Member Reviews
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed it. The concep captivated me from page one. It was an interesting story that I kept reading to see how it would end.
I found the ending to be predictable but still the story was cute and worth the read.
How is this my first Silver book? I loved it so much, and I’ll admit that I basically wept the entire way through…luckily it’s allergy season so I could blame my red eyes on pollen.
Lydia has been with Freddie since they were kids basically. They’re still so in love, and best friends. She can’t imagine a life without him in it. But on her 28th birthday, Freddie dies in a car accident. We follow Lidia for the next year or so as she battles her grief, the ‘what ifs’, and tries to put her life back together.
Through a strange twist of fate, Lydia discovers she can visit what seems to be a parallel timeline where Freddie is still alive. She’s able to cross back and forth, but despite the relief and joy at getting to see him again it starts to take a toll on her.
This story was so incredibly beautiful, and heartbreaking at the same time. I wasn’t kidding about weeping the whole way through it. But as much as it broke my heart, I couldn’t put it down. I was so drawn into their world, the characters, and thinking about what I would do if I ever found myself in that situation.
If you haven’t read this one yet I definitely recommend it.
At first I was afraid to read this book, silly I know but when faced with a book that covers an unimaginable amount of pain and grief I almost didn't want to do it. I am so glad I gave this book a chance. Yes there was rough moments. But I feel like at the core this book was like a phoenix rising from the ashes to learn how to live again.
A decent book, but it made me very sad! I’m not sure it was my cup of tea, but a great attempt by the author.
I wanted to love this book. The concept was cute, but it just dragged on and I found myself flipping past the pages of Lydia’s dream life.
This is both a heartbreaking and realistic look at grief. Slow moving at points, I think just due to the topic at hand and so much of the story being internal.
Poetic characters, authentic world building and compelling. Romance for the ages.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.............................................................................................
A beautiful story on the process of grief. It was unlike anything I've read and enjoyed it very much. It's on my highly recommended list!
Lydia and Freddie have been together for many years and are now engaged when one night (the night before her birthday), he dies in a car accident. Now Lydia must learn to go on with her life without him. Each night though she dreams of what life would be like with him. Lydia must face the real world though and deal with her grief, learn about herself, and decide how she wants to continue on.
I really enjoyed this book. This book had love, laughter and some sadness. Josie Silver knows how to pull the heartstrings with this novel.
Lydia can remember the moment that her life changed forever. It seemed like an ordinary moment, but it passed quickly and she lost her future husband. She is so stricken with grief, she doesn't know how she will go on, until one day she discovers an alternate reality where she can see Freddie again. Lydia has highs and lows in both of these "lives" and I love the lessons that she learns. I thought this was written beautifully and was sobbing by the end of the book.
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
I have somehow consistently remained eleventy thousand reviews behind this year and since I tend to sort of go off the grid a bit the last couple of weeks in December I figure I need to barf out as many reviews as possible. Why not churn out something about a book I read in mothereffing FEBRUARY. Good grief do I suck.
Alright, so really the only problem with this book was the fact that it wasn’t One Day In December. It’s hard to follow up a 5 Star read. It’s also hard to attempt a new twist on a tired trope, which is what was done here. You see, our leading lady Lydia is grieving the loss of the love of her life Freddie, who passed away before they really even began to live their lives together. But then something crazy happens – Lydia awakens one day to a world where Freddie is still alive.
So I love the “woke up in a different reality trope.” I think this may have had a little case of if it ain't broke don't fix it. Sometimes it’s okay just to follow the same ol’ seemingly tired storyline and not attempt to twist it up or make it fresh with a new spin on things. It also could have easily lost 80-100 pages in order to amp up the page turnability factor. And, of course, the aforementioned curse of it simply not measuring up. Still, 3.5 Stars ain’t a bad shake. I’d simply recommending picking this one up before picking up One Day In December.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Lydia's grief at losing Freddie was palpable. I almost didn't think I would keep reading, it packed such an emotionally draining punch. The experimental sleeping pills her mother and sister promote send her back to a life with Freddie when she sleeps. Lydia begins to crave those times like an addict and sleeps time away trying to escape the loss in her real life and see how a parallel life would play out. It all seems so real. But in the present, time marches on and Lydia's job, friends and family need her too. I am glad I stuck with it to the more hopeful end.
This book started off so sad that I almost threw in the towel. But then I kept reading and became really wrapped up in Lydia's life and how poignant and hauntingly beautiful this story is. The book became much better than I'd originally thought it was. Plus, it ends with a kiss in a LIBRARY and definitely gave me some Bridget Jones vibes. Read this if you're a fan of Me Before You or P.S. I Love You.
I really liked that I could not predict where this book was going. At first it seemed all over the place, but I think that is what kept me interested. This book does a great job explaining grief. Maybe that's why it felt all over the place because grief isn't straight forward. I felt for Lydia throughout her adventure of what her new life looks like without Freddie. Josie really captured the realness of losing someone unexpectedly.
The author has crafted an interesting story about coping with grief. On her twenty-eighth birthday, Lydia Bird loses her fiancé Freddie Hunter, who dies in a car accident on the way to the restaurant where Lydia and her family were having her birthday dinner. Also in the car is Jonah Jones, Freddie's best friend, and the reason Freddie was running late. While Freddie died, Jonah suffered only very minimal physical injuries. Freddie's death has destroyed Lydia, along with wrecking the friendship between Lydia and Jonah that began before either one knew Freddie. After almost two months of wallowing in grief, including struggling to sleep, Lydia is prescribed an experimental sleeping pill by her doctor (after Lydia's overprotective mother yells at him). When she takes the first pill, she awakens in a world where Freddie is still alive. Lydia knows it is a dream, but does not want it to end. When she takes a second pill, she is back in the dream world with Freddie, but it feels so real, as if she has entered an alternative world where Freddie is still alive and they are caring on their normal lives. The hyperrealism of this world, and her desire to be with Freddie, is so strong that Lydia starts staying up at night and further neglecting her "real" life, so she can take a pill during daytime hours and be with Freddie in the alternate world, carrying on conversations, going places, doing things together, spending time with friends, preparing for their wedding, etc.
However, before long, living the double life becomes too stressful and overwhelming. Lydia has to focus on resuming her real life in the world without Freddie. She also discovers that while Freddie is alive in the alternate world, it is not entirely blissful, as other people she cares about experience losses of their own. As she works on rebuilding her life without Freddie, Lydia is forced to confront things about herself and finds herself in new situations, some of her own choosing and some forced upon her. She had been so wrapped up with Freddie since they met as teenagers, that she is not really sure who she is without him.
This is a very heartfelt story with some sad moments, joyful moments, and some funny moments. The reader will likely enjoy Lydia's first visit back to the local bar since Freddie's death, as well as the "silent dating" event she helps organize in her job at the community center. The author has created a great supporting cast of characters. A grieving person would be blessed to have family and friends like those who help Lydia. The book also has a hopeful message that grief can be devastating and life-altering but that you can come through it stronger.
I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it to others. I would like to read other books by this author.
It did not grab my attention very well and was a struggle to get through . Definitely not my style of book, others might enjoy though.
I absolutely loved this book! I raced through it, as I couldn't wait to see how the tale of Lydia Bird would unfold. From the relationships Josie Silver built with Lydia's family, to the "parallel timeline" she created in Lydia's dreams, her relatable writing style draws you in. It was a feel-good book with a satisfying ending, something we all need right now. I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends!
This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.