“We can’t know why you are dying in the same way that we can’t know why you’re living. Living and dying are both complete mysteries, and you can’t know either until you’ve done both.”
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What a lovely story. In the vein of The Fault in Our Stars, we know right away that our two protagonists are dying. What we don’t know is how well they lived their lives and how they became who they are. Lenni is 17 and Margot is 83 and together they have lived 100 years. The story follows their final journey living out their days in a hospital. When they meet in the new art room, they fiercely bond despite their great age difference and Lenni is able to live vicariously through Margot’s life story. She is also able to bring light and humor to the horrible process of dying. For what should be a very sad book, Lenni’s perspective on life, love, religion and afterlife is just effervescent. She’s been dealt a bad hand and the way she attempts to find meaning and rationale in what is happening to her is a really fun journey to be on with her.
This book will make you sad and hopeful in equal measures and there is not one moment of boredom in the recounting of their 100 years. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Harper Perennial for a copy of this novel. All opinions above are my own.
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