As someone whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, this was a much more emotional read for me. I wept for Jess, for her family, for her daughter, for her life, and for the millions of women and families across the world who are going through the same plight. That this book was based on Laura Pearson's own battle with cancer makes it so much more emotive.

It not always a light hearted and happy read, thanks to the reality that is this awful disease. But it's a book with so much heart, beautiful characters, and a strong and impactful message.

Buy shares in Kleenex before reading this because you will work your way through tissues at an alarming rate.

This book is absolutely, brutally, brilliant.

I cried A LOT reading it – and Laura doesn’t shy away from the shittiness of breast cancer at all – but it’s not all doom and gloom. The relationships between Jess and her daughter / mother / best friend / father / ex boyfriend / best mate’s brother are all explored beautifully.

I guess I empathised most with Jess’s BFF Gemma. One of my best friends had her own breast cancer journey a couple of years ago – and I was the one trying to be a supportive friend. Admittedly I didn’t have to take care of a newborn like Gemma does in the book – but we did borrow her son as our 5th child for a week to take him away for half term. It’s the balance of trying to keep things ‘normal’ whilst still recognising that things are never going to be normal ever again. The letters Jess writes to Edie also made me really emotional – as there were many things my friend was scared she wouldn’t see – her daughter smashing her GCSEs and A-levels and turning 18, her son going to his Middle School prom and starting High School – all the type of things Jess addresses in her letters to her daughter who isn’t even a year old at the time.

Just like ‘Missing Pieces’ a dysfunctional family is central to the storyline – and written about so well – and you could totally empathise with lots of the characters (and want to punch others).

This is not a fun, easy, light hearted read – it really does make you think about being grateful for what you have RIGHT NOW – and speaking up for that, telling people what you think – and not waiting until it’s too late – or almost too late.

Whilst it made me do big snotty crying, I still really enjoyed this book – and a huge thank you to Netgalley for my ARC. I know there will be people where this is a bit too close to home – and I’m not sure whether it would be a good or bad thing for someone in a similar circumstance to read it.

Most of all, and very selfishly, I’m bloody chuffed that my friend didn’t have to write letters to her children like Jess did………

I’d like to thank Agora Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘I Wanted You To Know’ by Laura Pearson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Jess is 21 years old and has just given birth to Edie when she discovers she has breast cancer. Never having had her own father around during her childhood, Jess decides to tell Edie’s father Jake that he has a daughter. Jess writes letters to Edie should she not survive to tell her in person how to live, love and make friends, about her love for Jake and how much she was wanted.

I’m so grateful that Agora Books and NetGalley have let me read ‘I Wanted You To Know’ which is without question the most moving and incredibly sad story I’ve ever read. I marvelled at Jess’s mature attitude towards her own demise, arranging the details of her funeral, where she’d spend her last days, and her decision that if she had to go she’d go on her own terms. I was so absorbed in the story I found it impossible to put down, finishing it in less than a day, and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it. I wept throughout the book from start to finish and yet I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to read it. Thank you, Laura, for writing such a wonderful and inspiring book, I’d give it many more than five stars if I could.

I just don't know where to start with this. Such a beautiful, poignant and heartbreakingly sad book. An amazing portrayal into how cancer can devaste a family. At times I was left unable to read due to tears at other times the other times I was left smiling knowing how much Jess loved Edie.
I'm already recommending this to my famy and friends. Absolutely brilliant

I Wanted You to Know is a touching look at cancer taking a life much too young. Laura Pearson has written from her heart with a depth that only the experience can bring.

I don’t really know where to start with this novel. I’ve seen everyone raving about it, and I was desperate to read it, but now I’m sat in front of my laptop struggling to think of the words to describe just how beautiful and affecting it actually is.
The novel begins with a letter from the author. She tells the reader of her own experience with breast cancer. This isn’t just an author who is writing about the subject, this is someone who has lived it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried, and hard. Laura’s writing is so straight to the point – so raw – that I constantly read in awe (and tears).
The story itself focuses on Jess, a young, single mother who is diagnosed with breast cancer when her daughter is just weeks old. Her life is forever changed and faced with the very real possibility of death – she begins to write letters to her daughter, wanting, in some way to be there for her. After.
Laura’s own experience shines through the writing. Through Jess’ words and thoughts the author’s own feelings exist, and it is in the small details that the power of this novel truly resides. It grabs and shakes you by the lapels, making you realise just how lucky you are. It provides perspective in spades; and I, and no doubt many more, can be accused of taking my life for granted. I Wanted You to Know made me think about those small things, the ‘what ifs’, in an entirely new way. The letters Jess writes to Edie are an incredibly powerful way of translating the depth of loss into the here and now.
One of the most beautiful elements of the novel is the solidarity of women surrounding Jess. Her relationship with her mother will be recognisable to many daughters, and I think that everyone should have a friend like Gemma, who lights up the page with her warmth and friendship. For me, the love these three women have for one another shone brighter than the love story between Jess and Edie’s father, Jake.
It is without doubt the most heart-breaking book I’ve ever read. I cry quite easily, I’m in touch with my emotions and I feel deeply. But this was on another level. The writing is beautiful, heartfelt and honest – it is perfection.
I’m a huge fan of Laura’s previous novels and I absolutely love the way in which her characters, complex flaws and all, are portrayed. They’re not perfect. But who is?
I now have to now make the sad announcement that Missing Pieces has just been knocked from the top of my favourite list by I Wanted You To Know. It is, without doubt, Laura’s best and most powerful novel yet.

Hard, hard, hard.
Oh, why did I request this? I’m mad but happy with myself. I cried from beginning to end and I’ll be thinking of this book for a long time to come.
The writing is poignant and touching and takes ahold of you firmly. Cancer is one of those diseases that nearly everyone comes in contact with in their lives because it is so prevalent and so awful.
If you read this you will need a box of tissues at the ready. It’s a journey but a beautiful one at the same. This author is wonderful and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my ARC.

Such a sad and uplifting story! You will feel a full range of emotions while reading this novel. It’s such a well written book that you can fall into.

This is a poignant and moving story that just from reading the blurb you know is going to go in a certain direction and will be heartbreaking, however, I hadn't anticipated how uplifting and life-affirming it would also be.
Told in letters to her daughter Edie you see all of the stories, the experiences, the mistakes, that have led Jess to where she now is and all the tales she wants to leave her young daughter. The letters are also interspersed with current event narrative that explores what is happening to Jess and those closest to her.
I felt strongly that the author's own experience of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment whilst being a young mother meant this book has complete authenticity and knew exactly what areas to explore. I can only imagine the emotions involved in writing and editing this story having lived a version of it, and throughout I was pulled in by this reality, by a respect for Laura Pearson and so many other women like her, like Jess.
This story isn't about cancer, it's about life, and ultimately love. It highlights the things that matter most, the things that go unsaid, unappreciated, unnoticed most of the time but that mean everything. Jess's strong but imperfect relationship with her Mum, her enviable friendship with Gemma, and her regrets over things that went wrong with both Jake and her Dad, were all written so powerfully to emphasise the ups and downs of life and how things don't always turn out how we hope but that there are lessons along the way.

This book broke me! I cried from beginning to end. I did also laugh but, the tears were never far away.
Jess is 21 years old. She has a beautiful baby and a lump in her breast. As a single Mum after her relationship with Jake ended abruptly, she must rely on support from her Mum and her best friend Gemma.
Having been a mum for only a handful of weeks, Jess wants to make sure that Edie, her daughter, is provided with all the knowledge that she can share.
The story is told as a narrative of each character’s actions and is mixed with the heartrending ‘I wanted you to know’ letters from Jess to Edie.
The story is unpredictable and incredibly tragic as Jess fights a losing battle against this awful disease.
The changes in the dynamics between Jess, her Mum, Gemma and Jake are expertly written and sensitively portrayed.
Please read this book and try to enjoy it but, make sure that you’ve got plenty of tissues.

This book is heartbreaking but spoke to me and had me thinking and being grateful for al I have. The love of a mother is undoubtedly one of the strongest but to know you will not be around to share your children's life is unimaginable.

Jess is barely 21 but is faced with the devastating news that she has breast cancer. As a single mother she has poured all her love into her daughter . With her life in balance she wants to let her daughter know all the things she wishes she could tell her if she had more time. Her letters to her daughter shares her thoughts on how to love, lose, forgive and to make the most of her life.

Cancer is the most horrible disease and one which most of us has been touched by. The devastation it causes has been beautifully portrayed in this book and the impact on those involved and their family and friends is immense.

The authors insight in this book is evident and it will definitely leave the reader with tears in their eyes and a firm resolve to not “sweat the small stuff !” Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this unforgettable book .

I Wanted You To Know is a story about a young mother dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer and all that comes with it. Worried that she may not be around for her daughter Edie, Jess writes her letters all about her life, love and relationships.

This book was incredibly moving, it’s not often I cry when reading a book but I cried a lot with this one. I think it will stay with me for quite a while to come.

I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, they were likeable and well developed. In the end I felt like I knew them all personally.
Overall the book was very well written, easy to read and utterly heartbreaking. Don’t attempt to read it without a large box of tissues very close by!

This is such a sad book
Cancer is just the pits for everyone involved. Most of us know someone who has been affected by this awful disease
A beautifully written book .

Before you read this book, you will need tissues. I don't think I've ever cried this much reading a book. Talk about pulling at the heart strings. This was an amazing and beautiful story about a woman who writes letters to her daughter while she's fighting breast cancer. I didn't know if I'd be able to finish this book through the tears but what a book it was.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

💕💕Review of ‘I wanted you to know’by @laurapauthor . Published by @agorabooksldn 💕💕
What can I say about this book??
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Firstly before you start reading it buy a large box of tissues- trust me you will need them.
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Jess is a recent new Mum in her early twenties to baby Edie when she discovers that she has breast cancer. 💕💕
As the story progresses sadly so does Jess’ cancer. None of the operations nor treatment has work and sadly the cancer spread and her prognosis is terminal.
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Jess has a fantastic support network around her from Caroline (her mum) and Gemma (best friend). Jake- Edie’ s father is not on the scene at the moment.
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Jess tries to remain calm and very much in control of what is going on in regards to her illness and the fact she will be leaving her daughter without a mother. 💕💕
Jess starts writing letters to Edie. In these letters Jess tell Edie about her own childhood, who is around to support her and to offer advice.
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You are taken on a very emotional journey of motherhood,friendship, terminal illness, family, death, love, life & loss.
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For such a hard emotional subject this is tastefully written with a sympathetic touch to it.
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This is an emotional read but it does bring the effect cancer has on families to the forefront.
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Thank you to @agorabooksldn and @netgalley for gifting me this book.

A beautiful heartbreaking story. I laughed and cried through this book. This story is so sad and so well written.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Pearson’s ‘I Wanted You to Know’ is beautiful. I read it in one sitting. Told partly in letters to her infant daughter, IWYTK is the story of Jess, the people she loves and her battle with breast cancer at the tender age of 21.
I Wanted You To Know is nuanced and clear and honestly, I cried through most of it. It’s ultimately a story of love and friendship and the relationships between a mother and her child and how that love never shallows, irregardless of age. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

OMG I don't even know where to start this book is heart breaking and one of my favourite reads of this year. I am not even sure I can do it justice in a review as I loved it that much!

As soon as I picked this book up I knew I was in for the long haul and I read it in under a day over two sittings.

I love a book that gives you all of the feels and this book gave me a barrage of emotions throughout. I shed my first tear around 50% and at 80% had to break a box of tissues out.

This book is so heartfelt I could literally feel the words jumping off the page and was so absorbed and emotionally invested in the wonderful characters from beginning to end.

Massive praise to Laura Pearson on this amazing book and all of the feels it bought with it. This is one of those rare books where 5* just isn't enough!

Dear Edie, I wanted you to know so many things. I wanted to tell you them in person, as you grew. But it wasn’t to be.

Jess never imagined she’d be 21, with a newborn. She also didn’t imagine she’d be dying. A life that should be just beginning is interrupted by worried looks, heavy conversations, and the possibility of leaving her daughter to grow up without her. Jess knows that she needs to tell her daughter everything. How to love, how to lose, how to forgive, and, most importantly, how to live when you never know how long you have.

Possibly one of the saddest books I’ve ever read. It absolutely broke my heart. But I honestly couldn’t put it down. It was amazing. A book of absolute heartbreak, that reminds you how short life can be, and to embrace life to its fullest. Jess goes through the process of coming to terms with having breast cancer, and dying, while reconciling lost relationships, all while writing letters to her daughter in the hope to share insights into her life and offer support about the many things life has to throw at it. So eloquently written that I just couldn’t stop. Highly recommend (if you’re ok with bawling your eyes out).

Ooft. I read this in one sitting and cried with increasing intensity from Chapter 3 to the last page. It's not an easy read emotionally but it's beautiful and brutal in equal measure.