Reviews

I Wanted You To Know by Laura Pearson

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halkid2's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I WANTED YOU TO KNOW is probably the single saddest and most upsetting book I have ever read. In part because it tapped into some of my own most personal experiences and fears.

It's also likely that this will be a hard book for many to read. I WANTED YOU TO KNOW is a vivid and dark look at a 21-year-old single mother (Jess) facing a diagnosis of breast cancer, the threat of death, and perhaps leaving a motherless baby (Edie) behind. It's also about Jess's mother, Caroline, contemplating the loss of HER only child and about both Jess's best friend and Edie's estranged father coming to terms with the same tragedy. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart.

It's all here, all the things any of us would have to face. Decisions about medical treatments, the potential impact of those treatments on one's body, wanting resolution in troubled relationships, regrets, considering final goodbyes, and, most importantly, planning Edie's future -- all are included in author Laura Pearson's novel. It's quite an emotional roller-coaster. For both the characters and the reader.

Honestly, although I definitely feel Laura Pearson successfully explored very difficult subject matter, I'm not sure I'm glad I finished I WANTED YOU TO KNOW. I just knew I felt compelled to finish it. I had to know what happened to these people I came to care about. If you decide to read it, just understand you may find this a hard story to get through. And like me, you may occasionally need to take a break.

Content Warnings

livthereader's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

alannabarker's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was beautifully written. I had a hard time finishing it because of the headspace I was already in, it was a little too sad for me. I did finish it though and am glad I did, but definitely if you are struggling with something really sad in your life right now, read with caution.
There was an honesty in this book that was really beautiful to see, and the characters made themselves real to me which is why it was such a sad book.

I was given a free advanced copy of this book from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

__sophiehall's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

paulipaula's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

cassiecat's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.5

4.25-4.5⭐️

Contemporary fiction read by Sophie Roberts. Usually for me I found the speech speed too slow and had to speed it up a little.

Jess is a young woman just 21, a single mom to an almost 1 year old girl Edie when she is told that she has terminal breast cancer.

She decides to write Edie notes to help her through difficult periods in her life, and to make sure she knows just how much Jess loves her.

This is such a sad book, it’s emotionally raw and tears you to pieces. You can feel that mountain of love flood through the book.

Keep those tissues handy, you will need them. This is straight from the heart, especially when you realise that the author herself battled cancer with a young family.

The main emphasis is on the mother daughter relationships, but it covers other important relationships too, with emphasis on the importance of being surrounded by love.