This is one of those books that you cannot review straight away. You need to get over the crying and sit and understand the power of what you have just read.

I viewed this book from a number of viewpoints. A reader, a daughter a mother, a granddaughter and a nurse. You cannot help it, as the emotions that this book evokes feel so real.

Annie is dying and has her family around her. Before you think that seems rather too morbid for me, this is far from it. This is a celebration of a life, an insight in to how a loving family functions and how to achieve the most pleasant death possible by challenging the norm and knowing the person you love.

Holly has her own challenges but her grandmother is the matriarch and the cement that holds this family and directs it. The thought of losing her is incomprehensible. There is a part of this book where there is a discussion about how we reconcile death by suggesting someone has had a long, good life. It is so insightful that you question every conversation you may have had in relation to this.

The character of Annie and her impact upon the family is fascinating and when you find out what challenges she has faced during her childhood and in to early adult life you cannot help but feel she deserves the closeness of the family she has.The book that Annie has written explaining her life is such a clever way to tell this story.

The dynamics amongst the family particularly Hollies situation is heart rendering and has such impact that you cannot help but shed a tear but also to champion some kind of miracle.

I can only imagine that the author in some way has been exposed to the death of a relative, as everything from Marcy to the ambulance arriving is so accurate. I was shouting at my kindle for Holly to step in and follow her nanas wishes. The interplay between the nurse and the family reminded me of a number of situations I have had the honour of witnessing. The effects on Blair were so perceptive, the difficulty of being a mother when you are the daughter facing such tragedy.

The viewpoints of Holly and Annie are exceptional and add to the context and power of this book. It is so difficult to discuss this book without spoilers.

I read this in two sittings. It is emotional there is no getting away from that. Ugly crying emotional but whilst there is sadness, there is also the joy that Annie ultimately achieves her wish and leaves a legacy for generations to come.The last three to four chapters are so very emotional.

I cannot say enough good things about this book, do not be put off by the fact that death is mentioned, embrace it and you will benefit immensely from reading.

With the authors last book I didn’t feel that it could be topped. I have read everything she has written. Nothing is the same, the genres change and yet this makes her books exciting. Something to look forward to. All but one has made me cry such is the accuracy and cleverness of the writing.

This is a must read.
A note of caution-don’t try and squeeze this in on your lunch break or before work you may well regret that. This is an emotional ride and you need to give it the time it deserves, although you will be turning the pages so fast to know what happens next.

Can I only give this 5 stars?

Thanks to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest and very tearful review.

This book was absolutely wonderful. Charming, real and heartbreaking.

Annie and Holly are so similar, yet so distinct in their narratives. Both their stories have their ups and downs, dealing with real life circumstances. The love I felt for this book was unreal. Sketch sounded so, so wonderful and same goes for Nate.

It had its funny bits, but at times I felt my emotions get the best of me. When You're Gone is such an amazing book and I recommend it for anyone that needs a damn good love story. Because that's what it is.

Where do I start? This book was unexpected. I fell in love with Annie and and her granddaughter Holly immediately.

Just as the title promises, When You’re Gone is a heartbreaking page-turner full of family secrets. And love, so much love (but not in a mushy disgusting way).

Annie’s story was beautiful, but heartbreaking. As was Holly’s.

I cried happy and sad tears. I smiled and laughed. I wanted to jump in an save Annie when it seemed no one would. I wanted to hug Holly and take her out for coffee.

I did not want this book to end. Most of all, I really want to read a longer version of Annie’s book.

OMG, where to start? I loved this book so much. As soon as I started it it felt really special, I couldn't put it down and read it in one go through the night.

Hannah and Annie the two main characters were so well drawn, I could visualise them and felt so drawn into their lives. Everything about the book, all the descriptions were so well doneI could totally visualise Athenry. I ended the book with tears streaming down my face and spend the next few hours thinking about them all still.

You must read this book.

I absolutely loved this book and the fact that it's set not too far from where I live made it even more special. I was heartbroken firstly for Annie and her mother and later for Holly and Nate but despite that, their lives went on to be happier. I have never read anything by this author before but I will be looking forward to the next book.

I knew from the synopsis that this was a book fir me. I’d seen that it had been published before under a different title so searched Amazon and my account to make sure I hadn’t read it. However after about 20% of the book I realised I had read it before! However this didn’t stop me carrying on reading it even though I remembered some bits of it, and I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a very sad, and quite harrowing story at times but a very good story.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my god, where do I start? I have not read a book this quick since the summer when my head was engrossed in my favourite book of 2018.

When You're Gone tells the story of two members of the same family, Grandmother Annie and Granddaughter Holly. Annie is dying, Holly is grieving; not only for her beloved Grandmother but also her unborn child.

Flitting between the present day and the 1950's Brooke Harris manages to drill down into your very soul with both Annie and Holly. Both women deal with their emotions in a similar way, holding them in until they finally snap. I don't want to give any of the plot away but I urge and implore people to go out and read this book for themselves but I shall gloss (spoiler free) over some of my favourite moments:

Annie finally exhorting her authority and just Annie in general. Even at her sickest she still made me smile.

Ben - I had a brother like Ben who sadly passed away twelve years ago. But reading this character reminded me so much of him; arguing with his sister and then loving her the next. Possibly my favourite boy in the book.

Holly - her emotion, her drive to be with her Nana at the end and yes it took me a while to warm to her but once you realise what she's going through you understand, you feel her pain, you want to hold her hand and tell her everything is going to be ok even though you know its not.

The setting is stunning. I love Ireland from afar and could picture myself among the farms and orchids.

And I must give special mention to Holly's dad and his "mid-life crises car" which did make me giggle.

In short, this book is stunning and must be read by everyone. Even though it made me blub like a baby and I met my grocery delivery man with tears streaming down my face!

Five Stars

When You're Gone
Brooke Harris
Description
1958

In a small town like Athenry, people talk. Everyone’s noticed that the injury which stopped Annie Fagan’s father from working doesn’t prevent him from hitting his wife. But a man’s home is his castle, and no one is going to intervene.
Until Annie runs into Arthur ‘Sketch’ Talbot. Sketch is determined to help Annie, and the two soon fall in love. But Annie’s father won’t give his daughter up lightly, and Sketch’s attempts to save her will have devastating consequences…
Now
Holly’s world is falling apart. Her unborn baby is seriously ill, her relationship is fracturing before her eyes, and her Nana is dying. But Nana has one final wish before she leaves: to read, one last time, the handwritten story of her first – and last – love, Albert ‘Sketch’ Talbot.

As Holly reads to Nana, could it help her find the strength to face her own future? Could fulfilling her grandmother’s final wish really be a gift for Holly?

Compelling, heart-breaking, and emotionally vivid, When You’re Gone will break your heart and fix it anew. A gripping and emotional novel about family, love, and sacrifice, for fans of Diane Chamberlain, Susan Lewis and Kathryn Hughes’ The Letter.

Previously published as When It Rains. This edition contains significant editorial revisions.
I was having a feeling I had read this before. I had read it as When It Rains. Very good to revisit the book. I enjoyed it then and now. Some will need a tissue and smile thru tears. Some love last for a lifetime.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

A fantastic book, it held my interest throughout and I enjoyed the way this author writes.

All the characters were described brilliantly, I found it very hard to put down and I can thoroughly recommend.

Wow ! What can I say about this book apart from the fact it was just
fantastic. What a beautiful but sad story of life and death. It may sound like this is going to be quite a depressing read but honestly it's not like that at all. Yes it is sad and I made me cry a lot but it also makes you realise how precious family are and how important memories are. I just loved the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter and you could actually feel the strong love Holly had for her grandmother as I read the book.

This is one amazing book that once you start you won't want to put down until you've finished it.

My only problem with it is that I can't give it more than 5 stars !

I already read the original version of this book, When it Rains. That one was already amazing. This one is just as wonderful. It’s well written, gripping, emotional, I fell right into it from beginning to end