The list he left had just one item on it. Or, at least, it did at first…
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.
It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot’s still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.
What she doesn’t know is that her list isn’t just about finding her old friend. And that if she can admit the secrets of the past, maybe she could even find happiness again…
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson was published on 4 August 2023 and is available across digital, audio and print formats. You can find out more about the book on Amazon, Goodreads and StoryGraph.
This is a book I actually bought myself quite a while ago (both the Kindle and audiobook) but, like so many others, it ended up sitting waiting for the “right time.” With the follow-up book releasing soon, I knew it was finally time to pick this one up… and I’m so glad I did.
Laura Pearson
Laura Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She lives in Leicestershire with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write.
Laura Pearson’s website: https://www.laurapearsonauthor.com
Review
I loved this book. Like… really loved it.
It’s one of those stories that feels gentle on the surface, but underneath there’s so much emotion running through it. Every character feels like they’re carrying something – grief, regret, loneliness… that quiet kind of sadness that never really leaves, even when life keeps moving forward. It’s that feeling of walking around with a dark cloud that no one else can quite see. Getting on with things, doing what’s expected, even having moments of happiness – but still knowing it’s there. And what really stayed with me is how true that felt… because in one way or another, we all carry something like that. Some of us are just better at hiding it than others. I think that’s what made this story feel so real. It isn’t dramatic or overdone – it’s just honest. The way one small thing leads to another, how a simple list slowly becomes something so much bigger… it all unfolds so naturally, like real life does.
The writing is just beautiful. It’s descriptive without ever feeling heavy, and it has this quiet, reflective tone that makes it so easy to sink into. I felt like I was right there alongside Mabel, experiencing everything with her rather than just reading about it. There’s also that underlying pull of always trying to do what’s “right”—even when it’s not necessarily what you want. Putting others first, making choices based on expectation, and only realising much later what that might have cost you.
“How much time have I wasted, over the years, caring about the thoughts of people I don’t know and never will?”
That line really stopped me. It captures so much of what this story is about – those quiet realisations, the weight of the past, and the question of whether it’s ever too late to do things differently.
Mabel is such a lovely character. Quiet, kind, and a little lost—but there’s a strength in her too. Watching her slowly open up, connect with others, and begin to face things she’s carried for so long was honestly quite emotional.
I listened to the audiobook while following along on my Kindle, and it just worked so well. It’s 11 hours long, but it didn’t feel like it at all and I finished it over two days and could have happily stayed with these characters longer. It’s a heartwarming story, but also a quietly heartbreaking one in places. A reminder that everyone you meet is carrying something, even if you can’t see it – and that it’s never too late to change things, to reconnect, or to finally start putting yourself first. Just a really lovely, emotional read that will stay with me.
#TheLastListOfMabelBeaumont #LauraPearson
#BoldwoodBooks #MabelBeaumont
See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. DISCLOSURE: This is not an ARC review. I purchased both the digital and audiobook editions myself. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
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