The Loose Ends List

The Loose Ends List follows seventeen-year-old Maddie O'Neill Levine as her summer plans are upended by her terminally ill grandmother, Gram, who has chosen a 'death with dignity' cruise for her final journey. The story explores the complexities of grief, family bonds, and first love against a backdrop of global travel and eccentric family dynamics. Maddie struggles to accept Gram's decision and find the strength to say goodbye, while also forming new friendships and a romantic connection with Enzo, who is processing his own loss. This book is a poignant yet often humorous look at end-of-life choices, the power of forgiveness, and the bittersweet experience of growing up amidst profound change.

Seventeen-year-old Maddie O'Neill Levine and her zany family accompany their terminally ill matriarch on her 'death with dignity' cruise, where Maddie falls in love, makes new friends, and struggles to find the strength to let go of her beloved Gram. Seventeen-year-old Maddie O'Neill Levine lives a charmed life, and is primed to spend the perfect pre-college summer with her best friends and young-at-heart socialite grandmother (also Maddie's closest confidante), tying up high school loose ends. Maddie's plans change the instant Gram announces that she is terminally ill and has booked the family on a secret "death with dignity" cruise ship so that she can leave the world in her own unconventional way - and give the O'Neill clan an unforgettable summer of dreams-come-true in the process. Soon, Maddie is on the trip of a lifetime with her over-the-top family. As they travel the globe, Maddie bonds with other passengers and falls for Enzo, who is processing his own grief. But despite the laughter, headiness of first love, and excitement of glamorous destinations, Maddie knows she is on the brink of losing Gram. She struggles to find the strength to say good-bye in a whirlwind summer shaped by love, loss, and the power of forgiveness.