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The Day I Lost You
When Jess’s daughter, Anna, is reported lost in an avalanche, everything changes.
Left to explain her mother’s absence to Anna’s five-year-old daughter, Rose, Jess isn’t yet ready to admit to herself that her daughter might not be coming back. But Anna’s disappearance dredges up some life changing questions: Jess must uncover her daughter’s secret life – and unearth a secret that changes her world irrevocably.
The day I lost you was the day I discovered your secret life.
The day I lost you was the day you tore our family apart.
Left to explain her mother’s absence to Anna’s five-year-old daughter, Rose, Jess isn’t yet ready to admit to herself that her daughter might not be coming back. But Anna’s disappearance dredges up some life changing questions: Jess must uncover her daughter’s secret life – and unearth a secret that changes her world irrevocably.
The day I lost you was the day I discovered your secret life.
The day I lost you was the day you tore our family apart.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2016
69 people are currently reading
1059 people want to read
About the author
Fionnuala Kearney
4 books145 followersFionnuala discovered, age six, that she had in fact been christened Ann (that’s Ann with no ‘e’) and that her parents had decided, for some reason, to saddle her with a life of dealing with unnecessary vowels. At twenty she moved to London and marrying Mr. Kearney proved to be the best thing she ever did, apart from the fact that the vowel thing escalated further. Two daughters, both with deliberately simple mono syllabic names followed.
She worked, for many years, in London as a home search agent (like Phil and Kirstie without the cameras) until she decided, one fateful day, that it was time for a change – time to pursue the dream of being a writer.
Seven years on; time spent in her garret learning her craft, she is often found talking to herself with yellow ‘post its’ stuck to her forehead. She likes to write about relationships: couples, a mother and child, siblings, best friends… She likes to peel away the layers and see what’s going on beneath and then tell you all about it.
She worked, for many years, in London as a home search agent (like Phil and Kirstie without the cameras) until she decided, one fateful day, that it was time for a change – time to pursue the dream of being a writer.
Seven years on; time spent in her garret learning her craft, she is often found talking to herself with yellow ‘post its’ stuck to her forehead. She likes to write about relationships: couples, a mother and child, siblings, best friends… She likes to peel away the layers and see what’s going on beneath and then tell you all about it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
February 7, 2017
I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for a book of this genre or if I've just lost my reading mojo a bit but this book did not produce an emotional reaction I expected following the reviews I read. I don't have a daughter, granddaughter, sister, an ex husband or a male best friend, so it may have been that but unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me.
That being said, it is still a good book full of secrets, family loyalties, distrust and twists along the way so although I didn't react emotionally to it, it was still a decent read and of course this is only my opinion. I could of read this last year, or later this year and felt totally different. I liked the authors style of writing it was professional and well written and with a decent storyline (maybe a little too long) but this book will appeal to many. Would still recommend and I award 3 stars.
Thank you to The Book Club on Facebook for my free copy won in a competition.
That being said, it is still a good book full of secrets, family loyalties, distrust and twists along the way so although I didn't react emotionally to it, it was still a decent read and of course this is only my opinion. I could of read this last year, or later this year and felt totally different. I liked the authors style of writing it was professional and well written and with a decent storyline (maybe a little too long) but this book will appeal to many. Would still recommend and I award 3 stars.
Thank you to The Book Club on Facebook for my free copy won in a competition.
December 27, 2016
Jess receives the most terrible news a mother can get, her daughter Anna is reported missing after an avalanche when she's on a ski trip. Even though she's heartbroken Jess has Anna's daughter Rose to take care of and she has to keep going. While waiting for more news about her daughter Jess has to start looking into Anna's life. She had a lot of secrets and Jess has to uncover the truth, she has to look into the past to be able to go forward.
The Day I Lost You is a beautiful book about a mother who gets the most devastating news you can think of. Jess is a sweet lady who lives for her family. Her daughter and granddaughter are everything to her. The news is terrible, but she has to be brave for Rose. Anna's disappearance also raises questions and Jess has to find the answers. The Day I lost you is sad, but it's also a gripping page-turner, it's a fascinating story that made me bite my nails.
I couldn't put The Day I Lost You away, I had to keep reading until I knew all of Anna's secrets. Of course I had my suspicions and I couldn't wait to find out if they were true. The ending is emotional and really good. I shed a few tears while reading this book. Fionnuala Kearney makes her readers feel so much. She makes the story come to life extremely well. Anna has a voice through her blog posts which makes the reader feel closer to her. I felt conflicted many times, which made me even more interested to know the truth.
The Day I Lost You has wonderful main characters. Jess is a strong woman who needs her friends and family very much. Rose is an adorable little girl and she has a lot of personality. Her role is very important and I liked how loveable and inquisitive Fionnuala Kearney has made her. Every part of this story is well thought through and even though the characters all have their flaws the story itself is perfect. I think this is a definite winner and I absolutely loved it.
The Day I Lost You is a beautiful book about a mother who gets the most devastating news you can think of. Jess is a sweet lady who lives for her family. Her daughter and granddaughter are everything to her. The news is terrible, but she has to be brave for Rose. Anna's disappearance also raises questions and Jess has to find the answers. The Day I lost you is sad, but it's also a gripping page-turner, it's a fascinating story that made me bite my nails.
I couldn't put The Day I Lost You away, I had to keep reading until I knew all of Anna's secrets. Of course I had my suspicions and I couldn't wait to find out if they were true. The ending is emotional and really good. I shed a few tears while reading this book. Fionnuala Kearney makes her readers feel so much. She makes the story come to life extremely well. Anna has a voice through her blog posts which makes the reader feel closer to her. I felt conflicted many times, which made me even more interested to know the truth.
The Day I Lost You has wonderful main characters. Jess is a strong woman who needs her friends and family very much. Rose is an adorable little girl and she has a lot of personality. Her role is very important and I liked how loveable and inquisitive Fionnuala Kearney has made her. Every part of this story is well thought through and even though the characters all have their flaws the story itself is perfect. I think this is a definite winner and I absolutely loved it.
February 17, 2017
Excellent novel. I definitely could not put this down!! Author did an amazing job portraying all of her characters and the grief that each felt for the presumed death of Anna.
I loved how I could relate to the strong bond and love that Jess has for her granddaughter. It was a twist for sure as well at the end of the novel. One of my favorite novels I've read this year. :)
I loved how I could relate to the strong bond and love that Jess has for her granddaughter. It was a twist for sure as well at the end of the novel. One of my favorite novels I've read this year. :)
September 18, 2016
"Ok so review will follow tomorrow for this one as I need some time to gather my thoughts so that I can do it justice (which I know already I won't be able to!!) And also because I've sobbed so much my eyes are sore and I've had to remove my glasses and I can't read a thing without them.....till tomorrow!!"
So that was how I felt the moment I put down The Day I Lost You which is DEFINITELY in my top 10 books of 2016. It is utterly heartbreaking and totally compelling and I couldn't bear to put it down until I had devoured every single word written. In fact even when I had finished it I couldn't part with it-it is still sitting beside me awaiting the bookcase. I loved this book so much I want to shrink it and wear it in a locket around my neck! Yes, I know I sound emotional but right from the very first few pages this book touched me very deeply. The author has such a way with words that it's like she's is slowly hypnotising you with her story, she's such a natural storyteller. The images she created for me were so vivid, the themes of loss, grief, family and friendship running through it were totally on point and she handled the tragic circumstances perfectly. I am pretty much unable to convey in words the emotions that ran through me as I read.
I think it helped (or hindered!!) me that I felt a very strong connection to Jess. Her reactions to situations were very similar to the way I react to things so her journey made perfect sense to me. Her way of seeing the world in black and white with no shades in between meant that her actions were very much inevitable from the start. And I also loved her reaction to ginger, as it is something that I have in common with her and made me smile, a lighter moment to relieve some of the building tension.
I cried throughout and sobbed for the last few pages. No apologies, no excuses about menopausal emotions from a grandmother-I embraced the feelings that it gave me. This book surprised me constantly throughout, it didn't follow the path I was expecting and I loved it even more for that.
Highly recommended by me but please have tissues ready! You have been warned!
So that was how I felt the moment I put down The Day I Lost You which is DEFINITELY in my top 10 books of 2016. It is utterly heartbreaking and totally compelling and I couldn't bear to put it down until I had devoured every single word written. In fact even when I had finished it I couldn't part with it-it is still sitting beside me awaiting the bookcase. I loved this book so much I want to shrink it and wear it in a locket around my neck! Yes, I know I sound emotional but right from the very first few pages this book touched me very deeply. The author has such a way with words that it's like she's is slowly hypnotising you with her story, she's such a natural storyteller. The images she created for me were so vivid, the themes of loss, grief, family and friendship running through it were totally on point and she handled the tragic circumstances perfectly. I am pretty much unable to convey in words the emotions that ran through me as I read.
I think it helped (or hindered!!) me that I felt a very strong connection to Jess. Her reactions to situations were very similar to the way I react to things so her journey made perfect sense to me. Her way of seeing the world in black and white with no shades in between meant that her actions were very much inevitable from the start. And I also loved her reaction to ginger, as it is something that I have in common with her and made me smile, a lighter moment to relieve some of the building tension.
I cried throughout and sobbed for the last few pages. No apologies, no excuses about menopausal emotions from a grandmother-I embraced the feelings that it gave me. This book surprised me constantly throughout, it didn't follow the path I was expecting and I loved it even more for that.
Highly recommended by me but please have tissues ready! You have been warned!
May 2, 2018
„Dzień, w którym cię straciłam” to fascynujący rodzinny dramat, którego karty powoli odkrywają się przed czytelnikiem, ukazując wachlarz tajemnic, kłamstw i braku zaufania. Miejscami fabuła przypomina pełen zwrotów akcji dreszczowiec, a miejscami to wzruszająca opowieść o żałobie i próbie nawrócenia świata na właściwe tory. Fionnuala Kearney umiejętnie meandruje, wciągając czytelnika w wir tej historii, obnażając skomplikowane relacje bohaterów, a przede wszystkim ukazując w pełnym świetle związek między matką i córką. Związek niełatwy, przejmująco kobiecy, ale w swej trudności boleśnie prawdziwy.
Lektura na wieczór wzruszeń, na nieprzespaną noc.
Lektura na wieczór wzruszeń, na nieprzespaną noc.
February 13, 2016
I was hopeful that The Day I Lost You would be just as good at You, Me & Other People but it surpassed all expectations. It was such a fantastically plotted book that faced tough issues head on. It dealt with grief, love, family, lies, heartache and happiness. It was a beautiful book from start to finish and there was a lingering mystery throughout that compelled me to keep reading. I cannot recommend this book enough. Fionnuala has definitely become an author that I will be auto-buying from now on. I adore her writing.
Read
February 4, 2016Damn, the book was brilliant...couldn't put it down. Flawed characters that I wanted to shake but still wanted them to find happiness. For me the highest praise...I forgot the structure, the words and was immersed in the story (rare these days).... a cracking story beautifully told
October 21, 2019
Anna, Jess's twenty-four year old daughter, has been caught in an avalanche whilst skiing. Jess holds onto the hope that Anna has survived and in the meantime gives Anna's small daughter, Rose, all her care and attention. Jess, understandably, grieves. Fortunately she has a large network of friends and family who love her, and whom she loves – constantly. Rose is a perfect child – of course - in fact everyone in Jess's life is Perfect.
When Anna's body is found Jess discovers that her daughter had been keeping secrets. How dreadful – a young woman of Anna's age, not telling her mother everything about her life! Oh mon dieu! Incredible, eh? Jess is furious.
This novel is padded, repetitive and overworked. it's like an over-stuffed sofa – speaking of which a sofa in Jess's house is always, and often, described as a “tatty sofa”; in fact it's mentioned so often is almost has a life of it own.
Occasional clunky or poor writing such as this.....
“Johnny Mathis was singing about a child being born on the television......” had me howling, as did the unnecessary detail, such as the lengthy description of a desk calendar. A whole paragraph is spent on this irrelevant nonsense. All this does not compensate for the lack of good characterisation. We're told what the characters do, how grief affects them, but there is nothing else. Yes they all seem “nice” people, everybody loving and caring for each other, but that's it; they're one-dimensional. This lack of substance makes it difficult, if not impossible, to identify with any of them.
The story, for it is a story rather than a plot, is predictable and held no surprises at all. Without giving away any spoilers, I had worked out the “mystery”, for want of a better word, by page 98. This book is 418 pages long, easily 150 pages too many.
Some of the blurb amuses me but has me wondering if the people who wrote them actually read this book.
“Wickedly intriguing”. No it isn't.
“Beautiful and Life-affirming”. Meh
And best of all...”The pages practically turn themselves”. Err, no, they don't.
If this is “one of the best novels I've read in years” as Anna McPartlin declares I do wonder what she has been reading!
Amazon sent me a free copy specifically for review
When Anna's body is found Jess discovers that her daughter had been keeping secrets. How dreadful – a young woman of Anna's age, not telling her mother everything about her life! Oh mon dieu! Incredible, eh? Jess is furious.
This novel is padded, repetitive and overworked. it's like an over-stuffed sofa – speaking of which a sofa in Jess's house is always, and often, described as a “tatty sofa”; in fact it's mentioned so often is almost has a life of it own.
Occasional clunky or poor writing such as this.....
“Johnny Mathis was singing about a child being born on the television......” had me howling, as did the unnecessary detail, such as the lengthy description of a desk calendar. A whole paragraph is spent on this irrelevant nonsense. All this does not compensate for the lack of good characterisation. We're told what the characters do, how grief affects them, but there is nothing else. Yes they all seem “nice” people, everybody loving and caring for each other, but that's it; they're one-dimensional. This lack of substance makes it difficult, if not impossible, to identify with any of them.
The story, for it is a story rather than a plot, is predictable and held no surprises at all. Without giving away any spoilers, I had worked out the “mystery”, for want of a better word, by page 98. This book is 418 pages long, easily 150 pages too many.
Some of the blurb amuses me but has me wondering if the people who wrote them actually read this book.
“Wickedly intriguing”. No it isn't.
“Beautiful and Life-affirming”. Meh
And best of all...”The pages practically turn themselves”. Err, no, they don't.
If this is “one of the best novels I've read in years” as Anna McPartlin declares I do wonder what she has been reading!
Amazon sent me a free copy specifically for review
gave-up-on
September 20, 2020This is the first book of 2016 I have shelved as 'gave up on'. I'm either not in the mood to read this storyline or hungover from recent reads. Nevertheless please do not discourage my review from reading The Day I Lost You because it is a realistic read. Unfortunately not for me.
May 3, 2019
Komplikovane.
Takto by sa dali jednym slovom opisat vztahy v rodine hlavnej hrdinky Jess.
Ta sa musi vyrovnat s najhorsou vecou, ktora sa matke moze stat-so smrtou svojej dcery. Anna zahynula v lavine a zanechala po sebe 5-rocnu dcerku. No okrem jej smrti sa musi Jess vyrovnat aj s tym, ze Anna tajila pred matkou mnoho veci. Napr aj to, ze v case, ked bola mrtva, bola tehotna. No kto bol otcom?
Tajomstva, ktore Anna mala, spustia dalsiu lavinu a okrem ineho sposobia rozchod stastneho paru. A jess sa musi vyrovnat s tym, ze jej krasna, mlada a dobre vychovana dcera vobec nebola takym anjelom, za akeho ho mala. Da sa vsak odpustit?
Pacilo sa mi to. Vela som rozmyslala, ako by som sa v Jessinych topankach spravala ja a neviem...URcite by som o vnucku bojovala tiez a mozno casom by som aj odpustila.
PS: Nechapem, preco SK preklada ma nazov Lavina...uplne od veci.
Takto by sa dali jednym slovom opisat vztahy v rodine hlavnej hrdinky Jess.
Ta sa musi vyrovnat s najhorsou vecou, ktora sa matke moze stat-so smrtou svojej dcery. Anna zahynula v lavine a zanechala po sebe 5-rocnu dcerku. No okrem jej smrti sa musi Jess vyrovnat aj s tym, ze Anna tajila pred matkou mnoho veci. Napr aj to, ze v case, ked bola mrtva, bola tehotna. No kto bol otcom?
Tajomstva, ktore Anna mala, spustia dalsiu lavinu a okrem ineho sposobia rozchod stastneho paru. A jess sa musi vyrovnat s tym, ze jej krasna, mlada a dobre vychovana dcera vobec nebola takym anjelom, za akeho ho mala. Da sa vsak odpustit?
Pacilo sa mi to. Vela som rozmyslala, ako by som sa v Jessinych topankach spravala ja a neviem...URcite by som o vnucku bojovala tiez a mozno casom by som aj odpustila.
PS: Nechapem, preco SK preklada ma nazov Lavina...uplne od veci.
February 19, 2016
So, it is with a great regret but I haven't read Fionnuala's debut novel yet - and yet is the operative word! I have heard so many prizes about "You, Me and Other People" and after reading "The Day I Lost You" I could have find out by myself why people love this author so much, even though she has written only two books - well, "The Day I Lost You" is enough for me, as after reading it Ms Kearney has catapulted right to the top of my favourite authors list.
How well do we know the members of our closest family actually?
Now, about Jess. She was not as straight - forward as we could think at the beginning. I think some of her reactions or decisions were made on the spur of the moment, that some of them were even false but on the other hand, she was grieving, and I think we all react just like she did when we're grieving. It only made her normal and real in my eyes. And really, while sometimes she seemed to be very emotional, I felt for her. She was convinced her life is a truly normal one but she had no idea what skeletons are hidden in her - or rather her daughter's - closet, and that mostly she will have to clean this mess. It looked like that no matter which door she's going to open, her daughter Anna has left more and more of her secrets, and the first one was just the beginning, and those feelings of confusion, disbelief and also betrayal that Jess felt were so greatly captured by the author.
I was totally, absolutely concerned and sold with the whole Jess's family, especially with Leah and Gus. They were so incredibly supporting, and even though they tried to live normal, to come to terms with reality and everyday problems, there was always this word or two of consolation, small gestures that showed how much they love Jess, how much they feel sorry and that she can count on them. That is, till one moment in the book, and here we're arriving at one of the twists that I haven't seen coming. It took me totally, unexpectedly by surprise, it happened totally out of the blue. Because, you see, quickly, very quickly, I was absolutely sure that I guessed this twist, this secret that is to be revealed. Really, high five to Fionnuala Kearney for taking me so much by surprise and yet making this so logical - now, in perspective, I can see it couldn't be different. I really haven't expected this bombshell - and I truly love it, when the author can spring such revelation on me, a revelation that I wasn't expecting and that shocked me completely, and made me not sure how the story is going to develop after this.
The first part of the book is told through Jess and Theo's points of view, together with Anna's entries from her blog, while later it mostly focuses on Jess's point of view. I liked how the author switched the narrative, how I was able to get really into the heart of the stories and to learn the story from all sides. The characters felt very real, true, they were not flawless, and I didn't have any problem to connect with them or to relate to them, and the author has really put them through the mill! They had depth, all of them and were written very realistically and I had a feeling I am right there, by their sides.
"The Day I Lost You" is an incredibly well - plotted, powerful and intense novel and yet those feelings are not too overwhelming, they don't make the book too hard too read. No, on the contrary, they are palpable through the pages but the writing style, the feelings of empathy make it so easy to read. And when we are by the writing style, it was incredible - some authors have this talent to write emotional novels but in a simple way, when you are just galloping through the pages, when you don't feel tired, you just want to know what's going to happen and you don't want to put the book down for a single second - it was like this with "The Day I Lost You". From the very beginning to the very end, this book held me tight, had me hooked, as I simply wanted to know how it's going to end, in all aspects. And soon I have started to fear Anna's entries to the blog, as there was always something new, a new fact.
Yes, this story was heart - breaking, especially the family aspect. It showed how vulnerable we are, and how, in fact, we are nothing without the support of our family and best, proven friends. It shows how easily the bonds can be broken, despite them being so strong, but also that sometimes those bonds are unbreakable, no matter what, and I mean here not only Jess and her sister, but also Rose and Sean. It was really uplifting.
This story has simply it all. It had twists and turns, there are some very unexpected and shocking revelations. It is written in this best way of writing style, this gentle, subtle way and you immediately feel like a part of the characters' worlds. "The Day I Lost You" moved me, it is a kind of a book that you can't forget, long after reading the last page, it is unpredictable. It deals with so many issues, it deals with heartbreak, with betrayal and lies, and the characters are deep down there, with all those issues, they are there for each step, and we are not sure if it was the last revelation, or if there is still something for them to discover and deal with. It was just a brilliant read - highly recommended! (And it is such a great feeling to know that there is "You, Me and Other People" waiting there for me to be read!)
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
September 23, 2016
I’m not a mother, but the author made me feel Jess’s pain and anguish over her missing daughter from the very first pages, and that emotional grip never lessened at any point in the book. The book is full of all those agonising moments when loss suffered moves from the more comfortable depths of the mind to the excruciatingly painful forefront – the favourite jar of honey on the supermarket shelf, the everyday items like the tatty sofa that hold such intense memories, the replayed conversations. I’m not really a fan of children in books either, but young Rose is quite perfectly drawn and won her place in my heart – and some of the exchanges between her and her grandmother gently broke it. Grief finds its voice through some of the simple things – the unseasonal Christmas tree, the t-shirt provided as a comfort blanket, and the unbearable anguish caused by changing the bed sheets.
As a portrait of grief and loss, this book is quite exceptional – but it’s very much more than that. I remember from reading the author’s first book that she has an exceptional gift for examining families and dissecting their complex relationships, and that strength shows in this book too. The mother-daughter bond is obviously minutely examined, but we also have the bond and relationship between sisters, partners, ex-husbands and ex-wives, their new partners and the whole maze of the extended family. And then there’s friendship – particularly that difficult man-woman friendship and whether it’s actually sustainable. Every single character in this book – even the ones at its edges – is real, complex and utterly believable. And every relationship is put under immense stress as the secrets that underly all families and relationships – complicated even more here by professional relationships – threaten to tear everything apart.
The writing is superb, and I loved the way the book was structured – primarily, what we hear are the points of view of Jess and friend Theo, but punctuated by Anna’s voice on her personal blog. It always helps when you immerse yourself in a book if you like the characters you’re engaged with. Jess’s voice is one you hear with your heart,and you really can’t help but hurt with her and for her: Theo’s infinitely likeable too, awkward and funny, gentle and caring. There’s one scene in the book where Jess disintegrates and he comforts her that had me weeping uncontrollably – but smiling as he tries to remove the sauce from a Chinese meal from the knees of his suit. There’s light and dark in this book – at times, it’s actually very funny, those moments of the absurd that reassure you that life goes on, and I’d hate anyone to get the impression that it’s all anguish and misery because it most certainly isn’t. It’s poignant, heart-breaking, sometimes painful to read, sometimes beautifully hopeful and uplifting – and it’s an excellent story, difficult to set aside as the secrets slowly emerge, and impossible to get out of your head long after you’ve finished. I’m going to add my voice in support of all the magnificent reviews and cries of “one of my Books of the Year” that have already appeared from other reviewers – this book was just wonderful.
As a portrait of grief and loss, this book is quite exceptional – but it’s very much more than that. I remember from reading the author’s first book that she has an exceptional gift for examining families and dissecting their complex relationships, and that strength shows in this book too. The mother-daughter bond is obviously minutely examined, but we also have the bond and relationship between sisters, partners, ex-husbands and ex-wives, their new partners and the whole maze of the extended family. And then there’s friendship – particularly that difficult man-woman friendship and whether it’s actually sustainable. Every single character in this book – even the ones at its edges – is real, complex and utterly believable. And every relationship is put under immense stress as the secrets that underly all families and relationships – complicated even more here by professional relationships – threaten to tear everything apart.
The writing is superb, and I loved the way the book was structured – primarily, what we hear are the points of view of Jess and friend Theo, but punctuated by Anna’s voice on her personal blog. It always helps when you immerse yourself in a book if you like the characters you’re engaged with. Jess’s voice is one you hear with your heart,and you really can’t help but hurt with her and for her: Theo’s infinitely likeable too, awkward and funny, gentle and caring. There’s one scene in the book where Jess disintegrates and he comforts her that had me weeping uncontrollably – but smiling as he tries to remove the sauce from a Chinese meal from the knees of his suit. There’s light and dark in this book – at times, it’s actually very funny, those moments of the absurd that reassure you that life goes on, and I’d hate anyone to get the impression that it’s all anguish and misery because it most certainly isn’t. It’s poignant, heart-breaking, sometimes painful to read, sometimes beautifully hopeful and uplifting – and it’s an excellent story, difficult to set aside as the secrets slowly emerge, and impossible to get out of your head long after you’ve finished. I’m going to add my voice in support of all the magnificent reviews and cries of “one of my Books of the Year” that have already appeared from other reviewers – this book was just wonderful.
June 7, 2018
"Dzień, w którym cię straciłam" Fionnuali Kearney opowiada o Jess, której córka zaginęła w lawinie. Przetrwać te ciężkie chwile pomaga jej pięcioletnia wnuczka Rose. Kobieta z czasem odkrywa wiele sekretów i kłamstw, które być może raz na zawsze zmienią losy jej rodziny.
Jest to wartościowa książka, z której aż wylewają się emocje. Porusza wiele ważnych i bliskich każdemu tematów, takich jak utrata bliskiej osoby, rozwód, zdrada czy choroba. Są to problemy, które w mniejszym lub większym stopniu dotyczą każdego z nas, dzięki czemu książka zyskuje na uniwersalności i trafia do szerszego grona odbiorców. Zostały one pogłębione i opisane w sposób, który skłania do refleksji nad sobą i własnym życiem. Zmusza czytelnika do rozważań, jak on zachowałby się w podobnej sytuacji.
Ważnym aspektem tej powieści są bohaterowie, których portrety psychologiczne są na tyle dobrym poziomie, że bardzo się z nimi zżyłam, kibicowałam im w decydujących momentach, ale również potrafiłam zrozumieć, co nimi kieruje w danej sytuacji.
"Dzień, w którym cię straciłam" to piękna tajemnicza i przepełniona emocjami powieść o sile rodziny i o tym jak ważna jest ona w życiu człowieka.
Jest to wartościowa książka, z której aż wylewają się emocje. Porusza wiele ważnych i bliskich każdemu tematów, takich jak utrata bliskiej osoby, rozwód, zdrada czy choroba. Są to problemy, które w mniejszym lub większym stopniu dotyczą każdego z nas, dzięki czemu książka zyskuje na uniwersalności i trafia do szerszego grona odbiorców. Zostały one pogłębione i opisane w sposób, który skłania do refleksji nad sobą i własnym życiem. Zmusza czytelnika do rozważań, jak on zachowałby się w podobnej sytuacji.
Ważnym aspektem tej powieści są bohaterowie, których portrety psychologiczne są na tyle dobrym poziomie, że bardzo się z nimi zżyłam, kibicowałam im w decydujących momentach, ale również potrafiłam zrozumieć, co nimi kieruje w danej sytuacji.
"Dzień, w którym cię straciłam" to piękna tajemnicza i przepełniona emocjami powieść o sile rodziny i o tym jak ważna jest ona w życiu człowieka.
December 16, 2016
Thought Jesse was awful, very brave of the writer to have such a selfish, controlling, self indulgent character at the centre of the novel. Plotting good. Daughter doesn't get much sympathy she's as bad as her mother. Theo's trapped in a relationship to a woman he has to lie to. I suppose it shows the complications of modern existence when a lot of spoiled people do what the hell they like without consideration for anyone else. Poor Bea, she slaves after them and all they say is she makes a nice casserole.
October 27, 2016
For my written review, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
September 11, 2025
I give this book 3 stars for a reason
I must say, this book was heartbreakingly good. it made me laugh at times, cry at times, just everything.
I loved the characters. the story. the writing. This book was amazing!
but..... the two stars disappeared because of two things:
1. Jess' daughter, Anna, ended up getting in a situationship with a married man before she died. The guy being married was already bad enough. but then at the end, it's revealed that she was dating her mom's sister's husband. Her fucking uncle. And no one seemed to like, realize the incest implication? I myself didn't even realize it until my friend pointed it out to me.
and then there's
2. The absolute horrendous behavior that Jess had. I get it, she was grieving her daughter's death while finding out her kid wasn't whom she thought she was, but that doesn't give her an excuse to treat her close friends and family like garbage, the second they're not on board with her plans. I might be overexaggerating Jess' behavior, but the way she treated Theo was what rubbed me the wrong way the most. At first, I was rooting for their relationship to actually happen, because they seemed to have chemistry, but then, the moment Jess found out about Anna's situationship, her first thought was Theo being the married man that Anna was dating (Theo was married at the time, then got divorced in the first few chapters of the book) with little to no proof. it baffled me how quickly she switched up with Theo too and Theo was just kinda pulled into whatever mess that was. The way Jess was cursing at him while accusing him of sleeping with her daughter one second, and the next she's all over him, trying to convince him to sleep with her made me wanna gag a bit. I don't blame her for her mood swings because grief, but this is kinda insane to me
I sincerely hope my review didn't come off as rude or insulting, I get very emotional about books
this book was great to read, but recalling the moments from the book was sometimes just.. tough
I must say, this book was heartbreakingly good. it made me laugh at times, cry at times, just everything.
I loved the characters. the story. the writing. This book was amazing!
but..... the two stars disappeared because of two things:
1. Jess' daughter, Anna, ended up getting in a situationship with a married man before she died. The guy being married was already bad enough. but then at the end, it's revealed that she was dating her mom's sister's husband. Her fucking uncle. And no one seemed to like, realize the incest implication? I myself didn't even realize it until my friend pointed it out to me.
and then there's
2. The absolute horrendous behavior that Jess had. I get it, she was grieving her daughter's death while finding out her kid wasn't whom she thought she was, but that doesn't give her an excuse to treat her close friends and family like garbage, the second they're not on board with her plans. I might be overexaggerating Jess' behavior, but the way she treated Theo was what rubbed me the wrong way the most. At first, I was rooting for their relationship to actually happen, because they seemed to have chemistry, but then, the moment Jess found out about Anna's situationship, her first thought was Theo being the married man that Anna was dating (Theo was married at the time, then got divorced in the first few chapters of the book) with little to no proof. it baffled me how quickly she switched up with Theo too and Theo was just kinda pulled into whatever mess that was. The way Jess was cursing at him while accusing him of sleeping with her daughter one second, and the next she's all over him, trying to convince him to sleep with her made me wanna gag a bit. I don't blame her for her mood swings because grief, but this is kinda insane to me
I sincerely hope my review didn't come off as rude or insulting, I get very emotional about books
this book was great to read, but recalling the moments from the book was sometimes just.. tough
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2017
I was reluctant to pick up this book so soon after finishing the previous one I read and reviewed, simply because I doubted anything could live up to the high standard set by a certain Lucy Atkins. Oh me of little faith! Must be the excellent taste of TBC and their recommendations, because this is another cracker!! This is the second novel by the author whose name I hardly dare attempt - her first being You, Me and Other People, and boy does it clench your heart, as well as other parts... Love, loss and a whole load of other emotions take you on a journey you won't always enjoy. The proverbial roller-coaster you'll sometimes want to get off but can't. It hurts. It's meant to. Ms Kearney know how to not only tug at your heart strings, but to stretch them as taut as a bow about to let loose an arrow. And don't assume it'll be all happy ever afters/all's well that ends well. Oh no, best to make sure you have a supply of vodka to hand, - neat of course!
April 11, 2017
WOW! Read this in just over 24 hours. Liked all the characters, was totally drawn in and cried in two places. Am now following Fionnuala so I can read more of her books as they come out. Very good read.
September 20, 2016
The implications of loss are terrible to imagine, and for Jess, when she gets the awful news that her daughter Anna is missing in a skiing accident she knows that her life is irrevocably changed. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, especially when that child is also a parent, and even though bringing up Rose, her five year old granddaughter is a mixed blessing, Jess can't help but long for the news that Anna is alive and well and will soon be returning home to the family.
The story is beautifully written and shares so generously the minutiae of Jess and Rose's daily life that we come to love them and rejoice in their small triumphs and yet, we also sink into compassionate despair as Jess reels from one bad situation to another. And if we’re truly honest, we are relieved that our life is nothing like Jess’s and yet, in a heartbeat, this scenario could easily happen to any one of us.
Loss can be a terribly destructive force and Jess whilst superbly strong on the surface, is really like the proverbial swan, calm and unruffled on top but underneath paddling like fury. It is only with the help of her family and close friend, Theo, that Jess can begin to make sense of what’s happening in her life, and yet, Theo the troubled the guardian of so many secrets, is subsequently to be found facing his own demanding demons.
I loved how the story looked at the way that families interact and also of how relationships vary and alter over time but what was also important was the understanding of just how brittle are the bonds which tie us all together, and of how easily they can be broken into millions of tiny pieces. The fragmented pieces of Jess’s life and the way she deals with the hand that fate has dealt her, forms the heart and soul of the novel and such is the emotional pull of the story that there were times when sentiment got the better of me and I struggled to read without a great big lump in my throat.
There is no doubt that this talented author has a real skill with words and in this story which is rich in emotion and filled with an abundance of well-loved characters she has, once again, excelled herself.
The story is beautifully written and shares so generously the minutiae of Jess and Rose's daily life that we come to love them and rejoice in their small triumphs and yet, we also sink into compassionate despair as Jess reels from one bad situation to another. And if we’re truly honest, we are relieved that our life is nothing like Jess’s and yet, in a heartbeat, this scenario could easily happen to any one of us.
Loss can be a terribly destructive force and Jess whilst superbly strong on the surface, is really like the proverbial swan, calm and unruffled on top but underneath paddling like fury. It is only with the help of her family and close friend, Theo, that Jess can begin to make sense of what’s happening in her life, and yet, Theo the troubled the guardian of so many secrets, is subsequently to be found facing his own demanding demons.
I loved how the story looked at the way that families interact and also of how relationships vary and alter over time but what was also important was the understanding of just how brittle are the bonds which tie us all together, and of how easily they can be broken into millions of tiny pieces. The fragmented pieces of Jess’s life and the way she deals with the hand that fate has dealt her, forms the heart and soul of the novel and such is the emotional pull of the story that there were times when sentiment got the better of me and I struggled to read without a great big lump in my throat.
There is no doubt that this talented author has a real skill with words and in this story which is rich in emotion and filled with an abundance of well-loved characters she has, once again, excelled herself.
September 21, 2016
3.5 Stars
The Day I Lost You is a well written story, and is the story of Jess, Theo, Anna and Rose, and how one avalanche can change the outcomes of so many lives. I believe the book is supposed to be highly emotionally charged, and a real weepy, but apart from on perhaps two occasions, I just wasn't feeling it. Whether that is because I am wired abnormally, or whether its because the book just didn't quite work in that respect is probably not for me to decide.
The narrative is split into a couple of different view points, there is Anna, who we only get to know through her blog posts, and what is revealed by others slowly over the months after the avalanche. There is Jess who is Anna's mother and Rose's grandma, who now has full responsibility for a 5 year old, and who is struggling with grief and just believing that the worst has happened. We also see things from Theo's perspective, he is Jess' best friend, and going through a tough time of his own. Theo's significance becomes more apparent as the story progresses, and at times I really was wondering if he was as nice as he seems.
Anna is the focal point of the book, and as the truth about her young life emerges, I found myself wondering how much I really liked her, and as a result how much sympathy I really had with the family.
With the exception of Rose, and Finn (Theo's son), I'm not sure there were that many characters I particularly connected with. Yes the story is tragic, and there is some degree of hope, but overall I just don't feel the book worked all that well for me, despite being able to clearly see that author was easily capable of writing a story that would draw you in and keep you engaged for the duration.
Unfortunately although I did enjoy elements of the story, I suspect I may have picked the wrong book for my mood, as it just didn't quite hit me the way I would expect it would others.
The Day I Lost You is a well written story, and is the story of Jess, Theo, Anna and Rose, and how one avalanche can change the outcomes of so many lives. I believe the book is supposed to be highly emotionally charged, and a real weepy, but apart from on perhaps two occasions, I just wasn't feeling it. Whether that is because I am wired abnormally, or whether its because the book just didn't quite work in that respect is probably not for me to decide.
The narrative is split into a couple of different view points, there is Anna, who we only get to know through her blog posts, and what is revealed by others slowly over the months after the avalanche. There is Jess who is Anna's mother and Rose's grandma, who now has full responsibility for a 5 year old, and who is struggling with grief and just believing that the worst has happened. We also see things from Theo's perspective, he is Jess' best friend, and going through a tough time of his own. Theo's significance becomes more apparent as the story progresses, and at times I really was wondering if he was as nice as he seems.
Anna is the focal point of the book, and as the truth about her young life emerges, I found myself wondering how much I really liked her, and as a result how much sympathy I really had with the family.
With the exception of Rose, and Finn (Theo's son), I'm not sure there were that many characters I particularly connected with. Yes the story is tragic, and there is some degree of hope, but overall I just don't feel the book worked all that well for me, despite being able to clearly see that author was easily capable of writing a story that would draw you in and keep you engaged for the duration.
Unfortunately although I did enjoy elements of the story, I suspect I may have picked the wrong book for my mood, as it just didn't quite hit me the way I would expect it would others.
September 22, 2016
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
I would like to start my review by saying congratulations to Fionnuala, as today is paperback publication day for ‘The Day I Lost You’! The picture does not do this cover justice in the slightest, in the flesh it is even more beautiful. The beauty doesn’t stop at the cover though, no way, the beauty continues throughout the whole story.
‘The Day I Lost You’ has been sitting on my desk waiting for me to read it since the moment it came through my door. Now, it wasn’t that I didn’t have time to read this particular book, it was the fact that I didn’t want to lose the ‘first time’ feeling with it. I kept putting off reading it time and time again until I realised that the paperback publication day loomed, so I had to give in. I wanted to savour the story page by page, emotion by emotion, but I couldn’t. Why? Because after reading a mere couple of pages, this book had my emotion on a lead and was in control of it, I wasn’t. I was absolutely transfixed with the entire storyline and the intensity of each and every character.
The fact that of not being able to savour it piece by piece, wasn’t a bad thing, it just meant that my heart belonged to the book for the duration, and I needed to find out what happened. I wanted answers and it wasn’t even me going through it, it was Jess and her family. The raw emotional and pain sliced through the words that Fionnuala wrote, I truly felt as though Jess was talking to me face to face about her devastation. The storyline felt so…real, I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a book.
When the storyline developed even more, the realistic feeling got even more intense. Several circumstances in particular were described with incredible poignancy, I buckled. I had to put the book down as I couldn’t see through my tears. Just, wow. It wasn’t the first and last time that I cried either.
‘The Day I Lost You’ is a book about heartbreak, loss and sheer devastation, most definitely. But, it is also a book about finding the strength within to do what you know is right and never wasting the special moments with your loved ones.
This is definitely a book that, regardless of how many reviews are read, is one that needs to be appreciated with your very own eyes. You need to experience Fionnuala’s incredible writing. You need to experience the powerful and intense storyline in between your very own tears. You need to experience feelings that you have never felt before, and go to a place in your heart that you never knew existed. An emotional masterpiece.
Thank you to HarperCollins (HQStories) and Fionnuala, for my complimentary copy in return for my honest opinion.
I would like to start my review by saying congratulations to Fionnuala, as today is paperback publication day for ‘The Day I Lost You’! The picture does not do this cover justice in the slightest, in the flesh it is even more beautiful. The beauty doesn’t stop at the cover though, no way, the beauty continues throughout the whole story.
‘The Day I Lost You’ has been sitting on my desk waiting for me to read it since the moment it came through my door. Now, it wasn’t that I didn’t have time to read this particular book, it was the fact that I didn’t want to lose the ‘first time’ feeling with it. I kept putting off reading it time and time again until I realised that the paperback publication day loomed, so I had to give in. I wanted to savour the story page by page, emotion by emotion, but I couldn’t. Why? Because after reading a mere couple of pages, this book had my emotion on a lead and was in control of it, I wasn’t. I was absolutely transfixed with the entire storyline and the intensity of each and every character.
The fact that of not being able to savour it piece by piece, wasn’t a bad thing, it just meant that my heart belonged to the book for the duration, and I needed to find out what happened. I wanted answers and it wasn’t even me going through it, it was Jess and her family. The raw emotional and pain sliced through the words that Fionnuala wrote, I truly felt as though Jess was talking to me face to face about her devastation. The storyline felt so…real, I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a book.
When the storyline developed even more, the realistic feeling got even more intense. Several circumstances in particular were described with incredible poignancy, I buckled. I had to put the book down as I couldn’t see through my tears. Just, wow. It wasn’t the first and last time that I cried either.
‘The Day I Lost You’ is a book about heartbreak, loss and sheer devastation, most definitely. But, it is also a book about finding the strength within to do what you know is right and never wasting the special moments with your loved ones.
This is definitely a book that, regardless of how many reviews are read, is one that needs to be appreciated with your very own eyes. You need to experience Fionnuala’s incredible writing. You need to experience the powerful and intense storyline in between your very own tears. You need to experience feelings that you have never felt before, and go to a place in your heart that you never knew existed. An emotional masterpiece.
Thank you to HarperCollins (HQStories) and Fionnuala, for my complimentary copy in return for my honest opinion.
September 22, 2016
The Day I Lost You is a story of relationships. How they begin, how they evolve and how they can change so quickly and so dramatically through the revelation of a hidden truth.
Jess and Anna; mother and daughter, but also house-mates and the best of friends. When Anna's father Doug left the family to start a new life, Jess and Anna became a solid unit. Even when, at nineteen, in her first year at university, Anna became pregnant with her daughter Rose, her relationship with Jess remained strong. The three of them; Jess, Anna and little Rose, lived happily together. Their extended family; Jess's sister Leah and her husband Guss, Jess's parents and close friends Theo and Harriet completed the unit.
The day that Jess receives the news that Anna is feared dead, buried under an avalanche whilst on a skiing trip in France with work colleagues is the beginning of the slow deterioration of some of these relationships, but also strengthens others.
Jess doesn't only have to deal with her painful grief, she also has to protect little Rose. When she begins to realise that Anna had kept important and painful secrets from her, she starts to question everything about their relationship.
Fionnuala Kearney is a mother, and it shows in her writing. She has captured that all-consuming parental love and expresses it so beautifully on the page. The reader is exposed to every emotion that Jess experiences as the story progesses. Disbelief, horror, anger and confusion; each emotional trauma is perfectly portrayed.
There are other strands to this story, and at its heart is a mystery that Jess never expected and that slowly unfurls before the author serves up the shocking conclusion.
Jess and Rose are supported throughout the novel by a cast of creatively drawn characters who each have their own story to add to the mix.
Fionnuala Kearney has written another complex story of relationships. Her writing is astute, warm and polished. The plot is compelling and the characters are magnificent.
Accomplished and powerful, this author really is very very talented.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
Jess and Anna; mother and daughter, but also house-mates and the best of friends. When Anna's father Doug left the family to start a new life, Jess and Anna became a solid unit. Even when, at nineteen, in her first year at university, Anna became pregnant with her daughter Rose, her relationship with Jess remained strong. The three of them; Jess, Anna and little Rose, lived happily together. Their extended family; Jess's sister Leah and her husband Guss, Jess's parents and close friends Theo and Harriet completed the unit.
The day that Jess receives the news that Anna is feared dead, buried under an avalanche whilst on a skiing trip in France with work colleagues is the beginning of the slow deterioration of some of these relationships, but also strengthens others.
Jess doesn't only have to deal with her painful grief, she also has to protect little Rose. When she begins to realise that Anna had kept important and painful secrets from her, she starts to question everything about their relationship.
Fionnuala Kearney is a mother, and it shows in her writing. She has captured that all-consuming parental love and expresses it so beautifully on the page. The reader is exposed to every emotion that Jess experiences as the story progesses. Disbelief, horror, anger and confusion; each emotional trauma is perfectly portrayed.
There are other strands to this story, and at its heart is a mystery that Jess never expected and that slowly unfurls before the author serves up the shocking conclusion.
Jess and Rose are supported throughout the novel by a cast of creatively drawn characters who each have their own story to add to the mix.
Fionnuala Kearney has written another complex story of relationships. Her writing is astute, warm and polished. The plot is compelling and the characters are magnificent.
Accomplished and powerful, this author really is very very talented.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
February 22, 2017
An emotional and very gripping book, if you like reading Liane Moriarty you'll love this.
October 7, 2016
When the book begins we are introduced to Jess going about her daily life when her ex husband shows up and just by looking in his eyes she knows something terrible has happened. Then we switch to ten weeks later as every thing begins to unfold. Jess's daughter Anna is missing, presumed dead after an avalanche on a skiing holiday. Her body has still not been found and Jess clings to the hope that somehow a mistake has been made. She has her five year old granddaughter (Rose) to think of and it's the only reason she has found any strength to keep going.
Her main stability in her life is her close doctor friend Theo. He is going through a marriage break up but is still there for his friend. The chapters are titles either Jess or Theo and Anna, but her chapters are posts from her blog in months before the avalanche. As Jess starts to realise there will be no miraculous finding of her missing daughter and life begins to move on (however reluctantly) Jess starts to discover things about her daughter that she didn't think possible. Secrets come to light that will hurt Jess's loved ones and she really can't bear to lose anyone else.
Although, I wasn't really surprised by the reveal in the story as a few red herrings were thrown your way, I pretty much guessed who the father of Anna's child was. The book was a page turner and it just affirms what we know. There is no such thing as a perfect family, families are messy. Secrets are usually kept to protect others from hurt or misunderstanding, but it makes you think about the pros and cons of keeping them.
There was a lot about forgiveness and grief and moving forward with life when one of the most worst tragedies can hit you. The last few pages of the book had me tearing up.
Her main stability in her life is her close doctor friend Theo. He is going through a marriage break up but is still there for his friend. The chapters are titles either Jess or Theo and Anna, but her chapters are posts from her blog in months before the avalanche. As Jess starts to realise there will be no miraculous finding of her missing daughter and life begins to move on (however reluctantly) Jess starts to discover things about her daughter that she didn't think possible. Secrets come to light that will hurt Jess's loved ones and she really can't bear to lose anyone else.
Although, I wasn't really surprised by the reveal in the story as a few red herrings were thrown your way, I pretty much guessed who the father of Anna's child was. The book was a page turner and it just affirms what we know. There is no such thing as a perfect family, families are messy. Secrets are usually kept to protect others from hurt or misunderstanding, but it makes you think about the pros and cons of keeping them.
There was a lot about forgiveness and grief and moving forward with life when one of the most worst tragedies can hit you. The last few pages of the book had me tearing up.
January 23, 2017
SPOILERS - This book was not very well received by my book club, however I kept on reading and turning the pages. I felt the characters of Jess and Anna ultimately flawed and extremely selfish. Anna, in having caused her grandfather to have a heart attack which left him immobile, having an affair with her Aunt's husband (which was received as rather incestuous, given the circumstances of who he was, basically her uncle...) and having not one but 2 babies with him when he had specifically not wanted to give children to his wife. But the biggest selfish character of them all was Jess, who was difficult to read about considering her conceitedness in thinking only about herself and not her granddaughter Rose or the man who was in love with her (why? God only knows!) and then destroying Sean's and his parents' lives when it transpires that Rose isn't his. It was heart breaking and I was relieved to read that Jess was never really forgiven for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2017
I was hoping for more from this book. The story was simple enough and in places it was emotional. However I didn't feel it really got to the heart of any of the relationships either Mother and Daughter or Mother and Granddaughter although I liked the story between Jess and her parents. I would have liked a lot more background and character detail about both Anna (daughter) and Rose (granddaughter) which I think would have made it much stronger and emotionally connecting. The skiing accident details are well covered, neither too little or too much.
November 13, 2021
I cried and smile reading this books. Jess really thought that she know everything that happened in Anna’s life but she���s wrong. I didn’t blame Theo and gramp for keeping the secret about Anna and Gus. In fact its the best thing they’ve done. And seriously Gus?! You’re in love with both the wife (aunty) and Anna (niece). But overall i love this story.
February 20, 2016
Such a beautifully written book, about love, family, lies and change. The story gave me a roller coaster of emotions, from joy to having me in tears.
Couldn't put the book down as the story went deeper and deeper. Very recommendable!
Couldn't put the book down as the story went deeper and deeper. Very recommendable!
January 19, 2017
Really Had To Persevere With This One. Felt It Repeated Itself A Touch. Nice To See It All Wrapped Up Nicely It The End
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