Author: Judy Leigh
A Year of Mr Maybes is a book by Judy Leigh, an author whose several books I have read so far. This book is very different from other books by Leigh I have read because it centres on a woman who has recently divorced and is starting a new life in her 70s. So, a theme of senior women living their best life and changing things, but from a very different perspective than other books.
The book starts with a story of what happened last Christmas, describing Val cooking a Christmas meal for herself and her husband, Ray, waiting for him to return from the local pub where he allegedly went with mates. As the meal was about to be ready, Val decided to go to the pub to pick up Ray to shelter him from bad weather, only to find him snuggling with another, younger woman. Val walks away, goes back home, and serves the full meal for herself, bolts all doors, and leaves Ray outside in the storm, turning Christmas music up to minimize the noise. I absolutely loved this first chapter and Val’s strength. Because, indeed, she made a nice meal (which was described beautifully and in great detail) and deserved to enjoy it.
The book then moves into Val’s new life in Lowenstowe, a small town in Cornwall, which is close to the small town where she lived with Ray, so their paths cross a few times, but not frequently enough, making it worthwhile for Val to start a new life. She finds good friends among her neighbours and the local community and gets involved in local affairs, including environmental activism and campaigning with the local community and the council, volunteering in a charity shop, and she goes to the beach every day to walk. She cooks and bakes, and treats her neighbours, who all accept her as one of them. But, her son, who lives I Canada, is getting married in a year, and Val is dismayed with Ray coming to the wedding with Monica, his new partner he moved in with after Val kicked him out, whilst Val would be alone. Therefore, Val devises a search for a partner to take to Canada to her son’s wedding, and each month, there is another person to consider. Val has a lot of fun during this search, which was an idea of one of her neighbours who is a widow grieving her husband for decades and unable to consider seeing anyone but enjoys living Val’s life.
An interesting take on dating in senior age, and an interesting reflective aspect because Val reflects a lot on what she wants, and whether she truly wants to meet someone, gives up a few times, then goes back to dating, so there is some back and forward in the book. But ultimately – apart from the message that it is never too late to change things, which runs across all Leigh’s books – there is also that message that love finds you when you least expect it (and that has been so true with me, when I stopped looking, I found my lovebug) 😊
Thank you for reading!