June 27, 2022
In Sampson’s amiable latest (after The Last Chance Library), bookkeeper Libby Nichols is thrown a curveball by her live-in boyfriend and boss. Simon, declaring their life has become too “predictable,” dumps Libby, putting her out of a job. She moves from Surrey to London to help her sister with childcare in exchange for a place to live. On Libby’s first day in the city, she meets Frank, an elderly man who’s been riding the bus for 60 years looking to reconnect with the woman of his dreams. She had written her name and number on a bus ticket, which Frank lost, and he’s spent his days since looking for her. Libby teams up with Dylan, a mohawked punk and Frank’s caregiver, to search for the red-haired woman of Frank’s memory as his dementia worsens. Joining in the search are quirky characters whose lives Frank has touched over the years and who want to pay him back. In the meantime, Simon resurfaces with surprises of his own and Libby has to decide what she wants out of her life. Despite some predictable turns and beats, there’s plenty of tension. This will keep readers turning the pages. Agent: Hayley Steed, Madeleine Milburn Literary.
June 10, 2024
Sixty years ago, Frank met a most intriguing woman on the 88 bus. They planned to meet again, but he lost the ticket with her phone number on it and spent the ensuing decades wondering what might have been. Now battling dementia, Frank begins riding the bus again, connecting with other riders and hoping to connect with his lost love. Meanwhile, Libby, fresh from a bad breakup and trying to piece her life together again, meets Frank on her trip back home. Inspired by his story, she joins in the search for the mysterious woman who caught his attention so many years ago. Sampson's (The Last Chance Library) latest poignantly highlights the importance of friendships, family, and living your truth. Narrators Katharine Lee McEwan and Helen Lloyd provide lighthearted but emotionally resonant performances. Listeners will be invested in Libby's growth and Frank's quest to find his love, even as his memory begins to fade. An unexpected new romance between Libby and a fellow bus rider adds a note of sweetness to this pleasing tale. VERDICT A lovely novel featuring cross-generational friendships, romance, and a satisfying ending. Share with fans of Poppy Alexander and Clare Pooley.--Elyssa Everling
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