Even if it's full of potential I couldn't connect to the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

There's quite lot of drama that unfolds. It's poignant and thought-provoking about how life and loved ones etc can be taken for granted. It also shows very well how things can unexpectedly change in an instant.
The emotions that entail are powerful and realistically written. The book also at times can be sweet and uplifting. It's a very good book to look out for this summer.

Mrs and Mr Naveem Dixit, from Chomley, are perhaps quite a typical couple from the rigmarole of hanging up a picture to the appliance shopping to the almost having to justify themselves about their childlessness status in a half-jokey kind of way. They are like many other couples, just getting on with what they have to do and the chores of life. Then everything changes... Mr Dixit is in an accident and is in a critical state.

Mrs Rampersad, their neighbour who is pretty brazen in attitude, is clearly trying to help by her immediate questions in her "urgent" manner, before Mrs Dixit has proper chance to gather thoughts and get her head around what has actually happened to her husband. She's quite a contrast from Mrs Dixit. Her comments keep pricking throughout, with more intensity as the story between these 2 women unfolds. Somehow though, they become a little closer as Mrs Dixit starts to live life as her husband lies in hospital.
The way the story and characters are all knitted together creates moments that are heartbreaking and yet with moments that are uplifting and heartwarming.

Drew Davies takes readers through each emotional day that Mrs Dixit endures and means you are with her every step of the way as time unfolds. I liked this style. It fits this particular story very well and makes it feel realistic and will keep readers turning the pages to see how life progresses for each of the characters.

The subjects covered within this book makes this an important fictional work, because people seem to talk a quite a bit, taking things and people for granted. It's also just a good story to sit down to with a cup of tea or a beverage of your choosing and enjoy.

Naveem is a taxi driver, Mrs. Dixit, as she is referred to in most of the book, is his slightly older wife. They met later in her life, and sadly were unable to have children. Their lives are fairly routine, he goes to work, and when home, spends time making tiny models and maintaining train sets.

One day Naveem is in an accident and falls into a coma. Mrs. Dixit, along with their upstairs neighbor, navigates through the time trying to piece together who he was when he wasn’t with her. There are some implausible situations throughout the book that for me, made it a bit less enjoyable.

I felt the characters were elderly, but it turns out she is only 56, he is younger. The lives they live are for the much older. This also took something away for me.

The book was well written and edited, it was just a bit too disjointed for me. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading With or Without You but I have to say I really didn’t enjoy it. It is about a man who has been in an accident and his wife’s story from him being in hospital to him being released and that’s really all there is to it. Not much happens, when something does start to build up it just stops suddenly. I found myself feeling really bored and if I wasn’t reading this for a review, I wouldn’t have finished it- which is rare for me. The only question I’m left with after reading is- what was the point? Nothing groundbreaking came through from the relationships, nothing was particularly “tied up”, nothing really explained or leaving you with questions. None of the characters particularly likeable. You’re just waiting for things to pick up and they never do.

I was all set to talk, like a lot of reviewers, about this book starting in the middle. Because it did seem to, it started when her husband had already been in the coma for a while, when some other story elements had happened, so we were plunged into a story in progress with no background.

Then I realised that, for some reason, the Kindle version of this book opens at 35%. Because I don't usually have the indicators on when I read, I hadn't realised. Things did make a bit more sense when I went back and read that first section.

(I checked this on two devices and it was consistent on both.)

But now that I don't have that to talk about, I don't have much to talk about. Because this is a book where not much happens. I did like the small, loyal group of friends Wendy gathers as time goes on, but that's really about it. This is a book with lots of words, but they don't add up to a lot of action. I know that suits some people, but it didn't suit me.

Do try it if you're interested, just remember to check you're starting at the start!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is certainly a different concept of a love story. It is not just that it is a book about hope, friendship, dreams, multi-racial relationships and expectations of yourself and of others.

Mr and Mrs Dixit are a couple form very different backgrounds. They differ in age and race and live a quiet life, which revolves around them quietly enjoying solitude together. When Mr Dixit is involved in a car accident resulting in a coma, wife Wendy finds herself unable to understand what she should do or how to behave.

The characters are interesting and diverse. They lack likeability but they are interesting. The book is well written and has some surprises about expectations and friendship which I enjoyed very much.

Happy to recommend and award 4 stars.

This was less than enthusiastic for me. Extremely slow moving. First 30% of the book was literally hard to focus because I felt like each ‘day’ was the same. Action was nil. I realize it was a heartwarming story and uplifting love moments, but the action in between didn’t keep my attention.

🏥 With or without you- Drew Davies 🏥

I got through this book super quick which if you know me by now, you’ll know that means I really enjoyed it. With or without you was quite different to the kind of books I usually read, but it’s always good to get out of your comfort zone from time to time. I really loved the unexpected twists and turns and the unlikely friendships that were built. It focuses on a wife (Mrs Dixit) who’s husband is in a Coma. As the story unfolds there are so many unexpected events and findings that just makes this novel so gripping and enticing.

I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Definitely a different read for me but one I couldn’t put down all the same. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity of reading before publication.

With or Without You by Drew Davies a fair four-star read. This took me a good chunk of story to get stuck into, but then once I did I really enjoyed it, even if it was a little spooky at times as on the surface myself and my husband have many similarities with Wendy and Naveem, so I don’t know if that was putting me off as I didn’t know where it was going, anyhow when I got into the story it did get better and very endearing. Its also a very good reminder of how you never know which turn life will take next, I suspect more will be feeling this now having lived through the start of a global pandemic, and the uncertainty of what comes next, but I think the reminder of what of, will be good for many.

With or Without You is a story about relationships with partners, neighbours and family.

I struggled to get through to the end; it wasn’t always easy to follow the events of what was happening and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

I absolutely adore Drew Davies' writing style. His stories are original, poignant and heartwarming and this one is no different. I really enjoyed the original perspectives in this book, showing insight into the challenges and love of an inter-racial marriage. There was a huge twist in the book which I could never have guessed. I'm glad the main characters, which I grew to adore, managed to maintain most of their integrity.

The characters were unique and quirky, and the plot well structured, with some light amongst the darkness. All of this kept me hooked on this book and I can't wait to read more by this author. 🥰🥰

A heart felt read about how life can derail to change your future and distroy your present..well written and executed. Not your typical romance.

You have a happy marriage. You keep yourselves to yourselves. You love peace and quiet and than bad luck strikes. What do you do when something serious happens to your husband? You are totally lost and try to keep on living the way you did before. 

But life as you knew it does not exist any more. You are forced to change and you often wonder how your husband would feel about it. What will happen when he comes home again? Will he accept the changes? Will he reject them? Maybe he will have changed too or maybe he will never regain consciousness ...

No matter how long you know someone, share your life with them, people still manage to keep secrets. Sometimes you assume something to be true, but you could not have been more wrong ...

This is a story about getting to know people better, standing up for yourself and seeing a different side of life. 

There is a fair bit of humor in this story. I will keep in mind that there often is a big gap between what you think is true and the actual truth. Talking to each other is the only way to clear the air and avoid heartbreak. 4 stars

Thank you, Drew Davies and Bookouture

This story centers around a couple living in London. Naveem, the husband , is a taxi driver. In the beginning of the story, Naveem gets into a car wreck and is in a coma. His wife, Wendy, has to adjust with life without him. She develops a relationship with her upstairs neighbor who helps her get through life on her own. I enjoyed the humor and wit of the neighbor who I think saved Wendy from a lot of troublesome situations. The book was hard for me to push through at times but I like it overall and enjoyed the ending.

My first impression was 'what a strange book' even though it was well written I found it very hard to read. Personally I would have liked a bit more background to the main characters, I didn't like the reference to Mr and Mrs and overall it just wasn't for me and I was relieved when I got to the final page.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

What a lovely story - I loved all the characters and the way that Wendy found the confidence to live the life she wanted. A perfect read for troubled times!

Wendy lives a contented but insular life with her husband Naveem. Then he has an accident and ends up in a coma and Wendy's life changes forever. As time passes and there's no change in his condition, Wendy starts to make connections with those around her and those she has previously shunned.
This was a very poignant tale of second chances and turning your life around. I found it a little difficult to get into but once I had I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

A wonderful read a lovely book about second chances.A book that drew me in I laughed Incried a totally moving read,#netgalley#bookouture

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Wendy, who’s tackling the possibility of a life alone as her husband Naveen is in a coma following a car accident. The agonizing uncertainty of trying to cope with when, or even if, her husband will wake up (and will he be the same person as before) is an interesting premise - but sadly this book doesn't really use the potential of that premise.

The story seems to start in the middle, assuming you know the characters, their backstory and understand why they think and behave as they do. There were some good elements about friendship and relationship, and toward the end Wendy did take some positive steps forward, but I found reading this a bit of a slog. Would I not have felt obligated to finish it, due to receiving an ARC, I would have logged this as DNF.

Thanks for the advanced copy, I finished this in an afternoon. Took me a few chapters to get into then i was flying.

Laughed and cried, a book about second chances. It made me cry.