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Love in the Eleventh Hour
Successful investment banker Jana has her life perfectly under control – her career is going exactly to plan. That is, until her brain decides otherwise. One day, Jana learns she has a tumour in her cranium that’s threatening to not only drastically shorten her life span, but change her entire personality along the way, too!
And so Jana, ever the restrained and controlled individual, suddenly goes haywire. With her tumour as a chaotic co-pilot, she starts making decisions the old Jana never would’ve dreamed of. She waves goodbye to her career and says hello to an impromptu trip to Greece. There, on the island of Samos, she crosses paths with Fabio, an irritating yet charming tour guide, who invites her on a trip to a “blue zone”: An area marked by above-average longevity. It’s the ultimate form of irony for someone who’s just received a death sentence. But it’s also the start of a madcap trip around the globe on a quest to find the secret to a long, healthy, and happy life. With each mile she travels, Jana’s choices grow wilder, her laughs get louder and the sparks between her and Fabio burn brighter. And of course, it’s the worst timing ever to fall in love – as her brain seems to develop more and more of a mind of its own!
A vibrant, fast-paced acid trip about the art of waiting until the end to really begin, and the surprising realisation that sometimes, a bit of chaos is all you need to make a fresh start.
And so Jana, ever the restrained and controlled individual, suddenly goes haywire. With her tumour as a chaotic co-pilot, she starts making decisions the old Jana never would’ve dreamed of. She waves goodbye to her career and says hello to an impromptu trip to Greece. There, on the island of Samos, she crosses paths with Fabio, an irritating yet charming tour guide, who invites her on a trip to a “blue zone”: An area marked by above-average longevity. It’s the ultimate form of irony for someone who’s just received a death sentence. But it’s also the start of a madcap trip around the globe on a quest to find the secret to a long, healthy, and happy life. With each mile she travels, Jana’s choices grow wilder, her laughs get louder and the sparks between her and Fabio burn brighter. And of course, it’s the worst timing ever to fall in love – as her brain seems to develop more and more of a mind of its own!
A vibrant, fast-paced acid trip about the art of waiting until the end to really begin, and the surprising realisation that sometimes, a bit of chaos is all you need to make a fresh start.
Audible Audio
Published December 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 25, 2025
I hated everything about this and I think both of the main characters need to go back to elementary school to learn communication skills…
December 11, 2025
My rating would have been higher IF I had read this as a book OR if the tumor did not have such an annoying voice!!!
January 6, 2026
Didn’t vibe with this. Too frantic and all over the place. That doctor consult at the beginning was also like harsh and brutal even though I know it was meant to be funny. Hated the voice of the tumor 😂😒
December 12, 2025
Love in the Eleventh Hour is a pleasant and easy romance that delivers a few sweet moments, even if it doesn’t quite leave a lasting impression.
The story has a fun premise and the romantic tension is enjoyable in places. Lizzy Berger writes with warmth, and there are scenes that feel genuinely charming and emotionally sincere. The main characters are likeable enough, and their connection develops in a way that feels natural, if a little predictable.
That said, the pacing is uneven. Some sections feel rushed, particularly towards the end, while other moments linger longer than necessary. I also found that a few character motivations could have been explored more deeply, which would have added extra emotional impact.
Overall, this is a light and cosy read that works well if you are in the mood for something gentle and romantic, but it does not quite rise above familiar genre tropes. Enjoyable while reading, but not one that stayed with me long after finishing.
The story has a fun premise and the romantic tension is enjoyable in places. Lizzy Berger writes with warmth, and there are scenes that feel genuinely charming and emotionally sincere. The main characters are likeable enough, and their connection develops in a way that feels natural, if a little predictable.
That said, the pacing is uneven. Some sections feel rushed, particularly towards the end, while other moments linger longer than necessary. I also found that a few character motivations could have been explored more deeply, which would have added extra emotional impact.
Overall, this is a light and cosy read that works well if you are in the mood for something gentle and romantic, but it does not quite rise above familiar genre tropes. Enjoyable while reading, but not one that stayed with me long after finishing.
December 27, 2025
Not worth an hour. After the first hour I knew this wasn’t going to be worth my time but I trudged through till the end and was validated by my initial impressions. If you need background noise, this fits the bill. If you need nonsense and a seriously unlikable plot with unlikable & unbelievable characters, again, this is your book.
January 9, 2026
Successful investment banker Jana has her life perfectly under control – her career is going exactly to plan. That is, until her brain decides otherwise. One day, Jana learns she has a tumour in her cranium that’s threatening to not only drastically shorten her life span, but change her entire personality along the way, too!
And so Jana, ever the restrained and controlled individual, suddenly goes haywire. With her tumour as a chaotic co-pilot, she starts making decisions the old Jana never would’ve dreamed of. She waves goodbye to her career and says hello to an impromptu trip to Greece. There, on the island of Samos, she crosses paths with Fabio, an irritating yet charming tour guide, who invites her on a trip to a “blue zone”: An area marked by above-average longevity. It’s the ultimate form of irony for someone who’s just received a death sentence. But it’s also the start of a madcap trip around the globe on a quest to find the secret to a long, healthy, and happy life. With each mile she travels, Jana’s choices grow wilder, her laughs get louder and the sparks between her and Fabio burn brighter. And of course, it’s the worst timing ever to fall in love – as her brain seems to develop more and more of a mind of its own!
A vibrant, fast-paced acid trip about the art of waiting until the end to really begin, and the surprising realisation that sometimes, a bit of chaos is all you need to make a fresh start.
And so Jana, ever the restrained and controlled individual, suddenly goes haywire. With her tumour as a chaotic co-pilot, she starts making decisions the old Jana never would’ve dreamed of. She waves goodbye to her career and says hello to an impromptu trip to Greece. There, on the island of Samos, she crosses paths with Fabio, an irritating yet charming tour guide, who invites her on a trip to a “blue zone”: An area marked by above-average longevity. It’s the ultimate form of irony for someone who’s just received a death sentence. But it’s also the start of a madcap trip around the globe on a quest to find the secret to a long, healthy, and happy life. With each mile she travels, Jana’s choices grow wilder, her laughs get louder and the sparks between her and Fabio burn brighter. And of course, it’s the worst timing ever to fall in love – as her brain seems to develop more and more of a mind of its own!
A vibrant, fast-paced acid trip about the art of waiting until the end to really begin, and the surprising realisation that sometimes, a bit of chaos is all you need to make a fresh start.
February 5, 2026
I hated this book so much on so many levels. I do not recommend. So hard to listen too. So hard to feel anything for these characters. And why did the turn of have to have that voice!!
January 18, 2026
I rated this 4 stars.
This is a book for someone who is in a contemplative mood. This book confronts mortality and the choices one makes throughout one's life. Would you do things differently if you had a do-over? How would you spend the last few weeks of your life and who would you spend them with?
It's a stark reminder to not put off the REAL things that matter and to live in the now, because you never know how much time you have left.
This book has a heavy subject that is lightened with the dark humor of an annoying talking brain tumor and the slightly frenetic energy of a rush against the clock to complete a bucket list.
The MMC, who is lost in his life as well, quickly begins to fall for Jana, who is so different than anyone he has ever met, and kind of quirky. He doesn't know about her tumor before he decides to travel with her to the Blue Zones, rather than dealing with his own family issues. By the time he discovered Jana's terminal diagnosis, he was too far in and just couldn't leave her to die alone, and he committed to seeing her through to the end.
Jana is on a mission to spend her last days discovering how to live a long happy life by visiting all the Blue Zones in the world. These areas are all at the same latitude and have small populations that have lived beyond the average population. While traveling, Fabio tries to keep space to protect his heart and Jana continues to battle with her mortality and how she squandered what she had.
I was so curious to see how this could possibly end and loved it.
This is a book for someone who is in a contemplative mood. This book confronts mortality and the choices one makes throughout one's life. Would you do things differently if you had a do-over? How would you spend the last few weeks of your life and who would you spend them with?
It's a stark reminder to not put off the REAL things that matter and to live in the now, because you never know how much time you have left.
This book has a heavy subject that is lightened with the dark humor of an annoying talking brain tumor and the slightly frenetic energy of a rush against the clock to complete a bucket list.
The MMC, who is lost in his life as well, quickly begins to fall for Jana, who is so different than anyone he has ever met, and kind of quirky. He doesn't know about her tumor before he decides to travel with her to the Blue Zones, rather than dealing with his own family issues. By the time he discovered Jana's terminal diagnosis, he was too far in and just couldn't leave her to die alone, and he committed to seeing her through to the end.
Jana is on a mission to spend her last days discovering how to live a long happy life by visiting all the Blue Zones in the world. These areas are all at the same latitude and have small populations that have lived beyond the average population. While traveling, Fabio tries to keep space to protect his heart and Jana continues to battle with her mortality and how she squandered what she had.
I was so curious to see how this could possibly end and loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
Unlikeable characters, unbelievable plot and an irritating high pitched talking tumour
October 29, 2025
Richtig tolles Buch!
December 21, 2025
I am officially emotionally compromised. Love in the Eleventh Hour by Lizzy Berger is, without a doubt, one of the most poignant and beautifully written romances I have read this year. Berger has a way of weaving together urgency, vulnerability, and raw passion that stays with you long after the final page is turned.
What Makes This a Must-Read:
The Emotional Stakes: As the title suggests, there is a palpable sense of "now or never" throughout the story. Berger masterfully handles the tension of lost time and second chances, making every interaction feel significant.
Character Depth: These aren’t just archetypes; they feel like real people with messy histories and relatable fears. The character development is slow-burned to perfection, allowing the reader to fall in love with them as they fall back in love with each other.
The Prose: Lizzy Berger’s writing style is lyrical yet accessible. She captures the "small moments"—a lingering look, a hesitant touch—with such precision that you can feel the sparks flying off the page.
Final Thoughts
This book is a masterclass in the "it’s always been you" trope. It’s a story about the bravery it takes to be vulnerable when the clock is ticking, and it handled the delicate balance of heartbreak and hope with incredible grace.
If you’re looking for a book that will make you cry, laugh, and immediately want to restart it the second you finish, this is it. Have tissues ready, but know that every tear is worth it.
What Makes This a Must-Read:
The Emotional Stakes: As the title suggests, there is a palpable sense of "now or never" throughout the story. Berger masterfully handles the tension of lost time and second chances, making every interaction feel significant.
Character Depth: These aren’t just archetypes; they feel like real people with messy histories and relatable fears. The character development is slow-burned to perfection, allowing the reader to fall in love with them as they fall back in love with each other.
The Prose: Lizzy Berger’s writing style is lyrical yet accessible. She captures the "small moments"—a lingering look, a hesitant touch—with such precision that you can feel the sparks flying off the page.
Final Thoughts
This book is a masterclass in the "it’s always been you" trope. It’s a story about the bravery it takes to be vulnerable when the clock is ticking, and it handled the delicate balance of heartbreak and hope with incredible grace.
If you’re looking for a book that will make you cry, laugh, and immediately want to restart it the second you finish, this is it. Have tissues ready, but know that every tear is worth it.
February 23, 2026
Love in the Eleventh Hour surprised me in the best way.
Imagine being Jana: beautiful, brilliant, highly successful, an investment banker with a seemingly perfect life… and then suddenly being told you have a tumor in your cranium. At first, she believes she has months to live. Then she finds out the truth: she has only three and a half weeks.
That changes everything.
In what looks like a moment of madness—but is really courage—she travels to Greece, where she meets Fabio, an Italian who joins her on a journey through the “Blue Zones,” those places where people often live past 100. I loved that part of the story, because this audiobook is not only about romance. It is also about how to live better: more simply, with less stress, and with more meaning.
By the end, this felt to me less like a love story and more like a story about time, purpose, and the urgency of truly living.
Lately, I’ve been having deep conversations with a close friend about the purpose of life—why we are here—and this audiobook hit me at exactly the right moment. Jana is forced to answer that question quickly and honestly, and that is what made this story so powerful for me.
It leaves you with a question that stays in your mind:
Have you already defined your life’s purpose?
Imagine being Jana: beautiful, brilliant, highly successful, an investment banker with a seemingly perfect life… and then suddenly being told you have a tumor in your cranium. At first, she believes she has months to live. Then she finds out the truth: she has only three and a half weeks.
That changes everything.
In what looks like a moment of madness—but is really courage—she travels to Greece, where she meets Fabio, an Italian who joins her on a journey through the “Blue Zones,” those places where people often live past 100. I loved that part of the story, because this audiobook is not only about romance. It is also about how to live better: more simply, with less stress, and with more meaning.
By the end, this felt to me less like a love story and more like a story about time, purpose, and the urgency of truly living.
Lately, I’ve been having deep conversations with a close friend about the purpose of life—why we are here—and this audiobook hit me at exactly the right moment. Jana is forced to answer that question quickly and honestly, and that is what made this story so powerful for me.
It leaves you with a question that stays in your mind:
Have you already defined your life’s purpose?
December 17, 2025
A talking tumor??! Who what??? It’s shape as an egg? Telling my boss to go pound sand
Coworkers breaks into your home?
Dr. tells you you have a tumor in your brain and then proceeds to give the advice of go on vacation before you die???? You name it. It happened in this book this poor girl I just couldn’t imagine well I can’t imagine because I’ve had brain surgery and I can relate to everything that goes through her head and all the thoughts and what if more what if all the what if in the world come at you at once I didn’t want to continue reading it, but in the end, I did read it. I relate a lot and if it wasn’t for that obnoxious voice of the tumor oh, Lord, you would’ve gotten four stars.
Coworkers breaks into your home?
Dr. tells you you have a tumor in your brain and then proceeds to give the advice of go on vacation before you die???? You name it. It happened in this book this poor girl I just couldn’t imagine well I can’t imagine because I’ve had brain surgery and I can relate to everything that goes through her head and all the thoughts and what if more what if all the what if in the world come at you at once I didn’t want to continue reading it, but in the end, I did read it. I relate a lot and if it wasn’t for that obnoxious voice of the tumor oh, Lord, you would’ve gotten four stars.
January 4, 2026
**Rating: 2.5/5 stars**
While the premise of *Love in the Eleventh Hour* is emotional on paper, the execution fell short. The “tumor speaking” was an especially annoying and unnecessary element that pulled me out of the story rather than adding depth. The romance between Jana and Fabio felt rushed, with no real spark or believable connection, making it hard to care about their relationship. From the beginning, it seemed obvious that Jana would die after being given three months to live with a brain tumor—so the fact that she survived felt unrealistic and undercut the emotional stakes. Overall, the story had potential but felt predictable and unsatisfying
While the premise of *Love in the Eleventh Hour* is emotional on paper, the execution fell short. The “tumor speaking” was an especially annoying and unnecessary element that pulled me out of the story rather than adding depth. The romance between Jana and Fabio felt rushed, with no real spark or believable connection, making it hard to care about their relationship. From the beginning, it seemed obvious that Jana would die after being given three months to live with a brain tumor—so the fact that she survived felt unrealistic and undercut the emotional stakes. Overall, the story had potential but felt predictable and unsatisfying
February 14, 2026
3.5⭐️
This romance novel includes a lot of travel to “blue zones” (where people live the longest), which was a nice surprise to get some factual information. I was satisfied with some of the reasons people live to 100+ years, because I always loved the idea of living in a community with a bunch of friends, so we could spend time together and take care of each other as we age. The FMC Jana gives me autistically coded vibes despite the glioblastoma in her head. The romance was closed-door and almost nonexistent (IMO), but it was nice to see Fabio and Jana change and grow throughout the book. It’s satisfying enough for me to find it all enjoyable.
This romance novel includes a lot of travel to “blue zones” (where people live the longest), which was a nice surprise to get some factual information. I was satisfied with some of the reasons people live to 100+ years, because I always loved the idea of living in a community with a bunch of friends, so we could spend time together and take care of each other as we age. The FMC Jana gives me autistically coded vibes despite the glioblastoma in her head. The romance was closed-door and almost nonexistent (IMO), but it was nice to see Fabio and Jana change and grow throughout the book. It’s satisfying enough for me to find it all enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2026
It was slow to start for me, but I did enjoy how the story played out. A nice and simple listen, but I often struggle when characters hide the truth for so long. More like a 3.5⭐️/ 5 for me! I would’ve like to have been able to follow along with the text to read it more comprehensively. Sometimes i would get confused about where they were. It took me way to long to realize that the characters were technically talking in German most of the time LOL
February 10, 2026
DNF. Audiobook *
The lot sounded like it could be really cute. However I forced myself through 32% and just couldn’t do it. The voices irked me, the little voice in her head just went right through me and I get it was supposed to sound goofy or whatever as it was like her cancer talking to her or whatever but Jesus Christ I just couldn’t do it. This is my first true DNF too - I told myself I wasn’t going to force books this year.
The lot sounded like it could be really cute. However I forced myself through 32% and just couldn’t do it. The voices irked me, the little voice in her head just went right through me and I get it was supposed to sound goofy or whatever as it was like her cancer talking to her or whatever but Jesus Christ I just couldn’t do it. This is my first true DNF too - I told myself I wasn’t going to force books this year.
January 29, 2026
Jana has it all and plans for her life. Until she goes to a doctor for her headaches. She gets a life altering diagnosis and plans a trip that she doesn't remember planning. She decides to stick it out for the weekend because she has to get back to work, but things don't go as planned.
I liked this book and the characters. It was a fun read with a serious undertone.
I liked this book and the characters. It was a fun read with a serious undertone.
December 17, 2025
*** 2.5 Stars Rounded Up *** Well, I was forewarned about the tumor voice which absolutely ruined the vibe of the story. I rounded up because overall it is a feel good story. Plus, if I had read it on my own, I probably would’ve enjoyed it more.
December 26, 2025
The voice of the omelette for the audiobook hilarious!! The story was cute and quick. I liked how the female main character was written in her stubborn independent way. Enjoyed her batter with the omelette as well
January 4, 2026
A good, pacey story with some good twists and two engaging protagonists. There are some funny bits, too. A couple of big flaws, though. I have known people with glioblastomas and none of them has recovered. Also, the voice of the tumor really grated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2026
Quick and easy to listen to. The story was cute. I listened on Audible and hated the narrator’s voice of Jana’s “omelet.” Probably would have enjoyed reading on a vacation trip because it wasn’t super deep and the I could have given the omelet a better voice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
Never read a German romance before - funny really liked it ❤️
December 12, 2025
This was hands down one of the best stories I’ve listened to ever! It was sad and funny and heartbreaking all at the same time! A must read!!!
December 14, 2025
Audiobook
December 15, 2025
Four stars because I laughed a lot and really enjoyed listening to this audio.
December 16, 2025
I liked the story line, I didn’t like the voice of the tumor in the audio book. There was more swearing than I’d like
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December 18, 2025DNF on Audible - the voice of the tumour was UNBEARABLE
December 19, 2025
Surprisingly sweet and funny.
December 23, 2025
The production of the audio book was great.
Great story about second chances and really deciding what’s important in life.
Great story about second chances and really deciding what’s important in life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews