At the End of the Day in Aussie Readers

Sep 22, 2021 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021-release, aussie-authors, 5000-2021, net-galley, read-on-kindle, contemporary-fiction, arc, own-read

Mim Squires was sad to leave the UK and her sister Alice as she thought it would probably be the last time she was able to travel the vast distance from Australia to England and back. In her mid-seventies, independent as always, Mim was suffering from post polio syndrome after being diagnosed as a young girl with the disease. Plus the long plane flight always took its toll and when the flight had to return to Doha just two hours out because of a sick passenger, Mim was more discouraged.

Matthias Mim Squires was sad to leave the UK and her sister Alice as she thought it would probably be the last time she was able to travel the vast distance from Australia to England and back. In her mid-seventies, independent as always, Mim was suffering from post polio syndrome after being diagnosed as a young girl with the disease. Plus the long plane flight always took its toll and when the flight had to return to Doha just two hours out because of a sick passenger, Mim was more discouraged.

Matthias Vander was on a flight from London to Australia, returning home to Perth to see his daughter before flying across to Melbourne where his home was. When the flight was delayed in Doha, Matthias met a woman in the airport who was around his age 鈥� the instant connection Mim and Matthias felt was astounding. Both heading for Perth, Matthias was a writer while Mim owned a bookshop in Fremantle. They felt they鈥檇 known each other for a lifetime, although both of them had always found it difficult to talk to strangers. Matthias had a burden which had long weighed him down; something he鈥檇 only ever told his wife and his best friend Luc. Somehow, he knew he needed to tell his daughter Carla about his past 鈥� Luc was always telling him he must.

Family turmoils, secrets too long held 鈥� would Mim see her sister Alice again? Would her good friend Jodie find happiness? And would Matthias find his peace while telling Carla what he needed to divulge?

At the End of the Day by Aussie author Liz Byrski is exceptional! I thoroughly enjoyed it, loved the characters, was both sad and happy in different parts of the story. Seeing what Alice could do in her seventies, how she could change, and how her enthusiasm rubbed off on Mim 鈥� it just goes to show what we can do when we set our minds to it. An inspirational, poignant read, At the End of the Day is one I recommend highly. I would also like to wish Ms Byrski the best of health after she suffered a stroke during the writing of this novel 鈥� I鈥檓 so glad you recovered and continued when you could 馃槉

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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Oct 27, 2021 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: provided-by-publisher, aussie-author, arc-are

A heartwarming, uplifting story about friendship, family, love, acceptance and change, in Liz Byrski鈥檚 eleventh novel, At the End of the Day, it鈥檚 during an unexpected delay in Doha that Miriam Squires, heading home to Perth after visiting her sister in England, strikes up a conversation with Mathias Vander, who is on his way to visit his daughter after spending time with a childhood friend in Belgium.

The pair are surprised by the immediate rapport that develops between them and are reluctant t ...more

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Oct 19, 2021 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aww, 2021

4.5鈽�
I always love the characters in Byrski's books, & this was no exception. Mim & Matthias show how hard we can be on ourselves & how much baggage from childhood events we can carry into our adult lives. Letting go of some of the things that are holding us back or hurting us can be a struggle but, at the end of the day, it is love & friendship that can help us into a more hopeful future. At least, this is the feeling I get from this book.

I enjoyed the story but, in the latter third, it was feel ...more

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