Florence “Flo” Greene knows she’s nearing the end of her life. She is 92 years old and has been given a cancer prognosis of just weeks to live. In some ways, she's ready to go. Her husband, Terrence, died years ago, and she is the only one in her friend group still alive. But she finds herself reluctant to leave this life, and instead of despairing, she chooses to spend her final weeks writing what she suspects may be the world's longest letter.

That letter, to be delivered posthumously by Flo's neighbor Teresa, is addressed to Ruthie Eimers. Ruthie is a young wife and mother, but she grew up in Flo's neighborhood. As a child, she was a frequent companion to Flo and Terrence, who never had children of their own. Even though Ruthie now lives far away, she and Flo have remained in close contact over the years.

"LIFE: A LOVE STORY, a wise and wonderful novel from beloved author Elizabeth Berg, is a good reminder that it's never too late to form new bonds and connections --- and that those connections are far more important than the things we leave behind."

The letter is a will of sorts, leaving Ruthie not only the house where she spent so many childhood hours, but also its contents. It purports to be an inventory of some of those objects, items that might be easily overlooked but that carry important stories --- those of a full life and a long marriage. They include a toothpick dispenser, a rubber band, a pair of mugs and dog dishes. More than just the basis of a Facebook Marketplace ad, Flo's accounting of the things in her "crowded house" serves as a way for her to remember her own life and to share snippets of it with Ruthie.

There's also a not-so-subtle motivation to many of these stories. Flo recently has learned that Ruthie and her husband have been having difficulties and that Ruthie is considering divorce. Through her stories of life with Terrence, Flo reveals the imperfections in her own marriage and her strong belief that "forgiveness is the holiest sacrament."

Snippets from Flo's long letter to Ruthie --- which essentially serve as a series of flashbacks punctuated by advice --- are interspersed with scenes from Flo's life now, with her observations of the people and sights populating her neighborhood. There are small delights, like a good meal shared with friends, the sounds of children playing, and the blooming of seasonal flowers in the garden. Much of the focus is on Flo's brand-new friendships with Teresa and a local librarian, Mimi.

LIFE: A LOVE STORY, a wise and wonderful novel from beloved author Elizabeth Berg, is a good reminder that it's never too late to form new bonds and connections --- and that those connections are far more important than the things we leave behind.