This was a really nice surprise. I can't remember how it ended up on my library WL, and I didn't really know what to expect, but it's a lovely story of friendship and aging and grief.

Joel lives in a retirement home and has pretty much given up on life. He's tired of just waiting to die, so he decides to leave on his own terms. Aiding and abetting him is his new roommate, Frank. How these two very different men come to be friends and what that friendship means to each of them is the heart of the story. It's filled with typical Irish humor and pathos, and the audio, read by Aidan Kelly, is excellent.

A very satisfying read.

4 stars ( )

Joel Monroe has been living in Hilltop Nursing Home for five years. At first his wife Lucey was with him and things were ok. But then Lucey died....and the sunshine just faded from Joel's life. He dislikes the nurses, hates his life, often wants to kill himself.....he's just sad, alone and lost. But then a new roommate is moved into his room....a former soap opera actor....and Joel forms a fast, strong friendship. Perspectives can change.....life can improve.....adventures explored....even for an old curmudgeon.

Although the thought of old age, nursing homes and failing health is a bit depressing....this story brought out the sunshine that can beam into the final stages of life. Sometimes we are gifted friendships that have lasting, joyful effects on life. Joel is lucky enough to experience this very gift. It makes for a bittersweet tale. A bit of redemption, a splash of humor and a lot of joy and emotion. Great read!

This is the first book by Joel Monroe that I've read. I'm impressed. This book is well-written and heartfelt. He has two other books that I've added to my TBR list -- Me, Myself and Them, and A Rock and a High Place.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

Well this book was an unexpected surprise; it really is unexpected by name and unexpected by nature as I laughed, smiled and cried my way through this beautiful story of growing old disgracefully.

Joel isn't exactly everyone's favourite Grandad; he's miserable, argumentative and disruptive and just wants to die to put an end to his misery. Joel is imprisoned in a nursing home and he's clearly still grieving for his wife Lucey, whose bed is now occupied by another resident. The only positive for Joel is that his roommate, Mr Miller, is unconscious so Joel is left in peace to wallow in his misery...until the day that Mr Miller checks out and a new roommate moves in.

Frank De Selby or Frank Adams, depending on which persona he adopts, is like Joel's personal antidepressant and we know Joel doesn't like taking his pills. Frank is so virile, flamboyant and outgoing that it isn't long before Joel is swept along on an adventure that he will never forget. Frank is a very clever chap as rather than talk Joel out of his suicide mission, he vows to help him come up with the perfect suicide. I think he knew fine well from the start that he would show Joel that life is worth living after all. I was in kinks of laughter as the pair hatched an escape plan that enabled them to escape from the nursing home and gallivant around town. What a night on the town they had...it sounded better than any nights out that I have ever had.

My heart swelled with emotion as I saw Joel's fractured relationships with his daughter and grandchildren gradually being repaired. Joel had been so caught up in his own grief that he couldn't see that his family were grieving too, but together they could help each other through this difficult time. It's amazing yet sad to think that if Lucey hadn't died, Joel would never have met Frank and he would never have unearthed the love that his family have for him. Fate is a cruel mistress sometimes but dying is unfortunately a part of life.

As disgruntledly charming as Ove, The Great Unexpected's Joel Monroe is my new favourite grumpy old man. I laughed and cried at Joel and Frank's escapades but more than anything, they taught me a very valuable lesson: you only get one shot at life, so you have to make the most of it.

The Great Unexpected is one of those ageless books that appeal to both young and old and I would absolutely love to see this made into a film. To see Frank and Joel strutting their stuff on the dancefloor would be absolute comedy gold. I'm definitely going to read this book again and I can see it becoming one of my go-to books when I'm in need of a pick-me-up. I am completely astounded at how uplifted I felt by this book; evoking such surprising emotions, it really is perfectly named as The Great Unexpected.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

If you like "Ove", "Grumpy old Men" and the British TV series "Waiting for God" then this book is for you!

Didn't like the ending.... it left too many things open! ( )

The Great Unexpected is a tender, charming look at aging and how younger generations perceive the elderly. When Joel, an elderly nursing home resident, is tired of being treated like a child instead of the adult he still is. When Frank, a retires soap opera actor, moves into the same room as Joel, he'll turn his world upside down and show him life isn't over.

Though the book touches on some hard to hear topics dealing with the aging process and society's views on the aged and was at times depressing, overall I found the novel quite charming and an eye opener to how older people may be feeling when they lose the ability to enjoy freedom on their terms. The author did a great job balancing the two ends of the emotional spectrum. The characters were lovely and felt as if they could be anyone's grandparents, lending a sense of familiarity to them and their plights.

Overall, I deeply enjoyed the book and want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the advanced copy given in exchange for an honest review. ( )