Eudora Honeysett Is Quite Well Thank You
Annie Lyons
‘An exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death… Everyone should read this book’ Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
If I can choose how to live my own life, why can’t I choose how to die my own death?
Eudora Honeysett is done – with all of it. Having seen first-hand what a prolonged illness can create, the eighty-five-year-old has no intention of leaving things to chance. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland she takes her life into her own hands.
But then ten-year-old Rose arrives in a riot of colour on her doorstep. Now, as precocious Rose takes Eudora on adventures she’d never imagined she reflects on the trying times of her past and soon finds herself wondering – is she ready for death when she’s only just experienced what it’s like to truly live?
A heartfelt story of life, death, friendship and family perfect for fans of Gail Honeyman
My Thoughts
Eudora Honeysett is an elderly lady who lives alone with a grumpy cat called Montgomery. At eighty-five years old she knows that her body is deteriorating and she fears losing her independence and dignity. She contacts a Swiss clinic with the intention of ending her life in a way in which she has full control. That is, however, until she meets ten-year-old next-door neighbour Rose Trewidney.
Rose is lively, articulate and incredibly compassionate. She takes Eudora and widower Stanley under her wing and shows them that life can still be great fun.
The dual timeline story goes back to Eudora’s childhood and earlier life. Through no fault of her own, Eudora experienced complete heartbreak and has since developed a fear of being left alone.
As the friendship progresses Eudora’s prickly exterior is peeled away and she begins to feel happy. Her plans for her death become less important and she looks to the future instead of the past.
Some people may think this is a book about death, it’s not, it’s about learning to live. It’s about how a person can transform when given love, and how we need to feel needed to flourish. Rosie puts the colour back into Eudora’s life, not just with her rainbow outfits but with her personality and sunny outlook.
This book shows how someone’s past can reflect on their lives forever. It is warm, sad at times, but at other times funny and heartwarming. It shows that friendship can develop between the unlikeliest of people, but it can heal and transform lives. The story shows that it is never too late to achieve happiness.
A thought-provoking and joyful read.
About The Author
After a career in bookselling and publishing, Annie Lyons published five books including the best-selling, Not Quite Perfect. When not working on her novels, she teaches creative writing. She lives in south-east London with her husband and two children.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
