Helen McGinn – In Just One Day

‘In Just One Day’ by Helen McGinn is a book I wanted to read as soon as I received the tour invite. I loved this author’s previous book so was looking forward to settling down with this new one.

Flora has always adored her brother Billy. Born just eighteen months apart, their childhood was spent like two peas in a pod – no one could separate them. Now, as adults, they remain the best of friends. And as Flora is immersed in family life, Billy is always there to lend a hand.
But, in just one day, everything changes. In just one day, Flora’s life falls apart. In just one day, Flora has to learn how to live again.

From the nostalgia of seaside Britain to the breath-taking beauty of Venice, in tears and laughter, join Helen McGinn for this emotional, uplifting and joyful story about love in all its guises. But above all, this is an unforgettable story of one little girl and the brother she adored.
The first thing that grabbed me was the cover! A beautiful, enticing and eye-catching one that screamed “Read this!” One that makes promises about what its pages holds and it keeps them from the very first page. A moving story of family, life, loss and love between a brother and sister. The author has so cleverly drawn on experience and brought that to this book.

We see Flora’s life irrevocably changed in one day. A day that means she won’t ever have her best friend by her side again. We see the grief that is experienced so differently by each member of her family. We also witness how they each heal themselves and how they piece themselves back together to carry on their lives.

A beautiful and emotional story that deals with the stages of grief so sensitively and from the heart. It shows what impact one person has on everyone around them and how their loss affects each of the individuals. Again Helen McGinn brings relatable characters to life in her work. Each and everyone are human with their own imperfections which helped me to feel like I was among them while reading this book.

Such an eloquent, heartbreaking but uplifting story that I won’t forget in a hurry.

Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the copy of the book.