Amy Neff

Evelyn and Joseph grew up together, fell in love and raised a family. Evelyn is given a fatal diagnosis and the couple makes a shocking decision on their next step.

This is a beautifully written debut novel, but will not be for everyone. Told in two voices, in the past and present. I adored Joseph, he knew what he wanted, where he was going, always trying to do the correct thing, but sometimes losing sight of the people who needed him most due to his need to provide. Evelyn, was a product show more of her upbringing, always searching for more, torn between what she wanted and what she needed, also suffering needlessly due to the time period. I loved the family dynamics past and present, references to historical events and it’s impact.

If you are looking for a light romantic read, this isn’t it. It’s emotional from the first page and deals with some hard subject matter. So many of the situations hit hard for me. I admit I cried throughout the book, in parts ripping my heart out. This story will stay with me for a long time. It is definitely a love story with the best possible ending. I wavered with my rating, ultimately deciding on the higher due to the emotions I felt, the relatability to the characters and certain situations and the beautiful writing. I look forward to this author’s next book.

Thanks to Park Row and NetGalley for this advance copy. This is my honest opinion. show less

"The Days I Loved You Most" starts with Joseph and Evelyn, both in their 70s, announcing to their adult children that they will live for one more year and then end their lives together. Horrified, Jane, Thomas and Violet plead with them to reconsider, but they are adamant. They will live the last 12 months to the fullest with their family then it will be time to say goodbye.

The rest of the novel is told from multiple points of view and alternates between the past and the present as the show more reader follows Joseph and Evelyn as they fall in love and raise a family while also seeing how their decision impacts their family.

"The Days I Loved You Most" should have been an emotional read that left me sobbing at the end, but I found it slow and skimmed the last third of the novel until the final three chapters (and I didn't feel as if I had missed anything important). I couldn't connect with the characters - they weren't fleshed out well enough to feel deeply for them.

I didn't like Evelyn at all and thought Joseph deserved someone better. All the family dramas were rather tiresome, and while the present of the story sounded promising, it didn't deliver. A disappointing read. show less

Upped to 3.5 stars.

I knew this book was going to be sad even before I started reading it due to the plot. This is not going to be an easy book to get through.

When one can't live without the other what happens? Joseph and Evelyn, are in the mid-70s, live in a home that was once their bed and breakfast. They have 3 kids, all grown up, Jane, the oldest, Thomas, their only son, and Violet, the "baby" who lives next door in their former house. Evelyn has been holding a secret from the kids for a show more while. When they find out not only are they upset about that but also about what she and Joseph decide to do. End their lives together in a year. Evelyn is trying to convince Joseph to live his life without her, but he won't hear of it. Of course their kids are upset and trying to convince them not to do it especially Joseph.

The book starts in 1940, when they are teenagers, living next door to each other. Tommy is Evelyn's brother and they are all very good friends. Both Joseph and Tommy go off to war together. It alternates between then and now with Joseph and Evelyn and the kids lives too throughout the years. I loved how all the kids had their own problems and different personalities but yet were close considering they all lived in different places.

Yes, it sort of ended the way it should have, but not really in another way. show less

This is a love story that is told over an 80 year time span from 1940 - 2022. It is primarily the love between a husband and his wife but also the love between parents and children and grandchildren. It touches not only on the joy of love but is realistic as the couple deals with myriad issues throughout their marriage. Near the end of their lives they decide that they can't live without each other and make a pact to end their lives together.

Joseph and Eleanor grew up next door to each show more other. The two of them plus Evelyn's brother spent their long summer days together united in their friendship. When Eleanor goes to Boston to school, Joseph realizes that he loves her. When joseph goes into the army, Eleanor realizes that she loves him. After several years apart, they marry and begin the rest of their lives together. Three children and running an inn take a toll on their marriage but they manage to overcome the problems. In 2021, they talk to their grown children and tell them that Evelyn has Parkinson's and they have decided to take their lives together in one year. Neither one can imagine life without the other. They spend the next year re-living their pasts and fulfilling dreams from their pasts. As the year nears an end, they have to make some big decisions about the legacy that they will leave for their children and grandchildren. What decision will they make about their lives at the end of that year?

There was a lot of love in this book but it was also full of the trials and problems that every married couple faces - especially if they have children. Despite the problems in their marriage their love continued to be a major strength in their lives. Don't plan on reading this and getting a happy and fluffy love story. This book is real life with all of its ups and downs. Keep tissues close because you are going to need them.

The reason that this is a 4 star review instead of five stars is that I really didn't connect with Joseph and Eleanor. This was supposed to be a great love story but at times, I just didn't feel it. I would have liked to see them more fleshed out as people and not just as part of a big love story. I'm glad that I read this book and I think that the author has shown considerable talent in her debut novel and will have a successful writing career ahead. show less