She’s going too far to go it alone.

It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist—the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind. Fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship.

I’m still processing how I feel about this book. My reaction to it is similar to how I felt when I finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery — it’s now how I would have written (or ended) the story, but it’s still a good story. I doubt I’ll read the book again, but I’m glad I read it.

As a lover of character-driven fiction, this was a definite hit for me. I loved watching Miss Benson’s character change throughout the story. I also loved the humor of her contract with Enid. For all of those often-humorous exchanges, however, there were some very dark moments. It should be stated that this story addresses suicide and PTSD and their impact on the people around them. There are some very distinct high and low points in this book.

Overall, I’m glad I read it. I love Joyce’s balance of humor and seriousness — without her humorous touch, this would have been too hard of a book to read and enjoy. Because of it, however, I did enjoy the book.

If you enjoy Katie Powner’s writing or The Elegance of the Hedgehog, you might enjoy this book. Get your copy here!

Rated PG-13 for content and language.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.