Monday, 4 May 2020

Book Review - The Book of Us by Andrea Michael

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Title: The Book of Us
Author: Andrea Michael
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: One More Chapter
Publication Date: 6th March 2020
Rating: 5 Stars

We’ve got some important things to talk about. It’s time.
Cass and Loll used to be inseparable. They met at university and they made sense, like two halves of a whole. They had planned their lives around each other, writing down their dreams in The Big Book of Our Life – the things they wanted to achieve, the places they’d go after they finished university. But then one night changed everything.

Seven years later, Loll receives a letter from her old friend. The coming year will be the year they both turn 30, but Loll might be making it to 30 alone. Cass has cancer. Loll had believed she would have her whole life to come to terms with Cass’ betrayal, but time is running out. Cass’ final wish is to complete The Big Book of Our Life, but has enough time passed to heal old wounds?

Beautifully written, with a really emotional base to it, this really is a heartwarming story.  

It's about two friends who have been estranged, until Loll finally reads one of Cass' letters and discovers her best friend doesn't have long to live.  But whether Loll can let go of the anger is another matter. 

For things between them go messy and it wasn't the best functioning relationship anyway, but Loll has always been in Cass' thrall, and she can't resist going to see her, and she discovers far more than she bargained on. 

I found the first few chapters took a bit for me to get into, but once Loll and Cass were face to face once more the book really came into its own, and I needed to know what would happen. I mean one thing was inevitable, but there is so much around it that had me keeping reading. 

I loved the various things they did to make precious memories while Cass still could, it was like a month long bucket list, but a bit more serene than the average bucket list. It was following all their dreams from while they were in college, or at least those that were feasible, and I loved seeing them re-connect and see how their newly revived fledgling friendship would develop. 

At times I was reading it with a big lump in my throat such was the power of the writing, and if you are more emotional than me, then I'm sure you will be in tears at varying points  of the book. 

There is a lot to this story of friendship and family, and on the whole it is rather light in tone even with the more serious undertones.  Once the girls set off on their big adventure I just couldn't get enough of the book, turning the pages eagerly to see what would happen next. 

It's a truly fabulous book and one I'm delighted that I've been able to read. 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

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