When Leni McKenzie dies unexpectedly, her family is left reeling. Her sister Alice regrets the last words she spoke to Leni, her brother Will goes overseas to deal with his own guilt, her mother gives thousands to a psychic to try and reach Leni on the other side and her father is starting a whole new family with his girlfriend. They are brought by together by the memories of Leni friends are sharing and soon start to heal enough to be honest with each other and rediscover the love of family. A good read.

This is a story of a family’s grief, the repairing of relationships and the blossoming of new ones. It movingly showed the different ways in which people deal with the grief that they face.
Leni passed away following a tragic accident. Her sister Alice decides to follow the leads in Leni’s diary to find out just what was happening in her life the night she died. Will, their little brother is ‘hiding’ in Thailand unable to face his family and the guilt that he feels. Belinda their mother seeks comfort and guidance from a Clairvoyant who clearly is taking advantage. Dad Tony when reflecting upon his life decides that the way to try and make up his failings to his family is to start a What’s App group. Slowly the ice is broken, and a thaw takes place, signalling new beginnings.
Lucy Diamond did not disappoint as each character experienced the emotions that the memories evoked. I liked how the story demonstrated that things aren’t always as they seem and not to judge a person too soon.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Lucy Diamond for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

What's not to love. Cute cover. Brilliant author. Brilliant but heartbreaking and heartwarming story.

The Best Days of our Lives by Lucy Diamond is a story of family ties and grief. The McKenzie family are endeavouring to put their lives back together following the death of Leni; sister, daughter and friend. We follow the two remaining siblings and their parents as they deal with grief in their own way - Alice tries to piece together Leni's last months, Will endeavours to distract himself in Thailand and their mother Belinda seeks solace through a Medium. For Tony, Leni's father, her death reminds him to treasure the family he has. A lovely character-driven read.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I wasn't mad about this book which surprised me because I like the author. I just couldn't get into this story at all

I just love a Lucy Diamond book and this one was just as good as I expected. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Having read a lot of Lucy's books I went into this one blind expecting her usual lighthearted style with endearing characters and a fun read, but what I got from this one was so much more and I was not at all disappointed. The Best days of lives by Lucy diamond is about the McKenzie family dealing with the loss of a loved one. Leni McKenzie daughter/sister and best friend got knocked off her bike and was killed and know we see how her death impacts the entire family. This book focused mainly on Leni's sister Alice finding out about Leni’s last few weeks of her life and she discovers that Alice didn’t know everything about her sister than she thought she did. It is also about them coming to terms with Leni’s death and getting over the grief and living life to the fullest as Leni would have wanted her family to be. It was a captivating read, poignant, heartwarming, sad and written with such understanding of how people grieve and try to come to terms with unexpected deaths of loved ones. It was such a moving read, I couldn't put it down. #netgalley #lucydiamond #thebestdaysofourlives #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #chicklit #greatreads #litsy #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram

The Best Days of our Lives by Lucy Diamond

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Quercus and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When 35-year-old Leni McKenzie is knocked off her bike, her family’s world is turned upside down.

Leni and her sister Alice were best friends as well as siblings. But did they know each other as well as Alice thought? In the hope of coming to terms with her grief, she tries to piece together Leni’s last weeks – but her discoveries only lead to more questions. And that’s before the surprise reappearance of someone from the past. Life is certainly getting very complicated …

Meanwhile, the rest of the family seem to be falling apart. Belinda, Alice’s mum, has developed an unhealthy obsession with a clairvoyant, and Tony, her dad, is stressed about becoming a father all over again, what with three failed marriages stacking up behind him.

As for Will, the youngest McKenzie, he’s in denial, having hopped onto a plane to Thailand days after the funeral. Secretly, he’s tormented by the part he played in Leni’s death … and the thing about secrets is, they always come out eventually …

My Opinion

I started this book with a lot of hope that I would enjoy it, Lucy Diamond is an author that I usually enjoy reading. Sadly I struggled to connect with this book - it was ok, but it really didn't grab my attention. The book starts out very slowly, but by the time I reached 30% the pace had certainly picked up.

This is well-written but it will not appeal to everyone. There is a lot of focus on the grief suffered by Leni's family following her surprising death.

Rating 3/5

Spell binding read. This is really quite a read. Emotional, tear jerking but also funny and uplifting. I was deeply moved by this book and it really resonated with me. A great read.

The heavy subject matter of grief and loss is tackled head on in this book. The character’s experience the aftermath of the loss of their daughter/sister in various ways depending on each person’s own background and relationship with Leni. The sadness of the theme makes this an emotional read but the story provides a true reflection and a natural realism for those who have lost a loved one.

A beautiful book about the impact of grief on everyone involved. Leni is killed in a bike accident and her sister Alice sets out to find out what happened in the lead up to her death. Great storyline, loveable characters - this book is a cosy cuppa and a lovely read!

"Hold on tight to the moments that matter". When Leni McKenzie is knocked off her bike, her family's world is turned upside down. The story looks at the impact on each family member's life. Unfortunately, I wanted to DNF this book at some stages as it took me an annoyingly long time to read. The story was beautiful but just long and drawn out in parts and I think the writing style (opening with Leni) and then progressing from there with the other narratives, threw me off and I felt the story/title of the book differed to the book I signed up to when I had skimmed the blurb. I enjoyed this book in parts and felt the pace was medium and then slowed down - It is a wholesome story and I know that some readers will relate and enjoy this one. Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Originally I had issues downloading this Book through Netgalley but eventually it came through.

I felt that this book should come with a trigger warning as it concentrates heavily on the death of Leni, Alice’s sister who was killed in a cycling accident. Alice takes it upon herself to try and find out what happened to her sister in the led up to her death as family and friends try to help her get over her grief and guilt.
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book as I felt it concentrated too much on the grief and not enough on what I felt could have been an encouraging story on overcoming grief.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Leni’s family tries to piece together her last weeks following Leni being knocked off her bike. Alice her sister discovers things that lead to more questions to be answered and life starts to get complicated.

The other members of the family seem to be falling apart. Can the family start to overcome the secrets they uncover and move forward?

I absolutely loved this book. When Alice loses her sister Leni in tragic circumstances, she tries to piece together the events leading up to her sister's death. Instead of finding answers, she has more questions. A beautifully written story about loss and grief. The family must move forward and they take us on their journey. Lucy Diamond is a brilliant author who never disappoints me.

Wow, a beautifully written, heartbreaking story. This book is all about families, grief, and how everyone deals with things in their own way. I loved it, even if I did need tissues!

35 year old Leni McKenzie is celebrating her birthday in the usual way. With roast chicken and her family. Soon after she is killed in an accident and the repercussions haunt her parents and siblings. Finally realising that being open will help is a huge breakthrough. This becomes a real feelgood family read. #netgalley #thebestdaysofourlives

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the review copy!

“The Best Days of Our Lives” by Lucy Diamond is a cute romance book. It is a story of hope and love. A story on finding peace and seeking for the best in life.

It is a heartbreaking, but also a cute story. This story truly explores the different stages of grief. It is a story on life and death, but most importantly, it is a story on just how important relationships are.

Lucy Diamond is a beautiful writer. She writes incredible storylines and fantastic settings. Her stories are always on point. I do not know why I keep being surprised when I read her books, but every time I do, I am overwhelmed and surprised by her beautiful writing style.

Something else I also absolutely love about Lucy Diamond as a writer, is her ability to develop characters. They seem as if they were normal human beings.

If you want to read a cute, sweet and absolutely heartbreaking story, “The Best Days of Our Lives” by Lucy Diamond is the story for you. Although, remember to bring tissues. Cause this one will make you cry.

A family processing a death. A daughter and a sister. It was simply beautifully written the stages of grief, I very much enjoyed this heartwarming story.

The Best Days of Our Lives by Lucy Diamond a beautifully written book from start to finish but you may need some tissues handy.

Leni McKenzie is 35 years old....... She was a daughter, a sister and a best friend. However, her family will never the same again as their world was turned up side down!!! when Leni was knocked off her bike and was killed.

Leni and her sister Alice were best friends as well as siblings.Alice always thought they were close and she knew everything about Leni
But, as the days went by and Alice was coming to terms with her grief
she tries to put together the last few weeks of Leni's life.......Only to find secrets she did not know about her.

The whole family is falling apart. Belinda, Alice’s mum, has developed an unhealthy obsession with a clairvoyant, and Tony, her dad, is stressed about becoming a father all over again, what with three failed marriages stacking up behind him.

Will, the youngest McKenzie, he’s in denial, having hopped onto a plane to Thailand days after the funeral. Secretly, he’s tormented by the part he played in Leni’s death … and the thing about secrets is, they always come out eventually..........

WoW this book is so good and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. I loved it I highly recommend The Best days of our Lives.