Our Life in a Day

Tom and Esme take a step back after ten years to reflect on their relationship. Esme challenges Tom to come up with the 24 most significant or defining moments of their ten years together. Toms reflections will break your heart. Mental health features largely in this book as Tom could be called a typical male in that he has tended to stay quiet and struggle on rather than express his thoughts and feelings. The book explores depression, the spiral of addiction and the impact that mental illness has in those closest
But this book has warmth, wisdom, kindness, real soul. To read it is to hold your breath, swallow the lump in your throat and blink away the tear in your eye. Whilst smiling.

At last a love story that's realistic and deals with all the issues of being in a real relationship. I wasn't to keen on Tom's character at the start as he was definitely not the stronger part of the couple and I felt that he gave into Esme for a quiet life. It wasn't until his back story came to light that I saw him as being equally as committed to their future. It's a clever style of writing and I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book in advance to review.

A quite brilliant book, taking a unique narrative framework to create a story about love gained, love lost and love in general. How society shapes us and how we shape our relationships to suit ourselves based upon our needs. Tom and Esme are a kismet couple who are great for each other until it becomes too much.

Fewery writes with a conciseness and clarity, I read the book in less than a week ripping through chapters at will. He has created two very rounded characters - a forthright female with her own ambitions and stubborn as hell, while in Tom he has written a man who has his demons and is wary to share them. This is a great portrayal of mental illness; we as men need to open up and share our problems - when you communicate openly you can share the burden but also find some resolution and consolation in being honest about how you are feeling.

At times, the narrative does wonder from first person into a third person telling but that is a minor quibble for a book that is light yet serious, funny yet assured. It should be a major success

Amazing read! The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

The reason I requested this book is that there was quite a hype on Twitter and I was curious. As it was labeled as "Women's fiction" I expected the usual heartwarming, funny book that is a lot of fun to read.
I was wrong, this is an amazing book, heart wrenching and full of emotions.
I started and couldn't put it down, I was engrossed in the plot and in the ups and downs of the characters.
I loved Tom and Esme, the realistic description of the relationship and how the mental health problems were written.
A wonderful reading trip, so full of emotions and so moving.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Orion and Netgalley for this ARC

Thank you Orion and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

What is there to say other than this book is a gorgeously done, emotional rollercoaster that absolutely crushed me right in the heart. I devoured this story in one very fast sitting, as I fell in love with Tom and Esme and their love story.

I completely adore stories that let you really connect with the characters, and Jamie Fewery did amazing work of creating very human, broken, flawed characters who are so easy to relate to, root for and love. I was 100% invested in Tom and Esme - I held my breathe, got mad, cried and laughed right along with them as the story moves through snapshots of their 10 year relationship.

I also entirely appreciate the work that Jamie did in very honestly exploring the realities of mental illness and its impacts on not only a person's life and mental space, but the impacts on their relationships. It has been brilliantly done here, and my heart broke over and over for these characters as they struggled through this journey.

This book is beautiful and heartbreaking and wonderful, and I cannot recommend it enough. Get this on your winter reading list, it will be well worth the ride.

A peek into a couple's life in 24 hour increments.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.