Great book Keeps you interested all the way though. Great family drama that continues to build to a fantastic ending.
All the feels at the end.


Thanks to the Author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release if this book.

An enjoyable and interesting read about families, adoption and death / grief. I found the main character a little annoying though and I also found it too corny at times. I did like some of the side characters such as Tuesday and the daughters. It also doesn’t end as expected so it’s not predictable. I would read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy.

This novel focused on the aftermath of the protagonist’s spouse passing and leaving her shrouded in grief and many unanswered questions. Her quest for the truth is the driving force behind this book. Highly enjoyable!

3.5 Stars

Heidi and Johnny are a 50-something couple with two daughters, an upholstery restoration business and a dark secret neither of them talks about. Johnny suffers his second heart attract a year after his first one and passes away.
The family is grieving, trying hard to cope up with the loss when Heidi finds a picture in Johnny’s phone. Her instincts tell her that she needs to find out about the picture. After much hesitation, she does and finds out something that could change her family forever.
The book starts with Johnny’s death and continues to tell us what and how things change. Will the family bonds survive, or will everything fall apart forever?
The cover picture drew me in, and the premise sounded like a wonderful read. The book started out well, and then, sigh! I just couldn’t connect with it. The characters individually were cool. They had their identities, quirks, vulnerabilities, and strengths. Zoe was an absolute favorite. They did well together too. So what’s the issue?
For me, it was the limited third-person POV that rested on Heidi’s shoulders. She was grieving, trying to handle her present and past while keeping her business afloat. She was supposed to have all of my attention. But she didn’t.
The story had too much 'tell'. The setting was 'showed' to the reader, but the emotions were told. Yes, there were a lot of gut-wrenching scenes and heartbreaking emotions. Yet, none of them reached me. In short, it was like having a transparent screen between me and the overwhelming experiences of the characters. The writing did not break through this barrier and come to me.
Maybe if the viewpoints altered between the main characters, I would have been able to see things from their side and know them for who they are. Despite being a third-person narration, I only see what Heidi sees. And it looked like she couldn’t connect with any of the other characters. Sure, they shared a good bond. It just wasn’t enough for me.
Some of the dialogues were powerful. All of them belonged to other characters. Another issue with the book was that too much happened in succession, and when we come towards the end, it’s more or less sorted out. Again, without Heidi’s involvement. She is probably the weakest character of the book. I understand the reason to show her vulnerable side, she was grieving after all, and she had to be real. People make mistakes. Wrong decisions are a part of our lives. That’s always acceptable. But here, in the book, it didn’t feel real.
However, that’s just me. I know readers who would love and devour the book. I hope they read and enjoy it (especially the ending).
Overall, not everyone is going to love this book, but they will remember some of the characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC copy.

This was a sweet, heartwarming story that's perfect in these times of stress. I really enjoyed this story - however, for some reason I didn't feel that connection to the characters- they didn't come alive for me. I am not sure why - the writing was excellent, the story was truly interesting, and the story was unique - not that same book we al have read 100 times. But I didn't get that "magic" I look for in a book. I am probably too harsh of a critic, but I look for that something extra and just didn't find it.

All that being said, I do think most people will enjoy it.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which (obviously) did not impact my review.

An emotional moving story.A book that drew me in from the beginning.So well written strong female characters family secrets. So involving so much revealed, Looking forward to reading more by this author.#netgalley #bookouture

Thanks so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed this book about grief and coming to terms with past decisions. What we do can change the path of our lives. When Heidi loses her beloved husband she is intrigued by a photo he took on his phone just before his death. The photo links to their past and a decision they made years ago. Heidi has never fully forgotten that decision and this might have been her husband's last gift. A book about what family means, the effect of our choices and the harm they can cause.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author in this genre. The other books I’ve read have been wartime sagas, namely the Wartime Bakery series. I loved those books though so was really interested to read this one. The book has a very sad beginning with Heidi’s husband, Johnny dying unexpectedly from a heart attack whilst he was out on his own. Obviously, it was completely devastating for Heidi and her two daughters, but when Heidi checks Johnny’s phone, she finds a blurred picture which he took as he was dying. Heidi believes he was trying to leave her a message, but isn’t prepared for the secret that her husband was keeping from her.

I thought this was a fabulous read, and really empathised and connected with Heidi’s character. To lose a husband unexpectedly, and then find herself caught up in several family secrets must have been just too much to bear. It’s really difficult to describe the story too much without revealing any major spoilers, but I think it’s safe to say that decisions made many years before have a big impact on not just Heidi’s life, but the lives of her whole family.

I loved Heidi’s character and felt that considering she had just lost her husband, she did seem to bear the brunt of other people’s grief, problems and guilt. There were times when I felt like she’d taken on too much and it was obvious she was finding things difficult. The basis of the storyline was emotional and reduced me to tears on several occasions, particularly the end of the story! It’s a book which is full of secrets, with everyone having something to hide. It also has a lot of life lessons and teaches us to accept the past as it can’t be changed, move on and learn from your mistakes. The characters, I felt, were all realistic, and whilst I didn’t agree with how some of them behaved, I connected with all of them. They were all suffering in one way or another, and their actions and decisions showed this.

This was a wonderful, heart-warming, emotional and captivating read of how family relationships and secrets can change so many lives. Once started, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down until I’d finished it! I would highly recommend it, just don’t forget to keep the tissues handy!

Amy Miller, in ‘The Day My Husband Left,’ to be published January 21, 2021, explores the idea that everyone deserves a second chance.

Johnny and Heidi Eagle certainly know about giving second chances. After all, they own Eagles Workshop where they give cherished old furniture another opportunity. They are also familiar with keeping secrets. In fact, they have kept a life-changing secret for 37 years. Will this part of their life be beyond repair or will acknowledging it offer second chances? Heidi comes face to face with an opportunity that tests her ability to forgive and move forward. A photo attachment in an unsent text ignites the conflict in this novel. It appears that the moment Johnny knew he was going to die, he took a photo and was in the process of sending it to his wife. In the days following his death, Heidi looks for clues in the photo. Amid putting the broken pieces of her life together, she discovers what Johnny was trying to tell her. She knows exactly what the photo means. Acting on this new information will change her life forever. Will she be courageous enough to tell someone?

What an amazing read about resilience in the midst of grief! Her writing evokes strong and raw emotions, her characters deal with heavy burdens and grow as a result, and her storyline is unpredictable and moving. It is a difficult book to put down because we need resolution, and our emotions demand it. Miller’s novel about love, loss and lifelong friendships will have you questioning your ability to allow another to experience your forgiveness and take your extended hand up to reconcile and forge forward. Miller’s novel also warns us that in an effort to make things right for ourselves, we sometimes forget how others will be affected by our choices. This emotional and unique look at forgiving oneself and addressing the past will ruminate in your thoughts for days. Max’s words resonated with me today: “How are you this week? Are you swimming or sinking?” This has been a tough year for all of us in so many ways. With change due to the pandemic upsetting our regular routines and celebrations, are we taking the time to self assess and allowing ourselves a time-out to heal? How we deal with it now will influence how we interact and move forward in the days to come. So I ask again: Are you sinking or swimming? Please reach out.

Thank you to Amy Miller, Bookouture and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I received this book "The Day My Husband Left" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I thought this book was good but kinda predictable at times. I like the part where there were secrets, although like I said before, some were predictable. Not sure how I felt about the characters, I liked Zoe the best. Overall I enjoyed reading 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 found it quite hard to engage with the characters in this book, it was an enjoyable enough story but it didn't really grab me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Day My Husband Left.

I thought this was going to be more of a domestic or typical standard thriller, but its really more about family, embracing your mistakes and moving on with your life.

Heidi is devastated when the love of her life, her husband, dies from a heart attack. After his death, she discovers an odd photograph in his phone, which leads to a startling discovery and a secret she and her husband has kept secret until now.

On one hand, I liked the theme of family and the fact that many people make up a family, not just blood relatives.

On the other hand, I thought that Heidi and her mother both having children out of wedlock pretty corny, even a bit hard to suspend disbelief for.

I didn't like any of the characters, least of all Heidi's daughters, and didn't feel invested in the story.

I think some readers would enjoy this but this wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
(Slight spoiler alert)
Heidi is content with her life, her loving husband and adult children and their business upholstering furniture, until one day her husband goes out and doesn't return. She learns her husband has died of a massive heart attack, and that he has left her a mystery photograph. In discovering the photograph and its significance, Heidi revisits and uncovers family secrets.

This was a great read. Heidi demonstrates fortitude and resilience in the midst of her grief. All the female characters are strong and likable. I will be seeking out more books by Amy Miller!

A beautifully written heartfelt read that demonstrates the power of love and forgiveness, old family secrets and new beginnings! How the past shapes us and impacts upon future generations is key to this book, what we learn from the past, how we can change for the better and in doing so open ourselves up to future happiness! The strength and resilience of strong female characters and the similarities of them through the generations makes for a truly great read that will stay with you for a long time! Loved the characters, setting and storyline!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.