A segunda vida de Missy

by Beth Morrey, Vera Ribeiro (Translator)

O mundo mudou ao redor de Missy Carmichael. Aos setenta e nove anos, ela se distanciou de sua filha; seu filho e único neto moram no outro lado do mundo, na Austrália; e o seu grande amor se foi. Missy passa seus dias bebendo xerez, limpando a cozinha e revivendo o passado - embora sejam seus erros e segredos que ela permite que brilhem mais intensamente. A última coisa que Missy espera é que dois estranhos e um cão espirituoso quebrem seu exterior austero e mostrem a Missy quanto amor ela ainda tem para dar.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club, Romance, Chick Lit, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2020

About the author

Beth Morrey was inspired to write her debut novel, Saving Missy, while pushing a pram around her local park during maternity leave. Getting to know the community of dog owners, joggers, neighbours and families, she began to sow the seeds of a novel about a woman saved by the people around her, strangers who became friends. Previously Creative Director at RDF Television, Beth now writes full time. She was previously shortlisted for the Grazia-Orange First Chapter award, and had her work published in the Cambridge and Oxford May Anthologies while at university. Beth lives in London with her husband, two sons and a dog named Polly.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boo hoo, waahhh… Boo hoo, argghhkk! Somebody sledgehammered my heart, broke into tiny particles and buried into ground! I’m in deep pain and whining, crying like a baby! And I’m in the mall now! Everybody’s looking for me. I know you will ask me why the hell I read the final chapters of the book in the public place if it is so devastatingly sad story.

Well, I was waiting my friends to have a lunch break. They occupied in work places so I carried this book not to get bored and do something useful while I was waiting. I knew something tear jerker, heartbreaking, soul shuttering coming, I could hear the warning “stop reading, you’re gonna frighten those people! They already posted your picture so many public places and named you as –persona non grata-, children thinks you are Melisandre and brought Jon Snow back to life!!! You cannot even visit some European places, they still call you- boogey woman- after your breakdown and scream cried after finishing –Me before you- in front of Eiffel Tower“

But yes, it happened again! My friends found interesting my raccoon make up and red, bloated eyes, running nose and took me to a visit to Santa to calm my nerves (of course later they took me early happy hour to stop my whining! Best friends ever!)

You may imagine that you need so many tissues, chamomile tea or any kind of booze and Zanax cocktail before starting this sad, over emotional book. Firstly I have to admit, describing Missy Carmichael as Eleanor Oliphant could be marketing strategy but it is absolutely false information. Missy is lonely woman, lost her love of her life and her children already left the house, living alone, aimless, stressful, depressed and sometimes it’s really hard to understand or empathize with her. But her back story, her life choices are so much different than Eleanor. Only similar thing of the characters are their asocial manners but the reason behind their social shyness and being alone are really different.

This book is about finding hope, friendship and purpose when you live the winter times of your life.
One day Missy meets two women in the park and listens to their stories and connects with them. Finally she starts to leave home and fill her life with new responsibilities including taking care of a sweetest dog.

This is slow burn, heart wrenching, poignant, lovely story and especially last parts are a little heavy. When you learn more about Missy’s past and her backstory, you start to root for her and want to know more about her life.

It’s brilliant, heart felting, promising debut novel which stole a place in my heart.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam to share this marvelous ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason I kept pushing this off to the side, and even thought of the potential for not giving feedback. My word... I don't know what I was thinking because this beautifully crafted story over achieved any expectation I had for it!

Millicent (Missy) Carmichael is 79 years old. She lives by herself in a large, stately home in Stoke Newington, a village-like residential area of London. She's very much missing her husband Leo, whose mysterious illness is touched upon throughout the book. She carries the air of a heartbroken widow. There was always tension with her oldest child, daughter Melanie, who lives in Cambridge. Her favorite child Alistair broke her heart when he moved to Australia upon his marriage. As a result, Missy only gets to see her grandson Arthur for a two week Christmas visit. Their main mode of communication throughout the year is via her laptop. As the book begins, Missy is contemplating her loneliness and taking a walk to the nearby park. She's pushing herself to endure the overzealous dog walkers, parents and children who make the park come alive. Her mission is to have an experience worthy enough to make it look like her life is interesting when she emails her son Alistair. She had heard there would be a fish-stunning today. Now, I never heard about this before and it really caught my attention. Apparently, a park worker employs a device into the pond water which shocks the fish and makes it more manageable to transfer them to another body of water.

Missy is the kind of person who keeps to herself, under the radar. However, on this momentous morning she makes contact with some real characters. One lady is a redhead named Angela who is a journalist and a single parent to Otis (who is around the same age as Missy's grandson Arthur). She's rather loud, opinionated and pushy, but extremely kind hearted. The other lady Sylvie has two small dogs in tow and a penchant for baking, and she's cheerily passing out homemade croissants. Missy accepts one- not because she's hungry, but just grateful to be noticed. After a momentary fainting spell, these new companions fuss over Missy and she's invited out to a coffee shop. Missy's still a bit antisocial and begs off with an excuse to go home. However, days later a chance meeting at the chemist with Sylvie sparks another invitation for coffee at the cafe across the street, and Missy is taking baby steps towards newfound friendships.

This is one of those stories about an old, sad and lonely person who by luck or chance meets some very caring people. In embracing these new friendships, she is like a flower slowly blooming, opening up to new, wonderful experiences that vastly improve her life. She's kicking and screaming in resistance at times along the way. This book was a marvel. I laughed, cried, and gasped in surprise. I kept thinking, "This is what great writing is all about!"

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons / Penguin Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book and I certainly had little sympathy in the beginning for Missy. All that changed however as the book progressed.

The story begins when we first meet Missy. She is 79 years old, her husband is gone, her son and family live in Australia and she has fallen out with her daughter. She is sad and lonely and not really coping. As events take over and her situation changes chapters from the past are introduced and we find out exactly how much she has to deal with.

By the end I was reaching for the tissues and I carried on thinking about Missy and her friends and relations for a long time after I had closed the book. This is a debut novel which is very well worth reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3★
“And it was still hard, being in the park, without remembering Leo. He was a great believer in a constitutional; enjoyed belittling self-important joggers and jovially berating cyclists.”

Millicent Carmichael is a lonely old lady who’s been feeling sorry for herself and sticking pretty much to her own company. But she’s making a bit of an effort to get out of the house, and what do you know? Someone strikes up a conversation and invites her to join them for a coffee.

“I still didn’t have much to write to Alistair about, but at least I’d been invited for a coffee and went, in a way. Baby steps. Old lady steps. Even if I wasn’t quite sure where I was going.”

Alistair is her son, her golden boy, the special child and father of her golden grandson, Arthur, but they aren’t nearby. Melanie is his older sister and lives closer, but Missy’s always clashed with her and frequently refers to her unforgiveable fight with her.

So if she’s not going to waste away home alone, she needs to take those baby steps or old lady steps herself. Her mother was an activist, marcher, protestor, volunteer, and someone who stood up for herself and others. Not Missy.

“Mama would never have given up a career to run a household. She marched to the beat of her own drum, whereas I seemed to listen out for everyone else’s. Mainly Leo’s.”

Missy tells this in the first person, and at 78, when the book opens, she has plenty of looking back to think about and figures she’s got very little to look forward to. She tells it today and then reminisces about the past, particularly when she goes through things in the attic or photograph albums.

She has stripped her rooms of knick-knacks and pared back the furniture to the minimum she needs for daily living. It’s an almost spartan life – certainly a dull, depressing one.

About halfway through, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. It was pleasant enough, but that was all, though I kept reading, hoping it would touch a nerve or develop into something insightful. This is about someone trying to learn independence late in life, an interesting premise. And there are some delightful turns of phrase.

"He slept like he’d fallen out of an aeroplane, on his front, star-shaped, dark eyelashes fanning his cheeks, thumb in his mouth.”

Lovely. Unfortunately, the characters seemed made to order to move Missy's story along. I didn’t like being told more than once, in what I imagine were supposed to be mysterious undertones, about her run-in with Melanie.

“I blinked to banish the image of my daughter Melanie, wide-eyed in my kitchen, backing away. The guilt gnawed away at me, as it had since that terrible day. Whenever I tried to weed it out, it just took a deeper root.”

A little later:

“. . . it wasn’t like she ever visited any more – not since that terrible afternoon.”

Later again

“Our first meeting since those terrible words in my kitchen. . . “

Again

“There was always the residue of that terrible day, that terrible fight …”

I’ll stop there, at just over a third of the way through, but there are more. We hear similar thoughts about her guilt over some dreadful thing she did in the past. If I had cared about her at first, I no longer did, because it felt like a writer’s ploy to keep me hooked.

I like books with prickly people who can be softened up, but this seemed a convenient set-up. There were rather a lot of coffees and jolly walks and wonderful smells wafting from someone’s kitchen. Add a small child and a dog, and what else do we need? There was only one surprise for me, near the end, but even that just felt like a writer's trick.

I expect Olive Kitteridge has spoiled me for irritable, depressed old ladies who love and miss their sons. But Olive is definitely a one-off, so I shouldn’t hold that against everybody else, should I?

I appreciate the preview copy from NetGalley and HarperCollins, and I know there will be plenty of hearts warmed by this one, just not mine.

[Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I was absolutely not expecting to go on the rollercoaster of emotions that this novel sent me on.

Saving Missy follows Missy Carmichael, after the loss of her husband. Missy is lonely and stuck in a repetitive rut. A trip to the local lake changes the coarse of her life, as she meets new people and makes new memories.

This book is a heart wrenching love story. But the focus isn’t just on romantic love, it considers the love between friends, and the love that can blossom between a human and an animal. The relationship between Missy and Bobby was so pure and beautiful. I found myself cuddling my cat a little closer, relishing her warmth and love. It was a beautiful reminder of how much animals can change someone’s life.

I admit, at the beginning I was not Missy’s biggest fan. I wanted to shake her hard and tell her to get a grip. But as she started to come out of her shell, and let others in, I really warmed to her. Her transformation throughout the novel was one of the best I’ve ever read. The glimpses of her past, both happy and sad, really helped to ground her character. This book really highlights how important love is in life, no matter where we get it from.

This book isn’t the book for you if you want a Hollywood blockbuster romance. But if you want a look into pure and realistic, life changing love, then I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you! It is so easy to read (although very emotional at the end) and is the first book I’ve read with an 80 year old lady as the protagonist. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

[Neale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missy opens her morning paper and immediately flips to the obituaries. David Bowie has died.

“At my age, reading obituaries is a generational hazard, contemporaries dropping off, one by one; each announcement an empty chamber in my own little revolver. For a while I tried to turn a blind eye, as if ignoring death could somehow fob it off. But people kept dying and other people kept writing about it, and some perverse imp obliged me to keep up to date.”

Missy had finally made her mind up to go to the park and watch them electrocute the fish, so that she will have something to talk about with Arthur, her beloved grandson. More and more these days she finds that she is doing things just to provide a story to share with her family.

As she watches the fish being stunned and captured, she feels herself falling, vision fading away to blackness.

Missy is awoken by a dog nuzzling her face and she finds that she has slipped from sitting on the bench to laying on the bench. A concerned group of people has gathered around her, one woman holds a wet napkin to her forehead. Missy’s embarrassment far outweighs any injury.

The lady introduces herself as Sylvie, inviting her to coffee. Sylvie is the first stranger that Missy has spoken to in weeks. A serendipitous moment? No, she declines.

She returns to an empty house. She laments that her darling grandson now lives in Australia and it is easy for the reader to see that Missy is very lonely and teetering on the edge of depression. We also learn that some incident with her daughter, Melanie, never leaves her mind for long and that it leaves her with a terrible feeling of guilt. Melanie has not been to visit since this incident occurred, adding to Missy’s loneliness.

Sylvie returns to the narrative, bumping into Missy at the chemist the next day. Again, she offers an invitation to a cup of coffee, again Missy declines. Sylvie tells Missy that no matter, they are bound to bump into each other again.

While trying to avoid one character, Missy is almost forced into friendship with another. At the coffee shop Missy witnesses a fight between two women. One of them is Angela who was invited to coffee with her by Sylvie back at the park a couple of days ago. Angela attaches herself to Missy like a limpet mine and follows her home asking questions, barging into the house, almost uninvited. She is such a wonderful character, an example of how Angela talks,

“Plus she thinks I should have married Otis’s father, Sean, even though he’s a useless twat. But he’s a useless twat from our village, so ideal marriage material. And now she’s come for a visit, so I’m sleeping on the sofa and she’s asking why I haven’t bought a house yet, “Is it because of all the immigrants?” “Jesus Christ, I AM an immigrant,” I said. And she said, “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.”

Angela asks Missy to the park with her son, Otis. At the park they run into Sylvie who invites them back to her home. The feeling of serendipity is strong again and it feels as if these women were meant to become friends and just what Milly needs.

The narrative will go back in time to various points in Missy’s life. Important parts that shaped who she is today. We slowly get the complete painting of Missy, with chapters of her past like wide brushstrokes filling the canvas.

Later in the novel these jumps back in time will take place mid chapter, an object, such as a blow-up swimming pool, will trigger a memory and we will be whisked back in time, usually to an important anecdote. Dreams are also used to impart vital information from Missy’s past.

In a nutshell this is a story about a year in Missy’s life, and her change in attitude and confidence in her twilight years. This passage sums her changing feelings nicely as well as giving us an example of Morrey’s lovely writing style,

“Sylvie had a wonderful capacity for “philautia”, that boldest of Greek loves, the love of the self – a much finer quality than narcissism, which it’s often mistaken for. The way I saw it, with narcissism, you were just gazing at your reflection in a lake, with philautia, you were frolicking in the lake and inviting people to join you. People who truly liked themselves seemed to have a greater capacity for friendship, for letting people in. Perhaps that’s why I, in the past, was always rather solitary. But I liked to think I was starting to dip a toe in the waters.”

There is more to the narrative and a few surprises, however these should be left for the reader to discover as they are an integral part of the story and convey a powerful message. One message, without spoiling anything, is the incredible power of friendship, and the mountains it can move.

Sadly this beautiful tale must cut to the bone, be close to heart for many elderly people who have lost partners and family, and this story shows to never give up on life. Never let your age define you, after all it’s just a number. Don’t give in, you never know what, or more importantly who, is just around the corner.

4.5 Stars. (Have your tissues ready)

This novel will be published by HarperCollins on 20 January 2020.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Missy is a book that is going to talked about a lot in 2020. It is a fantastic debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Beth Morrey has for us next. This book was a slow bulrn for me, it took a while for me to become fully invested in the story and characters but once I was there it was hard to put down. It did make a change from the thrillers that I usually read and I really enjoyed it - even if it did make me cry!!

Missy Carmichael is 79, lives in London and is lonely. Her children have left home - her son has moved to Australia with his wife and son, and she is estranged from her daughter after a big argument. The love of her life is gone and she is still living in their large family home by herself. She knows that she has not done anything to help herself so on New Years Day she heads to the park nearby and meets Sylvie and Angela and her son Otis. Little does she know that these women are going to change her life for the better. She suddenly has friends, and a reason to leave the house. She even agrees to look after a dog. She lonely life becomes full and busy.

We learn about Missy's eventful life as she reminisces about her family and her life. At 79 she has a lot of stories. In the beginning Missy was not easy to like. As we get to know her she becomes more likeable and I began to care for her and what happened to her. It is an emotional story so have your tissues ready. Her relationships with these women and especially the dog are lovely to watch flourish.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins and Better Reading for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are no way biased. Released in Australia in February 2020 - definitely one to look out for.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book started out really strong and good. The writing style is good and the characters seem realistic.
However, I feel like the characters are not developed good enough for a character driven plot. The side characters are unlikeable chatty women we all know in real life. The characters seem a bit too detached even after chapters after chapters of knowing their stories.

I wanted the dog or the stories of the kids/children or the grandchildren parts to be a bit more comforting (I got the comfort read vibes so I picked up this book in the first place, wanting to read some realistic women/adult/family fiction). The story is told in chapters alternating the present and the past life of our main character, Milly. I wish the writing did not get this monotonous and repetitive. After a few chapters, the book dragged a lot more than it should. I get that new side characters needed to be introduced, her past life needed to be told in details but the writing got sluggish.

Even though the character of Leo (Milly's husband who was almost not physically present in the book) took an important part in the story, I felt betrayed that his character felt like it was deliberately pulled away from the very beginning from letting me know him better. I mean why? I wanted to know more about this famous historian, author character. But I was deprived of it. Not fair.
The more I read on, I felt like the characters appeared more and more pretentious. Like nosy strangers keep meddling in the life of our main character and yes, the most frustrating part? She is just letting them walk all over her.

I failed to see any kind of positive connection (or maybe any kind of connection) to these characters.

I got so bored. I DNFed the book at page number 128.

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a nice story about a 79 year old woman who comes to terms with what she was and what she can be through remembrances, newly acquired friends, and reconnecting with those she loved.

It was a calm story with gentle telling and was a fine way to pass a number of hours on a long car ride.

Thank you to Edelweiss for a copy of this story.

[Kylie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having started this book with no expectations I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Millicent "Missy' Carmichael is about to turn 80, and feeling very isolated and depressed. Through a series of events Missy soon discovers that in order to make friends she just needs to be herself and let people in.
The characters in this book are absolutely delightful. They each bring something to Missy to help her forgive herself and to mend the relationships with her two children that appear to be very fragile if not broken.
A lot of emotions play out in this book, I laughed and cried and adored Missy and her newfound friends. The moral is to be kind and open to new things.
Thanks you HarperCollins Publishers Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. I can highly recommend it.

[mimi (depression slump) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew since the beginning that this story will end badly, but playing with our feelings like that was just torture.

After two tough starts - and a lot of breaks - I could finish this book, and what a relief!
Apparently, every single person here loved it. Like, a lot; I couldn't find a bad review anywhere and now I even kinda feel bad because it seems that I’ve read a different book.

First of all, the story: the flashbacks were okay, sometimes confusing, but nothing really bad. The story itself, tho, was pretty disappointing: at the end, you have read all these pages for what? It seems they have to reveal a big secret but they’re not. I mean, there is a secret but it’s easy to discover because it becomes clearer with the ending of the book.
Second of all, Missy. Even if I must say the protagonist has a big glow up - which I understand and appreciate -, I still don't like her. I think I'm such a different person compared to her that I can't like her because she's a type of different I can't stand. There isn't one thing I agreed with her about what she did or said in all the 300 and something pages.

Without being mean and saying this book is pretty mediocre, the only adjective I can think about to describe it is “boring”.
Now, if you stop a minute to think about the ending you can see that the author was probably trying to create a plot twist that didn't go well.

There is a reason why people don't like movies and books about animals and it's the same reason why I started with don't like this book and ended up hating it.

↠ 2 stars

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Missy Carmichael is an elderly widow feeling the desolate loneliness of a large empty house now that her husband is no longer with her and her two children have moved on with their lives. Son Alistair is living in Australia and keeps in touch via email but Missy is finding it hard to have anything interesting to email about. Whilst her daughter, Melanie, lives closer their relationship is strained after an argument and they very rarely have contact.

There are flashbacks of a young Missy and the high profile life she had with her college professor husband. There are also hints of a terrible secret that Missy has been burdened with throughout her life.

I immediately felt sympathetic towards Missy’s situation but as you get to know her you can see she is quite a negative person with words like impostor, fraud, fuddy-duddy often peppering her thoughts. She had a habit of judging people by their appearance and I think she thought other people were judging her as she was frequently humiliated, embarrassed or mortified in public.

When Missy meets the exuberant Angela and her young son Otis I was sure Angela was only looking for a babysitter. She then introduces Missy to designer and fellow dog-walker Sylvie who soon makes her way into Missy’s home and life. It was easy at the start to think the worst of these two bossy and extrovert characters but meeting them proved to be the best thing that happened to Missy.
Maggie and Sylvie take Missy in hand and show her that life is to be lived.

Saving Missy is a beautifully written, heart-felt story about friendship, opening yourself up to new experiences and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
I really enjoyed the way Missy slowly opened up and changed, proving you are never too old to change, grow and make new friends.
*I received a copy from the publisher.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missy Carmichael is an English woman in her late 70s. She lives in the home she once shared with her husband and children. Now, her husband is gone, her son lives in Australia, and she is estranged from her daughter. Missy is set in her ways, asocial, and somewhat depressed.

Told using flashbacks, Missy's life story is revealed. The pieces of her past help explain her current life and behavior. Missy is hard to like, but the more of her that is revealed, the more I cared about her.

Missy is lonely, but she slowly opens herself to new friendships. This story may be about an older character, but it is still a story about growth. As Missy becomes more comfortable with herself, she finds her way in the world again.

An delightful contemporary. Bittersweet and emotional.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael was such an endearing and heartfelt story that I’m thinking of bumping it up. This was such a wonderful debut, and I loved the character development that Beth Morrey creates in Missy Carmichael.⁣
⁣
While I didn’t find Missy to be of the same vein as Eleanor Oliphant that she is compared to, my heart went out to her because she is sad and lonely missing the great love of her life. Not only is her husband gone but her son has also moved away to Australia, and her relationship with her daughter is strained.⁣
⁣
This book brought all the emotions, and I highly recommend it!⁣


*Thank you Putnam for the gifted copy!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Surveying the boxes, chests and trunks - the leftovers of lost lives: Fa-Fa, Jette, my mother and father, Leo, even Alistair and Mel, since they’d begun new lives elsewhere – I fancied I could hear the echo of them all in their things.”

Saving Missy is the first novel by British author, Beth Morrey. Now that dear her son Alistair and her sweet little grandson Arthur have returned to Australia after their Christmas visit, Missy can admit to herself that she is desperately lonely. Their big house is so empty without Leo, and her daughter Melanie, teaching in Cambridge, no longer visits London after the row they had. But Millicent Carmichael is also a reserved English lady who does not display her feelings in public.

When she spots young Otis in the park one day, that ache for her grandson intensifies. His redhead mother is obviously a terrible woman, loud, and unpleasant. Casually waiting for another glimpse of Otis, Missy meets interior designer Sylvie Riche and is invited for coffee along with Irish Angela and Otis. But do these people really want her company?

It turns out that Angela needs someone to watch Otis when journalistic deadlines loom, and Missy decides she can put up with strong opinions peppered with expletives, imparted through a haze of smoke and alcohol, if it means a dose of little boy. But even more urgently required is a place for Bob, a dog whose family can’t keep her just now. Missy is quite sure she does not want a dog.

A change of heart, though, sees Missy meeting dog walkers and, almost unintentionally, allowing Angela, Otis and Sylvie into her house, her attic and, eventually, her life. Inside, the house is more than “minimalist” bare: Missy has relegated clutter and anything deemed unnecessary to the attic.

Triggered by exchanges with her new acquaintances, and items brought forth out of the attic, memories from Missy’s childhood, her first encounter with Leonard Carmichael, and significant incidents during their almost six decades of marriage, emerge. Thus the reader learns how Missy Carmichael arrived at this point in her life. Gradually revealed, too, are Missy’s secrets, her regrets and those things about which she feels most guilty.

When Missy has unbent enough to accept the help and love and care on offer, it turns out she herself has more to offer than she ever dreamed. Missy discovers that, even in her eighty-first year, she can give comfort and support and knowledge to those who need it, something quite different from the role of a wife and mother that precluded any possible career her splendid degree might have offered.

Morrey gives the reader a beautiful story with some predictable moments and a few surprises. Her depictions of London and Cambridge are evocative, and her characters feel like people you meet in real life. She gives lots of them wise words and Missy’s observation on the memory stick: “You just plugged it in, apparently. If only memories were that easy to access, and contain” is bound to resonate with readers of a certain vintage. There are plenty of wry observations and more than a few laugh-out-loud scenes. This debut novel is a wonderfully uplifting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Better Reading Preview and Harper Collins Australia

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a documented fact that if I encounter an UpLit novel with a lonely elderly protagonist, and if the title has said protagonist’s name in it… It will be a five star read for me. This book is no exception. This book is extremely sad and heavy and places, but I loved it. I loved that each main character was flawed and broken, and that they owned up to those flaws and tried to be better, do better. Beautiful and touching.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My new quest is to read more about older people embracing life and this certainly fills the bill. If you don't feel better after reading about this plucky 79 year old woman then you have a heart of stone. Missy Carmichael has made plenty of mistakes in her life but she picks herself up and opens up to the possibility of new life.

She is dealing with the loss of her beloved husband to whose life and career she devoted herself to. Her beloved son and grandson have relocated to Australia and she is estranged from her daughter. Her days stretch out long and lonely and some days she doesn't even leave the house. Then one day she takes a small chance and visits with a woman in a store line and a new world opens to her. Soon the woman, another young woman and her son and a dog brighten her life.

New experiences and opportunities open for her and she grows. She reaches out to her daughter. She confronts an abusive man (hysterically), finds a job and gets a make over. Life is good until a tragedy happens and Missy must deal with it. Then there is a remarkable twist at the end that I never saw coming.

What a great way to start the New Year with a book that makes you feel good. I highly recommend it.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this electronic ARC.

This is a delightful book, the demographics will mostly appeal to older readers, parents who have survived teenagers and young adults holding breath for the moment when they leave home! Ahh! the tranquility.

However, the thought of the empty nest is not a joyous one for the main character, Missy (Millicent) who is similar to those women who have given up all ideas of a career after having children leaving the thought of her empty large house with her rattling around in it alone only intensifying her depression and loneliness. However, it seems that Missy has really been alone all her married life propped up by alcohol. A successful husband, Leo, who as a parent did just the play thing with the children leaving Missy to do the real parenting. She has a strong relationship with her son who has to her dismay married an Australian and has moved that part of the world. Ali (Alister) and her grandson Arthur have just returned to Australia after spending Christmas with her and she is in an emotional black hole. Her relationship with her daughter, is tenuous, her daughter is successful like her father and with a similar personality. The two have had a terrible argument but the details are not revealed for sometime into the read.

Missy has decided to get out of the house, Leo's voice in her head, "onward and upward", so she's off to see the fish stunning in the local park. It's here when she blacks out that Missy's life does an about face and her world begins to take on a new meaning filled with an assortment of colourful people that begin to enter her life. This is a woman who has always been a giver, never asking for much in return and is a bit of an easy target for these pushy new friends but the reward is that she begins to look at herself in a new light and it's fabulous to see how she grows, finds her own voice, flexes her muscles, opens her heart and learns to role with the punches when small disasters happen, life! Her relationship with her daughter improves, she accepts that her grandson's Australian grandparents will adore Arthur as much as she does and she is eventually able to absolve herself of the guilt of a decision made as a young woman that has been a burden all her life.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the front cover and the back cover, showing women going for a stroll in a beautiful park.

Wow! What a truly wonderful story, one that I one hundred percent recommend reading. It’s not often that a story is penned about an slightly older person, that’s the main reason why I liked reading Saving Missy is that it features a seventy-nine - year - old for a change instead of younger characters.

I do strongly feel that there are many, many older women in their late seventies that has lost a husband and becomes reluctant to venture out to meet other people, This is why I loved reading this amazing story about seventy-nine year- old Missy.

This is why my heart went out to the main character Missy Carmichael, whose husband died and her son and grandchildren live the other side of the world in Australia, therefore she lives totally alone in her house, that made me sorry for Missy Carmichael, and within my heart I wanted her to have someone to talk to, after all being seventy- nine isn’t that old.


I liked how the author gave Missy, with something oddly that happened to her while taking a walk, giving her a friendly voice of another woman to talk to.

I could have screamed at Missy for not accepting going for a coffee with a lady she has just been talking to.

But it gets better with Missy Carmichael finally having friends to talk to.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missy Carmichael is 78 and lives alone in the house she used to share with her husband, Leo and their children. Her son, Alistair and her grandson live in Australia. She rarely sees her estranged daughter, Melanie. Missy is depressed and lonely ut she is also a very proud woman. One January morning, Missy collapses in the park. She is cared for by Sylvie. Sylvie invites Missy along with another lady, Angela out for a coffee. But Missy didn't want to go. But then Missy has a chance encounter with them and Angela's young son invites her to go to the park. This encounter changes Missys life.

This is a beautifully crafted tale. It shows how lonely and vulnerable old people came be. I really liked and felt sorry for Missy. She had no friends, her son lived in Australia and her daughter was estranged. The book messed with my emotions. I liked the way the story ended. I loved this debut novel from beginning to end.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey

I loved this book for its quirky 79 yo character - always makes me wonder how it would be like when you are older, spouse has passed away and her children have their own lives, and life choices causing her children to become estranged from her. I enjoy this debut novel where no matter how old you are, it is never too late to still make changes and see the arc and change in the characters - it is a story full of hope and love. This endearing and heart felt story with interesting and quirky characters was such an amazing read for me. Many days after, I am still emotional about this story I absolutely enjoyed. I highly recommend this book.

[Sarah Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! The characters were so great. I loved seeing their friendships blossom and grow. I loved Missy’s connection with Bobby, the dog she agrees to sit for. I loved the unexpected things that happened. And it even got me to shed a tear. Loved it!

Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael (also known as Saving Missy) by Beth Morrey is a heartwarming debut about Millicent (Missy) who is 79 and incredibly lonely until she gets new neighbors. It actually took me quite a while to get into this book even though I was listening to the audio, but eventually, I got to the point where I was fully invested in the story and Missy being happy. One of the new neighbors happens to be a small child, and I loved the relationship between her and Missy. The dog was also a bright spot in the novel, and I love anytime an author makes an animal an important part of the story. There is an interesting twist towards the end of the book that I wasn't expecting, and a lot of readers will find this novel very emotional.

The narrator for the audiobook is Harriet Walter and I really enjoyed her as our main character Missy. Sometimes I have issues with older narrators but that was not the case at all this time, fortunately for me! She really brought this book to life through her voice and inflections, and me having issues getting into it had absolutely nothing to do with her. There are a lot of glowing reviews for The Love Story of Missy Carmichael and although I did find the book fairly enjoyable, there was still something missing for me that I can't quite put my finger on. Some parts were a little repetitive, including phrasing, and I couldn't always empathize with Missy even though I think you are supposed to be able to. I would still definitely check out another novel by Morrey though, and will be sure to check out her next book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Gabrielė || book.duo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
Vieniša, paniurusi ir gyvenimu nusivylusi pagyvenusi moteris, išgyvenanti netektį ir laikanti nemažai praeities nuoskaudų – veikėjo tipas, kurį literatūroje išvysi gana dažnai. Kaip ir aišku, kur link panaši istorija pasisuks – atsiras, kas pralauš sienas, kuriomis veikėja apsistačiusi, bus čia ir jautrumo, ir šilumos, gal net ašarą nubrauksit beskaitydami, o viskas galiausiai, tikėtina, pasibaigs gerai. „Išgelbėti Misę Karmaikl“ vadovaujasi visais išvardytais principais, ir nors labai didelių staigmenų kūrinys nepateikia, visgi man tapo jaukiu pabėgimu.

Romano lyginimas su F. Backmano kūryba nori nenori jau užkelia gana aukštą kartelę – šį autorių drąsiai galiu įvardyti kaip vieną mėgstamiausių. Ir visgi Beth Morrey man pasirodė mažiau sąmojinga ir ne tokia taikli, šiek tiek stokojanti humoro, ne tokio nugludinto ir švelnaus, kartais pasiilgstant ir kūrybingesnių siužeto sprendimų ar nešabloninių dialogų. Tačiau yra čia ir išties gražių dalykų – pati pagrindinė kūrinio idėja apie šeimą, tą, kurią turime, kurią prarandame ir kurią patys susikuriame bei įsileidžiame į savo pasaulį, net jei ir daug kartų girdėta, bet vis vien sugebanti sušildyti iš vidaus. Patiko ir visas kūrinio britiškumas bei su tuo ateinantis tam tikras santūrumas, kuris labai specifinis būtent tos šalies žmonėms. Misės praeitis nėra piešiama per rožinius akinius ir moteris neidealizuoja nei savo santykių su vyru, nei savo pačios priimtų sprendimų, ir sugebama įžvelgti ir įtrūkimus, kurių kiekvieno mūsų gyvenime pilna. Gražus ir pagrindinės veikėjos virsmas, nes jis neįvyksta kažkaip nenatūraliai ar per greitai, net jei siužetas primena tuos penktadienio vakaro filmus šeimai, kur kaip ir žinai, ko tikėtis, bet vis vien žiūri, nes smagu ir gera. Labai įdomūs ir Misę supantys veikėjai, kuriems, gaila, nebuvo skirta labai daug eterio. Jie vedė pagrindinės veikėjos istoriją į priekį ir tai buvo kone vienintelis jų darbas, o manau būtų buvę smagu ir apie juos pačius kiek daugiau sužinoti. Ir, aišku, negaliu nepaminėti, kad knygoje buvo labai nuostabus šuo – tikrai mėgstamiausias mano veikėjas.

Taigi viskas kaip ir tvarkingai ir gerai, tik mano skoniui kiek per Holivudiška. Neišvengta čia ir tam tikrų pasikartojimų – pačioje kūrinio pradžioje užsimenama apie Paslaptį, Įvykį ir panašiai, o kad skaitytojas nepamirštų, tai apie tai kartojama vos ne kas antrame skyriuje, o galiausiai kiek pabosta To Kažko laukti. Tam tikros paslaptys išaiškėja net per daug nesistengiant, tačiau kūrinio pabaiga tikrai maloniai nustebino ir kiek kilstelėjo mano įvertinimą. Į tokios šiek tiek cinikės kaip aš širdį buvo rimtai prisibelsta vos kelis kartus, bet tikiu, kad atsiras tokių, kuriuos kūrinys palies stipriau. „Išgelbėti Misę Karmaikl“ kažin ar sudrebins jūsų pasaulį, bet ieškantiems jautrios ir jaukios istorijos šaltiems vakarams ši knyga gali būti būtent tai, ko reikia.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
Millicent misses her son Alistair and her grandson Arthur who live in Australia with Alistair’s Australian born wife Emily. As well Millicent (otherwise known as Missy) is haunted by the argument that happened with her daughter Melanie and the words that were said. Later when I found out what this mother said to her daughter I could not imagine how any parent could say such words to their child. Little wonder than relationship was more than a little strained. With her beloved husband Leo no longer with her, Missy finds the big house is empty. And the bills keep piling up. Without family and no friends to speak of, Missy is desperately lonely but it is a loneliness of her own making as she has cut herself off from people. Until one day she meets Angela and her young son Otis. Angela then introduces her to Sylvie, an interior designer and eventually she comes to meet Bob. Bob is of the canine variety and Missy, after a traumatic incident that leaves her shaken, agrees to mind the dog for a while. Life changes for Missy in ways she never anticipated. But can she make up for the mistakes of the past? And is there in thing in the future to look forward to?
It is easy to empathise with Missy’s loneliness - something many elderly people, I suspect, may deal with especially these days with COVID. While the story interesting, I found it hard to relate to Missy. She is prickly and judgemental, Missy also has a secret she has clutched to her all her life and that has had a great effect on her life. Bob or Bobby as she later becomes known is a delight as the canine becomes Missy’s confidante. There are moments of humour and moment that may have reader grabbing for the tissues. Towards the end is a surprise twist. Does it work? That will be up to each reader to decide for themselves.
While I enjoyed it, I wasn’t quite as enamoured of this book as some people I know were. However it is a good read and provides food for thought, especially about the way each of us treat others and the choices we make in life. Choices that can have far reaching impact. But sometimes a little kindness and concern can make all the difference. So a number of positives to come out of it, even if the main character is not always likable. An enjoyable read that will appeal to a lot of people.
This is a debut novel so I will definitely be interested in reading what this author writes next.

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

So, I sorta read the taglines incorrectly and didn’t understand what I was getting with this story. “Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Woman meets dog.” This, in bold print, right above the back cover synopsis, led me to think that some 20- something guy runs in to some 20-something girl, while at the same time our elderly lead Missy runs into a lovable mutt at the park, this setting off some story in which these 4 entities all save each other in some way.
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In actuality, the “boy meets girl” & “girl meets boy” is actually referencing the flashbacks and general story of Missy meeting her husband, layered throughout the book. And in present day the “girl” is now the “woman meets dog”. It was pretty easy to figure out my mistake early on in the book, so I adjusted my expectations and carried on. But not gonna lie, I still want to read THAT story.
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Overall, THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL (alternately titled SAVING MISSY) was just okay. I prefer grumpy, cantankerous, and/or awkward characters in these situations to the boozey and defeatist baseline that this story presented. While some of the slow emotional battles were wonderful to experience, it was also very low and excessively depressing without much to balance it.
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So. Much. Wine.
I was terrified for the strain on my liver just reading this book. It was a bit bleak and didn’t have much moral resolution when all was said and done.
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Still, there were glorious moments of connection with characters and rounding out their stories. And the layered effect of telling Missy’s life was interesting, you really understood how her mind works and how she built her life. Loved that.
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I don’t know if it was the slower pace or the time jumps or intermittent character involvement, but my interest while reading was erratic. I would be really invested one moment and then the next mildly bored.
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In the end, 3.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. There are some I would recommend it to but not everyone on my F&F list.

⚠️ Spoiler Alert: The dog dies. If you’re like me, you need to know that going in. My main issue with it in this story, though, is that it felt like an easy out in some ways.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I loved Missy! Beth Morrey’s debut novel “Saving Missy”, is a wonderfully heart-warming tale of overcoming loneliness, forming friendships and accepting the kindness of strangers in a superb ‘coming of old’ story.
The world has changed around Missy Carmichael. At seventy-nine, she's estranged from her daughter, and her son and only grandson live across the world. She spends her days drinking sherry in her big empty house, reliving her past. However, it's her mistakes and secrets that she dwells on the most. The last thing Missy expects is for two perfect strangers and one lively dog to break through her prickly exterior and show her just how much love she still has to give.
It’s impossible not to immediately form a bond with Missy, she’s one of those women who are prickly, unknowingly cause offence and have fierce opinions but are instantly likeable at a first meeting and someone who has so much to give, given the opportunity. Her unlikely friendship with single mother Angela, an Irish plain speaking journalist and her son Otis made for some fabulous scenes. When Missy takes on a dog that needs a temporary home, her hardened shell begins to thaw and she realises so much love can come from having a pet. Taking her into the local park and meeting other dog walkers, she forms new friendships and begins to enjoy her different routines. Missy starts to enjoy her regular walks and suddenly she’s no longer lonely and stuck in a rut.
A deliciously uplifting and heartwarming tale that tugs on all your heartstrings (keep some tissues handy for one particularly emotional scene) and seeing life through new eyes in a near eighty year old woman gives the reader hope that we never need to be alone at any age.
A beautiful story and a brilliant debut that is already doing well and going down a storm with readers of all ages and I feel privileged to have met and made friends with Missy Carmichael!

5 stars

[Cititor Necunoscut · Rating 4 out of 5]

O poveste dulce amaruie despre puterea prieteniei descoperite la o varsta inaintata. Cartea este construita ca un tablou care se coloreaza incet, incet, in petice, pe masura ce Missy isi aduce aminte de unele evenimente din trecutul sau, care apar aleator, fara o ordine cronologica. Missy se aseamana mult cu Britt Marie a lui Backman, dar fara umorul involuntar al acesteia, dar si cu Doris, din Caietul cu nume pierdute, insa fara dramatismul acesteia. Insa este un personaj de care iti aduci aminte cu drag si dupa ce ai mai citit alte cincizeci de carti.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m writing this while tears stream down my face because DAMNIT, sometimes books are just that brutiful ❤️😭 I loved this story oh so much - perfect for fans of “A Man Called Ove” and “Eleanor Oliphant is Perfectly Fine” - also recommended for dog lovers in general because BOBBY ❤️