I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was a heartbreaking read but I am so glad I read it, I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

The topic of this book seemed so intriguing and the format with the letters to her daughter seemed like a great idea. I was fully prepared to have my heart wrenching while reading this based on the subject matter. However, this book had no depth for me. It was a story, sad things happened but something about the writing felt very surface level and I never felt a connection to the main character. Her journey with cancer didn’t seem genuine and realistic. She said the right things I just couldn’t get into the story for whatever reason. Not the right book for me.

It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of delightful characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was such a heartbreaking read, especially since the author went through her own health issues, so have the tissues handy. I think I found it so emotional as my beloved aunt was recently put into palliative care and she is only 65…She is only eight years older than I and is more like a big sister than an aunt. It was a hard day yesterday seeing her at her care home and her not knowing who I was.

I love epistolary novels so the chapters that were Jess’ letters to Edie were my favourite parts of the book. I liked that the story showed how a terminal illness can happen to anyone, young or old and how the repercussions can reverberate throughout the ill person’s friends and family. The book doesn’t really focus on the illness or the character being sick, the focus is on the thoughts and feelings of our main character. Jess was so strong through her diagnosis, how scary it must have been thinking about leaving your baby behind.

I loved the way the book showcased how “unconventional” Jess’ family and support system was. It brings to light that we don’t all have a spouse, dad or significant other to rally around us and we need to do whatever it takes for our kids and ourselves. This isn’t just another cancer story, it’s more about mother-daughter relationships…Jess and her mom but also Jess and her infant daughter. I would love a sequel to see how Edie, Jake, Gemma and Caroline are doing in the future. All. The. Stars.

"I Wanted You To Know" by Laura Pearson is an emotionally resonant and heart-wrenching exploration of love, loss, and the enduring bond between a mother and her daughter. This novel is a poignant and beautifully written narrative that will leave readers with a deep appreciation for the power of words and the strength of the human spirit.

The story revolves around Jess, a single mother who experiences the profound joy of giving birth to her daughter, Edie. Jess's love for Edie is evident from the very beginning, and despite the challenges of single parenthood, she finds immeasurable happiness in her role as a mother. However, their idyllic life takes a tragic turn when Jess receives a devastating diagnosis that threatens to tear them apart. Faced with the possibility of leaving Edie to grow up without her, Jess embarks on a heart-wrenching journey to ensure her daughter knows the most important lessons in life.

The narrative is structured around the letters Jess writes to Edie, a touching and intimate way for Jess to impart her wisdom, love, and guidance to her beloved daughter. Each letter is a testament to Jess's enduring love and determination to leave a lasting legacy for Edie. As the narrative alternates between Jess's letters and her life in the present, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster, experiencing the highs and lows of Jess's journey.

Laura Pearson's writing is exquisite and deeply moving. She skilfully captures the raw emotions and complexities of Jess's situation, as well as the powerful connection between mother and child. The characters are authentic and relatable, making it easy for readers to empathize with their struggles and triumphs.

At its core, "I Wanted You To Know" is a story about the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It explores themes of love, forgiveness, and the profound impact that a mother's guidance and love can have on a child's life. The novel reminds us of the importance of cherishing every moment and expressing our feelings to those we hold dear.

This book is a poignant and emotionally charged read that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or has a deep appreciation for the bond between parent and child. "I Wanted You To Know" is a beautifully crafted story that will tug at your heartstrings, leaving you with a renewed sense of the power of love and the importance of passing on wisdom to the next generation. Laura Pearson's novel is a touching tribute to the enduring legacy of a mother's love, and it will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookandttonic for giving me a copy of I Wanted You To Know in exchange for a review. A re-release, with the new copies hitting shelves Oct 10 2023.
Jess is a 21 year old single mom, living at home with her mom and her new baby. When she is diagnosed with cancer and given too little time she begins to write letters to the daughter she won’t get to see grow up.
I absolutely cried reading this book, many times. Jess is a powerful protagonist, she has already made some hard choices and now she is making even harder ones. Her best friend is the friend everyone wishes they could have. With the time remaining Jess is facing and reconciling the relationships in her life that she feels are unhealed, while battling an illness that is stealing her energy and life.
Emotionally charged and absolutely genuine. If you missed it the first time around I definitely recommend picking it up now.
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Laura Pearson's "I Wanted You to Know" is an emotionally charged and exquisitely crafted novel that delves deep into the intricacies of grief, love, and the power of communication. With a narrative that alternates between the heartfelt letters of a mother facing a devastating diagnosis and the poignant perspective of her estranged daughter, Pearson weaves a poignant and hauntingly beautiful story. The characters are rendered with authenticity and vulnerability, making their journeys through pain and reconciliation profoundly affecting. Pearson's prose is lyrical and evocative, inviting readers to explore the depths of human emotions. "I Wanted You to Know" is a stirring exploration of the enduring connections that bind families together, even in the face of life's most profound challenges. This novel is a testament to the enduring power of love, compassion, and the need to express our deepest truths, making it an unforgettable and deeply moving read that lingers in the heart long after the final page.

What a beautiful book by Pearson. It made me think about my relationship with my mom. Also with my son. What would I say to them and write to them if I knew I wouldn't live much longer? A heartfelt look inside intimate relationships. Loved it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

I don’t know know how to review this book. A very sad story but told well. Jess had a baby at 21 Edie and then was diagnosed with cancer and the book is her writing letters to Edie and going through her treatment. She is single, her mum , her best friend and her father who does not live with her mum are her support. So hard to read at times. Blows your mind. Having had cancer at 44 the way a 21 deals with it, amazing. Have tissues ready. I won’t spoil it but do read it.

I loved this book, wiping my tears away as I sobbed uncontrollably.
A book that makes you feel every emotion that Jess feels.
The heart wrenching letters to her baby girl
Don't get me wrong, it's full of reality, love, kindness and family.
An amazing book, read it, it will inspire you to make the most of every day.

What a brilliant read this is, sad, emotional, thought provoking and just extremely well written.

All the characters are so well described and what a great friend Gemma was. I was hooked from the very first page and couldn't put it down.

I cannot speak highly enough about this brilliant book and thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

I have no hesitation in recommending this 5 star read.

"I Wanted You To Know" is a book about a 21 year old woman who gets diagnosed with cancer and passed away. All the while she's a brand new mum to a baby that's only a few months old so she writes her letters. This book shook me to my core and hit emotions in me that I can't even describe. My own mother passed away recently and I have a little girl so I was emotionally attached to this book from the get go. It is written exceptionally well, portraying all the steps from diagnosis to the end and what it all entails for her aswell as for those she leaves behind.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ending is very abrupt and I would have liked to have had a "1 year later or a few years later" chapter in the end! But who knows, maybe a sequel will come along!

I wanted to like this book more but it fell flat for me. I had a hard time picking this up and even trying to read.

I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. I loved in particular the character of Jess she was wonderful and her love for her mother, Gemma Jake and above all Edie lights every page and every line. It makes you feel that it could happen to you too, Jess is a very special character and I believe very few people could face such adversity with half her courage. Great read.

Wow..
For someone like myself who has battled cancer this book hits you in all the feels and memories on what it felt like going through chemo and treatments and all of it.
Tears ..there were Definitely tears.
Written with heart. A story of a battle of body and dealing with family, ex, and your best friend.
As hard as this book was to read it was so well written and touching. I want to read more from this author if her books are this great!!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

4.5*

Jess is a 21 year old new mom, and she is dying of cancer. Told between the present, dealing with her diagnosis, treatment and health, and notes she is writing for her daughter Edie to have when she’s grown up, we see Jess’s battle. Her relationship with her single mother, her absent father, her daughter, her best friend, and her one true love, the father of her child.

If you want to cry your eyes out and feel sad I highly recommend reading this book. The emotions are real and raw. I didn’t find myself invested in the characters much, but the emotions got the best of me still. Not a 5* for me because of the lacking in the characters for me, and minor medical details I didn’t think were 100% accurate.

Wow, this is such an emotional, beautiful, devastating read.

Jess, just 21, is facing challenges no-one would expect to have at her age. Two years into her degree, she finds she is pregnant, she makes the decision to leave University, to return to finish her course at a later date. Little does she know that a devastating diagnosis is about to shape her life.

I won’t pretend to understand the feelings of Jess, and those who have received a Cancer diagnosis. That would be disingenuous, and insulting. I can imagine in that situation, you would want a Gemma alongside you. Someone who will face the issue head on, and not brush it quietly under the carpet.

I flew through the pages. It is a book that I constantly thought about, while I couldn’t read. If I had had a clear day, I could have read this book in a single sitting. As it was, it took me just under 48hrs. I highly recommend you read this book in private, definitely not on public transport. Not just because of the obvious emotions you will feel, but because I found it impossible to read this book silently. I gasped out loud a few times, and spoke to the characters occasionally.

This is a book that makes you put your own life into perspective. All the trivial worries, all the nonsense and anger we hold onto, pales into insignificance. I know this is a work of fiction, but there will be a Jess out there right now. Sadly this fiction is a reality for many people, that’s what makes it so hard, so emotional, so unjust. I’m rambling now, I know, but I suppose what I’m trying to say is that this book will make you think.

Sometimes readers ask for book recommendations that will make them cry, maybe they need to release that emotion in themselves. This book will be the book I recommend to that reader from now on. I ugly cried, smiled and laughed through the pages.

It is a well used trope, to say you won’t forget a book; but in this instance, it is a genuine, heartfelt statement. This is a beautiful, tragic, devastating, poignant, honest book, and I’m so glad I read it.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A young mother is struck with a devastating diagnosis and must find a way to connect with her daughter and give her the life lessons every parent wants to impart to their children. She begins a series of letters that allow the reader to trace her story, and her daughter's story, through a journey of love and loss. I really struggled to get into this one, in spite of the premise looking intriguing and it being an interesting read...it just took a very long time to feel any connection to the characters.

Wow. This was just heartbreaking! And although I had difficulty finding a connection with the MC, Jess, the emotions this book pulled out of me came fast and easy, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Pearson's work!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc in exchange for a review!

Wow! I needed a box of tissues to get to the end of this emotional, heartbreaking story of love, loss and grief.
When Jess goes to the doctor for what she thinks is a blocked milk duct from breast feeding her infant, she receives a shocking diagnosis. This cannot be true. She is only twenty-one!
She immediately begins to write letters to leave to her daughter Edie. Nothing left unturned.
But... can she finish all of her thoughts before it's time to go?
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Boldwood Books for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review. I will be thinking of this story for a long time.