Review by Booklist Review
Life is not going well for Becky. While all of her friends seem to be flourishing, her career is stagnating; she lives with her mother; and she is still hung up on her ex-boyfriend. After learning he has moved in with his new girlfriend, Becky seeks life advice via a tarot reading only to learn she is about to die . . . or so she thinks. Using this knowledge, Becky writes letters to friends, family, and her boss, telling them exactly what she thinks of them, with the intention of jetting off to Bali to live out her remaining days. Only things don't go quite as planned, and Becky is forced to face the consequences of her missives. Becky's insecurities and uncertainties will be relatable to many, and Seager (Open Minded, 2024) writes an entertaining and lighthearted story that also shows real character growth. Readers who enjoy sympathetic depictions of messy women figuring out adulthood, such as those by Dolly Alderton or Monica Heisey, will find a lot to enjoy.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
In Seager's (Open Minded) sharp and heartfelt new novel, readers meet Becky, a twentysomething still living at home with her mother--ostensibly to save for a down payment on a house, though she's mostly stuck in place. Becky hates her job, feels left behind by her peers, and thinks everyone else has life figured out. After a disastrous tarot reading predicts her imminent demise, Becky impulsively writes brutally honest, critical letters to her friends and family, mails them, and sets off to travel the world in the time she has left. But nothing goes as planned; now jobless, homeless, and estranged from everyone she knows, Becky is forced to rebuild her life from the ground up. Along the way, she discovers, with humor and surprising grace, that money can't buy happiness, that apologizing takes strength, and that what we want isn't always what we need. Her journey is a chaotic emotional roller coaster--raw and relatable--but it makes her growth all the more satisfying. VERDICT A witty and moving millennial coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Matt Haig's The Midnight Library and Rebecca Serle's The Dinner List.--Stacy Alesi
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
After a disastrous tarot reading, a woman blows up her life by sending honest letters to her nearest and dearest. Becky Alderton is nearly 30, and nothing in her life is going the way she'd always assumed it would. She's single, perpetually going on terrible dates, and nursing an unrequited crush on her ex-boyfriend and current best friend, Max. She still lives with her mother, who actually gives her a curfew. Her job is a dead end, and Becky can't stand any of her co-workers. Worst of all, her closest friends are all moving up in life--working in high-powered careers, buying houses, and getting married. Becky feels like she's stuck. When she misinterprets a tarot reading and assumes she's going to die, Becky finally springs into action and writes painfully honest letters to everyone in her life. She tells one friend that her boyfriend sucks, her mother that she's moving out, and her boss that she's quitting. She also sends a letter to Max, confessing her love for him. With the letters sent, she's ready to meet her maker--except she doesn't. Becky remains stubbornly alive because it turns out the Death card in tarot doesn't mean that literal death is on the immediate horizon. Now she has to deal with the fallout of her actions, which could push her into finally making some changes--or make her even more self-destructive. Becky is truly a mess, at rock bottom as she coasts through life with no motivation to change, but Seager casts her in an empathetic light. Becky claims that she's "forever stuck in the role of 'chaotic bi friend' in the movie of [her] own life," so her transformation as she gains self-respect feels hard-earned and satisfying. A funny and charming look at what it means to grow up and find your own way. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
