What Doesn't Kill You

Chesil #3

by Laura E. James

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger – but how strong can one person be?

Griff Hendry knows what it is to be strong. After a turbulent past, he’s dedicated himself to saving lives, working as a coastguard along the breath-taking shores of Dorset. It's Griff's belief that everyone is worth saving – which is why he can't forgive his father, Logan, for what he did.

Griff's future is plunged into uncertainty when his wife, Evie, tells him she wants a separation. The revelation is a shock and leads Griff to question what Evie could possibly be hiding – and she isn't the only one holding back. Griff's troubled stepdaughter, Tess, also harbours a dark secret.

As the truth is uncovered, Griff is forced to accept that perhaps he's never understood what real strength is.

From Dark Choc Lit - compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

320 pages, ebook

Published November 26, 2015

About the author

Laura E James is married with two adult children and lives in the inspirational county of Dorset.
A writer with disabilities and chronic health conditions, Laura is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, and previously a Director of the RNA, and for five years, its Industry Awards Organiser.
Truth or Dare?, Laura’s debut novel, was shortlisted for the 2014 Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award, and the Festival of Romance Best Ebook award. Her first paperback, Follow Me Follow You, was a Lovereading editorial choice, and What Doesn’t Kill You, the third in her Chesil Series, spearheaded Choc Lit’s Dark imprint.
Laura’s short story Bitter Sweet appears in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s anthology, Truly, Madly, Deeply.

For further information, go to:

www.lauraejames.co.uk
www.facebook.com/LauraE.JamesWriter
Instagram: laura_e_james
Threads: @laura_e_james
TikTok: @laura_e_james
Bluesky: @lauraejames.bsky.social

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from three different perspectives, this was a well written and well constructed novel of a family struggling with, and ultimately coming to grips with, a mountain of issues. It delved into grief, guilt, self-harm, emotional and physical abuse, providing care for older family members, assisted suicide, sexual orientation, step-parenting and so on. That is a huge range of topics to deal with in one single book, but the author managed to pull it off compassionately and sensitively. Kudos for that.
However, it took me what felt like forever to finish this book. I would read a chapter, put it down, come back to it for a few more pages, put it down again. It just didn't grip me. Looking at the other reviews so far, it's obviously an "It's me, it's not you" scenario.
When I got to the dog/vet scenes, I very nearly gave up completely. It was utterly depressing, and I just didn't enjoy reading it. The thing that slightly annoyed me was that everything was so easily resolved in the end. If only they all had just talked to each other 150 pages ago!
Nevertheless, it was a well written, thoughtful story. The author created believable characters, and if you like quieter, slow burning books without real drama, you may well enjoy this. On that basis, I am giving it 3 stars.
Thanks to Dark Choc Lit, the author and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Choclit and Laura.E.James for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Your will find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon today. On Goodreads under my name Karen Whittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger. Just me myself and I.

I cannot tell you how many times this song circles my head every time I saw the name of this book.

Griff Hendry has had a tough life and knows better than lost that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. But seriously how much can one person take.

After a turbulent younger days Griff has dedicated himself to saving people's lives. Working as a coast guard at the shores of Dorset.

Griffs life is rocked again when he finds out his wife wants a divorce. His wife is keeping and Griff wants to know what and why. But she isn't the only one keeping secrets. Their daughter Tess is also harbouring a few of her own. As the truth is slowly uncovered Griff is made to be stronger then he ever has before.

This is a pretty good book. Not typical of your normal romance books. It's pretty dark and it is hard hitting at times. There is quite a bit going on in this book but it left me feeling a bit exhausted and drained. All in all thou. Not a bad book.

Happy reading everyone

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griff thinks he's happily married to Evie, until she asks for a separation without telling him why. She's keeping her reasons a secret and no matter how hard Griff tries to find out the truth, he has no idea. He misses his family, even his stepdaughter Tess, who isn't always kind to him. Evie is taking care of Griff's father, Logan, and continues to do so even after taking a break from her marriage. There's something Griff can't forgive his father and he hardly ever goes to see him while he knows he's ill. Will Griff eventually find out what's bothering his wife and will he be able to save his marriage or is it too late?

While Evie and Griff are struggling with their relationship Evie's daughter Tess has problems of her own. She doesn't think she can share what's going on in her life with her mother and the consequences are serious. Tess has to grow up quickly now that Griff is no longer at home and Evie spends so much time with Logan. She helps taking care of her little brother and she's there whenever her mother needs her, but who's there for her when she needs it the most?

What Doesn't Kill You is a beautiful gripping story. Evie and Tess are both strong, they've been through a lot and haven't come out unscathed, but they keep going. They are incredible people and I greatly admired them for it. Evie is Logan's sole carer and he's so ill someone has to look after him fulltime. Evie can't give him what he needs and that's putting a lot of pressure on her. Fortunately she has her daughter to hold the fort when she's away. Tess is a sweetheart and she isn't bitter, while she went through so much pain and heartbreak. Reading about what happened to her brought tears to my eyes. I loved her spirit and positive attitude, she's a wonderful person and she gives the story a lovely spark by bringing joy to the people around her. She and Griff are slowly building their trust while he's away most of the time and only visits the place he still calls home. I found that amazing and Laura E James describes the process in a terrific sensitive way that feels natural at the same time. The whole family is interesting to read about and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them.

Griff's strength is admirable and he's a man with a protective nature. He loves unconditionally and I liked how much he's willing to do for his family. His worldview is black and white and he tends to forget that there can be a lot of grey in between. He's a kind man, but he's also a person with strong opinions and he can't be easily convinced he should change the way he sees things when he's wrong about something. Two tragic past events are still having a big influence on his life and he can't forget what happened and lives with a lot of guilt. My heart ached for him sometimes as he has the best intentions, but life hasn't treated him well in some ways. I kept hoping he would find his way back to Evie and Laura E. James kept me guessing until the very end of her story, which is something I loved.

What Doesn't Kill You is an impressive story. Laura E. James writes about difficult topics in a fantastic empathic way. Her descriptions of feelings are spot on and thoroughly thought through. Multiple points of view are making her novel extra fascinating, the voices are all strong and every angle possesses an equally great quality. I loved how original and surprising her story is. The many unexpected twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. What Doesn't Kill You is thought-provoking and intriguing. I couldn't put this book down and think it's absolutely brilliant.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new book from Choc Lit in their ‘dark’ series, “What Doesn’t Kill You” by Laura James is set in Dorset around the Portland Peninsula. The story unfolds gradually from perspective of the main characters, craftily allowing cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter, as we have to wait to see what happens to them.
Evie is on her second marriage to Griff but that union appears to have fallen apart when she sends him to live away. Her first marriage was not happy and the trauma from this has scarred both herself and her teenage daughter Tess. Evie spends a lot of time caring for Griff’s elderly father, Logan and has made him a promise she cannot share with Griff. Griff has his own personal trauma from his childhood, which he is trying to deal with as well.
So the lives of the main characters are a tangled web with many secrets or half-truths between them. The scope of the novel is huge in terms of issues but told intimately by each character we learn why they react they way they do, and how they cope in each situation.
The characters are well defined and engaging, the writing is tight and emotional and the settings are real and realistic. The story resolves itself but the issues may linger in your head long after you’ve finished it.

[Wendy Del Toro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Totally misleading blurb, as in no way is this a 'psychological thriller'; there was nothing thrilling about it. I found it totally boring and there was no "point" in reading it. "point" meaning at the very least it should be mildly entertaining or engrossing. I found it poorly written-- the 'symbolism and/or metaphors' were transparent and always followed up with the author spoon feeding them to the reader as if we didn't "get it". (ie: there were cracks on the wall, much like the cracks in my marriage...the whole book is like this!). There was no subtlety to the themes or characters-- reading this was like getting hit over the head with a sledgehammer. No nuance. And the ending! so rushed. - Imy, who has spent 24 years hating Griff and wanting revenge suddenly, snap of a finger, changes her mind after listening to Griff tell her what really happened, and just leaves!. I found nothing about this book rang true....dialogue, motivations, actions.

[Angela Britnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This powerful story is far more than a romance because it tells the story of a family on the edge of being torn apart because of many dark issues in their various pasts and present. The inability to communicate is at the core of their troubles and the author explores difficult subjects such as self-harm, abuse and loss with great sensitivity. The setting in Dorset is very much a part of the story and the author’s appreciation for the area shines through.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Carol Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

In What Doesn't Kill You Laura E James tackles some hard-hitting issues and handles them in a thought-provoking, sensitive manner. The storylines, while sometimes dark, are not delivered in a sensationalised way; instead, each of the characters reveal aspects of their past and present through their own voice. This style makes for a very personal take on the action; as the reader, I felt the characters had confided in me. I felt their pain as they confronted the issues of the past and I was willing them to achieve the future they wanted and deserved. It made for a compelling read.

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 4 out of 5]

This emotional book touches many sad and relevant problems like assisted suicide, self-harm, abusive marriage, betrayal, revenge and guilt. Some of the character (Griff and Tess) are very lifelike but others act in a way that just didn't seem believable.

The key for solving their problems is, just as in real life, honest communication.

I really liked the book, but I think the last too chapters were not only not needed but were much too cozy for this kind of book.

[Janet Panter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked reading this but I didn't really feel anything for any of the characters.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. Dale with some emotive issues. Was a bit rambley in parts and I got bored.

[Charlene Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, addresses so many issues in a compassionate way

[Kathy Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally managed to get my hands on a paperback copy of Laura James' third book in the Chesil Beach series, from one of Laura's book signing events! I have read the 2nd book, Follow Me Follow You, so it was lovely to meet up with some familiar characters and of course recognise a few of the Dorset scenes around Weymouth and Portland, although these books are all distinctly stand alone and do not need to be read in any particular order.
Lots of 'challenging' themes in this book, and at times I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the enormity of what the characters were dealing with, but Laura manages to convey a sense of calm through all of the drama. By the end of the story all of the characters still have a lot of emotions to work through, so there is no convenient Happy Ending, but even though I cried near the end (gosh I am going to have to work this out of my system before I talk about it at Book Club later this week!) I was satisfied that everyone is now on the right road to recovery.
I really like the way Laura presents the chapters; each is from one of four different character's perspective, and is a clever way of hiding and revealing the intrigue which runs through the plot. Swapping between third and first person, depending on the character, is also a very clever way of keeping their voices distinct from each other.
I think I need to read the 1st book in the series now!

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book and can see why Choc Lit have branched out and released this under Dark Choc Lit as it is a bit more hard-hitting than their other offerings.
We meet Griff. A little bit damaged from his past and with a present that is somewhat precarious. His wife Evie is looking after Griff's father, Logan, as he is slowly getting older and more infirm and they share a secret. Griff is estranged from Logan which causes Evie to split up from Griff as she can not bear to be near him as she keeps Logan's secret from him. Griff's step-daughter Tess is also troubled and has secrets of her own. And then there's a blast from Griff's past who swoops in and upsets the applecart. But you know what, it's an evil wind that can blow some good as the repercussions of this person's actions forces the rest of our cast to face up to some things and open up to others.
Reading that back, it sounds a bit soap-opera-convoluted. It isn't really, apart from the whole cast of characters having secrets and lies and exhibiting duplicitous behaviour that is. Here we have what feels like real people going through real life and all it throws at them.
As already mentioned, this book is not light. It covers some quite important and indeed all too commonplace subjects on both a physical and emotional level. It does this very well too. Either the author has drawn from her own experience of some of the topics or she has talked to those who have their own personal experiences as all the situations, actions and reactions all came across to be very genuine and felt very real. As well as that, they were all handled with sensitive care. Considering that there are quite a few heavy topics dealt out between only a small cast, things could get too much and start to feel like everything was all over the top, but the author gets the balance perfect here. Yes, parts are sometimes quite hard to read but then they are followed by some more uplifting moments that keep the reader going throughout. My one criticism if I'm honest, would have to be the ending. For me, it was a little too much. A tad on the sweet and neat side. But that's probably just me living in the real world and forgetting for a moment that this is fiction. I can forgive the author and move on so all's good there!
As well as cracking characters with proper problems, we also have great writing. Pacing, balance, descriptive bits were all spot on for me. Basically, it ticked every box on my list of things I need for a good read.

All in all, a thoroughly satisfying read that got me thinking about all sorts in my own life as I was reading it. This is my first book by this author but, on the strength of what I have just read, it will definitely not be my last.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, emotional, and hard-hitting they said - not your typical romance story. And they really did mean it - I felt like I'd been through a wringer when I finished What Doesn't Kill You (published by Choc Lit on 26th November for kindle), but I have to say it was really, really excellent.

When you see "Choc Lit" you might expect romance, always a good story, great writing, and a delicious hero. The hero of this one is Griff - separated from his wife Evie for reasons he doesn't understand, loving and caring, dedicated to helping people, damaged by the death of a childhood friend. He's also estranged from his father Logan - cared for by Evie - for reasons we don't understand at first, but that soon become clear. And this is a story that really has a bit of everything - death, suicide, secrets, guilt, abusive relationships, the value of life and so much more. Heavy, you think? Maybe just a little, but so wonderfully handled - some parts aren't easy to read, but the whole story is ultimately uplifting, with hope and love present throughout.

Griff and Evie are such well drawn and likeable characters - you ache for them to talk properly, to resolve their problems, to get back together - and teenager daughter Tess is simply wonderful, with all the emotional baggage she carries. The fact that the story is told by switching from viewpoint to viewpoint is a masterstroke - you slowly get to understand everyone's issues, and where the obstacles to their happiness lie. The book really does give you a full emotional work-out. One of the key scenes mid-book had me in tears and setting the book aside - but I soon picked it up again, because I'd invested so much in the characters that I really wanted to know how everything worked out for them all.

This was excellent writing - I always knew Laura's writing was a little darker than many of her fellow Choc Lit writers, but this was way darker than I ever expected. Laura handles extreme emotion as well as any author I know, and I suspect the strength of her writing might surprise people - the dialogue is incredibly real, the relationships wonderfully described in all their complexity, the pain of her characters something you feel. These are real people sharing very real problems, and the book has an immense emotional impact - it may surprise many Choc Lit readers, but I'd urge people to try it. I absolutely loved it.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Doesn't Kill You is the first book to have been published under Choc Lit's new imprint Dark Choc Lit, for books that are darker and more hard hitting than their usual titles. I knew the idea appealed to me, but it wasn't until I started reading, that I started to truly understand what was meant by darker.

For What Doesn't Kill You includes a lot of tough to talk about, and read about topics within its story. With topics including assisted suicide, self harm, abusive relationships, questions about sexuality you may be forgiven for thinking its not going to be a good story, or enjoyable.

However everything connects in such a way, and with the way the story is told, through the eyes of Tess, Griff and Evie, all with incredibly different views on life, it is a compelling book, that draws you in, so that you want to know all about the characters and the issues they are dealing with.

I don't feel that I can explain the story and do it justice, as its so good, with many different facets to it, I'm not sure I can show it off to the best of its abilities. What I will say is there is a broken romance at the heart of it, between Griff and Evie, for Evie has been pushing Griff away, due to a secret that she is harbouring. Tess is Griff's step daughter, and its clear she has had an awful past, and struggles to express herself some of the time. Dylan is Evie and Griff's son, who is a cute toddler, and they all love their dog Ozzy. Logan is Griff's father, who is disabled, and Evie is Logan's main carer, and its running her ragged.

Logan was one of my favourite characters, and I could only feel great compassion for him, and although at lot of his feelings could be regarded as controversial, as he tries to make various people understand his point of view, I couldn't help but agree with him... there are definitely worse things than death.

This was the first book that I had read by Laura E James, and was incredibly impressed by the writing. Not only was the storytelling very good, but the compassionate way she deals with these hard subjects is thought provoking.

What Doesn't Kill You is a fabulous book, and one I am delighted that I had the opportunity to experience.

Thank you to Choc Lit and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Be prepared. What Doesn’t Kill You is a vibrant, emotional and intriguing darker romance. This is a family in turmoil, people that loved each other, yet harbor secrets that they cannot or will not share.

Griff loves his wife Evie and his step-daughter Tess. To learn that Evie wants a separation has turned his world upside down. With no idea of what is wrong, he has no way of fixing it – and if anything, Griff is a fixer in life.

Told in multiple points of view, we are given the story and the secrets from Griff, Evie and Tess in alternating chapters. There are some serious things going on for this family – and sensitive issues that will come to light.

Because of the secrets that are being held back from the other characters, I truly feel that I must be vague in this review in order not to spoil a touching, compelling and emotional story for anyone who picks up What Doesn’t Kill You. It is a story that will touch you on many levels. And will perhaps make you pause and wonder how you would react to similar situations in your own life. I don’t know that there ever is a “right” way, perhaps more our own way would be more realistic.

This is certainly not the lighthearted love stories that we readers see coming out of Choc Lit Publishing. And there is a reason and a need for the Dark Choc Lit line to be in existence. Some love stories are darker because of their underlying content or the way the characters are feeling and dealing with their situation. I wish life could alway have the answers we need but often we are left with the questions and the answers we get – it’s not the same thing.

I enjoyed What Doesn’t Kill You very much. It is compelling and will make you think. And since life often throws us a curveball, that’s not a bad thing to have to do some deep thinking now and then.

*I received an e-ARC of What Doesn’t Kill You from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

[Sheryl Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Choc Lit. What a wonderfully enticing name for Choc Lit’s new imprint, and the first book in that imprint by Laura E James delivers exactly what I wanted it to, a story with romance at the core, but with complex, hard-hitting threads, running right through it. The author has bravely tackled subjects such as abuse and the devastating impact of living in a dysfunctional, controlling relationship can have, not just on the victim of the abuse, but on the children, which leads us to what might be called ‘teenage’ issues around identity and image. That said, the story is written with huge sensitivity, teenager Tess telling her story in first person. Her pain is palpable, as is her natural instinct to protect her mother, Evie, recently remarried to Griff. The romance aspect is strong. I immediately fell in love with Griff, a good, caring man, whose mission in life is to save people. Griff has suffered loss. He’s also carrying guilt over the death of a friend and Evie knows he could never condone someone wanting to end their own life. Thus the reason for their estrangement. As the story opens, Griff is living apart from the woman he loves, a woman he feels still loves him, and he has no idea why they're separated. Evie cares for his estranged and ill father, and she’s carrying a secret, a heavy burden she knows Griff simply won’t be able to deal with. The beauty of this book is that you are invested in the characters from outset, absolutely, including man’s best friend (no spoilers but there’s an emotional scene around Griff’s dog where you can feel Griff’s heart breaking). You really, really, want it to work out between Griff and Evie, at times you want to shout, ‘tell him!’, but you question with the moral dilemma whether it can. ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’, set in coastal Dorset where you can almost taste the salt from the sea spray, does deal with dark issues, but it’s real. It’s also uplifting because of those very issues. It’s a story of hope. A story of emotional growth. It’s compelling and beautifully written. I loved it.

[Sorcha O'Dowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a spine-tingling novel Laura E. James has delivered with ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’. Part of Choc Lit’s Dark imprint, James’ latest novel is a hard hitting story of love, family and betrayal in its many forms.

We follow this story from various characters points-of-view, all of whom we grow to love and cherish as the novel goes on. Griff, the hero of our story, is in the middle of watching his marriage crumble, yet unable to fix it. I loved seeing his perspective on his relationship with Evie, and his hopelessness in understanding why his wife is so distant. Evie has her own problems, not helped by her estrangement with Griff which she has the added guilt of having pushed him away. The dilemma she faces in trying to help Griff’s ailing father who wants her to aid him in his attempt to euthanise himself, and keeping her own family safe all wells up within her, andnd Laura James does a fantastic job at adding the pressure to Evie’s perspective and making the reader feel Evie’s stress that is constantly growing.

The perspective that I grew to love the most was of Evie’s teenage daughter Tess. Seeing the conflicting thoughts of this girl who has had a traumatic past, an uncertain future, and demons that she can’t share, was so heartbreaking that watching her develop and grow throughout the novel was something to treasure. As outside forces try to pull the only family that Tess has ever known apart, she is the one who shows the most strength and is the glue that fits the broken family together.

This story is a heartbreaking one. There are demons of the past that won’t let go, promises for the future that can’t be trusted, but most of all, a love so strong that giving up is not an option.

5 Stars!

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this via NetGalley and Dark Choc Lit in return for a fair and honest review.

I was lucky enough to have read this at the manuscript stage, as a member of the Choc-Lit reading panel, so was thrilled to see this made it through to release. A much darker offering than a normal Choc Lit book but still with the same attention to detail with the characters and difficult storyline

This is an intense, emotional family drama set in Dorset that can't help but to get you involved quickly in each characters' struggle as they deal with some really heavy topics while trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel and enjoy some happiness in their troubled lives.

Each chapter is from the viewpoint of a different character so this really helped me as a reader get under the skin of each person and understand their journey.. And as normal subjects are discussed it makes the story more real and easier to put yourself in their situation

The main characters, Evie and Griff, are both likeable and you share their pain as their marriage crumbles while they try to deal with obstacles that life throws up. And you also get to see the perspective of Evie's teenage daughter who is dealing with her own demons from the previous abusive relationship that her mother was in with her father, and how she wonders if her mum will ever get the happy ending as she's sees another relationship end

Really sensitively deals with heavy topics such as euthenasia, self harm , grief and abusive relationships and shows that people are a lot stronger than they think they are and love can conquer all

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Laura .. it's classified as 'dark choc lit' so I was hopeful it would be a romance with some substance behind it. I wasn't disappointed. This isn't a cutesy boy loves girl story it actually deals with issues that happen in the real world.

Written from the perspectives of mainly Griff, wife Evie & her teenage daughter Tess. They have all had trauma in their past & now that they have been bought together as a family unit the fall-out of secret keeping threatens to pull them apart & rocks the very core of the marriage.

Evie cares for Griff's dad Logan, Tess spends a lot of time consequently looking after her baby brother Dylan to take the pressure off of mum. Ozzy is the much loved dog whose storyline has a considerable impact .. it's nicely written, some segments with great compassion. We really get an insight into these people's lives .. many subjects covered, grief, sexuality, self-harm, assisted dying, betrayal, domestic abuse the list goes on & you could be forgiven for thinking it is totally depressing but it isn't, there is love & laughter too & shows there can be a positive outcome to some dire circumstances.

I liked most of the characters to a varying degree but I wasn't keen on Imogen .. the sister of Griff's best friend .. she was probably the star of the book for me because she was so well written & as her involvement develops it does become difficult to put the book down!

Very enjoyable .. thanks to the author, publisher & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Belva W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura E James is a new author to me, as this is the first of her books that I have read. I really like her writing style and enjoyed this book alot. I did have to take a few breaks from this one, however, just because it is heavy in spots and deals with some difficult subject matter. For that reason, this is one that I might not recommend to everyone, but I think many might find it comforting. I will be checking out more from this author. My thanks to the publisher for providing a galley of this book via NetGalley.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense emotional roller coaster of a story that has love, loss, caring, secrets, sharing, intrigue, abuse and a whole lot more.

Griff is a man who is driven by his need to save others. His wife, Evie, is going through a rough patch while caring for Logan, Griff’s father. She is keeping a secret that has driven a wedge in the marriage and then led to a separation. Tess, Evie’s daughter and Griff’s stepdaughter, has her own set of troubles and issues to deal with and is keeping secrets, too. With a toddler, big sheepdog and all of the secrets add in a childhood friend of Griff’s who appears from nowhere and the plot thickens. The complexities of this story are well plotted and presented. Having the story told by Griff, Evie and Tess allows insights that might not otherwise have the same impact.

I came away with the feeling that family is important, love is to be cherished, secrets can be very harmful and communication is essential to healthy relationships. I believe this is a book that has more than one message and is definitely worth reading. It is not a light carefree story but one with depth and discernment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Choc Lit for the copy of this book to read and review.

[Charlotte Mcfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Doesn’t Kill You is the third book in the Chesil Beach series and that did initially concern me that I hadn’t read the first two. But don’t let that put you off there is absolutely no need to read the others to enjoy this novel.

All the characters were 3 dimensional our hero Griff and his wife Evie have already separated before our story begins. Some of the subjects which are tackled such as domestic abuse and self harm will be particular hard hitting to people who have been in similar situations.

Other hard to deal with subjects are dealt with too but there is light and laughter to contrast the dark and powerful.

Griff’s ex decides to show up and cause all sorts of problems to add to the myriad of one already happening in the book. Griff doesn’t understand why Evie is doing so much to help his father Logan .

I don’t want to give spoilers away or other clues but Laura E James tackles everything in the book with a sensitivity that I did appreciate having faced some of the dark themes mentioned in the book myself. If you have never read any of Laura’s previous novels I would give this one a try. It is slow to get going in comparison to some I have read but believe me when I say you will not regret sticking with the story.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What doesn't kill you is a novel about a family, each with their own wounds from the past, and how the scars from those affect their present lives. The main character Griff is a coastguard, on the Dorset coast, and because of an event in his past he spends his days trying to save others, but now the time has come to try and save his family. The author tackles some big subjects in this book and it is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, although some of the issues covered are quite dark, such as assisted suicide and self harm the book does focus on recovery and finishes on an uplifting note.

Many thanks to Laura James for my copy of this book, I really enjoyed it

[Sally Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since the death of his friend as a teenager Griff has been driven to save lives and works with the sea rescue putting his own life in danger for others believing life to be sacrosanct regardless of circumstances.

His wife Evie has her own problems and it comes totally out of the blue for Griff when she tells him that she wants a separation, what is the secret that she is keeping from him and has it something to do with Griff's father that she is a carer for. Griff fell out with his father and struggles with seeing him although Evie is always trying to get them to make up before it is too late.

Tess is Evie's daughter and she is also struggling with secrets - the death of her father and the bullying at school is not making her life happy

The story is told in alternating chapters from Griff, Evie and Tess and so the reader gets a full picture from each persons outlook and as the secrets start to come out you feel for all of the characters involved and hope that they can work it all out. A good read - not lighthearted and quite dark in places but definitely compelling. Thanks to Netgalley for ARC

[Joanna Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Choc Lit novels before, but nothing like this one. It's a wonderful new departure - dark, deep and incredibly emotional.

Griff thought he had a good marriage with Evie but now she is pushing him away and he doesn't know why. Evie, who is Griff's father's carer is in a difficult situation. Arthritic and in constant pain, Logan has asked for help with something that goes against everything she believes in. The only way she can cope with this dilemma is by distancing herself from Griff. Tess, Evie's daughter from her first marriage is still affected by the abuse she saw her mother go through. At fifteen and wary of men she's still not sure about Griff and at the same time is struggling with her own sexuality. And even Griff has his own torments - haunted by the death of a friend and still at odds with his father for not doing enough to prolong his mother's life when she was diagnosed with cancer. This is a complex story written very skilfully from three viewpoints which allows you to be intimately connected to the challenges faced by Griff, Evie and Tess. Couldn't put it down...

[Ann Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always a red letter day when a new Choc Lit novel appears and this is no exception.

It took me a little while to get into it - I wasn't sure what the main theme was going to be, but after a while, I was hooked! Laura's characters are very real - a long way from perfect and I identified in some way with all of them!

Evie and her daughter have come out of an abusive relationship and Evie has found happiness with Griff. But when the book starts, they are living apart and Griff has no idea why.

The book is really like an inter-locking jigsaw puzzle - as you uncover each piece, the whole picture becomes clearer. But it's not until it is finished that you can actually see it clearly.

There are several thought-provoking themes within the book and Laura handles these well. I'll not mention them all here, it would be too much of a giveaway. But suffice to say any one theme could be the basis for a book!

Really enjoyed it - thank you Netgalley and Choc Lit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Doesn’t Kill You has been written in such a way that it is uplifting whilst dealing with difficult and dark issues. It certainly isn’t an easy read at times but as a mother, a wife and a daughter, it made me wonder how I would react in Evie’s shoes. The author deals with the issues in an empathetic and realistic manner, reinforcing the importance of communication and understanding within the family unit.

Tess, the teenage daughter, was a story within a story and her troubled past which impacted on her present was handled with sensitivity. I felt a lot of compassion for this troubled, yet caring teen.

Although there are tough issues in this novel, Laura James keeps a tight rein on it all. It is a very powerful story which brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Darker than the author’s previous novels but nevertheless positive and life affirming. What doesn’t kill you, in this case, certainly does make you stronger.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What doesn’t kill you is a story about a family in crisis told from the viewpoints of Griff (the husband) Evie (the wife) and Tess (their step-daughter/daughter). Each have a past that haunts them and issues in their present that they find difficult to face. If only they were able to communicate their fears and feelings they might just discover that what they really need can be found in each other.

I loved Griff. I felt he was very realistically portrayed. A hero in every sense of the word who is floored when he discovers his happy marriage is not what he thought it was. He is left feeling confused and struggling to know what to do for the best. I wanted to wrap my arms around the guy and take him home with me. When an author can evoke those sort of emotions you know they have touched something inside you. A romance with a hard hitting, realistic, gritty edge of a family you will learn to care for.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Dark Choc Lit in return for an honest review.

I didn’t initially realise that this was the third book in a series, but that really doesn’t matter as it works as a stand-alone book. Classed as ‘Dark Choc Lit’ this was an intense, emotional read that dealt with both moral and personal issues told from three different perspectives, and the drastic effect that these plus individual secrets can have on a family. The author shows understanding and sensitivity towards the rather hard-hitting and difficult to talk about subjects, but this is also countered by some light-hearted moments that really made me smile. A little slow to get going but as the story unfolds from each of the character’s perspectives, you can’t help but become involved and hope that as a family they manage to overcome their demons and come back stronger than before. A very enjoyable read.