A beautiful and heart-wrenching book which combines a love story with a young mother's terminal cancer diagnosis and the letters she writes for her baby daughter to read as she grows up. If that sounds bleak it really isn't. There are so many wonderful relationships in this novel, the characters flawed and vulnerable and incredibly real. Jess narrates her early love story with Jake through the letters she writes for Edie, a passionate and romantic affair that collapses without good reason, as young love often does. The author Laura Pearson tells us she had breast cancer herself as a young mother of 35 and decided to write letters for her two children which eventually became the basis for this novel. I'm so glad she did. She writes about Jess's illness unflinchingly and with so much warmth and insight and the letters Jess writes for Edie are beautifully human, full of wisdom and humour and honesty. It's impossible to read this book without crying but Laura pulls off teaving the reader feeling hopeful and satisfied and somehow uplifted at the end. It's wonderful.

Highly enjoyed this one! It kept me engaged throughout and was a joy to read, would certainly recommend!

This book was incredibly beautifully written. I fell in love with all of the characters almost immediately. I could barely put this one down it was just such a heart felt story.

This is one of the saddest books I've read but I cannot recommend it enough. It brought me to tears more than once and the author's letter to readers is not to be missed.

This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. thanks for letting me have an advance copy. I'm new to this author.

Jess, a young mother with breast cancer, is devastated that she won't see her daughter grow up and so starts writing letters to her all starting with "I wanted you to know".

A definite tearjerker of a book that you cannot put down, beautifully written and heartbreaking,
one that you will not forget for some time to come

'I Wanted You To Know' is an absolutely heart-wrenching, incredibly powerful and heart-warmingly affirming book. Your heart will be pushed to its limits with a vast amount of emotions but it is a beautiful and powerful book.

Just wow!

It’s rare to come across a book that moves me this much but ‘I wanted you to know’ by Laura Pearson had me in tears throughout.

Be aware, it’s not a happy ever after book, but it’s a story that isn’t told enough. Jess is 21 with a young baby and is told she has breast cancer. She is, of course devastated and starts writing letters to her daughter Edie, to read when she’s older of all the things she wants to share with her, to try and provide her with some insight into her (Jess) as her mum.

I’ve seen other reviews claiming that some of the breast cancer process isn’t accurate, but it did not distract me from the story at all. I’ve had breast cancer and all the treatments so I’ve been through that process and I get it, but this is a novel, not a text book. The emotion of being in those moments is beautifully and sensitively captured so well I felt kicked in the gut, I was sat in that room, I was receiving that news, I was totally invested in Jess and her story.

Please read this book. Do not wear mascara and have the tissues to hand, but do read it. 5 stars!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this book.

Loved this book! Tis is the story of Jess - but also the people in her life. A young single mother diagnosed with breast cancer. What unfolds is how she comes to terms with her situation and the things she wants to share with her child. Jess writes letters to Edie, all starting with "I wanted you to know". Not only does she write about the good, she also writes of her struggles. A wonderful read!

This is the most devastating book I’ve ever read, it tore me into tiny pieces and I quite literally couldn’t stop crying.

The writing style was so emotional and raw, I loved the letter format...It broke my heart.

Laura’s has written such a honest account of what it’s like to have cancer and what it’s like to love someone with cancer.

A wonderful book that will never leave me!

This is the first novel that I have read by Laura Pearson and it definitely won't be the last! An absolutely heartbreaking yet beautiful story about the fragility of life, the beauty of motherhood and friendship in the face of tragedy.

I loved the relationship between Jess and her best friend Gemma; my best friend and I have been friends since we were 8 and I recognised so much of us in this story. The power of female friendship shines throughout the book.

talk about a tear jerker! I wanted you to know tells the story of a 21 year old mother diagnosed terminal cancer. While being almost too realistic, there is something off about the switching points of view. The story is told in first person, while letters to her daughter are in third person. If it wasn’t for that, this would have been a 5 star book. Oh, make sure to have a box of tissues close by. You’ll need it!

This book will stay with me for a very long time. I can not even begin to put down just how emotional this story is and nothing I say will do it an ounce of justice. Its just so beautifully heartbreaking. I had a lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face for a good portion of it. The fact that this story has come from the authors own experiences makes it even more powerful. I just can't even begin to imagine being it that situation.
Jess is 21 and a single mum to evie who's only been in her life for a few months when she gets the dreadful news that she's got breast cancer. Through her diagnosis and surgery, chemo and beyond Jess writes letters to Evie for when she's older to tell her all the things she wants her to know. All about her life before her birth and after, her relationship with her mum, dad and Evies dad. The story follows Jess and her family and friends as they prepare to say good bye.
This story was so thought provoking especially as a single mum. It makes you question alot of things and makes you want to make the most out of what you have as you never know what is around the corner. Laura has done such a beautiful job of piecing this together with story and letters. She has written this from personal experience and that just made it even harder to read as you know that she has had these thoughts she's putting down on the page. It was raw and emotional and just so beautifully done.
I urge everyone to read this book. It's definatley my book of the year.

‘I Wanted You To Know’ is the latest book by Laura Pearson.

Jess never imagined she’d be navigating single motherhood, let alone while facing breast cancer. A life that should be just beginning is interrupted by worried looks, heavy conversations, and the possibility of leaving her daughter to grow up without her. Propelled by a ticking clock, Jess knows what she has to do: tell her daughter everything. How to love, how to lose, how to forgive, and, most importantly, how to live when you never know how long you have.

I spent this morning with my head in this book and towards the end, I could barely see the words for the tears, as this book is such a genuinely heartbreaking story.

It’s seen through the narrative of Jess, at twenty one years of age, is told that she’s dying of cancer. Having to deal with this news as well as cope with being a new mother, she writes letters to her little girl to tell her about her mother that she wouldn’t know, as well as offer advice for the times that she’s not around.

Beautifully written, the story evokes such emotion throughout. As a cancer survivor, Laura writes from experience about her time and gives an insight into the illness and the trauma of it.

The story really tugs at the heartstrings and is such a powerful piece of writing. As Jess reflects on the life that she has led and the life that she will be leaving, it’s hard not to feel emotional whilst reading the letters that she writes to her daughter, Edie.

A heartfelt and honest story, ‘I Wanted You To Know’ is a story, that really stays with the reader long after you’ve reached the final page and has you pulling your loved ones in for an extra hug.

You can buy ‘I Wanted You To Know’ on Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops

Heart-breaking, thought provoking and gut-wrenchingly devastating. This is the story of one young woman’s brave journey into the unknown, saying goodbye to her loved ones as she prepares for her death from cancer.
So beautifully written, with no taboos, with the author’s own experience of cancer having a great bearing on this deeply sad book.

A very sad story, and really well written.
I got quite emotional throughout it, so I can say I cried through at least half of it.
I don't recommend it to people that are overly sensitive, however, as It will wreck you emotionally.

This book is so completely heart-wrenching and emotional. It should be sold with a box of Kleenex.

You can really feel the author's personal experience in the words, the thoughts, the expressions used. It was honest, it was raw, it was one of the most heart-breaking books I have read; an unapologetic look at what it is to say goodbye to your loved ones.

Tissues , more tissues and a cold cloth to soothe your red heartbroken eyes. You will need all of those to make it through this book . I was broken and wrungout at the end

This isn’t my usual genre...it is a bit morbid...very morbid...a story of a young single mother who finds out she has breast cancer.....it’s sad...I cried several times but it was a story of likeable characters with a terrible fate....prepare the tissues

This story is absolutely heartbreaking and so sweet. I loved it from beginning to end. It brought many tears and I loved it!