Books like The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

Brett Bohlinger lives what many would consider a dream life: a well‑paid job, a spacious loft, and a charming boyfriend. When her mother passes away, she learns that the inheritance in her mother’s will depends on fulfilling a list of life goals the girl wrote at fourteen. The challenge pushes Brett to revisit childhood fantasies that now seem absurd or impossible—such as reestablishing a relationship with a father who died years earlier or becoming a teacher. Faced with the stark contrast between her current reality and those adolescent aspirations, Brett embarks on a reluctant, yet transformative, journey. As she attempts the tasks on the list, Brett discovers that the sweetest rewards in life often lie in the most unexpected places, and that reconciling past wishes with present dreams can lead to profound personal growth.

First publish date: 2001