Laura Pearson’s The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is a deeply touching and life-affirming novel about grief, friendship, and second chances. Beautifully written and brimming with quiet wisdom, it’s the kind of story that slips gently into your heart and lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
The Story
At eighty-six, Mabel Beaumont has just lost her husband, Arthur her companion of more than sixty years. Arthur was the outgoing one, the dreamer, the list-maker. Throughout their long marriage, he left her small notes everywhere: shopping reminders, declarations of love, and sweet little lists that marked the rhythm of their life together.
Now he’s gone, leaving behind one final note with a single instruction: Find D.
Mabel believes she knows what it means. “D” must stand for Dot, her childhood best friend and her brother’s sweetheart, who disappeared mysteriously six decades earlier. Determined to honor Arthur’s last wish, Mabel sets out to find Dot. Along the way, she meets an unlikely circle of new friends Julie, the gentle caregiver Arthur arranged for her; Kristy, a new mother and neighbor; Patty, a seventy-something dance instructor; and Erin, a spirited sixteen-year-old.
Each of them is struggling in their own way: with loneliness, loss, anxiety, or broken relationships. As Mabel tries to help them, she discovers that Arthur’s last list isn’t just about finding Dot. It’s about finding herself and rediscovering the courage to live fully again.
What Makes It Special
A heroine you’ll never forget. Mabel is written with grace, humor, and honesty. She’s gentle but sharp, reflective yet brave, and her voice carries a quiet resilience that feels both inspiring and relatable. Reading her story feels like sitting beside a wise grandmother who tells the truth with warmth and wit.
Themes that resonate. Pearson explores love, grief, aging, and self-acceptance with great sensitivity. Through Mabel’s eyes, we see how it’s never too late to face the past, forgive yourself, or start again. The book touches on loneliness, childlessness, and the weight of old regrets, yet it remains hopeful and uplifting throughout.
Intergenerational friendships. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is the bond between Mabel and her new companions. Each woman brings her own struggles and perspective, and together they form a beautifully imperfect support system. Their friendship bridges generations, reminding readers that kindness and understanding can heal even the deepest wounds.
Elegant, heartfelt writing. Pearson’s prose is tender and evocative. She captures the texture of everyday life the ache of loss, the warmth of companionship, the small, brave acts that keep us moving forward. The pacing is calm and reflective, perfectly suited to Mabel’s age and temperament, while the structure moving between past and present adds emotional depth and gentle suspense.
Why You’ll Love It
Fans of My Name Is Ove, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, and The Keeper of Stories will feel right at home here. Like those novels, The Last List of Mabel Beaumont celebrates the beauty of ordinary lives and the redemptive power of human connection.
This is not a loud or dramatic story. It’s quiet, compassionate, and full of truth. It reminds us that healing doesn’t happen all at once it happens list by list, act by act, heart by heart.
Verdict
Laura Pearson has crafted a beautiful, bittersweet novel that balances heartbreak and hope in equal measure. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is about aging with grace, loving without fear, and learning that it’s never too late to start over. It’s a story for anyone who believes in the transformative power of friendship and the quiet courage of the human spirit.
