Thirty-five year old Victoria Sharpe has a decent job as an illustrator, a perfectly good if predictable relationship, and great friends, but is in a rut. Her dream was to be an artist, but no longer makes time to paint. She has two amazing friends and they used to party a lot in the past. When one makes the decision to get married, they plan a hen weekend away. Drinking, dancing, and laughing lead Victoria to make a bad decision, one she might not have made if she had been truly happy. When she returns home, she finds out that her partner had slept with someone he worked with, so decides they need to take some time away from one another. When she shares some information with him about her infidelity during her weekend away, he leaves heading home where his father has gotten him a job. Now Victoria needs to determine what her next steps will be.

This is a book with some very heavy topics. Victoria's mother is an alcoholic, her brother is addicted to gambling, she has a medical issue and she is unhappy in her job. I don't want to say anymore than this about the story, but will tell you how I felt. Although there are some heavy issues, Nicola May does an exceptional job with the story. She doesn't make it tragic, but shows how anyone could know someone or be someone in these situations. I enjoyed how she incorporates recovery and care within the story. There are some excellent characters such as her mom's neighbour and the older man who lives on his boat near her mom's home. Her BFFs react in ways that would probably be initial reactions, but come around and support one another. There is humor throughout the book, often in unexpected places. Vic's boss is definitely one I wish I had along in my career. He was caring, put his employees feelings ahead of profit and actually helped Vic decide to follow her dreams. She had one client she worked with, an author she illustrated covers for and I loved him. He has such a great sense of humor and every time he appeared, he made Vic laugh. There is a twist along the way that made me smile and I loved the way this all wrapped up. Although some issues are difficult, the overall feel of this book is uplifting and hopeful. One I am glad to have read.

A story of ups and downs and sometimes I found it a little heavy going. The ending was enjoyable tho. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I'm finding it difficult to put into words how much I loved this story. Sad, funny, heart warming and informative all rolled into one. I highly recommend this book.

Nicola May does an impeccable job of raising awareness about a very controversial disease with her novel, How Do I Tell You?. Victoria Sharpe lives a very monotonous lifestyle and never strays from her usual path. She begins to question if her life is missing something and makes the bold decision to let loose while out with friends. Flirtations with a handsome stranger lead Victoria to make a decision she had no idea would change the course of her life forever. Nicola May handles this novel with such care and I admire her for choosing to portray a story such as this with such grace. I hope that this novel can continue to help raise awareness and help others who are affected in one way or another by this disease.

Not my usual book - kind of heavy in parts, but still not bad. A good story about life! I did enjoy the ending!

This has been a very enjoyable read, it was not what I was expecting at all but that turned out to be a good thing.

The main focal point of the story is around someone that is newly diagnosed as HIV positive. Which is what happened to the main character Victoria and we join her on her journey from start to present on how she copes and the changes that take place for her. I have to say that having read this, it was quite the eye opener for me, as I learnt quite a lot with regards to the virus of HIV, some of which includes things I never even realised.

Anyway the story was very uplifting but also emotional at times, but there was lots more going on in the story than just the HIV storyline, from family secrets, friendships new and old, romance, new vocation. It really was a lovely read, one that I finished in 2 days.

Admittedly the topic of HIV might be upsetting and distressing for some readers, however I really do think that the author has written it in such an amazing way, that it will actually make people rethink their views on it, in a good way. I know it certainly has with me.

How Do I Tell You? is a heartfelt and emotionally-charged novel that takes you on a journey of self-discovery, love, and resilience. Victoria Sharpe’s life is turned upside down when a night out with her friends leads to devastating news that forces her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about her future.

I really connected with Victoria’s struggle to figure out what she truly wanted out of life. Her job as an illustrator and her stable relationship should’ve been enough, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I found her decision to make life changes both relatable and inspiring, and watching her navigate the aftermath of unexpected events kept me hooked.

As Victoria begins to rebuild, her path takes unexpected turns, including a blossoming romance that offers hope amidst her grief. I loved how the story captured the complexity of dealing with loss, finding new connections, and ultimately, learning how to open up again.

While the book has moments of sadness, it also beautifully explores the possibility of healing and finding joy even after everything feels lost. I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from the messiness of life and showed that sometimes the brightest light emerges from the darkest places. I’ll definitely be thinking about Victoria’s journey long after finishing this book.

The first half of the book was really rough for me and stopped reading several times. Once I got to about the middle, and towards the end, the story picked up. I believe the storyline is important but I just could not connect to the characters in this particular book. It just wasn't for me personally,

Victoria Sharpe’s life is fine—until one wild night and a gut-punch twist send her into a whirlwind of self-discovery, heartbreak, and unexpected romance. With friends who lift her up and a love story that sneaks in when she least expects it, this novel is equal parts tearjerker and feel-good inspiration. A must-read for anyone who loves a heroine who stumbles, falls, and rises stronger.

The storyline starts in 2005 at Victoria's (Vic) mother's house in Windsor, after finding her mother once again the worse for drinking she returns home feeling emotionally drained and totally fed up.
A while later she attends her friends hen party and ends up staying the night with a complete stranger.
At the wedding she can't get it out of her head what she has done wrong and when she feels ill and goes to the doctors she is absolutely horrified at what the results are. At first she can't talk to anyone else and bottled it all up but gradually she finds herself opening up to her group of friends and also some unexpected new friends. One of whom is Joti, a nurse who lives next door to her mum, they didn't get off to a good start arguing over her mum's dog going to the toilet on her grass, but eventually they become good friends and Vic realises that other people also have secrets that they don't want to talk about.
Things don't always go as planned and this is no exception, soon there are friends who care, friends who don't know. Relationships are hard for Vic, who can she trust? Who will trust her? Family are just as complicated, Vic just doesn't know where to start, who will understand? Work is no different, she can tell some people but not all! This is a new take on the subject of being ill, and who you can rely on and yet it's also got a romantic side to the story.

I have read and enjoyed most of Nicola May's captivating books and this is no exception. I really enjoyed it and I think I learnt a lot from it too.
A five-star read from me.

#HowDoITellYou
#Stormpublishing
#Netgalley

This was an amazing book. I loved every moment of it. It tackles a subject that I have never experienced in a novel and it was very sensitively done. I loved all the characters, especially Vic and Jerico. It was a real emotional rollercoaster.

A fun, quick read!

I really liked the side characters and even the MMC! They were a whole lot of fun, and I found myself drawn to them from beginning to end. The humor was also pretty good, and I laughed quite a bit!

However, I didn’t like our FMC, Victoria, most of the time. I was constantly frustrated with her, her actions, and her unaccountability to them. The hypocrisy was actually maddening.

I very much dislike books that promote cheating, and unfortunately this was one of those—whether I liked the main couple or not is irrelevant when their relationship started out the way it did. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and it really bugged me how Victoria couldn’t muster up the courage to tell Nate (her longtime boyfriend before the MMC) even when he told her about his own infidelity.

Had the main couple's relationship started out on better ground, I would’ve rated this higher because I did really love the two together, but my morals have me giving this book a lower rating.

The writing was kind of iffy at times, but regardless, I liked this enough. It had mostly likable characters, and I loved the journey it took me on, even if it was annoying at times. This was fun overall, and I did like the main couple a lot; I just hated that it had to start out the way it did.

3.5 ★

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!

In How Do I Tell You, Victoria Sharpe is a 35 year old woman, with a career as an illustrator, a boyfriend, and lots of friends. However, even with all of this, she grapples with an underlying sense of dissatisfaction with her life. One night, she makes a decision that will affect all facets of her life.
What an interesting book, a look into how HIV is affecting people today and the misconceptions that still abound about it.
This is the first book I've read by Nicola May, and I'll definitely look up more.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

This book took a few pages to get into it but once I did I couldn’t stop! I was not expecting what happened to the main character Vic. Her emotions and turmoil was written so well I actually was getting angry/sad/annoyed on her behalf.

I don’t want to give any spoilers but I personally thought this book did a lot to educate without it feeling forced but also break down stigmas. It’s a hard read at times but so worth it

In How Do I Tell You, Victoria Sharpe is a 35 year old woman, with a career as an illustrator, a boyfriend, and lots of friends. However, even with all of this, she grapples with an underlying sense of dissatisfaction with her life. One night, she makes a decision that will affect all facets of her life. She is plunged into despair and has to recognize who she can rely on to help her in her journey forward. In the face of despair, Victoria discovers comfort through the unwavering support of her loved ones and a burgeoning romantic connection, ultimately revealing that hope and light can emerge even in the bleakest of circumstances.

The themes of HIV, family unrest, and an overwhelming feeling of dysthemia are presented in this narrative. Nicola May's prose deftly captures the intricacies of Victoria's experiences, rendering her character both relatable and compelling. The richness of the supporting cast, including eccentric friends and family members, enhances the narrative and adds depth to Victoria's journey as she learns to accept love and support. It is an uplifting narrative that weaves together the elements of romance, healing, and family drama while addressing serious issues with grace and humor. I was deeply engaged in Victoria’s journey as she begins to embrace her new reality, ultimately she does discover love.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

What an interesting book, a look into how HIV is affecting people today and the misconceptions that still abound about it, alienating its victims almost as much as it ever did. Vic felt as most of us would, frightened and grieving the loss of the life she had and the future she thought she would have, but her story opened up her eyes and the eyes of the reader as she made her way through the channels of hope and help with the virus and along the way exploring the story of her family and friends. Attitudes change to the highlighted issues in this story, but they change slowly for many this author will have done a lot to help others understand how HIV can spread and affect everyone, not just gay men as we were told originally, and it isn't the death sentence it was or the dreadful advertisements lead us to believe. Vic's story is full of lovely characters, each with their own story to tell, and keeps moving at a good pace, leading to 'just one more page' rather than turning out the light and going to sleep. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and look forward to more from this author.

This is the first book I've read by Nicola May, and I'll definitely look up more.

There are some important messages in this story and I really felt for the characters as they each dealt with their own struggles. I read the book in 2 sittings and find myself still thinking about it a few days later. A great story about surrounding yourself with the right people - friends and family who will support you and accept you for who you are and not accepting anything less.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for an ARC for review. All opinions are my own, and my review is voluntary.

A truly uplifting and heartwarming novel that packs
A real emotional punch. Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure it’s one of her best. A difficult subject tackled sensitively the writing is as always brilliant drawing you in and transporting you to the heart of the book. Cannot recommend enough, perfect for fans of Josie Silver, Emily Cousens, Rosie Walsh.

Thoroughly enjoyable read! A novel that tackles a really taboo subject - even now - in a favourable light. It's a slow burner and at first, I didn't warm to the main protagonist, I found her cold and pretty rude! However as the story developed and the sub characters started intertwining with Vic, it showed her in a better light. The author has clearly done a huge amount of research into the topic and cleverly details the ignorance of people who haven't maybe experienced anything like this first hand. A great story for raising awareness. Thanks to Net galley for the advanced copy

In this unique and incredibly emotional new romance novel, Nicola May brings Victoria Sharpe’s story to life with fantastically written emotions and details. An illustrator with a perfectly good relationship and great friends, Victoria can’t seem to figure out what she is missing until one reckless decision completely changes her life and her future. With the support of her friends and family and a new chance at happiness despite this massive change, readers and Victoria must discover whether this change will derail her life or put her on the path she is meant to be on. Deeply emotional and surprising, this romance novel has a unique plot and a fascinating cast of characters that readers will grow to love and respect. The characters and their relationships with each other are the stars of this novel, and readers will love seeing how Victoria grows and changes over the events of this new title. The plot of this novel is expertly handled and deeply respectful of the subject matter, and readers will be immersed in May’s writing style and in the locations (that complement the characters and their relationships perfectly) she brings to life in this new release perfect for readers looking for something new yet familiar.