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4.07 AVERAGE


For the most part, I enjoyed this book. Ok maybe enjoy isn't exactly the right word because it was truly sad yet gave me hope at the end. However, before I even opened the book, I felt like I knew exactly what was going to happen and I was right. Some of the passages felt a bit contrived but I did overall enjoy Hancock's writing. I'll admit, I cried...but because I felt like I knew what was coming, it didn't hit me as hard as I thought it would. Overall, a good read...
emotional sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Lucy has a family history of breast cancer and Mickey has bipolar disorder. They meet and marry, knowing with each step forward together that thy have to keep watch and deal with the result of their individual DNA. The author writes eloquently about the bipolar experience: the signals, the decent, the pain, the emotional toll and the sadness that comes with a life where even with the best care, attention, support, and pharmacological help - there is a limit to the amount of control that can be exerted over mental illness. When Lucy learns that in spite of all efforts to the contrary - she is pregnant, emotions rise and challenges must be met. When she learns that she has a recurrence of cancer, it sends everyone - the sweet sister Lily and her always-reliable husband Ron, the tough oldest sister Priscilla,, the caring friends and neighbors, the concerned and amazingly always available doctors - into campaigns that reflect their individual agendas. Both Lucy and Mickey are honest about what they have to deal with but also lie to themselves and others in an effort to exert control and meet their immediate needs - and that is true to the characters and how real people behave. Unlike most of the book however, the ending is sweet, with lots of tear-jerking moments, all amped up over the Christmas holiday and everyone rises to the occasion in order to produce the happy ending.
emotional sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Don’t read this book unless you want to CRY! It’s a beautiful, moving story with a depth of emotion, sacrifice, love, and strength that I have Not read much of lately.

5 stars is not enough. This is the most heart wrenching story ever written & no review that I write can do it justice. The writing is very insightful & the characters are so relatable. The only two things wrong are that the book had to end and that there are no other books by this author.

Ein tragisch-schönes Buch, die bewegende Geschichte einer ungewöhnlichen Liebe, die irgendwie funktioniert.

Die wundervolle, herzzerreißende Geschichte geht unter die Haut, zieht einen in diese unsichere Welt, in ihr verrücktes Leben und Ängste, Wut, Verzweiflung, Hoffnung und Trauer sind so greifbar. Aber auch Akzeptanz, Freundschaft, Familie und Zusammenhalt.
Emotional anstrengend - aber so gut! Ich bin restlos begeistert.

Lucy ist lebenslustig, aufgeweckt, liebenswert und unglaublich stark. Sie hat aber auch ein spezielles Verhältnis zum Tod und musste gegen den Krebs kämpfen, der auch ihre Familiengeschichte belastet.
Mickey ist ein toller Mann, klug, witzig und erfolgreich. Aber das sind zum Teil er und zum Teil die Medikamente. Und dann gibt es die Episoden, seiner bipolaren Störung, die er von seiner Mutter geerbt hat.

Sie führen eine glückliche Ehe, sie bewältigen schlimme Abstürze, halten an schönen Momenten fest, ihre Krankheiten schweißen sie sogar immer weiter zusammen. Bis Lucy plötzlich schwanger wird, obwohl sie sich, aus Angst ihre genetische Vorbelastung zu vererben, gegen Kinder entschieden haben.

Die Krankheiten werden hier eindringlich näher gebracht und Tragik vermittelt aber im Vordergrund steht die Liebe und diese beiden. die zusammen so stark sind und für ihr gemeinsames Glück kämpfen.

Wir erfahren, was die beiden schon durchgemacht haben und was sie jetzt bewegt. Das Ganze ist durchweg spannend, die Figuren sind wundervoll beschrieben, die ganze Konstellation, das geschaffene Umfeld stimmig und dadurch ist die Geschichte mit Leben und viel Gefühl gefüllt.
Durch die beiden Perspektiven kann man in beide, so eindrucksvoll und einfühlsam dargestellten, Gefühlswelten abtauchen und vor allem Mickeys Krankheit verstehen.

Intensives Thema, geniale Geschichte, eine unglaubliche Liebe - ich habe alles daran geliebt.

This one was too sad. The people were so sick, mentally and physically. I'm not sure I understand the point of this novel.

Quando comecei o livro tive noção imediata que ia ser marcante e forte e acabou por ser mesmo.
E chorei... E não são muitos.os que me fazem chorar..
Gostei.mto.