Lola Quinlan is eighty-six. If her time on earth is running out, she's not leaving quietly. Against the wishes of her family in South Australia, she's flying solo to Melbourne for a week. They think she's in search of distraction and entertainment. The truth is, she's chasing an elusive dream.


Sullivan Farrington is twelve years old. His life in Melbourne has turned upside down. His mother is in hospital, hiding a secret. His father lives on the other side of the world. School is a battleground. But Sullivan is no ordinary boy. He's set himself a series of goals to turn his life around.

In a hotel beside the Botanic Gardens, Lola and Sullivan meet. When Lola's fierce passion for people and stories teams up with Sullivan's curiosity and brilliance, they discover that a friendship can bloom - magically - just when it is needed most.
What they don't know yet is the wonder that's about to unfold - or the emotional reckoning that will follow.
From one of Australia's most beloved authors comes an inspiring and heartwarming story that celebrates all that makes life worth living and the extraordinary power of everyday acts of kindness.