Life: A Love Story

by Elizabeth Berg

In this warm, intimate novel, a woman celebrates the joy she finds in the ordinary things in life and discovers it’s never too late to start new adventures. By the New York Times bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv and Open House

Florence “Flo” Greene is nearing the end of her life, and she decides to leave her house and an account of her life for Ruthie, the younger woman who grew up next door, moved away, and still is like a surrogate daughter. As Flo writes to Ruthie about the meaning of beloved things in her home and about events in her past, she also tries new adventures of her own. She intervenes in the lives of friends in her neighborhood.

Flo's project has been to encourage Teresa, a wise but unconfident woman, to open her heart to romance. Flo goes to the library to get advice from Mimi, a librarian. She encourages Ruthie, who is contemplating divorce, to try again with her husband, by sharing a startling secret long buried about Flo’s own seemingly perfect husband and marriage.

In her final weeks, Flo leaves an indelible mark on others, as this moving novel celebrates life, change, and ways to discover new happiness, friendship, and love.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Friendship, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 17, 2026

About the author

Elizabeth Berg is an American novelist.
She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and lived in Boston prior to her residence in Chicago. She studied English and Humanities at the University of Minnesota, but later ended up with a nursing degree. Her writing career started when she won an essay contest in Parents magazine. Since her debut novel in 1993, her novels have sold in large numbers and have received several awards and nominations, although some critics have tagged them as sentimental. She won the New England Book Awards in 1997.
The novels Durable Goods, Joy School, and True to Form form a trilogy about the 12-year-old Katie Nash, in part based on the author's own experience as a daughter in a military family. Her essay "The Pretend Knitter" appears in the anthology Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting, published by W. W. Norton & Company in November 2013.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of sweet and uplifting story that I need once in a while after reading a tough one . 92 year old Flo has passed away . She’s written a letter to her former younger neighbor Ruthie she befriended from the time Ruthie was a little girl. It’s a long letter and as Flo has so much to tell her, she writes it piecemeal . In between the writing sessions, we get to meet Flo in her last days.

Flo tells Ruthie that she has left her the house and all its contents. She explains the meaning of some of the things in the house that we’re important to her - set of salt and pepper shakers, a picture of her in a red coat, a single rubber band and so many more things. Mostly, though Flo wants to tell Ruthie one big important thing that will help her with a problem she has. In doing so, she imparts a lifetime of wisdom about marriage, about patience, about forgiveness, about love.

It’s good to be reminded when life is tough, as it is at times for all of us, that the ordinary every day things and events in our lives , our memories of them are meaningful . From Flo’s letter, we also learn how much she and Ruthie enriched each others lives. That too, is a beautiful thing to remind ourselves of when life is tough. It did that for me. I think some people could find that’s there’s not enough action or excitement for them, but it’s short and suited me just fine right now. If you enjoyed Berg’s Arthur Truluv novels , this one’s for you .

I received a copy of this from Random House through NetGalley.

[☮Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading another Elizabeth Berg book is like drinking a hot chocolate. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and I cannot resist. A comp copy from the publisher and NetGalley, this one comes out in the Spring of 2026. A fitting cover and story for springtime.

Main character Flo knows she's dying so sets out to write a very long letter to the young woman to whom she will leave her house and treasured belongings. As she writes that letter we learn about Flo, her marriage, her upstanding character, her friends, and struggles. There isn't a lot of action or drama, so may not be for everyone. But it follows the pattern of Berg's latest books, concerning aging with grace or dying with dignity.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Life: A Love Story, by Elizabeth Berg, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Florence Flo Greene is getting up there in years. She had a good life. Fell in love, had great friends and neighbor's This was a nice read.

[Seawitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Elizabeth Berg. An elderly widow without family prepares for death by writing a letter, with revelations small and large, to a younger woman who had once been like a daughter to her.

The protagonist Flo is very likable. Some of her story seems a bit too good to be true, but you want her to have new friends suddenly at 92 and to have had the (almost) perfect marriage she describes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life: A Love Story
By Elizabeth Berg


A TOUCHING AND SENTIMENTAL STORY OF A LIFE WELL LIVED

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Flo Greene, who is 94, can’t see very well or walk very far. As she nears the end of her life, she wants to set her affairs in order. She is leaving her house and her life story for Ruthie, a former neighbor and surrogate daughter. She is writing Ruthie a letter about all of her beloved possessions and the meanings behind them. In these final days, Flo also explores some new adventures and meets some new neighbors. Flo encourages her new friend Teresa to open her heart to romance and dating websites, and even urges Ruthie to try again with her husband by revealing a secret about her own marriage. In her final weeks, Flo’s words of wisdom leave a lasting impression on those who knew her.

REVIEW
LIFE: A LOVE STORY is a sweet, sentimental exploration of Flo’s life. Author Elizabeth Berg’s writing weaves the endearing vignettes of Flo’s lessons learned over her lifetime into a beautiful tapestry of a life. I loved reading about Flo’s positive attitude and the possessions that held special meaning to her… sometimes a rubber band is not simply a rubber band, and a toothpick holder is not just a toothpick holder. The letter to Ruthie, which explains Flo’s sentiments, is the perfect mechanism for telling this spellbinding story.

One of my favorite vignettes Flo tells is a conversation she had with Champ, a neighbor's white elderly dog, as they sat together on the front porch, rocking and watching the squirrels go by. Read it, love it!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this touching book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Publisher Random House
Published March 17, 2026
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the author's books forever and her newest is poignant and beautifully written. Highly recommended!

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly sweet and moving novel. It is very short and I read it in a couple of hours. It is basically one long letter from Flo to her former neighbor Ruthie.

In the story Flo shares stories from her life as well as lots of advice that revolves around love. Flo is in her 90s and has seen a lot over the years. She had a long marriage to Terrance which was not always easy. She was never able to have kids but Flo never lost her love of life. Her advice in the book was very heartfelt and I think anyone would love hearing it. I felt like this book enriched my life. I also had an older neighbor growing up who I used to visit and hear stories from. This novel just really resonated with me and I think it is a book everyone should read.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book. Flo was an unforgettable character and I enjoyed reading about her reflections on significant moments and events from her life. The way little items represent the memories was magical and the letter she writes about it all was an interesting way to read about it all, rather than just writing it into the plot like normal. This book got me reflecting on my own life and my future. This is an easy read that will tug at your heart. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rochelle Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Berg inspired me to become a writer, and I appreciate how she's remained true to her brand and big-hearted voice. Layered, emotional, and deep. That's Berg. And in her latest, she tackles saying goodbye while sharing the beautiful lessons of life and all it has to offer. Nostalgic with Berg's signature warmth and wisdom. Highly recommend.

[Karen Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Florence, or Flo as she’s best known, who has just learned she only has a few weeks to live. Flo (age 92) lost her husband, Terrence, years ago and they had no children, but she wants to leave her house to her friend Ruthie, who once lived nearby as a child. She decides to write Ruthie a letter to explain some of her home’s quirky contents, and the letter is a sweet one-sided conversation filled with both funny and serious stories of Flo’s memories. Interspersed with the letter are third-person snippets about Flo’s interactions with her friends. She makes friends with Teresa her cat hides under her porch and learns that Teresa is a “death doula.” The characters, Flo in particular, are what make this novel so special; her life with Terrence and her friends are filled with lessons she passes on to Ruthie. Delightful! This was my first Elizabeth Berg novel, and it won’t be the last. Thanks to NetGalley and Booklist for the arc!

[SueK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart, my heart.
This book is lovely, gentle, nostalgic. Makes me wish so much for that aspect of the past to still be how things are.
There was a time that neighbor women always had the offer of a cup of coffee, and maybe a cake available. The story of Flo, her letter to the young woman who will inherit her house, and the importance of the gentle life she made, will stay with me a very long time. Life should never be so busy that we can’t make a gentle life.

Highly recommend. Thank you Elizabeth Berg for a story to cherish.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for the digital ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story about love, life, death and living in the moment. Florence, 'Flo' is 92 years old and recently diagnosed with cancer. The love of her life Terrence past away many years ago. She has no children or family left. Flo has lived in the same neighborhood all her married life. She made many friends. Most of her old friends have moved away. Flo is writing a letter to an old friend, Ruth. Ruth was a little girl in the old neighborhood that Flo took under her wing as her own. In this letter, Flo writes about different objects in her home and their meaning. She wants Ruth to have them. As Flo is reminiscing, she realizes that she has lived a wonderful, full life. This book is sweet, fun and a little sad. Thanks to Net Galley for ARC.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. While this isn't my usual genre, I enjoyed it. The writing is beautiful but also simple. The story is cozy and sweet, but very little happens, as it is essentially a collection of recollections of a life well-lived. I'd recommend reading this on a weekend when you want to curl up in a blanket burrito and read a novel that feels like a big hug.

[Eyre_i_breathe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely little book this was! And can you believe this was my first foray into the works of Elizabeth Berg? The aptly named Life: A Love Story truly is a sort of love letter to life. It centers around 92-year-old Flo, who knows her days are coming to a close after a cancer diagnosis. She looks around at her home, her life, and then takes up her pen and begins writing a letter to her dear friend Ruthie, detailing the significance behind seemingly ordinary objects that surround her. Who knew a rubber band, for instance, could hold so much meaning? Each of these objects is attached to a memory, and in this way, she looks back on a life well lived. This was such a bittersweet, tender read. "Reflective" is the word that kept popping into my mind as I turned the pages. This quiet slip of a novel made me pause and look around in gratitude at all the ordinary miracles each day brings.

[Jamie Cha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I like good fiction. This was the first book I read from this author, but now I hope to read the rest of the authors books. This was good fiction!

I finished this book in about 25 hours. I can't tell you the last time I finished a book this quickly. It is an easy book to read. The book is broken up fairly short chapters. The book does go from present time to back in time. This works well in this book.

I liked all the characters in this book. The characters have flaws, like all of us. All the characters are likeable. The characters are not too predictable.

I didn't know where the story was going. The best fictional books are those that aren't predictable. The last chapter was the juiciest. All of the book was good.

I am so thankful to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the loveliest books I've ever read! Theresa is a death doula who visits Flo--who is nearly 100--before she dies. The novel is told in a series of alternating chapters; letters she writes to Ruth--a neighbor to whom she is leaving her house--and her own journal entries about her life and husband Terence. It's a beautiful lesson to all of us to find whatever "pockets" of joy we can while we are here to do it and live each day as if it's our last. i'm fairly certain that if God exists, she would be a woman!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I finish a book written by Elizabeth Berg I am left with a nostalgic and cozy warm feeling. Her newest novel, Life a Love Story, is a delightful story about an elderly lady named Flo Greene. Flo is in her 90’s and her cancer diagnosis has triggered her to get her affairs in order. I enjoyed Flo’s life reflection as she recalled her good and not so good life events. It is a lovely story.
Thank You to the publisher and Netgalley for the early reader’s copy. This review is my own opinion.



Flo who is an elderly and unfortunately, terminally ill sweet little lady. Flo has a loving and caring heart as she reminisces about her life with her husband Terrance and the little neighbor child who lived next door years ago.
As Flo prepares and settles her affairs I got an insight into her simple but wonderful life and it made me feel nostalgic about my own life and I was able to reflect on my many happy and sometimes sad memories.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Love is so that people have a reason”

You don’t need a better reason to read this lovely book.

Florence Greene is ninety-two years old, and has received a somber diagnosis. Working with her new friend, fifty-one year old Teresa McNair, who happens to be a “death doula”, Florence is managing the transition from life to death gracefully. So much so that she is writing a letter, an autobiography of sorts, to her much-loved friend, Ruth Elmer, who will be her heir.

In this letter, in her intimately present first-person voice, as Florence reviews the “things” all around her, (remnants of her life), and tells Ruth their stories, we come to know Flo’s own story. Tender and often profound, Flo is feisty, meddlesome and vulnerable, a sort of Olive Kitteridge (one of this readers favorite literary characters) with perhaps fewer rough edges.

Beginning with her blossoming friendship with Ruth, who was then a young girl, and carrying into her relationship with Terrence, her now-deceased partner (eventually revealing the heartbreaking secret this marriage holds), Florence does “not deny life sorrows, but chooses to focus on its compensations”, making new friends, experiences and memories deep into her ninth decade.

Sweetly and slowly, the magic of this story unwinds, leading the reader through a life and its loves, underscored by the bittersweet upcoming necessity of saying goodbye. Heartwarming and poignant, Flo is the warm and wise voice we all need in our lives, — hopeful, compassionate and living to love.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my earliest memories reading were books by Elizabeth Berg, and this one did not disappoint. It is a beautifully-written story about a life well lived told through every day objects accumulated in the main character’s house. A unique perspective on how to tell a life story! 9/10.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Anne Wolters · Rating 5 out of 5]

At 92, Florence “Flo” receives the news that her time is limited. She’s lived a full life—her beloved husband Terrance passed years ago, and though they never had children, Flo has cultivated deep friendships. Ruthie, the girl who grew up next door, was the closest thing to a daughter. Now grown and living in another state, Ruthie remains dear to Flo’s heart. With no other family, Flo decides to leave Ruthie her home and all her belongings.
Flo begins writing a heartfelt letter to Ruthie, sharing memories, wisdom, and the stories behind the items she’ll inherit. She offers tender advice about marriage and reveals a long-held secret about her own relationship with Terrance. Flo’s reflections are rich with detail—why a rubber band is tucked inside a small box wrapped in red ribbon, how she finally gets her first pedicure, and the bold decision to add a blue streak to her hair.
Even as she prepares for her final chapter, Flo remains deeply engaged with life. She worries about her friends and neighbors, researches online dating at the library for a single friend, and continues to show up for others with warmth and generosity. Through her letter, Flo leaves Ruthie—and readers—a legacy of love, forgiveness, and grace.
Elizabeth Berg’s novel is a beautifully crafted meditation on aging, connection, and the quiet power of everyday kindness. It’s a poignant reminder that even in the face of loss, we can still make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg. The main character Flo is 92 and has led a simple but fulfilling life. At her last doctor’s visit, she’s been told she is dying. We hear the story of her life as she writes to Ruthie, the young girl who grew up next door to Flo and her husband and who is like a daughter to her. Flo plans to leave her house to Ruthie and as she writes and reminisces about the house and its contents, we learn about the life and love she shared with her husband Terrance.

This is a quiet, emotional novel that captures the small, often overlooked moments that make up a life—and a love. The author focuses on the simple things, rather than relying on dramatic plot twists. In doing so, she tells a heartwarming story about love, marriage, and self-understanding.

The novel centers on Flo as she reminisces about love, longing, regret, contentment, and the ache of time passing. The story also acknowledges disappointment and loss but overall you still feel the connection and tenderness in her marriage.

This is not a fast-paced or plot-driven book, but it resonated with me. There are many thoughtful reflections on relationships. Overall, Life: A Love Story is a gentle reminder that love is not just found in grand gestures, but in the ordinary moments that tell the story of a life.

[Megan Welbourne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg is a story about Flo, a nonagenarian who has been given only a short time left to live. She is putting her affairs in order and writing a letter to Ruthie, a woman who lived next door to her when she was a child and was a surrogate daughter to Flo. Her letter is sort of a meaning of life letter, letting Ruthie know lessons she has learned through her life and the importance of marriage. Flo also befriends a neighbor Teresa, who is a death doula. Teresa has all but given up on love and Flo aims to change her mind on that.
This was a very sweet and simple story about Flo. However, I felt like it missed several opportunities at evoking more reactions from the audience than it did. I expected Teresa’s occupation to become more significant in Flo’s personal story, but it never did. There was only one poignant story from her work about a young boy, but I expected to get some of that with her interactions with Flo as well. I also think we needed to know Ruthie on a more personal level as well. She was obviously extremely important to Flo, but we never hear much about her story. And even after Flo dies, her part still seems very detached and unemotional from what I expected to be a very meaningful relationship.
Towards the end of the book, we learn about an event in Flo’s marriage that could have led to a very different present. Even this event was handled in such a simple matter in the storytelling that it left me wanting more drama.
When I started this book, I was expecting something similar to The Collected Regrets of Clover, with a death doula character, but this was very different in every way (main character focus, emotional depth). While this was a quick and easy read, I’m not sure I will take much from it. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for my ARC.

[Terris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Elizabeth Berg’s books, but this one feels a little bit different. Maybe there is a change of voice in Berg’s writing because the main character, Flo, is a 92-year-old woman! Unfortunately, Flo has recently been diagnosed with a fast growing cancer. She knows that she only has a short time to live, and is trying to make the most of the time she has left.

Flo is such a sweet woman, and the reader finds out right at the beginning that she has decided to leave her house and belongings to a young friend. She writes the friend a long letter explaining the significance of certain items in the house, and in so doing, Flo tells the story of her life, which includes marriage to her sweet husband whom she dearly loved.

This is just a nice, comforting story and is also inspirational. Flo speaks of being positive, loving, and forgiving, and that is what she wants her legacy to be once she is gone.

I liked this one so much and highly recommend it!

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Elizabeth Berg, and Random House for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy of Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Life: A Love Story is a life affirming story full of wisdom from 92 year old Flo. I found exactly the uplifting story I was looking for in this novel. Near the end of her life, Flo writes a series of letters to Ruthie, her former neighbor and the daughter she never had. Flo reflects on her life through stories of seemingly common objects throughout her home. She also embraces the time she has left with new friends and experiences.

I love a wise octogenarian main character, and highlighted so many of Flo’s pearls of wisdom. I really enjoyed her budding relationship with her neighbor Teresa and flashbacks to her enduring love with her husband. If you’re looking for a novel that feels like a cozy hug, add to this your TBR list (available 3/17/26) 4/5⭐️

“I’ll miss the surprise of what each day might bring which we so often forget about, those surprises that delight us.”

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Berg's latest novel features an elderly woman nearing the end of her life. Flo has been given only weeks or months to live after a diagnosis of cancer, and she prepares for her death by writing a letter to Ruthie, a woman who as a young child had been Flo's neighbor. She has willed her house and possessions to Ruthie, and describes the letter as "an autobiography in objects". Written over a period of several days or more, Flo's letter to Ruthie tells her about the items she will find in Flo's house, and the memories they hold for her. In addition to the letter, the novel also narrates the ongoing events of Flo's life: at 92, she is still making new friends, enjoying the natural world around her, and finding ways to to bring happiness to others. Although it took me some time to get into the novel, I came to love and admire Flo, and very much enjoyed this glimpse into her life and the positive outlook she shared right to the end.

Thank you to Random House publisher and #NetGalley for providing a free eARC in exchange for an objective review. Watch for this book in March 2026.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We spend time in the mind of an elderly woman, Flo, who has advanced stage cancer. She goes about her life and waits for the end, which sounds depressing, but it's not. It's unrealistically sweet for the majority of the book, but becomes deeper toward the end.

Flo reminisces in a long stream-of-consciousness letter to her young friend (like a daughter), who who will be inheriting her home. The most interesting parts of the letter, in my opinion, are her "autobiography in things." She tells the story behind some artifact stored in her house and tells her friend where she'll find it - a special rubber band, dog bowls, watches, etc.

She ponders as  she moves around the house or her neighborhood. Sometimes, she has visitors. Her thoughts are kind, sentimental, funny, and occasionally lightly philosophical.

It's an easy, sweet read.

I received an ARC from #NetGalley

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ninety-two-year-old Flo has only a couple of months left to live. She writes a long letter to her former next door neighbor Ruthie, who was like a surrogate daughter, in which she reflects on the past and meaningful objects in the house she is leaving to Ruthie. This is interspersed with life in the present, where Flo proves that it is never too late to make a difference in others' lives.

I enjoyed the book, though I figured out what the secret was that Flo kept delaying to reveal. And while I can't remember how long it had been since Ruthie and Flo interacted in person, Ruthie's response is disappointing. But I like how Flo and Terrance's mark lives on.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg is a wonderful, heartwarming, deeply emotional book about a woman in her 90’s who is about to die. It is told partly in the first person through a letter that is written to Ruthie whom she befriended when Ruthie was a child. Since Flo had no children of her own she was leaving her house and all that was in it to Ruthie. Her descriptions of what each thing meant to her and the stories behind them were filled with emotion and tremendous wisdom which continually permeated throughout the book! It was very thought provoking and inspiring and definitely worth reading!

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Dawn Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Flo is 92 and only has a few months to live. She wants to leave her house and things to Ruthie. As she begins to go through her things she decides to write down the memories of each to share with Ruthie. As the end gets nearer she decides to try new things- a pedicure, a blue streak in her hair which leads to meeting new people and making friends- isn’t that what life is all about?
Berg once again writes a book that leads to many feels!