Goodnotes Book Summary

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.

But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’.

Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.

First Impressions

I do admit that I’m an overly emotional person but the first few chapters of this book had me in tears. Being married for as long as Mabel and Arthur were is something so admirable, so rare; it is something that I hope to celebrate one day.

There was more to the story though, it emphasized friendship and the importance of companionship and vulnerability.

My thoughts

I felt a lot of emotions reading this book. I felt the loss of Arthur – a life partner, the loss of that stability and comfort; the anxiousness of being alone and navigating through a new “normal” and the apprehension of meeting new people – wanting to be part of their lives, to be friends, and hoping their intentions were genuine.

At eighty-six years old Mabel forges new friendships with women in all aspects of life. It’s so beautiful to witness – seeing women whom she’s barely considered acquaintances become lifelong friends; stopping in daily for tea and walks, exchanging gifts during the holidays, and helping with her search to find Dot, her best friend.

There’s one quote in the book that captures its essence