Book Review: Yes, And

About the Book

College student Toby and sharp 87-year-old Jo may sound like an unlikely pair, but the neighbors find unexpected friendship when they take on Jo’s money-hungry nursing aides and work to uncover Toby’s purpose. Together, they embark on madcap adventures and explore life’s mysteries in this touching, humorous tale that’s perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman.

My Review

I listened to the audio book, Yes, And, by Cynthia Gunderson and narrated by Bethany Luhrs. This story was different, outside of my usual reading or listening fare, but the title intrigued me, and so I picked it up with a Chirp deal. It is a heart warming, feel good story in many ways, yet it is not all smiles. It focuses on realistic situations and events that are relatable.

Jo is an older woman whose mind may be slipping some, but has it together most of the time. She believes her caregivers are stealing from her, but it is written off as paranoia, or forgetfulness by most. When young Toby moves in next door, an unlikely friendship forms as they team up to find out if Jo is right. This is a story about finding our own path in life and respecting the paths of others.

This is a touching tale of acceptance and caring, proving that everybody needs somebody. Gunderson’s dialog is spot on, and her characters are realistic and likeable. In fact, I kind of fell in love with them, just a little.

Bethany Luhrs does a nice job of differentiating characters, and somehow manages to do an eighty-something woman and a twenty-one year old man with equal conviction. Kudos on a story well read.

This book had the potential to be a really great story, with an ‘everybody needs somebody’ theme. Unfortunately, there was not enough foreshadowing, so often twists in the story came as a bigger surprise than they should have been and this reader felt like something important was missed, so I can only give it four quills.

_____________________________________________________

Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.