The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff

 

My thoughts

This is a beautifully written story about a couple that love each other more than life. Literally more than life. 

When Evelyn is diagnosed with something that will ultimately take her life her and her husband decide to go together. Joseph can't imagine his life without her. She begs him to not leave their children, who are grown with their own families, but he won't agree. He has loved her all of his life and will love her in the next life. 

This book is mainly told from Evelyn and Joseph's point of views but their three children come in at times and tell things too. It goes back and forth between when Evelyn and Joseph were just teens and fell so madly in love. How her brother Tommy was Joseph's best friend and always there for Evelyn. How close the three were. 

The times apart and together. You get to know this couple in almost every way possible and you will love their story. It's both beautiful and heartbreaking. I shed so many tears reading this and I loved it from start to finish. All the highs and lows. All the fights and making up. The growth of this couple's three children. When they told these children what their plans were. How each reacted. How they finally came around. 

There was a twist that really made me weep but I can't elaborate on it. It would give something vital away. Suffice it to say this book will take your breath away. Make your eyes feel raw. Make you look at love in a whole new light. 

I fully understand Evelyn's fear. Her fear of forgetting. Her fear of people seeing her as weak. She was always so strong. And those letter that you will get to read are so good. Enjoy this one but have lots of tissues handy. You will need them.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarlequinTradePublishing, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. 

Five big stars. It's just a good one. And a debut. 

About

Unforgettable and utterly romantic, The Days I Loved You Most is a heart-wrenching, life-affirming novel that asks, How much would you sacrifice for the one you love?

In the summer of 1941, on the New England shores where they were raised, Evelyn and Joseph fell in love. Now, more than sixty years later, with a lifetime between them, they have gathered their three grown children to share the staggering news: she has received a tragic diagnosis, and he cannot live without her. So in one year’s time, they will end their lives on their own terms.

As the couple comes to grips with their fate, they retrace their past—the joys and regrets, the laughter and the sorrow—that brought them to this moment. They embark on a journey to live out their greatest dreams and to comfort and connect with each of their children before they're gone. But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of what they are about to do, and make peace with the legacy they will leave behind for their family.

Spanning the twentieth century from World War II to 9/11 and beyond, The Days I Loved You Most is a timeless tale of unwavering devotion -- a moving tribute to the enduring power of love and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope and beauty to be found.