Library Loans - The Near-Death Experience Edition

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Nice Work, Nora November by Julia London
Published by Harper Muse on June 4, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

After a near death experience, one woman creates her "reverse" bucket the things she wants to do after death.

Nora November was living life on autopilot before she nearly died in a surfing accident. When she recovers, she realizes how close she came to the end of her life and regrets that she let so many wishes and dreams go undone. There are reasons for that--a pressure-filled career working for her impossible-to-please father and chronic depression to name a few. But with a renewed sense of vigor, she sets out to do all the things she never did before she died. Her "reverse bucket list" includes ordinary aspirations like learning how to cook and cleaning out her late grandpa's garden. But it also includes finding the man she was unexpectedly locked for hours with in a backroom while being held hostage in a corner store holdup . . . the one who got away.

From New York Times bestselling author Julia London comes an uplifting and heartwarming story of second chances and the power of finding out what makes life worth truly living.

After a near death experience, Nora emerged with a new lease on life and a reverse bucket list. This list contained many of her regrets, things she wanted to do or try or accomplish but hadn't, and she was determined to check each item off.

I love the idea of this story. Having an ah-ha moment where you decide to take control of your life. Nora had been living a life that was dictated to her while also falling short in many areas. Nora's enthusiasm was fantastic, but my heart ached for her with each setback.

Now, I know this was Nora's book, but I was so taken with Jack's chapters. Jack was a hospice nurse who had lost his mother at a young age. He was sort of on his own, but he got pulled into an interesting little family situation when one of his patients leaves him a garden plot. I have to admit, the subplot with the elderly thespians was one of my favorite parts. They were a lively bunch and their antics made me laugh.

Overall, this was quite a journey for almost everyone involved. I adored rooting for Nora and Jack and was thrilled with their ending.

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The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
Published by Thomas Nelson on July 2, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A near-death experience catapults workaholic junior editor Kelsey Worthington into changing her life--one yes at a time.

Kelsey Worthington always dreamed of being a writer, but she's settled into a routine of helping other people tell their stories in her job as a junior editor. She doesn't go outside of her comfort zone. Her relationships are safe. Her job is secure. Her existence is stable. And she's great with that.

And then, the accident.

While she's in the hospital overnight, she meets an older woman named Georgina Tate--a glass-ceiling-shattering, wildly successful businesswoman. Georgina sacrificed everything to become the woman she is today, but now, with a pair of failing kidneys and only a handful of months left to live, Georgina is forced to come face-to-face with her regrets. Kelsey is forced to reckon with her own list of "things I'll do someday," and she starts to ask a simple but life-changing What if I said yes to all the things I normally say no to? And The Yes Plan is born.

It takes some convincing, but Georgina finally agrees to go along with Kelsey on her Summer of Yes adventures. The two of them set off to see what might be out there waiting for them if they simply open themselves up to it. Together, they say yes to whatever comes their way--a whole day being tourists in their own New York City, dinner with strangers, a convertible that is far from practical but so much fun. But when Kelsey springs a surprise visit to Georgina's son Hayden and Georgina's ex-husband (who is not so much of an ex), the older woman is less than thrilled. But this is where the true journey begins.

Two stories of love, forgiveness, regret, romance, and finding a way to live a fearless life intertwine as these two women make an indelible impression on each other. And it all starts with a simple "yes."

After a near-death experience, Kelsey decides to embark on a summer of YES. She wants to say yes to all those things she feared or passed over due to work obligations. She's ready to take a leap, but she doesn't plan on doing it alone. CEO and well known business woman, Georgina, reluctantly agrees to "say yes", but Georgina may not play along when saying yes involves her past.

Georgina and Kelsey were one odd couple, but I loved the friendship that developed between them. Georgina was a super successful business woman with people at her beck and call while Kelsey was an associate editor who was struggling to get ahead. You would think they would mix like oil and water, but they actually complemented each other and pushed one another to pursue their heart's desires.

Both Georgina and Kelsey experienced a tremendous amount of personal growth. Kelsey had been working in a job she hated and stopped chasing her dreams because of fears instilled in her by others. Saying YES to small things helped her take those bigger steps towards a future that would lead to happiness.

As for Georgina, I felt she had the more interesting personal journey. Though she was terribly successful, she had many regrets. The cost of her success was high. Her reunion with her son and husband was a rather emotional one, and it pained me that Georgina missed out on so many years due to guilt and shame. *my emotions, my emotions*

Overall, I greatly enjoyed spending the summer of YES with Kelsey and Georgina. With themes of family, friendship, forgiveness, and seeking happiness plus a dash of romance, this book was a great reminder to live life in the moment and to its fullest .

Do you have a bucket list?
Let us know in the comments!