Mrs. Nash's Ashes Review

Hello, all!

Can you believe that we're only one month into the year and I already have two five star reads? That's unheard of for me, but Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler more than deserved it. 

Pub Date: 5-23-23
Adult - Contemporary

Millie is on a mission to reunite her best friend with the love of her life. Well, her best friend's ashes. Mrs. Nash was the best friend Millie ever had, and when she passed, Millie promised herself that she would reunite Mrs. Nash with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago before it was too late. Millie expected to travel from DC to Florida alone. Still, when a computer glitch grounds all flights, she finds herself on a road trip with Hollis Hollenbeck, a fellow stranded passenger and an acquaintance from her ex's grad school program.

Hollis does not believe in long-lasting love and doesn't know why Millie would waste her time on such a ridiculous pilgrimage. But as the miles pass and they find themselves contending with deer with death wishes, unique bed-and-breakfasts, small-town parades, and fusion restaurants, Millie starts growing fond of her grumpy companion. For someone who swears to be a selfish curmudgeon, Millie can't help but notice Hollis getting invested in the success of their journey or how he goes out of his way to be kind to Millie. The closer they get to their destination, the more Millie must admit that this trip wasn't about Mrs. Nash's love story but hers.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I didn't pick it up sooner. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I knew within the first few chapters that it would be an all-time favorite. I loved everything from the plot to the characters to the writing. Adler's writing was so charming and had me smiling the whole time. Millie was the kind of quirky character some people might find grating, but I loved her. Her humor and pop culture references mirrored my own, so I had a great time following her. And Hollis! That Oscar the grouch-secret cinnamon roll attitude had me swooning from the get-go. Their quest to reunite old loves was so tender, and I loved getting the flashbacks to Rose and Elsie's lives together. If you enjoy road trip stories or the grumpy/sunshine trope, I can't recommend this book enough.

Rating: 5/5