The List of Last Chances

The List of Last Chances is the debut novel by Canadian author Christina Myers and is a story about two women who make an unlikely friendship during a cross-country road trip. 

83-year-old Kay is reluctantly moving in with her adult son in BC and her one requirement is that she drive from her home in PEI to BC as a last big hurrah! Armed with an old van and her 38-year-old aid worker Ruthie, these two women learn more about themselves as they create an incredible and unlikely bond.

This is a cute story about friendship, self-discovery, overcoming life's obstacles and letting go and I LOVED recognizing many of the stops on Ruthie and Kay's cross-Canada journey. The story successfully balances humour and lightheartedness with deeper issues all set within a burgeoning and authentic friendship that has its own trials and tribulations. 

The story will have you smiling, blushing a bit, and reveling in the wonderful bond between these two women from different generations. But I'll admit that I was expecting a bit more in the way of shenanigans (I pictured Kay as a sassy Cloris Leachman-type character) and I found the dialogue a bit contrived at times. Otherwise, this is a fun read and I particularly appreciated how believably flawed Ruthie was with her negative internal dialogue and insecurities.

With relatable characters and relevant topics (including ageism, the roads untaken and self-discovery), this was a charming read with a satisfying ending about the journeys of two women who gain not only friendship but a better sense of who they are and what they need out of life.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Christina Myers

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Publisher: Caitlin Press Inc.

First Published: April 30, 2021

Opening Line: The key clicked in the lock a split 

second before the shouting began.

Book Description from GoodReads: At thirty-eight years old, Ruthie finds herself newly unemployed, freshly single, sleeping on a friend’s couch and downing a bottle of wine each night. Having overstayed her welcome and desperate for a job, Ruthie responds to David’s ad: he’s looking for someone to drive his aging mother, Kay, and her belongings from PEI to Vancouver. Ruthie thinks it’s the perfect chance for a brief escape and a much-needed boost for her empty bank account.

But once they’re on the road, Kay reveals that she’s got a list of stops along the way that’s equal parts sightseeing tour, sexual bucket-list, and trip down memory lane. As David prods for updates and a speedy arrival to his home in Vancouver, Kay begins to share details about a long-lost love and Ruthie takes a detour to play matchmaker but finds herself caught up in a web of well-intentioned lies.

With the road ahead uncertain, and the past and present colliding, will Ruthie be able to forge a new path? Heartfelt and humorous, The List of Last Chances follows a pair of reluctant travel companions across the country, into an unexpected friendship, new adventures, and the rare gift of second chances.