Perry

Poppy Maysen carries a journal in her purse. Its pages were filled long ago by a man who craved adventure, lived life to the fullest and never failed to make her laugh. The journal is his birthday list-one she vows to complete. She'll do the things he wanted to do most. Because maybe, just maybe, if she can finish his list, she can start to live again. Poppy expects going through the birthday list will be hard. She expects it to hurt. But what she doesn't expect is Cole. Could the man who watched her heart shatter be the one to put it back together again?

The Birthday List

Devney Perry

From Devney Perry, the author of the popular Jamison Valley series, comes a standalone romance - The Birthday List. This emotional story follows a woman learning to move forward and find new love after the tragic death of her husband.

This was just another example of how I need to read all of Devney Perry’s books faster than I am. This duet is going to be more emotional than I have read before but they are also some of the most interesting concepts too. You see a lot of the same things in contemporary romances but this one following a birthday list that your husband put together before he passed away and the two characters grow together from friends to helping each other find love after loss was so good to me. I think the ending was just a little rushed but overall I really enjoyed this one. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4.25/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

This was just another example of how I need to read all of Devney Perry’s books faster than I am. This duet is going to be more emotional than I have read before but they are also some of the most interesting concepts too. You see a lot of the same things in contemporary romances but this one following a birthday list that your husband put together before he passed away and the two characters grow together from friends to helping each other find love after loss was so good to me. I think the ending was just a little rushed but overall I really enjoyed this one. 

Meghan Thompson 

4.5⭐️
I am a sucker for books where the MMC is completely and utterly obsessed with the FMC. then on top of that they do whatever the FMC asks for just because they love to see her smile. anyways enter Cole...this man was absolutely down bad from the very moment he saw Poppy. this book was so sweet and their relationship is definitely one of my favs via Devney Perry. he never rushed her and always took the time out to understand her. HE WAS PATIENT UGH LOVE COLE GOODMAN. 

the sweetest man and the warmest relationship

Happily married to her college sweetheart, Poppy lived a blessed life with the husband of her dreams. Then everything changed. She is no longer a wife. She is no longer the envy of her single friends. Now, people look at her with pity as they whisper a single word behind her back. Widow. Years after her husband's tragic death, years of pain and sorrow and wishing for the life she'll never get back, Poppy decides to finish Jamie's birthday list. She'll do the things he wanted to most. Because maybe, just maybe, if she can complete his list, she can start to live again. Poppy expects going through the birthday list will be hard. She expects it to hurt. But what she doesn't expect is Cole. Could the man who delivered the news of her husband's death and shattered her heart be the one to help her put it back together again?

Andrea Rodriguez

There was not a single thing I didn't just absolutely love about this book. This may be my favorite by Devney Perry so far. It was beautiful.

Such an emotional, sweet, and touching story. I was rooting for Poppy so hard the entire time.

But can we please talk about Cole freaking Goodman??? This man was 100% the star of this book. I don't think I've ever read another man that was as compassionate, kind, patient, and understanding as he was. The way he made me tear up so many times because of all the sweet things he did for Poppy and the way he was so pure in the way he loved her?? I'm crying again lmaooo.

I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while. Please read this book, if small town, sweet romance is your thing lol.

Also, as with any Devney Perry book, spice level is low, but I don't even care. The romance is all you need.

Logan Chisholm

Oh man this was a bittersweet book. Poppy married her college sweetheart, Jamie, and they had nearly one year of married bliss behind them when he never returned home one night. After learning of his sudden and tragic death, she spent years mourning the loss. Now, five years later, she’s got a new goal: complete her late husband’s birthday list. Jamie had a list of things he wanted to do before every birthday, and Poppy intends to complete everything he never got the chance to do. Along the way she’s met with a person from her past she never expected to cross paths with again: the man who was there for her the night she learned of Jamie’s death. 

I think it would be incredibly difficult to write a story like this one. A story that honors the love Poppy and Jamie once had, and will always have, while also allowing her to be happy and find love again in her next phase of life. It’s such a delicate balance to find and this story achieved it so beautifully. This story brought so many bittersweet tears to my eyes, but also made me giddy with the excitement for the love Poppy was getting to experience again. Cole is so patient and understanding when it comes to Poppy’s hesitancy in allowing herself to feel something for someone new. Slowly, as he stands by her side and helps her check off the items from Jamie’s birthday list, their friendships turns into the sweetest bond. While it isn’t the easiest journey for Poppy, she finally finds herself again and finds the beauty in falling in love again as well. 

This sounds like a heavy/emotional book, and while it definitely has its moments, I think overall it is written in a way that will make you smile, laugh, swoon, and root for Poppy in her newest stage of life. I really cant recommend this enough. If you enjoyed One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I think you would enjoy this book.

Candyce Kirk

The Birthday List is Poppy's emotional journey going through her husband Jamie's birthday list. Losing him in a robbery gone wrong, she's been having a hard time letting go. Poppy hopes by finishing the list she will feel better and be able to move on. Opening up the Maysen Jar was the biggest thing on the list and it's a dream come true. Cole, a detective, is the man who told Poppy her husband was never coming home, so running in to him years later isn't something she expected. Cole starts awakening feelings she never expected to have again and this scares her and makes her feel guilty. He is surprised by the feelings he has for Poppy and knows he needs to take it slow. This book is so emotional and had me crying a few times while reading. I loved the idea of The Maysen Jar and it seemed like Poppy fit there perfectly. Her best friend Molly is amazing and some of the customers we read about are really sweet. The idea of the birthday list is pretty creative and I loved the items on the list. Taking a picture everyday, sitting in a pool with green Jell-O, saying nothing but yes and learning to play the ukele are just some of the things on this list. Even though she's doing this for her husband, it's nice to see how much it influences Poppy's life. This gives her a different take on life and she slowly learns that even when life goes a way you never saw coming, it can definitely bring you the things that you need. This book didn't get five stars, because even though I did love it, a few things towards the end were just a bit too much. I can't say too much about these things without giving spoilers, but it just felt like these things were a bit not really predictable, but more far-fetched. This book made me cry, laugh and at the end of the book I had a smile on my face.

Full review to come on: thebokdutchesses.wordpress.com

Lacey

MY HEART!!!! This was so beautiful. I loved it so much!

Amanda Autumn Berrey

Francisca Moe

Cara Dewey

Chantal

I carry a journal with me. A journal with a list. Take a karate class. Go skydiving. Learn to play the ukulele. Say yes to everything for an entire day. The list goes on, line by line, of youthful dreams. For too long that list has haunted me. But starting today, I'm going to cross one item off. Today, I'm opening my new restaurant in Bozeman, Montana. The Maysen Jar. It should have marked the first day of a new life. A fresh start. But then Cole Goodman waltzed through the door and brought with him the past. A man who shattered my heart. A man I tried to forget. Maybe it's a good thing he insists on sticking around. Because the only way I'll finish the list is with Cole's help. And then I can finally say goodbye.

The Birthday List

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