarter is way too dragged and overly convenient. One reveal is just too farfetched to be convincing.
😒 There are only three characters active for a major chunk of the book: Theo, Penelope, and Ivy. All the others are only mentioned, and there are barely a handful of scenes where a fourth character appears briefly. It seems like too sequestered a world for a believable story, even accounting for covid lockdowns.
😒 Too much of preachiness (mostly coming from Penelope, which makes it even more implausible and exasperating.) Pontificating on a couple of topics would have still been okay, but we get inputs not just on racial discrimination and “book banning by radicals” but also about the thread count of sheets and the importance of antioxidants. You might think these are good points, but the writing in these scenes doesn't flow smoothly as the topics feel shoved in. All such conversations hence sound awkward.
Overall, it’s not like the book is bad. The basic plot and Theo helped me enjoy a part of it. But I am fussy about writing styles and plot choices, and when a book indulges in so much telling and didacticism, I automatically zone out. (Probably the reason I cannot read self-help books without falling asleep!) Perhaps other readers who focus only on the emotions will not feel the same because the story does evoke the right sentiments.
After seeing the lengthy list of topics covered, I began wondering if this was a debut work, but to my surprise, it is not! The other books by this author seem highly rated, just like this one also is. (It currently has an astounding 4.65 rating on GR!) So mine is very much an outlier opinion. Please read other reviews and take a more informed call on the book.
Recommended only to those who enjoy moralistic novels, and are okay with the “telling” style of writing, overly precocious kids and the inclusion of the pandemic.
2.3 stars. (3 stars for the plot, 2.5 stars for the characters, 1.5 stars for the writing style. Averaged.)
My thanks to IBPA and One Mississippi Press LLC for providing the DRC of “The Third Act of Theo Gruene” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 21, 2025
3.5★
"She was an incredible child, capable of grasping meaning and nuance, yet often as green as a tender sprout."
Yes, that she was, Miss Penelope Pie Palmer, aka Pea, aged exactly eight-and-a-half on Pi Day. March 14.
[Pi Day, for the uninitiated, celebrates the calendar date of 3.14, the short version of the magical, mystical, never-ending number, pi, that is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter: C= πd. That's one I've always remembered, and it has been handy over the years, being roughly one-third, or close enough... but I digress.]
I digress as Penelope often does herself, wandering off into her vast imagination. But first, Theo. Theo Gruene is a 70-year-old widower, who since retiring from teaching, has buried himself in his favourite botanical pursuits, preserving specimens for posterity.
He is absorbed in this one morning when an insistent tapping at his door proves to be not the wind blowing something around, but the knocking of a small girl in a lime green raincoat.
"'The truth is, I missed my school bus by two measly minutes, and I can’t get back inside our house. I forgot my key, and it’s storming, and I don’t want to be struck by lightning.'
Theo had to listen carefully to keep up with her rapid-fire words.
'Would it be okay if I come inside and stay with you for a while?'
'Me? Well, no, I don’t—'
'My mom gets off work just before noon today, and I’ll go home then.' She swiped at her glasses with wet fingertips, further smearing the lenses. 'I won’t bother you. I promise.'
Too late for that, he thought."
Waaay too late, Theo. This is a warm-hearted story of a precocious little girl worming her way into the affections of an elderly neighbour in spite of his reservations. She is exceptionally bright, learns quickly, and he finds he loves teaching her. Lucky, that.
She and her mother, Ivy, live in a small flat over the garage of the house behind his backyard. In his backyard is a stray dog who seems to have adopted him. Penelope asks if she can come and play with the dog sometimes.
Ivy works at the nearby VA hospital while Penelope is at school. She invites Theo to dinner, to thank him, and the next day she arrives at his house to ask if he could look after Penelope while her school is closed because of coronavirus. Not only that, could he possibly teach her as well?
So much for his quiet, retired lifestyle. Before you know it, he has turned her loose in his library upstairs to choose whatever she wants to read. Of course her choices are not that of your run-of-the-mill schoolchild.
"When she finally returned, she was carrying three books. 'You sure have a bunch of old books up there.'
'Well, I’m an old man. Let’s see what you found.'
She dropped the books with a thud on the kitchen table and arranged them side by side.
A Confederacy of Dunces. To Kill a Mockingbird. Crime and Punishment
'Dostoevsky. Really?'
She nodded."
He is stunned and asks her why.
"Penelope studied the covers of the three novels before launching into her reasoning. Crime and Punishment sounds dark and intriguing to me, and since it’s huge, I imagine it must be filled with words I don’t know yet. I like the idea of expanding my vocabulary. Plus, I’ve never read any Russian literature, and that seems like an important thing to do.'
Next, she lay a palm against A Confederacy of Dunces. 'I like the title and even though I don’t fully understand the meaning of it, the cover makes the story look funny. And last, I’ve never read the "Mockingbird" book, but I’ve seen the movie, the one with Gregory Peck. It was very compelling, and since my mother says books are always better than movies, why wouldn’t I want to read it?"
We don't hear much about the first two books, but Penelope takes a fancy to Boo Radley and the holes where he hides gifts for Scout and Jem. She finds holes in the trees when they take the dog for walks, and it becomes a theme through the book.
When Ivy gets sick and sent to the 'regular' hospital, Theo wonders why nobody has checked on Penelope.
" 'My mother never told her boss about me. People don’t like to hire single mothers.'
'Now, why would you think something like that?'
Penelope glared at him. 'Because it’s the truth. No offense, Mr. Theo, but what would a seventy-year-old straight white man know about discrimination in the workplace? Especially discrimination against young women?'
'Excuse me, but I—'
'Remember what Scout’s father said? "You don’t know what someone else is going through until you walk in his shoes." 'I think that applies here.'
'Okay…well…'"
As you can see, the author does get a bit teachy-preachy here and there (okay, didactic and moralising, which is probably what Penelope would say), which I found a bit annoying. She has also created an outrageously well-informed little girl. But Penelope is not sophisticated. She can also be charmingly naïve, which sometimes catches 'Mr. Theo' off-guard, and which makes her somewhat more believable.
I still don't believe an eight-and-a-half-year-old would refer to 'Russian literature' but I decided to suspend disbelief, go with the flow, and enjoy the story and the twist at the end.
I think fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde will like this one, too. I know how many readers love her work.
Thanks to #NetGalley and One Mississippi for a review copy of #TheThirdActOfTheoGruene.
"She was an incredible child, capable of grasping meaning and nuance, yet often as green as a tender sprout."
Yes, that she was, Miss Penelope Pie Palmer, aka Pea, aged exactly eight-and-a-half on Pi Day. March 14.
[Pi Day, for the uninitiated, celebrates the calendar date of 3.14, the short version of the magical, mystical, never-ending number, pi, that is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter: C= πd. That's one I've always remembered, and it has been handy over the years, being roughly one-third, or close enough... but I digress.]
I digress as Penelope often does herself, wandering off into her vast imagination. But first, Theo. Theo Gruene is a 70-year-old widower, who since retiring from teaching, has buried himself in his favourite botanical pursuits, preserving specimens for posterity.
He is absorbed in this one morning when an insistent tapping at his door proves to be not the wind blowing something around, but the knocking of a small girl in a lime green raincoat.
"'The truth is, I missed my school bus by two measly minutes, and I can’t get back inside our house. I forgot my key, and it’s storming, and I don’t want to be struck by lightning.'
Theo had to listen carefully to keep up with her rapid-fire words.
'Would it be okay if I come inside and stay with you for a while?'
'Me? Well, no, I don’t—'
'My mom gets off work just before noon today, and I’ll go home then.' She swiped at her glasses with wet fingertips, further smearing the lenses. 'I won’t bother you. I promise.'
Too late for that, he thought."
Waaay too late, Theo. This is a warm-hearted story of a precocious little girl worming her way into the affections of an elderly neighbour in spite of his reservations. She is exceptionally bright, learns quickly, and he finds he loves teaching her. Lucky, that.
She and her mother, Ivy, live in a small flat over the garage of the house behind his backyard. In his backyard is a stray dog who seems to have adopted him. Penelope asks if she can come and play with the dog sometimes.
Ivy works at the nearby VA hospital while Penelope is at school. She invites Theo to dinner, to thank him, and the next day she arrives at his house to ask if he could look after Penelope while her school is closed because of coronavirus. Not only that, could he possibly teach her as well?
So much for his quiet, retired lifestyle. Before you know it, he has turned her loose in his library upstairs to choose whatever she wants to read. Of course her choices are not that of your run-of-the-mill schoolchild.
"When she finally returned, she was carrying three books. 'You sure have a bunch of old books up there.'
'Well, I’m an old man. Let’s see what you found.'
She dropped the books with a thud on the kitchen table and arranged them side by side.
A Confederacy of Dunces. To Kill a Mockingbird. Crime and Punishment
'Dostoevsky. Really?'
She nodded."
He is stunned and asks her why.
"Penelope studied the covers of the three novels before launching into her reasoning. Crime and Punishment sounds dark and intriguing to me, and since it’s huge, I imagine it must be filled with words I don’t know yet. I like the idea of expanding my vocabulary. Plus, I’ve never read any Russian literature, and that seems like an important thing to do.'
Next, she lay a palm against A Confederacy of Dunces. 'I like the title and even though I don’t fully understand the meaning of it, the cover makes the story look funny. And last, I’ve never read the "Mockingbird" book, but I’ve seen the movie, the one with Gregory Peck. It was very compelling, and since my mother says books are always better than movies, why wouldn’t I want to read it?"
We don't hear much about the first two books, but Penelope takes a fancy to Boo Radley and the holes where he hides gifts for Scout and Jem. She finds holes in the trees when they take the dog for walks, and it becomes a theme through the book.
When Ivy gets sick and sent to the 'regular' hospital, Theo wonders why nobody has checked on Penelope.
" 'My mother never told her boss about me. People don’t like to hire single mothers.'
'Now, why would you think something like that?'
Penelope glared at him. 'Because it’s the truth. No offense, Mr. Theo, but what would a seventy-year-old straight white man know about discrimination in the workplace? Especially discrimination against young women?'
'Excuse me, but I—'
'Remember what Scout’s father said? "You don’t know what someone else is going through until you walk in his shoes." 'I think that applies here.'
'Okay…well…'"
As you can see, the author does get a bit teachy-preachy here and there (okay, didactic and moralising, which is probably what Penelope would say), which I found a bit annoying. She has also created an outrageously well-informed little girl. But Penelope is not sophisticated. She can also be charmingly naïve, which sometimes catches 'Mr. Theo' off-guard, and which makes her somewhat more believable.
I still don't believe an eight-and-a-half-year-old would refer to 'Russian literature' but I decided to suspend disbelief, go with the flow, and enjoy the story and the twist at the end.
I think fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde will like this one, too. I know how many readers love her work.
Thanks to #NetGalley and One Mississippi for a review copy of #TheThirdActOfTheoGruene.
March 13, 2025
Opening this book, to quote the clever writer, I "felt as though a pleasant breeze had just moved through the neighborhood". Falling in love with the characters, I had no idea of the perils ahead for them nor the ingenious plot twists to follow. What a delightful gift it was to read, and reread, this story of extraordinary, unexpected growth and connection among a loose confederation of neighbors. Get ready for the brilliant, unforgettable child prodigy, who is the enchanting catalyst of miracles and mayhem. The Covid epidemic as backdrop provided a much needed reminder of a recent time when brave neighbors faced real danger to reach out and help one another, embodying the book's premise: "Sometimes we have to take a stand for the greater good".
June 17, 2025
“It’s pretty cool how nature takes care of itself, one thing thriving only because of another thing”. I loved this quote and felt it described the relationship between all the characters in this story. What a difference it would make if we all understood that we only thrive when we take care of each other. It is written by the author of if not the top at least in top 3 books I’ve read in my 70 + years - The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. (5 stars). And this 4th book did not disappoint. Loved the characters and story. Highly recommend Bernice Runs Away also. Looking forward to book 5!
March 13, 2025
This talented author has written a page turner. I could not out this book down. An elderly man…a sweet neighbor girl with her mother…a hopeful romantic…the recipe for a cannot put down story. Secrets…red herrings…guessing…realistic characters keep this story moving quickly. This book is unique…there are many avenues to explore….i would give this book plus five. I can’t wait for more from this author. Thanks
May 18, 2025
Review: The Third Act of Theo Gruene by Talya Tate Boerner
🎭 Overview
Talya Tate Boerner’s The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a tender, witty exploration of reinvention in the golden years. When 72-year-old Theo Gruene’s meticulously planned retirement unravels after a health scare, he embarks on an unscripted journey—part pilgrimage, part rebellion—that challenges his notions of legacy, love, and what it means to truly live. Boerner’s prose sparkles with humor and heart, weaving a narrative that celebrates the messy, magnificent possibilities of life’s “third act.”
✨ Key Strengths
👴 Unforgettable Protagonist – Theo’s curmudgeonly charm and gradual vulnerability make him instantly endearing and deeply human.
🌱 Thematic Resonance – A poignant meditation on aging, purpose, and the courage to embrace uncertainty.
🍃 Nuanced Relationships – From strained family ties to surprising new friendships, every interaction feels authentic and layered.
🎨 Balanced Tone – Boerner masterfully balances levity and gravity, ensuring the story never tips into saccharine sentimentality or bleakness.
⚠️ Considerations
⏳ Pacing Patience – The introspective first half may test readers craving immediate action, but the payoff is rich.
🎭 Familiar Tropes – Some narrative beats (grumpy protagonist softened by adventure) will feel comforting rather than groundbreaking to seasoned literary fiction fans.
⭐ Score Breakdown (0–5 Stars)
✍️ Prose & Voice → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) (Like a late-afternoon sunbeam—warm, golden, and lingering.)
🎭 Character Depth → ★★★★★ (5/5)
🌿 Thematic Impact → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
💫 Emotional Payoff → ★★★★ (4/5)
Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A love letter to the unfinished symphony of life.
🎯 Perfect For Fans Of
📚 A Man Called Ove’s grumpy-yet-endearing hero meets The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’s reflective journey
🍂 Stories of late-in-life awakening and intergenerational connections
🎨 Character-driven narratives with equal parts humor and heartache
🙏 Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Talya Tate Boerner for the advance copy. The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a testament to Boerner’s talent for crafting stories that nestle into the soul—a novel that reminds us it’s never too late for wonder.
This is a 2025 release poised to become a book club darling and a balm for anyone navigating life’s unexpected chapters.
🎭 Overview
Talya Tate Boerner’s The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a tender, witty exploration of reinvention in the golden years. When 72-year-old Theo Gruene’s meticulously planned retirement unravels after a health scare, he embarks on an unscripted journey—part pilgrimage, part rebellion—that challenges his notions of legacy, love, and what it means to truly live. Boerner’s prose sparkles with humor and heart, weaving a narrative that celebrates the messy, magnificent possibilities of life’s “third act.”
✨ Key Strengths
👴 Unforgettable Protagonist – Theo’s curmudgeonly charm and gradual vulnerability make him instantly endearing and deeply human.
🌱 Thematic Resonance – A poignant meditation on aging, purpose, and the courage to embrace uncertainty.
🍃 Nuanced Relationships – From strained family ties to surprising new friendships, every interaction feels authentic and layered.
🎨 Balanced Tone – Boerner masterfully balances levity and gravity, ensuring the story never tips into saccharine sentimentality or bleakness.
⚠️ Considerations
⏳ Pacing Patience – The introspective first half may test readers craving immediate action, but the payoff is rich.
🎭 Familiar Tropes – Some narrative beats (grumpy protagonist softened by adventure) will feel comforting rather than groundbreaking to seasoned literary fiction fans.
⭐ Score Breakdown (0–5 Stars)
✍️ Prose & Voice → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) (Like a late-afternoon sunbeam—warm, golden, and lingering.)
🎭 Character Depth → ★★★★★ (5/5)
🌿 Thematic Impact → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
💫 Emotional Payoff → ★★★★ (4/5)
Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A love letter to the unfinished symphony of life.
🎯 Perfect For Fans Of
📚 A Man Called Ove’s grumpy-yet-endearing hero meets The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’s reflective journey
🍂 Stories of late-in-life awakening and intergenerational connections
🎨 Character-driven narratives with equal parts humor and heartache
🙏 Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Talya Tate Boerner for the advance copy. The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a testament to Boerner’s talent for crafting stories that nestle into the soul—a novel that reminds us it’s never too late for wonder.
This is a 2025 release poised to become a book club darling and a balm for anyone navigating life’s unexpected chapters.
May 22, 2025
This book is a heartwarming gem. I couldn't put it down.
It absolutely loved Penelope Pie and her unique relationship with an old lonley man.
The story is expertly woven with humor and sadness, making it easy to become attachedtothe characters. While I felt the ending dragged on a bit, the overall experience was a joy to read.
This book was well written and lovable. I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a feel good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and One Mississippi Press LLC for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Published 20 May 2025.
It absolutely loved Penelope Pie and her unique relationship with an old lonley man.
The story is expertly woven with humor and sadness, making it easy to become attachedtothe characters. While I felt the ending dragged on a bit, the overall experience was a joy to read.
This book was well written and lovable. I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a feel good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and One Mississippi Press LLC for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Published 20 May 2025.
May 18, 2025
The Third Act of Theo Gruene Review
Talya Tate Boerner’s The Third Act of Theo Gruene is the kind of novel that settles into your heart gently, deeply human, and full of quiet hope. It’s not just about redemption; it’s about the way life nudges us toward belonging, even when we feel lost.
Theo Gruene carries the weight of his past, but as the story unfolds, he finds that healing isn’t about forgetting it’s about embracing the people and places that remind us who we are. Boerner’s storytelling has a warmth that feels like sitting on the porch at twilight, listening to familiar voices weave stories that comfort and reveal. The atmosphere is textured with nostalgia, kindness, and the simple beauty of connection.
The relationships in this novel are woven with quiet strength, the delicate ones, the steadfast ones, and the ones that surprise us in the best way. Boerner understands how love and forgiveness work in the small, everyday moments, and she writes with a tenderness that makes this story feel deeply personal.
For anyone drawn to books that reflect life’s soft, unspoken truths, The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a gift. It’s not about grand endings; it’s about the small, meaningful shifts that remind us that home is never just a place it’s the people who make us feel like we belong.
Talya Tate Boerner’s The Third Act of Theo Gruene is the kind of novel that settles into your heart gently, deeply human, and full of quiet hope. It’s not just about redemption; it’s about the way life nudges us toward belonging, even when we feel lost.
Theo Gruene carries the weight of his past, but as the story unfolds, he finds that healing isn’t about forgetting it’s about embracing the people and places that remind us who we are. Boerner’s storytelling has a warmth that feels like sitting on the porch at twilight, listening to familiar voices weave stories that comfort and reveal. The atmosphere is textured with nostalgia, kindness, and the simple beauty of connection.
The relationships in this novel are woven with quiet strength, the delicate ones, the steadfast ones, and the ones that surprise us in the best way. Boerner understands how love and forgiveness work in the small, everyday moments, and she writes with a tenderness that makes this story feel deeply personal.
For anyone drawn to books that reflect life’s soft, unspoken truths, The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a gift. It’s not about grand endings; it’s about the small, meaningful shifts that remind us that home is never just a place it’s the people who make us feel like we belong.
May 20, 2025
I knew right when I started reading that this would be an extrordinary book. I was hooked from the first page.
I’ve read Tayla Tate Boerner’s previous books and I love her way of storytelling.
Theo Gruene is the main character of this book, an introvert 70 year old widower with a life mission of catalouging dried plant speciments.
Enter Penelope Pea, the real main character if you ask me, even if the story is told from Theo’s perspective.
Penelope lives in a neighbour house with her mother Ivy who is a nurse. When school is closed due to covid Penelope gets to stay with mr Theo while her mother works. Penelope is no ordinary child, she is very intelligent and Theo sometimes finds it hard to keep up. Then Ivy gets covid…
I’m amazed at the way Theo is described, with so much depth and so many layers. Some things that should be easy are really hard and grief is something that never really goes away, it can sneak up on you. Belonging is a deep human need, but it’s not always easy to find where you belong or to understand that you belong. But love endures and love finds a way.
It’s an absolutely wonderful book.
I’ve read Tayla Tate Boerner’s previous books and I love her way of storytelling.
Theo Gruene is the main character of this book, an introvert 70 year old widower with a life mission of catalouging dried plant speciments.
Enter Penelope Pea, the real main character if you ask me, even if the story is told from Theo’s perspective.
Penelope lives in a neighbour house with her mother Ivy who is a nurse. When school is closed due to covid Penelope gets to stay with mr Theo while her mother works. Penelope is no ordinary child, she is very intelligent and Theo sometimes finds it hard to keep up. Then Ivy gets covid…
I’m amazed at the way Theo is described, with so much depth and so many layers. Some things that should be easy are really hard and grief is something that never really goes away, it can sneak up on you. Belonging is a deep human need, but it’s not always easy to find where you belong or to understand that you belong. But love endures and love finds a way.
It’s an absolutely wonderful book.
May 11, 2025
This is an unusual book, with themes we encounter less than we should. The characters are very much that: characters, each in their own unique way. They are deep, complex, interesting, but totally convincing. I wasn't sure whether I'd become engaged at the start. It seemed improbable and unlike many books I couldn't envisage where it might go. Often the trajectory and outcome are entirely predictable, and sometimes there's a level of pleasure in that, if the book is well written. But with The Third Act of Theo Gruene, each revelation came as a surprise, but once seen made perfect sense. The satisfaction came in the weaving together of the past and the present, the coming together of all the characters and the growth, healing and love that lay here. Once I became engaged and wanted to know more, particularly in the relationship between Theo and Penelope, it was compelling. That it was placed in the pandemic years was also valuable. I believe many of us would benefit from revisiting and processing it. I'm delighted I came upon this book and hope to read more from this author in the future.
May 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and One Mississippi Press for an advanced copy of this novel.
The author’s dedication, ‘to those who look for magic in the ordinary,’ sums up what this book is about. Its characters are mostly ordinary people—though that can’t be said of Penelope Pea, who takes up the better part of plot and narrative. What’s important is that, Penelope included, they all want to live ordinary lives with stability, homes of their own, enough money to be comfortable, friends and family to rely on.
Theo Gruene is a 70 year old retired professor who still takes contracts from the university to preserve obscure plant specimens. His life is unvarying and mostly solitary, but he likes it that way. He still keenly feels the loss of his wife, who died forty just as they were finalizing adoption plans. He has no family and only one true friend. He is polite but keeps his distance from his neighbours. He is a self-described curmudgeon.
Of course, that has to change. Suddenly an extremely precocious non stop chatterbox of a child, 7 year old Penelope Pea Palmer, shows up at his front door on a rainy day. She is looking for shelter because she forgot her key and her nurse-mother Ivy is still at work. He treats her kindly but not terribly warmly. Soon her highly-stressed single mother Ivy, a hospital nurse assistant, along with an endearing stray dog that Penelope names Alice, infiltrate his home and his life. Ivy is not far behind.
Theo likes the new energy and companionship they bring but also wants to preserve his quiet existence. But more change comes as the world is rocked by Covid 19. Just as everyone is ordered to mask, isolate and shelter at home, Theo’s life expands as never before.
The ending is fairly predictable, as it usually is in these ‘found family’ stories, but there are twists along the way that keep readers guessing regardless. The author writes the characters into very real people, including the ones who are just in and out of the story. Penelope is the true care of the story, with a quip for everything and a catalogue of a memory for facts—that she never hesitates to spout. She is very funny, but I confess to finding her also annoying, as does Theo, and even her own mother, who comments at times that the child really is ‘a lot.’ Ivy’s troubles make evoke sympathy, though she steps over the line of ‘entitlement’ occasionally. It’s as though being quiet, solitary and self-sufficient are character flaws. I really did enjoy this story nonetheless. I guess it’s obvious I’m a Theo type myself.
The author’s dedication, ‘to those who look for magic in the ordinary,’ sums up what this book is about. Its characters are mostly ordinary people—though that can’t be said of Penelope Pea, who takes up the better part of plot and narrative. What’s important is that, Penelope included, they all want to live ordinary lives with stability, homes of their own, enough money to be comfortable, friends and family to rely on.
Theo Gruene is a 70 year old retired professor who still takes contracts from the university to preserve obscure plant specimens. His life is unvarying and mostly solitary, but he likes it that way. He still keenly feels the loss of his wife, who died forty just as they were finalizing adoption plans. He has no family and only one true friend. He is polite but keeps his distance from his neighbours. He is a self-described curmudgeon.
Of course, that has to change. Suddenly an extremely precocious non stop chatterbox of a child, 7 year old Penelope Pea Palmer, shows up at his front door on a rainy day. She is looking for shelter because she forgot her key and her nurse-mother Ivy is still at work. He treats her kindly but not terribly warmly. Soon her highly-stressed single mother Ivy, a hospital nurse assistant, along with an endearing stray dog that Penelope names Alice, infiltrate his home and his life. Ivy is not far behind.
Theo likes the new energy and companionship they bring but also wants to preserve his quiet existence. But more change comes as the world is rocked by Covid 19. Just as everyone is ordered to mask, isolate and shelter at home, Theo’s life expands as never before.
The ending is fairly predictable, as it usually is in these ‘found family’ stories, but there are twists along the way that keep readers guessing regardless. The author writes the characters into very real people, including the ones who are just in and out of the story. Penelope is the true care of the story, with a quip for everything and a catalogue of a memory for facts—that she never hesitates to spout. She is very funny, but I confess to finding her also annoying, as does Theo, and even her own mother, who comments at times that the child really is ‘a lot.’ Ivy’s troubles make evoke sympathy, though she steps over the line of ‘entitlement’ occasionally. It’s as though being quiet, solitary and self-sufficient are character flaws. I really did enjoy this story nonetheless. I guess it’s obvious I’m a Theo type myself.
September 3, 2025
Talya Tate Boerner continues to amaze me with her ability to pull you right into the characters of her books. I’ve read “The accidental salvation of Gracie Lee”, “Gene Everywhere” , “Bernice Runs Away” and now “the third act of Theo Gruene!”
I was hooked right from the beginning and because of Talya’s descriptive writing style, I could picture Theo and Penelope in my mind. I love how Penelope turns theo’s predictable life upside down! As the story unfolds, we see how much they truly need each other!
I love that the characters live in Fayetteville, Arkansas and that the author reminds us of how Covid affected each one of us.
I highly recommend this book to “those who look for magic in the ordinary “…as Talya writes at the beginning!
…currently reading it a second time through!!
Can’t wait for book #5!!
Becky smith
I was hooked right from the beginning and because of Talya’s descriptive writing style, I could picture Theo and Penelope in my mind. I love how Penelope turns theo’s predictable life upside down! As the story unfolds, we see how much they truly need each other!
I love that the characters live in Fayetteville, Arkansas and that the author reminds us of how Covid affected each one of us.
I highly recommend this book to “those who look for magic in the ordinary “…as Talya writes at the beginning!
…currently reading it a second time through!!
Can’t wait for book #5!!
Becky smith
March 19, 2025
I really loved this book. A senior man lives his quiet and orderly life, until a young, precocious neighbor girl shows up, showing him that sometimes shaking up your life is the very thing you need.
Covid happens, and all of their lives are changed.
I loved the characters...all so different, all well done.
Thank you to Mississippi Press, LLC and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheThirdActOfTheoGroene #MississippiPressLLC #TalyaTateBoerner
Covid happens, and all of their lives are changed.
I loved the characters...all so different, all well done.
Thank you to Mississippi Press, LLC and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheThirdActOfTheoGroene #MississippiPressLLC #TalyaTateBoerner
April 23, 2025
I challenge anyone to read this book and not fall in love with Penelope Pie. This is a character that you are instantly invested in and stays with you after you finish the story. The writing is exquisite and the story flows along so nicely that you never want it to end. Setting this story against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic allowed me to revisit this unprecedented time and be reminded of the impact on daily life. I was totally unprepared for the ending and really had not even considered the possibility of how these characters might be connected. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciate the ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
July 9, 2025
I loved this book! Great characters that were fully developed, and made me care about what happened to them. I especially enjoyed references to places in Northwest Arkansas, where I live.
Tayla Tate Boerner is my new favorite author.
She tells her stories with warmth, empathy for the feelings of what her characters are going through, and satisfying endings.
Tayla Tate Boerner is my new favorite author.
She tells her stories with warmth, empathy for the feelings of what her characters are going through, and satisfying endings.
September 13, 2025
Very well-written book with a little mystery and suspense, but mostly heart-warming and emotional. Examines relationships before, during, and after the stressful times of the worldwide virus. Spans relationships across generations and economic means. Wonderful to read about the changing of relationships from life events and circumstances. A great read that keeps the reader intrigued from cover to cover. Penelope and Theo are fully developed characters that seem ill-matched but the more we learn…
June 11, 2025
I loved this book! There is magic in the well told story of Theo Gruene and the characters who enter his world. Twists and turns, sadness and joy, and real life adventures of Theo will delight the reader.
It’s a must read!
Becky Maxwell
It’s a must read!
Becky Maxwell
July 17, 2025
Very heartwarming & funny! You grow to love the characters as you progress through the book! And the author is from Arkansas!!!
June 29, 2025
Another great read by Talya Boerner! Enjoyed the quirky characters and original story!
July 20, 2025
A Pleasure
Man finds dog finds family. It was pleasure to read a relaxing story of love lost and love found. 7
Man finds dog finds family. It was pleasure to read a relaxing story of love lost and love found. 7
August 17, 2025
Talya’s words describing events, personalities & life are incredible. I’ve loved all her books! Especially in this one the mention of Northwest Arkansas landmarks !
May 4, 2025
I loved this book and definitely recommend it! I was always curious how Theo would react and what he would do next - loved his transformation. I was never quite sure what would happen next - full of adventures with Penelope and lots of twists I didn’t expect.
May 13, 2025
I was so looking forward to this book. I loved Bernice Runs Away by this author. Although I really liked this story so much, the political views thrown in by the author (as a character's views, but I think the author's) really upset me to the point that is what I will remember about the story. That is a shame.
I read to escape life. I do not pick up a book to read which I think is political or will have it interwoven in the story. It does not matter if I agree or not with the view, I just do not want it in a book that is not political in nature. I am thinking as I write this, perhaps that is why I like to read UK authors so much. They rarely have an opinion of US politics in their books.
I love books with older characters, especially if they interact with a younger person. The plot of this book is not unique in the use of an older, wiser, grumpy person as the main character. I do think it has a special twist to it that I have not read in a book prior to this. The young character is a whoot and she was a joy to get to know.
Overall a wonderfully written book. A reader not as sensitive to political views will thoroughly enjoy this story.
Thank you to One Mississippi Press LLC and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I read to escape life. I do not pick up a book to read which I think is political or will have it interwoven in the story. It does not matter if I agree or not with the view, I just do not want it in a book that is not political in nature. I am thinking as I write this, perhaps that is why I like to read UK authors so much. They rarely have an opinion of US politics in their books.
I love books with older characters, especially if they interact with a younger person. The plot of this book is not unique in the use of an older, wiser, grumpy person as the main character. I do think it has a special twist to it that I have not read in a book prior to this. The young character is a whoot and she was a joy to get to know.
Overall a wonderfully written book. A reader not as sensitive to political views will thoroughly enjoy this story.
Thank you to One Mississippi Press LLC and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
May 13, 2025
Inspiring story of finding friendship in difficult times😷
This novel was lovely, a true pleasure to read and become acquainted with a lonely, widowed senior citizen; an energetic, precocious young girl; and a beleaguered and desperate mother. All are caught up in the pandemic as it hits Fayatteville, Arkansas and forces them to reach out and form bonds of support and friendship to weather those scary times.
The author does a stellar job of capturing the atmosphere of the lockdown, with school closures, takeout only dining, overworked hospitals, and creating such endearing characters, particularly young Penelope who remains eternally curious, open and hopeful despite her history of hand to mouth living conditions. The story of her ubiquitous green raincoat really moved me. She's fiercely loyal to her hard-working mother and finds a way to break into Theo's solitary existence, making him a more caring individual and more involved with his neighbors and community.
Can't recommend it enough.
Thanks to One Mississippi Press LLC and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
This novel was lovely, a true pleasure to read and become acquainted with a lonely, widowed senior citizen; an energetic, precocious young girl; and a beleaguered and desperate mother. All are caught up in the pandemic as it hits Fayatteville, Arkansas and forces them to reach out and form bonds of support and friendship to weather those scary times.
The author does a stellar job of capturing the atmosphere of the lockdown, with school closures, takeout only dining, overworked hospitals, and creating such endearing characters, particularly young Penelope who remains eternally curious, open and hopeful despite her history of hand to mouth living conditions. The story of her ubiquitous green raincoat really moved me. She's fiercely loyal to her hard-working mother and finds a way to break into Theo's solitary existence, making him a more caring individual and more involved with his neighbors and community.
Can't recommend it enough.
Thanks to One Mississippi Press LLC and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
May 13, 2025
This book snuck up on me. At the start, I felt cranky when I realized the story was set during the covid lockdown. And then I felt cranky again at the precocious tweeness of the child character. And yet, I ended up falling in love with the entire cast of characters, the lovely story of growth and redemption and found family, and the plot twists that made the choice of setting it during lockdown perfectly suited. Theo, a retired botanist and lonely widower, has his quiet and predictable life upended when a little girl appears at his door during a thunderstorm and asks to come inside. Penelope is a larger-than-life character, and she and her mother Ivy open up Theo's life in unexpected directions. Thank you to NetGalley, Talya Tate Boerner, and One Mississippi Press LLC for a digital review copy.
May 25, 2025
“The Third Act of Theo Gruene” by Talya Tate Boerner is an utterly charming, feel-good novel that had me turning the pages one after another until I finished the book in a couple of sittings. Theo Gruene, a retired and solitary botanist is disturbed one afternoon from classifying seeds by a knock on his door. The moment precocious and brilliant eight-year-old Penelope Pie Palmer steps into his world, life would never be the same again. The COVID pandemic is just beginning, and Penelope’s mother, a struggling nurse’s aide, asks Theo to teach her daughter when classes are cancelled. Theo learns that he no longer wants to be alone and that it’s never too late to learn to love and to have a family. This book brought me to happy tears more than a few times. I just loved it.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book. My opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book. My opinions are my own.
July 7, 2025
I was given this book by goodreads for an honest review-
What a wonderful book- a breath of fresh air-
A little girl knocks on Theos door. It is pouring out, she missed the bus, and her mom’s at work, she’s locked out of the house, can she come in? Thus begins the unique friendship between Penelope and Theo. A smart little girl alone with her mom struggling to make it. Covid hits, school shut down and mom asks if Penelope can hang out with him while she works. A lonely man’s life becomes so much more as does the little girl. A touching story of a life changed by a precious little girl!
What a wonderful book- a breath of fresh air-
A little girl knocks on Theos door. It is pouring out, she missed the bus, and her mom’s at work, she’s locked out of the house, can she come in? Thus begins the unique friendship between Penelope and Theo. A smart little girl alone with her mom struggling to make it. Covid hits, school shut down and mom asks if Penelope can hang out with him while she works. A lonely man’s life becomes so much more as does the little girl. A touching story of a life changed by a precious little girl!
May 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and One Mississippi Press LLC for allowing me to read an ARC of The Third Act of Theo Gruene by Talya Tate Boerner, in exchange for my honest review.
4 1/2 stars!!
A cantankerous older man and a persistent little girl. What could go wrong? What could go right?
This was a beautifully written, charming and delightful story about letting people in, and letting fear and insecurities go.
The characters are realistic and fall-in-loveable. With twists and turns, it's just like life.
I look forward to reading more by Talya Tate Boerner.
4 1/2 stars!!
A cantankerous older man and a persistent little girl. What could go wrong? What could go right?
This was a beautifully written, charming and delightful story about letting people in, and letting fear and insecurities go.
The characters are realistic and fall-in-loveable. With twists and turns, it's just like life.
I look forward to reading more by Talya Tate Boerner.
August 14, 2025
Talya always manages to create remarkable, memorable characters. Their stories become our stories as we follow their journeys. Theo Gruene keeps us hoping he finds some joy and companionship in spite of himself. Penelope makes us smile. Nita, initially a busybody, turns into a kind, caring neighbor. We are in suspense as we read and are pleasantly surprised at the end of the book.
“The Third Act of Theo Gruene” has become a favorite addition to my bookshelves and will be read over and over. Good job again, Talya!
“The Third Act of Theo Gruene” has become a favorite addition to my bookshelves and will be read over and over. Good job again, Talya!
September 29, 2025
The Third Act of Theo Gruene is a story of friendship and family. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's not an action-packed read. But I did enjoy the story. The author managed to hit all the main events during the time frame of COVID without the story being too heavy or depressing. Definitely a happy ending. Thanks to the author, One Mississippi Press LLC, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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