"Bittersweet lesbians try to enjoy one last farewell party at the end of the world — this is a delicious debut from Grace Flahive "
So firstly, it’s a brilliant premise. When I’ve been pitching this book to my friends, as I already have been, I describe it along the lines of: ‘on a lesbian retirement resort at the end of the world, a woman decides to throw one last party before she dies, and invites the long lost love of her life. Will they be able to have a happy reunion before it’s all over?’ And the writing delivers — it sparkles with linguistic playfulness, inventive metaphors and believable quippy dialogue.
I read the first chapter standing on my doormat, having just received the book in the post and expecting to just flick quickly through, but instead I got hooked in and finished the first few chapters with the delighted grin of someone who knows they’re going to love reading the rest.
‘Bittersweet queers in the apocalypse’ is a flavour that seems kind of in the air at the moment, presumably mirroring our lives, but I must say, it’s a vibe that’s particularly compelling, if rather terrifying. ‘Surprisingly life-affirming’ feels accurate for a book where there is so much death, loss, disappointment, and existentialism, but it is — showcasing as it does stories of profound connection, lasting romance, raucous sex, and queer friendship.
| Primary Genre | Romance / Relationship Stories |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
A long-lost love. An end-of-life party. One last chance to change everything...
It's 2067 at Palm Meridian Retirement Resort, Florida, and the last day of Hannah's life. Tomorrow, as the sun burns the dew off the lawns, she'll close her eyes for the very last time.
But she won't be going quietly. Tonight, Hannah's throwing an end-of-life party: the drinks are on ice, and the palm trees are strung with lights beneath technicolour skies. And though Hannah has less than twenty-four hours left, she's holding out for one last, impossible thing...
Amongst the guest list is Hannah's long-lost love Sophie - the woman who Hannah can't forget, even after forty years. Hannah has to give her greatest love one last try.
Soon, the party is in full swing. Hannah waits nervously, unaware that before her last ever dawn breaks, a devastating secret will come to light. If Sophie shows, how can Hannah say goodbye all over again? And is there enough time to fix the past?
Brimming with heart, and just as hilarious as it is heartbreaking, Palm Meridian is a one-of-a kind novel that will stay with you forever. Grace & Frankie meets The Notebook, this bittersweet novel that affirms life is what we choose to make of it, and any story can be a love story, if you let it.
Palm Meridian features in the following genres: Debut Books of the Month, Debuts, Recommendations, Star Books, Feel-Good Fiction, General Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories, Sharing Diverse Voices, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, LGBTQ+ Fiction, Relating to LGBTQ+ people
Palm Meridian is available in Paperback, Hardback
Palm Meridian was written by Grace Flahive and published by Renegade Books an imprint of Dialogue
Palm Meridian has 320 pages
£18.00
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