I really loved this book and the journey we take with our main characters. Their connection is undeniable but because of the circumstances of how they met, things are complicated. I liked Eva's writing style and I will definitely be reading more by this author. A solid read for me and one I would recommend.

I say this every single time I read a multiple narrative book, but I just absolutely bloody love it (when it's done well).

This was an enjoyable book. I was emersed in the characters and their experiences, finding myself wanting to jump into the pages and shake some sense into them (and maybe kick and punch them at times, but we move on). I related to Kerry as a protagonist, which I am sure many people in their 20's can. Making poor life choices is always a part of becoming an adult and I am sure we all have many bad decisions to come in life.

The writing style was refreshing, easy to follow, and kept me interested in the characters and the story. The exploration of some difficult topics was done well and handled with the right amount of empathy and compassion. These moments were also balanced out with moments of humour and a satisfying ending.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, and I will be picking up more of Eva Carters books!

I so wanted to like this book, and the first 10% kept me riveted. But then it just started to be the same thing, moving into an awkward love triangle, and the characters just became annoying instead of me wanting to root for them. Tim was the absolute worst, and I couldn't read how much he took all the glory, and also how Kerry let him (though her intentions were noble). Then it just became a string of this-can-go-wrong-and-it-does, which started to get depressing and there was no letting up, no uplifting spirit at any point, which totally killed my enjoyment of this tale I wanted to enjoy when I started. It's a drama and not a romance, there's nothing light and endearing in this one at all, sadly.

This was a moving story about three school friends - one of whom goes into cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve. Kerry begins CPR immediately, Tim freezes and finds himself unable to help, which is inconvenient as they both want to go to medical school. But when the paramedics arrive, Tim has at last started to help (even though Kerry has worked alone for about 15 minutes) and takes the praise as well as Kerry.

It’s here Tim starts to realise that being a doctor may not be what he thought it would be.

Kerry’s life takes a turn when she fails her A Levels, and Joel finds it hard to accept his heart condition and the changes he has to make in his life.

I liked that each of the characters had the chance to tell their story in alternating chapters. These characters experienced addiction, depression and other health conditions, and the main theme of the story, Joel’s heart condition, is revisited often. As are the mechanics of CPR, and it’s pointed out by the author that a persons life is more likely to be saved if you at least try.

This is a lovely, and often moving story. I really enjoyed it.

How to Save a Life
by Eva Carter
At the beginning of the book we final the three friends have a trauma moment when one of them collapses with heart failure and one of the others performs CPR to save their friend on New Year’s Eve 1999. The book follows the journeys from 18 over the next few decades and how the events of that night have affected them as their lives evolve and become entwined over the next twenty years at various times . Great read involving every emotion we encounter in a life time - drama,happiness sadness success , failure and illness. A page turner from the first page to the last. 4.5/5

Read this book so long ago and unfortunately didn’t post my review in time! Review to come, apologies for the delay

This is told in multiple POVs in alternating chapters
This is beautifully written and so emotional
The ending was beautiful and my heart still hasn’t recovered

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

How To Save A Life was a lovely story about the connections people make and how circumstances can change your whole life direction.

Overall, I really enjoyed this booked. I liked that we follow the main characters over a twenty year period and see them develop into adults. I also liked that they had their own POV chapters, although I’m not sure Tim brought much to the story.

There were times Kerry and Joel frustrated me and I found some of the things they did a little nauseating. Some of the plot was predictable and sometimes a little unnecessary. This is a long, slow read which could have been shorter but overall I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

Excellent book. A small group of young people are bound by the event of one evening.
Can anyone find happiness?
Gutted it has taken me so long to get round to reading the book

The blurb was the most riveting part. Unfortunately disappointed after I had high expectations and I did like the three main characters.

Great story. I really enjoyed hearing from different narratives. I did find the characters a little difficult to warm to but overall I enjoyed it.

How to save a life is an uplifting/devastating book.

As with closing doors there are options for so many outcomes but the puzzle shifts and the parts reassemble in the wrong order.
A schoolgirl has a crush on her classmate whilst another classmate has a crush on her. So straightforward but so complex that their lives keep forming the wrong pattern.

It seemed as if it was going to be chick-lit but, pardon the pun, its got too much heart for that.

Each of the characters do stupid things yet remain really likeable. The reader gets swept up cheering for them to get it right only for them to keep missing.

It's an extremely easily read book whilst being emotionally draining. Worth every minute spent reading it. I really loved it.

Great story telling but very unlikeable characters. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and getting to see the revisions each makes and why

So, I really wish I hadn't waited so long to read this book. The audio is brilliant and well worth dedicating time to.
Told in multiple narrative in alternating chapters we follow 3 friends as their lives through the highs and lows over a 20 year period.
Kerrie and Tim are watching a football match when their friend Joel collapses whilst playing. They both are in St John's Ambulance, but where Kerrie excels and starts CPR, Tim freezes.
So begins a story of many traumas. This isn't for the faint hearted, a lot of triggers are talked about, but it never felt like too many for some reason.
Yes, I disliked Tim with a passion for how he treats Kerrie, but I couldn't stop listening to this one and would definitely recommend it.
Please note as it covers 20 years starting from 2000, there are also mentions of big world events that could cause triggers too.

I loved this! A tender love story about life-changing decisions with brilliant characters. Joel, Tim and Kerry will stay with me for a long time. An emotional and heartfelt read - highly recommend!

This was a fantastic and engaging novel. Excellent storytelling and well written, deep and believable characters. The author crafted such strong characters, the novel focuses on the three main characters of the story. I would certainly say that the the novel was slow in getting going, but I would definitely recommend people to stick with it. The characters in the book are also complex and flawed.

It captured very well the impact of one event on peoples lives. It was an interesting focus. One of the positives of this book was it being so easy to read and follow. If you enjoy books that explore a wide range of issues, character driven and are set across an extended period of time then you will love this.

I went into this novel expecting a standard contemporary, with possibly some internalised conflict regarding the life-saving incident at the beginning of the novel. However, I was so pleasantly surprised to find that it was more poignant and powerful than I could have imagined. The way Eva Carter has crafter socially and emotionally dependent characters, without the heavy use of sexual or romantic relationships is a master stroke, with intelligent women bolstering the bravado of the men around them. Even the supporting characters felt like a character study in 'dealing with other people's stuff'. Really enjoyed it over all.

New Year’s Eve 1999, Kerry and Tim are watching some guys play football, Kerry is only paying attention to one player, Joel, so she is the first one to notice something is wrong when he falls down. And she wastes no time to run to him. She can’t really believe he is not breathing and will have to do CPR.
This event will connect Joel, Tim and Kerry’s lives for many years to follow.

Such a beautiful book, tough to read in some parts, especially as Joel goes on a self destruction path, but with great characters.

I love a love story and you won’t find one more gripping than this! It’s messy, it’s complicated and that’s what makes it real. I was fully gripped by their story and definitely didn’t want it to end! What a fabulous book!