First of all, the title is ingenious and drew me in immediately. I loved the cover art, which was echoed throughout in the part headings, chapter headings and breaks within chapters, which tied the whole concept together really well.

The story was well-written and paced well. I felt invested in the whole experience as a reader and couldn't put the book down. So many emotions were explored throughout - tragedy, sadness, hope, inspiration, fear and so much more - which were all handled very well and shows an excellent perspective of the experience of living with and managing chronic or terminal illness. The themes of dependence, caregiving and nursing were handled with care and portrayed in a way that showed the challenge of these roles but showed deep appreciation for those who carry them out. In some ways, it felt like the author's love letter to those who took care of her, which comes across strong and ever-grateful. Whilst the story could have been heavy and challenging to read, it was well-balanced with the humorous aspects of having to hire someone to pretend to be a husband in order to get medical care at the centre, leading to the formation of a beautiful found-family and support network. The romance was understated, although predictable from the beginning, and I would've liked a little more towards the end to see the new developments in the relationship.

I liked that this was written based on the author's experience, but through a fictional lens, because it was obvious that the experience was personal to her. I love that she chose to portray an equal experience through Mason being inspired to write his novel during the story, just as her novel had come out of her experience. Overall, it was an excellent read, and I enjoyed the journey of finding joy in the small things that truly matter when faced with life-or-death situations.

2.5 stars rounded up.

The Fragile Breath is based on the true story of a woman who leaves New York and her husband behind to move closer to a facility that gives her a better chance at a lung transplant. She has to bring a caregiver with her and hires a man named Mason to fill that role since her husband can’t come with her. What I thought would read as an emotional roller coaster with the life and death subject matter ended up being an incredibly superficial account that was mostly descriptions of surroundings and activities and with very little deep diving into feelings. I felt no connection to anyone and wish the author would have been much more vulnerable. Sadly, I found myself very bored for the most part.

If you’re looking for an autobiographical account of someone going through a serious health crisis, check out Sophie Kinsella’s “What Does It Feel Like?” (RIP 😢) Which blends all of the deep emotions, the ups and the downs, the humor and the devastation of fighting for your life.