This is the first book I have read by Drew Davies. I thought this was a little slow to start and it took me a good few chapters to get into it but overall I thought it was a heartwarming read that was emotional at times too. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book it made me laugh out loud in places and also had some sad bits.

“‘How long does a coma last?’ I ask.‘Days, weeks, months?’The nurse replies with a shrug, although her eyes are very kind.
‘But on average?’She just smiles, unable to give me an answer.”
Wendy Dixit lives with her husband Naveem in a flat and they keep themselves pretty much to themselves. She has a sister who is rather critical and vaguely knows the lady living above Mrs Ramprasan. When Neveen has an accident in his taxi Mrs Dixit’s (as she is mostly known as) world changes as he is left in a coma. His family never had anything to do with them as they didn’t approve of his marriage. Wendy is advised to sit and talk to Naveem but she really doesn’t know what to say and feels uncomfortable doing so. Then the silence and the feeling of being hemmed in gets all too much and she craves noise and bustle. Mrs Ramprasan takes her to the edge of the airport to watch and feel the planes taking off and every bone in your body shaking with the vibration. A story of how things can change in the flicker of an eye and how you can be lost in what you thought was a familiar world. Of breaking barriers and making friends, of changing habits of a lifetime and looking at things with a new set of eyes. A very different read, a thought provoking and at times emotional one that left me with a smile.
(amazon doine- misfits farm)

It was just another Saturday as Wendy Dixit watched her husband Naveem set out for another shift in his taxi, but then she got a phone call saying that he's been involved in an accident. With Naveem not only being in hospital, but in a coma, it means that Wendy has time to reflect on her life.

Having been used to her quiet, secluded life with her husband, she's now forced into situations where she has to communicate with strangers and open up which is something she's clearly not comfortable with. Her marriage to Naveem is self-absorbed, the two of them happy with their predictable daily routines, needing no-one else but each other. Naveem has his trains and Wendy has her books and together they tick along quite nicely. So being forcebly removed from this routine is a scary position for Wendy to be in. She desperately wants not only her husband, but her life as she knows it back.

It took a little while for me to get into this book and I did struggle with the nature of Naveem's accident but this was purely for personal reasons and no reflection at all on the writing. I'm glad that I got past that though as this is a beautiful story about how quickly life can change and the repurcussions that these changes have.

Following Wendy on her journey of self discovery was thought provoking, just how well do we know the people around us, including our spouse. I particularly enjoyed watching her relationship with her neighbour Mrs Rampersad (or Mrs Ampersand as she will forever be in my head!) grow. Brushed off at first as an interfering busy-body, it was a joy to see Wendy flourish and embrace this new found friendship which was wonderfully scattered with subtle humour.

With or Without You is a gentle, thought-provoking and emotional read that will make you think about so many relevant topics from mortality, friendships, family, mental health issues, loneliness and how we find our own paths in life. Drew Davies is clearly a very accomplished writer and I'll definitely look out for his other books in the future.

I really enjoyed this heartbreaking, heartwarming and quirky story about a woman whose seemingly boring husband winds up in a coma after a car accident. The relationship between the protagonist and her neighbor was comedic and sweet and made the book. I also loved the interactions that she had with the rest of the quirky cast of characters involved in her life and I enjoyed watching the mystery unfold as to what caused the car accident. While I was frustrated in her in lack of a desire to support herself, I found myself really rooting for her and loved the warm fuzzies from this book.

From the cover I was expecting a light, fluffy, Chick Lit read. This one was a lot deeper than I expected.

It did drag a bit and as a solid introvert I didn't always identify with the themes of loneliness and silence but I can appreciate their place in the story.

It is however a journey of self-discovery, forming connections, and finding one's self amidst uncertainty, guilt, and unexpected change.

Again, not bad but not exactly my cup of tea.

Wendy and Naveem Dixit live a very contained life. After a decade (or so), Naveem and his family have not come to terms on his beloved spouse. Naveem is a taxi driver in London, and a screen in the 🚕 keeps him “apart” from his fares. At night, he goes down to his study, where he spends hours alone with his model trains 🚂. Naveem and Wendy have each other and that is enough for them. But then, one night, Naveem is in an accident. The woman in his taxi is killed, and he lands up “IN A #COMA” (SURPRISE!).

The nurses tell Wendy, Naveem’s wife, aka, (the younger Mrs. Dixit), to talk to her husband. She’s not really sure what to talk to him about ... Start from the beginning ... (I guess she hasn’t read very many books about spouse’s in comas).

With Naveem in a coma, Wendy’s life begins to change. She is talking to her neighbors, changing little things at home, and trying to understand her life before Naveem’s accident. Will Naveem still love her IF (and hopefully, WHEN) he wakes up, and sees all these changes?

This is my third Drew Davies book. I love the message that this book conveys, especially relevant in this time of #covid19, to be neighborly and understanding of others (especially when they are experiencing hard or difficult times). I have to be honest, it did take a bit (of effort) to “get into” #withorwithoutyou, but I did enjoy it (it was my 3RD book almost in a row with a spouse in a #coma!)

No more #coma books for a while! Thank you @NetGalley and @bookouture for the e-ARC of With or Without You by @drewdavieswriter. #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well Drew has done it again! I love this guys style of writing. I really do not want to spoil it for the next reader, so i am being cautious here. We follow the journey of Mr & Mrs Dixit, a quiet, shy and self contained couple. So when Mr Dixit ends up in a coma as a result of an accident whilst driving his taxi, the story of their lives truly starts to be unfold and be told. This story has many emotions running through it and laughter is certainly one of them. A beautifully written, heartwarming story, not to be missed.

A sedate read, with quieter overtones, author Drew Davies' new book cast a glance on the lives of Mr. And Mrs. Davies, their past and present, when Mr. Davies was in a coma after a road accident.

The couple led a quiet life where they hardly soke with their own private interests. The words in the prose lent an atmosphere of silence where almost a vacuum existed. Post the tragedy, it was fun to see Mrs. Dixit to emerge out of cocoon and interact with the world, especially with the upstairs neighbor.

I could understand Mrs. Dixit need for noisy places to drown out her own emotions. Secrets too wormed its way out. Loneliness was felt but more from a retrospective way. She was never lonely when he was there, but when he just lay there, all that remained was nothing. Stark silence.

Relationships improved, new ones got forged as Mrs. Dixit found her way. The writing was dry and slow. At times, there were two Mrs. Dixits, the mother-in-law. It led me to wonder if an Indian mother-in-law would ever be so quiet.

The was poignant in its own way as it dealt with loneliness, a need for change, and finding their own path in life. A new way of living sometimes meant a fun way.

This is a quiet book about the very quiet life of a married couple. Maybe you would find their life together dull but they are happy. But their exceedingly ordinary life together is shattered when Naveem Dixit gets into an accident in his taxi and ends up in a coma. Leaving Mrs Dixit to patiently sit quietly at his bedside.

Then estranged family members and the police are asking questions, why was the female passenger, who has died, in the front passenger seat ? Did he have a habit of using recreational drugs? Suddenly Mrs Dixit’s life gets interesting.

This is a slow paced gentle story, putting marriage under a microscope and of a woman almost lost having to dig deep to find herself without her husband to help her. With added elements of mystery to discover along the way.

With a cast of eccentric characters to help her find her way, this is all about Mrs Dixit discovering who she is, the importance of friends and really living life to the full as you never know what’s around the corner.

The other characters especially Mrs Rampersad, and Mrs Dixit’s pushy sister are wonderfully loud and are much needed to liven up the story as Mrs Dixit is so quiet and shy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture of the arc of with or without you by Drew Davies.

This follows Wendy’s life in which can be divided into two: before and after. Before her husband whom is called Naveem's, car accident, she was contended and proud about their small and quirky quiet life together. Then because and with her husband whose in coma, and with no idea of long a coma lasts... She is very lost and lonely and even ending up doing things she wouldnt usually do and befriends one of their neighbours which is actually the one in which she has tried to avoid for over 10 whole years...

4 stars
recommend

Wendy and Naveem Dixit are like a well-oiled machine. They live their life as a devoted couple, rather than two individual people married to each other. To the outside world, their lives are quiet and predictable, set in their ways as they follow their daily routines. All is well until taxi driver, Naveem is involved in a car crash and ends up in a coma. Suddenly, Wendy's life takes on an uncertain direction as her husband fights for his life and she flounders in the unknown. 

The world is full of people like Wendy and Naveem who blend into the background, getting on with their lives without drawing too much attention to themselves. I enjoyed how the author created them and the secondary characters, into such underwhelming people… which isn't a criticism because when dealing with a crisis, they come alive and pull together and offer support, as you'd expect. However, to outsiders, they're quirky, somewhat odd and mostly don't fit in within the definition of normal. Yet, just like everyone else, their time of need is just as fraught and dramatic. 

With or Without You is a heart-wrenching novel bursting with intriguing characters. The mood is melancholic but broken up with light-hearted moments and witty dialogue, courtesy of Mrs Rampersad. As a reader, we're taken on an emotional journey. The beginning leaves you feeling as despondent as Wendy, coming to terms with her new normal but as time progresses, the mood ebbs and flows and ends happily. The overall message is touching and highlights the strength of friendship especially during times of need and emphasises the point that life can stray off course at any point in time. 

This is my first Drew Davies novel and won't be my last. This is a well-thought-out and crafted story, giving pause for thought and reflection. 

***arc generously received courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley***

“Mrs Dixit would think of all the times they sat next to each other, entirely self-contained: reading, watching a movie, lying in bed — such wasted opportunities.”

This beautiful novel has stolen my heart. It’s original, poignant, funny and written with an exquisite sensitivity that cuts to the quick.

When an accident leaves husband Naveem in a coma, 56 year-old Mrs Dixit is forced out of the comfortable bubble she’s lived in all her married life. For as long as she can remember it’s been just her and Naveem. He with his model trains. She with her books. The pair of them a self-sufficient unit. Now it’s just Mrs Dixit, and she’s lost, scared and confused.

Dutifully, she visits the hospital every day. The nurses tell her to talk to Naveem, but Mrs Dixit doesn’t know what to say. Theirs has always been a quiet, unspoken love. But now the silence is deafening.

Thrust into this strange reality, Mrs Dixit finds her ordinary life taking extraordinary turns. There’s a kidnapping, a stakeout, and a burglary. Unexpected alliances: with the scary woman upstairs, with a dotty, octagenarian plane spotter, with the daughter of the passenger killed in Naveem’s accident, and with her six year-old nephew, Henry.

Much of it is pure farce — and yes, I did laugh out loud — but it is also deeply moving. And Davies gets the balance just right.

I loved Mrs Dixit’s transformation from shy, timid, wife of Naveem, to boldly independent, feisty Wendy. She finds her voice, and boy, does she know how to use it! And I loved the beautifully delivered messages about life, love, family and friends: the only things that really matter.

Mike Gayle, watch out! There’s a new kid on the block.

I was so looking forward to this, but unfortunately reality didn’t meet my expectation, I found it quite slow and when it seems ready to build up to something more interesting, it just seems to stop and abruptly end. The writing was good but seemed quite simple and I found the characters a bit odd. Overall just not for me really.

Some of my favourite books feature a cast of oddball characters and you certainly get a handful of those in this quirky,funny,self discovery, mystery type novel. Welcome to Chomley, home to Naveem and Wendy Dixit. This couple like to keep very much to themselves, eschewing noise and chaos, living their lives through order and simplicity. Naveem has his love of model trains and bossa nova music outside of his job as a taxi driver. Wendy meanwhile is a cleanliness freak. Cocooned within their safe impenetrable bubble, the world is passing them by. That is until the day Naveem is involved in an accident whilst driving his cab, the result of which leaves him in a coma, fighting for his life.

For Wendy this accident throws up plenty of questions about the man she’s married to, a man you’d be forgiven for thinking she doesn’t really know. Her inability to communicate with him at his hospital bedside leads her to reluctantly open up her world to strangers and noise and step outside of her rigidly enforced parameters, often with surprising results. As she endeavours to shrug off her uppity nature, you will be cheering her all the way towards a brighter future. I couldn’t help feeling that on her journey to enlightenment Wendy was cautiously stepping from her black and white world into one that is vibrant and full of colour and I felt proud of her for having the courage to do so. She may even find she likes it. Will she uncover secrets about her husband that will surprise her? Possibly!

Upstairs neighbour Mrs Rampersad is a wonderfully eccentric character responsible for much of Wendy’s transformation and together they make a comic pair. God fearing and pamphlet waving and acting as temporary chauffeur, Mrs Rampersad accompanies Wendy on some hilarious escapades to discover the mystery behind the man that is Naveem. My favourite scenes are the ridiculous stake outs, providing much of the giggles in this gentle quirky read. Who knows, they may inadvertently catch the elusive Chomley cat burglar in the process!

I particularly liked the way the author provided backstories for Wendy, Mrs Rampersad and the other Mrs Dixit ( Naveem’s mother) to explain their feelings and behaviours, allowing the reader to better understand these characters. Exploring their fears and worries and habits illustrates how flawed we are as individuals, prompting empathy and maybe even recognition of parts of ourselves in these fictional people.

I loved how the shy socially awkward Mrs Dixit emerges from her shell over the course of the book, establishing a surprising connection with nephew Henry, and her always in a hurry younger sister. Characters like Wendy always make me feel sad so unexpectedly finding a friend in Mrs Rampersad is probably the most uplifting aspect of this novel. However there is an eclectic mix of characters who all add a splash of colour to the narrative. There’s fellow plane spotter Magnus, who bizarrely offers Wendy words of wisdom. Cliff, the owner of the taxi firm and fellow cabbie Len offer valuable insight into Naveem’s personality giving you a clearer overall picture of this quiet unassuming man. Whether they are wholly trustworthy individuals is up for debate.

This is a novel of self discovery and second chances. A reminder that if we are brave enough to embrace the world outside, interact with others on a meaningful level, then life can be truly wonderful. It’s also about loneliness and isolation and a sense of community. With or Without You might not be laugh out loud funny and the pace is more a trot than a canter but it kept me entertained from start to finish so why not see what you think?
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

This was a slow burner of a book, at times perhaps a little bit long and drawn out, but overall the sort of book I really love because it is full of unusual personalities.
Mrs Dixit is suddenly on her own after her husband ends up in a coma following an accident in his taxi cab. The pair have led an extremely quiet life, estranged from family and relying on each other in world that doesn't always accept a marriage between different cultures.
The book is divided into however many days after the accident it is and the reader is left waiting, just like Mrs Dixit, wondering if and when her husband will ever wake from his coma.
During the wait Mrs (Wendy) Dixit embarks on a journey of self-discovery, ably assisted by her sister, her 6 year old nephew Henry, Magnus the plane spotter and upstairs neighbour Mrs Rampersad.
The book is thoughtful, funny (not necessarily always in a laugh out loud way, but with a very subtle and dry humour that resonates with the Dixits' lifestyle), sad, original and charming.
All sorts of strange goings on happen, sometimes engineered by Mrs Dixit herself, often as a result of Mrs Rampersad's eccentric reasoning and sometimes completely and unexpectedly out of Mrs Dixit's control. And control has been what has shaped her life for so long. Will she manage to embrace the differences life is throwing her way, the opportunities to experience more, engage with others in a more meaningful and sociable way, or will it frighten her into hiding?
The characters, from Cliff who owns the taxi company and West Country Len, one of the drivers, to Trinidad born Mrs Rampersad and her religious flyers, to the boy at the waxworks and the unbelievable actions of Mr Dixit's family, life and love and new beginnings abound, flowering in the unlikeliest of places and through some very bizarre dialogue!
There is suspicion, self-doubt, plenty of personal revelations and a cat burglar in Chomley to catch!
I loved this book so much that I plan on reading Drew Davies' debut novel The Shape of Us very soon as I find learning life lessons with stand out quirky characters immensely enjoyable.
This book comes highly recommended!

I received a copy of this book to review via Netgalley.
This book was OK. It had good writing, with some quirky prose at times. Some characters were interesting and there is some good content.
However, the book lacks pace as it is quite slow and does not appear to be heading anywhere for most of the book. It is confusing at times particularly in calling 2 characters Mrs Dixit.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the synopsis. A woman finding herself and trying to find happiness after her husband has an accident. I wanted to cheer her on and hope with her for her husbands recovery. Unfortunately I found myself bored. He book was terribly slow and then just seems to abruptly end without much resolution.

I was not a fan of the writing style. It was confusing at times talking about the older and younger Mrs. Dixit instead of using names.

‘How long does a coma last?’ I ask.

‘Days, weeks, months?’ the nurse replies with a shrug, although her eyes are very kind.

‘But on average?’

She just smiles, unable to give me an answer.

Wendy’s life can be neatly divided into two: before and after.

Before her husband’s car accident, it was just the two of them. They never took the train at rush hour, and they avoided their noisy neighbour upstairs. Naveem devoted his spare time to vintage train models, and Wendy to re-reading the well-thumbed pages of her favourite books. It didn’t matter what others thought about their small, quiet life together – they were happy.

After the coma, Wendy barely recognises herself. When she’s not holding the love of her life’s hand, accompanied by the beep of the life-support machine, who is she? The nurse tells her to talk to Naveem – that he can still hear her – but she doesn’t have a single thing to say.

Suddenly Wendy can’t bear the silence. She needs something, anything, to talk to Naveem about. Suddenly she’s losing herself at fairgrounds packed with crowds and candyfloss, she’s at the airport, waiting for the whoosh of the planes as they take off, making friends with the neighbour she has spent over a decade avoiding.

Knowing that every breath her husband takes might be his last, Wendy has no choice but to try to carry on without him. Should she feel guilty about living while his life is on pause? And when – if – he wakes up, will he still love the woman she has become?

I really enjoyed this odd book.
I loved the two female characters and how there friendship developed after 10 years of not really speaking to each other.
But what I really enjoyed was Wendy Dixit’s path of self discovery, after her husband’s accident which left him in a coma, Wendy found her own voice and made new friends and eventually realised that she could live her life without her husband but did not want too.

Mr and Mrs Dixit are a quiet couple going about their normal lives when a tragic accident leaves Mr Dixit in a coma. What follows is the story of how Mrs Dixit copes in the aftermath. Uncovering secrets, discovering some of her own hidden away feelings and the realisation of things she would change about their relationship.

In all a sweet story - I know that sounds like a bland description but it's not meant that way, it's lovely and each story arc gets tied up in a nice way.

Also just a shout out to Mrs Rampersand...loved this quirky character. Would love to find out more about her and her life!