Me Without You
By: Kelly Rimmer

Genre:
Contemporary romance, Women’s fiction

Quotes:
“She could be barefoot for the rest of our lives, and I'd love her disgustingly filthy feet with every bit of strength I had.”

“I have no idea what happens after you go, but it will be better because I knew you.”

“Life is a journey. You don’t have to travel, but you always have to be going somewhere or you stagnate.”

Summary/Review:

Lilah MacDonald is a determined, stubborn, sassy woman, as seen through the eyes of her true love, Callum Roberts. This is an emotional story of falling in love, healing, forgiveness, and devotion. I love the classic love story with themes of never giving up hope and following your heart regardless of the consequences. This story line was too predictable for more with less twists and turns.

Thank you to Kelly Rimmer, Forever Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#kellyrimmer
#netgalley
#forevergrandcentralpublishing
#advancedreaderreads

"Me Without You" by Kelly Rimmer is a poignant exploration of friendship, love, and the enduring power of connection. The novel intricately weaves together the lives of two best friends, Callum and Lilah, across two decades. Rimmer's narrative unfolds with emotional resonance, delving into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of life-altering choices. The characters are vividly portrayed, and the author's sensitive prose captures the essence of their evolving bond. "Me Without You" is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching journey that resonates long after the final page, reminding readers of the profound influence friendships can have on shaping our lives.

Kelly Rimmer wrote this book knowing full well she was going to try to rip your heart out, and she did it well. There is an ominous tone from the beginning insinuating something wasn't right, and you can tell through the first 3/4 of the book that something is in fact wrong, you just have no idea what it is. By the last quarter of the book, you fully understand the situation that you have somehow gotten yourself into, why Lylah is acting the way that she does, and you worry for Callum and whether he will make it out of this situation alive.

I will say the actual twist at the end I quite literally never expected. This book, even though I knew something bad was coming from the beginning still kept me hooked and interested. Never once did I get bored, or think it was predictable. It was a lovely book that reminds you to make the most of what time you have left on this earth, while also just showcasing the kind of love everyone wants where you have someone that compliments you perfectly like two puzzle pieces fitting together.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Kelly Rimmer and her stories so much. She always make me feel all the feels, the joys and the pains of real life experiences, where everything doesn't always end perfectly. It took me awhile to get thru this one bc my brother passed away while I was reading it, and I had to take a break. Otherwise, this book was easy to read, and I found myself constantly wanting to come back to it, when I was in the right frame of mind.

This story takes place in Australia, and I haven't read many, if any, books set there. I enjoyed the setting a lot, and it made me want to visit!

This is another Rimmer love story--beautiful and heartbreaking, all at once. Our FMC is a tiny adventurous firecracker with a zest for life who pushes our MMC way outside his comfort zone. It's not so much a grumpy-sunshine trope, as it is a rule-follower meets rule-breaker. But, very similar vibes.

SPOILERS BELOW:
We learn a lot about their pasts, and learn pretty early on that Lilah has something holding her back from future commitment. I was so sure it was cancer. So when it is revealed that it was Huntington's, I was taken by surprise.

I did struggle with the whiplash of Lilah's mood swings and choices throughout the book. After finding out that she has HD and that it can affect mood and behaviors, it does make more sense. However, it didn't make it any easier to endure the on-off switch that was constantly flipping back and forth.

I also found it frustrating that she held so much information back about her illness, even during the periods in which she ended up getting close to Callum. I felt he deserved to know more than he did. But that may have been the author's intention...

I absolutely loved the thoughtful Christmas gift, and the way Delilah made sure Callum was connected with his family and had what he needed after she was gone. I liked the brief discussion of euthanasia and the way Lilah's story concluded.

I liked how the story portrays that people are a compilation of all the experiences they have in life, and that we really need to get to know people before making snap judgments about them. A lot of the things we find annoying or unacceptable about others, have an origin. And when we get to know those origins, the negative is often replaced with compassion.

This would have been a 5 star for me if Lilah had given Callum more information sooner, even if she still broke up with him bc of it. It just really bothered me that she didn't share any of it when they were getting so close, and then just cut him off suddenly without any explanation. It detracted from the genuineness of their connection.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This was not my favorite Kelly Rimmer book; I much prefer her historical fiction. I didn’t like either of the characters. I did find the discussion of Huntington’s Disease interesting and learned a lot about it but it didn’t make up for lackluster characters and a cheesy, overblown love story with mismatched characters. This book just wasn’t for me.

This heart-ripping novel was a beautiful love story that tugged at my heart strings and made me appreciate all of my closest relationships.

Callum, a marketing executive and Lilah, an environmental attorney, meet on a ferry in Sydney on their way home from work. Their relationship quickly blossoms, but Lilah repeatedly attempts to keep Callum at a distance because she has secrets that she does not want to him know.

This moving story, written by Kelly Rimmer, is a beautifully written novel that looks at choices we make to protect others and also to protect ourselves.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the Advanced Readers Copy. #NetGally #MeWithoutYou

A beautiful yet heart breaking story about Callum and Lilah that pulls you in from the start. The journey begins on the Manly ferry where they meet and their love story starts. It warmed and broke my heart all at the same time. The ending of the book is sad but Cullen and Lilah packed a lot of life changing experiences into the short time they had together. It taught Callum to embrace life and all it has to offer, and see things in a different light.

I have read a few books by Kelly Rimmer now and she is becoming one of my favourite authors. This book will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advance copy of this book. I would highly recommend it.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - November 5, 2023
Publication Date - October 10, 2023 (Trade paperback edition)

*I received an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @kelrimmerwrites, @readforeverpub and @netgalley!

If you like Nicholas Sparks books and movies, you will also like Me Without You!

I love when a book has an interesting first line that hooks you in and makes you really want to keep reading so you understand it. Me Without You has one of those fun first lines.

This book is a great reminder to be grateful and live in the moment because you never know what will happen in a day or year from now. It is a great reminder to stop and smell the roses or in this case, feel the ground under your feet with every step you take.

I really enjoyed going along for the ride and experiencing Callum’s character growth and just being along for the ride as his entire worldview and world in general turns upside down.

I don’t want to give any spoilers but Me Without You taught me more about a topic that I didn’t know much about before reading this book. It also made me want to do some more research on my own.

Me Without You by Kelly Rimmer is now published, so read it today! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

There is no happily ever after; there is a happy for now. Me Without You is a new novel by NYT bestselling author Kelly Rimmer. We are introduced to two memorable characters. Callum is not looking for love when he sees the beautiful, barefoot Lilah on the local ferry. Their flirty banter causes both to fall hard and fast. But Lilah has no intention of returning his feelings anytime soon because her time alive is limited.

Talk about tug on heartstrings! Me Without You hit me in the gut. There's something about stories of terminal illnesses/diagnosis and love that hold a special place in my heart. Rimmer did a wonderful job balancing the facts of Huntington's Disease, optimism and realism. This novel is definitely in my top reads of 2024! Grab your tissue for this one, Bookhearts. Onions will be cut!

Me Without You is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heart wrenching and I feel gutted. Callum and Lilah randomly meet each other one day. What should have been a quick meet up turns into something so much more. The ending made me so emotional…so you have been warned. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. Love this author.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Wow this was a deep and emotional read. I have mixed feelings about it. I live with a chronic pain disorder that is slowly robbing me of any quality of life so I think that definitely affects how I felt reading this. It very much reminded me of “Me Before You”.
There is definitely a beautiful love story between Lilah and Callum. It’s a bit of an insta-love trope but that’s kind of part of it all. I think the love story got lost for me in the heartbreak. This book addresses a very important topic for those with debilitating and degenerative conditions. I admire the author for addressing it. I think because of my own experiences I felt a lingering sadness after reading this. I wouldn’t say I don’t recommend it, I think it’s well written, just that some readers might struggle with the topics here. Check triggers warnings and have tissues ready.

Thank you, net galley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am definitely a romance girly, and really enjoyed this one! This was my first read by this author, and definitely won’t be my last. I enjoyed the characters and the story! It was a heart wrenching story that I loved.

Goodness, this book ripped my heart out and tore it into shreds. That being said, it is a beautifully written book about love, hope, courage and being willing to risk it all. I loved it from the beginning until the end even though many tears were she’d.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

I didn't realize this was one of Rimmer's old works; I thought it was new. I liked the love story, but I'm not sure about the portrayal of HD -- it felt jarring to me. I prefer Rimmer's more recent books.

Me Without You was such a rollercoaster of emotions. In the pages of this book, I found a beautiful story about life and love. I liked how it portrayed very real characters and how it addressed illness and how it can change everything. I liked how it showed us an unusual but also especial relationship between Callum and Lilah.
The story broke my heart but I also mended it a little. It was really sad in many parts but it was also beautiful.
I had read books my Kelly Rimmer before, but this time it was a totally different experience and I truly enjoyed it.

Thanks to my lovely friends at Forever Romance for an arc of this story. This one will take you on the emotional roller coaster, so buckle up my friends.
I think the comps for this work are specially well. You know how it's going to end before you begin, but I truly did enjoy the journey this Aussie author took us on. I feel like I will need to revisit this one in a year or two and see if I feel the same, and I love a book that I can do that with!

I have read a few books by Kelly Rimmer and loved them all. I started reading this book blindly so I had no idea what it was about It was a love story with a sad ending which is not the genre I am into at the moment. It was too much of a tearjerker for me.

I admit I expected more of a historical fiction like the other Kelly Rimmer books I’ve read. But ladies and gentleman, she’s also a fantastic romance author! It was a slow start, but then the characters came to life on the page. I don’t love when there is a hidden reason a character acts they way they do, but it comes to light too far into the book. But the love story was solid in the end!

Kelly knows how to rip your heart out. Oh my gosh this book was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once

Oh my god, this book. This book made me sob and laugh and feel all the feels. If you like Jodi Picoult books, you'll love "Me Without You".