Veronica McCreedy (Book 1)
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior is a feel-good story about a journey through loss and new beginnings.
My Overview
Veronica McCreedy is a cantankerous eighty-five year old woman who lives alone in her mansion in Scotland. While watching a documentary, she becomes obsessed with the penguins in Antartica and the research being done to help them. Wanting to make a difference, she makes it her life’s mission to help and bequeath her millions to them. Rather than send the research center some funds, she heads out to Antartica to stay in the cramped research facility, in spite of being told not to visit.
Once in Antartica, Veronica’s life begins to change as she gets to know the penguins and the research team. Shortly before traveling to Antartica, Veronica had met Patrick (the grandson she hadn’t known about), but didn’t take a liking to him. Patrick is a troubled twenty-something year old man who’s everything Veronica wouldn’t want. During her stay in Antartica, Patrick makes his way into Veronica’s life. As the story progresses, details about Veronica’s past and loss she’s experienced are revealed through the diary entries Patrick reads. The longer she stays in Antartica, the more the ways in which the penguins saved Veronica become evident.
This is a feel-good story that toggles between settings (Scotland and Antartica) and timelines (Then and Now). It’s also told from the POVs of Veronica, Patrick, and one of the researchers via blog entries. The storyline is outlandish, yet engaging and heartwarming at times. Overall, this is an enjoyable story with an extra dose of penguin cuteness 🐧.
My Recommendation
I enjoyed this story ok but not as much as I’d expected to. While I’m not inclined to read Book 2 (Call of the Penguins), I’m still glad I finally got to read this book. It had been on my TBR for so long 📚. This is my first book by this author, and it’s likely her books just aren’t for me. Keep that in mind, especially since many have enjoyed this book much more than I did. Regarding the audiobook, it’s beautifully read by multiple narrators. I recommend it.
Have you read this book?
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I’ve never heard of this book or author. Sometimes I don’t mesh with a particular author’s writing either. Glad to hear you enjoyed the story overall.
Lucy
Thank you! I’m glad I finally got to try a book by this author, even if I didn’t like it as much as I’d expected to.
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads
I do like the sound of the penguin cuteness 🙂
Lucy
If you give this story a try, you won’t be disappointed by all the penguin cuteness 😁.
Lark
I thought this one was kind of fun. Not a 5-star read, but I liked it a little more than you did. Maybe because I really love that Antarctica setting.
Lucy
I liked the Antartica setting and penguins much more than the storyline. Glad you enjoyed this story 😃.
Carole @ Carole's Random Life
It is always nice to finally cross those books off your tbr that have been there for years. I like the sound of this one. Too bad it wasn’t as good as you had hoped it would be.
Lucy
This book had been on my TBR for a couple of years, so it was definitely an accomplishment to finally get to it 😄.
Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse
Bummer that it didn’t even inspire you to read book 2. Oh well. Better luck next read!
Lucy
Thank you 😊.