This was a new spin on books such as 'One Day' and 'The Day We Met'. It's Esme and Tom's 10th anniversary, and Esme has devised a game. She asks Tom to write down the 24 most significant moments of their relationship, one for each hour of the day. This means that the book is written entirely from Tom's point of view as he recollects how the couple met, their struggles and their dreams and the fact that he has not been entirely honest with Esme for much of their relationship.
It's well written and a well observed look at how we change throughout a relationship and as we age. However, as a character driven story I need to have an investment in the characters. Unfortunately I found Esme rigid and controlling with expectations of perfection, and failed to understand what it is that Tom sees in her. I liked Tom a little bit more, but even he fell rather flat. That being said, it was interesting to read from a male perspective, and the mental health issues were well handled - often there isn't an explanation for depression, no matter how much we might want one.


My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the copy in return for an honest review.

Tom and Esme have been together for 10 years, for their anniversary Esme decides that they will play a game, the rules are simple, for every hour of the day, they must write down and remember their most significant memories, not the best moments, but the most significant, 1 memory for every hour of the day, for 24 hours.

I’d like to say that this was filled with hearts and flowers and fluffy unicorns, but alas is it a real look on love, not the love portrayed in books and movies.

We go back to the beginning of when they first met and how they became a couple, and travel with them throughout their time together.

I wasn’t too fussed on Esme at the beginning, she was a bit too bossy for my liking, and she also had these rules that Tom was supposed to stick to, and didn’t have much of a say in, I warmed to her later on though.

We also get to see how hard it is to live with someone with a mental illness, and how bloody hard it is to keep a relationship going, I loved that it didn’t shy away from anything, and there are some really raw subjects in the book to deal with.

It is about love, life and even though you know someone inside out, there is still a part of you that is scared of being rejected by the one person that you feel completes you.

It was a pretty short read (288 pgs), but it is packed full of content and I flew through the pages and loved it, it was like looking through a photo album, and getting snapshots of each picture you pick up.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and Orion Publishing Group for a copy of this book**

OUR LIFE IN A DAY by Jamie Fewery is a beautiful and heartbreaking story about a relationship in all of its wonder and despair, and this story left me with tears running down my face.

Esme and Tom have been together for ten years and on their anniversary Esme comes up with a game where they write down their most important memories of their relationship for every hour in one day - 24 memories that sum them up. But like all games sometimes things do not always go the way you planned and as we learn more and more about Esme and Tom, we will ask the question: is love always enough?

Compelling, emotional, and downright unputdownable, OUR LIFE IN A DAY by Jamie Fewery shows us Esme and Tom's relationship in all of its grit and glory through a collection of memories that really cut to the core of human relationships - the pure joy of love as well as the pain. Subjects such as depression, alcoholism, and grief are expertly and sensitively handled and the characters of Esme and Tom really feel more like friends by the end, even when you disagree with some of their actions. The author has an excellent way with words and it didn't take long for me to become deeply invested in his characters and their lives.

OUR LIFE IN A DAY by Jamie Fewery is a stunning story about life in all of its complicated and messy glory and is a must-read for fiction fans around the globe.

Our Life in a Day by Jamie Fewery is an impressive debut that tugs at your heartstrings, telling the story of Esme and Tom’s relationship over 24 individual hours. Filled with the ups and downs of a love story that feels very real, this book had me smiling one moment and then breaking down in tears the next.

Tom and Esme are about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of when they met. So Esme comes up with an idea for a game: choose the most significant moments from their relationship – one for each hour in the day. But there’s a catch. They must be completely honest about everything, both the good and the bad.

So if you had to be completely honest with your other half about absolutely everything, would you still play? Or would you find it hard to pluck up the courage to face up to the truth about yourself and your relationship? For Esme and Tom the game is about to begin. And what they are about to reveal to each other has the ability to change everything.

What follows is the beautiful and emotionally charged story of Tom and Esme. From how they met to their first proper fight. From the birth of their feelings for each other to where they find themselves today. It’s written with such heart and shows the reality of life, including the messy, painful bits that no one likes to talk about.

Although I didn’t always agree with the way Esme went about things, I could understand her reasons and did come to like her in the end. But it was Tom I felt the most empathy for and my heart broke for him on more than one occasion.

Our Life in a Day is the kind of book I love. A story that explores real people, exposing all of those little idiosyncrasies about ourselves we try to keep hidden.

Jamie Fewery has written an exceptional debut to be proud of. A beautiful, moving and bittersweet love story that I would highly recommend.

It isn’t all that common to find a book that genuinely captures a relationship; it’s rarer than hen’s teeth for that book to be written by a man and from a male perspective. In Our Life in a Day, Jamie Fewery smashes it out of the park.

In an emotionally honest debut, Fewery captures beautifully all the lies we tell ourselves as we strive to be the person we think our other half wants us to be, without ever really showing who we are. Here is self-doubt; feelings of not being worthy and fear of losing what you have. Tom has found Esme and he doesn’t want to lose her. Esme made it clear, right from the beginning of their relationship, that honesty is something she values very highly in a relationship. But if honesty is the price, can Tom bring himself to pay it, knowing that at worst he may lose her and at best he will be diminished in her eyes?

Our Life in a Day is a gently paced novel, and none the worse for it, which looks at one young couple’s relationship over a 10 year period. With themes of alcohol abuse and mental health, this is a love story that feels both honest and real and does not seek to put saccharine hearts and flowers before the trials and tribulations of setting up a new home and finding a way to live together.

The format is intriguing and really helps to establish a strong narrative arc. Esme, a strong and delightful young woman who knows her own mind, has devised a game for their 10 year anniversary. The idea is that each will identify a memory for each hour of the day over a 24 hour period. That memory will be one that means something real to them both; a memory that has significance in their relationship, however small or lacking in profundity.

Thus we embark on the journey of Tom and Esme’s relationship, with each memory offered by Tom one that highlights a stage in Tom and Esme’s relationship and the secrets they keep from each other; the truths that are kept hidden and the need to be loved that shines through.

This is not a game that Tom is good at and the book looks at Tom’s struggle to come to terms with the need for real communication, honesty and openness in his relationship.

If that sounds a little bit too worthy, it isn’t at all. Rather this is a book written with a lightness of touch, a wry smile and an uplifting, understanding heart. Fewery is a class act as a writer and I thought he nailed this beautifully. Plus he made me cry.

Verdict: A beautifully written book about relationships told from a male perspective with wit and wisdom. And it’s only a little bit heart-breaking.

Our Life in a Day is the debut novel from Jamie Fewery, and the story of Tom and Esme. The night before they are due to go away for their anniversary Esme challenges Tom to pick important moments from their relationship that relate to each hour of the day. The book takes us on the journey of their relationship, the good and the bad, as we are voyeurs to their most private moments. This is such a beautiful book, in regard to the writing and the plot line, and was such a pleasure to read.

What I really enjoy about this book was the honesty the author employed in terms of the relationship; it wasn’t all hearts and flowers and wonderful memories, there were some incredibly sad and tense moments. In life it is the rough and the smooth that makes real relationships and Tom’s most significant moments certainly encompassed that. Yes, there are the romantic parts, the night they met, their first Christmas together, but there were also the arguments in the car on the way to their first anniversary away, the disastrous camping trip etc. One important thread that ran through these memories for Tom was his inability, or avoidance, of telling Esme about his past with depression. This secret, that comes up at several points, is always lurking in the background and as we all know huge secrets like that have a habit at coming out when least expected.

As characters, I loved Esme and Tom, they came from very different backgrounds, and represented the hope and fear we all have in starting new relationships. Esme is an independent character, with a great career, but in terms of relationships she doesn’t want marriage. Tom is a musician, we learn he went to university but left early, and has fantastic friends who are there to look out for him after an unknown event (revealed later in the book). Tom’s battle with depression is very topical with a lot of attention being on mental health issues especially in young men. Tom is obviously ashamed by his depression as he doesn’t want to discuss it or let Esme find out. Jamie Fewery’s writing on this subject is very compassionate, and he deals with the subject with great sensitivity and understanding.

One Day in a Life is an honest and heartfelt look at the dynamics in relationships. It certainly isn’t a slushy sentimental read; it has some difficult moments but there are also some humorous memories. The writing of the characters and story drew me straight in with the feeling of intimacy in relation to the characters and the easy flow of the plot line; it is hard to comprehend that this is Jamie Fewery’s debut novel. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a read that you won’t want to get off, a fabulous read!

This book was a lovely look into all the elements that make us who we are as humans. I appreciated the realistic aspects that the author brought to the main character's relationship and truly enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Good read about the ups and downs of a relationship. It was refreshing to read a book where mental health problems were talked about. I did not feel fully engaged with the characters which meant I did not enjoy the book as much as I hoped I would.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Really nice to have a book about male mental health issues that, like mental health, doesn't run in a straight line. It was an interesting read hearing about Tom & Esme's relationship from just the male side - a book taking a chapter each would have been very different.

Esme didn't always/often come across as a nice or sympathetic character and it was only at the end I realised Tom was so self loathing that he'd put up with anything.

I wish that we didn't live in a world where men's mental ill health was such a taboo but hopefully with more books like this stigmas will reduce.

Tom and Esme have been seeing each other for 10 years. On their anniversary Esme surprises Tom with a card and a game. He has to come up wit a memory of them being together for each hour of a twenty four hour period and it has to coincide with the correct time. She states “not always the best memory just an honest one” and this is true, they are just as they are. Through each hour we learn the story of their relationship. Things like that Esme told Tom early on, very early on, that she never ever wanted to get married (hence the 10 year relationship). The memories are not in any time order (either hours or years) just honest memories warts n’ all of life. Tom however had a secret about his health which as time went on despite pushing from his mother and his own guilt, Esme knew nothing about. A very different concept idea for a book, Not “just” a relationship of live story, something that bit more gritty and earthy. Life with all the cards it may deal. A difficult subject handled well in the context of what is really a love story but really is so much more. I felt for Tom and his demons whilst Esme was supportive but somehow appeared to have her own agenda. A very different love story. One that touched me in a good way.
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

Tom and Esme meet at a party in 2007 and Esme on their 10th anniversary has written a scene from their relationship throughout a 24 hour period. It flicks through the hours, throughout the years and takes a little getting used to.

What you would think from the outset is going to be a typical chic lit, once you start reading you realise that is covers relationships in their all their facets. From the practical to the difficult conversations, to loss, happiness, love and anger and all emotions in between.

It’s been a while since I picked up a book, but I’m so glad i did.

Would definitely recommend, I would think that getting a physical copy rather than kindle version would have added to my enjoyment.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this excellent story.

Whilst I enjoyed this book, I also found it quite a hard read and I didn’t get absorbed into it as I usually like to. I found some of it frustrating as well as upsetting although I suppose it reflects a real life relationship better than other women’s fiction books tend to.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you Orion Books for a copy of Our Life In A Day by Jamie Fewery. Available now.

Our Life In A Day opens on Tom and Esme’s tenth anniversary. She gives him 24 post it notes, each with an hour on them. Tom is supposed to write down a significant (though not necessarily happy) moment from their ten year history. Ie: they met at a party at 2am so that goes on the 2am post it note and so forth.

I really liked the concept though I know I could never fill out 24 post it notes for my own relationship!! It was a clever way to showcase a full ten years of two people’s lives without it being overwhelming or an epic novel. It was not as lighthearted as I expected though as Tom has severe anxiety and depression and is a recovering alcoholic. How those diseases affect his relationships and how he handled them, I thought was the real truth of this book. It was done in such a truthful way.

#OurL

What a unique book! I loved the story line and while it took a little bit to get used to the timeline, I really enjoyed the progression. My only complaint is that I wish there was more time spent on some of the characters so we got a little more about them. I really resonated with some of the issues in the book and the author addressed them with reality and not a cookie cutter happy ending. Overall a great book!

When I first started Our Life in a Day, it was good, holding my interest as I continued to read, but I just wasn’t sure where it was heading. As I kept reading, I started to predict the direction the story was taking - sometimes I was right and sometimes I was wrong - but it didn’t really matter, I was hooked!

In 2007, Tom and Esme meet at a party. Tom is interested in Esme, despite warnings from his best friend not to pursue her, being told she is too good for him. Of course, he goes for her anyway. Now as their 10th anniversary arrives, Esme has created a game where Tom must identify the significant moments of their relationship from the last decade. Some are happy and fun, others (many actually) are not. These moments are listed in loose progression though not always in chronological order. This choice of order, however, did not make things hard to follow. The story had me invested early on, eager to see what would happen next with Tom and Esme in the course of their relationship. Why would this next moment be significant for them? I had to know!

While I can see how this book could be classified as romance, I didn’t feel like it was. I’m generally not a big fan of the romance genre. It felt more like general fiction and while it focused on Tom and Esme’s relationship, I loved the realistic elements throughout the story. Sometimes their relationship was good, other times it was really tense. Both Tom and Esme had flaws and were far from perfect. There were times when I was judging both of them for what I perceived as odd choices in behavior yet I enjoyed all of it.

Our Life in a Day is a refreshing read about the realistic nature of people and relationships. It is not your standard boy meets girl story, which I greatly appreciated.

Original, clever, funny and sad, this book has it all. Jamie Fewery perfectly captures the intricacies of a relationship, the desire to make it work, the obstacles that stand in the way of happiness. A wonderful book, beautifully written.

An unusual contemporary love story that I would recommend to both male and female friends. With engaging and likeable main characters and supporting cast, I was able to lose myself in Our Life In a Day. I found it believable and moving.
Thank you to #NetGalley and James Fewery for giving me the opportunity to read #OurLifeinaDay. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a honest review.

This book started off as a cute, chick-lit love story but then it turned into something better.
It's so refreshing to read a love story that tells the real struggles we all have with our relationships at one point in our lives. The insecurities, the uncertainties, and the lies. The good and the bad.

This is the story of Tom & Esme told by looking back at their 24 most significan moments. "Not the best moments, she had been careful to write in her rules. The most significant." And that is exactly what you get here. It's not a book full of the two getting all lovey-dovey. Instead it presents us with a way more realistic view on relationships than most other chick-lit books. Because we all know how easily an argument can start, or that not all days during a 10-year-relationship can be rosy.

Although the book has a 3rd person narrator, the reader feels closer to Tom. We learn more details about him, also things Esme does not know, while at the same time we get to know Esme only through the eyes of Tom. I have to admit that I found Esme not always likable. She comes across quite bossy, especially at the beginning. She sets the rules for the relationship, and it seems as if Tom doesn't have a say in it. But he could have simply said no to her and moved on. And she is only being honest & fair by telling him right from the start what is important to her. Still, Esme was not my favorite character in this book.

But I did like them both together. Just like their relationship was depicted in a very authentic way, I found their dialogues pretty realistic. I also liked the serious problems mentioned here. And I very much liked the ending. It's different, it's brave, and it's definitely fitting.

Mixed views on this. Liked the story, the characters, and the subject matter tackling men’s mental health. Wasn’t a fan of the structure which at times felt laboured. Felt the story could have been told on its own merits rather than needing the 24 hour clock to represent the key moments in a relationship, and at times thought hindered by it.
A straight forward read, very lovely characters and highly commercial.