Review: Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber

First line: I am not a sentimental guy.

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble: On the anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him.

In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request. I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn’t spend the years he has left grieving—and she’s chosen three women she asks him to consider.

First on Hannah’s list is her cousin, Winter Adams, a chef who owns a café on Seattle’s Blossom Street. The second is Leanne Lancaster, Hannah’s oncology nurse. Michael knows them both. But the third name is one he’s not familiar with—Macy Roth.

During the months that follow, he spends time with these three women, learning more about each of them…and about himself. Learning what Hannah already knew. He’s a man who needs the completeness only love can offer. And Hannah’s list leads him to the woman who can help him find it.

My thoughts: One of the things I love about Debbie Macomber is that her books always leave me with a warm feeling in my heart and this one is certainly no exception. While there is sorrow in this book, it is much more than that – it’s about survival and learning to live again after the death of a spouse. Hannah, diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, knows her time is limited so she writes her husband a letter saying that she wants him to get on with his life and find happiness and love again. He is given this letter on the one year anniversary of her death. Michael is, of course, totally thrown by this. Not only does Hannah want him to move on but she includes in her letter a list of three potential possibilities. In trying to respect Hannah’s final wish, Michael does go out with each woman – women who all have a link to Hannah. As he gets to know them, he learns about himself and his wife all over again. As for the three women, they are all struggling to find their way in their own lives and we get snap shots of their lives as the book progresses. I love that some of the characters from Debbie Macomber’s  Blossom Street series make cameos in this book – it’s nice to get brief glimpses of some characters we’ve come to know and love, and while this book does center around Blossom Street, it can stand alone. I truly enjoyed this book – it was a fast-paced read, yet really gives you something to think about. If you were in Hannah’s position, would you leave your spouse a letter telling him/her to move on and would you leave them with a few suggestions for doing just that?

(I purchased this e-book.)