The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold: Book Review

 **I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she's been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who's just entered hospice care.

But there's more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she's not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it's a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that's just what Mrs. Kip will give her--but she's going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You'll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

Sara Brunsvold creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find his fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara's recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, Missouri, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library. Learn more at www.sarabrunsvold.com.

There aren't many books that can draw me in solely based on the title alone... but The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kipp certainly did just that. I had to know who this Mrs. Kipp was and just why she had multiple deaths. I would say based on the book description, it might not have been one that I normally would have picked out... and yet, there was that title. 

This was a beautifully written book. Sure, it may have been that title that first brought me in, but the writing--- and particularly the character of Mrs. Kipp--- that kept me wanting to read on. This book deals with a character who is at the end of her life and in hospice care. Personally, I feel like that is a stage of life I don't particularly read a lot about... at least not like this where this is prime character. Dealing with such a topic, this could certainly be a hard one to read... but it was such a well told story nonetheless. 

It was certainly different from my typical reads in many ways beyond this, but it had some beautiful lessons throughout. Readers will definitely find themselves falling in love with Mrs. Kipp in this novel that certainly lives up to it's title.