Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Final Lullaby by Sasha Lauren centers around Angela, an empathetic woman who crosses paths with Tucker, an unassuming yet incredibly talented widower. Their swift bond grows stronger, although Angela's attraction is complicated by Tucker's late wife's memory and they eventually separate on good terms. Angela's role as an independent bookstore owner leads her to advocate for mental health support and work at a Grief and Support Line, forging meaningful connections with callers. Reuniting with Tucker, their lives take a drastic turn when his hernia surgery results in complications, revealing a broader issue of medical malpractice and corruption. Tucker's pain gets worse, leading to sleep deprivation and an unbearable deterioration of his physical and mental state, with a visit to a special bench in Central Park where Tucker reveals his desire for assisted dying.

Final Lullaby by Sasha Lauren will reinvent every person's dream proposal with a man who will hike Machu Picchu and celebrate love at the Temple of the Sun, and then she will make you cry. A lot, and many, many times. Final Lullaby, named for an Irish song in Lauren's novel, is beautiful, sad, and deeply touching. Angela's story unfolds over several years even though it feels like an instant, and I loved how her relationship with Tucker evolved organically. There is no instant love and no perfect relationship, although there are perfect moments within them. The writing is strong and all the characters are well developed. This extends to callers like Kieran, who invites her to his mother's memorial service, and Taur, a nurse facing workplace turmoil after reporting misconduct. Suicide is a tragedy that occurs more than once and death is an integral part of the storyline, all addressed with compassion. Overall, this is a bittersweet story and a rare gem that is able to combine the most horrible circumstances imaginable with empowerment and love. Very highly recommended.