Just Because We Can

This was a story I could relate to working in the environmental field. A very relatable story about a woman trying to figure out what she wants in her life.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

This is a lovely book and really made me think about my impact on our Earth. I really enjoyed the writing and will definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to make a difference in the way they live. I couldn't believe this was Nicole Brooks debut novel. It's amazing!
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

Dale is an Environmental Scientist and while struggling with infertility she is about to embark on another round of IVF.
Feeling overcome by daily life Dale leaves on a work trip to Thailand. On arrival Dale becomes engrossed in a local village and its inhabitants. She feels at home in this place.
I really enjoyed this and I felt it brought me some peace in my life. I really could visualise what I was reading. The characters felt ‘real’ and ‘lifelike’.
It is so important to just ’accept’ what is. I would highly recommend this.

Quite a revealing book about the anxieties and worries of the 30 something. But, very interestingly, a lot of worries are in fact common to any generation. This is not a self help book, yet a lot of people might identify
with the main character. Half way btween fiction and reality, we are reading about a journey.
I think it is better to encourage readers to read beyond the first half of the book. Or perhaps it's me ? I kept waiting for the arrival in Tailand.

I have to admit, this is miles away from my normal read. I generally find that reading books about the environment makes me very anxious (much like dale!) so it’s something I normally avoid. But the cover was so lovely, I couldn’t help myself!

I’m definitely glad I read it. Dale as a character was brilliantly written - I was concerned there would be an element of the preacher to her, but actually, she was flawed, just like the rest of us. She struggled, she made mistakes, and she learned.

Also, I loved Kob. Loved loved loved him. Yes, some could say there was a vague element of the caricature to him, but who cares? He was lovely and uplifting and inspiring.

My only criticism would be the ending. It felt a bit.. almost wishy washy. Like, dale went on this huge life changing journey, and when she came home she was meant to be doing ‘big things in small ways’, but it just felt like she didn’t really. There was no outlining of how she planned to help the environment, she still did things known to be bad (like air travel) but justified it with some anxiety over the effect it would have. Before doing it anyway.

Overall, I thought it was a very thought provoking novel, and all the more amazing for the fact that it is a debut. But I did feel there could have been more information about everyday things that can be done, especially for the readers who might not be as knowledgable. Yes, they can go away and research, but that just felt to me like a bit chunk of the book that was missing.

A great book that makes you think about what types of impacts we have living on earth in things we take for granted.
In a way it is interwoven with family struggles and the struggles of earth are interwoven
Great book and I would recommend reading it

Even if we would like to shield our eyes from all things environmental at times, finding the news to be too unnerving, this is one instance when you should open yourself up to the world of environmental science. Brooks dips us into the topic, and helps us back out to explore the gorgeously-written relationships here. I found this book to be enchanting, engaging and so book club-friendly. So much to enjoy here, and a timely handling of the topic that smooths back any hesitation about the topic (you'll find no preaching here -- just a wonderfully-crafted character-building.) Loved in. Would recommend to all.

Just Because We Can is a wonderful debut novel by Nicole Brooks. This book is well written and thought provoking. It wilk make you think about the foot print you leave behind for future generations. Pick up this book and prepare to be enchanted.

Another books that definitely deserves to be on my books-that-matter shelf on Goodreads. This book taught me plenty of things and was very near in the back of my mind for quite a while after finishing it.

If there is one scene to summarize this book it is this - despite it being uplifting - Just Because We Can is way more than that, very layered. But here it is:
'"It's what he does. Plus, now that all of this children are grown and gone, he needs to help someone." I grinned. 'So I'm not special?" "Your are and you aren't. Its the nature of duality. But that, young grasshopper, is for another day."'

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.