Dee's death leaves her family adrift at first. Know though the they will pull together and push through their grief. It's a well done emotional story that tugs at the heart.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

I think this is more of a hard hittig read if you've already had someone you love leave this life for the next, as I have. What Jen goes through is horrific. She loses almost everything when Jen dies, she has to muddle her way through while being supportive for all those affected. She saw Dee die an honorouable death protecting others, but dead is dead. At least while we are all in this life.

I felt so sorry for her when she has her partner leave her-as if she didn't have enough on her plate! The thing is life goes on, and unfortunately being left alone couldn't be avoided just because of Dee dying. I knew Jen would be fine in the long run, it was just hard watching her deal with that fall-out so soon after losing Dee. I promise it ends happily!! There's a lot of tense moments especially when not everyone knows key information and Jen has to tiptoe around certain subjects.

I liked the different points of view because it helped examine the various views of Dee's death and just how many lives were turned upside down by the tragedy. Everyone pulls together when needed, which is important as the trial is emotional and you'll need tissues. There is life when someone dies, it's not a nice or easy one at first but eventually Jen and the others find ways to cope without Dee physically beside them as she will always be in their hearts.

en and Dee have been best friends for years and fortunately their respective partners, Pete and Luke, get along well so they have formed a tight foursome. But then the effervescent, adventure-loving Dee is killed in an accident. Jen can’t fathom not having her friend by her side as she continues to run their travel business and Luke can’t imagine being with anyone else. Meanwhile, Dee’s mother Val is consumed with rage at the person responsible for her daughter’s death.
This story, told from the viewpoints of several characters, pulls at the heartstrings as the characters deal with their palpable grief and continues to intrigue as Jen discovers that maybe she didn’t know her best friend as well as she thought she did.

I liked this book but I did not love it. If you want an read for a Saturday afternoon then it's perfect. It's the story of the loss of someone important within a family and how individuals deal with that and eventually find a way through. Don't be put off it's not tears and sorrow but a story of survival and learning to live again.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
This was a fantastic book, I really enjoyed it! I had read a couple of Shari Low books years ago but not any of her recent books. After reading this one, I will need to read the ones I missed out on.
Jen's life is turned upside down when her best friend and business partner Dee, is killed in a tragic accident, then her long term boyfriend Paul leaves her. Reeling from these two events, Jen tries to keep the business going while dealing with her grief and heartbreak. She soon discovers that Dee had been living a secret life which threatens to impact the lives of her friends and family in the present day.
This was a really funny book, and also extremely sad and poignant at times. Dee's mother Val is driven to the brink of madness with her grief and anger over her daughter's death and this is written so realistically, it is heartbreaking. The characters are so well written making the story all the more believable. I loved the business that Dee and Jen had established, a one stop travel shop where goods for all types of holidays, from sunshine to ski and everything in between, were sold. There is definitely a gap in the market for this kind of business!
This was a fantastic book and I would thoroughly recommend it.

The Blurb :
Dee and Jen have been best friends since their days of teenage crushes, bad 90's make-up and huge hair.
They’ve passed every milestone of their lives together and now in their thirties own a successful boutique, sharing a bond that is as strong as the closest of sisters.
Until one day everything changes.
Dee is gone, killed by a reckless driver, leaving Jen to face the harsh reality of a world without her.
Jen vows to honour Dee’s dreams and take care of everything and everyone she loved.
Until she realises that sometimes the only way forward is to let go of the past.

My Thoughts :
I absolutely loved, loved this book. After being captivated from the first chapter it was one of those you didnt want to put down. I was instantly drawn to the characters and their lives. Jen and Dee were best friends, until Dee unexpectly dies in a tragic accident at such a young age. Although Dee had passed away she was still very much a big role in the book. I really enjoyed how the story was told from different points of view of Dee's family and friends. Its written so well and Shari Low explores the lives of the people Dee has left behind and how they cope with their own grief. Learning to live again after Dee has left them. There are also some funny bits and there will be times you laugh out loud. It is hard not to feel attached to these charactors, and the way it has been put together shows that the author has a great imagination. This is a lovely story that will tug at your heartstrings and have you smiling all the way to the end.

This was a difficult book. It is full of pain, and that acute feeling of loss that any fellow grievers will know so well. It did a marvelous job of capturing that emotion, the barely floating through, the overwhelming finality of it compared to the habitual thought that any moment they'll be home.

The family aspect was strong, and carried the weight of this book. The way they interact with each other, and the differences in their grieving styles. All these things kept me reading through to the end, hoping for the sun to eventually come out.

What didn't work for me were several overly contrived plot lines that although presented drama, didn't seem necessary to the plot. They seemed to be there to help alleviate guilt for the main characters and their actions, yet I found them to be a little too much.

The writing and the capturing of the grieving process, and the main characters would have easily made this a 5 star read if a couple of the side plots hadn't felt so distracting. ~George, 3 stars

A well balanced story full of love , secrets, grief and humour. I throughly enjoyed this book. The characters were so realistic as were the settings.
Just when I thought I knew where the story was heading it totally changed direction.

I started reading Shari Low’s A Life Without You before going to bed thinking that I was going to be reading a couple of chapters – but before I knew it, it was two o’clock in the morning and I had devoured the entire book! An outstanding tale of friendship, the ties that bind and second chances, A Life Without You is a must-read!

30 year old Dee Harper leads a life most people would envy: her husband Luke worships the ground she walks on, her parents adore her and she runs a thriving business with her best friend, Jen. But Dee’s perfect life comes to a tragic and sudden end when she is killed by a reckless driver. Her grief-stricken friends and family are left to pick up the pieces and nurse their grief, but they soon discover that Dee’s death has not merely left them feeling hollow and broken, but it also makes them ask some serious questions about their lives, their relationships and themselves.

Jen is already devastated by her dear friend’s unexpected death, so she is left reeling when her boyfriend informs her that he is calling time on their relationship. Jen had thought that the man she had hoped she was going to be spending the rest of her life with would offer a shoulder to cry on – she certainly never expected that she’d be left out in the cold by someone she loved. Jen, however, knows that she must honour Dee’s memory and ensure that their business continues to thrive, but as secrets from her best friend’s life come to a shocking light, Jen finds herself at a crossroads – should she tell her family and friends the truth about Dee? Or should some secrets stay buried with her beloved best friend?

A compulsively readable tale you will not be able to put down, A Life Without You is a gripping, thought-provoking, heart-wrenching yet uplifting novel fans of Jojo Moyes and Lisa Jewell are going to love. Packed with recognisable characters, realistic scenarios and a heart-racing plot that will keep you eagerly turning the pages, A Life Without You is a captivating tale that packs plenty of emotional punch.

A compelling and provocative read you will struggle to put down, A Life Without You will have you rushing to your favourite book store and buying Shari Low’s entire back list!

Dee and Jen have been best friends since school and so when Dee is killed by a druggie motorist she is absolutely devastated - the biggest part of her life has just gone. To make matters worse her own boyfriend of 15 years ups and leaves her as well.

Totally lost Jen turns more and more to Dee's husband as they try and console each other over the huge gap in their lives - but as Jen learns some secrets she has to make a decision about her own future.

A lovely bittersweet book, very emotional but with laughs along the way and a book that stays with you after you have finished reading it

Dee and Jen's friendship was one of a kind; the storyline made that extremely clear from the very beginning. Witnessing how close they were, even for such a short space of time, was such a joy to see. But out of the blue, a nervous feeling started to come over me and as I hadn't read the blurb beforehand, I had no idea what I was nervous about as I didn't know what would happen. Just as I was trying to ignore the nervous feeling....

BAM!

All of a sudden, the storyline felt like it was unfolding in slow motion. The sheer horror, the pain, the distressing circumstances; every little detail was written with precision and intense clarity. I could see the event unfolding in my head. I could hear the screams. I could hear the sound of Jen's heart breaking into millions of pieces. I wanted to cry but I couldn't; I was numb.

Those events will forever be etched in my mind as they were so vivid! What a mighty good way to start the novel though, eh! If I could go through such a range of emotions in a chapter or two, then my hopes would be soaring for the rest of the storyline. Considering that Shari Low began the novel with such a belter of situation, she managed to keep the momentum going through the rest of the novel. Of course I was a bit concerned that the following chapters wouldn't live up to what I read first, but I needn't have worried.

My heart went out to Jen, and Dee's family as reading about the aftermath was quite emotional and extremely heart breaking. It must have been quite a difficult subject to write about, yet Shari Low kept it realistic without adding any unnecessary outlandish features. Very sensitively written. It made a change to read a storyline containing the topic of death, whose characters didn't just 'get over it' the next day. I really did appreciate how realistic the grieving time-frame was written into the storyline, as well as lightly touching upon individual characters grief.

The more that the storyline unfolded, the more skeletons came out of the closet which made for rather entertaining reading. Well, it also meant that I got rather annoyed with a character or two, but you can't have everything though haha.

I have seen Shari Low's novels on Amazon previously, but they have always been under the 'oh I must read that soon' heading. I am really glad that I got an AriaAddict kick up my tooshmanoosh to read one of her books; Shari is a phenomenal story-teller!

Shari's words seemed effortlessly written, and flawlessly projected through such a heart-warming, emotional and intense storyline. If that's not a description of a literary genius and an outstanding novel, then I have no idea what is.

From the bottom of my heart, 'A Life Without You' is a truly beautiful read which showcases Shari Low's incredible literary talent, as well as her ability to trickle emotion through each and every chapter like a mini waterfall. Outstanding.

Thanks Aria.

I always love Shari Low's books. They are always breezy and yet moving, but this one was a little more on the sad side. I read it while I was laying on the beach, and I have to admit that I shed a few tears, and became increasingly angry with Dee, even though I knew she was dead. It made me stop and think, how when you die, your life gets opened up for everyone to pick through and judge.

Jen is heartbroken without her best friend, who she grew up with and now runs a successful business with. She isn't sure how to move on without her other half, but she finds comfort in Dee's parents, husband and brother. However, as she starts trying to keep the travel appointments in Dee's calendar, she is forced to confront the facts - her best friend had another life that she knew nothing about.

As Jen tries to wrap her mind around this information, and keep it from Dee's family, Dee's mom has some secrets of her own. She's currently stalking the man who hit her daughter with a car, and her stalking even extends to his mother.

Meanwhile, Jen is developing feelings for her best friend's widower, and wondering how that will change her relationship with 'Dee's family. And Dee's mom's nocturnal activities are escalating.

How do you let go of the past in order to move on with the future? What can you forgive when someone is already dead? There were lots of interesting ethical questions in this book - and I was riveted until the end.

I loved this book, the subject should be depressing as it tell of the aftermath of the central characters death, however it is written with such honesty and humour that ultimately it is a really uplifting book. The story is told from the viewpoint of the family and friends of Dee who dies early in the story. The different characters all fall apart in different ways before they can then start to rebuild their lives. There are lots of plot twists which you don't see coming and things you expect to happen which don't! My personal favourite character is Josie and I think she still has more of a story to be told if the author has a sequel or prequel in mind!

Really dramatic and heart-wrenching read. It does a great job of portraying grief and regret. When a very loved person dies far too young, those left behind all have different ways of dealing with it. Dee, who died tragically in her early thirties, was an amazing woman. Her huge smile and big personality charmed everyone she met. She was beautiful, successful, and very loved.

Jen and Dee were not only business partners, but best friends since they were children. The women and their significant others had a great friendship with each other. Jen's boyfriend is similar to Dee... energetic, health-conscious, and always down for the next big adventure. Dee's husband Luke, like Jen, is more content to sit on the couch and relax. They all spend a lot of time together and everyone seems happy. With Dee gone, there's a gigantic missing space in their lives for all of them. What happens when a woman that was larger than life is taken from it? The story deals with how those she loved the most deal with her death, including her family. Jen thinks she knew Dee like the back of her own hand, but some secrets about her best friend come to light that she has difficulty dealing with... along with managing the business they created together.

This book isn't all tragedy and loss. There are some really funny moments in it too, and you really get attached to the characters and feel for them.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Aria, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

The story itself is a 4 star read. However, I've lowered my rating because there were numerous typos (a pet peeve of mine).

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This is a story about Jen and Dee. Best friends for so many years, they couldn’t imagine their lives without the other. As close as sisters, co-owners of a successful business and, along with their husband/boyfriend, inseparable. Everything is wonderful until Dee is killed in a tragic accident and Jen is forced to pick up the pieces of her life and move past the loss.

Oh my goodness. Get ready to cry – big ugly tears. Not only do we grieve right along with Jen, but we also meet Val and Don (Dee’s parents), Luke (her husband), Pete (Jen’s boyfriend), Mark (Dee’s brother) and Josie (Val’s best friend). A cast of characters that brought different perspectives to grief and grieving.

What I loved:

Val. I LOVED Val. As the mother who loses her child, she is so perfectly captured. I couldn’t read one of her chapters without crying at some point. As someone who lost her brother to a similar tragic event, I felt that Val’s sense of anger and grief was so authentic. Her final chapter was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book.

Luke. The ideal husband, friend and son-in-law. His grief tugged at my heart.

I loved that this had a little mystery to it (Dee left a few surprises for Jen to uncover). If you’ve read Catherine McKenzie’s novel “Hidden” – and loved it, then you’ll love this one too. A really solid read, and as I said, if it wasn’t for the editorial errors, I would have given this a solid 4 stars.

Thanks Netgalley, what a wonderful wonderful fabulous book, it made me cry in several parts - loved it loved it

I cried from the first chapter. I wasn't expecting that, and started the book with breakfast one morning. Off I went to work with a tear stained face! Thanks Shari! I've read Shari Low's books from the beginning, although I hadn't seen any for a while until I rediscovered the newer books recently. I found them quite different, in that the while earlier books were more raunchy, the more recent ones are dealing with grittier issues. Always a pleasure to read, with sympathetic characters. As Dee's secrets come out as we go through the book, I must admit I was surprised with some of her goings on, and I was cheering Jen on from the sidelines. I wasn't sure if I wanted her to get together with Luke or if that would be too convenient, but right from the start they seemed more suited to each other. I loved the family set up, and being from Glasgow the characters were so true to life. I'd love to follow their stories further. Dee's mum reacted in such a human way to her daughter's death, and it was interesting to witness her internal struggles as she learned more about the killer's family. All in all another great read - keep them coming!

When Dee is killed, her best friend Jen, is left to cope with her death and adjust to life without the person who has been a best friend, and like a sister to her. It sounds like it might make for a very depressing read but it certainly isn't.
It's touching and sad at times, but there's also humour, and an interesting story that develops after Dee's death.
The story is told from several people's perspective; her best friend Jen, her mother, Val, and her husband, Luke. It took me a while to get used to the change of narrator with each chapter, but once I got used to it, I enjoyed the different perspectives. They had each lost her, but they were affected differently, and coped in different ways.
We get a real sense of what Dee was like, even though she is gone before the story really begins. The people she left behind all tell us the sort of person she was. She was so well loved, but of course had her flaws, some of which don't come to light until after her death.
I will be reading more of this author's books, her storytelling is captivating and realistic.