One Day With You by Shari Low - Book Review

One Day With You by Shari Low

Publication Date: 20th Jan 2023

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: A good blend of emotions 

*****

Tress Walker and her loving husband Max are expecting their first child. Max goes off for an overnight meeting in London when Tress goes into labor. She takes help from her next-door neighbor Nancy Jenkins, unaware that Max is not where he said he would be. 

Nancy is excited to meet her first crush Eddie at the school reunion. At 66, she wonders if life is giving her a second chance. However, Tress’s request for help cannot be ignored. She loves Tress too much to say no. 

Noah Clark and his wife Anya seem to be having marriage troubles. Noah isn’t sure if he should share his concerns with his best friend, Max, until he can sort out his emotions. Soon, he uncovers a secret that shatters his heart and emotions. 

What happens on that one day will change all their lives forever. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Tress, Noah, and Nancy. 

My Thoughts: 

I knew what to expect when I requested the book. I wasn’t looking for a fresh theme/ topic. I was only curious to see how the author executed it. 

Structuring the story to fit it within a day was a good idea. The day is divided into sections, which made it easy to track parallel events. The detailed epilogue at the end ensures the readers have their answers. 

The characters weren’t deep or layered. What you see is what you get. This actually helped the plot from being overcomplicated or intense. I prefer books with contained emotions, so this worked for me. (The emotional quotient will vary for each reader). 

There are bits of humor that may or may not be funny but do their job to lighten the situation. Tress, Noah, Nancy, and Val deal with different issues in their own ways, so the jokes kept things light when they go too heavy. 

I liked how Tress’s mother isn’t the stereotypical bitter/ emotionally unavailable mom. Tress grew up in a positive environment, and her trust in Max stems from her good heart. 

Another aspect I liked was the age gap between Tress and Max. It wasn’t highlighted or used for the plot. It was what it was. (Tress is older than Max by 6-7 years). 

The pacing was decent, though the book felt a little laborious (excuse the pun) in the middle. I wanted the story to move on to the next stage. 

Max’s POV was well-done. I have no sympathy for him or Anya. However, the execution molded the character very well. It was impactful, more than Tress or Noah’s POV. 

Nancy’s POV was interesting too, and I was glad to see everything come together at the end. The found family trope was heartwarming to read. 

To summarize, One Day With You is a heartwarming read that handles multiple themes with a deft touch. I look forward to reading more by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #OneDayWithYou