This is so good! It was my favorite book of 2024! We follow three women, starting with Lark who is training in Oncology but her boss is switching her to ER because she keeps crying around patients. (She has been grieving the death of her fiance who died from cancer seven years ago.) Then Lorenzo, who is a famous (and arrogant) surgeon, asks her if she would be his date for the summer because his nonna is dying and he wants her to think he is settled. In return, he will put in a good word for Lark back in Oncology. Lark is really funny and on her first date with Lorenzo she tries to be polite but gets snarky and orders all the most expensive things on the menu. It gets even more interesting when Lark meets Dante, Lorenzo’s sweet, firefighter brother. I couldn’t wait to see who she would end up with.

Ellie is Lark’s mom who is an artist and owns a gallery. She is separated from her husband and has been staying with her friend Joy. Joy brings joy to everyone she meets while she is grieving for her brother and best friend. She gets a job teaching classes in the Memory Care Unit of the Senior Living Center and it becomes popular with everyone, not just the residents.

Lark begins to volunteer for hospice and we see patients making decisions about cancer treatments. The writing was heartfelt and hopeful even in the darkest times. I loved how the friends were there for each other. Its really funny when Joy throws a party for Lark and Lorenzo so the families could meet. This story made me laugh and cry and the ending is beautifully done. I also liked the sequel (Dante’s Story), Once in a Blue Moon.