Author: Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
Published by:Â Mantle Fiction
It’s difficult to find love in  a profession like Ambroise’s – even his father despises what he does…
And while Manelle – a home help living in the same small French town – adores her days spent with her eccentric elderly clients, she always ends her evenings alone.
So when an unusual request from Manelle’s favourite client, eighty-two-year-old retired chef-gourmand Samuel, brings the two of them together for an unlikely road-trip to Switzerland – along with Ambroise’s cake-loving grandmother – they are both more than ready for the rest of their lives to begin…
Ever since reading The Reader on the 6:27, I have eagerly awaited the publication of this author’s next book, and so I was really pleased to pick up a copy of this very lovely hardback version of The Rest of their Lives.
The Rest of Their Lives tells the story of the timely circumstances of an unusual road trip to Switzerland, which brings unexpected sadness and delight for the key characters.
As expected, the author’s second novel is written with very much the same distinctive sensitivity and humour as in The Reader on the 6:27. The novel has a somewhat bittersweet feel to it, and the characters are (once again) quirky and larger-than-life.
I must say I didn’t exactly love the detailed descriptions of Ambroise’s daily routine, working as an embalmer and meticulously preparing the dead for funeral services. However, the short punchy chapters made sure these moments didn’t drag too much, and both Ambroise and Manelle are interesting characters that I quickly warmed to. Samuel and Beth are also great supporting characters, and their growing friendship whilst on the road-trip offered a lovely distraction from the darker tones of the plot.
Admittedly, the story is certainly quite unrealistic at times and once the characters merge, things do move pretty quickly, ending with a very smooth and unlikely happy resolution. But the ending is also so uplifting, romantic and sweet, that it is easy to forgive the unrealistic starry-eyed conclusion for the characters. Â
I really love Jean-Paul Didierlaurent’s style, and was pleased to see this shine through yet again in another charming story. The novel is mostly lighthearted, and feel-good. It is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a short read to breeze through with a smile on your face.
Overall, I found this an easy-going and enjoyable short read with a quirky plot and a nice message. My interest really peaked about halfway in. From then, I couldn’t put this book down, and it was fun to lose myself in something (ultimately) so cheerful and upbeat.
