“He’d heard people say that life is like a good book. Even though you know that at some point the story is going to end, you keep turning the pages wanting to see how it all works out.”
Izzy has always taken everything in her stride but being a mother to five-week-old Evie is proving more difficult than she thought. She keeps telling herself it’s just a phase but dark clouds are starting to appear.
Izzy’s octogenarian neighbour and widower, Arthur, might be in the winter of his life but he’s not ready to be packed off to a care home. He’s determined to do things his way, on his own timeline.
When Izzy hears about Arthur’s big move, she offers to help. But Arthur isn’t telling her the whole story. Sometimes it’s the things we don’t say that we need others to hear the loudest. It takes courage to admit you need a friend and when you feel invisible, all you need is a ray of hope. After all, what if the best is yet to come?
What hooked me to Izzy and Arthur’s story was the overwhelming loneliness and sheer desperation they experience. Finding themselves at the deep end of the pool with no way out, even a flimsy thread of hope in one’s reach can promise to save you.
Izzy and Arthur need a purpose – something to take their minds off the drab routine of their lives. When Izzy turns up at Arthur’s doorstep to help him pack up his home of sixty-two years, it gives them both a way out. Izzy is far more efficient at sorting through decades of items while Arthur gets a new playmate in Evie who isn’t so difficult in his company.
In her attempts to decode Arthur’s life through his material possessions, Izzy hits a nerve. She is determined to help him resolve the issues lying buried in his heart. But Arthur has one too many secrets and he can never find the right time to talk to Izzy about them.
The author expertly captures the differences in her characters’ struggles. The narrative highlights how mental health affects loneliness and depression. It also reflects on how forgiveness can help one break free from the burdensome shackles of regret.
“He was forever remembering Pearlisms, or as he put it, Pearls of Wisdom. She’d glance out of the window on a bright summer’s morning and say things like ‘it’s a lovely day for the race’. Arthur was then meant to ask which race, she’d reply with a chuckle ‘the human race!’ It never got old that one.”
A life-affirming story of cross generational friendship found at the unlikeliest of times, this reinforces the belief that there is always something to look forward to and that no matter what, you will live and love again.
The Best is Yet to Come by Katy Colins. Due to be published on 18th March 2021 by HQ Stories, an Imprint of HarperCollins UK. This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and HQ Stories.
Book 11 of 2021.
Aquamarine Flavours Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.
Available on Amazon*.
About Photo: As this book illustrates, mental wellbeing lies at the core of a happy, fulfilling life. Sometimes all it takes is to centre yourself and just breathe.
The dandelion is made with quilling and the words ‘Just Breathe’ are hand-lettered using a Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel Pen.
About the Author: Katy Colins learned there is always a second chance in life. Jilted before her wedding, she sold all she owned, filled a backpack and booked a one-way ticket to the other side of the world. Her solo travels inspired her to pen ‘The Lonely Hearts Travel Club’ series and saw her dubbed the ‘Backpacking Bridget Jones’ by the global media. And, in a stunning twist of fate, Katy found her happy-ever-after by marrying the journalist who shared her story with the world.
She now lives in the middle of England with her husband, John, and two young children. You can find out more about Katy, her writing, and her travels at www.katycolins.com or by following @notwedordead on social media platforms.
*Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link which means, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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