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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I found this book both an accurate description of grief and very realistic portrayal of how complicated relationships are with family, friends and romantic partners.
I don’t believe I have ever cried so much in a book. There’s something about Josie Silver’s writing that always speaks to me. It’s beautiful. And heartbreaking. And hopeful. And a warm hug after a sad day.
On Lydia’s 28th birthday, Freddie - the love of her life and fiancé suddenly dies. She’s overcome with grief and heartbreak. She can’t sleep. That is until she’s prescribed sleeping pills. But do these pills bring back Freddie during her sleep? Is sleeping now better than being awake?
This IS NOT a romance. So don’t go in thinking that. It’s a story about grief and acceptance. It’s realistic in its portrayal of human struggle. It’s heartbreaking. But beautiful. I know this won’t be everyone’s favorite book. It’s incredibly sad. But I wish I could express just how much I love it. It’s beautiful and hopeful and everything I ever wanted in a book.
On Lydia’s 28th birthday, Freddie - the love of her life and fiancé suddenly dies. She’s overcome with grief and heartbreak. She can’t sleep. That is until she’s prescribed sleeping pills. But do these pills bring back Freddie during her sleep? Is sleeping now better than being awake?
This IS NOT a romance. So don’t go in thinking that. It’s a story about grief and acceptance. It’s realistic in its portrayal of human struggle. It’s heartbreaking. But beautiful. I know this won’t be everyone’s favorite book. It’s incredibly sad. But I wish I could express just how much I love it. It’s beautiful and hopeful and everything I ever wanted in a book.
nice messages about overcoming grief and learning to accept change. i felt it ran a bit long and the main character was a bit selfish at times. i wish the whole magical realism aspects were explained a bit more. a good read, though sad. 3.5/5
I’m torn, I liked it but didn’t. I didn’t love the main character. The last third of the book seemed very unrealistic and the character seemed selfish in the end in an obvious way that she seemed oblivious to. The ending felt obvious and forced. I loved this author’s other book but this one fell flat for me.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
“I found the old me, still in here, and the new me sitting right alongside her. We made friends.”
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The Two Lives of Lydia Bird follows Lydia as she grieves the loss of her husband Freddie. After he dies all Lydia wants to do is be by herself and mourn. It isn’t long before Lydia discovers that when she sleeps she gets to be with Freddie again and see him. Imagine if you were able to see what your loved one would be doing if they were still alive. The problem is that while Lydia is spending her nights with Freddie in the ‘past’, the present is still happening.
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I went into this knowing very little about the premise and assuming it would be similar to other contemporary romance novels I’ve read. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird explores grief in all its forms and has a touch of romance. It was such a slow burn and likely a lot more realistic than a lot of the romance novels I read. I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I wasn’t able to become attached to the characters. I loved how beautifully Josie Silver wrote about grief and how it can affect those around you. I recommend if you are looking for a character-driven story that will make you ponder loss, grief, and healing.
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird follows Lydia as she grieves the loss of her husband Freddie. After he dies all Lydia wants to do is be by herself and mourn. It isn’t long before Lydia discovers that when she sleeps she gets to be with Freddie again and see him. Imagine if you were able to see what your loved one would be doing if they were still alive. The problem is that while Lydia is spending her nights with Freddie in the ‘past’, the present is still happening.
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀
I went into this knowing very little about the premise and assuming it would be similar to other contemporary romance novels I’ve read. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird explores grief in all its forms and has a touch of romance. It was such a slow burn and likely a lot more realistic than a lot of the romance novels I read. I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I wasn’t able to become attached to the characters. I loved how beautifully Josie Silver wrote about grief and how it can affect those around you. I recommend if you are looking for a character-driven story that will make you ponder loss, grief, and healing.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wanted to love this, but it really just kind of dragged along. I liked the ending even though I saw it coming from a mile away, but by the time we got there I didn't really care too much about it. This is partially attributed to what I would call a "side quest" that took way too long and made Lydia look like a real dick. After that, it was hard to remain invested in her story.
What a bittersweet story this was! Lydia and Freddie have been together since they were teenagers. A tragic accident takes Freddie’s life and the story follows Lydia’s grieving and gradual healing. Magically, in sleep, Lydia slips into an alternate version of her life where Freddie didn’t die. ‘The Two Lives of Lydia Bird’ is a love story about first love, family, and friendship. By the end, I was so attached to Lydia’s family, Freddie, and Jonah. I was actively rooting for all the characters. What a wonderful book!
it’s like one day in december but somehow even less palatable