The Last Days of You and Me is a story following multiple perspectives of characters going through some of the most tragic times of their lives and still relying on friendship to help them through. Another great book by Debbie Howells.

This book serves as an excellent reminder that even when confronted with death, it is important to continue to live. And not just living but embracing each moment as small as they may be. Most importantly, to love boldly and without fear. In striking that type of path and opening yourself up, that is when the right people come into ones life both friends and loves. Like Marnie and Forrest and prior to that Billy and Lori, they as true soulmates found each other. Their hearts were already intertwined. It was just a matter of when. I was so happy to see that Rae no longer shut the world out in an attempt to create a stable life for herself and Birdy. However, it didn't help her grow and she couldn't live through the pages of her books forever. She needed someone like Jack to enter into her life to realize that good men truly do exist. He wasn't going to disappear. I found this book to be both uplifting and insightful. It is certainly a book that makes one take a step back and evaluate whom and what you are focused on. Most importantly, to.truly live in the present rather than the past.

I have a read a few @debbiehowells and loved them all and this is no different. I loved that this book is heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, I love the writing and difficult topics are handled with sensitivity. I think the characterd are all so unique and as you read you will find one to relate to easily. I think I genuinely felt every emotion throughout this book. I think this will be a book I will remember for a long time and I recommend to anyone who loves romance books but also a bit of self love and discovery.

I have been a fan of Debbie's work for a while now. I have almost caught up with everything that she has written and it won't take me long to do just that. When I heard that Debbie was due to release another book, I knew I had to grab a copy at the earliest opportunity. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because Debbie's new book is called 'The Last Days Of You And Me' and it was released on 29th January 2024. Now having just finished the book, all I can say is 'Wow'. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Last Days Of You And Me' but more about that in a bit.

I must be honest and say that when I started reading 'The Last Days Of You And Me', I wasn't all that sure that I would get into the story and that I would find it a difficult read. I don't mean that in a negative or a critical way. It's just that death is quite a large part of the story and having just suffered a family bereavement, I wasn't sure that this book was for me at this moment in time. I gave myself a talking to, pulled up my big girl's pants and carried on with reading. I am so glad that I did too because the story turned out differently to how I was expecting it to. I have to say that from fairly early I found that reading 'The Last Days Of You And Me' became rather addictive to say the least. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would so involved in the story that I would still be sat there several chapters and an hour or so later. I had warmed to the characters who ended up feeling more like friends than characters in a book. I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and the pages were turning. All too quickly I reached the end of 'The Last Days Of You And Me'. I found 'The Last Days Of You And Me' to be an emotional story about friendship, the fragility of life and how you should make every day of your life count.

'The Last Days Of You And Me' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Debbie Howells. Debbie certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. Debbie clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. As I mentioned earlier, the characters ended up feeling more like friends than characters in a book and I cared about what happened to them. Debbie does write about some emotional subjects - such as cancer and death- but she writes about them with compassion and sensitivity. Reading 'The Last Days Of You And Me' felt like being on one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, highs and lows and so on. I love the way in which Debbie makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short I really enjoyed reading 'The Last Days Of You And Me' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I hope to read much more of Debbie's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Debbie Howells - The Last Days Of You And Me.

In the sleepy town of Arundel, fate brings four strangers into each other’s lives. They are all very different characters, but as their worlds collide, their lives entwine forever.
As a result of these new relationships, all four learn to live, love and move on from their respective situations.

Anyone who takes the time to read any of my book reviews, (and thank you if you do) will know that generally I love most of the books that I read. But every now and again, a book comes along that firmly slaps me with a massive Wow! And that is just what #TheLastDaysOfYouAndMe did.

I loved the mix of characters. They all brought something different to the table, that when blended together created something quite special.

#TheLastDaysOfYouAndMe swept me away on an emotional journey of heartbreak, grief and loss. The story also hails the power of love and friendship.

This is a powerful, magical and quite simply beautiful read, that is written with care and tender sensitivity. You will undoubtedly be gripped from the start and will lose your heart to this wonderfully touching and bittersweet tale.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.

Going on the title you know you're in for an emotional read, so grab those tissues and find yourself a secluded spot...

Narrated from multiple POV, The Last Days of You and Me is a beautifully written story that portrays friendships being made, even in the most tragic of times.

Their stories are relatable, their characters real and I think that's what made it more poignant, and the fact that you never know when you might find yourself in the same situation.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, TLDOYAM is an enjoyable story of love, life, friendships and so much more.

And it comes highly recommended by me!

RRR tour

This book was about new friendship and grief. It was beautifully written and I was rooting for all the characters. I particularly liked Rae and her bookshop.

In life, "absolutely nothing is certain", that's so true,
Changes occur often when we least expect them to.
This story is about such changes, friendships and more
How new friends can change everything you do and explore.

With break ups, fatal accidents, grief and fears,
So many things in life can bring on the tears.
However, when you're given the chance for something more
Don't let your fears prevent you going to explore.

Coping with trauma, illness and grief,
Having friends to support can help give relief.
Such a moving story, have tissues nearby
This could easily be a read that'll make you cry!

This is an inspirational story, make the most of each day
For you never know what fate will put in your way.
And if you should be lucky to find friendship and love, too,
Take care of each other in all that you do.

A story of love, of loss and more,
Such a moving story with a surprise twist in store!
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is about love, friendship and the fragility that is called life. This book, albeit fiction, pushes us towards examining what life is through the lens of the characters. It deals with heavier topics such as grief, death and cancer.

Told from the views of mainly four characters, strangers at first, found a way to connect through various relationships and created lasting friendships. They managed to bring their own perspectives and interpretations to the subject matter.

I love the soulmate bits in it and as someone who partly believes in reincarnation. I totally get that angle.

It was emotional and the author tried to balance this with a fledgling love story and pass on a message- seize the moment, enjoy life.

If you are looking for something deep yet profound and light, then consider this.

I've grown to love work from author Debbie Howells. She seems to have settled in so well to writing two different genre's and that's an quite an achievement in itself.
I seem to have gotten off to a great start in my love for her rom com genre. She creates such wonderful characters, characters that you remember and come back to so often.
We meet a mixture of characters in this story.
Rae is a bookshop owner and doing her best to navigate her way through life after the death of her parents.
Marnie is looking for answers. She's not feeling a hundred percent in her life healthwise and I guess fear is preventing her from doing something about it except maybe looking in Rae's bookstore for a book that might present a solution.
Forrest's life is at a standstill or maybe a crossroad when his best friend dies in a car crash. Can he change the path he is on, one that he doesn't even like and become a better person.
And Jack, brokenhearted Jack, wishing his life away and hoping his ex girlfriend will come back to him sometime soon. How can he navigate a life without her he feels.
I loved how each of their lives become entwined and cross paths along in the story.
Maybe they can help each other in some way through love or friendship.
Their stories are told with so much compassion though.
Emotional in places, I think you might enjoy this one...

I thought the premise of this story was quite smart. It follows four different people who gradually become somewhat intertwined through life and fate. Marnie, Rae, Forrest and Peter. They have each been dealt some tough hands and are dealing with grief and loss. Even though the crux of this book is really rather depressing, the book itself isn't. The author does a nice job of actually making it somewhat uplifting. Not to say that it doesn't have its sad moments because it most definitely does, but your'e not overwhelmed by them.

I came out of the book remembering to appreciate what I have today. Also, I liked the nod to the possibility of soul mates following one another through multiple lives. It was a lovely book with a heartbreaking yet hopeful ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it.

From the moment I picked up THE LAST DAYS OF YOU AND ME by Debbie Howells, I was captivated by a tightly crafted story of what happens when four people at the end of who they thought they were, newly hit by grief or harboring old wounds. Truth be told, I loved each one of them, as individually drawn and also inextricably bound: Rae the timid, Marnie the bold adventurer, Jack the newly damaged and polished successful, and Jack, the man convinced he'd lost the love of his life. Their lives entwine and relationships develop -- each person conscious of the price of loving and having to let go and yet daring it anyway. I deeply enjoyed every word of this story, so well written and wonderfully wise and compassionate as the best of friends are. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Four stranger’s lives become entangled after chance meetings. Marnie arrives in Rae’s bookshop looking for guidance, feeling lost in her life, when the two of them quickly become best friends. They both then meet the people they think they are destined to be with, for Marnie it is Forrest and for Rae it is Jack. Marnie is suddenly given a terminal diagnosis, one that means all of their lives are effected, and causes them all to make changes in their lives.

This story is told from each of the four characters perspectives which gives us the chance to get to know them fully but also to see how the events that play out effect each of them and in turn the impact it has on their lives moving forward. I found that the difficult subjects tackled in this book were done with such care and sensitivity.

With Marnie’s diagnosis there is an undercurrent of sadness, but this story is also heart-warming and uplifting. I think this is especially true in the friendship of Marnie and Rae.

I found this book although heart-breaking in places it was also life affirming. January was a great time to read this book. If you are feeling lost or are looking to make changes in your life then this is a great book to pick.

Moving and thought provoking book about death and family. Lovely read. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Four POVs, four very different characters, coming together and showing what life can be like after loss.

This was such an interesting story, focusing heavily around loss and end of life
but in such a way that the book felt very life affirming and hopeful.

I did find the early chapters a bit slow and initially the characters voices were confusingly similar, but as the book progressed, and the stories of Marnie, Jack, Rae and Forest intertwined, I was captivated.

The side characters and their stories were wonderful, adding a lighthearted spark here and there, and I was drawn into the small town atmosphere with Howells descriptions feeling authentic and beautiful. I could easily imagine I was drinking tea in Rae’s bookstore or walking the path to Jacks house.

With notes of humour and and hints of magical realism this is an introspective, reflective and heartwarming read… bring tissues.

In this book each chapter is told by a different character. The characters don’t really know each other well to begin with. As the story unfolds they get to know each other more.
I think this is a well written book but I also thought it was a bit depressing.

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ARC of The Last Days of You and Me.

The Last Days of You and Me revolves around 4 people struggling in their lives and finding their way to each other by fate. This book beautifully describes the comparison and impact they made on each other lives and how it relates to every reader because I am sure we all can relate to at least one of its characters.

If I had a physical copy of this book I am pretty sure that I could've finished it in not more than two days. It was so soothing, and at the same time, I was amazed at how perfectly it portrayed my emotions. I rarely cry while reading books but to be honest I teared up in the end.

It kinda got slow in the middle because of the repetitive schedule of them all and there was nothing new happening except for Forrest who kept having flashbacks. I enjoyed his chapters because I got immersed and anticipated a little bit of a plot twist. I couldn't get a plot twist but ended up with broken heart tho.

For anyone who wanted to read something relaxing and heartbreaking ( YES BOTH IN THE SAME BOOK) this one is for you, my fellow readers.

This book was beautifully heartbreaking.

Packaged as a romance, The Last Days of You and Me is really a study in anticipatory grief and how each of us deals with it. Marnie has a terminal illness and is the. hinge on which all of our characters interact. Some, only in passing. There are a lot of ways to react to a loved one being given a terminal diagnosis, but this would be an ideal situation. Each character learns something valuable about how to process their emotions and continue on.

This really hit home for me, after losing my dad. It gave me a little bit of a glimpse into some of how he must have been feeling at the end. As well as a little bit of comfort that we all acted normally (as much as you can in this situation). I really liked this book and I would probably pass it on to friends in similar situations.

Special thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for perhaps the most interesting advanced reader copy I have ever had the joy of reading. Four strangers’ lives intersect in this haunting and lovely book that uses magical realism and exquisite writing to draw the reader deeper and wring out every single emotion. It’s a story unlike I have ever read. Trust me, go read this book. This is the beginning of my Debbie Howells read-a-thon.

Beautifully written, very insightful, and poignant. I liked the life after death theme. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.