The Year of Second Chances

March 1, 2023

Award-winning YA author Avery (The Memory Book) goes adult with the story of newly widowed young widow Robin Lindstrom, who discovers that her husband signed her up for a dating service before he died because he didn't want her to be alone. With a (75,000-copy first printing). Prepub Alert.

Copyright 2023 Library Journal

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 31, 2023
YA author Avery’s adult debut (after The Memory Book) explores grief with humor and warmth as 33-year-old widow Robin Lindstrom does her best to honor her husband by moving on. After a year spent wallowing in horror movies and her Sisters in Grief support group, Robin receives an email from her late husband, Gabe, on the anniversary of his death from cancer, saying he’s signed her up for a dating app. Family and friends convince her to respect Gabe’s “last wish” and so begins the “Widow Humiliation Show,” in which Robin learns she’s far from the only one with emotional baggage. As she endures some disastrous dates with the help of dating app aficionado and Gabe’s best friend, Levi, who also received a posthumous email asking him to help, Robin soon learns that moving on isn’t just dating. She must address the fractures in her own family, experience her grief head-on, and find a way to move forward. Levi’s advice to “say yes” leads to community theater, running, ice fishing, and new relationships as Robin figures out who she is without Gabe. The concept is fresh and the voice full of heart. Fans of Annabel Monaghan should take note.

June 1, 2023

YA author Avery's (The Memory Book) debut adult novel combines humor and romance with a serious premise. Robin Lindstrom is facing the first anniversary of her husband Gabe's death. They'd been the perfect couple, but now she discovers that Gabe, with the help of his best friend Levi, had arranged a profile on a dating site for her, to go live one year after he died. She has to try it out, as her husband's last wish. There's a predictable series of strange encounters, but Robin also meets people who shape her story, even if not romantically. And then she meets Jake, who seems like the perfect fit. But Levi is still nearby at all times, even while Robin deals with her mother's alcohol addiction and their struggling family restaurant. Avery's novel of loss and redemption sometimes gets bogged down in an abundance of subplots. The main character is complex and well-drawn, but some supporting characters are thinner. VERDICT The level of chaos in Robin's life overwhelms the issue of widowhood at times in the novel, but there is a strong setting and many elements to engage readers. Recommended for fans of Emiko Jean or Marisa de los Santos.--Melanie Kindrachuk

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2023
Avery debuts with a tender novel full of heart and healing. A year after her husband's death, Robin Lindstrom wants to honor him with lasagna. It was Gabe's recipe, special to both of them, and it's all she needs to commemorate the anniversary. Yet Robin is thrown for a loop when she receives an email that night--from Gabe. He'd scheduled it to be sent a year after his death, and he's even created a dating profile for her on the Fluttr app. In the message, he says he wants her to be happy. She's had the time to grieve, so she should get herself out there. Robin begrudgingly follows his wishes and ends up on a few tragically bad dates. But as she continues to say yes to as many opportunities as she can, Robin makes connections she'd never dreamed possible. While there are love interests--Gabe's best friend, plus a determined suitor from the app--this story is ultimately about Robin. After folding in on herself for a year, her new efforts result in a transformed life. Avery's funny and engaging writing, plus Robin's strong voice, will keep readers turning pages. Suggest to those who enjoyed Catherine Newman's We All Want Impossible Things (2022).

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