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daisyknox's review against another edition
5.0
More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
Anna and Ben have a wonderful life together with their three children. At forty, they should be planning the rest of their happily-ever-after, but it’s all ripped away from them with Ben’s diagnosis. Anna is struggling to accept their new reality and unsure how to face life alone when Ben invites their closest friends and asks Mason to take care of his family. Anna doesn’t appreciate Ben’s gesture because she can’t stand Mason and he’s the last person she wants around, especially at such a difficult time.
But Ben wants Mason around right now, to help him in his last days and spare his family any further suffering. Mason drops everything to move in with his best friend’s family because he’d do anything for Ben, which he’s proven by ignoring his love for Anna all these years. This is a tough read, full of grief and self-doubt but still a beautiful story full of hope with a HEA of it’s own.
sunshinebooklover's review against another edition
3.0
I like stories about people - how they meet, the history they build, their friendships, and how they love each other. This story was a tender look at all of that. So much so that it didn’t feel like it needed the number of intimate interactions (or at least not the kind of description they were given.) I mostly flipped past those to get back to the journey of recovery from grief the characters were on.
profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️
Tropes: small town romance; husband’s best friend; second chances; band of brothers; single dad; widow
If you’ve read any of L.B. Dunbar’s first three books of her Lakeside Cottage series, you grabbed Letting Go at 40 with two emotions: elation and trepidation. How do you write a story about two characters falling in love in the specter of one of the character’s beloved husbands? Seemingly a challenge, I entered Letting Go at 40 figuratively holding my breath. Ben was beloved. He was the perfect husband for Anna. How would Dunbar successfully craft a story for Anna and the forever-pining Mason, the playboy of the guys’ friend group? With aplomb.
If you’ve been reticent to read this story, don’t be. Dunbar has written the heck out of Mason and Anna’s story. I will say that it isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re not a fan of a slow burn, this story isn’t for you. But the slow burn is necessary for this story. Dunbar has carefully plotted Mason and Anna’s journey with the premise of “two steps forward, one step back.” This was necessary. In doing so, Anna could grieve and begin to understand herself beyond Ben. And Mason could face his own challenges: becoming a better father and realizing that he can be good for Anna. It takes much of Letting Go at 40 to achieve this, but honestly, Anna and Mason had to learn to “let go” of expectations, other dreams, and guilt. While it could sometimes be frustrating for Anna to push Mason away, it was completely necessary to Dunbar’s story.
What you earn at the end of this book is a journey of a thousand miles and the acceptance of Anna with Mason. Dunbar also deftly highlights the complications of friends' and children’s perceptions in this story, and she rewards her readers with a gorgeous happy ending for these long-suffering characters.
Please don’t miss this book. I believe it’s the best of the four Lakeside Cottage series, and here’s to hoping she will write the next generation of love stories for this group.
Tropes: small town romance; husband’s best friend; second chances; band of brothers; single dad; widow
If you’ve read any of L.B. Dunbar’s first three books of her Lakeside Cottage series, you grabbed Letting Go at 40 with two emotions: elation and trepidation. How do you write a story about two characters falling in love in the specter of one of the character’s beloved husbands? Seemingly a challenge, I entered Letting Go at 40 figuratively holding my breath. Ben was beloved. He was the perfect husband for Anna. How would Dunbar successfully craft a story for Anna and the forever-pining Mason, the playboy of the guys’ friend group? With aplomb.
If you’ve been reticent to read this story, don’t be. Dunbar has written the heck out of Mason and Anna’s story. I will say that it isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re not a fan of a slow burn, this story isn’t for you. But the slow burn is necessary for this story. Dunbar has carefully plotted Mason and Anna’s journey with the premise of “two steps forward, one step back.” This was necessary. In doing so, Anna could grieve and begin to understand herself beyond Ben. And Mason could face his own challenges: becoming a better father and realizing that he can be good for Anna. It takes much of Letting Go at 40 to achieve this, but honestly, Anna and Mason had to learn to “let go” of expectations, other dreams, and guilt. While it could sometimes be frustrating for Anna to push Mason away, it was completely necessary to Dunbar’s story.
What you earn at the end of this book is a journey of a thousand miles and the acceptance of Anna with Mason. Dunbar also deftly highlights the complications of friends' and children’s perceptions in this story, and she rewards her readers with a gorgeous happy ending for these long-suffering characters.
Please don’t miss this book. I believe it’s the best of the four Lakeside Cottage series, and here’s to hoping she will write the next generation of love stories for this group.
romancebookaffair's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just…wow.
The challenge in writing this book is everyone loves Ben – Anna, Mason, all their family and friends, readers – so how do you successfully have Anna and Mason move on together? LB Dunbar more than met this challenge, in fact she outdid herself.
This final chapter in the Lakeside Cottage series is emotional and raw. It shows the messiness of grief and being ready to move on with life, how that journey is not linear or straightforward and there are no rules.
I wasn’t expecting the book to start back at the first summer reunion, I had thought it would start where book 3 finished off, so it made for an emotional start to the book. But there is so much complexity to the evolution of Anna and Mason’s relationship that really it couldn’t have been written any other way.
I have loved this series and have anticipated Mason’s story from the beginning, wondering if it would be with widowed Anna. Their story wasn’t always easy to read; their sadness, guilt, torment and love flowed from the pages but I am so happy to have witnessed their journey to a happily ever after.
The challenge in writing this book is everyone loves Ben – Anna, Mason, all their family and friends, readers – so how do you successfully have Anna and Mason move on together? LB Dunbar more than met this challenge, in fact she outdid herself.
This final chapter in the Lakeside Cottage series is emotional and raw. It shows the messiness of grief and being ready to move on with life, how that journey is not linear or straightforward and there are no rules.
I wasn’t expecting the book to start back at the first summer reunion, I had thought it would start where book 3 finished off, so it made for an emotional start to the book. But there is so much complexity to the evolution of Anna and Mason’s relationship that really it couldn’t have been written any other way.
I have loved this series and have anticipated Mason’s story from the beginning, wondering if it would be with widowed Anna. Their story wasn’t always easy to read; their sadness, guilt, torment and love flowed from the pages but I am so happy to have witnessed their journey to a happily ever after.
mdb8199's review
This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Right from the start, I knew it was going to be a tearjerker. We start off in the present with Mason and Anna and find out how they got to where they are today it was a long and grueling journey. We got to hear both sides of the relationship from dueling point of views which was nice. It was nice to see a male lead finally vulnerable in a book. This book is part of a series which you definitely do not need to read prior, but I think will help. This was great reading.
I received this ARC through the publisher and I am voluntarily reviewing this book, opinions are my own.
I received this ARC through the publisher and I am voluntarily reviewing this book, opinions are my own.
rlp78's review
5.0
Beautiful
This book was a beautiful story of the way life goes on even after a devastating loss. The author did an amazing job of honoring Ben, Mason, and Anna. This was a perfect end to an amazing series.
This book was a beautiful story of the way life goes on even after a devastating loss. The author did an amazing job of honoring Ben, Mason, and Anna. This was a perfect end to an amazing series.
ed83's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Cancer
missbookreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aliciasplendeur's review
5.0
Well, I think I moved through all the emotions while reading this book. I'm sad the series is over, but I loved every character and each book. I always wondered how Mason and Anna would finally make their way toward becoming a couple and I like how we got deeper context to scenes that played out in the previous books.
READ THIS WHOLE SERIES! Especially if you're looking for something with older characters who are dealing with grown folk issues. Start at the beginning.
Anna is moving through the grief of losing her husband. But starts even before he passes away. And there to help every step of the way is Mason. Her husband's best friend.
He has secretly been in love with Anna from the moment they met her. But she only had eyes for her husband Ben.
She tolerates his presence at the beginning before she finds herself relying on it. And somewhere along the way, she realizes the attraction she feels is real.
Thank you so much to the author and Grey's Promo for this ARC to review.
READ THIS WHOLE SERIES! Especially if you're looking for something with older characters who are dealing with grown folk issues. Start at the beginning.
Anna is moving through the grief of losing her husband. But starts even before he passes away. And there to help every step of the way is Mason. Her husband's best friend.
He has secretly been in love with Anna from the moment they met her. But she only had eyes for her husband Ben.
She tolerates his presence at the beginning before she finds herself relying on it. And somewhere along the way, she realizes the attraction she feels is real.
Thank you so much to the author and Grey's Promo for this ARC to review.
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