I really liked this book. I often forget about women's fiction when, in fact, it can be really enjoyable to read. This is told in multiple points-of-view and has an air of mystery throughout the story. I had a pretty good idea of the most likely scenario/outcome (and I was correct), but had no idea of the details until the end. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It would be a great book club read.

I love, love, love this book!! An amazing debut for Ms. Abby Fabiaschi, this is a tender, humorous, thoughtful book about dealing with the death (by suicide) of a loved one. The story is told via three alternating perspectives - Brady, an often not-present husband and father prior to his wife Maddy's suicide; Eve, their seventeen year old daughter; and Maddy herself as she tries to influence Brady and Eve from beyond, helping them to understand what has happened and to move on with their lives. Though multiple POVs can be annoying or make the story seem choppy when not done well, the author expertly blends these views into a riveting read. Exceptionally well written, all of the characters are deep and fully believable. Fabiaschi made me feel as if I knew this family personally.

This should definitely rank as one of the best books of 2017. I highly recommend it!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Abby Fabiaschi and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this fantastic book!

4.5★s

When Eve and Brady lost the person they loved the most they were shattered. Their grief manifested itself in different ways, with them both alternating between extreme guilt and violent anger. No one knew what to say – Eve’s school friends drove her nuts while Brady found himself accosted by well-meaning single women (and sometimes not single) with offers to “help”. Maddy was their life, and her suicide was such a shock – their refrain of “why” and “was it my fault” was ongoing.

While Maddy watched from above, she spent her time observing her seventeen year old daughter’s struggles; her husband’s anger and knowing she had to help. Her constant knowledge of their thoughts, and her ability to influence and support with virtual hugs gave both Eve and Brady a measure of peace. And Maddy was determined to find a special person to replace herself in their lives. When Eve’s tutor over the summer was a lovely woman named Rory, who’d also had grief in her life, Maddy was sure Rory was the one.

But the question of “why” remained in their hearts and on their lips. Would they ever discover the reason why Maddy had needed to leave them? Would Eve and Brady find the peace they craved?

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi is this author’s debut novel, and what a brilliant piece of work it is! Heartbreaking and traumatic, yet uplifting and filled with hope, I Liked My Life is beautifully written – I especially liked (view spoiler) My thanks to Goodreads friend Christine for her recommendation of this book; one which I too highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

Maddy, a 45 year old woman, takes her life by jumping from the roof of the library, leaving no suicide note. Husband, Brady, and teenage daughter, Eve, are left to sift through the whys and the wherefores. They will learn much about themselves as they struggle to cope. One doesn't always have the luxury of knowing why something happens.

The grieving process is finely drawn here. The disbelief, the guilt, the anger. Brady is no good at reading the women in his life. As the neighborhood divorcees swarm, the new widower yearns to be left alone. Eve seems to be written so right, no one "gets" her these days and everything sucks. And all the while, Maddy is watching over them, loving them, doing what she can to ease the way. But she won't be around forever . . .

As another reviewer noted, the multiple POV thing is starting to wear thin, but it really does work well here. The story told is not so heavy as to be maudlin.

What a unique and wonderful book!! I don't believe I've ever read anything like this. "I have found the perfect wife for my husband." When I read that starting line and that entire first paragraph, I was hooked. Maddy has committed suicide and has not passed on to the "after life" and thinks she has found someone for her husband. The story is told by Maddy, husband Brady and daughter Eve. Maddy is able to send messages to Brady and Eve to get them to do or say certain things. Somehow they sense she is still around but find it impossible. Both devastated by her death and wanting to know why, Brady and Eve, never having been very close, begin to get to know one another, although they still have some rough patches. As a reader, you also wonder why she would have done such a thing as leaving her family. Brady finds her diary, which he shares some entries with Eve, and in reading those entries, we start to wonder if the life as a wife and stay-at-home mom got to be too much for her.

The writing is spectacular and the ending had me in awe and in tears. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. I loved the characters in the story. This is a book I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy.

So enjoyed this book! What a debut. I was totally invested in the characters and the storyline. I loved the shifting points of view of the three main characters, and the elements of surprise sprinkled in. It was fast paced and had heart and depth. I think this book will appeal to a lot of people as there are 3 main characters: a wife, a husband and a teenage daughter. It combines family drama, a hint of magical realism, grief and loss, guilt and regret, forgiveness and redemption. Can't wait to see what Abby Fabiaschi writes next!

Maddy is a ghost! She was a woman who had it all. A successful husband, a beautiful teenaged daughter and a lifestyle that most would envy. So why did Maddytake her own life and leave her family in such shock and despair?
Maddy is in a limbo type of place right now. She is able to watch her family struggle but cannot ease their pain. She can only project suggestive thoughts that usually do get transmitted. She has a mission to see that her family will be able move on and live a good and happy life before she can cross over to the other side.
Abby Fabiaschi has produced a wonderful debut novel. The writing pulled me in immediately and the book only got more interesting as Brady and Eve's grief and guilt were explored. The questions about Maddy's life and her family's journey through this difficult time are portrayed with real human emotions and realism. The ending was surprising, realistic and satisfying as it brought closer to the story. I did not see that coming!
I appreciate Net Galley and St. Martin's Press allowing me to read this advanced reader's copy and this is my honest review.

I Liked My Life is an exceptionally good debut novel by Ms. Abby Fabiaschi. I absolutely loved it. Without a doubt it will make my top ten list of 2017 reads; if I had finished it a week earlier, I would have bounced a book off my 2016 list to make room for it.

This is a superb character study of two people, Brady and Eve, especially Eve. The story has great depth and is very moving, bringing me to tears (good tears) at the end. Madeleine (Maddy), wife of Brady and mother of 17-year-old Eve, has committed suicide by jumping off the roof of a library. The tale is told from the perspectives of these three characters. I sometimes find this method of storytelling disruptive to the flow, but in this case it worked well. I was impressed by how REAL these people are, including Maddy who is hovering above her family, not on earth, but not quite in heaven. A supernatural element? Perhaps, but who are we to say? I thought it worked well. From her vantage point Maddy is able to read minds and telegraph ideas and suggestions to those on earth. Her goal is to bring Eve and Brady together and to find Brady the right partner to help both him and Eve come to terms with their loss. Though this is a book dealing with serious issues, there is a steady flow of comedic relief coming primarily from the thoughts and words of the main characters. I loved all three of these people and felt very involved with their issues.

I was glued to the story 100% of the way; I was given so much to ponder. The narrative is pacy, and the ending is terrific. I was pleased to see an epilogue. This novel is so well done, and I will remember and think about it for a very long time.

Kudos, Ms. Fabiaschi!

Highly recommended.

I wish to thank Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press and Ms. Abby Fabiaschi for an advanced copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are mine alone and not biased in any way.

Great read and easy to follow story line. Look forward to reading this author again

I really enjoyed reading about the struggles and then the connection formed between a father and his daughter after a tragedy. I would have rated this higher but I didn't like the twist added at the end of the book.