What do you think?
Rate this book
Me for You
From the New York Times bestselling author of Good Grief comes a richly poignant and stirring story that How soon is too soon to fall in love again?
The last thing Rudy expected was to wake up one Saturday morning, a widow at fifty-four years old. Now, ten months after the untimely death of his beloved wife, he’s still not sure how to move on from the defining tragedy of his life—but his new job is helping. After being downsized from his finance position, Rudy turned to his first the piano. Some people might be embarrassed to work as the piano player at Nordstrom, but for Rudy, there’s joy in bringing a little music into the world. And it doesn’t hurt that Sasha, the Hungarian men’s watch clerk who is finally divorcing her no-good husband, finds time to join him at the bench every now and then.
Just when Rudy and Sasha’s relationship begins to deepen, the police come to the store with an update about Rudy’s wife’s untimely death—a coworker has confessed to her murder—but Rudy’s actions are suspicious enough to warrant a second look at him, too. With Sasha’s husband suddenly reappearing, and Rudy’s daughter confronting her own marital problems, suddenly life becomes more complicated than Rudy and Sasha could have imagined.
With Winston’s trademark humor and sweetness that will appeal to readers of Jennifer Weiner and Fredrik Backman but is uniquely her own, Lolly Winston delivers a heartfelt and realistic portrait of loss and grief, hope and forgiveness, and two imperfect people coming together to create a perfect love story.
The last thing Rudy expected was to wake up one Saturday morning, a widow at fifty-four years old. Now, ten months after the untimely death of his beloved wife, he’s still not sure how to move on from the defining tragedy of his life—but his new job is helping. After being downsized from his finance position, Rudy turned to his first the piano. Some people might be embarrassed to work as the piano player at Nordstrom, but for Rudy, there’s joy in bringing a little music into the world. And it doesn’t hurt that Sasha, the Hungarian men’s watch clerk who is finally divorcing her no-good husband, finds time to join him at the bench every now and then.
Just when Rudy and Sasha’s relationship begins to deepen, the police come to the store with an update about Rudy’s wife’s untimely death—a coworker has confessed to her murder—but Rudy’s actions are suspicious enough to warrant a second look at him, too. With Sasha’s husband suddenly reappearing, and Rudy’s daughter confronting her own marital problems, suddenly life becomes more complicated than Rudy and Sasha could have imagined.
With Winston’s trademark humor and sweetness that will appeal to readers of Jennifer Weiner and Fredrik Backman but is uniquely her own, Lolly Winston delivers a heartfelt and realistic portrait of loss and grief, hope and forgiveness, and two imperfect people coming together to create a perfect love story.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2018
178 people are currently reading
6035 people want to read
About the author
Lolly Winston
7 books355 followersBorn and raised in the glamorous insurance capital of Hartford, Conn., Lolly Winston holds an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College, where she wrote a collection of short stories as her thesis.
Her first novel, Good Grief, published in 2004, was a New York Times best-seller, a #1 Book Sense pick, and was translated into 15 languages. The film rights have been optioned by Universal Studios. Her second novel, Happiness Sold Separately, also hit the New York Times best seller list upon its publication in August 2006. Her short stories have appeared in The Sun, The Southeast Review, The Third Berkshire Anthology, Girls' Night Out and others. She's contributed essays to the anthologies Kiss Tomorrow Hello (Doubleday, 2006), and the forthcoming book Bad Girls.
Over the years, Lolly has floundered at a number of English major jobs, including: waitress (cork in your wine, anyone?), house cleaner, corporate copywriter, and corporate public relations manager. She's not proud of the fact that she flunked the math on the Kelly Girl test.
In the early eighties she went to Hawaii for eight days and stayed for eight years, boogie boarding and working as the public affairs officer at a local trauma hospital. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1993, where she finally quit the corporate world to become a freelance journalist, starting out as a stringer for Automotive News. She went on to write for the San Jose Mercury News Sunday magazine, New Woman, Redbook, Glamour, Family Circle, Working Mother, Sunset, Lifetime and others. She teaches writing classes in fiction, feature stories and the art of the personal essay.
A groupie at heart, her favorite authors include: Flannery O'Connor, Vladimir Nabokov, Tom Perrotta, Nick Hornby, Kate Atkinson, Walker Percy, Jeffrey Eugenides, Andrew Sean Greer, Mary Karr, George Saunders, Aimee Bender, Jane Austen, Dave Barry, David Sedaris, Andre Dubus III, Sylvia Plath, Raymond Carver, Ethan Canin, ZZ Packer, Jennifer Haigh, Edith Wharton, Jonathan Tropper, Amy Bloom, Christie Hodgen, Ellen Sussman, Jonathan Lethem, J.D. Salinger, Tobias Wolff, and Donald Barthelme.
She lives with her husband in Northern California.
Her first novel, Good Grief, published in 2004, was a New York Times best-seller, a #1 Book Sense pick, and was translated into 15 languages. The film rights have been optioned by Universal Studios. Her second novel, Happiness Sold Separately, also hit the New York Times best seller list upon its publication in August 2006. Her short stories have appeared in The Sun, The Southeast Review, The Third Berkshire Anthology, Girls' Night Out and others. She's contributed essays to the anthologies Kiss Tomorrow Hello (Doubleday, 2006), and the forthcoming book Bad Girls.
Over the years, Lolly has floundered at a number of English major jobs, including: waitress (cork in your wine, anyone?), house cleaner, corporate copywriter, and corporate public relations manager. She's not proud of the fact that she flunked the math on the Kelly Girl test.
In the early eighties she went to Hawaii for eight days and stayed for eight years, boogie boarding and working as the public affairs officer at a local trauma hospital. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1993, where she finally quit the corporate world to become a freelance journalist, starting out as a stringer for Automotive News. She went on to write for the San Jose Mercury News Sunday magazine, New Woman, Redbook, Glamour, Family Circle, Working Mother, Sunset, Lifetime and others. She teaches writing classes in fiction, feature stories and the art of the personal essay.
A groupie at heart, her favorite authors include: Flannery O'Connor, Vladimir Nabokov, Tom Perrotta, Nick Hornby, Kate Atkinson, Walker Percy, Jeffrey Eugenides, Andrew Sean Greer, Mary Karr, George Saunders, Aimee Bender, Jane Austen, Dave Barry, David Sedaris, Andre Dubus III, Sylvia Plath, Raymond Carver, Ethan Canin, ZZ Packer, Jennifer Haigh, Edith Wharton, Jonathan Tropper, Amy Bloom, Christie Hodgen, Ellen Sussman, Jonathan Lethem, J.D. Salinger, Tobias Wolff, and Donald Barthelme.
She lives with her husband in Northern California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
February 12, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Me for You by Lolly Winston from Goodreads for my honest review.
A very emotional book of love, loss and grief. Rudy and Bee are happy married and in love. But, one morning, Rudy wakes up and finds his wife, Bee dead. He is shocked and can't believe it.
Rudy becomes very depressed and his friend, Sasha becomes his biggest emotional support through it all. Rudy and Sasha both have personal problems and end up leaning on one another to cope. Will they find love as well?
This was just an okay book to me. I appreciate the opportunity to read it but it just fell a bit flat.
A very emotional book of love, loss and grief. Rudy and Bee are happy married and in love. But, one morning, Rudy wakes up and finds his wife, Bee dead. He is shocked and can't believe it.
Rudy becomes very depressed and his friend, Sasha becomes his biggest emotional support through it all. Rudy and Sasha both have personal problems and end up leaning on one another to cope. Will they find love as well?
This was just an okay book to me. I appreciate the opportunity to read it but it just fell a bit flat.
August 10, 2020
2.5-3 stars
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
August is the month where I plan on tackling my tbr focusing on ARCs. I decided to start with a contemporary romance called Me for You by Ms. Lolly Winston. I’m super proud and happy that I can take this one off the list and submit feedback since it’s been almost a year and 5 months since I got this ebook. (Yes it's embarrassing to admit that length of time but better late then never). This wasn't my only time trying to read this book though. I picked it up 3 times before but could never make it past the first chapter without moving on to another book.
It was nice reading a story about an older couple who start off as friends. It isn't easy finding books where the characters are in their 40s or 50s. The thing is that the plot isn't too original. A woman leaves a man who is no good to her and a man is a widow who still isn't over his wife's untimely death. They meet at work and soon something develops between them. There is a bond of moving on from the loss of a family member for both of them, and it was nice that they could share their grief with each other without the other feeling like they weren't moving on or living in the present. Mourning their loved one actually bought them closer together. The problem was that I felt most of the characters weren't flushed out enough.
Rudy and Sasha feel like coworkers that I talk to at work and can share a little bit of personal information with but we probably wouldn't keep in touch much once they left. After over 300 pages this isn't how I want to feel! It's even less with the side characters. I only cared about them because they were important nostalgic moments for the main characters but didn't know too much about them except what was shared in flashbacks. We got a few chapters of flashbacks from Rudy's wife, Bethany, but they didn't really add anything to the story. They honestly felt like filler that could have been better used to make us care more about the other characters.
If someone was to ask me how the best way to read this book was then I would definitely suggest the audiobook. This is a slow paced book that focuses more on emotions and thoughts of the two main characters than actions taking place in their lives, which is going to make it difficult for some readers to care about the story after a while. Personally, the only way I could retain my interest in the story was by adding the audiobook as Mr. George Newbern and Ms. Cassandra Campbell added depth to the characters that wasn't super present just reading off the pages. I don't feel like the plot was super memorable but the narration performances help buoyed the story along.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
August is the month where I plan on tackling my tbr focusing on ARCs. I decided to start with a contemporary romance called Me for You by Ms. Lolly Winston. I’m super proud and happy that I can take this one off the list and submit feedback since it’s been almost a year and 5 months since I got this ebook. (Yes it's embarrassing to admit that length of time but better late then never). This wasn't my only time trying to read this book though. I picked it up 3 times before but could never make it past the first chapter without moving on to another book.
It was nice reading a story about an older couple who start off as friends. It isn't easy finding books where the characters are in their 40s or 50s. The thing is that the plot isn't too original. A woman leaves a man who is no good to her and a man is a widow who still isn't over his wife's untimely death. They meet at work and soon something develops between them. There is a bond of moving on from the loss of a family member for both of them, and it was nice that they could share their grief with each other without the other feeling like they weren't moving on or living in the present. Mourning their loved one actually bought them closer together. The problem was that I felt most of the characters weren't flushed out enough.
Rudy and Sasha feel like coworkers that I talk to at work and can share a little bit of personal information with but we probably wouldn't keep in touch much once they left. After over 300 pages this isn't how I want to feel! It's even less with the side characters. I only cared about them because they were important nostalgic moments for the main characters but didn't know too much about them except what was shared in flashbacks. We got a few chapters of flashbacks from Rudy's wife, Bethany, but they didn't really add anything to the story. They honestly felt like filler that could have been better used to make us care more about the other characters.
If someone was to ask me how the best way to read this book was then I would definitely suggest the audiobook. This is a slow paced book that focuses more on emotions and thoughts of the two main characters than actions taking place in their lives, which is going to make it difficult for some readers to care about the story after a while. Personally, the only way I could retain my interest in the story was by adding the audiobook as Mr. George Newbern and Ms. Cassandra Campbell added depth to the characters that wasn't super present just reading off the pages. I don't feel like the plot was super memorable but the narration performances help buoyed the story along.
July 17, 2019
The best way I can capture my review is to say: it couldn't keep my interest. I didn't dislike it. The characters were fine. The plot addressed grief and processing grief in a way that wasn't heart wrenching but wasn't disconnected. Even though I thought the little plot twist was weak and odd and the daughter's role a bit delayed to develop, I don't have any harsh comments. Simply didn't engage me as I anticipated.
June 6, 2022
The story of Rudy and Sasha, overcoming grief and depression in the sudden death of Rudy's wife Beth and the drowning death of Sasha's daughter.
Second chances, unlikely love and a message of hope. Loving after loss.
Second chances, unlikely love and a message of hope. Loving after loss.
March 26, 2019
I received a free copy of this novel from Booksparks in my role as a Winter Reading Challenge ambassador. All opinions are my own.
Me for You was in the 2.5 star range for me. There was a lot of potential in the story and I loved the concept, but something about the execution just never really grabbed me. The book opens with Rudy waking up in bed with his wife, who has died in her sleep. Most of the story then takes place almost a year later, after the initial shock of the loss has faded as Rudy navigates a blooming romance with Sasha, an acquaintance from work.
In what I can only assume is an attempt to add some excitement to the story, Winston introduces a new plot line: the murder confession alluded to in the blurb. This serves to further traumatize Rudy as the one year anniversary of his wife’s death approaches. Rudy finds himself in the hospital as his grief and depression leave him unable to function. Given the difficult nature of the first anniversary of a death, this twist didn’t feel necessary to contribute to Rudy’s mental state and move the story along. In retrospect, it felt out of place and forced, especially given later revelations in the story.
The romance angle between Sasha and Rudy was endearing and it was one of the redeeming qualities of this book for me. Sasha, an immigrant who has lost her child and been abandoned by her husband, could easily fill a simple “damsel in distress role,” but instead she becomes Rudy’s rock as he sinks into an overpowering depression.
Me for You may be a good choice for fans of authors such as Phaedra Patrick. It touches on some heavy topics, but overall feels like a light and fluffy read.
You can read all of my reviews on my blog, Jenna Bookish!
Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr
Me for You was in the 2.5 star range for me. There was a lot of potential in the story and I loved the concept, but something about the execution just never really grabbed me. The book opens with Rudy waking up in bed with his wife, who has died in her sleep. Most of the story then takes place almost a year later, after the initial shock of the loss has faded as Rudy navigates a blooming romance with Sasha, an acquaintance from work.
In what I can only assume is an attempt to add some excitement to the story, Winston introduces a new plot line: the murder confession alluded to in the blurb. This serves to further traumatize Rudy as the one year anniversary of his wife’s death approaches. Rudy finds himself in the hospital as his grief and depression leave him unable to function. Given the difficult nature of the first anniversary of a death, this twist didn’t feel necessary to contribute to Rudy’s mental state and move the story along. In retrospect, it felt out of place and forced, especially given later revelations in the story.
The romance angle between Sasha and Rudy was endearing and it was one of the redeeming qualities of this book for me. Sasha, an immigrant who has lost her child and been abandoned by her husband, could easily fill a simple “damsel in distress role,” but instead she becomes Rudy’s rock as he sinks into an overpowering depression.
Me for You may be a good choice for fans of authors such as Phaedra Patrick. It touches on some heavy topics, but overall feels like a light and fluffy read.
You can read all of my reviews on my blog, Jenna Bookish!
Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr
March 5, 2019
Thank you to Touchstone and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved the premise of this book but this just didn't work for me. I thought that Rudy's grief over the loss of his wife was relatable and accurate and I enjoyed reading about the initial slow build of Rudy's relationship with Sasha. Unfortunately, a lot of new elements were introduced a little later on into the story and it all turned from a charming story about a widow to a lot of absurd ideas that I just couldn't connect with or felt very realistic.
August 8, 2021
I first read Lolly Winston wayyyyy back when. At the time I didn't write reviews, I only rated books. Both Good Grief and Happiness Sold Separately garnered a "Favorites" from me and I wouldn't change a thing. I was ecstatic to see she had a new release and am happy to say that I really enjoyed it, it warmed my heart and soul. The story is shared through multiple perspectives but the focus is on Rudy Knowles as he begins the grieving process for the sudden death of his his best friend and wife, Bethany.
Rudy is a lovely and gentle soul. As a part time piano player at a major department store, Rudy shows himself to be a very introspective and intuitive man. And quirky, delightfully so. With his daughter CeCe keeping her eye on him while her world changes, Rudy tries to come to terms with life as a widower. But it's just not one he embraces "He missed being married. The living with your best friend part of it." Rudy is the kind of man who is better paired, he simply enjoys couple-dom. And then there is Sasha. We learn about Sasha and the loss she has suffered as she recalls the disintegration of her marriage. She and Rudy have a tentative friendship built on fond regards and the luck of time and place, but I prefer to see it as fate.
Rudy's grieving process is multifaceted and Lolly Winston shows that while there may be prescriptive efforts, grief is really subjective; experiencing it and managing it alike. Rudy is forced to confront an unsettling revelation and he experiences a set-back of sorts, relationships key to him change. For Rudy, Sasha and CeCe, this may be what's needed to help them move forward, as they help each other heal.
I love the way Lolly Winston wove their stories together. Rudy and CeCe are forever bound together, but Sasha's history and her influence on Rudy, his on hers, is inspiring. The writing is impeccable, brave, thoughtful, and at times funny ~ just like life. 5 stars and recommendation!
Rudy is a lovely and gentle soul. As a part time piano player at a major department store, Rudy shows himself to be a very introspective and intuitive man. And quirky, delightfully so. With his daughter CeCe keeping her eye on him while her world changes, Rudy tries to come to terms with life as a widower. But it's just not one he embraces "He missed being married. The living with your best friend part of it." Rudy is the kind of man who is better paired, he simply enjoys couple-dom. And then there is Sasha. We learn about Sasha and the loss she has suffered as she recalls the disintegration of her marriage. She and Rudy have a tentative friendship built on fond regards and the luck of time and place, but I prefer to see it as fate.
Rudy's grieving process is multifaceted and Lolly Winston shows that while there may be prescriptive efforts, grief is really subjective; experiencing it and managing it alike. Rudy is forced to confront an unsettling revelation and he experiences a set-back of sorts, relationships key to him change. For Rudy, Sasha and CeCe, this may be what's needed to help them move forward, as they help each other heal.
I love the way Lolly Winston wove their stories together. Rudy and CeCe are forever bound together, but Sasha's history and her influence on Rudy, his on hers, is inspiring. The writing is impeccable, brave, thoughtful, and at times funny ~ just like life. 5 stars and recommendation!
February 20, 2019
This was an ok book for me. Not for the topic of grief but more for the clumsiness of the book. Its flow was choppy at times and the last half of the book felt long and disjointed. I did appreciate the awareness it brings to mental health, though, as one grieves or goes through a difficult season in life.
September 15, 2019
Let me start by saying l love this author. I know she only wrote three books. I wish she would write more. This book had some funny lines but mostly had grief. It was a very good story. I also the love the music notes on the page.
June 20, 2019
This book started with so much potential for me, but then fell really flat for me. There never seemed to be much of a story besides following around a grieving man - grief is powerful and could have made a great book, but there was nothing insightful to me about the story or the characters. It didn't seem that the character grew at all. I enjoyed the writing at first, but the story became extremely dull about 3/4 of the way through and never redeemed itself
May 24, 2019
Good, clean, victorious love story. Truly enjoyed, and no jarring ending, ither.
November 27, 2018
*Review is of an advanced copy
Lolly Winston's Good Grief was one of those books that took me by surprise. It was an unexpected pleasure; sad, funny, relatable. Therefore, I squealed in delight upon spying a third novel from the talented author. I didn't even bother to read the back cover, merely plucked it from the ARC shelf and raced home.
At first, it seemed as though Me for You might simply be a retelling of Good Grief albeit this time with the roles reversed. However, although there are definite similarities between the two books, Me for You branches off in different ways and charmed me. (I was going to say charmed my socks off but that's never actually happened.) In Good Grief it was the protagonist I found most compelling where as in Me for You, as much as I liked the two main characters, it was their relationship that I appreciated. Others may scoff at the two novels likeness, but a good story is still a good story.
One minor "flub" (keep in mind the copy I read is an advanced copy and may be subject to change.) At one point a character is said to be consuming a Pudding Pop. The novel is obviously contemporary. Jello, for some unknown reason, (NOT Bill Cosby, this was long before his fall from grace) discontinued the delicacy in the 1990's. (According to the always factual Wikapedia.) Thus, unless this family had a stash of Pops that were still edible, it would not be possible for character to enjoy one of the greatest snacks of all time. Of course, this has nothing to do with the plot but I am a stickler for details.
Lolly Winston's Good Grief was one of those books that took me by surprise. It was an unexpected pleasure; sad, funny, relatable. Therefore, I squealed in delight upon spying a third novel from the talented author. I didn't even bother to read the back cover, merely plucked it from the ARC shelf and raced home.
At first, it seemed as though Me for You might simply be a retelling of Good Grief albeit this time with the roles reversed. However, although there are definite similarities between the two books, Me for You branches off in different ways and charmed me. (I was going to say charmed my socks off but that's never actually happened.) In Good Grief it was the protagonist I found most compelling where as in Me for You, as much as I liked the two main characters, it was their relationship that I appreciated. Others may scoff at the two novels likeness, but a good story is still a good story.
One minor "flub" (keep in mind the copy I read is an advanced copy and may be subject to change.) At one point a character is said to be consuming a Pudding Pop. The novel is obviously contemporary. Jello, for some unknown reason, (NOT Bill Cosby, this was long before his fall from grace) discontinued the delicacy in the 1990's. (According to the always factual Wikapedia.) Thus, unless this family had a stash of Pops that were still edible, it would not be possible for character to enjoy one of the greatest snacks of all time. Of course, this has nothing to do with the plot but I am a stickler for details.
February 18, 2019
This book should have been nothing but a depressing sad downer of a book--but it wasn't! It was really quite lovely and wonderful. Yes, it is sad because the book opens with Rudy's beloved wife unexpectedly dying and then you see his grieving process. But it was lovely because, well, it seemed so real and sweet. I think I especially liked it that Bethany, his wife, was really great for him and that would never change, even as he finds comfort, friendship, and even romance with someone else. I found I really cared for the characters and wished the best for them.
Want to read
January 29, 2019Me For You wasn't what I hoped it would be. It's really sad and depressing, and I just can't read sad stuff anymore. I recommend if you're okay with bleak. Unfortunately, this story was not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2023
Me for You by Lolly Winston is a story of loss, grief, and finding love again.
December 23, 2018
Thanks to Gallery Books for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I didn't find it as engrossing as her first two novels.
The patients are not that much different from you or me. They are people who stepped off a curb and got run over by life."
"And then it was time to be alone for the first time in weeks. Then he felt his face droop, heard the depression scratching on the windows to get in."
I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I didn't find it as engrossing as her first two novels.
The patients are not that much different from you or me. They are people who stepped off a curb and got run over by life."
"And then it was time to be alone for the first time in weeks. Then he felt his face droop, heard the depression scratching on the windows to get in."
May 16, 2019
What a sweet, sweet book. Not a lot really happens, but it’s still very thought-provoking and interesting. The idea of moving on after losing your spouse, wether from divorce or death, is a tough topic which Winston addresses beautifully. Anyone who’s suffered any sort of grief should find takeaways in this book and the stance taken on healing and moving on. I really enjoyed the simplicity. Well-written and hopeful.
June 1, 2022
Picked this book because it came up when I searched for Fredrik Backman at my local library. Someone had written an endorsement that said it reads like Backman's books. I agree. Very down to earth and I was left wishing it were longer
July 27, 2024
It had a slow start and not something I could easily get into.
April 18, 2021
A simple sweet story of grief, dealing with it, finding love again and healing.
March 7, 2019
The last thing Rudy expected was to wake up one Saturday morning, a widow at fifty-four years old. Now, ten months after the untimely death of his beloved wife, he’s still not sure how to move on from the defining tragedy of his life—but his new job is helping. After being downsized from his finance position, Rudy turned to his first love: the piano. Some people might be embarrassed to work as the piano player at Nordstrom, but for Rudy, there’s joy in bringing a little music into the world. And it doesn’t hurt that Sasha, the Hungarian men’s watch clerk who is finally divorcing her no-good husband, finds time to join him at the bench every now and then.
Just when Rudy and Sasha’s relationship begins to deepen, the police come to the store with an update about Rudy’s wife’s untimely death—a coworker has confessed to her murder—but Rudy’s actions are suspicious enough to warrant a second look at him, too. With Sasha’s husband suddenly reappearing, and Rudy’s daughter confronting her own marital problems, suddenly life becomes more complicated than Rudy and Sasha could have imagined.
My Thoughts: Throughout Me for You, the characters tell the story of a fifty-something couple, Rudy and Bethany, ready to enjoy their golden years, when the wife dies in her sleep.
Rudy struggles throughout this engaging story that reminds the reader to savor the moments.
Rudy’s daughter CeCe is annoying, but persistent in her attempts to help him. She even creates a dating profile for him, despite his objections, since he is involved in a unique friendship with Sasha. CeCe thinks he is moving too fast. However, there is something about Sasha that gives Rudy the joy he has been missing.
I always appreciate a story with characters that feel real, even those who presume to know what is best for others. Especially when they are the adult children. Could these characters remind me of people in my own life? Good characters are those that could be people we might know, so I couldn’t help enjoying the scenes playing out with these characters.
As the story moves back and forth in time, I am caught up in everything about them. Even the mysterious news brought to Rudy by the police detective.
How will Rudy find his new path, and what must happen first before he can finally move on? As the story took us through the changes in the characters’ lives, I was eager to join them on their journey. 4 stars.
***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley..
Just when Rudy and Sasha’s relationship begins to deepen, the police come to the store with an update about Rudy’s wife’s untimely death—a coworker has confessed to her murder—but Rudy’s actions are suspicious enough to warrant a second look at him, too. With Sasha’s husband suddenly reappearing, and Rudy’s daughter confronting her own marital problems, suddenly life becomes more complicated than Rudy and Sasha could have imagined.
My Thoughts: Throughout Me for You, the characters tell the story of a fifty-something couple, Rudy and Bethany, ready to enjoy their golden years, when the wife dies in her sleep.
Rudy struggles throughout this engaging story that reminds the reader to savor the moments.
Rudy’s daughter CeCe is annoying, but persistent in her attempts to help him. She even creates a dating profile for him, despite his objections, since he is involved in a unique friendship with Sasha. CeCe thinks he is moving too fast. However, there is something about Sasha that gives Rudy the joy he has been missing.
I always appreciate a story with characters that feel real, even those who presume to know what is best for others. Especially when they are the adult children. Could these characters remind me of people in my own life? Good characters are those that could be people we might know, so I couldn’t help enjoying the scenes playing out with these characters.
As the story moves back and forth in time, I am caught up in everything about them. Even the mysterious news brought to Rudy by the police detective.
How will Rudy find his new path, and what must happen first before he can finally move on? As the story took us through the changes in the characters’ lives, I was eager to join them on their journey. 4 stars.
***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley..
March 20, 2019
https://oneblogtwobroads.blog/2019/03...
Lolly Winston definitely knows how to take a sad thing like grief and make it into a beautiful story. As she did in Good Grief (I highly recommend it), she has done again in this lovely book.
Rudy wakes up one morning at the age of 54 to his wife lying next to him. He goes about chattering about breakfast and things, as one does, and after a while, realizes she still isn’t stirring. His beloved wife Bethany has passed away in her sleep. Rudy is lost. The world as he knows it has crumbled. What do you do with such a loss? He still goes to his part time job as a piano player at Nordstrom’s. He has a wonderful friend there in Sasha, a woman who has seen her own share of loss, but he is losing his grip. His daughter arranges for him to enter the hospital for a while to work through his depression. The scenes in the hospital are just so touching. Everyone is so kind and everyone is working through their own pain. It shines a light on mental health.
His doctor says something that sticks with me. He said that we have to think of grief as a chronic disease. You know it is always there and sometimes it rears it’s head. That is so very true! That made me cry because I have so many of those moments.
This is such a wonderful book. It is sad and emotional but it is also very uplifting and hopeful. I think, in fact, that hopeful is the word for this book. The characters are all wonderful, so well written. You will laugh and you will cry. You will feel everything and that is always the sign of a great book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy of this lovely novel.
Lolly Winston definitely knows how to take a sad thing like grief and make it into a beautiful story. As she did in Good Grief (I highly recommend it), she has done again in this lovely book.
Rudy wakes up one morning at the age of 54 to his wife lying next to him. He goes about chattering about breakfast and things, as one does, and after a while, realizes she still isn’t stirring. His beloved wife Bethany has passed away in her sleep. Rudy is lost. The world as he knows it has crumbled. What do you do with such a loss? He still goes to his part time job as a piano player at Nordstrom’s. He has a wonderful friend there in Sasha, a woman who has seen her own share of loss, but he is losing his grip. His daughter arranges for him to enter the hospital for a while to work through his depression. The scenes in the hospital are just so touching. Everyone is so kind and everyone is working through their own pain. It shines a light on mental health.
His doctor says something that sticks with me. He said that we have to think of grief as a chronic disease. You know it is always there and sometimes it rears it’s head. That is so very true! That made me cry because I have so many of those moments.
This is such a wonderful book. It is sad and emotional but it is also very uplifting and hopeful. I think, in fact, that hopeful is the word for this book. The characters are all wonderful, so well written. You will laugh and you will cry. You will feel everything and that is always the sign of a great book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy of this lovely novel.
February 18, 2019
I have been waiting for a new book from Lolly Winston for years, ever since I read “Good Grief.” When I saw a chance to read an advanced copy of this book, I swooned with delight. Unfortunately, as many reviews have noted, “Me For You,” is like the less desired sister of “Good Grief.”
In this novel, Rudy’s wife dies unexpectedly in her sleep just as the two of them are looking forward to the adventures of retirement. As a result, Rudy falls into grief and depression (much like did in Sophie did “Good Grief.”) As a part-time piano player in Nordstrom, Rudy befriends Sasha, a salesperson who has also suffered an unimaginable tragedy. As Sasha and Rudy begin a relationship, Rudy falls victim to his deep depression and ends up institutionalized.
Parts of this book felt very preachy, as if trying to teach the reader about grief and though I admire Winston for tackling depression in such a manner, I often felt as if I was being lectured too.
Rudy was a wonderful character and I enjoyed how the relationship between he and Sasha (who gets her own backstory) develop. I imagine for readers who haven’t read “Good Grief” might view this novel differently than I did.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks also to Simon and Schuster and the author, Lolly Winston.
In this novel, Rudy’s wife dies unexpectedly in her sleep just as the two of them are looking forward to the adventures of retirement. As a result, Rudy falls into grief and depression (much like did in Sophie did “Good Grief.”) As a part-time piano player in Nordstrom, Rudy befriends Sasha, a salesperson who has also suffered an unimaginable tragedy. As Sasha and Rudy begin a relationship, Rudy falls victim to his deep depression and ends up institutionalized.
Parts of this book felt very preachy, as if trying to teach the reader about grief and though I admire Winston for tackling depression in such a manner, I often felt as if I was being lectured too.
Rudy was a wonderful character and I enjoyed how the relationship between he and Sasha (who gets her own backstory) develop. I imagine for readers who haven’t read “Good Grief” might view this novel differently than I did.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks also to Simon and Schuster and the author, Lolly Winston.
January 17, 2019
I have liked Lolly Winston books before, especially Good Grief. In fact, I loved that book but this one seems to want to revisit similar emotions with different characters and a bit of an unbelievable plot. Too many coincidences and "surprises". It does try to visit grief and moving on but that fell flat as well. I really enjoy Winston's writing style but a new topic would be welcome.
Thanks to NetGalley for ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for ARC.
February 15, 2019
There was something very bland about this novel. Our main character Rudy, wakes up one morning to discover that his wife is dead in bed next to him. He doesn't realize this at first and talks to her and gives her a little physical contact, which is odd. Rudy must deal with his grief and with going out into the dating world. He has a crush on Sasha, a woman with her own version of heartache. The book was forgettable at best, and slow moving, despite it being so short.
November 9, 2018
Oh how I truly wanted to love this book like I did Good Grief, but unfortunately it just fell completely flat - a pale imitation with a similar plot line. The characters did not resonate and the plot did not hold together. There were random chapters focusing on the deceased wife which had no coherence and a barely believable murder theme that came out of left field.
March 24, 2020
***NOVEL THOUGHTS***
3.5
++Thanks to Gallery books and Goodreads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review++
The subject is grief and how one man, Rudy struggles to deal with it. His grief stems from the unexpected loss of his beloved wife Bethany who he finds has passed away peacefully in her sleep. His depth of loss equals the depth of his love for her and for a year he keeps his head just above water. He goes to his job as a department store pianist everyday where a co-worker, Sasha, helps to keep him tethered to reality. When he realizes it's been just about a year since his wife's death, he is approached by a Detective who is investigating the possibility that her death and two others, were caused by a disgruntled employee who worked in the same pharmacy as she did. This causes Rudy to spiral out of reality and into a deep depression. His daughter CeCe, who is also dealing with some personal issues in her marriage, suggests that he check himself into the hospital psych unit for help in dealing with what is going on. While there, he learns some strategies to manage his grief, guilt, loneliness and heartbreak. Besides visits from his daughter, Sasha comes almost daily to keep him company. Sasha has been dealing with her own emotional sadness. Much earlier, her little daughter Stefi drowned in a neighbor's pool and this turns her life and her marriage to Gabor upside down. Tired of his verbal and physical abuse during his drunken rages, she wants out. She holds two jobs and muddles along also trying to keep her head above water. She can relate on so many levels with Rudy's situation.
This sounds like a sad and downer of a book, but it's not. It's more about getting through the hardest time of your life and coming out the other side with something to live for. There are some places that you will want to cry for the character but the author doesn't make this a maudlin book even though the subject is despairing. There are some lines and descriptions that I found amusing and light. Rudy is a giver. He wants to make the people that he loves happy because that is what makes him happy. Without that, he is lost so, without Bethany, he is lost. But there is always a silver lining in life and two good things come out of this dark time for him. First, he and his daughter reconnect, both needing each other during their emotional difficulties and Rudy and Sasha find each other, connected by similar sadness and grief.
It is a well written book with relatable characters and is filled with thoughtful strategies for dealing with depression associated with loss. I liked the way Sasha, who is an immigrant, describes her adjusting to the American way of life. However, the way that Gabor was written was too much a caricature. I know there needed to be a moment that sends Rudy into a spiral but the whole possibility of Bethany being murdered seemed so out of place for this story. I think the author could have found a different storyline. Also, there didn't seem to be a smooth transition between that moment he is approached by the detective and his depression. In fact, I had to reread that section because I thought I missed something because BOOM, he is playing his piano and the next chapter, he is sleeping in his dirty clothes for days and his daughter is knocking at the door ready to take him to the hospital. It was very clunky.
3.5
++Thanks to Gallery books and Goodreads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review++
The subject is grief and how one man, Rudy struggles to deal with it. His grief stems from the unexpected loss of his beloved wife Bethany who he finds has passed away peacefully in her sleep. His depth of loss equals the depth of his love for her and for a year he keeps his head just above water. He goes to his job as a department store pianist everyday where a co-worker, Sasha, helps to keep him tethered to reality. When he realizes it's been just about a year since his wife's death, he is approached by a Detective who is investigating the possibility that her death and two others, were caused by a disgruntled employee who worked in the same pharmacy as she did. This causes Rudy to spiral out of reality and into a deep depression. His daughter CeCe, who is also dealing with some personal issues in her marriage, suggests that he check himself into the hospital psych unit for help in dealing with what is going on. While there, he learns some strategies to manage his grief, guilt, loneliness and heartbreak. Besides visits from his daughter, Sasha comes almost daily to keep him company. Sasha has been dealing with her own emotional sadness. Much earlier, her little daughter Stefi drowned in a neighbor's pool and this turns her life and her marriage to Gabor upside down. Tired of his verbal and physical abuse during his drunken rages, she wants out. She holds two jobs and muddles along also trying to keep her head above water. She can relate on so many levels with Rudy's situation.
This sounds like a sad and downer of a book, but it's not. It's more about getting through the hardest time of your life and coming out the other side with something to live for. There are some places that you will want to cry for the character but the author doesn't make this a maudlin book even though the subject is despairing. There are some lines and descriptions that I found amusing and light. Rudy is a giver. He wants to make the people that he loves happy because that is what makes him happy. Without that, he is lost so, without Bethany, he is lost. But there is always a silver lining in life and two good things come out of this dark time for him. First, he and his daughter reconnect, both needing each other during their emotional difficulties and Rudy and Sasha find each other, connected by similar sadness and grief.
It is a well written book with relatable characters and is filled with thoughtful strategies for dealing with depression associated with loss. I liked the way Sasha, who is an immigrant, describes her adjusting to the American way of life. However, the way that Gabor was written was too much a caricature. I know there needed to be a moment that sends Rudy into a spiral but the whole possibility of Bethany being murdered seemed so out of place for this story. I think the author could have found a different storyline. Also, there didn't seem to be a smooth transition between that moment he is approached by the detective and his depression. In fact, I had to reread that section because I thought I missed something because BOOM, he is playing his piano and the next chapter, he is sleeping in his dirty clothes for days and his daughter is knocking at the door ready to take him to the hospital. It was very clunky.
February 21, 2019
Expected publication March 12th! Pre-0rder from Amazon here!
Book #3 "in the books" for the Booksparks Winter Reading Challenge! #WRC2019
Eek. I'm not having the greatest luck with these Winter Reading Challenge selections. Sorry!
Caution: there may be some spoilers as it's challenging to share my thoughts on this one without some more detailed discussion of the plot.
Me for You is a charming story of a middle aged man named Rudy who wakes up one morning to find his wife lying beside him dead, having passed away in the night. Of course he freaks out, calls 911, and tries to revive her but there's nothing that can be done to save her. Fast forward a year later and Rudy is still trying to navigate through his grief and figure out how to move on from losing the love of his life. In walks Sasha, his lovely coworker who he's had a mild crush on for years (yes, even while he was married) and a romance begins to develop. But, despite his feelings for Sasha, he still struggles emotionally with grief, depression, and survivor's guilt which lands him a first class ticket to the medical/psych ward at the hospital for some targeted therapy.
I think I enjoyed the first half of this book more than I enjoyed the second half. It showed a lot of promise early on and I liked where I thought the story was headed. And then it kind of pivoted in a completely different direction. There was this detective mystery angle in the beginning when Rudy's wife's death was being investigated as a murder and then it was like the author just gave up on that idea and said "scratch that... I changed my mind." The whole murder subplot disappeared into thin air which I found really odd.
Then there was this back story with Sasha's previous marriage to an abusive husband and the tragic loss of her daughter. While I understood how Sasha's struggles helped Rudy to navigate through his grief, I still felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions with this particular plot line.
I guess what I'm saying here is that there were a few too many plot lines and, honestly, not a whole that transpired in the grand scheme of things. Many of the subplots were introduced but never really felt resolved or fully addressed.
My favorite part? That Rudy's wife was a hospital pharmacist! So fun to read a story about a character who shares my job. But if that was my favorite part, that's not all that promising.
While I think this book had a ton of potential and I appreciated the author's attempt to write a book about the painstaking journey through the grieving process (with a powerful message about overcoming tragedy), the execution was really off for me. The author incorporated a few too many ideas that didn't really come to fruition in my opinion. That being said, I always say that no two people read the same book. So if you have a particular interest in grief management or need an inspiring read about overcoming tragedy, I would encourage you to give it a try.
-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Lolly Winston, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review.-
On to Book #4 of the Winter Reading Challenge, The Lost Man by Jane Harper!
Book #3 "in the books" for the Booksparks Winter Reading Challenge! #WRC2019
Eek. I'm not having the greatest luck with these Winter Reading Challenge selections. Sorry!
Caution: there may be some spoilers as it's challenging to share my thoughts on this one without some more detailed discussion of the plot.
Me for You is a charming story of a middle aged man named Rudy who wakes up one morning to find his wife lying beside him dead, having passed away in the night. Of course he freaks out, calls 911, and tries to revive her but there's nothing that can be done to save her. Fast forward a year later and Rudy is still trying to navigate through his grief and figure out how to move on from losing the love of his life. In walks Sasha, his lovely coworker who he's had a mild crush on for years (yes, even while he was married) and a romance begins to develop. But, despite his feelings for Sasha, he still struggles emotionally with grief, depression, and survivor's guilt which lands him a first class ticket to the medical/psych ward at the hospital for some targeted therapy.
I think I enjoyed the first half of this book more than I enjoyed the second half. It showed a lot of promise early on and I liked where I thought the story was headed. And then it kind of pivoted in a completely different direction. There was this detective mystery angle in the beginning when Rudy's wife's death was being investigated as a murder and then it was like the author just gave up on that idea and said "scratch that... I changed my mind." The whole murder subplot disappeared into thin air which I found really odd.
Then there was this back story with Sasha's previous marriage to an abusive husband and the tragic loss of her daughter. While I understood how Sasha's struggles helped Rudy to navigate through his grief, I still felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions with this particular plot line.
I guess what I'm saying here is that there were a few too many plot lines and, honestly, not a whole that transpired in the grand scheme of things. Many of the subplots were introduced but never really felt resolved or fully addressed.
My favorite part? That Rudy's wife was a hospital pharmacist! So fun to read a story about a character who shares my job. But if that was my favorite part, that's not all that promising.
While I think this book had a ton of potential and I appreciated the author's attempt to write a book about the painstaking journey through the grieving process (with a powerful message about overcoming tragedy), the execution was really off for me. The author incorporated a few too many ideas that didn't really come to fruition in my opinion. That being said, I always say that no two people read the same book. So if you have a particular interest in grief management or need an inspiring read about overcoming tragedy, I would encourage you to give it a try.
-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Lolly Winston, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review.-
On to Book #4 of the Winter Reading Challenge, The Lost Man by Jane Harper!
March 25, 2019
Earlier this year, I was super excited to find out that I had been selected to be included in the BookSparks' Winter Reading Challenge 2019 (#WRC2019)! Today's post is about the fourth book of the challenge - Me for You by Lolly Winston. The book arrived and it is beautiful - I love the cover but to be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never heard of the author, Lolly Winston.
Now that I've had my read of the book, I will say that throughout Me for You, the characters share a story with readers of a 50-something couple, Rudy and Bethany Knowles, ready to enjoy their golden years together, when unfortunately, Rudy wakes up shocked and can't believe that Bee has died in her sleep.With his daughter CeCe keeping her eye on him while her world changes, Rudy tries to come to terms with life as a widower. Fast forward a year later, and he's still trying to work through how to move forward after losing the love of his life..... enter Sasha. She's Rudy's coworker who he secretly had a little crush on even when he was still actively married, and their romance thence begins. It's not so easy though, even as is feelings deepen for Sasha, Rudy still struggles with grief and depression and even a bit of survivor's guilt which ultimately leads him to the hospital ward for therapy.
As the story moves back and forth in time, I found myself caught up in everything about the story - even the mysterious news the police detective brings to Rudy. I felt that Me for You was a great book - sad and emotional, but also uplifting while at the same time, providing hope. The characters are well written and readers will both laugh and cry while reading this story.
I have received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the BookSparks Winter Reading Challenge 2019 (WRC#2019) in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.
Now that I've had my read of the book, I will say that throughout Me for You, the characters share a story with readers of a 50-something couple, Rudy and Bethany Knowles, ready to enjoy their golden years together, when unfortunately, Rudy wakes up shocked and can't believe that Bee has died in her sleep.With his daughter CeCe keeping her eye on him while her world changes, Rudy tries to come to terms with life as a widower. Fast forward a year later, and he's still trying to work through how to move forward after losing the love of his life..... enter Sasha. She's Rudy's coworker who he secretly had a little crush on even when he was still actively married, and their romance thence begins. It's not so easy though, even as is feelings deepen for Sasha, Rudy still struggles with grief and depression and even a bit of survivor's guilt which ultimately leads him to the hospital ward for therapy.
As the story moves back and forth in time, I found myself caught up in everything about the story - even the mysterious news the police detective brings to Rudy. I felt that Me for You was a great book - sad and emotional, but also uplifting while at the same time, providing hope. The characters are well written and readers will both laugh and cry while reading this story.
I have received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the BookSparks Winter Reading Challenge 2019 (WRC#2019) in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.
March 13, 2019
Thank you so much to Touchstone Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first book by Lolly Winston and after hearing numerous good things about her I was intrigued by this one. It wasn't amazing to me by any means, it was just okay. I felt that the book was a little choppy and all over the place at times and then drug on in areas that didn't really need to be so long.
This book is about Rudy who wakes up one morning to find his wife has passed away, just when they're looking forward to the adventures of retiring. Rudy falls into depression and grief and isn't sure how he's going to go on with his life without her by his side. While at work at Nordstrom he meets a fellow coworker Sasha who is also suffering from a tragedy. Just as their relationship is starting to take off, Rudy succumbs to his deep depression and ends up institutionalized and finds out his wife's death might not have been an accident.
I loved how the author touched so much on mental health and grief and I did enjoy Rudy's character a lot. However, I did feel that this book left a lot to the imagination. It was so choppy and all over the place and certain parts of the book felt like they weren't finished. I'm not sure if that's because I have the uncorrected proof but I was left with a lot of questions that aren't answered. All in all not a bad book, just felt it wasn't finished properly.
This was my first book by Lolly Winston and after hearing numerous good things about her I was intrigued by this one. It wasn't amazing to me by any means, it was just okay. I felt that the book was a little choppy and all over the place at times and then drug on in areas that didn't really need to be so long.
This book is about Rudy who wakes up one morning to find his wife has passed away, just when they're looking forward to the adventures of retiring. Rudy falls into depression and grief and isn't sure how he's going to go on with his life without her by his side. While at work at Nordstrom he meets a fellow coworker Sasha who is also suffering from a tragedy. Just as their relationship is starting to take off, Rudy succumbs to his deep depression and ends up institutionalized and finds out his wife's death might not have been an accident.
I loved how the author touched so much on mental health and grief and I did enjoy Rudy's character a lot. However, I did feel that this book left a lot to the imagination. It was so choppy and all over the place and certain parts of the book felt like they weren't finished. I'm not sure if that's because I have the uncorrected proof but I was left with a lot of questions that aren't answered. All in all not a bad book, just felt it wasn't finished properly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews