finished reading

I would consider this a type of redemption story.  85-year old Veronica is an unlikeable character--she's stubborn, rude, demanding, and very, very wealthy.  There were parts of the story that reminded me of A Man Called Ove and Where'd You Go, Bernadette, but when the story focuses on Veronica's past hardships, the author creates a fresh look at some old tropes.  The details of the penguins are woven into the story so that it doesn't get bogged down, which I liked.  It's an easy read--not quite a comedy and not quite a drama.

From the publisher:

Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she’s coming to visit—and won’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open.

Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.