Amy Neff does not read as a debut author. Her first book, The Days I Loved You Most, is polished and especially well done. The flow of prose, the character development, the plot—all of these aspects of a good novel are here, in this novel.

The Days I Loved You Most is the story of a marriage. The two protagonists, Evelyn and Joseph, relate a beautiful love story, mostly told in flashback. After a lifetime of love and marriage, these brief flashbacks relate episodes from their life, their marriage, the strength of this love, but also the mistakes that are common in a lifetime.. Marriage is hard work, as Neff seems to understand.

I loved this book and found it difficult to put it down. This is the sort of story where the characters live on in the reader’s minds. I do recommend Amy Neff’s novel, The Days I Loved You most.

Thank you to publisher, Park Row and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. This is the sort of novel that readers will want to read over and over again.

The Days I Loved You Most is a beautiful and heartwarming love story. Told in multiple points of view and dual timelines, this story follows Evelyn and Joseph as they navigate the ups and downs of love and family. This story reminded me a lot of The Notebook. The writing was beautifully done and the characters were very likable.

The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff had glowing reviews and promised to be a romantic and heartfelt novel: it delivered on this promise in stunning fashion. I was intrigued by the premise of an older couple who love each other so much that they are willing to end their lives together rather than be separated.

When Evelyn receives a heartbreaking diagnosis, she decided she doesn't want to end up as a person who may not recognize her own children. Joseph, her husband, is so in love that he decides he cannot live without her. Thus, the opening scene of the book features a family meeting where Evelyn and Joseph reveal their plan to their middle aged children, who are, of course, horrified. The rest of the book moves back and forth across time as we see snapshots of Evelyn and Joseph's relationship in highs and lows. They also delve into each of their three children's coming of age and current issues.

This was written with beautiful language and description. I highlighted many quotes, and of course, shed some tears as well. I was eager to see where the story would go, but I will refrain from sharing. Suffice it to say this is a romantic and heartwarming story of family ties and what makes a relationship last.

I will recommend this to readers who like family dramas with heart.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Grab your tissues and a comfy blanket because this book had me riding an emotional roller coaster. It was beautifully written and I absolutely loved the love that Joseph and Evelyn shared. Wow, this book is bound to be a very popular book and I can see my patrons really wanting to read it.

I felt like something was missing in this book for me. I feel like the layout could have been and flowed better, it also could have been cut down a bit.

The Days I Loved You Most is the love story of Joseph and Evelyn. From childhood friends to lifelong lovers, they have spent 60 years of their life together. And after Evelyn receives a terrible diagnosis, now they have decided to end their lives together as they cannot imagine life without each other in it. This novel tells the story of their love, their family, their struggles, their joys and sorrows.

I think with any novel that spans a large period of time, it can be hard to stay invested throughout the whole story. That was the case for me in this novel. There were parts and periods of time that I was very engaged with, but then there were other parts and periods of time where I really just didn't care that much for the characters or the situations they were in. This story was very hit and miss for me.

Overall, I liked this one and would likely recommend it (and it seems most reviewers connected with it much more than I did). But I wasn't wholly invested from start to finish and found myself struggling to pay attention at times.

5 stars-“I know I am running, but to what, I’m not sure. My only hope is wherever I run, someday, somehow, we will meet again..”This one had a little bit of a slow start for me until I realized how it was playing out. We begin with Joseph and Evelyn telling their adult children that Evelyn has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and that they will end their lives together in one year’s time. The story is told in flashbacks beginning when the two met, alternating with current times. I appreciate that their love story isn’t perfect, it is filled with the trials and long marriage goes through over the years as well as the love that keeps it together. This book is so well-written and emotional. Make sure you have plenty of Kleenex handy! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

This book was so beautiful to me. Evelyn and Joseph’s love story was breathtaking, from learning how they first met to watching them grow old together over 60 years. This book tackled so many tough topics and definitely had me reaching for tissues, so be prepared. I loved the dual POV of being inside both Evelyn's and Joseph’s heads, as well as their children's. The way Joseph loves Evelyn and she loves him made me think about my own love story with my husband since we grew up together and were friends first before anything else. Joseph was there for so many hard moments in Evelyn's life. The way they leaned on each other for support warmed my heart.

I love how this author wrote about such a sad topic (sickness) and executed it to the point where I could feel the love that Evelyn and Joseph have for each other through the pages. This book reminded me of “The Notebook” . If you want to feel all the emotions and read about a heartwarming love story, family growth, overcoming disagreements, trauma, and heartache, and see how deep love can truly go and come back together as one, this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC for my honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley.
Wow! A tender story that takes on complex issues with regard to aging and illnesses. Readers meet Joseph and Evelyn as they are telling their children and their families about a decision they have reached about the end of their lives. Evelyn has Parkinson's and it is progressing rapidly; Joseph is aging but well. They have decided to fully live one more year together and with their families before ending their lives together on their own terms. We see the year unfold along with flashbacks to the decades of their relationship. As expected, the family shows a wide variety of reactions, and we see how they change and adapt over the year.
Neff shows the gift of engaging readers with characters who may not be likeable to everyone. I did not find Evelyn a sympathetic character in the flashbacks and was still able to feel compassion for her in the present. The three children were a bit flat but each represented a different view/lifestyle in the overall plot.
Neff weaves difficult questions into a love story that involves several generations. Ultimately, it is Evelyn and Joseph's life story. I appreciate that it was not sugar coated. Readers see the reality of an over sixty-year relationship. We see the traumas and tragedies as well as the blessings. Hopefully, this book will offer an opportunity to reflect on our own life experiences and think about how to handle difficult and painful situations that arise in different ways for all of us. I certainly cried at several points in the narration as it touched tender places in my life.
Kudos to Neff for taking on end of life decisions. Not everyone will agree with their choice, but, hopefully, will think about their own families and how to make transitions easier for other generations.

I can’t believe this was a debut. It kind of reminded me of the movie the notebook. I had to keep reaching for tissues. This was tear jerker.

I felt that this was a well thought out and interesting story about love, family, end of life and jealousy. I wanted to like the book but I didn't feel connected to the characters. Worth reading but didn't love it.

"The Days I Loved You Most" is a book that swept me off my feet! It tells the beautiful story of Evelyn and Joseph, two people whose love transcends time and life’s challenges.

From the moment I started reading, I was hooked. Amy Neff’s words painted a vivid picture of their journey, filled with ups and downs, laughter and tears. I couldn't help but root for Evelyn and Joseph - and their children, feeling their love radiate off the pages, even through uncertain times.

Her writing style was captivating and heartfelt. It made me laugh, cry, and feel a whirlwind of emotions. Their stories spanned across different eras, reminding me of the enduring power of love and the strength of the human spirit - and most importantly, family.

"The Days I Loved You Most" is a heartwarming tale that will stay with me for a long time. It's a perfect read for anyone who wants to experience the magic of a timeless love story!

The Days I Loved You Most is such a masterpiece. This is a touching story full of love, sadness, joy, bitterness, dreams, regrets and most of all tenderness. Tears fill my eyes as I read the book, reveling in the happiness and sobbing in the sorrow.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this sweet ARC.

I was pulled in with the love story. I see some of that, but truly there seems to be a lot of selfishness and complaining.
I was broken hearted for Evelyn and her diagnoses, I certainly would have been mad about hearing this myself, it was the before that was strained. Thank you @NetGalley@ParkRow@TheDaysILovedYouMost

This debut generational love story told in alternating chapters both warms the heart and pulls at the heartstrings. Evelyn and Joseph’s love story spans decades and these snapshot chapters highlighting the lows and highs of their life together creates an imaginative scrapbook. Evelyn is diagnosed with stage two Parkinson’s and is dreading the slow decline in quality of life, leaving her to decide to end her own life. Joseph having loved Evelyn since the first time they met can’t imagine living without her wants to end his life with her, one year from now. Their three children and grandchildren are heartbroken about their decision.

I enjoyed reading this one. Evelyn and Joseph felt like my grandparents and learning their story in parts from different perspectives felt like getting an exclusive insider look at a story nobody else would know besides the two lovers. I love that it was raw and real and allowed the reader to see the challenges and heartache of life as much as the sweet moments. This one took me a bit to read only because I felt like I could put it down and come back to it already knowing how it would end (which ended up being a little different than I predicted).

The Days I Loved You Most deals with themes of familial relationships, love, loss, war, world crisis, divorce, death & dying. Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for an advanced e-reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Be prepared for the heartbreak

Wow. This was such a well written book.

This is a story of pain, loss, love, and grief.

Evelyn went through so much during her life but her love with Joseph never faltered.

They have built a beautiful garden together..

Absolutely gut wrenching while being loving and happy at the same time. How is it possible? There were many times throughout this book where I had to stop because I knew my emotions would overtake me. This book really makes you stop and think...and I am a better person for it. This book has the power to change your outlook on life, relationships, death, and dying. It truly is a powerful book.

I loved the way the book traveled through different timelines, showing us glimpses of their past and current life. We really grew up with Joseph and Evelyn and watched their story unfold. It was beautiful. You can tell Amy really poured her life into this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amy Neff for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This story involves Evelyn and Joseph, and their love story. At almost 80 years old, Evelyn received a terminal diagnosis. Joseph knows he can’t live without her, and in order to go out together on her own terms, they plan to end their lives one year from that date. Their children and grandchildren are devastated. The book goes back and forth between the present and the past, and between multiple POVs.

This is a tough book to rate. There were things I loved and enjoyed, but several things about it that I did not.

This was a raw, emotional read. I could relate to Evelyn’s postpartum issues and wanting to find herself after motherhood consumed her. At certain points I got emotional because the writing was so detailed that I could feel the feelings.

But overall, I felt just sad and depressed. I also couldn’t find Evelyn likable and I felt Joseph didn’t deserve her. I don’t know if it was the way their story was written or what, but I just couldn’t find it in me to love her. I know that her mindset and what she went through is real and a lot of her issues stemmed from her relationship with her parents and her traumas, but it wasn’t very enjoyable to read.

This book shouldn’t be marketed as “the next greatest love story” because it caused me to go into this with much higher and different expectations. If I hadn’t gone into it with that in mind, maybe I would have liked it more.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced reader copy to read and review.

The Days I Loved You Most is an insanely beautifully and extremely heart wrenching book but so worth the read.
The book is about Evelyn and Joseph who have been in love for over sixty years and have experienced so much life together. Now they are going to face one of the toughest things they’ve ever dealt with before. Evelyn is sick and Joseph can’t live without Evelyn. They choose to live the best life that they possibly can for the next year. Continually falling in love, spending time with family and having fun. Be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

Writing: B
Story: C+
Characters: C+
Setting: B
Best Aspect: An emotional story with a lot of love.
Worst Aspect: This start off great but when there was a flashback, I didn’t feel connected to the story or the character and this made me lost interest in the story.
Recommend: Yes.