The Life List

I read my first book by Lori Nelson Spielman a month ago and I simply adored The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany. Since I loved it so much, I decided to read some of her backlist.

The Life List is coming-into-herself story that is a bit predictable but is a nice, escapist kind of read with a heartwarming feel. Its premise relies on the reader accepting a story that is cute, but a bit unrealistic. When 34-year-old Brett's mother Elizabeth dies, Brett is the only sibling required to complete a list of life tasks to claim her inheritance. Implausible? Perhaps. Were mom's intentions both loving and controlling? Yup. But at its heart, this is a gentle story about living with grief, the search for happiness and figuring out what is important in life and fighting for it.

This is a comfort read that had its unrealistic bits but overall was an enjoyable story with a sweet Hallmark movie feel. This would be a great pick if you're in the market for a feel-good kind of read.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Lori Nelson Spielman

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Pages: 354

Publisher: Bantam

First Published: July 2, 2013

Opening Lines: Voices from the dining room echo up the 

walnut staircase, indistinct, buzzing, intrusive. With 

trembling hands I lock the door behind me.

Book Description from GoodReads: In this utterly charming debut — one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects.

1. Go to Paris
2. Perform live, on a super big stage
3. Have a baby, maybe two
4. Fall in love 

Brett Bohlinger has forgotten all about the list of life goals she’d written as a naïve teenager. In fact, at thirty-four, Brett seems to have it all—a plum job at her family’s multimillion-dollar company and a spacious loft with her irresistibly handsome boyfriend. But when her beloved mother, Elizabeth, dies, Brett’s world is turned upside down. Rather than simply naming her daughter the new CEO of Bohlinger Cosmetics, Elizabeth’s will comes with one big stipulation: Brett must fulfill the list of childhood dreams she made so long ago.

Grief-stricken, Brett can barely make sense of her mother’s decision. Some of her old hopes seem impossible. How can she possibly have a relationship with a father who died seven years ago? Other dreams (Be an awesome teacher!) would require her to reinvent her entire future. For each goal attempted, her mother has left behind a bittersweet letter, offering words of wisdom, warmth, and—just when Brett needs it—tough love.

As Brett struggles to complete her abandoned life list, one thing becomes clear: Sometimes life’s sweetest gifts can be found in the most unexpected places.