How does one review a book that touches your heart and tugs at your soul?

This is a story of Melody, who falls and hits her head, following which she develops a strange syndrome, which causes her to break out into songs whenever she’s anxious and stressed.
This is a story of her teenage children, Rose and Flynn. Flynn, who sustained a serious injury to his face, when he went flying out of the windshield of the car being driven by his father, Dev, has to deal with bullying from his peers not only because of his permanently scarred and disfigured face, but also due to his wacko mum.
Rose too faces similar embarrassment while having to deal her mum’s condition, but she never could let go of her father disappearing. She has clung on to the hope that he will be found somewhere.

Yes, Dev just went missing one day – and no amount of searching could help trace him. The family ultimately concluded that he was dead.
And so they were living, this dysfunctional family of three, dealing with their own problems, their intricacies, their issues and they were coping…

Till Rose comes across a man, who resembles their father. His name is Tom Simmonds. And so this family of three will make one trip to find out if this is the man who apparently abandoned them.

This is also a story of Tom – a man who you would relate to. A man whose world was about to turn topsy-turvy.

A book full of warmth, a beautiful and poignant novel. The story and the relationships amongst the protagonists are so heart-warming and real.
The essence of motherhood is captured oh-so-perfectly, the feelings, the sibling bonding, the hopes, the disappointments, the joy – this is a family saga.
A story of family, of loving, belonging, believing and never letting go.
The love story is what movies are made of – and it makes you want to believe in forever and happily ever after.

Please read it. You won't regret it. One bit.

Loved, loved, loved this book!!!!! The story of Me,ody, who spontaneously bursts into song, and her children Flynn and Rose. Melody belives her husband Dev is dead - he walked out on them and is nowhere to be seen. She’s long given up looking for him, but the children want to go on a trip to find someone they think could be their dad. Melody is certain it can’t be Dev, he’s definitely dead! They find Tom.....he’s loat his memory.....but he's got the same tattoo as Dev......the story takes some twists and turns, some made me laugh out loud, many of them made me cry. A beautifully written book, which I loved. I wanted the story to continue forever. Absolutely deserves its five stars, if I could give it more I would. I haven’t enjoyed a book like this for quite some time.

I feel emotionally drained after this book. What a rollercoaster. I was expecting angst and heartache turning into a happily ever after but what I got was so much more. I cried in so many parts of this book but also laughed at all the inappropriate times. Melody is my hero along with Flynn. This story just his home on so many levels about the what ifs and whys. I can’t praise this book enough. I am emotionally wrung out but in the best possible way

An emotional rollercoaster of a novel, this one is a very sensitively written story of what family is and what it means to be 'us'.

Melody and her kids Flynn and Rose bring a smile to the face and a lump in the throat, the way they deal with their unusual circumstances with so much love and togetherness.
Ever since her fall after slipping on ice, Melody cannot control when and where she breaks into songs defining what she is feeling at the particular time. Her children fully understand and support her, even dealing with her singing all night.
Their dad suddenly disappeared years ago after a terrible incident that shook the family and has been missing since.
Flynn and Rose, close as they are to their mother, have issues of their own to deal with as teen-agers.
A new clue as to a possible sighting of their dad, years later, leads the family to take a trip together and is the start of something that changes their lives totally.
The story has humour, love, sibling bonding and lots of emotional moments profoundly described.
Truly heartfelt and one that stays with you long after you read the last page.

An absolute gut-wrenching tale that will leave you howling with laughter as well as crying for your soul. This book is looking to be an amazing award winner and I'll be surprised if it doesn't hit Number 1 rankings everywhere

This is one of those books that you can’t read in public without drawing attention to yourself. A bit like the main character Melody who involuntarily bursts into song at inappropriate moments, I had a fair few occasions of bursting into public laughter and a good few sniffles and sobs as well.

The Songs of Us is a beautiful, life affirming and poignant novel. I don’t think I have ever loved a bunch of characters quite as much as I did these. The relationships between them are also incredibly heart warming and real.

Emma Cooper has a wonderful ability to show life in all it’s sad, testing, imperfect and ridiculous reality, whilst also revealing the joy and hilarity which weaves through the storylines of our lives. And she captures motherhood so perfectly, the feelings, pressures, joy – it’s a true celebration of this too. The love story is also stunning… what a wonderful premise.

There are sections that are so beautifully written, they take you right there with the characters – the tastes, smells and sights pulling you in.

I particularly loved how the tuning of instruments and the last bars of a song’s introduction (inside her head) marked a coming outburst, and would have Melody legging it out of some situations. The choice and timing of some of the songs is true hilarious genius!

Ultimately, I think this book is a gem and will be lapped up. The title and cover alone had me itching to read it! I laughed, sighed, sobbed and smiled my way through the pages. It hooked me and I loved it!

What a beautifully written book. Emma Cooper has done an amazing job of pulling my heartstrings, making me laugh out loud and cry in equal measures. A heartwarming story about Melody and her family, struggling with their own personal issues as well as dealing with each other’s on a daily basis. With wonderful, believable characters this is a very emotionally moving book that shows the love of a family can conquer all. I really do highly recommend this book... you won’t be disappointed.

I was blessed to be able read an advanced copy of this book for an honest review and to be honest, I'm a little lost for words.

I read the blurb to this book before requesting it, and thought it sounded like a light, chic-lit read and in the very beginning, I did wonder what I'd signed up for and if I would actually finish it. See if you really know me, you will know that I am extremely fussy with what I read and rarely ever give out 5 stars.

The first thing that struck me about this book when I started reading it is that it was funny. Not just a giggle here and there, but 'Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum' laugh out loud funny. From the opening chapter, I fell into the twisted world of Melody, who breaks out into a song and dance whenever she is anxious, Flynn, who struggles to deal with his anger and Rose, who struggles with the loss of her missing Dad and inability to make friends. A dysfunctional family who no matter what life threw at them, they always stuck together and always made the best of a bad situation. Then came Tom, who lost his memory 11 years earlier and can't remember where he came from, who complimented the story to perfection. Written beautifully from the points of view from everyone, I felt like an intruder on this families lives through the writings of journals or Melody's first person viewpoint. As the laughs lessened and I became more and more invested in the characters, the tears started and didn't stop until the very last word. I was left heartbroken that this book had to come to an end, I could have read this book for what seems like ever.

As I said, I don't give out 5 star reviews easily, but when I do, it's because the book moved me, really connected with me on a personal level and took me to the world of it's characters; their lives, their loves and their losses and this book did not disappoint!

A 5 star rating from me. Thank you Emma for this amazingly heartwarming story of love, loss and moving on.

Wow! What a beautifully written debut novel.

From the opening sentence, this book grips you by the wrist and pulls you into the life of Melody King. A very apt name for the main character and she knows it. She is lovable and endearing and you are rooting for her from the off.

There are several little twists and I don't want to risk putting in any spoilers that may detract from this gorgeously crafted, and utterly unique, story.

The writing is delicious and, at times, quite poetic. Laughter and tears are the order of the day so be sure to keep the tissues close by.

Emma Cooper has created something quite stunning and I'm already looking forward to her next offering.

The Songs of Us is quite possibly my favourite of all the books that I have read so far this year. What could have been a thoroughly depressing book, given the hand that has been dealt to the main characters, is in fact surprisingly warm and funny. The entire premise of the book is completely heartbreaking, and yet there is a feeling of hope throughout, and the author's sense of humour shines out through the pages. This is a book that takes you on a real rollercoaster ride through your emotions making you laugh and cry in equal measure.

I wish I could give this book 10 stars

Wow what a book, I was instantly gripped by this heart warming book about the love of a family and their journey.
The book tells a story though the eyes of each character and is so well written and descriptive that you fell everything that the characters feels, which makes the story so much more real.

The book covers a lot of emotional and difficult topics and you can tell by the way Emma has written that she must of done some fantastic research on all the topics.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster and will make you laugh, cry and break you heart all at the same time. It certainly has made me grateful for what I have and never take people for granted. Love is a very special thing and this book certainly shows that. A fantastic book Emma, well done.

I would highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading more books by Emma.

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, had a great story line, likeable characters and a surprising ending.

This book had it all - comedy, excitement, suspense and heartbreak. It had me laughing out loud and sobbing like a heartbroken teenager.

I have to be honest, at first I thought the premise was bit ridiculous - a woman who sings entire songs when she's anxious, but it is so well written that I was completely convinced that it could be possible. It helped that the lead characters were well put together - they seemed so real to me. They were likeable and relate-able, I grew attached very quickly.

More than anything I have to compliment Emma Cooper on the penultimate chapter. It was so beautiful. I haven't cried like that, at a book, in a long while.

This is a really well written, heartwarming read. It’s got exactly the right balance of parts to make you laugh, cry and it’s the type of book you’ll think about long after reading it.

I loved The Songs Of Us. It is a unique and very well written tale, the characters are endearing and their exploits had me laughing out loud. All of the main characters are interesting and well-rounded. The storyline succeeds in being funny and heart wrenching at the same time. A charming and captivating novel. My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book expecting it to be a typical, quick and easy, chick-lit-cum-rom-com story. I was wrong.

From the start, the characters are endearing and their exploits are laugh out loud funny. Melody's song and dance routine in the supermarket was a wonderful way to start the story and it only got better from there. All of the main characters are interesting, well-rounded and not at all cliched. The storyline has elements which you expect as you read but also takes you off on tangents of possibility which you don't see coming.

Ultimately this is a charming and captivating novel which will make you laugh, give you hope, break your heart and restore your faith in true love. I can't remember the last time I was so moved by a book.

I loved it. This book is chock full of emotion and will make you laugh, cause a lump in your throat and make you cry. You will want to hug your loved ones and you will not want this book to end all the while racing through the pages as the story grips you and doesn’t let go.
There’s a bit of a “sliding doors” vibe, if I hadn’t have done this then that wouldn’t have happened type thing which I liked. And the story moves around geographically as well as emotionally and is character lead with each main character telling us their viewpoint in their own voice. It’s a rollercoaster of emotion which has a darker edge but can be very light hearted, a bit like Marian Keyes. (Ultimate compliment as Marian Keyes is one of my all time favourite authors). Buy it, read it, tell all your friends about it and buy it for them too. You will love it!

such an emotional read, but with some funny sections which lighten the mood of the book.

Very well wrtieen and this draws you in to the story.

A very lovable book.

A powerfully raw and heart wrenching novel. You will be moved and blown away. This book is riddled with songs and melodies but, will fit just fine for even the less musically inclined.

The Songs Of Us will soften your heart and make you smile so much but get quite teary-eyed too. A book about a mother navigating her past, making sense of why her husband left her, whilst also living her present. The Songs Of Us also touches on the topics of mental health, life's struggles and surprises, and the nature of a pure love. Emma Cooper wrote it all so fantastically, the way the songs melded into the story, the seamless shift in character perspective, or into a character's recollections and, the descriptions of feelings in relation to another sensation was so thoughtfully executed. Just... Wow!

Every character will capture a piece of your heart, without a doubt. Especially the ever-singing Melody, but that's granted. But also, her lovely kids who can't help but want to protect their mother from the unknown and protect her happiness. Everyone was so vulnerable but gosh, the kids were so hilarious! Every family's a little bit crazy, you just have to approach life with a dose of humour!

I urge you to add this book to your reading list. You can thank me later. I've already added it to my favourites list! They aren't wrong in comparing this novel's style to Jojo Moyes', but be assured this book is definitely brilliant in its own right.

I received this book through Netgalley.

So, I have just got off a seven-and-a-half hour trans-Atlantic flight where I had planned on watching ‘Darkest Hour’ and grabbing a few hours sleep. Instead, I sat up all night and devoured Emma Cooper’s new novel from cover to cover in one sitting and I don’t regret a single second of lost sleep.

This book is, quite frankly, astonsihing. It manages to be funny and heart-wrenching at the same time, and explores some huge themes of love, loss, personal struggle and family, deeply but without being the least bit heavy-going or preachy.

It starts off with a hilarious scene in a supermarket which launches us straight into the complicated and mad world of the main character or Melody King who, following an unfortunate accident, has the embarrassing habit of launching into song at times of stress and anxiety, which leads to some extremely toe-curling but funny moments. Her two children, Flynn and Rose, both in those awkward teenage years and struggling with complicated issues of their own, tend to find this less amusing. I absolutely love the way Emma has chosen the perfect appropriately inappropriate song for Melody to sing at any given moment.

The book is written in the first person from the points of view of four main characters, Melody, Flynn, Rose and Dev, Melody’s missing husband. Each has a distinct voice, totally fitting their character and the personal stresses they are under and Emma has done this so well that we are right inside each of their individual heads, seeing the situation from four totally different points of view with the tint that their specific outlooks gives to the situation. It is so cleverly and perfectly done that we have a complete emotional insight into the whole perspective of the situation they are in, you can’t help getting sucked right into the drama.

And, oh, how much did I love these characters. Emabattled, troubled, sullen but warm-hearted Flynn. My heart broke for him and I was willing him to conquer his demons and become the amazing person you can see under the surface. Brilliant but confused Rose, fragile but not, having to grow up faster than she perhaps can cope with and trying to take control in dangerous ways. I just wanted to fold her in my arms and take care of her. And Melody. I don’t really know what to say about Melody except she is so perfectly imperfect, so valiant. She has stolen into my heart and taken firm root.

This book is a rollercoaster that takes you to unexpected places emotionally and has left me bruised, battered but ultimately uplifted. It is such a brilliant portrayal of how flawed and struggling people can be, but how love and family will hold us up and help us overcome if we have each other. I know I will go back and re-read this book soon, and I will feel exactly the same way about it again. It made me laugh and cry and I didn’t want it to end, to let go of these characters that took such firm hold of me in such a short space of time. This book is something really special, I might even venture to say, perfect.

Just don’t finish it on a jumbo jet full of hundreds of curious people as it comes in to land whilst wearing non-waterproof mascara.