A sad story of a love not fulfilled due to a car accident. Lydia the bride to be deals with her loss initially by escaping into her imagined future with the help of heavy duty sleeping pills. Her dreams are very realistic. Meanwhile her old friendship with her fiancé's best friend suffers, whilst they both work out their grief. After much exploring their feelings and with the passage of time there is a happy ending.

Although a tad predictable you have to hand it to the author for delivering a highly romantic and whimsical novel. Here is a novel full of grief, love (in all its forms), but most importantly, hope. I smiled through my tears and rattled through the book at an alarming rate. If you like Marian Keyes, you will love this book, but I suspect Josie Silver already has her army of loyal fans.

I read 'One day in December' and loved it and this book didn't disappoint, I couldn't put it down. Lydia Bird is such a likeable character & you go on the journey of tragedy, grief and picking up the pieces while willing all to come good for her in the end.
It is set in the real world and Lydia's dream world and on just one occasion was a bit confusing where I wasn't sure which world we were in.
Overall a good read I thoroughly enjoyed.

A book I really enjoyed reading.
Lydia Bird has it all. A job she loves, a family she adores and a fiance she can't wait to get married to.
Everything is going to plan when a tragic accident claims his life on her birthday.
Life doesn't seem worth living. Everywhere she turns, reminders of Freddie greet her. Including Jonah. Jonah, who was her best friend, as a child, then became Freddie's.
But what happens when the magic of a little pink pill offers a chance to live the life she had expected?
Fantastically written, and, well, I knew what the end would be, but I was willing it to happen!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved One Day in December, so was really excited to read this. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.

Josie is clearly brilliant at creating relatable, realistic, flawed yet likeable characters. However, I just didn't love the storyline. Grief is always going to be a heavy topic, but I was expecting more uplift from this, as promised. The blurb tells us how she 'starts to live' however, she doesn't do so until 50%+ through the book. I found the first half very slow, with a lot of repetitive self-reflection. Josie shows the experience of grief in a sensitive and realistic way, but for the story, time could have jumped faster in my opinion.

I did start to enjoy the story more when she starts 'living', but it did feel rushed compared to the slow, contemplative-feel of the first half. Her interaction with the guy from the speed dating session is over before you know it, never to be mentioned again, and her trip abroad flew by without leaving a real impact on me. In this sense, I wasn't rewarded for persevering through the slow first half.

Then throughout the whole book, we have the strange alternative universe Lydia visits when taking her sleeping pills. It was a little too out-there for me and again quite repetitive. Her and Freddie are having normal interactions, their lives are continuing, but in this world, Lydia is still aware that he's actually dead so acts strange around Freddie. Because of this, they keep arguing and misunderstanding each other, and so it's not actually showing us what their lives would have been like had he not died, which I thought was the reason for this trope.

We don't get a real feel for their relationship and perhaps would have been more satisfying to have Lydia looking back on their relationship, recalling memories so we can see their real relationship and what Lydia lost, rather than taking us into this alternative universe.

I'm disappointed to give only 2 stars, given Josie's clear talent, but I found too many issues with the story line itself. I am clearly in a minority here, given all the raving reviews for this book, and I would still give another book of hers a go, purely based on how brilliant One Day in December was.

I got to the end of the first couple of sections and wasn’t sure this style was for me however I’m so glad I continued as I really fell in love with this book. Another great piece from Josie Silver. An event changes Lydia Birds life and that of her closet friend and family. As she deals with this she bounces for most of the book between reality and a life she can only encounter after she’s taken her sleeping pill. The characters are fabulous and the author takes you on a journey around what is real after someone dies and a fantasy interpretation I guess you would say. Thanks Josie keep writing and NetGalley.

The story follows the Lydia Bird as she struggles to deal with life in the aftermath of her fiancé Freddie's sudden and tragic death on her 28th birthday. In the waking world we see Lydia shut down and find herself listlessly moving through her life. She is given pills to help her to sleep and these pills somehow cause her to experience her life with Freddie continuing as normal as if his death never happened. Lydia is torn between these two worlds - and the life she had planned with Freddie which was cruely snatched away too soon - and somehow needs to find her way through to a place where she can begin to rebuild her life.

This book is really brilliant in how it creates a perfectly believable alternate life for Lydia that never felt strangely far-fetched. The narrative choices of this novel are wonderful at how they illustrate grief, loss and how such a monumentally life changing life event forces you to become a new version of yourself. I really loved Lydia as a character. I felt she was beautifully complex and quite an authentic feeling character in that she never felt overly perfect but instead had flaws which made her feel all the more relatable. Her relationships with the other characters felt unique and interesting to read about as the author really expertly and sensitively created relationships that at times were deepened and at others strained by the all encompassing grief that Lydia was going through.

The pacing of this story was great, and the 18 month or so journey with Lydia really helped to show how grief impacts a person in both the short and long term. Nothing felt rushed nor did it feel too slow. And to me the ending was incredibly satisfying and had the perfect tone of both sadness and optimism for the future; perfectly bittersweet.

What a brilliant concept for a book. Anyone who has been through the loss of someone will be able to relate to this. It's a wonderful concept (sorry repeating myself but it really is). Heartbreaking m heartwarming, bittersweet, emotional, not an easy book to read but totally worth every tear shed. I found myself rooting for Freddie and Jonah, as being torn by the two worlds as much as Lydia is. It’s an amazingly beautiful book, will be one of the best romantic reads of the year. Josie Silver has done it again and stolen another chunk of my heart.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

On her twenty-eighth birthday, Freddie died in a car accident.
So now it's just Lydia, and all she wants to do is hide indoors and sob until her eyes fall out. Lydia is in despair and is given a prescription for mediation. The medication gives her wild dreams - but are they dreams or is life real? The novels concept is Lydia one day living in a dream like state and the next a very much real life dealing with the aftermath of losing her best friend and fiancee.
Lots of relationships and characters that leave you emotionally invested. Without giving away spoilers Lydia gets a second chance at happiness and although I guessed quite quickly what that would be - it didn't spoil the story for me.
I loved One Day in December by Josie Silver and this one doesn't disappoint either. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. Maybe because the subject was focusing on grief and moving on after a death?

If you like Josie I would give it a go, lots of heavy moments but a hopeful ending.

It's the first week of January and I have possibly already found my book of the year.

Anyone who has experienced grief and the loss of someone will be able to relate to this. It's a wonderful concept. I only wish I had read it sooner and didn't rush through it.

Admittedly, I guessed the ending quite early on into the book but it didn't stop me wanting to read! Fab-U-Lous!

What a brilliant concept for a book. I was utterly hooked and mesmerised by the two lives of Lydia and what would happen in both. Highly recommended

This book gets straight to the point of Lydia losing Freddie. I found it extremely easy to put myself in Lydias shoes of wanting those magical moments with the love of my life.
Although I could predict from pretty early on the outcome it was a heart wrenching read which I thoroughly enjoyed!

A huge thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK for this absolutely wonderful ARC . I have heard some great things about this book and when my request was approved I was very happy that I got a chance to not only read it but also to review it early.

It was not an easy book to read. The author slayed me with this emotional and gripping story about love , loss and second chance at life. I cried a lot throughout the book. The incident, around which the whole story is based upon , is a very emotional one. It broke my heart to read about it and see the protagonist go through with those emotions. The subject matter was pretty heavy but in true Josie Silver fashion there was a air of humor to this story . There was a sense of irony too and love was in the center of it all. I don't want to give anything away but I'll say that the ending was a happy one. It was not necessarily romance and not necessarily women's fiction either but through out the whole story , you could feel all the love and promises that characters had for each other. To be completely honest , I cried a lot while reading this book but I loved how the author ended the story. The book ended on a positive note and a hopeful future for our leading lady.

It's perfect for people who ever thought 'what if' and want a redo with their love ones. If you are one of them , then its totally for you.

Despite getting mixed reviews , I loved my time with this one. I have read Josie Silver 's previous works and I have been a fan ever since. The story was well written with heartfelt dialogues and great characters. If you are a fan of 'One Day' or 'P.S. I love you' then you are going to love Miss Silvers new book. It was worth all my time and my tears. I would gladly recommend it to romance reads and fans of women's fiction.

Happy reading.

‘You don’t get over losing someone you love in six months or two years or twenty, but you do have to find a way to carry on living without feeling as if everything that comes afterwards is second best. Some people walk up mountains, others throw themselves out of planes. Everyone has to find their own way back, and if they’re lucky, they’ll have people who love them to hold their hand.’

At 6.47pm on 14th March 2018 Lydia Bird’s life changed forever, and on a day in December 2019, Josie Silver stole a piece of hearts. We were captivated with One Day in December last Christmas, and this year, we immersed ourselves in The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, a story of first love, loss, and self-discovery. A story with a powerful message about grief and moving forward and about having the support and love of family and friends to guide you through the pain.

‘We stare at each other, breathless, wonderous, and I realise it isn’t rain on his eyelashes, he’s crying.’

Anyone who has experienced a loss will connect to Lydia’s story and share in her desperation to keep the memory alive of her first and only love, Freddie Hunter, a man who entered her life in a whirlwind when they were only 14. A love that began at innocent and clumsy adolescence to present time when they’re on the cusp of marriage, ready to spend the rest of their lives together, sharing a true and unwavering love; when it’s all cruelly ripped away.

‘That’s the deal we make when we love someone, isn’t it? Somewhere along the path, one person is always going to have to find a way to carry on without the other.’

Lydia and Freddie’s love story is told in an unusual and interesting way, in parallel timelines which kept us on our toes and posed the question; how far would you go to hold on to the love of your life? How far would you remove yourself from reality, how much of yourself would you be prepared to lose, to spend more precious time with someone you love with all your heart?

‘It’s cathartic sometimes, crying and at other times it’s the loneliest thing in the world…’

Josie Silver tells Lydia’s story with heartfelt emotion, sweet warm wit and heartbreaking honesty, making Lydia’s grief a living palpable part of the story which made our hearts ache, yet at the same time, gave us hope for Lydia’s future as she is forced to make life-altering decisions.

We loved the family dynamics – Lydia’s Mum, sister and brother in law provided some much-needed lightheartedness to what was a quite heavy topic. A person in Lydia’s periphery provided us with so much hope and love, we can’t even tell you how much of our heart belonged to this person.

“No one will ever be Freddie, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be happy again, sis.”

Josie Silver is such a gifted and beautiful storyteller, and her way of infusing so much feeling into her stories have thus far, held us captivated as we once again fell under her talented spell. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird is a powerfully reflective story and it’s one that will make you smile, ache, laugh and cry as you champion for Lydia to find the will to find herself in the face of crippling grief.

‘Grief is an odd thing. It’s mine and no one can do it for me, but there’s been this whole supporting cast of silent actors around me in the wings.’

‘You don’t get over losing someone you love in six months or two years or twenty, but you do have to find a way to carry on living without feeling as if everything that comes afterwards is second best. Some people walk up mountains, others throw themselves out of planes. Everyone has to find their own way back, and if they’re lucky, they’ll have people who love them to hold their hand.’

At 6.47pm on 14th March 2018 Lydia Bird’s life changed forever, and on a day in December 2019, Josie Silver stole a piece of hearts. We were captivated with One Day in December last Christmas, and this year, we immersed ourselves in The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, a story of first love, loss, and self-discovery. A story with a powerful message about grief and moving forward and about having the support and love of family and friends to guide you through the pain.

‘We stare at each other, breathless, wonderous, and I realise it isn’t rain on his eyelashes, he’s crying.’

Anyone who has experienced a loss will connect to Lydia’s story and share in her desperation to keep the memory alive of her first and only love, Freddie Hunter, a man who entered her life in a whirlwind when they were only 14. A love that began at innocent and clumsy adolescence to present time when they’re on the cusp of marriage, ready to spend the rest of their lives together, sharing a true and unwavering love; when it’s all cruelly ripped away.

‘That’s the deal we make when we love someone, isn’t it? Somewhere along the path, one person is always going to have to find a way to carry on without the other.’

Lydia and Freddie’s love story is told in an unusual and interesting way, in parallel timelines which kept us on our toes and posed the question; how far would you go to hold on to the love of your life? How far would you remove yourself from reality, how much of yourself would you be prepared to lose, to spend more precious time with someone you love with all your heart?

‘It’s cathartic sometimes, crying and at other times it’s the loneliest thing in the world…’

Josie Silver tells Lydia’s story with heartfelt emotion, sweet warm wit and heartbreaking honesty, making Lydia’s grief a living palpable part of the story which made our hearts ache, yet at the same time, gave us hope for Lydia’s future as she is forced to make life-altering decisions.

We loved the family dynamics – Lydia’s Mum, sister and brother in law provided some much-needed lightheartedness to what was a quite heavy topic. A person in Lydia’s periphery provided us with so much hope and love, we can’t even tell you how much of our heart belonged to this person.

“No one will ever be Freddie, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be happy again, sis.”

Josie Silver is such a gifted and beautiful storyteller, and her way of infusing so much feeling into her stories have thus far, held us captivated as we once again fell under her talented spell. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird is a powerfully reflective story and it’s one that will make you smile, ache, laugh and cry as you champion for Lydia to find the will to find herself in the face of crippling grief.

‘Grief is an odd thing. It’s mine and no one can do it for me, but there’s been this whole supporting cast of silent actors around me in the wings.’

Now I'll admit this has been sitting in my TBR pile for a couple of months, I kept on picking it upa but something kept stopping me. The cover wasnt standing out and I honestly think that's what was putting me off.

BUT I so wished i had picked it up sooner! What an absolutely amazing read from start to finish, I am literally in love with this book!

A real heartfelt tale that will capture you and take your breath away. Pure raw emotion!

Told in 2 timelines, the present and a dreamworld, it shows the heartbreak and trauma of grief, friendship, family and moving on.

The characters all have their own story to tell, no filler characters (thank God) and each story is beautifully wrapped up within the main characters.

Huge thanks to netgalley and Penguin Books UK for the ARC.

Love, love, love...

Have to admit to struggling with this one. Adored One Day in December but this one was a bit too complicated and not for me. I’d still read the next thing Josie Silver writes though as her debut was simply amazing.

THE TWO LIVES OF LYDIA BIRD – JOSIE SILVER

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

What’s going on? Two novels in a row, by authors I didn’t know before, grabbing my attention and affection.

This, as one might easily guess from the title, is all about Lydia Bird. She’s a young woman who, at the beginning of the novel, loses her boyfriend, soon to become husband, in a senseless RTA. And this is the story, told in her own often eloquent and amusing words, of how she survives.

The course the author chooses may confuse and alienate some readers: you have to climb aboard the train of the premise: that Lydia can divide her life into two compartments: the real world, and another, semi-parallel world, where the aforementioned boyfriend is still alive.

In this world, she not only talks to him, as many bereaved partners do to their loved ones, but she, and other characters, interact with him, as though he is still alive. Including his best friend who he was picking up at the time of the crash, and who survived. We see how he, and other members of Lydia’s family, learn to cope without him, until, inevitably, there is a catharsis.

I found this not only extremely readable, but – premise taken into consideration – warm and believable, witty and sad; elements skilfully woven together to create a whole and satisfying tapestry. This is not only a novel that will resonate with anyone who has lost a partner, but it is also a darn good romantic read which I am happy to recommend.

This story will probably be The Best romance book of the year.
It reminds me so much of PS: I love you and the movie Ghost. What true love means and how one’s brain works and finds a magical way to reconnect with the lost loved one.
The writing it’s so captivating that I haven’t even realised I was almost finished when I first stopped reading.
It’s one of those stories that will stay with you forever.

Sweet and heartfelt about the story of Lydia who is mourning the loss of her fiancé. A lovely story about how she deals with it, by imagining a life where he still lives....sad but hopeful! A good read!