I requested this novel because the description and reviews gave me the feeling of the lovely and charming books by Antoine Laurain. Unfortunately, this book is not quite that, although it does seem to be the feel that is being attempted. Of course, in reading a book in translation, there is also the risk that writing by the writer in their native language is not being conveyed in translation to best effect. This sweet story about the parent-child relationship sometimes leans to the syrupy and, in a book with little plot, I prefer deep characterization, which I didn't find here.

A great adventure and relationship story! Different and yet very relatable.

"Imagine if your father knocked on your door, one day after his death, and if through a crazy twist of fate, you could suddenly spend a few more days with him? One week, and that’s all you get, to say everything left unsaid. You’re telling me you wouldn’t leap at that opportunity? As absurd as it seems?"

Julia and her father didn't get along so well for most of her life. He used to make her feel lonely, always being so controlling and distant. But then, he died on the day of her wedding and showed up on her door the next day. He was really dead, but somehow he found a way to be back for a few more days just to talk to her. At first, she got really freaked out and wasn't really into the idea of spending more time with him. But then, he convinced her that those days would be good for them. He needed a last chance to make her understand why things were the way they were in their family.

I believe most people would love to have second chances too. The book may seem a little cray cray at times, but it was a very nice read.

Thank you Net Galley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest opinion.

Amusing idea, what if we could come back and say what we didn't when alive, but it was too much anger for me. Sure, maybe if we were ignored by a parent our whole lives, we wouldn't be overly sad upon their passing, but the anger felt here towards the father when he does come back for a short time, just felt off.

True, his funeral postpones her wedding, but she seems more into work than planning a wedding anyway. Not many brides put off finding a dress until 4 days before the ceremony and then only when the gay best friend drags her off to shop and makes her buy one.

The characters weren't all that likable in the first place. Why was she marrying Adam when it did not seem to be a relationship that set off any fireworks? Then, after good old dad comes back, why take out the anger on Adam? When dad drags her off on what would have been her honeymoon, why is she angry at the bellhop and dad and..... it was just over the top anger. Exhausting to me so I didn't bother to finish it.

I read to escape and enjoy and this was neither. I would not suggest this for my students or anyone I know.

Let me start by saying this is not the book I thought I was getting based on the blurb. However, I loved it anyway. I thought this was going to be a book where the mystery involved finding out her father was not really dead as he showed up on her doorstep. Perhaps he had a secret life he needed to escape or some danger awaited him. This was not the case. Instead we went on a journey where great love was discovered. The love of a father and daughter as well as romantic love that involved first loves and second chances.

The journey of Anthony and his daughter Julia brought me to tears more than once. I really felt for them in their broken relationship and the short time they had to make it right. It truly makes you look at father/daughter relationships and question where the shift should/does take place from parent/child to friends and confidants. I wanted so badly for them to listen to each other and find the peace they both so desperately needed.

Then, there was the secondary plot of Julia, her fiance Adam, and her first love Thomas. I wasn’t Adam’s biggest fan right from the beginning. He seemed self-centered and didn’t seem to get Julia at all. He was too busy with work to even stop and talk to her, but then claimed he missed her so much and took an impromptu flight to try and find her? It just didn’t work for me. However, when we started flipping back to Julia’s memories of Thomas I loved him. This was another aspect of the book I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t realize there would be so much romance (this was my first book by Mr. Levy) and I certainly wasn’t expecting the history with the Berlin Wall.

The characters were enjoyable. As I said, I didn’t care for Adam and loved Thomas. However, there were several other characters that held the story together. Anthony was funny and stubborn. I enjoyed watching him go from a witty man who held nothing back to the sentimental man who pushed past his own walls and insecurities. While Julia was stubborn and seemed to revert back to her childish behaviors at times, she was lovable. When dealing with a parent you have been mostly estranged from since childhood, her behavior seemed to make sense. As far as her love life, I think she was doing the best she could with the cards she had been dealt. And then there was Stanley. He was a great friend for Julia and provided some comic relief when it was much needed. However, his backstory also added depth to him as a character. Knapp was the only character I had mixed feelings about. I could see his loyalty and how deep it ran, but I was also frustrated that he refused to step back and listen until it was almost too late.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. When I first started reading, I was nervous because it wasn’t what I expected and involved things I tend to avoid as a reader, but I’m so glad I didn’t give up. I had a hard time putting it down once I got started. I wanted to see where it was going. Both plot lines were intriguing and pulled me in. The story had subtle twists and turns throughout, but wasn’t completely unrealistic (as long as you are willing to be open-minded to a few things). I found myself laughing, crying, and reflecting on my roles as a parent and a daughter. While this was a quick read, it was definitely worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley, AmazonCrossing, and Marc Levy for providing a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

Next up is a novel called All Those Things We Never Said by Marc Levy. After The Visitors, Im going to need a complete change of genre and this one looks like a sweet story. I am looking forward to reading it.

Check it out:

Days before her wedding, Julia Walsh is blindsided twice: once by the sudden death of her estranged father…and again when he appears on her doorstep after his funeral, ready to make amends, right his past mistakes, and prevent her from making new ones.

Surprised, to say the least, Julia reluctantly agrees to turn what should have been her honeymoon into a spontaneous road trip with her father to make up for lost time. But when an astonishing secret is revealed about a past relationship, their trip becomes a whirlwind journey of rediscovery that takes them from Montreal to Paris to Berlin and back home again, where Julia learns that even the smallest gestures she might have taken for granted have the power to change her life forever.

One of my favorite books of all time includes The Man Who Risked It All by Laurent Gounelle, translated like this book, from French to English. I feel sorry for people who don’t read and miss out on all of the feelings and emotions of an amazing book!