Remembrance

September 15, 2018
Beatrice seems to have everything: a happy, 20-year marriage; three independent adult children; and satisfying work as a full-time volunteer at a shelter. But every December she is reminded that she nearly died in a hit-and-run accident when she was young, and she wonders about the stranger who saved her life. Her melancholy is acute this time around, and Beatrice can see only problems in her life, from people canceling on social occasions to her husband falling asleep during their dates to her children telling her they want to keep their distance. Then she meets Charles at the shelter and learns that he is full of hope and determination despite a life of hardship and tragedy. Readers will think they know all the turns ahead for Beatrice, so they will be satisfied to find some surprises as Beatrice embraces positive changes and looks forward to Christmas. Best-selling Monroe (One House Over?, 2018) gifts readers with a complex and appealing protagonist in this quick read with a thoughtful holiday message.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)