Reviews

I don’t see the appeal in a book like this. It is set out to try to be a tear jerker? Well it wasn’t one for me. I just couldn’t wait for it to end. I didn’t enjoy this at all, and I don’t think it’s because I’m not empathetic to sad stories, but it’s just that barely anything happened that you couldn’t expect from the first 6 pages. It was boring! And on top of that I felt that it was poorly fact checked. I have NEVER heard of someone taking rigorous courses of chemo for an aggressive cancer and not being the least bit ill?? Like cmon, she was barely sick at all, just tired and not hungry? This was distracting and made it hard to buy in to the reality of the story, because it just felt totally unrealistic. 2 stars, not giving it one star because the writing itself was not terrible, just all the plot was, so it gets a star for that.

lucyp747d4's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

shelleys_book_nook's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This was such a heartbreaking read, especially since the author went through her own health issues, so have the tissues handy. I think I found it so emotional as my beloved aunt was recently put into palliative care and she is only 65…She is only eight years older than I and is more like a big sister than an aunt. It was a hard day yesterday seeing her at her care home and her not knowing who I was.

I love epistolary novels so the chapters that were Jess’ letters to Edie were my favourite parts of the book. I liked that the story showed how a terminal illness can happen to anyone, young or old and how the repercussions can reverberate throughout the ill person’s friends and family. The book doesn’t really focus on the illness or the character being sick, the focus is on the thoughts and feelings of our main character. Jess was so strong through her diagnosis, how scary it must have been thinking about leaving your baby behind.

I loved the way the book showcased how “unconventional” Jess’ family and support system was. It brings to light that we don’t all have a spouse, dad or significant other to rally around us and we need to do whatever it takes for our kids and ourselves. This isn’t just another cancer story, it’s more about mother-daughter relationships…Jess and her mom but also Jess and her infant daughter. I would love a sequel to see how Edie, Jake, Gemma and Caroline are doing in the future. All. The. Stars.

belle1004's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

5.0

Absolutely heartbreaking

always_need_more_books's review against another edition

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4.0

Jess is just 21 years old and a new mum to baby Edie when she discovers she has breast cancer. Before long she is flung into the world of mastectomy’s and chemotherapy and isn’t getting to enjoy new motherhood as she hoped.
As soon as she is told how ill she is, she decides she must write letters to Edie and these letters are shared with us the reader: how she met Edie’s dad Jake, how they fell in love and the reason they are no longer together and how she feels about being a mum to Edie.
As you would expect, this is a raw and emotional read and it brought tears to my eyes on a number of occasions. Jess is lucky to have amazing support from childhood friend Gemma who helps her look after Edie, takes her to appointments but also makes her playlists and takes her out to have fun. But Jess’s relationship with her own mum, which has always been strong is rocked by her diagnosis. Her mum is understandably devastated to have a seriously ill daughter and they both struggle with this new reality.
The writing enabled me to really get into Jess’s head and I felt so sad for her. Cancer is tragic to whomever it touches and this book touched me deeply as both a mother and a daughter. As a mother, the thought of leaving my children is devastating and as a daughter I have experienced loosing my mum to cancer. I doubt there is anyone who has not had this dreadful disease touch their lives.
Laura herself was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 while 5 months pregnant with her second child and knew that if she died, her children would have no memory of her. I think this is why the story is so affecting. At it’s heart, this novel is a story of motherhood, daughterhood, friendship and love. A powerful book, I’d highly recommend it.

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