The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent
by Ann Jacobus
Description
Eighteen-year-old Del is in a healthier place than she was a year and a half ago: She’s sober, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, and volunteering at a suicide-prevention hotline. Her own suicide attempt is in the past, and living in San Francisco with her beloved aunt has helped her see a future for herself.

But when Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Del’s equilibrium is shattered. She’s dedicated herself to saving every life she can, but she can’t save Fran. All she can do is help care for her aunt and try to prepare herself for the inevitable—while also dealing with a crush, her looming first semester at college, and her shifts at the crisis line.

After Aunt Fran asks for her help with a mind-boggling final request, Del must confront her own demons and rethink everything she thought she knew about life and death.

This book really touched me to the soul. I lost my twin sister less than a month ago. I was her caregiver.

It is sad when Del works at a suicide helpline, and yes, cares about the callers. . .As she prepares to begin college she discovered her beloved aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Of, course she believes she can save her. She already had an alcohol addiction and drug use and had tried to take her own life.
But, when given the fact there is no cure, only months or weeks, she is floored when her Aunt Fran allows her to end her own life faster and end the pain. What a sad request for both. She was fighting her own demons daily. Del did all she could, and did consider her Aunt's request, but in California this is illegal.
It was a beautifully written story of life, living, and seeing death daily overtaking Fran.

In The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent, eighteen-year-old Delilah ("Del") is recovering from her own suicide attempt, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, and most importantly, maintaining her newfound sobriety. Living with her beloved aunt and working at a suicide prevention crisis line, Del is making a way for herself in San Francisco.

Del's progress is upended when her Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. Now left to help tend to Fran's hospice care and one mind-boggling final request from Fran herself, Del is forced to rethink her whole life and face many hard decisions, meanwhile tackling her own demons along the way.

Ann Jacobus writes a courageous story of a brave girl learning to cope with her own problems while being side-swiped by a whole new reality. Del's struggles are so universal and relatable that even if you've never faced addiction or attended AA, you can still feel your soul be moved by her epic journey of self-discovery and growth along the course of the novel.

The writing is beautiful and moving throughout. In fact, the poetry written by Aunt Fran that is interspersed periodically really tugs at the heartstrings and sets your emotions on high.

Further, if you're like me, and are as riveted by the novel's conclusion and find yourself reading the Author's Note, you'll see how this gorgeous book came to pass and I can guarantee your eyes will no longer be dry, if they aren't already waterfalls!

This book is another stunner by Ann Jacobus, which publishes March 7, 2023.

**Special thanks to the author and Netgalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.**