Amy T. Matthews

“My dying wish is for you to finish my bucket list. I refuse to die without knowing this list will be completed. And I refuse to die without knowing my family will be okay…”

Someone Else’s Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews is an unexpectedly delightful read given that it’s a story that revolves around grief and loss.

An extrovert who parlayed her love of adventure into a successful career as an influencer with millions of followers, Bree Boyd was the life of every party, and her younger sister Jodie feels her loss every day. At the Boyd’s first Thanksgiving dinner without Bree, they are stunned when her best friend, Claudia, shares an Instagram reel recorded before Bree’s death. In it Bree challenges Jodie to complete the last seven items on Bree’s unfinished bucket list, with the help of a corporate sponsor, and in doing so free their family from the crippling medical debt accrued during Bree’s treatment for Leukaemia.

Jodie’s first instinct is to refuse Bree’s request, unlike her sister, Jodie is shy and introverted, however the opportunity to clear the family’s debt, and her desire to honour her sister’s last wishes, means she can’t say no. The bucket list tasks are reasonably benign, for example - 17. Plant a tree…, 74. Perform a walk-on cameo in a Broadway musical…, 99. Fly over Antarctica…, but they take their toll on Jodie. Jodie inspires sympathy, and I really liked the thoughtful development of her character. While she slowly grows in self-confidence, becoming less critical of herself and requiring more of others, Jodie’s increased sense of self-worth is fragile, often resulting in a ‘two steps forward, one step back’ situation. This is particularly evident in Jodie’s romantic relationship with Kelly Wong.

Grief is the main theme of the book. Matthews writes with compassion for the complicated process of dealing with loss, and how that journey is different for everyone. But this is also a story about hope, courage and love, and there is a sincerity to the emotion in this story that I found wholly believable. The author also makes some subtle commentary about the positives and pitfalls of social media, the ethics of corporate sponsorship, and the disgrace that is the user-pays American healthcare system.

Thoughtful, entertaining and poignant, Someone Else’s Bucket List really tugged at my heartstrings, I laughed, and teared up, I mourned and I celebrated.… (mais)

When Jodie's successful, beautiful, social media influencer sister Bree gets cancer, everyone rallies around. As it becomes apparent chemo and then a bone marrow transplant aren't working, time runs out. We skip ahead a bit to the next year's Thanksgiving, and Bree's best friend Claudia rallying the family to celebrate in the way Bree wanted them too. The dinner ends with a scheduled Instagram post from Bree. She wants her sister Jodie to finish the last few items on her bucket list, and has arranged for a sponsor who will finish paying off the heavy load of debt the family has incurred with Bree's treatments. It's a heartwarming story, really, even though parts of it seem beyond Jodie's control and seem circus like until she takes a stand with Iris Air's assistant, Cheryl. There's a lot of grief, a lot of hope and story I just had to keep reading without wanting to stop.… (mais)

When Bree, a 26 year-old social media influencer, gets sick, her family rallies around her, along with her BFF, Claudia. The following year, Claudia and Jodie, Bree’s younger sister are preparing Thanksgiving dinner to Bree’s specifications. Jodie doesn’t understand why Bree asked Claudia to do so much and not her. But then, they get a video of Bree advising that her sponsor will pay all the medical bills if Josie fulfills the last 6 items on Bree’s bucket list.
Jodie is hesitant, but the bucket list brings her close to her sister and also enables her to manage her grief. This is a sweet story of the power of love even beyond death, and of following your heart, taking chances, and growing, even if you are uncomfortable. Team Jodie all the way!… (mais)