



Pack Up the Moon
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4.6 • 245 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
They used to joke about it. Like many brilliant scientists, Josh sometimes had trouble remembering things that needed doing in the “real” world—like buying groceries, eating regular meals, and talking to people. But he was happy to have his beloved wife, Lauren, remind him with her “honey do” lists. He just never realized how much he would need one when she was gone.
Being a widower is not something Joshua Park ever expected. Given his solitary job, small circle of friends and family, and the social awkwardness he’s always suffered from, Josh has no idea how to negotiate this new, unwanted phase of life. But Lauren had a plan to keep him moving forward. A plan hidden in the letters she leaves him, giving him a task for every month in the year after her death. A plan that leads Joshua with a loving hand on a journey through grief, anger, and denial.
It’s a journey that will take Joshua from his first outing as a widower to buy groceries…to an attempt at a dinner party where his lack of experience hosting creates a comic disaster…to finding a new best friend while weeping in the dressing room of a clothing store. As his grief makes room for new friendships and experiences, Joshua learns Lauren’s most valuable lesson: The path to happiness doesn’t follow a straight line.
Funny, sometimes heart-wrenching, and always uplifting, this novel from New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins illuminates how life’s greatest joys are often hiding in plain sight.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Higgins (Good Luck with That) delivers an outstanding romantic weeper with this tale of young newlyweds facing a terminal illness. Lauren Park is dying from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis "twelve syllables of doom" but she's determined to leave a little bit of herself in her husband Josh's life after she's gone. She does so by writing letters to Josh and leaving them with her best friend to dole out month by month after her death. The letters are structured as to-do lists, ranging from basic tasks to ensure Josh takes care of himself ("Go to the grocery store and stop eating food from cartons over the sink. Don't be a loser!") to encouragement to start new relationships. After Lauren dies, Josh's raw grief is palpable, as is Lauren's reluctance to leave the love of her life, which comes through in her letters. Delightful supporting characters add to the charm, such as a Banana Republic salesman who comforts Josh after he has a breakdown while trying to fulfill one of Lauren's tasks. Perfect pacing and plotting lift Higgins's masterly latest. This is going to break (and restore) plenty of hearts.
Customer Reviews
Absolutely breathtaking
I’m a widower myself. Reading this made me feel like there’s hope. Like there’s light at the end of the tunnel. This was sensational!
Beautiful!
This was definitely well written, it in gulf’s you in every emotion!
A good book for a good cry
Was an amazing story on moving on and mourning, had me laughing and crying.