Publication Date: 12th Feb 2025
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/rememberiloveyou
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205065081-remember-i-love-you
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
4 Stars
One Liner: Sweet and hopeful
Book Blurb:
Recently-widowed father of one Luke is
desperate for a sign.
Since his beloved wife Helen passed, Luke and
six-year-old Amy are just about keeping the show on the road, but he’d do
anything to have Helen near him again.
Connie’s much-missed mum was everything to her
daughter. A friend, a cheerleader, a comfort, and the best housemate Connie
ever had. What she wouldn’t give to speak to her one more time…
Teenage twins Alex and Lucy both miss their dad desperately
but neither have the words to put it right.
In the heart of Dublin, a quiet community is
forming, drawn together by the loved ones they have lost, but kept together by
friendship and laughter. As Luke, Connie, Alex, Lucy, and the other patrons of
the Leesom Street Café learn to smile again, none of them are quite ready to
meet the person who may be able to make all their dreams come true.
Because if you love and listen hard enough goodbye
might not be the end.
Heartbreaking and heartwarming, uplifting,
and utterly unforgettable, Claudia Carroll’s latest novel is perfect for all
fans of Ruth Jones, Jojo Moyes, Cecilia Ahern, and Shari Low.
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in the third-person POV of Connie, Luke, and Lucasta.
Though the book deals with the grief of losing a loved one, it has many lighthearted moments that balance out the heaviness.
The pacing is steady almost throughout. Moreover,
the narrative shifts between the three tracks with ease. The limited
third-person POV helps as it is easier to go with the change (compared to
first-person POV).
The impact of losing a loved one comes across
clearly in Luke and Connie’s tracks. Little Amy made me sad and happy. Luke’s
work-life balance and Connie’s frustration about her job are realistic and
thought-provoking.
Of course, I happily disliked the characters I was
supposed to hate. The other characters like Stella, Phoebe, and Will were good
and did their bit to support the plotline.
Since the official blurb mentions Lucy and Alex, I
thought their track would be just as detailed as the others. Turns out, that’s
not the case. They get some attention but not enough to be mentioned in the
blurb.
Lucasta is a key character – eccentric,
straightforward successful, and kindhearted. While I could see her side, I
could also feel for her assistant. The resolution of their track is well done.
Though there are hints of love, there is no romance.
The focus firmly stays on the central theme. I appreciate it a lot. Even the
epilogue is just right – hopeful for a happy future but at their own pace.
After all, we cannot rush through the grieving process.
To summarize, Remember, I Love You is a story
that’ll make you a wee bit sad but also feel happy and hopeful for the
characters. The concept of Bereavement Café is beautiful (there are quite a few
branches in and around the UK).
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and
Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest
opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
About the Author – Claudia Carroll
Claudia Carroll is a Dublin-based bestselling
author, actor and broadcaster. Her contemporary romances were most recently
published by Zaffre, but she is now turning her hand to multi-generational
women’s fiction for Boldwood.
Follow The Author:
Twitter: @carrollclaudia
Instagram: @claudiacarrollbooks
Bookbub Profile: @carrollclaudia
***
This has been a stop on the #RememberILoveYou blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources). Thanks for stopping by!
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