Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry: Review

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A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time.

When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.

Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through. (from Goodreads)

Have you ever read a book that opened your eyes and made you take a good long look at your life and the choices you've made? This is one of those books. I truly adored every word of it. From start to finish, it pulls at your heartstrings, makes you laugh and reminds you of what's really important in life. 

The story is told from the point of view of Emma, our main character. You follow her as she learns to live her life in a totally new way and it's really inspiring. Emma is a very strong person except she doesn't know that about herself yet. I love her courage; she breaks away from an unhealthy and unhappy life with her parents and decides to turn it all around. Every day she spends with her new family you notice her coming more out of her shell and growing into the person she was always meant to be. 

The relationship between Emma and Nicholas is simply amazing. They are what every couple aspires to be; that perfect blend of friend and lover. It's just sweet and it makes you believe in love and fate and magic; you know all the stuff the cynics like to scoff at. The best part though is it's not over the top, it comes across as very natural. I love it. 

This book is so touching, it really makes you think about the person you are and all the every day choices you make that could help swing your life in a whole new direction. Insightful, sweet, heartbreaking and funny, Blue Sky Days is a must read. 

My Rating: