Published by Orion on April 18, 2019
Pages: 288
Our Life in a Day is a breathtaking, ten-year love story told in twenty-four individual hours - for fans of One Day by David Nicholls, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and The Note by Zoe Folbigg.
The rules are simple. Choose the most significant moments from your relationship - one for each hour in the day.You'd probably pick when you first met, right? And the instant you knew for sure it was love? Maybe even the time you watched the sunrise after your first night together?
But what about the car journey on the holiday where everything started to go wrong? Or your first proper fight?
Or that time you lied about where you'd been?
It's a once in a lifetime chance to learn the truth. But if you had to be completely honest with the one you love, would you still play?
For Esme and Tom, the game is about to begin. And once they start, there's no going back . . .
Today I am welcoming Jamie Fewery to my blog, with my review of his debut novel Our life in a day. Make sure you do also check Karen’s post over @ My Reading Corner
✮ My Review ✮
I had seen a few reviews where other reviewers had said that tears had fallen when reading this. So about 80% in I was feeling quite cocky, I normally cry at everything and nothing was happening yet…….Well! I got to a point in the book and it just started to break me, and it was not until the final chapter that I finally stopped. I could read the epilogue ok, but after I finished reading, my tears started up again.
This story reminds me of all the films that I love to watch because I know I will cry, ones like One day and About Time. Mainly because of the way they jump about in the timeline of relationships. Our life in one day could most definitely be on the big screen, Lily Collins would have to be Esme. (I have such a girl crush on her and she rocks the pixie haircut). The story had all the feels, but what I loved the most it did not focus on just the love and happiness, the excitement of relationships. It did, however, highlight the struggles that people do go through in relationships and also how tough life can be with someone who suffers from mental health issues.
I thought that when the focus had been on depression and anxiety and alcoholism had been handled so well. I can say that talking from experience first and third hand with some of the above. I think it was necessary to have contrast because real life is not all hearts and flowers.
The game that Esme sets Tom is a clever idea, although I have no idea if I could play it, but a block of post-it notes each an hour of the day. 24 post-it notes, all Tom has to do is pick out what stands out to him in their 10 year relationships good and bad and write it down. Revisiting certain parts of their relationship in each chapter allowed us to see the couple at different points, high and low and see why they were significant to Tom.
I thought the ending was perfect, I can not say why because it would ruin it, but it was perfect as it was true to life. Gah! I am just welling up thinking about it!
For a debut novel, all I can say is WOW! You would not expect it, he is like a seasoned writer already. The writing is beautiful, mesmerising and flows so easily from page to page, making you not to want to stop reading. He seems to have worked out a formula to pull the heartstrings and yet make you smile at the same time! I am excited to see what he comes up with next!
Until next time xxx
Be sure to check out reviews by Short Book and Scribes, Book Literati, Suze Reviews, Donna’s Book blog, Live and Deadly, Cal Turner Reviews, Books of All Kinds, It’s all about the books, Sarah’s Book Reviews, Audio Killed the Bookmark, Over the Rainbow Book Blog and The Haphazardous Hippo
Thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for the tour invite and the author for a copy of their book in return for my honest and unbiased review
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
macsbooks311 says
What a great post! This sounds really wonderful!!
Zoé says
I loved it. It is one to make you smile and it’s nice to get it from a mans perspective
Jane Lambert says
Love the sound of this! As I was reading your review, I was reminded of Richard Linklater’s films “Before Sunrise”, “Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight”. If you haven’t seen them, you’re in for a treat. Will definitely read “Our Life In A Day”. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Sounds just my kind of book!
Zoé says
I haven’t watched them. I will have to check them out. Oh that makes me so happy yay! Hope you enjoy the book ❤️
Molly says
Wonderful review!! I am with you on Lily Collins. Those eyebrows…..Love!
Zoé says
Oh defo those eyebrows! I do love her! Thanks Molly ❤️
likeherdingcatsblog says
I can’t wait to read this x sounds brilliant. Great review
Zoé says
Thanks lovely! It was so fab especially as it’s from a male perspective too!
likeherdingcatsblog says
Yes I like to read both perspectives
Zoé says
Me too! And it takes mental health too and I just thought it was such a fab book! Xx
likeherdingcatsblog says
I’m sure I have it ?