The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot: A Summer Beach Read

Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though she has been told she is dying, she remains determined to live fully. In the hospital's arts and crafts class, she meets Margot, an 83-year-old woman who becomes an unexpected friend and transforms her life. As their friendship develops, Lenni and Margot—whose combined ages span one hundred years—decide to create one hundred paintings documenting the stories they have lived. These works capture experiences of love and loss, courage and kindness, tenderness and joy. With support from Lenni's palliative care nurse and Father Arthur, the hospital chaplain, the two women work to leave their mark on the world. The novel explores themes of legacy, the influence we have on others, and the power of friendship. It considers how we find meaning in difficulty and examines our capacity for connection and love, even as time grows short.