The Beautiful Little Things

By: Melissa Hill

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Torn apart by grief, can two sisters rediscover joy in the memory of their mother’s love?

Romy Moore has always cherished the warm embrace of her family home in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains - a welcome escape from life on the lower rungs of the London career ladder. It is her mother Cathy’s encouragement that has kept Romy chasing her dreams, so when she loses her, Romy feels more adrift than ever.

Ambitious and unflappable Joanna has always been the sister with her act together, but the birth of her twin daughters and the loss of her mother changes everything. Torn between giving her children the same start in life that she had and missing her high-powered tech career in Silicon Valley, she can’t help wondering: was she right to swap ambition for family?

As the first reunion looms, Romy notices that the home that once rang with laughter now feels empty, her father a passing shadow and her brother brooding and silent. But when she discovers their mother has left behind some important words of wisdom as a helping hand for them to carry on without her, a glimmer of hope sparks to life. Can Cathy’s loving reminder of beautiful little family memories guide her children through the festive season - and on into a future without her?

©2021 by Melissa Hill. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Melissa Hill has woven a story that could be your family’s, or mine. Honest, affecting, but ultimately hopeful and uplifting…until the satisfying, surprising end. Don’t miss this one!”—Carol Mason, bestselling author of After You Left

Sweet

Another book set in Ireland, though not intentionally! I listened to this one and it was confusing, The point of view and time changed but there was no indication at the beginning of each chapter if it was now or then and who the narrator of that chapter was until it was a minute in or so. However, this was a beautiful book about grief and family dynamics. It could’ve been really sad but it wasn’t.

Beautiful story

The story itself was well written and shows a family in crisis after the loss of their mother/wife and how they find their way back as a family. It was very difficult to tell the difference between characters with the narration and therefore, hard to follow at times.

Dis to functional!

I almost gave up on this book and family. Each of them was self-centered very touchy by assuming another was being critical. They needed to grow up. The only reason I continued is because I didn’t have another audio book to listen to available! I’m happy that I finished it, but I still believe they were too touchy. Sometimes we have to give others a break.

great story

loved listening to reader. really made story come alive. this was great to listen to during the Christmas season. definitely shows true meaning beautiful characters

Perfect book to read before the holidays.

I’m so glad I decided to listen to this before the holidays…particularly this year. This will be our first Christmas without our Dad and this book was a wonderful reminder that we honor our loved ones by celebrating with love, traditions and open hearts.

I just didn’t care

I didn’t care what happened to any of these people. I did t like any of the people except maybe the dad. I get what the author wanted the reader to feel. I just never cared.