This book is an enjoyable, 'heart'- warming story about dealing with learning to live a 'normal' life after not knowing whether you were going to have a life at all. It also touches on the very important subject of organ donation being opt-out instead of opt-in, which is a very important cause. All in all, an easy read that covers all bases - family, love, friendships, health, grief. I found the back and forth between past, future, blog, news reports a bit confusong at times, but not enough to detract from the book.

I must confess that this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting – and that’s largely my fault, because I rarely read the “blurb” before opening a new book. But the fact that it was so very different was entirely a positive – there’s no wallowing here, no tear-soaked tissues (ok – maybe a little gulp from time to time…), instead a very likeable heroine trying to work out how to live and be happy, having been given a future she never expected to have.

The relationships in this book are just wonderful – particular Ailsa’s with mother Hayley, as they adjust from being carer and invalid (or heart and lungs) to a looser and somewhat combative relationship, always coloured with love, as the child becomes an independent young woman who needs to stand on her own feet and make her own decisions. I loved the looks back at her relationship with Lennox – and really enjoyed her developing new one with Seb. The book is heavy on exchanged e-mails – not always a favourite with me, but in this book they’re full of twists and turns and the personality of the correspondents, and I thought they worked really well. The blogging too is very cleverly used – that “wisdom of strangers” helping Ailsa’s decision making until she has the strength to cast it aside and define her own path. I loved the introduction of the tango, its passion and the moments it led to – and the focus on Romeo and Juliet was just wonderful, and rather inspired.

And I really loved the book’s ending – I felt I was watching the characters walk into their future, knew I had to leave them, and wanted to wish them well. A beautiful, uplifting read that I really enjoyed.

I really liked Stephanie Butland’s Lost For Words but I loved The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae.

Given that a large chunk of the plot and emotional development is around medical conditions, transplants, and dying or not-dying, Butland has written a book that is thoughtful, humorous, and whatever the opposite of maudlin is. She does not dwell on the difficulties of having a potentially fatal condition, or recovering from one, but instead examines them in a matter-of-fact way that both educates, entertains, and stirs the emotions.

Ailsa Rae is generally a more likeable protagonist than Loveday Cardew was, but that is understandable because despite the different damages they both carry Ailsa had Emily and co., Tamsin, and above all else, Hayley. Hayley actually steals the show here on a number of occasions with her wit, practicality and huge, warm heart.

Speaking of hearts, there is romance here, which is handled realistically with natural doubts, mistakes and the slow glow of self-and-each-other-awareness. The real focus though is on the journey of discovery and personal growth of Ailsa and the two-tone narrative of her blue and red hearts. I loved the incorporation of Ailsa’s blog posts and emails in the text, as this added both intimacy and immediacy, even though I got as exasperated as her mother with her reliance on those polls!

One of the issues covered here is weight. Ailsa is concerned about her recovery weight gain, even as she acknowledges that it shouldn’t matter in the scale of things and her overall health is more important. I found this dichotomy rang true for me, as did the treatments by the media and even her loved ones. This can be a sensitive subject and I felt that it was handled well, with Ailsa showing concern and hurt, but not overly dwelling on appearance over substance.

The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae would be excellent for bookgroup discussions, especially if juxtaposed with other similarly-topiced, differently-toned novels such as The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) or My Sister’s Keeper (Jodi Picault).

I would also wholeheartedly (!) recommend Stephanie Butland’s novels for anyone who loves warm stories about family, friendships and finding yourself.




‘I’ll sell you my Duke of Edinburgh badge if that will help,’ Seb says.
She likes that he doesn’t smile when he’s joking. ‘I get one automatically. For being from Edinburgh. You don’t have to do any camping or anything.’
‘Really?’
‘No,’ Ailsa says. There’s a beat before he looks at her.
‘Bloody unicorns,’ he says, ‘you’re all lying bastards.’
And now she’s laughing, properly.

– Stephanie Butland, The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae is the first book I have read by Stephanie Butland and will be looking out fryer in the future.
This book is all about Ailsa and her fight to survive every day before and after her much needed heart transplant, it follows her ups and downs before and after and has obviously been researched well with the information you get given that you never have to think of if you are lucky not to be in this position. It is at times quite an emotional read and I did like Ailsa and Seb but there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on that made me not keen on Aisla's mum. The book is split up into chapters, emails and blog posts and it does switch between before and after sometimes and there seemed to be no warning and I found this at times quite confusing.
I did enjoy this book on the whole and would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I was first drawn to this novel by the title; unusual and it piqued my interest. The cover is rather fetching too, but both fade in comparison with this stunning story.

This book has two points of focus: before and after the heart transplant. If you've never really thought much about this op, it will be because - like me - you've not been close to someone on the transplant list. This isn't an overly syrupy tale (it would have been so easy to let it head that way) but rather an honest, down to earth account of the ups and downs of the patient, her family, friends and everyone she comes into contact with along the way. It is an absolutely tremendous and very moving tale.

Beautifully written, this will touch even the hardest - and healthiest - of hearts. Set in the wonderful city of Edinburgh, it shows the best of the Scottish capital. I really can't find anything to criticise and I know this is one of those books which is going to stay with me. It's a very special read, and one which I'm happy to recommend. There is so much positivity in this one, I suspect it will do more to get people to sign up to the donor register than any media campaign. And, just as importantly it will make you want to get out there and live your life!

My grateful thanks to publishers Bonnier Zaffre for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

This is a heart-warming, uplifting and fascinating story about a young woman who’s just had a heart transplant. Suddenly, instead of dying, she has her whole life ahead of her. And that’s a lot to deal with. The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae is totally delightful and charming – and will have wide appeal.
Apart from enjoying the story, I found this book SO interesting. Ailsa experiences physical changes and mixed emotions - and her relationship with her mother, and indeed her entire self-image, have to change after her operation.
(I wasn’t surprised to find out that author Stephanie Butland had survived breast cancer. Her writing is so sensitive and perceptive - she had to have experienced more than only bookish research into major illness.)
Ailsa, who lives in Edinburgh, is an avid blogger. Her followers have lived with her illness, and now her transplant, and Ailsa relies on them for several of the major decisions in her life – through her (often hilarious) blog polls. When she decides to name her new heart, for example, she goes with what her readers decide (Apple 64%; Amber 36%).
The relationship between Ailsa and Apple (her new heart) is special and glorious and intimate (obviously). Together they go forward to conquer the world. See what happens when Ailsa takes up the tango: “And the more she feels the tango feeling, the more she wants it. She and Apple agree on this. Ailsa thinks that Apple must be new to tango too, because they’re learning at the same rate, tiring at the same time.”
By the way, Ailsa only takes up the tango as a result of the first poll of her ‘NewHeart’ life. She asks her followers what she should do when she’s well; what will make her feel most alive? (Dance, dance dance 36%). And dance turns out to be a great choice because it really does change Ailsa’s life and leads on to more than she could ever have possibly imagined.
Ailsa is bright and funny and her award-winning blog is a delight. This is an emotional read, giving good insight into transplants. I defy anyone to read this and not immediately become a body part donor. It gives such insight into those whose lives are spent hoping for a suitable donor. The book is emotional and humorous and far-reaching as it explores the worlds of acting, dance, absent parents, mother-daughter relationships, romance and, of course, transplants.

You can tell that a lot of research has taken place in the writing of this book. I did feel that the way that Ailsa Rae's character changed after the heart transplant operation is something very inspiring. How she learned to live as an 'ordinary' person rather than a 'special' one was something I had not considered before. The use of her blog to make decisions and then her realization that she could make her own decisions as she became more confident was realistic. I did struggle a little with the 'celebrity' in her life and felt that the book did not flow and was lacking in places.

What a heartwarming, sensitive and honest novel about a very poorly young lady who suddenly receives a lifeline, and quite literally starts to live again.
The fact that she blogs is quite a relateable plot in this tech savvy world and her character is wonderful, with so much feeling and a zest for life all of us should try.
Ailsa Rae is sad in places and laugh out loud funny in others, it’s well written and handled well, there was never a dull moment.
I will be reading more from this author.

Ailsa Rae has been waiting for her heart to be replaced for all her life and as her health deteriorates and her pallor increases she is coming to terms with the fact that it may not happen as she has seen with others on her ward. She may get too ill to be able to accept a donor pump. When the miracle happens Ailsa has to cope with living again and all that entails. Living an ordinary life instead of being “special”. I totally loved this book, you can feel everything that Ailsa is coping with and are swept up in her life. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really heart warming story and while I don't really follow or understand the world of blogging I found I didn't really need to know much to appreciate the idea behind it. Some of the flashbacks weren't too obvious but overall the story flowed well and I understood it. There are some lovely messages in the book and the writing style is lovely.

I am looking forward to seeking out more from this author.

I really liked the author's previous book so was looking forward to reading this latest one
I was intrigued by the subject matter and was captivated by the story to begin with. However,as the story unfolds, I foumd the blog element a bit tiresome. I think it could have been dispensed with earlier on. That said,it was an engaging book and sometimes, thought provoking, Very often as with most 'Ordinary people', I take alot for granted, not fully appreciating what I have. This story reminds me of how fortunate I am. If a book can do that,then it is definitely worth a read.

This is the second novel I have read from Stephanie Butland. I thoroughly enjoyed her last book, Lost for Words, and was looking forward to reading this one. The subject area sounded interesting and unusual.



The story concerns 28-year-old Alisa Rae. Born with a heart defect, her life has been a long series of hospital stays and operations until a transplant has become her only hope. When, miraculously, a match is found and she has a new heart and hope for the future, she has to adapt to a way of life that she has never known before. It almost seems overwhelming to have choices where there were none before. However, this change brings with it its own problems. Her mother, who has been through all of the past difficulties with her from birth is also faced with new challenges as she now has to allow Alisa to make her own way in life. For many years, Alisa has written a blog documenting her day-to-day life. She has also used the blog to help her decide on all sorts of issues through the opinions of her followers. Once she is well and has so many opportunities open to her, can she, and should she, relinquish her dependence on her social media friends?



I found this a moving and thought-provoking story of a girl coping with an enormous change in her life, told with a fair amount of humour that balances out the serious nature of the topic. As well as a tale of someone recovering from a life threatening situation, there is friendship and romance. The narrative does flit around a bit, from past to present, and blog post to email, making it difficult for me to follow at times. However, it does bring home the message that organ donation is an important choice for us all and that having a transplant is not the end of the journey.

I found this an interesting read. Some excellent and interesting characters and a nicely woven together plot and backstory. I liked the interaction between Ailsa and Seb - and the style of the writing.

The book also made me stop and think. It had honestly never occurred to me that not only is a transplant life saving...it's totally life changing too. Food for thought...

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

This is the second book I've read by Stephanie Butland and I enjoyed it. There's no crime involved,no great mystery,no violence, it's a story of a girl coming to terms with life after a heart transplant.

I took to Ailsa straightaway. She has been cared for her whole life by her mum who's a single parent. Every day of her life has been monitored because of her serious heart condition. She's never lived alone, had a job or been able to plan for the future. We go on the journey with her as she makes a new life for herself.
After her heart transplant she has learn to trust her decisions instead of running them past people who read her online blog.
There is a lovely love interest in the shape of a Hollywood actor who Ailsa slowly learns to trust.

As Ailsa has lots of new experiences she has to have them without her best friend beside her because for some people a transplant never comes.
This story is set in Edinburgh and the only annoying part of the book is Ailsa's mother's Scottish accent. I didn't really see the need for it when her daughter didn't speak like that.
A nice read and I'd definitely read another of Stephanie's books.

I think the initial tag line which attracted me to the book (comparison with Eleanor Oliphant) was misleading but nevertheless this is a very readable account of the feelings and experiences of a heart transplant patient. The incorporation of Ailsa Rae's blog into the books narrative was an interesting device and the story moved forward in a credible fashion. characterisation was perhaps a little two dimensional but a pleasant read without any unrealistic sugary conclusion.

As a duvet dweller AKA Spoonie or someone with a chronic illness I  relate much to Ailsa thoughts and the emotions she expresses in her blog before her transplant and after as her health improves. She uses her blog to connect with people outside hospital bed as many do, raise awareness of the ability of transplants to change someone's life and help make decisions with her life. I enjoyed the pleasant mixture of blog posts, email, and narration.

It follows Ailsa as she ventures into the new world of wellness, which means negotiating her close relationship with her mum and discover her well self. The book comes across as well researched and makes you connect with Ailsa. It is uplifting and made me want to get my dancing shoes on and dance. Or at least put the music on loud and sway imagining I was on strictly come dancing. As with her previous book Lost for Words Stephanie Butland has given me another character to love and remember.

Would I recommend?
Yes, for its humour, insight into the life of someone dealing with chronic illness and beyond as well as its delightful characters. This is one of those books I want a physical copy of for my bookshelf so I can indulge again in the future.

I couldn't get into this book. I didn't like the format of blogs and going back and forth.

I can absolutely loved this book! I enjoyed the format, narrative, interspersed with blog posts. The premise of the book is a young woman, Ailsa receiving a heart transplant. We get to know Ailsa and her mother and aunt as women whom you want to meet. Ailsa is positive and witty and even though she is grieving, she is still striving to survive. Throughout the book there is love and sorrow and the dilemma of needing a heart and receiving a heart. It's brilliantly written with layers of heart-related situations, both physical and metaphorical. Beautiful.

Ailsa Rae has had a heart transplant. Her relationship with her mother is at breaking point. She needs to find her father. Even her friends have left her behind. And then there's Lennox. Her best friend and one time lover. He was sick too. He didn't make it. How's she supposed to face all this without him.

Ailsa has had to deal with ill health and get used to the restrictions that this places on her lifestyle. She blogs about her life and finds this a coping mechanism. Her relationship with her mother is close and Ailsa could always rely on her. The timeline in this story jumps back and forward of which I found a little confusing at times. I liked how Ailsas blog was used as a storytelling device. This book covers friendship, health, death, grief and much more. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will look out for more from her in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and the author Stephanie Butland for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is unfortunately going to be compared to others, but needs to be read to be understood. The main character is well written and you feel her struggles which makes her easier to warm to. Definitely a book for the next holiday!