I love Lucy Diamond books and this one did not disappoint. The characters were so well written, with each persons individual journey and development always leaving me wanting more. Some characters are loveable from the start, some grow on you as you go through the story, and absolutely nobody is perfect. The different family dynamics in the book are truly relatable and I was left rooting for them all to resolve their issues together.
An uplifting and hopeful story that I will definitely recommend to others.

I hadn’t read any blurb about this book so wasn’t sure what to expect. I am sorry but found it a very difficult and extremely sad read. I understand that was the point and over the year from Leni dying we saw how each family member dealt with their grief but I have to say that I did not really enjoy this one. I would have liked a bit more about Leni’s relationship with the family at the beginning and was quite shocked when all of a sudden she was dead and people were writing on the FB memorial wall. I also think a bit of humour interspersed within the story might have lightened it up for me.
The ending was good, bringing everyone together but unfortunately this book was not for me and it was not good for my mood.

I have not read any of Lucy’s books but a fair number of my friends recommend her. So I thought I’d request this book on Netgalley.

It was written well - the characters are believable and have great depth.
The storyline will make even the hardest of you cry, as it focuses on a family and how they deal with the death of their daughter/ sister.

There are quite a few characters to keep track of as this is a blended family but none of them felt surplus to requirements. Each character deals with the death in a different way and each struggles immensely.

My only comment would be that coupled with the memorial page messages and the numerous characters, there is quite a lot going on in this story.

But an enjoyable one nonetheless.

Everyone deals with death in a different way and Leni McKenzie's are no different.
Alice, her younger sister, is struggling to cope that they had rowed and were barely speaking with Leni was knocked off of her bicycle. Her grief has manifested in anger mainly. Now she is on a mission to find out what Leni was doing that night and in her last days.
Will, the younger brother, is in total denial and blames himself for her death. He took himself off to Thailand after the funeral and doesn't want to talk about it.
Belinda, her mother, talks to her via a psychic, on the premium rate phone lines. That way she feels Leni is still with her.
Tony, her ex-husband, had been fairly distant from his family and tries to bring them together in grief.
As with anything, other factors combine and things will never be the same again for anyone, but are they good things or bad things?
A big hug of a read.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Another wonderful read from Lucy Diamond.

I was hooked from the first chapter but I must admit that it took a page or 2 to work our what was happening.

Leni and her sister Alice were best friends and siblings. After a sudden accident, the family were torn apart.

A wonderful read that will have you laughing and crying in the same chapter.

Wow, what to say…..
Such an incredible exploration of grief in all its forms. This book opened my eyes, made me feel seen, gave me ALL the feels whilst totally uplifting me at the same time. How is that even possible?! Awesome piece of literary genius.

Leni Mackenzie and her sister Alice have always been close and when Leni is killed in an accident Alice is devastated. Not least because for the last few weeks of Leni’s life the sisters didn’t speak.
When helping her mum to clear out Leni’s things Alice comes across some things that make her wonder how well she really knew Leni so she sets about finding out what Leni did in the weeks before she died.
It’s not only Alice who is struggling. Her mum is spending a fortune trying to contact Leni via a psychic, her brother Will fled to Thailand just after Leni’s funeral and her Father is anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby number 4 with his younger partner.
Will Leni’s death tear apart the family she cherished or will they find their way back to each other and get through it together.
This book is all about love, family and the ripples that a sudden death can send through that family. There are moments you will want to cry and moments that will make you laugh out loud. Beautifully written with an underlying message that there is light even in the darkest days.

I really enjoyed this, it was a warm and compassionate look at a family dealing with grief and loss. I hadn’t read anything about this so the first chapter after the prologue was a bit of a shock, but what an amazing story! Every member of the family was struggling at the start and it was wonderful to see them overcome their individual challenges and reconnect.
This is definitely Lucy Diamond at her best.

My only complaint was a couple of threads didn't get tied off neatly and I need answers 🤣

The Best Years of our lives is a standalone story, telling how the members of a family come to terms with the loss of a close family member. The idea is good and spending a year seeing how each member of the family copes with their loss individually and finally comes to terms with their loss was interesting and insightful. It took me a long time to get into the story but the ending was worth the wait.

One of the problems was that I didn't love the characters, I liked them and understood their grief and their decisions but I never loved them. I felt that took away from me really getting to relate to their grief. I felt the story was missing the real relationships that bound the family to Leni and it would have been good to have more of the first part before her death to understand these relationships better. There were some great support characters though and these made the story for me.

I usually enjoy this author's work and this story was good, don't get me wrong, but it didn't hit the mark for me the way her other stories have. I found it very slow going and wanted to skip over parts to get to the story. However, havings said that I am sure it will be a popular story with most.

I love Lucy Diamond’s novels! Though this one is a bit different.
The standard theme of romance however it is in different ways this time.

This novel goes through how the family deals with Leni’s passing. This is not a sad story though so do not be put off by it.

It really goes into detail of everyone’s point of view. And how they eventually grew closer.
Major character development in each of them.

I know Tony the father is to be seen as the bad guy but he really isn’t. He has improved the most throughout.

Thanks to the publishers for sending this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Best Days of Our Lives was a well written story about grief and how differently it can impact people. There were many subjects that were touched on in this book such as guilt and adultery; it was done well but I didn’t feel particularly engrossed and it took me longer than usual to read. It was ultimately uplifting but it just wasn’t for me.

The McKenzie family are struggling to come to terms with a tragic loss. Each of them is dealing with it, or not dealing with it, in their own particular way.
We are taken with each individual as they find their way through the difficult time.
I love Lucy Diamond's books and this could be her best yet. I sat up late into the night to find out what happens!
Wonderful characters and storylines, a truly heartwarming must read.

It took me a little while to get into this book but I'm so, so glad I persevered. Absolutely beautiful writing with great characters. The family's journey of grief and moving forward was wonderful.

A Lucy Diamond book never disappoints. I loved this book. It was very well written, poignant at times, humorous at times, and very insightful. I enjoyed hearing from all four members of the McKenzie family, and from Leni too, albeit in a different way. The ending was just right. I was just sorry to have reached the end. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacular. That’s what The Best Days of our Lives was. Wow.

After Leni McKenzie died in an accident, we follow the McKenzies navigating through life in which their beloved sister and daughter no longer exists. Alice tries to piece together her sister’s last weeks, while Will, the youngest sibling, hops on a plane right after the funeral, not ready to deal with their loss. Belinda, Leni’s mum, develops an unhealthy, yet comforting relationship with a clairvoyant, while Tony, Leni’s dad, is getting ready to become a father for the fourth time all over again after three failed marriages.

What we see are human beings going through messy, conflicting, and complex emotions due to losing someone they loved so dearly. It’s grieving to the fullest, following all stages from denial to coming to terms to their new reality. It’s messy, it’s hard to read - but somehow Lucy Diamond made it oh so beautiful. There was so much love for Leni, so many warm memories, and the family dynamics felt raw and real. Seeing the McKenzies finding their way in this new reality, experiencing happiness again and creating ways to honor the Leni they loved and miss so much in their lives - I think I’m going to water my eyes all over again for each and every one of them. While I did cry my eyes out reading this story, I would definitely describe The Best Days of our Lives as a fun and happy book. The last couple of chapters could each be THE happy ending, yet Lucy Diamond granted us one after another chapter just to make sure every member of the McKenzie clan was truly, genuinely okay - missing their sister and daughter every moment in their lives, but full of hope for their future, because they were privileged to had Leni in their lives.

I’ve never read anything from Lucy Diamond before, but I’m definitely going to dive into her previous work. If they’re half as good as The Best Days of our Lives, I’m going to read a Collection of Greatness.

Five full stars.

What an incredibly moving story about loss, grief, hope and hopelessness, such a touching book, well written with the grief well handled

Leni is in a slump - so much has changed since her last birthday and she just wants to everything to go right but he mums late to the party, her sister is acting strange, her brother's brought his new girlfriend along and her Dad? Well, he's nowhere to be seen...

What started off as a story discovering the last few weeks of Leni's short life turns out to be a quest for closure for her family as they all come to terms with her untimely death, 6 week after her birthday.

The Best Days of Our Lives is beautifully written; the nuances and differences between everyone's grief is sensitively illustrated and Lucy Diamond masters the fine lines from each of their perspectives.

Not my normal read about family dynamics but a welcome addition to my collection and a well earned 5 stars.

A truly heartfelt novel that will have you reaching for your tissues many times throughout.

The premise of the story is captivating and remains that way until the very end. We are introduced to many different characters who despite mistakes they may have made I grew to love by the end. The family dynamic between the characters has potential to be complicated but the author completely pulls it off. It's this that many readers will relate to as there are so many families that are different to the 'Norm'.

There are a few little mysteries along the way which do add to the story - Leni's story particularly but I feel its these mysteries that help give closure to a devastating tragedy.

Overall a very tear jerking read with some happiness added in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. It’s such a heartwarming and emotional read and captivated me right from the start. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a bout Leni who is knocked off her bike and sadly dies, the story is told through her sister Alice, brother Will and parents Belinda and Tony, who recount their stories about Leni, which is written is such a beautiful way, with twists and turns to Leni’s story and lots of family secrets revealed by the end. The characters are all likeable. Such brilliant. Definitely recommend. Thanks to NetGallery and Quercus Books for an arc of The Best Days of our Lives in exchange for an honest review.