Why we’re excited
Helen Oleander dies and finds out that the newly dead get one more year on Earth, quietly nudging luck for someone who needs it. Her assignment is Charlotte, a grieving young New Yorker about to lose the Manhattan brownstone she grew up in, who teams up with her neighbours, including a bird-loving parks worker, to keep the building.
Abbi Waxman built a loyal readership with warm, funny novels such as The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. This one adds a gentle afterlife twist to her usual mix of found family and city life, and suits readers who want comfort with a little magic in it.
On our most-anticipated list since 9 November 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about The Great Year After
One Death at a Time is the one Abbi Waxman book we have reviewed, at 4 out of 5.
From the publisher
Death was just the beginning...
When Helen Oleander dies, she's surprised to discover life is far from over. Turns out that the recently dead return to Earth for one year, tasked with creating serendipity, influencing luck, and helping the living find their way. Helen's charge is Charlotte, a young New Yorker grieving the person who
raised her―and who's now in danger of losing the beloved Manhattan brownstone she calls home.
As Charlotte joins forces with her neighbors to save their building―including Nick, a bird fanatic who works for the city parks department―she has no idea Helen is quietly tipping the odds in her favor.
Funny, heartwarming, and eternally optimistic, The Great Year After explores our universal connection and suggests that, in our lowest moments, we might just have someone looking out for us.
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read The Great Year After yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
