Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes (2010)

Set in Dublin, Ireland, read with an Irish accent that took a bit of getting used to, and narrated by this unknown spirit, that floats through walls, sees inside people's hearts and sees when they beat in sync. We get the stories from four flats at 66 Star Street - Katie, the one who just turned 40 and works PR with rock stars and her boyfriend Conall, a brilliant, overly busy business shark that reorganizes bought up companies. Andrei and Jan, two poles working in Ireland, who have rented the small third room to feisty Lydia, who drives a taxi and worries about her aging mother. 88 year old Jemima, who has psychic powers and her foster son Fionn, who has just gotten a job filming a gardening show. And on the lower level, Maeve and Matt, a seemingly perfect young married couple. As their lives intertwine and face various hardships and tragedies, we get to know about their lives, their pasts, their concerns, and they all grow on you.

The narrator is a bit disconcerting, as we are not sure if it is death or some more benevolent spirit. And the countdown of days from 60 something, but it all makes sense in the end. I mostly enjoyed the Irish voice of the book, and I grew to care for all the characters.