In this captivating tale, we follow the remarkable journey of Luke, a man whose once pessimistic worldview undergoes a profound transformation after a selfless individual intervenes to save his life, putting their own well-being at risk in the process. This pivotal moment becomes the catalyst for Luke's personal growth, sparking a newfound sense of optimism and a deep commitment to the welfare of those around him.

Yet, Luke's newfound positivity is soon put to the ultimate test when his altruism is exploited, leading to a serious injury that lands him in the hospital. As Luke grapples with uncertainty and self-doubt, his loyal circle of friends comes together to offer unwavering support and guidance, helping him navigate life's challenges and reinforcing the importance of maintaining a positive outlook.

This narrative takes a poignant dive into Luke's internal struggle as he battles the temptation to revert to his former negative mindset. It also shines a light on the pivotal role played by his friends, illustrating that life's unpredictability does not overshadow its intrinsic beauty and goodness.

Such a beautifully written story, I absolutely adored this book, I wasn't sure where the story would go and that made it even exciting to read.

I received a digital arc of this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read one book by this author before and so I was excited to read this. It was a bit slow in places, but overall it was a really good story with interesting characters and story arcs. Stick with this book and you won't be disappointed.

How to Save a life was an emotional and life affirming read that I could not put down. I was enthralled by Luke's story and felt this was a beautifully written book about a man's journey after he is given a second chance.

How to Save a Life by S D Robertson is an emotional story, character driven, narrated solely by Luke, a barber, with a pessimistic outlook on life. His parents died in a tragic accident, then just a fortnight before Christmas his wife told him she’d been having an affair and left him. He is wallowing in misery, living alone with his cat, Alfred. Until he meets Iris. They were both sheltering from a sudden storm under scaffolding when a violent gust brought the building and scaffolding down on them – Luke survived, but Iris didn’t. She had saved his life, pushing him out of the way as the scaffolding collapsed.

Iris’s death has a powerful effect on Luke, especially when he learns what a wonderful person she was – a doctor who was passionate about volunteering her services for a charity scheme in Africa. He felt guilty that he had survived and vowed to change his outlook and his life, trying to be more like Iris.

This book is not my usual choice of genre, but I think it is an interesting book that did give me food for thought. I liked the setting in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and I could easily visualise Luke’s barber’s shop and its surroundings. However, it is repetitive as Luke analyses his feelings and actions over and over again, and it’s slow paced because of that. He has several setbacks as things don’t all turn out how he had hoped, but it is a heart-warming story, if a little predictable.

This book was very interesting and fast-paced, the author held my attention and the plot was very appealing. I would recommend this book to friends.

Luke , the main character, has a chance occurrence, Which changes his life for the better. This is a great book. A very uplifting story. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot, not to mention the moral of the story. Thank you for my advance copy

A lovely heart warming tale that although quite cheesy at times was still a cosy read. Good characters and well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for my copy of How To Save a Life by S. D. Robertson in exchange for an honest review. It published June 11, 2020.
First off, I have to say that I regret waiting so long to read this. I felt like I was almost reading an Ebenezer Scrooge story, and I just loved the character development. I appreciated that it was a gradual change with setbacks, and was ultimately more believable. It was definitely heart-warming and sweet, but also very down-to-earth and raw at times.
I appreciated the honest conversations about mental health, especially PTSD, in a respectful and honest way.

I could not get invested in this story at all. I only fully read 30% and then skimmed the rest. I didn’t find the characters appealing, the story line was just okay to me, and I didn’t really care too much what would happen. It just didn’t work for me.

I was not sure what to expect with this book., however I really enjoyed it. An interesting concept, thought provoking and for me a page turner. Most definitely recommend.

How to save a life by S D Robertson

Luke is a very pessimistic middle aged man. He has a freak accident and decides he has to change his outlook. His life take a turn for the better but will this last?

A lovely book even if quite long winded in part. A feel good book. 3.5/5

Very well written with a real impact - this is one of those books that stayed with me for a long time after I had read it. Whilst it was a little slow to get going for me, it quickly became one of those books I needed to read more and more. Highly recommended.

What a moving and immersive tale with so many lessons. Luke leads a relatively simple life. He owns a barbershop and is good at what he does. He is not an unkind man, but he is a grump and a bit negative. Life has dealt him a few blows. He lost both of his parents in an accident, his wife unexpectedly left him, and it's just him and his cat. Life isn't unbearable, but it also isn't joyful. One day, while seeking shelter from the rain, a scaffolding collapses on him and a woman who was also sharing that space. He survives, but she doesn't. And this is where his life turns. Luke realizes that he needs to become a person who deserves having been the one who was life was spared. So, he slowly tries to change. But it's difficult to change who you are, and the path to getting there isn't always a straight line. I completely enjoyed Luke's journey, and I think you will too.

This is the second book I have read by S D Robertson and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was easy to identify with the main character Luke and the personal crisis he was going through. Luke has a life experience that makes him realise that he needs to change his outlook. Meeting a girl called Iris brings him down a road where he never thought he would go. It would be great to have a sequel to see how Luke continues in his new way of thinking.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

A feel good heart warming story. I fell in love with the main character. A lovely read I would recommend to anyone.

Really enjoyed this book and how Luke went from a negative person to a positive one with a few dramas on the way. Well written and interesting thoughts.

A really feel good lovely story about Luke, a hairdresser on a life journey. When something tragic happens, his outlook changes and we fall in love with him!

A really wonderful read.Luke was a truly interesting character.The book drew me in kept me reading late into the night.A special bookI will be recommending,#netgalley#avonbooksuk