A simple but touching companion to the original. I really enjoyed this read. I'm often suspicious of novels that rehash the same story since they sometimes feel like trying to re-milk the same cow, but this was a good story that was worth telling. I enjoyed it very much, maybe more than the first.

This is a companion book to Rachel Joyce's "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" in which Harold responds to a letter from Queenie by walking the length of England to see her, hoping to delay her death. In this book, we learn of Queenie's reactions as she waits for Harold. On the surface this is a tale of unrequited love; we assume it only involves Queenie and Harold. Over the course of the book, we learn otherwise. Perhaps reflections on life always involve unfulfilled relationships; everyone assumes there will be time enough to fulfill their early promise. The book offers gentle and sharp surprises, both in content and style, while offering a different perspective on a tale told in an earlier book. The author has created two powerful, complementary books, well worth the time spent reading. -Suzanne R.

I loved this book, a companion book to Harold Fry #1!

A good read - but I think I was supposed to read the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry first. Anyway, interesting concept to tell the story from one perspective in one book and the other perspective in another book. Similar to Fates and Furies, though that was all in the same book.

not sure to what i thought. i enjoyed it. not as good as harold fry. not sure why it wasn't all one big book. but i would recommend it if you've already read harold fry.

One year and a day after finishing The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye I have completed Queenie's point of view.

Oh my. Eyes welling up at The Third Letter, the final chapter. Oh my.

From a literary perspective, I found the two books fascinating - being able to read from two points of view - Harold's and then Queenie's - each in their own narrative in their own book.

From an emotional perspective, they tugged at me for differing yet perhaps not so dissimilar reasons.

This is not a "read in bed before falling asleep" type of book. This is a "read during the day, perhaps with a cup of tea or cocoa, and with time to ponder" type of book.

And most of all, both stories are a strong message to be in the moment and make use of each moment, as active participant or calm observer - just be full with your choice.

I loved this book, even though it was also a sad book of longing. There were laugh out loud moments and quietly perfect moments and just sad moments. It made me think about all of the different ways you can love people.

3.5 stars. Better than Harold Fry, in my opinion, but still rather wretchedly sad, with a strong theme of a need for therapy, good communication, and lost opportunities.

This provides the answer for readers of
[b:The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry|13227454|The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)|Rachel Joyce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335816092l/13227454._SY75_.jpg|18156927] who wanted to know more about Queenie Hennessy, whose letter announcing her imminent death from cancer was the instigation of Harold's unlikely pilgrimage from Kingsbridge in Dorset to Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north. Unbeknown to Harold, he had been the love of Queenie's life and the story of her secret relationship with him and her entanglement with his son are mingled with life in the hospice where Queenie and fellow inmates stretch out their last days following the progress of Harold's pilgrimage. Reflecting the character of Queenie herself, it is a delicate story culminating in the final meeting, told from Harold's viewpoint in the earlier book, but seen here by Queenie herself as fulfilment and release:

"I pressed my fingers tight around yours and closed my eyes. I smiled. I hope you saw that. I smiled so deeply I was filled with it. Even inside my bones, I smiled. And then all I wanted was sleep. I was not frightened any more."

Rachel Joyce has an extraordinary ability to convey the intimacy of everyday lives and even succeeds in rendering meaningful the final days of a cluster of crusty old and sick people in a hospice. There is sadness here but at the same time appreciation of life, at the end Queenie sees:

"so many people going about their lives, millions of them, being ordinary, doing ordinary things that no one notices, that no one sings about, but there they are nevertheless, and they are filled with life."

It is a tribute to the author that she has sung long and well about such people and brought them to our notice.