The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski *Review*

I once made a list of 50 things I wanted to do before I died. Some were very easy, some more difficult, some requiring a substantial financial investment. What happened to it? I don't know. It might be tucked away someplace or I might have tossed it in the trash. One thing I can bet on. The things I would put on my list today would differ greatly from the ones I had put on 20 years ago. That's why I like that the list in this book had only 20 items on it with a "due date."

After a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa dies, June Parker finds herself in possession of a list. Marissa has written: "20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday." The tasks range from inspiring (run a 5K) to daring (go braless) to near-impossible (change someone's life). To asuage her guilt, June races to achieve each goal herself before the deadline, learning more about her own life than she ever bargained for.

June Parker races to cross off the item's on Marissa's list. Some come easily to her and she struggles with others. I like that June tries to do each item in the spirit in which it was originally written and puts a great deal of thought into why Marissa would want to achieve them. In doing so she brings Marissa to life for the reader since we never got a chance to meet her while she was alive. This was a light book, and some of the coincidences that happen to her that make it very easy to achieve a few of the items that wouldn't normally come so easy to someone else, just emphasizes it's lightness. But this book was fun.

Jill Smolinski writes with a great bit of humor. I found myself cackling to myself on the couch for which I would get a sideways look from my husband or son as they were intently watching a TV drama. I also like the fact that when a love interest is introduced the book turns flirty instead of filthy. Her style is so easy to read I finished the book in a single day which is hard for me to do. The book is not long but I usually only have 5 minutes here and there to fit a book in.

Our book club will be reviewing this next week and I am anxious to see what some of my fellow Bookies have on their lifelist. Stay tuned for more on this book!

Since I don't want to give too much away to the Bookies reading this post I will only clue you in to one of the items on my list. I have always wanted to learn to play the piano.

What's on your life list of things you want to do before you die?