Beautifully written and absolutely heartbreaking at times. Definitely needed some dog cuddles after finishing. Well done.

I received an ARC of this novel from Boldwood Books via Netgalley in exchange for my review. On Waterloo Bridge on a cold winters night in December, Ted Green decides to take his life. He felt he had become to big of a burden on his loved ones and there was no reason to continue living this way. Just as he is getting ready to jump, Marianne Cooper on the way home from a holiday party where she has just been dumped, spots Ted and chooses to talk him off the bridge. Over the span of the next twenty years the readers get to follow along to see the implications of that conversation on the bridge. This was a really lovely story about the power of making connections and reaching out despite worrying about what to say or how to say it.

Such a cozy romance novel! This book had me in tears, holding my breath and anxiously waiting for the happy ending the main characters deserved! beautifully written and just the book I needed. Finished in a day! <3

One of the strongest start to a book that I’ve read in a long time, I was hooked straight away. Not a romance as such, which is what I was expecting, but a wonderful story about how small actions can change peoples lives.

For those who love a well-developed story of relationships (not romance) and enjoy a question of “what-if” in real life, this is THE book to go for.

How to Save a Life focuses on two main characters that meet one faithful, winter night in London. I had high hopes for this book; however, the mental health crisis of one of the main characters, while well written, was just too much for me at the moment. The story begins with a heartbreaking scene but the second main character brings hope with her. I did not finish the book because of the subject matter; however, I made it 40% of the way thru and what I did read was extremely well written.

Ever experienced a moment so profound that it feels like it will change your entire life? Perhaps your life will be forever defined by that moment?

Meet Ted and Marianne. Bridge Guy and Fairy Girl.

How To Save A Life follows their parallel lives over 20 years, following a brief 20 minute meeting all those years earlier. An amazing story which follows reality of life following those "what-if" moments.

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Marianne Cooper was running away from her office party to avoid the embarrassment of finding her boyfriend with another girl. Little did she realize that as she made her way that December night, along London’s South Bank, she would end up saving a life! But when she spoke to the man trying to jump off the Waterloo Bridge, she stopped Ted Green from certain death. Although they didn’t exchange names, both Marianne and Ted never could quite forget that night or each other.

After getting saved, Ted began to make something of his life – getting therapy and eventually becoming a doctor.

Marianne too gave up her job and with her experience of being able to talk Ted off the bridge, realized that she was cut out to be a therapist.

The author takes us on a journey through the lives of Ted and Marianne. Both their lives were definitely not easy, but that night set them on a new course, that made them both hopeful and strong. Their struggles made them very credible characters.

I love how the book took us through their lives, allowing them to get glimpses of each other but never quite being certain if it was indeed the other. This kept up the element of surprise and kept me absorbed throughout.

The idea that an act of kindness can bring change not only to the beneficiary, but also make a huge difference to the life of the benefactor, is a theme that came through to me in this story.
I loved the premise of this story, all the characters and the author’s writing style.

This was so good. Has all the elements I wanted in a book. I’d definitely recommend this to my family and friends

When Ted, haunted by his actions fighting in the army, feels he has nothing to live for and the world would be better off without him he makes a decision to end his life. Late one December night he heads to Waterloo Bridge and climbs over the railings ready to jump and end it all, however little did he know that, that same night whilst walking home drunk after finding her boyfriend with another woman Marianne would be walking over the bridge at that exact moment.
She spots Ted and without thinking she climbs over next to him and calmly talks him back. They part but cannot stop thinking about each other. Will they ever meet again?
We follow both Ted and Marianne as they rebuild their lives following that fateful evening.

This book is beautifully written and really makes you think. We never know what is going on in someone’s life and what they may be struggling with.

I absolutely loved reading this title and highly recommend

I gobbled this novel up…. The characters were so well developed . I so enjoyed traveling through life with them. May have seemed implausible but it is very reminiscent of my very own love story. Highly recommend.

3.5 Stars

Ted and Marienne meet on a bridge one night on as Ted is preparing to end his life. He is a war veteran with severe PTSD, and believes that he and the world would be better off without him. Marienne sees what Ted is about to do, and convinces him not to jump. They do not exchange names, and for many years after this experience they think about what would have/could have been and the possibility of finding each other.

I liked the alternative perspectives so that you got to experience the story from both Ted and Marienne’s point of view. That did lead to a bit of duplication of details, however - hearing from both of them about the exact same situation. I also would not call this a romance, and if you go into it wanting or expecting that it could be disappointing. Having said that, I appreciated that the author tackled some tough subjects.

I had trouble watching the movie “Groundhog Day” because it was so repetitive. I felt the same way reading this book. It alternates between the two characters’ point of view and the retelling of each scene causes it to drag. The book begins as Ted Green makes his way to Waterloo Bridge determined to end his life. That same night in December, Marianne Cooper sees him and stops him. When Marianne saves Ted’s life, becomes a pivotal point in both of their lives. So over the course of 20 years, they are constantly looking and thinking about each other. I found the near misses and serendipitous moments frustrating. This one just wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story has a dual narrative in first person by Marianne and Ted. I loved seeing how both these characters developed and grew across the years. I am not sure what I had been expecting when I started this book, but it was definitely something else! It’s not a simple romance story about a couple that meets and falls in love, instead it is a story of “what if…” as we follow these two characters lives through many years. The story may have taken the saying “it’s a small world” quite far, but it’s fiction and I was so drawn to these characters and wanted to just keep reading and reading, living through their ups and downs with them. Neither character was perfect but that’s why they came across as real people that I really grew to love.

This is a story of what if? In the beginning of the book Marianne saves Ted’s life as she convinces him not to jump off a bridge. They are complete strangers yet that brief interaction stays an important part of their lives for the next two decades. There are many occasions when they nearly unknowingly meet each other. Eventually they do end up meeting and there is an instant connection. They both have other life commitments and they carry on without getting to know one another. The story is poignant and it was interesting to see the character development for both Marianne and Ted over the years. I do wish there had been more of Ted and Marianne getting to know one another rather than all the near misses.

I will start my review with TED!
Yes the main character is Ted! (Nothing makes me happier) Well actually a bouquet of balloons delivered in a miniature snow mobile would....anyway back to the review.

This book takes place over the course of 20 years 1991-2021. During this 20 year span (it felt like that long btw) we keep learning about how Ted and Marianne continue to *almost* meet each other, Seriously you have to read the same scene play out from both POV to find out that they are both in the same doctor's office, party or ice skating rink.....
They first encounter one another the night that Ted plans to end his life (I know, why would you ever kill yourself if you had such a great name??) Anyway Marianna stops him and they desperately live out their lives constantly thinking about one another.
In fact they are almost handicapped by the fact that they are obsessed with the other. (Yes they only met the 1 time for like what an hour?)
I think what frustrated me so much was how you have to suffer through their longings and them witnessing them live life in the "I Bet Bridge Man/Fairy Girl would do this...." thus not allowing themselves to love people who are truly present in their life. A more apt title would be "How to Destroy A Life""
Without going into spoilers, basically the ending was disappointing, and the first 90% of the book was long and drawn out mopey people moping around...

Also..can someone please explain why Marianne's friend's name was Lance??


Thank you Netgally for this advanced copy. I was not paid or influenced for my honest review.

In this story, the lives of two people, Marianne and Ted, are brought together at the beginning of the book, due to a chance encounter. Both going through emotional episodes, they make a deep impression on each other but part before they exchange names. For the next twenty years, you see their lives pan out. You always wonder if they will meet again as their paths come perilously close at times. Seen through the eyes of the two characters, by the end, you feel that you have got to know them quite well!

Ted's story has some contemporary relevance as he is an ex-soldier who has returned from Kuwait with severe mental issues caused by the conflict. Whether he is able to put himself back together I will not go into but his backstory certainly helps to flesh out his character. Mariann's story seems lighter but she has her dreams and ambitions which she sets out to fulfil. There is enough in the story to convince you that each character seems credible and you become quite invested in their lives. As they go through ups and downs, you see the implications of the chance encounter which altered both their life paths. This is an enjoyable read, with a clever use of perspective.

In short: two lives collide
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Trigger warnings: PTSD, suicide attempt, mental health issues, alcoholism

On a cold December night in 1991, 22-year-old Ted decides to throw himself of the Waterloo Bridge, certain no one will miss him. Running away from a party after catching her boyfriend/boss having sex with another woman, Marianne Cooper catches sight of a man on the edge of the bridge. Marianne immediately goes to the man and convinces him to continue living. Then, without either learning the other’s name, she is gone. As the years pass, Ted and Marianne can’t stop thinking about each other and wonder if their paths will ever cross again.

This story has an interesting premise, to be certain. By seeing only the sections of their lives where they almost reconnect, we miss large swaths of what their daily lives were like, which holds the characters at a bit of an arm’s length from the reader. <spoiler>I have to say that I tend to agree with the best friends in this situation. Ted and Marianne have spent 20 years building each other up in their heads, and I have my doubts that their relationship will be what they are expecting when they finally get together at the very end of the book. I would have liked at least one more chapter proving this wrong.</spoiler> In the end, I just don’t consider this a love story as the cover and blurb claim; it is a story of two people who really don’t know each other. The sheer number of times they came >< this close to meeting each other was unbelievable.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

What happens when a chance encounter with a random stranger changes your course of life?

When Ted and Marianne meet on a London Bridge one night, neither is fully aware how much their meeting will impact on their later lives.

Told in alternating chapters by Ted and Marianne, and spanning a timeframe of over twenty years, this is an intriguing look at twists of fate and how small moments that you may not even be aware of can have a significant effect on the path your life will take.

Never fully able to get each other out of their minds after that fateful night, they actually cross paths multiple times without ever realising it. I particularly enjoyed the way this was revealed in consecutive chapters from each character’s perspective.

Very cleverly written and thought-provoking!

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an e-arc of this book in return for an honest review..

4.5 stars!

I loved this book! I loved seeing their lives throughout the years and wanted to scream so many times! Meeting someone for a few moments and thinking about them every so often asking what if. This is such a lovely story and of course I want more! Hoping the story continues because I loved these characters so much! Fairy Girl and Bridge Man meet and fates decides the rest.