Cover Image: Let's Hope for the Best

Let's Hope for the Best

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Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this book and would read more from this author. May have been first but won't he the last.

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I was disappointed with this book, I wanted to read it because of the storyline so it wasn't the content of the book but the style of writing, I found it repetitive and tedious and the story could have been told much quicker. I think it was more of a healing process and reflection of life for Carolina Setterwall

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An emotional book about loss. Makes you realise what is precious in life and not to take things for granted. Very well written and I recommend everyone reads this book.

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Oh gosh this is truly heartbreaking and gloriously emotional. Definitely one of those books that stays with you long after the final page. Beautiful writing.

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This book wasn't one I would normally read, it's a bit out of my comfortzone but I'm glad I did. It was definitely interesting :)

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A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and Netgalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for a unbiased review of these works.

this was a baeutiful memoir, of the author after the sudden death of her partner, hearbreaking and written with pure emotion

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Let's hope for the best is the true story of Carolina Setterwall.
Carolina has an 8-month-old child, Ivan. Askel and Carolina are facing issues as a new mother. That night in October 2014 her changed forever. Askel passed away in his at a young age of 37 years. The book narrates the story of Carolina after her partner's death and how she moves on in her life.
I, generally, do not read non-fiction, definitely not about of grieving widow. I feel it's unfair to write a review of someone's painful experience. She just not lost her husband but she also has to raise her toddler.
There are parts in the book that brings tears to your eyes. It is a situation that I cannot fathom the pain of Carolina.

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This is a memoir based on the authors experiences as a single parent following the death of her partner. I found it a difficult read and so could not finish.

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Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

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What an incredible and sad story written about the authors own experience. I have to admit I did find this a tough read and struggled to read about someones loss and grief however I absolutely admire the author for telling her story. The story is beautifully written.

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The debut auto fiction book by Carolina Setterwell is truly memorable and deeply moving. It is a compelling and poignant look at the process and stages of grief and how to cope with a partner is lost but life with a baby must go on. It is powerful and honest, very detailed and will touch a core in all of us who have suffered bereavement or the loss of love.

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Brutally honest and frank, we follow the painful intricacies of seven years of Carolina’s life as she experiences love, loss and motherhood.

Carolina says out loud all the things we are afraid to voice in our own little bubbles and too often I nodded in empathy,

Set in Sweden, this is a real-life almost-diary that is sometimes hard to read. I do hope Carolina and Ivan are now faring well.

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A brilliant book that totally sucks you in. I lost track of the time as I read it. An amazing read and a break from my normal type of book but one to watch out for.

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An autobiographical tale dressed in Fictional clothing. It opens with a email/text from Aksel with instructions of what to do in case of his death. 6 months later a young supposedly healthy man Aksel dies in his sleep and what follows is a mix of Carolina's reminiscence about the development of their relationship and a recounting of her life after his death. For me it is a stream of memories and events that probably helped Carolina to deal with the events but just read like a list of what happened when to me. I think it failed because the author doesn't weave enough into the fictional narrative, it feels almost emotionless at times. I felt like she could have made more of the the original email from Aksel as she fictionalised this account - why is it the opening plot device and then barely mentioned again?

I think the author might have been better to portray her experience as truly an autobiography or fully fiction, this in between just doesn't work.

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I actually didn't realise this was based on the author's own experiences until I'd finished the book. It was an okay read - I found Carolina to be very controlling and felt a bit sorry for Aksel, but I did feel that she came to a better understanding of herself by the end. I was interested to see where it was going at the end but I suppose, not realising that it was a true story, I expected a bit more of a happy ending.

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I’m so sorry but I couldn’t finish this book. I found the constant repetition irritating and didn’t particularly warm to Carolina as I found her manipulative and selfish. I think this book was written more as a cathartic exercise than as a people pleaser - which is fine, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

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A true life story, following the early death of the authors husband. It tells of her efforts to rebuild a life with her child, warts and all.

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Difficult to read but so worthwhile. Made me value each moment with my husband because who knows how long we have? Poignant and disturbing but such a worthwhile read!

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Two and a half star rating.
Memoir of the years before and after the author lost her partner so suddenly and so young, leaving her with her baby son to care for. Absolutely devastating, goes without saying, heartbreaking at the loss of their future together. What I can’t get past is just how controlling she was, every major decision was decided by her - when and where to move, getting a pet, when to have a child and it seemed as if her partner was coerced into all of this before he was ready. Naturally I wish her well and hope she has/will find happiness again.

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This story absolutely broke my heart. A very brave book about humanity, love, loss and is utterly compulsive. A real fear turned into a wonderful yet heartbreaking story.

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