I absolutely loved this book. I raced through it’s wonderfully written pages soaking up the emotions and the stories of the characters who visit the cafe.

While I enjoyed all the stories and characters I particularly loved that of Luke, widowed young with a small child and trying to hold down a job. He and indeed all the characters are written with such empathy and care, their stories of dealing with grief and living on when loved ones have left was a joy to read.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and can’t believe that this is the first novel by this author I have read. I will certainly be looking out for more.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Remember, I Love You is a very touching and heartwarming read that just pulls at your emotions. This is my first read by this author and I will happily look at her other books when I can. The main theme here is bereavement and grief. A group of bereaved people meet weekly at a cafe to support each other and remember their loved ones. I think the story is beautifully written, easy to follow and most of the characters are likeable and very relateable, although I did find a few a bit irritating. Claudia Carroll touches on the emotions, feelings and thoughts after a loss very eloquently and sensitively. I really felt for Luke and Amy and think the author is spot on on describing how a loss can affect people both individually and as a family unit. Overall a thought provoking, well written and poignant read that I would recommend.

3 stars

I love Claudia Carroll so couldn’t wait to start this book and wow I was just blown away it was such a beautiful read.
The characters were so well written and I just felt all their pain. The story was so heart warming and I loved seeing how they all grew as time progressed. Although Luke and Amy were my favourite characters by far. I would love a sequel on these characters and how they life carries on.
Thanks to NetGalley, Claudia Carroll and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

This was a thoughtful read with some emotional storylines but lots of warmth too. This has a good mix of characters who are all grieving in one way or another and the impact of the loss of their loved one is having a varying impact on their lives. Luke is trying to be everything to everyone to keep on top of his demanding job with colleagues who have no concept on the reality of juggling work and an also grieving 6 year old daughter, so much so he has to forget his own grief just to attempt to cope. Connie has lost her mum who was like a best friend to her, she has no regular income and has to sell the h home she shared with her mum so her brother can have his share of the inheritance and eccentric novelist Lucasta can hear the dead and is keen to share their messages at the local bereavement cafe.

There’s a lot of artistic licence at play here but the characters and situations they’re in, especially Luke and Connie add some realism to the story. It was good to see the friendships grow between the bereavement cafe regulars. I found Lucasta equally amusing and irritating but there was a lot of goodness in her too it’s more she was oblivious to reality. There was a lot of storylines left open but in a way that you could imagine how they would pan out which made for a hopeful ending overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This is a story about loss and grief and you best suspend any disbelief about ghosts and mediums.

Connie lost her mother but she still gets calls from her on a very old mobile phone - something that is apparently called clairaudience. She is a jobbing actor who lived with her mother and now has to sell the house because her brother inherited it jointly. I was actually quite annoyed at her mother for not stipulating the house go to her alone!

Luke has lost his wife Helen, and his six year old daughter Amy her mother. He is a very busy architect and struggles not just with losing his wife but now being a single parent to a grieving child, juggling child care with a demanding job and an unsympathetic work environment.

Lucasta Liversidge is a famous writer and also medium who sees ghosts all the time. She always has her grumpy assistant Phoebe in tow, even when she makes a surprise appearance at a Bereavement Café in Dublin. Here she meets a broad spectrum of grieving people, containing café owner Will, Connie, Luke, teenagers Alex and Lucy, school principal Stella and a mother/daughter duo that can't stop baking for their weekly sessions.

I loved the community and friendship aspect of the story and the fact that it's emotional and hopeful. Everyone of us has a different way of dealing with grief, none right or wrong, and everyone has a different problem, like dealing with children, work or financial troubles.

I wasn't convinced of the magical realism aspect though. Sure, it's a story, but mediums are trying to make money by hoodwinking grieving people, and I felt it was irresponsible peddling a version where they are both truthful and in touch with the dead. Having a dead mother ring you on an old brick phone for a natter while you're at the theatre felt like slapstick. Also, some of the characters did barely get any story at all - you could have cut Alex and Lucy from the book completely without anyone missing them.

All in all, it's heartwarming though how the bereaved people come together and help each other. The solutions often felt a bit convenient and I fail to see how an architect striking out on his own will have a better work/life balance than before, but hey, this is fiction with a gorgeous cover. Read if you like Jojo Moyes and Cecilia Ahern.

This was a gorgeous read that had me both laughing and crying . Once you start reading this you will be totally absorbed in the story. Highly recommend.