Cass and Loll had been forever friends. Opposites of sort. Loll the steady anxious type and Cass the free spirit, daring type. After several years of no communication Loll gets a letter from Cass. Loll is trying to work on her emotions and going through a divorce. She finally decides to just go on and see Cass.
When she arrives she finds that Cass is not only going to die but, has a little girl. After she spends some time with them both they map out a trip. On this trip comes eye opening situations for both. Loll is not sure what she will do without Cass after all these years apart but she is going to make the best of her time with Cass and Vee.
Is Loll going to be enough for Vee? Cass leaving her instructions in a book they started years before.
This book for me was about forgiveness not just to someone else but yourself and moving forward and not living in the past. I enjoyed each chapter.

Cass and Loll first met in a bar in college and become soulmates. They had a book that they wrote all of their dreams in together. They spent most of their time together until Loll decides to marry Darren and there is a betrayal. After Loll's husband decides that he wants a divorce, she reunites with Cass in a journey that will change both of their lives forever. I do not want to spoil this book for anyone, but I thought it was well worth the time to read. I thought the characters were well written and this book had an incredible amount of heart. I will definitely be recommending this one to others. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Beautifully written, with a really emotional base to it, this really is a heartwarming story.

It's about two friends who have been estranged, until Loll finally reads one of Cass' letters and discovers her best friend doesn't have long to live. But whether Loll can let go of the anger is another matter.

For things between them go messy and it wasn't the best functioning relationship anyway, but Loll has always been in Cass' thrall, and she can't resist going to see her, and she discovers far more than she bargained on.

I found the first few chapters took a bit for me to get into, but once Loll and Cass were face to face once more the book really came into its own, and I needed to know what would happen. I mean one thing was inevitable, but there is so much around it that had me keeping reading.

I loved the various things they did to make precious memories while Cass still could, it was like a month long bucket list, but a bit more serene than the average bucket list. It was following all their dreams from while they were in college, or at least those that were feasible, and I loved seeing them re-connect and see how their newly revived fledgling friendship would develop.

At times I was reading it with a big lump in my throat such was the power of the writing, and if you are more emotional than me, then I'm sure you will be in tears at varying points of the book.

There is a lot to this story of friendship and family, and on the whole it is rather light in tone even with the more serious undertones. Once the girls set off on their big adventure I just couldn't get enough of the book, turning the pages eagerly to see what would happen next.

It's a truly fabulous book and one I'm delighted that I've been able to read.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

Cass and Lauren, friends who met at Uni, who couldn’t be more opposite. The stopped speaking years ago, and one day Lauren recives a letter out the blue. - Cass needs her - Cass gas always needed her to mop up the mess, but this time she really does need her. The girls are reunited, but Lauren finds out a few things about her soon to be ex-husband and meets the new person in Cass’ life. A tearful story,
which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Cass and Loll met at university, complete opposites of each other, but Cass gave Loll confidence while Loll grounded Cass from her chaotic life. Until one day there is a betrayal and years of silence between them began. But the betrayal wasn’t all it seemed, and eventually life has a way of bringing you back to the people who are meant to be in your life.
I really enjoyed this book, the author’s style of writing had a nice flow and it was easy to read. I thought the characters felt realistic and they were a delight to engage with, if occasionally frustrating. But that just made them feel more authentic.
This story made me cry, but it is a story about hope and love and living a life without regrets.
A great read that I would highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Andrea Michael for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

The Book of Us is a story about a friendship between two friends. The friendship becomes estranged and years later, one of the friends attempts to rectify what caused their friendship to abruptly end.
What follows is a very complex story that takes you through the beginning of Laurens friendship with Cass and the journey they embark on to renew the friends they once were.

Wow, what an emotional story this is, a real journey of friendship, betrayal, forgiveness and, most of all, love.

Although opposites in many ways, Loll and Cass had an amazing friendship after they met at Uni. They helped each other in so many ways and even wrote all their lifelong plans in a book, the book of us. However, seven years ago events tore them apart. Now life changes for them both again. Loll’s husband leaves her for a younger woman on Christmas Eve and a few days later Loll receives a letter from Cass asking to meet. Cass is dying and wants to complete their dreams from The Book of Us. Can the two heal their broken relationship and move forward together?

This is such a moving story and an enthralling read. There are plenty of surprises and shocking revelations as well as new opportunities, heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. The rekindling of their friendship involves betrayal, lies, manipulation and a special journey.

If you’d looking for something different in a brilliant way to help distract you in these difficult times, look no further and grab yourself a copy of this amazing read. I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

The Book of Us was, as promised, a lovely and heart warming read. It tells the story of Lauren and her once upon a best friend, the feisty Cass, and the book that they wrote their hopes and dreams in as young women.

When Lauren's husband leaves her on Christmas Eve, Lauren's life begins to spiral out of control. She receives a message, seemingly out of the blue from her once best friend Cassidy Jones...who informs Lauren that she is dying, and expresses a desire to reconnect. With nothing better to do, Lauren goes to visit Cass and gets the shock of her life. Returning home, Lauren quickly realises that her life isn't how she envisioned it and she quits her horrible and dead end job, packs her bags and hot foots it back to Cass and her daughter Vee for the adventure of a lifetime.

I'll admit to crying several times, the final parts of the book were so raw, and I really loved it.

This is an emotional read and highlights that family isn't always biological, but the people that you choose to have in your life. Cass is dying and reaches out to Loll, who she was inseparable from in the past. She wants to reconnect and do the things in a book of things they had put together of things they wanted to do together after college. However, they became estranged after Cass had a one night stand with Loll's husband that resulted in her daughter, whom Cass wants to leave to Loll when she dies. The author wrote such a great book that focused on redemption, second chances, love, family, death and some other things. .

If your looking for a book with a happy ending then I’m afraid this isn’t for you,
A well thought out and well written book.
Great read.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review

I just finished The Book of Us and I’m still thinking about story. It is a story about a friendship between two friends. The friendship becomes estranged and years later, one of the friends attempts to rectify what caused their friendship to abruptly end.
A very complex story that takes you through the beginning of Laurens friendship with Cass and the journey they embark on to renew the friends they once were. What follows is a beautiful and heartbreaking story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest review.

Powerful book of lost friends coming together again. Tears shed after reading this amazing, powerful book!
Lauren and Cass meet at University and are inseparable. After Lauren's marriage, they no longer speak or see one another. Six years later after her husband and her divorce, Lauren receives a letter from Cass, she's dying and wants her to come and bring the book they had in school.
Lauren arrives and meets the daughter Cass had as a result of a one night stand she had with Lauren's husband.
Will they find forgiveness in this short time they have with one another??


Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
This is a story of a family in today's world struggling to pay the bills, keep their 2 daughters happy and healthy, and find a way to keep their marriage in tact.
I enjoyed this story that gave me the feeling that I was reading about a "real family" and the struggles they face daily and the mistakes they make by "just being human."
Overall, a good book!

This was a good novel about a friendship that stands the test of time and betrayal. The story is beautiful and reminded me of slightly of My Sister's Keeper. I did find that the language in the book was strong at times, but I loved the plot and its characters.

I enjoyef this book! It follows two friends who have had a falling out and their road to coming back to one another. One of them has a child, the other a husband, and the story is about what happens to all of them. I really liked Vee; I found her to be very authentic and well-written. Four stars to this book!

A bittersweet tale about a friendship that soured because of an awful mistake made, and the illness and small child who brought them back together.
Lauren, or Loll, is reeling from the break up of her marriage, then she receives a letter from someone who was more important to her than anyone else, in her life, until that mistake.
Cass has never really forgiven herself for the huge mistake she made, that lost her the best friend a girl could ask for. Would she be able to rekindle that bond now, six years later, knowing she had such little time, and so much to say and explain?
Vee's life is turning upside down. Her mum is getting sicker and suddenly her new 'aunty' shows up.
This book tells of a journey, both physical, and metaphorical, of two women who try to patch up a relationship that tore apart.
Can they repair it?
A sad tale, but beautifully written.
Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this book. It was an okay read but the characters were not particularly likeable so I didn’t connect to them.

Snuggle in to your coziest sweatshirt, grab your favorite beverage and comfort snack, settle your dog or cat by your reading chair and savor this lush, lyrical, almost literary, emotional contemporary women’s fiction. Cass and Lindsay, “Loll” were best college friends.They planned to be friends forever, and so they created a “book of us” and filled it with their dreams and bucket lists- everything they would do together. Until they weren’t together or even friends. Seven years later, when Cass faces a crisis, and Loll still doesn’t respond, can the “book of us” bring then back together?

As a young woman, I had a friend similar to Cass- the luminous woman everyone was attracted to and everyone loved. Like Loll, I worried more and was cautious, the “good girl”. The author has Loll tell their story, in the third person-I was glad this wasn’t an alternating chapters book. Loll never forgave Cass for making a terrible mistake, although Loll doesn’t know the whole story. The moment that ended their friendship is the backdrop to the story, and it still haunts both Cass and Loll. Can they learn the truth and forgive each other?

Cass and Loll reunite on a New Year’s Day, 7 years after the unforgivable act. Cass has a young daughter. Due to Cass’s health, Loll agrees to go on a bucket list trip with them. As they travel to Finland, Spain and Australia, Loll and Cass tentatively reach out to each other.

The truth is revealed to the reader at the end of the story, and it’s sad how much hurt came about because Cass and Loll could never really connect and learn the truth. But did it really matter- they still had the “book of us”.

If you are a crier, you will sob through this story. The book is well-written and shows us the souls of both Cass and Loll. Cass’s young daughter is well-drawn, adorable, spunky and real. Perfect for beach read season. This book could easily have a sequel- that would be lovely.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter, Harper Collins for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

This was my first time reading a book by Andrea Michael and it certainly won't be my last. Really enjoyed this book. Loved seeing how Vee's relationship with Lauren progressed. Even though it was a sad ending it was written so beautifully that it felt like a happy ending. Great style of writing by Andrea. Thoroughly recommend.

Beautifully written. I laughed and nearly cried. This is not a unique plot. I have read other books about 2 close friends making memories because 1 is dying of cancer and wants the other 1 to look after her child. Loll and Cass though have a friendship with unique problems and a unique journey. Their journey with Vee is moving and heart warming. This is a memorable read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.