After meeting Andy Jones at the Spring Blogger Evening hosted by Books and the City, I was very much looking looking forward to reading his book. Andy read an extract and explained that he wanted it to start where most other books end...at the happy ever after!
Therefore we meet Fisher and Ivy just nineteen days into their relationship, immersed in the throes of passion and the not being able to keep their hands off each other stage. However things change abruptly when they are catapulted into real life.
Fisher impulsively introduces Ivy to his family but she suddenly seems very distant and cool towards him and he doesn't understand why, he also has a major revelation when his family are asking her all kinds of questions in order to get to know her and he realises that he doesn't know the answers and in fact hardly knows anything about her himself.
The relationship soon becomes fraught with complications and misunderstandings which lead to feelings of resentment and suspicion. Their lack of communication with each other causes emotions to escalate and fall dramatically with one minute Fisher feeling like it's over and the next being consumed with love for her.
The friendship with Fisher's childhood friend El has a steadying influence on the couple as it takes the focus away from them for a short time. El has Huntington's disease and his future is very bleak but there is a strong sense of compassion which is shown by the couple and El's lover Phil and this adds another dimension to their personalities.
Has their relationship burned out or can they develop it into something much deeper? This' will they/won't they' journey is an emotional rollercoaster of lust, excitement, happiness and heartbreak
Andy Jones wrote this book purely from Fisher's perspective and that's what makes it unique, I really felt as though I was in Fisher's head and privy to his innermost thoughts and insecurities, I sometimes wanted to shout at him to just be open and ask her what the problem was instead of dissecting everything in his head, Ivy too could be frustrating for not communicating what was bothering her. However this happens in real life and highlights the lack of knowledge and experience they have of each other. Despite the problems that arise there are moments where we can see what a good match Fisher and Ivy are with their shared sense of humour. We also witness Fisher coming to terms with certain situations, realising that the world doesn't just revolve around him any more and showing a maturity and selflessness that is very touching.
This is a cleverly crafted, beautiful story of love, friendships and heartache with moments so poignant that they made me shiver and then reach for the tissues, I finished it in an afternoon but the sentiment will stay with me for a long time.
Available to download now and published in paperback by Simon & Schuster on 7th May 2015.
Sincerely
Book Angel
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