Description
A funny and heartwarming debut for fans of Rachel Joyce and Cathy Hopkins.
Evie Gallagher is regretting her hasty move into a Dublin care home. She may be seventy-five and recently widowed, but she’s absolutely not dead yet.
And so, one morning, while the rest of Sheldon Lodge is asleep, Evelyn walks out the front door and never looks back. So begins a road trip that will take Evie first to Liverpool, then on to Brittany, where she buys a camper van and heads south on a Great Adventure.
But not everyone thinks Great Adventures are appropriate for women of Evie’s age, least of all her son Brendan and his wife Maura, who set off in pursuit, following a trail of puzzling text messages.
But when Brendan and Maura finally catch up with Evie, there are shocks in store for all of them … because while Brendan may have given up on life and love, Evie Gallagher certainly has not.
Review
What an absolutely charming book this is. We meet Evie in Sheldon Lodge - a care home where she is unhappy. She makes a bid for freedom and what follows is a real rip tide of an adventure for anyone let alone a 75 year old. Don't get me wrong I don't think 75 is old but the life Evie has led has been a little sheltered and so for her to embark on any journey let alone one on her own is inspiring to say the least.
When Evie had a few knocks at the beginning I feared this was not going to be a good read, realistic yes, but not enjoyable. However, that soon changed and I was routing all the way for Evie in her camper van. Most of all I loved all the little white lies (well some big lies really) that she told all she encountered, police officers included - daring of her, which I feel comes with age and nothing to lose.
Meanwhile Evie has a son Brendan and he has his own unhappy life - married to Maura and stuck in a job he doesn't love. He and his wife take off to rescue Evie and have their own adventure in the meantime, as they never quite manage to catch up to Evie's last location.
I loved the descriptive writing, it was a little escapism and at times with great sadness but I adored it all the same.
I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks go to Netgalley and Avon books for an advance copy for review.
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