This is a book a little heavy to read at times, but don't fret, it is so well worth it, so stick it out, as this is a story which will stick in your memory for a long, long time, as it shall, mine. It shall be very worth your while to look up the significance of the Robin, in case you missed it, and such a delightful touch that is typical of this wonderful author.. Treat your self to this read, you won't regret it!

“Will You Stay Another Day” is by Samantha Tonge. This book took me a while to get into, but once the story gets rolling (and characters cease being introduced), it rolls along pretty well. This book is about overcoming grief, but in a positive and possibly helpful way. I found this book to be an uplifting one, but wish that I had enjoyed it more at the beginning.

I adored the Bobbin the Robin moments. I was born and spent the first part of my childhood in England, and Robins were always incredibly special to my family - especially my late Gran and Auntie. I’m guessing the author did it consciously, as there’s a similar reference later on, but after my loved ones died a dear friend made me a special wood burned ornament with a saying I’d never heard before then but still struck a chord deeply with me: Robins appear when loved ones are near. Which is especially poignant if you believe in Spirit/Angel animals/messages from your loved ones who have passed away.

I also love that Lili runs a charity shop (where I live in Canada they’re called thrift shops, but thrift shopping and sustainability was a big part of my Dad’s life before he passed away, and remains special for some of my best friends and myself). Cornwall was also a special place for my Gran that I’ve always wanted to go to, so it was lovely that was the setting for the book. As I am taking a Permaculture diploma I love the themes throughout the book about environment, eco-friendliness, recycling, and sustainability.

Lili and Dylan’s story was completely adorable, and reminds us of the power of faith, and the importance of taking gentle time to heal after grief. Having also suffered similar losses in my life, this book was beautiful and a kind reiterance that those we love can stay with us in ways other than the physical after they passed.

I binge read this book in every spare moment I had with three littles underfoot. And if I didn’t have parental responsibilities, I would have read it in one sitting and probably forgotten to go to the bathroom or eat, I was so engrossed in their story.

An utterly adorable little romance that I’ll carry in my heart, always.

4 Stars
One Liner: Hopeful
Lili sends her best friend, Em, a knock-knock joke, not expecting a reply. After all, it’s Christmas time and almost a year since her bestie passed away. But someone responds, and Lili suggests a meeting.
There, she meets a man, a handsome stranger, Dylan, who has also been waiting for someone he’s missing. As they spend more time together, this could be their chance to heal and hope for a happier future.
The story comes in Lili’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
From the premise, you’ll know that the book deals with grief and mourning. Grieving a loved one is the central premise, so if that’s a trigger, you may want to be careful. That said, the book has some wonderful, heartwarming moments about learning to move on while honouring the dead.
I liked the cover right away, but I like it better after finishing the story. That little suitcase and the cover have a great significance in the plot.
It might take some time to get into the flow. Since we get the story from Lili’s POV, we have to remember that it shows her state of mind at that point. In fact, it’s the same throughout.
I wish we had at least a few chapters from the MMC’s perspective. He’s a sweet guy, but I can’t tell you a lot about him. Feels a bit 2D despite having a proper backstory and description.
Though it has romance (closed door), the focus is mainly on letting go and moving on. This applies on multiple levels. I like how both main characters’ professions align with the theme.
Some of the side characters are really good. I like Tommo and Megs right away. Glenda, too, of course. The community vibe is strong, and it brings out the snow-town feel and the seasonal spirit to the forefront.
The book discusses the Japanese tradition of showing respect to non-living items and honoring them the way we honor humans/ relationships. This reminded me of a video I recently saw on social media, where an old machine (in Japan) is being honoured for the service it provided.
https://x.com/gunsnrosesgirl3/status/1885230530465001515
The book starts a few months before Christmas, though it ends with the holiday season. So, this is not exactly a Christmas story, but it has some elements of it. The ending is hopeful and sweet.

To summarize, Will You Stay Another Day is a story of friendships, family, found family, relationships, and love. It’s a good read for a cozy autumn noon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Beautifully written, and I loved the robin. The ending was perfect, really moving. I did think that there was perhaps a bit too much talking about Em, some overlong passages, but that's a small thing. I always enjoy books by this author. Keep them coming please. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Samantha Tonge book I've read and I would definitely read another. The storyline was captivating and the characters intriguing, I loved the chemistry between Lili and Dylan and the build up between them was perfect. Writing a book based around grief must be a hard thing to do but this one was nicely written to show how everyone copes differently and that's ok, its based around friendship and family and community spirit. I love the Sunday ceremonies Lili hosts and actually think its a fabulous concept we should all take on. This book will definitely take you on a journey you won't want to miss

Engaging and entertaining with real life drama. I felt the relatable characters shining like stars. I cried sometimes with sadness sometimes with happiness and joy. The festively feeling was in the background of the heartwarming plot.

I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I really appreciate it!

This is my second Samantha Tonge novel as with the first I'm blown away again! If you've ever lost someone who meant the world to you, or you might be close to it, as hard as this is to say you need this book. It feels like the characters are holding your hands and walking beside you well you feel the loss, the grief and the emptiness thats left behind and helps you to process it all in a way you might not expect.

Every one will need this book too regardless of how well it helps you feel less alone in the world of loss it's was fantastic. Both Lili, Dylan and the whole band of characters that are a part of their lives are so well done, each and every one of them feels like a real person you know and love. You will be sucked into their world, and made to feel as if you're one of them too and you're along for the ride. This book will break your heart, over and over again. Love each and every one of us has felt or will feel is behind that heartbreak though. But I promise you when you get through you'll love this book too and you might feel a little differently inside as well.

Without going into too much detail and spoiling things I just have to say I loved the fated moment, and Lili's ceremonies, I truly did. The ceremonies are a very incredible concept and they have so many other situations to apply them too besides their use here and I really loved the idea behind them! The full circle moment with the title at the end, I will be using from now on, I hope when you read what it means it might think of it too from time to time. Now I haven't gone into a lot of details here, but that's the magic I'm discovering that is Samantha Tonge. There's so much more to her stories than meets the eye when you read the book description. There's always a story within her stories, and you can't have the one without the other or they don't work. They never could, neither would feel as real as this does. This book is just as much, maybe a little more about the reader and their worlds, as it is about the world you will read. I love that more than you can ever know.

Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart again for allowing me the privilege of being able to read your work again. I truly appreciate it! I loved this book so much and I know I'll never be able to forget it! It found a place where it belongs.

Who wouldn’t want to spend one more day with someone we are missing in our life? The storyline of ‘Will You Stay Another Day’ captured my heart and allowed me to dream about what might have been! Lili was the kind of young woman we all want to be friends with. She works hard, is devoted to her colleagues, and takes care of people in her small town who are feeling down and out. But who did Lili have to confide in when she was feeling sad? A spur of the moment, silly text sent to her best friend, Em, resulted in a life-changing experience for Lili. When Lili received an answer to her spontaneous text, her heart beat faster, and she began to shake.

On the other end of the phone was Dylan, a handsome and charismatic young man whose Italian cooking would end up winning Lili’s heart. Dylan had a busy life but Lili noticed sadness in his eyes which was reminiscent of what she saw when she looked in the mirror. Lili tried to push Dylan out of her life but he was just too hard to resist. She wanted to be happy and letting go of the past was the only answer. Dylan fell for Lili from the moment she sat down next to him at the pub. His pursuit of her affections was romantic and magical because he couldn’t imagine a life without her! Dylan knew that Lili was his future but sometimes fate and otherworldly forces step in to give you a little nudge!!

This was a lovely beautifully written book set at Christmas this romantic book will leave you wanting more. Lili receives a text from her dead friends phone and she wants to believe it’s her friend that’s sending them. This story is about losses and friendships, which the author does very well at writing about, she makes the story come alive. A great 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

This was a sad and sweet tale of loss and friendship that was a bit heavy on the grief theme. Beautiful book!

Gives a depiction of grief in a gentle, warm fashion. The pain could be felt through the pages. This book shows how the green shoots of recovery can surprise you. I loved this story.

Sweet and sad and a great read. Lilis bestie Em has died and she is bereft. They were soul mates and had been each others constant for 25 years. Lili texts Em’s phone and one day a text comes back that appears to be from Em.
Dylan is the replier and a friend ship of sorts is made.
Lili has a whole life in Cornwall but she is overwhelmed with grief and loss.
This is very festive, sad and sweet.
Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

What a lovely book. I really like Samantha’s writing style, it’s engaging and entertaining. One to read curled up under a blanket with a fire roaring beside you.
You’ll laugh, cry and feel uplifted!

Lili is struggling after the death of her best friend Em but after meeting Dylan things start to improve. They both have a lot in common although lots of things they need to deal with and process.

The characters were well written and Lili and Dylan were very likeable and also relatable. I enjoyed how we had insights into Lili’s relationship with Em when they were younger.

Bobbin the Robin was a lovely addition to the story and is always a sign when a loved one is near.

A beautiful heart warming Christmas story of love , friendship and loss.

Thanks to NetGalley, Samantha Tonge and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Always love a Christmas themed story, this tale does mot disappoint, really liked getting to know Lilli and her on off friendship with Em, definitely did not disappoint

Lili’s best friend Em died in a tragic accident leaving Lili devastated.
Almost a year later Lili send a message to Em’s phone, just to feel closer to her. What she doesn’t expect is to receive a reply. A spark of hope flares inside her although deep down she knows it can’t be Em. Still she arranges to meet whoever replied and she is stunned to find an instant attraction to the handsome stranger.
Dylan was also hoping that he was meeting someone else but as they talk they realise there is something there.
But Lily doesn’t do relationships, she’s been hurt too much in the past.
As Christmas quickly approaches, Lili and Dylan will need to deal with their pasts if they are to move forward to the future.
This is a wonderful story full of warmth and emotion. It’s about friendship, love and loss. It’s not overtly Christmassy so you don’t need to wait for the festive season to read it.

A year after Lili's best friend, Em, passed away she decides to text her. Much to her surprise, she receives a text back and they start talking. When they decide to meet up, the one waiting for her is a very handsome man named Dylan.
I honestly loved everything about this; the characters, they way the MMC and FMC met, the way they bond over their grief and grow together, the way it clearly shows that everyone griefs differently... And the slowburn romance.
This with the christmassy vibes and the love in all forms throughout the story, just made it a book I couldn't put down.


Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Samantha Tonge for entrusting me with an advanced copy to write an honest review about

A year after Lili's best friend, Em passed away, and she is struggling. She decides to send a text, to her phone. Much to her surprise, she gets a text back. The texts go on for a while, and then they decide to meet. When the two meet, their stories start to unfold. They are both grieving the loss of someone special and as their friendship start, and they get to know each other, their journey becomes intertwined, and starts to move forward. Reading the story and knowing the title, the title could have so many interpretations, and when this part of their journey comes to the end of the story, I knew why the title is what it is. No, it wasn't what I thought.
This story is different, because everyone's journey is different, they grieve different, but they know they have to find a way to eventually move on. I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

I mean, it's a romance book and a Christmas book, what more could you possibly want?

Amazingly, I think this is the first of Samantha's books that I've read.

I read this during the spell of 31 degrees heat which made it feel a bit naughty - almost like going to bed while it's still light outside.

I remember after my Dad died, I just wanted to text him all the time, hopeful that it might have been a mistake and he was actually alive, so I felt for Lili throughout this book.

It's a great look at grief and how it can affect us. Grief in terms of death yes, but also in terms of loneliness It's so sensitively done and none of it feels too morose.

Lili is an interesting main character. She's very real. She's been burned in the past and tries to keep herself to herself, not wanting to risk heartbreak, but is that really living at all? Dylan I quite liked. Again he has his flaws and he's clearly hiding something but I really felt for him, as he seemed unable to talk honestly about his feelings.

There are many other characters, some more prominent than others, but they all work well. They all have their own story, but also work well to further Lili and Dylan's story.

My one tiny little issue is that I would have liked more Christmassyness. It's probably enough for most people, but as a 24/7/365 Mrs Claus, I wanted more. It is not until about halfway through that there's mentions of Christmas and that's not a negative look at what is there, because what is there is fabulous. But with the festive cover and title - and my constant love of the festive season - I'd have like just a bit more a bit earlier.

It's a really beautiful book, a really beautiful story, with such real and gorgeous characters that are flawed but familiar. There's highs and lows, happiness and sadness. I really loved it. Yes I'd have liked a bit more Christmassyness but that's just a personal opinion. But it is still a brilliant book and I really did enjoy it and thoroughly recommend it.