Readers of historical fiction may gain a new perspective on the past. Historical fiction should be a part of a reader's reading life if continuing lifetime learning is one of their reading objectives. An emotional connection to historical events can be formed by retelling it from the viewpoint of fictitious characters. Readers may learn more about various eras by experiencing history through the perspectives of characters.

These historical fiction works will be available starting in August 2023.

1. The Bookbinder by Pip Williams

When World War I upends the life of a young British lady working in a bookbindery, she is given the chance to seek knowledge and love. This wonderful novel is written by the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club selection The Dictionary of Lost Words.  Who develops knowledge, who has access to it, and what facts are lost in the process are all topics covered in The Bookbinder of Jericho. Similar to how she did with her worldwide hit The Dictionary of Lost Words, Pip Williams methodically investigates yet another underappreciated period of history as viewed through the perspective of women. This book is anticipated to be released on August 1st, 2023 by Ballantine Books.

2. The Apology by Jimin Han

The Apology is an insightful narrative of sisterhood and diaspora that spans the eras of Japanese colonization and the Korean War and is presented through the unique perspective of a bold, hilarious, and memorable centenarian. It is equal parts ghost story and family epic. This book is scheduled to be released by Little, Brown and Company on August 1, 2023.

3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

A book about small-town secrets and the people who keep them comes from James McBride, author of the best-selling Oprah's Book Club selection Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is a book by James McBride that combines his masterful narrative abilities with his strong trust in people. It is as kindhearted as Deacon King Kong and as creative as The Good Lord Bird. This book is anticipated to be released on August 8, 2023, by Riverhead Books.

4. Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini

The "munitionettes" who constructed bombs in Britain's arsenals during World War I risked their lives for the war effort and discovered camaraderie and bravery on the soccer field are the subject of Jennifer Chiaverini's entertaining and instructive New York Times bestselling book, which has been compared to Rosie the Riveter and A League of Their Own. Class differences and worries for their men disappear on the football field. The Canary Girls persevere in the face of peril as the war drags on and tragedy strikes, proud to serve, resolute to survive the conflict, and happy to celebrate triumph and peace. This book is scheduled to be released by William Morrow & Company on August 8, 2023.

5. Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias

John Manuel Arias, a budding author, writes a rich and lyrical debut book about a Costa Rican family dealing with a dangerous secret. In Where There was Fire, John Manuel Arias creates a masterful tapestry of love, sorrow, secrets, and redemption that is brimming with ancestral spirits, omens, and the anthropomorphic forces of nature. This book is anticipated to be released on August 29, 2023, by Flatiron Books.

Where to buy these books...

Romance is fast developing to appeal to an increasingly diverse range of readers. Reading romance is sometimes regarded as a shameful relaxation, yet even that phrase implies that there is an issue with reading this genre or that it is not proper literature. It's meant to be savored, and there's plenty of it to sample. Here are some romance books to look forward to in August 2023.

1. The Art of Scandal by Regina Black

The Art of Scandal is a riveting debut about rekindling romance, the transformational power of art, and finding love in unexpected places. A wonderfully passionate, completely touching debut packed with romance, creative ambitions, political controversy, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Grand Central is set to release this book on August 1, 2023.

2. Kiss the Girl (Meant to Be #3) by Zoraida Córdova

Kiss the Girl is the eagerly anticipated third part in the renowned and best-selling Meant to Be trilogy. It is a modern tale about unexpectedly falling in love and discovering your voice. Zoraida Córdova delivers to this charming tale all that fans love about The Little Mermaid. In this engrossing and beautiful tale of two singers following their aspirations and falling in love along the way, The Little Mermaid meets Daisy Jones and the Six. You'll want to be a part of it. Hyperion Avenue is set to release this book on August 1, 2023.

3. Crossed (Never After #5) by Emily McIntire

A dark and delectable fractured fairy tale reworking of The Hunchback of Notre Dame from bestselling author Emily McIntire. It's a dark, contemporary romance and the sixth complete standalone in the Never After series, which features broken fairy tales inspired by beloved villains. It contains serious topics and content that may not be suited for all readers. Bloom Books is set to release this book on August 1, 2023.

4. Cruel Seduction (Dark Olympus #5) by Katee Robert

A contemporary version of Aphrodite and Hephaestus that gets extremely hot. Lines get muddled and emotions entwined as Hephaestus and Aphrodite trade venomous blows that feel a lot like foreplay. A broken heart, though, might not even be their biggest concern. These in-room activities might have fatal repercussions for themselves, their city, and everyone they've grown to love as turmoil in Olympus reaches unprecedented heights. The publication of this book is scheduled for August 8, 2023, by Sourcebooks Casablanca.

5. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

The beloved Gallagher Girls series' New York Times bestselling YA author bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she's the identical twin sister of a rogue spy... and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to survive. Avon Books anticipates publishing this book on August 8, 2023.

Where to buy these books...

You might believe that reading a good thriller should be a pleasurable pastime. But contrary to what you might believe, you are benefiting much from it. You usually have a good sense of what to expect when you open a thriller. A excellent thriller will engulf you, carry you along, and keep you there until the conclusion. It makes you sweat and gets your heart racing. It also makes your lungs thump. I believe it is the same as if you are engaging in a type of workout that your body requires. But before we get started, here are a few upcoming August 2023 releases that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

1. Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

Gone Tonight is a gripping, heartbreaking drama about long-buried secrets and the devastation they cause. The mother-daughter connection is both fascinating and painful, with memorable characters. Sarah Pekkanen is one of the best thriller authors working today, with writing that cuts like a knife and is full of passion and surprises. Just when you think Pekkanen couldn't possible outdo herself, she comes through with one of the year's greatest novels. New, innovative, and with an unexpected stomach blow. St. Martin's Press plans to publish this book on August 1, 2023.

2. Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

In this immensely humanistic and scientifically true drama about a scuba diver who has been eaten by an eighty-foot, sixty-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. A page-turning, hold-your-breath man-vs-nature adrenaline adventure, but also an engrossing analysis of the perilous bond between parent and kid. It's a heartfelt scream from the depths of that fight. MTV Books is set to release this book on August 8, 2023.

3. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell is back with a riveting new psychological thriller about a woman who becomes the focus of her own successful true crime podcast. None of This Is True is as tense, as clever, or as perceptive. All three are there in equal quantity throughout. Lisa Jewell's characters are written with such emotional knowledge and kindness. With so many different interpretations of events, the denouement is shattered, allowing readers to judge who is telling the truth. Atria Books plans to publish this book on August 8, 2023.

4. Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

Alice Feeney, bestselling author of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors, returns with another fascinating mystery full of drama and her characteristic twists. Good Bad Girl is a thriller in the vein of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors, in which no one can be trusted and the surprises come fast and furious. Flatiron Books plans to publish this book on August 29, 2023.

5. Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

When a father goes vanished, his family's desperate search forces them to question all they know about him and each other--a fascinating page-turner and a deeply emotional depiction of a family in crisis from Miracle Creek's award-winning author. It's a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of serious philosophical investigation all rolled into one. Angie Kim transforms the missing person narrative into something entirely new, weaving an unforgettable tale of a family who must go to extraordinary measures to genuinely understand one another. Hogarth is set to publish this book on August 29, 2023.

Where to buy these books...

One must occasionally simply go outside of their own reality and into another's. At other times, she has to figuratively get away from her own head. So, she starts reading novels. In both lonely and desolate situations, people resort to fiction. There are many reasons why we read fiction, and since we enjoy it so much, we occasionally look for wonderful literature. Here are a few fiction books that are set to be published in August 2023.

1. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Tom Lake is a contemplation on young love, marital love, and the life that parents have had before the birth of their children. It examines what it means to be joyful even when the world around you is disintegrating. It is simultaneously optimistic and elegiac. Ann Patchett, like she does in all of her books, skillfully weaves a story while also offering sharp insights into family relationships. As a consequence, she creates a complex and brilliant novel that is delivered with great knowledge and emotional nuance, proving once more why she is one of the most renowned and recognized literary talents currently at work. This book is anticipated to be published on August 1st, 2023 by Harper.

2. Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

In her debut book for adults, renowned novelist and National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo tells the tale of a Dominican-American family as narrated by the ladies in the family as they wait for a gathering that would forever alter their lives. 

Family Lore follows the lives of each of the Marte ladies through the three days leading up to the wake, fusing the past, present, and the cities of Santo Domingo and New York. This is an unforgettable depiction of sisters, cousins, aunts, and nieces—one family's journey through its history, aiding them in better navigating everything that lies ahead—told in Elizabeth Acevedo's distinctive and radiant voice. This book is anticipated to be published on August 1st, 2023 by Ecco.

3. Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel, Rosalind Harvey (Translator)

Still Born is a fascinating novel about motherhood, creativity, and the ability of friendship and community to make caring for others easier from one of the top talents in modern Latin American writing. It will appeal to readers of Rachel Cusk and Sheila Heti. Guadalupe Nettel investigates parental ambivalence with a surgeon's touch and dissects the inconsistencies that make up women's lived experiences in writing that is both engrossing and perceptive. This book is scheduled to be published by Bloomsbury on August 8, 2023.

4. The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

A fascinating tale about love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and the eternal enchantment of books is the next release from the adored New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and the Practical Magic trilogy.  This is the account of a single woman's dream which came true for a short time. This book is scheduled to be published by Atria Books on August 15, 2023.

5. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, the author of Skippy Dies, is an unstoppably humorous, astute, and thought-provoking tour de force about family, fortune, and the effort to be a good person in the face of the collapse of the world. A single stroke of ill luck may alter the course of a life, whether it is a patch of ice on the tarmac, a careless favor given to a lovely stranger, or a bee stung under a bridal veil. Can a happy ending still be found if the tale that has already been written? This book is scheduled to be published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on August 15, 2023.

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“I always loved everything about you, of course, but for some reason I always found your impatience especially charming. It was never because you wanted more, it was because you wanted everything.”

― Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, With Love

The fifth installment of Julia Quinn's bestselling Regency series, which features the enchanting, aristocratic Bridgerton family, tells the tale of Eloise Bridgerton. 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife’s distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he’d proposed, figuring that she’d be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn’t. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her…

Eloise Bridgerton couldn’t marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking… and wondering… and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except… he wasn’t. Her perfect husband wouldn’t be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young – and decidedly unruly – children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife.

My reaction to this novel...

This novel started out well and only recently became tiring. I felt like I was always waiting for the storyline to begin. I’ve like the series in general, but this one just didn’t have the same fire or love as the others. I spent a significant amount of time reading this and still couldn’t get into it. It had so much promise. Sir Phillip has a psychological burden, although he looks to be off-kilter a lot. It’s a tiresome novel, so I was disappointed since I loved Eloise, and I was looking forward to Eloise’s book because she seemed so whimsical and feisty. As a result, she ended up receiving a covert offer from a man in need of a mother for his children. Overall, it didn’t satisfy my heart in the least.

This novel was the one where I couldn’t engage as much as the others. I believe I was drawn in by the story’s diverse cast of people. Whisteldown was another character that I missed. They did, however, add a nice touch because each chapter opened with a section of a letter Eloise had written.

Sir Phillip, in my opinion, wrecked the plot in this novel. What the hell is going on with his demeanor? I was hoping that the character would develop with time, but it became increasingly evident that Phillip is the type of man Julia Quinn envisioned, making him far more difficult to pass and very impossible to consider. His tyrannical responses are unacceptable and should not be praised. I despise this novel because I believe Eloise deserves a better romance tale. I, on the other hand, expected this novel to be promising, but it only served to disillusion and misery for Eloise.

I will rather skip this one and will choose to proceed to the next story than to recommend this book.

My Overall Rating: ⭐(1/5)

“Love your siblings. Love them well, for they are your blood, and when you are unsure, or times are difficult, they will be the ones to stand by your side.”

I wholeheartedly agree. Your siblings will be your steadfast allies. My two siblings and I are quite close. Though we have many significant differences, and most of the time, misunderstanding and fighting with them appears to be normal, at the end of the day, we know that we are allies, and we do not let each other down. Siblings are a blessing from God that we should treasure.

“Be strong. Be diligent. Be conscientious. There is never anything to be gained by taking the easy road.”

Most people want to avoid suffering, so they choose the easy route. They also believe that taking shortcuts is equivalent to working hard for what they want since they believe that doing so would result in their success in the end. Yet I believe that to be wrong. Cheating is the act of choosing a quick or shorter route. We must have the fortitude to defend our dignity and to pursue it, and we must have confidence that, even if we have challenges along the path, we can overcome them because Jesus is with us.

Where to buy this book...

“It took a long time for me to get better, but I did. I got better. But suddenly it's like the last four years never happened, and I'm feeling all the same terrible feelings about myself that I did back then.”

― Jenny Han, Burn for Burn

In this first installment of a trilogy by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian, authors of the New York Times bestselling books The List and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, revenge is beautiful.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.

LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.

MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.

With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently…” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

My reaction to this novel...

Burn for Burn was a fantastic novel to read. It’s chock-full of logical secondary school dramatizations sprinkled with strange adventures that drew me in after only a few pages. I felt the constant feeling that I needed to recognize what had happened right away. If you think Burn for Burn will be a popular contemporary YA, believe me when I tell you won’t know what to expect until the very end.

Lillia, Mary, and Kat are my favorite characters. Every one of them, in my opinion, is extremely advanced. Furthermore, their relationship was something I treasured the most. They are, for the most part, diametrically opposed, yet they have one goal: vengeance. Han and Vivian created interesting personalities all around. Each character has their own personality, which is especially important given that the plot alternates between three first-person views. Many of the personalities seemed to emerge from nowhere.

I just noticed that this book covers some serious issues. I wasn’t surprised by this, but it’s definitely a novel for older kids. I genuinely feel that the concerns addressed by Han and Vivian in the storyline are critical for teens to be aware of, regardless of whether they know someone who has dealt with or is coping with them. I’m glad that two authors noticed and mentioned them in this book. Except for this, everything else was great! I thoroughly like the pacing of the story because it was neither too slow nor too fast. The writing was easy to read and had a distinct stream to it. It also made for a very quick read. Even if it’s still remarkable, I felt like I read it in such a little amount of time. Furthermore, we must not overlook the outstanding plot. To a large extent, I enjoyed the demonstrations of revenge. Some were more platitude than others, but the execution was superb, invigorating, and made me feel as if I were reading and watching it all at the same time.

I will definitely like to recommend this novel to those book lovers out there.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

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“Somewhere in this world is a man who loves you, who understands how precious and clever and kind you are. A man who has always loved you and, to his detriment, suspects he always will.”

― Jojo Moyes, The Last Letter from Your Lover

The Last Letter from Your Lover, by the author of The Giver of Stars, which debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list, will captivate readers who enjoyed One Day and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

It is 1960. When Jennifer Stirling wakes up in the hospital, she can remember nothing-not the tragic car accident that put her there, not her husband, not even who she is. She feels like a stranger in her own life until she stumbles upon an impassioned letter, signed simply "B", asking her to leave her husband.

Years later, in 2003, a journalist named Ellie discovers the same enigmatic letter in a forgotten file in her newspaper's archives. She becomes obsessed by the story and hopeful that it can resurrect her faltering career. Perhaps if these lovers had a happy ending she will find one to her own complicated love life, too. Ellie's search will rewrite history and help her see the truth about her own modern romance.

My reaction to this novel...

Every now and again, you read a novel that takes your breath away and leaves you in tears. The Last Letter from Your Lover swept me away. I was torn between wanting it to end and not comprehending it. It is, at its heart, a love story. An enlightening and reassuring story about pursuing your aspirations no matter the cost. It’s hard to escape the mysterious finger of fate phenomena of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, which seems to play a regular role in our lives.

A big portion of the novel takes place in 1960s London and should be seen through the eyes of the time. The story moves back and forth during the vast spans of Jennifer and Antony’s life. Anthony is a foreign policy writer, and Jennifer is the wife of a wealthy businessman. As the title implies, everything begins with a letter, a love note that will have readers enthralled by the story’s flow.

Jojo Moyes’ work inspires me and makes me want to read more. Moving ahead, Jojo has written a story about a tumultuous relationship. However, no matter how intense the energy between Jennifer Stirling and Anthony O’Hare is, they can’t see it as a means to open up to one another. By all accounts, the circumstances are never ideal. That finger of fate I mentioned before intervenes and sets insurmountable obstacles in their path. As a reader, I hoped that these two people who were destined to be together would find a way to love and be together at this point in time. I strongly advise you to read The Last Letter from Your Lover and feel the intense love for yourself. It has a writing style that jumps back and forth between 1960 and 2003, which keeps the reader interested and wanting to turn the pages to find out what occurs next. The conclusion is a triumph against the rigid social gap that separated the major protagonists. This is a book that you will not be able to put down for even a second.

For me, I will definitely recommend it to every book readers out there.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

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“Beginnings and endings are earthly ideas. I go on. And because I go on, you go on with me. Feeling loss is part of why you are on Earth. Through it, you appreciate the brief gift of human existence, and you learn to cherish the world I created for you. But the human form is not permanent. It was never meant to be. That gift belongs to the soul.”

― Mitch Albom, The Stranger in the Lifeboat

The renowned number one bestsellers "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and "The First Phone Call from Heaven" by Albom both contain passages about heaven. Now, for the first time in his fiction, he considers what we would do if God truly appeared to us after we cried out for his aid. The Stranger in the Lifeboat is a fast-paced, gripping book that makes you consider your deepest beliefs and indicates that sometimes the answers to our prayers may be discovered in the most unexpected places.

Synopsis from Mitch Albom's website...

In The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Albom keeps us guessing until the end: Is this strange and quiet man really who he claims to be? What actually happened to cause the explosion? Are the survivors already in heaven, or are they in hell?

The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is later discovered—a year later—when the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat.

It falls to the island’s chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened.

My reaction to this novel...

When I first read The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, I fell in love with reading his works, and ever since then, I've been in awe of him. He has several novels that left me thinking and even crying. I foreseen that this book would affect me in the same way, and I was right to assume that it would since I experienced a wide range of emotions that I hadn't anticipated.

To be honest, the setting of the book initially made me hesitant to read it. Since I'm terrified of the water and sharks in particular, I assumed from the title that they were stranded in the middle of the sea and that sharks may be lurking around. I was terrified because I had a vivid imagination. Even if I won't be able to see the shark with my own eyes, I can still imagine it in great detail, so I really consider whether I'll be able to read and finish it. I repeatedly questioned my ability to succeed in it, but I ultimately chose to move forward because I felt compelled to. Perhaps this will mark the beginning of my gradual fear-overcoming process.

I'm very anxious about what's going on after hours of reading. The novel has several shark-related sequences, which made me feel utterly afraid. My pulse rate dramatically increased, and I had to stop reading frequently because my imagination about what was occurring in the novel was running amok and I felt like drowning. Although that would sound absurd to others, it is how I am experiencing. As it turned out, my reading slowed down because I was so terrified of what my mind was showing me.

After the difficulties of reading and the anxiety of not knowing what happened next in the novel, I was pleased when I eventually completed it. I really tried to picture what would happen if I were stuck in the boat while everyone else was dying. Because I'm so terrified of being surrounded by bodies of water, I may be the first person to faint as a result of the horrifying vision that keeps popping into my thoughts. What more if there are sharks nearby? Perhaps I'll have a heart attack. Even though I'm terrified, I did my best to complete the book because I know that if God is with me, He will not allow it to happen. He will protect me, and I believe in Him.

The storyline twist in this airy novel is intriguing. It offers a life lesson that everyone should consider, much like Albom's other novels. Mitch Albom's writing is straightforward but extremely effective. Rarely does a book cause me to pause and consider the faith I hold. When we have faith that God is with us, everything will be overcome, including the challenges we perceive to be insurmountable, it seems, even though we are stranded and feel it is impossible to overcome the challenges in our life, He will always be with us. Similar to how surviving seems impossible in this novel. I'm inconsolable just thinking about it; what more to those who have experienced anything like this? It is very appalling. And all we should need to cling to during such terrifying times is God and His words.

The tale was fantastic, but there were a lot of occasions when I felt scared. I don't usually finish anything like this that involve large expanses of water. The stranger in the lifeboat is one of the decent but weak characters that contribute to the story's ongoing conflict. Give it a try if you want an interesting yet terrifying book with a life lesson at the end. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

“...the stories we tell ourselves long enough become our truths.”

This is absolutely true. The same is true of the lies that certain people propagate. If you keep saying them, eventually you'll wake up one day believing what you've been saying. Some people continue to tell others the tales they wished to believe, even while they are aware that the events they are recounting did not actually take place. Then those stories and lies will ultimately trump their recollections, turning them to become the things they actually experienced. 

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“Losing him was like having a hole shot straight through me, a painful, constant reminder, an absence I could never fill.” 

― Jojo Moyes, After You

The romance book After You was written by Jojo Moyes. It is Me Before You's sequel. The book was initially released in the UK on September 29, 2015. Still Me, the third book in the series, was released in January 2018.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

My reaction to this novel...

When I first learned that Me Before You was having a spin-off, I was a little hesitant. It was such a terrific novel that I wasn’t sure whether a sequel would improve or detract from it. These were characters I admired, and I didn’t want my memories of them to be tarnished. Consider how readers become emotionally invested in the characters. One horrible act changes their opinion of that individual, and not in a good way. That said, I was curious about Lou’s fate following the events in Me Before You, which prompted me to read this spin-off novel.

Anyway, I wish I could claim that I viewed this book with an open mind, but I can tell you that it was difficult. The first book was exceptional to the point of setting a high benchmark for me. Unfortunately, that did not happen in any way. JoJo Moyes is a fantastic writer. Her works handle big issues in the most creative manner. Reading one of her books is like getting enthusiastic therapy. You’ll burst out laughing one minute and wail the next. They work just as well for a book discussion as they do for a movie debate. However, when a writer chooses to create a sequel to a novel like Me Before You, the expectations are quite high, and the ensuing tale must be completely exceptional. This one, however, did not. Most spin-offs don’t satisfy the first, and while I don’t like this one, I believe it didn’t deserve to be penned or developed. A few stories are so unique that they should be left alone. They are wonderful as written and satisfyingly complete, and Me Before You was one of those novels for me.

This book did not make an impression on me. After finishing it, I was confident that any subsequent volumes in the series would skip over this one. I wish I could give it a better rating because I adored Me Before You so much, but I can’t. Not a bad read, but not up to the standards set by the author in the preceding book.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐(2/5)

“You’re going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. It always does feel strange to be knocked out of your comfort zone.”

 Almost all of us experience uneasiness when we are in an unfamiliar setting with unfamiliar people, but this is typical while we are still settling into our new lives and meeting these new individuals. Additionally, it serves as a sign that we are developing and are about to start a new phase of our life.

Where to buy this book...