Scan barcode
janaybrazier's review
4.0
Just reading the description of this book had me hooked in, so I started reading it the moment I finished my current read.
So, we follow Ailsa for through the year after her surgery. Ailsa was born with heart complications. Now, in her twenties, Ailsa is recovering from a heart transplant and finally feels like she can start living her life. However, she's battling with her mother about wanting to live alone, she's curious about her real father who walked away, and she misses Lennox, her best friend and first boyfriend, passed away a year ago when he didn't get the organ donation he needed.
First, let's talk about the characters. I wasn't sure if I was going to connect with Ailsa at first because of everything she's been through in terms of her medical history and recovery. However, I instantly clicked with Ailsa and was routing for her from page one. Maybe it's because we are of a similar age and, although she's had very different and difficult life experiences compared to me, we share similar traits and thought processes.
It's always great when you can connect with a main character and feel excited for the journey ahead.
Then we have Sebastian, who was another immediate favourite for me. He gave Ailsa a new outlook on life and gave her the chance to try new things, such as taking a trip to London. I adored the interactions between the two of them and I could easily read another 400 page book of their emails.
There are some brilliantly written characters in this book, including Lennox and Ailsa's mother. The characters are not all perfect. They are flawed and real, and despite the differences between them and the reader, they are relatable.
I also loved that the setting played such a big part in this book, with the talk of the festival, the accents and general lifestyle. It made me want to take a trip there myself.
The storyline - as previously mentioned - follows Ailsa over the course of a year following her surgery. This plot is not just a tale of her recovery though. It's at the centre of everything happening in her life, as it would be, but there are so many other factors woven in.
It all leads back to her heart and how she finally wants to start living her life in a way that so many of us take for granted.
There are issues with her mother, about her moving out and Ailsa wanting to find her biological father, and there is a big focus on this mother-daughter relationship. There's also the mention of friendships and a romantic aspect as well, as we are introduced to Lennox through flashbacks to the previous year.
Speaking of flashbacks, I have to mention how much I loved the writing style and layout of this book.
I adored the format of this novel. It's one of my favourite things about it. The way it is set out like a diary, with the dated chapter headings, is genius. It made me more invested in the story and it felt so personal.
The use of media, such as news articles and emails, was one of my favourite features.
The personal touches continued throughout the book, with the emails shared between Ailsa and Sebastian, the news articles that Ailsa searched for when looking Sebastian up online, and - my overall favourite - the use of blog posts. The fact that Ailsa had a blog and was recording her journey through recovery was fantastic. Also, what a unique idea to include public polls within her blog to help her make decisions! As a reader and a blogger, it not only made me feel closer to her but it simply made me smile that something like this can be woven into a story like this.
This is a book that I will be recommending to everyone. It's been a while since I've read a book that's made me feel this much. It's simply fantastic and it has everything I look for in a contemporary novel. It's addictive, touching and brilliantly written. I feel like I am going to be raving about this book for quite some time. Have I just found a new favourite book? I think so. It's definitely in my top ten reads of 2018 so far (out of 25 books, and yes it's only April but I'm certain it will still be in my top ten by the end of the year!)
So, we follow Ailsa for through the year after her surgery. Ailsa was born with heart complications. Now, in her twenties, Ailsa is recovering from a heart transplant and finally feels like she can start living her life. However, she's battling with her mother about wanting to live alone, she's curious about her real father who walked away, and she misses Lennox, her best friend and first boyfriend, passed away a year ago when he didn't get the organ donation he needed.
First, let's talk about the characters. I wasn't sure if I was going to connect with Ailsa at first because of everything she's been through in terms of her medical history and recovery. However, I instantly clicked with Ailsa and was routing for her from page one. Maybe it's because we are of a similar age and, although she's had very different and difficult life experiences compared to me, we share similar traits and thought processes.
It's always great when you can connect with a main character and feel excited for the journey ahead.
Then we have Sebastian, who was another immediate favourite for me. He gave Ailsa a new outlook on life and gave her the chance to try new things, such as taking a trip to London. I adored the interactions between the two of them and I could easily read another 400 page book of their emails.
There are some brilliantly written characters in this book, including Lennox and Ailsa's mother. The characters are not all perfect. They are flawed and real, and despite the differences between them and the reader, they are relatable.
I also loved that the setting played such a big part in this book, with the talk of the festival, the accents and general lifestyle. It made me want to take a trip there myself.
The storyline - as previously mentioned - follows Ailsa over the course of a year following her surgery. This plot is not just a tale of her recovery though. It's at the centre of everything happening in her life, as it would be, but there are so many other factors woven in.
It all leads back to her heart and how she finally wants to start living her life in a way that so many of us take for granted.
There are issues with her mother, about her moving out and Ailsa wanting to find her biological father, and there is a big focus on this mother-daughter relationship. There's also the mention of friendships and a romantic aspect as well, as we are introduced to Lennox through flashbacks to the previous year.
Speaking of flashbacks, I have to mention how much I loved the writing style and layout of this book.
I adored the format of this novel. It's one of my favourite things about it. The way it is set out like a diary, with the dated chapter headings, is genius. It made me more invested in the story and it felt so personal.
The use of media, such as news articles and emails, was one of my favourite features.
The personal touches continued throughout the book, with the emails shared between Ailsa and Sebastian, the news articles that Ailsa searched for when looking Sebastian up online, and - my overall favourite - the use of blog posts. The fact that Ailsa had a blog and was recording her journey through recovery was fantastic. Also, what a unique idea to include public polls within her blog to help her make decisions! As a reader and a blogger, it not only made me feel closer to her but it simply made me smile that something like this can be woven into a story like this.
This is a book that I will be recommending to everyone. It's been a while since I've read a book that's made me feel this much. It's simply fantastic and it has everything I look for in a contemporary novel. It's addictive, touching and brilliantly written. I feel like I am going to be raving about this book for quite some time. Have I just found a new favourite book? I think so. It's definitely in my top ten reads of 2018 so far (out of 25 books, and yes it's only April but I'm certain it will still be in my top ten by the end of the year!)
cometreadings's review against another edition
4.0
Stephanie Butland’s novel is one of those books that left me better than I was before reading it.
Her new novel is such a heartwarming and sweet story. I hadn’t read any book about a woman who got a heart transplant until Ailsa’s story and, throughout the narration, it was nice to observe how Ailsa faces her new life and its possibilities and challenges.
For Ailsa, the heart transplant means to finally take control of her life after many years of living in a bubble. Now she finally starts to make her own choices and opens her life to new experiences and relationships, and with that, she shines her light.
I found so interesting reading about Ailsa’s growth through Stephanie’s narrative and I definitely looking forward to her other books.
Her new novel is such a heartwarming and sweet story. I hadn’t read any book about a woman who got a heart transplant until Ailsa’s story and, throughout the narration, it was nice to observe how Ailsa faces her new life and its possibilities and challenges.
For Ailsa, the heart transplant means to finally take control of her life after many years of living in a bubble. Now she finally starts to make her own choices and opens her life to new experiences and relationships, and with that, she shines her light.
I found so interesting reading about Ailsa’s growth through Stephanie’s narrative and I definitely looking forward to her other books.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Alisa Rae has lived a life that felt stunted from the beginning. Born with a heart defect that kept her from doing many things that her peers were able to do. At a certain point her heart wasn't able to basically keep her alive and she went on the transplant list, her miracle heart arrives and this story begins - life after a transplant.
Alisa Rae has lived a life that felt stunted from the beginning. Born with a heart defect that kept her from doing many things that her peers were able to do. At a certain point her heart wasn't able to basically keep her alive and she went on the transplant list, her miracle heart arrives and this story begins - life after a transplant.
nerdosaurus1998's review against another edition
5.0
This book was the story of a girl finding herself after a life time of heart problems originating from birth.
Her adventures were insipiring and kinda make me want to take up Tango lessons. It was a sweet book with a realistic mother/daughter relationship and how people deal with illness, both surviving through it, as well as living with someone who is terminally ill.
I think the only thing I didn't really like about the book is including another characte in Ailsa's past that also had to have a transplant when Ailsa needed one too, and her being the winner, in a sense. It didn't add too much to the story, some of the charity work she does in relation to him could just be credited to generic transplant charities. It gives her a more rounded character, I guess, but that's kinda it.
Her adventures were insipiring and kinda make me want to take up Tango lessons. It was a sweet book with a realistic mother/daughter relationship and how people deal with illness, both surviving through it, as well as living with someone who is terminally ill.
I think the only thing I didn't really like about the book is including another characte in Ailsa's past that also had to have a transplant when Ailsa needed one too, and her being the winner, in a sense. It didn't add too much to the story, some of the charity work she does in relation to him could just be credited to generic transplant charities. It gives her a more rounded character, I guess, but that's kinda it.
guylou's review against another edition
5.0
Ailsa was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. At age 28, her heart is failing, and she now lives full-time in a hospital Palliative Care Zone. The book starts with the news of a compatible heart and the medical staff rushing Ailsa to the operation room to receive it. The transplant is successful, and the story follows Ailsa as she copes with her new heart and lease on life.
This is a beautifully written story. The life of Ailsa is not unique as so many people wait every day for an opportunity to receive a most needed organ transplant. My cousin and best-friend, Benoît, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. When he was an infant, his parents were told that he would not live past 14 years old. He celebrated his 14th birthday with gusto. Then his parents were told that he would not see age 21, yet he did. As the years went by, more and more treatment options became available, giving Benoît more years to live. In his early 30s, the disease was winning and Benoît was desperately waiting for a lung transplant. No match was found, and he passed away. I still miss him a lot today.
Throughout the book, the organ donation subject comes again and again. A lot of people have a hard time thinking about donating their organs. The author of this wonderful book presents this subject in a very positive manner. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
readsewknit's review against another edition
4.0
For anyone who has either experienced firsthand serious medical issues, or witnessed a loved one go through the uncertainty, reading The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae will feel authentic.
Ailsa Rae's life has centered around her need for a heart transplant. She blogged through her experiences, bringing awareness and providing support to those on a similar journey. A key practice of hers is to put forward choices in the form of a poll, allowing her readers to make decisions for her. When she receives her transplant, she continues to update her readers on her life, as well as following their dictates.
I found this novel an example of what it looks like to grieve, even when life seems to be steadying. What does it mean to strike out on your own, to seek a future, to choose to love again? How do you make peace with your new normal when others don't have those same possibilities?
Butland's strong suit is characterization, and this is no exception. The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae brings up questions on what it is to be grateful for a life-saving act, while also wrestling with the realities of a future you didn't know that you could plan for.
3.5 stars
(I was given a digital ARC from St Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)
Ailsa Rae's life has centered around her need for a heart transplant. She blogged through her experiences, bringing awareness and providing support to those on a similar journey. A key practice of hers is to put forward choices in the form of a poll, allowing her readers to make decisions for her. When she receives her transplant, she continues to update her readers on her life, as well as following their dictates.
I found this novel an example of what it looks like to grieve, even when life seems to be steadying. What does it mean to strike out on your own, to seek a future, to choose to love again? How do you make peace with your new normal when others don't have those same possibilities?
Butland's strong suit is characterization, and this is no exception. The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae brings up questions on what it is to be grateful for a life-saving act, while also wrestling with the realities of a future you didn't know that you could plan for.
3.5 stars
(I was given a digital ARC from St Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)
annetjeberg's review against another edition
4.0
Cute story, I thought I was going to hate it, but I actually really enjoyed it. Loved the research that has gone into it, and I really liked the main character. A lot.
bookishlifeofbrie's review against another edition
2.0
I liked this one ok, but overall a bit forgettable. There are so many different mediums used to tell this story (blog posts, magazine articles, emails) that I found it was hard to connect with the main character, and unfortunately, I found her a bit annoying which I do not think was the author's intent at all. Other grievances: Ailsa's (who has had a heart transplant), mom still smokes around her (what?!) and even though she is 28, this reads far more like a YA novel. I also found it hard to believe that two almost 30 year olds chose to foster their budding romance via email exchange rather than text messages. Props for a book that DOES bring more to an otherwise fun, romantic story by including transplants and medical issues in it. I think it was just more fluffy than I was expecting. A fun listen though as I love a Scottish accent.
tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
Work from home 2020: book 19.
Discovering that what has happened to you is not who you are, is the lesson that Ailsa learned throughout this book.
Heartwarming, sweet, adventurous, challenging... and a lovely story.
Definitely a light, hopeful read. And honestly, another perfect one for life right now.
Discovering that what has happened to you is not who you are, is the lesson that Ailsa learned throughout this book.
Heartwarming, sweet, adventurous, challenging... and a lovely story.
Definitely a light, hopeful read. And honestly, another perfect one for life right now.