Name: Sarah Sammis's review of Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive
Item: Palm Meridian
Rating: 3
Author: Sarah Sammis

Grace Flahive

A rollicking, big-hearted story of long-lost love, friendship, and a life well-lived, set at a Florida retirement resort for queer women, on the last day of resident Hannah Cardin’s life—for readers of Less and The Wedding People.

It’s 2067 and Florida is partially underwater, but even that can’t bring down the residents of Palm Meridian Retirement Resort, a utopian home for queer women who want to revel in their twilight years. Inside, Hula-Hoopers shimmy across the grass, fiercely competitive book clubs nearly come to blows, and the roller-ski team races up and down the winding paths. Everywhere you look, these women are living large.

Hannah Cardin has spent ten happy years under these tropical, technicolor skies, but after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, she has decided that tomorrow morning she will close her eyes for the very last time. Tonight, however, Hannah and her raucous band of friends are throwing one hell of an end-of-life party. And with less than twenty-four hours left, Hannah is holding out for one final, impossible thing…

Amongst the guest list is Sophie, the love of Hannah’s life. They haven’t spoken since their devastating breakup over forty years ago, but today, Hannah is hoping for the chance to give her greatest love one last try.

As Hannah anxiously awaits Sophie’s arrival, her mind casts back over the highs and lows of her kaleidoscopic life. But when a shocking secret from the past is revealed, Hannah must reconsider if she can say goodbye after all.

Spanning the course of a single day and seventy-odd years, and bursting with irresistible hope, humor, and wisdom, this one-of-a-kind novel celebrates the unexpected moments that make us feel the most alive.

Palm Meridian

Sarah Sammis

This book broke me and made me laugh. It beautifully balanced the fear and reality of death alongside the joy of life and the loved ones we get to live it with. A book that reflects on Hannah, the main character's life, as she prepares to live her last day before assisted suicide following a terminal cancer diagnosis. The question asked throughout this book is if Sophie, the love of Hannah's life, will make it to her farewell party. The finite end this book has its sights set on keeps the plot moving along at the perfect pace with narrative moving between the past and present, telling us more about Hannah's life. 

This book has really stayed with me since I finished it, the ending was incredibly emotional. An excellent read.

Beth Bartholomew

This book broke me and made me laugh. It beautifully balanced the fear and reality of death alongside the joy of life and the loved ones we get to live it with. A book that reflects on Hannah, the main character's life, as she prepares to live her last day before assisted suicide following a terminal cancer diagnosis. The question asked throughout this book is if Sophie, the love of Hannah's life, will make it to her farewell party. The finite end this book has its sights set on keeps the plot moving along at the perfect pace with narrative moving between the past and present, telling us more about Hannah's life. 

This book has really stayed with me since I finished it, the ending was incredibly emotional. An excellent read.

Sarah Sammis &
Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive

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Sarah Sammis &Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive

Reviews

Join the club

Sarah Sammis &
Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive