How the Penguins Saved Veronica

Veronica McCreedy is an independent, opinionated eighty-five-year-old woman. She lives alone with a helper who comes over to take care of the house, a gardener to maintain the outdoors, and that’s all she needs, thank you very much. As she’s reaching the end of her life, she wonders what to do with the millions she’s amassed throughout her life. Surely, she should do something of value with it. A documentary about penguins might be the answer she’s looking for. But she’s going to have to confront the pain of her past in order to move forward with what’s left of her future. Digging into her past may lead her to discover someone she’s closer to than she would ever have imagined.

This book is a poignant, fun, yet powerful read. The style of writing is very easy to read: short chapters in alternating perspectives. There are also diary entries and blog entries that make for a quick read. In a similar vein to Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman, this book does an excellent job of bringing to life an eccentric, cold, old lady and making her the star of a charming and heartwarming story. This book is a pure delight.