Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I disliked the first half so much that I almost gave up. The second half is what gets the 3 stars. I didn't like any of the characters at first, and the rampant cheating, one night stands, alcoholism, and non-communication really turned me off. However, I will say that the subject matter of HIV was dealt with very sensitively and the author obviously did a lot of research. After Victoria gets her diagnosis is when her character turns her life around, stands up for herself, and basically reinvents her life. I'm glad she got a happily ever after, but this is by no means a romance novel. I did like how all the separate plots came together (a little too neatly?) at the end. Can't say I'd recommend this one, though.

From the moment I started this book I couldn't put it down.

It's so hard to talk about this book without giving away some spoilers.

So I will just say, this book was funny, heartwarming, a touch angsty, sad and at times frustrating .
I wouldn't really put this under the category of "romance" but more under women's fiction.

Yes, there are romantic partners but not a lot in the development of the romantic relationship .

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.

This is a mad book. Mad in all the right ways. There are characters galore, in friends, family, neighbours and partners which all mix the book up and give it real strength and variety. Victoria is a fab person to lead the book. Full of doubt, sure, but also full of spirit and artistic temperament and most of all kind. There are so many hidden stories told as light is shone on them as the book progresses, that reading it is like a lovely long train journey with sights all along the way. The issue at the heart of the book is sensitively dealt with and no one can’t love an aging dog who loves his walks.

Excellent although it wasn't quite what I was expecting and took me by surprise! Victoria is in cruise control in her life. Comfortable in her relationship and job but not really fulfilled. It takes a night out and devastating news to shake her out of her rut. Along the way she has to face and deal with her fears, decide what she really wants from life, and she finds out how much her friends and family love and support her. My only criticism is that the ending felt a little rushed. But this is a very well told story filled with empathy, understanding and compassion, as well as a huge amount of twists and revelations!.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Nicola May for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really love Nicola May. Her latest book, How Do I Tell You, was such a good story. I just loved the plot, the characters, even the cover.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. This is the first book by Nicola May I have read. I felt that she wrote about a difficult subject it a sensitive manner. The story follows Victoria, as she reviews her life and friendships, after receiving unexpected news. I felt that the characters are particularly well written and I could perhaps see myself viewing things in a similar way. A story of ignorance and misinformation.
The story develops at a good pace and the changes for the better in some characters are heartwarming. The truths that come to light were unexpected but added to the interest level. It also shows that we don't always get things right first time.

I absolutely loved this book. I found it funny, heart wrenching and very well written. I had a hard time putting it down, thus the late night reading! This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this wonderful book.

Messy, gritty, heartfelt and emotional. Vic has a hard road to travel but it is a wonderfully told story that will keep you gripped. Yes, there are a lot of coincidences but I loved the characters and the realistic, if harsh, way they sometimes dealt with things. Brilliant.

3.5* stars excellent writing

How Do I Tell You deals with a subject that many people have no knowledge about or are misinformed. It's worth reading just to learn more.

Thirty-five year old Victoria has an absent father, an alcoholic mother and a brother who's addicted to gambling, also her relationship with her boyfriend of six years has stagnated. At this low point in her life she receives a life-changing shock and ultimately has to rely upon her family and friends for support. Victoria is one of the lucky ones, so many others in a similar situation are rejected.

The story line is sensitively written with bursts of real humour. If the reader is expecting a full-on romance, they'll be disappointed, this should be categorised as women's fiction, or general fiction.

Recommended.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

How Do I Tell You? by Nicola May is a deeply moving and thought-provoking book that takes a fresh perspective on personal transformation, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness. The story follows thirty-five-year-old Victoria Sharpe, a talented illustrator who seems to have it all—an unremarkable but stable relationship, a decent job, and a close-knit group of friends. Yet, despite outward appearances, she can't shake the feeling that something crucial is missing from her life.

After a wild night out with her best friends, Victoria makes a decision that prompts her to reevaluate everything about her life. But just as she's setting out to make the changes she believes will bring her the fulfilment she craves, devastating news rocks her world, threatening to shatter her future plans. What follows is a journey of self-discovery, pain, and unexpected hope as Victoria leans on her friends, family, and an unexpected romance to navigate the darkness she finds herself in.

The beauty of How Do I Tell You? lies in its handling of delicate themes with both sensitivity and levity. Nicola May expertly weaves together the endurance of friendship, the complexities of family dynamics, and the struggle to find purpose in life—particularly when faced with unexpected adversity. What could easily have been a heavy, sorrowful story is instead filled with moments of warmth, humour, and the undeniable power of human connection.

Victoria’s emotional journey is both relatable and inspiring. Her character feels real—flawed, uncertain, and searching for something more—but also capable of great strength and resilience in the face of hardship. The unexpected romance that blooms in her life adds a beautiful layer of hope and excitement, reminding us that sometimes love can blossom in the most unexpected places, even in the midst of despair.

The book challenges the idea of what it means to live a fulfilled life, addressing the social stigmas surrounding personal struggles and the complexities of healing from trauma. It is a poignant reminder that, even in our darkest moments, there is always the possibility of light.

Ultimately, How Do I Tell You? is an exploration of the tenacity of the human spirit, of overcoming adversity, and of finding meaning and love when life seems to take an unexpected turn. Nicola May has crafted a heartfelt and inspiring book that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to rebuild their life after a seismic shift.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a good story about a difficult subject. This is the first time I’ve read a book where the main character contracts HIV. I had never thought of all the implications the diagnosis would have on a person’s life! Victoria’s story was one of hope, friendships, family, and love.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Victoria is in her mid-thirties, and has a lot of the boxes checked for a satisfactory life - yet, she feels unsatisfied, but can't put her finger on what is missing. She spends some time with friends and decides to be active in her life to make some changes. But it turns out she doesn't have to make any changes, as something transpires in her life that is traumatic (she gets an HIV diagnosis). It is after this that her network of friends and family work to uplift her, but Victoria must learn to allow happiness to grow.

This book took a topic that is not normally written about, HIV, and showed that, yes, the light can shine through - which can be applied to a lot of traumatic situations. The author did a great job of depicting the shock and emotions that I would think someone would go through with this diagnosis; the reality of this was well researched, in terms of how one approaches their relationships thereafter. The secondary characters in this book were a nice touch for Victoria, although that may not always be the reality for others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is messy but I kind of here for it. The main character, Victoria, can’t seem to get herself straight. She’s trying to figure out what she wants for her life, career and in love, but she keeps sabotaging herself with every move she makes. On a night out she makes a rash decision that changes everything. Forced to deal with the consequences, she finally begins to reassess who she really wants to be. The author, Nikola May, explores sensitive topics thoughtfully as the main character Victoria pushes through adversity to take ownership of her life and find her happiness. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this opportunity to review this arc copy and provide my honest review.

This was a fabulous story about Vic who feels like she’s coasting at life and can’t work out what the exact issue is however when she suspects her long term friend of being unfaithful she has a one night stand at her friends hen party with unexpected consequences. I love the direction this book took however there was a quote at the start of the version I read which was a total spoiler for me sadly as I would have loved to feel Vic’s reactions more viscerally. That said this was a mature, thoughtful and very well researched book with some fabulous characters and a few interesting twists and turns thrown in along the way.

This is a lovely story with a lot of heart and soul, that will leave you
happy and fulfilled. I did not know the story was going to be
about the journey of our main character,,whom I love to call, “Queen V”
and her life journey. We are going to meet her entire family, one
ar,a,time, and become entwined in their lives and their unbreakable
bond, before and after Vik’s story take shape. This is a perfect
coming of age story that is so well written that no matter a
one’s,life experience, you’ll be there for the friends and feel
they will all find their way. do not miss this story!
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for the
download copy of this book for review purposes.

A very thought provoking story of a woman in search of her happy.. I have read many books where it takes a drastic event to get the character out of a rut and fully living life, but this is the first taken from this angle. The delicate subject matter is handled deftly with lots of levity interwoven and I came away with a more informed view. The endurance of friendship, the complexity of family, social stigmas and the struggle to find purpose, love and happiness in the face of adversity and fallibility coalesce into a beautiful example of the tenacity of the human spirit.

Such a heartfelt story! I enjoyed May's writing and found the book to be entertaining. While not an all-time favorite, it was still a good book to read in between the mysteries I've been into lately. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.