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When Love Sticks Around
Hand-me-down pants that don’t quite fit, twilight bike rides down sleepy neighborhood streets, sweaty family camping trips, the things that almost break you, and the things you barely notice—it’s hard to see the shape of your life until you’re looking back on it.
In this collection of short essays, Danielle Dayney recounts her experiences as an awkward child in the piecemeal family that raised her. From her biological father’s absence to her mother’s battle with cancer to the birth of her daughter, Dayney’s stories venture beyond anecdote to nest safely among the tangled experiences that shape the people we become. With a keen eye for the pebbles of humor and glimmers of beauty along the rough roads of her life, Dayney has crafted a book that feels as familiar as a home-cooked meal and as exciting as the first night in a new city.
When Love Sticks Around is a memoir of love, loss, humor, identity, and above all, family—the one you’re born into and the one you gather along the way.
Those are the things worth sticking around for.
In this collection of short essays, Danielle Dayney recounts her experiences as an awkward child in the piecemeal family that raised her. From her biological father’s absence to her mother’s battle with cancer to the birth of her daughter, Dayney’s stories venture beyond anecdote to nest safely among the tangled experiences that shape the people we become. With a keen eye for the pebbles of humor and glimmers of beauty along the rough roads of her life, Dayney has crafted a book that feels as familiar as a home-cooked meal and as exciting as the first night in a new city.
When Love Sticks Around is a memoir of love, loss, humor, identity, and above all, family—the one you’re born into and the one you gather along the way.
Those are the things worth sticking around for.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2021
About the author
Danielle Dayney
2 books19 followersBorn and raised in Ohio, Danielle Dayney got her start writing rock concert reviews for a Toledo-based music magazine, THE GLASS EYE. Today, her work has appeared in the FREDERICKSBURG LITERARY AND ART REVIEW, online at HUFFINGTON POST, DEAD HOUSEKEEPING and THE MINDFUL WORD, and in several anthologies.Her first book, WHEN LOVE STICKS AROUND, is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 2, 2021
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by The Book Scenes Tours.
When Live Sticks Around is a beautifully written memoir bravely written about the authors life experiences and how she has dealt with them and accepted not only her life but herself too.
This was such a brave book to write - we learn about the authors childhood, relationship with her fathers, jobs, secrets, struggles, memories, times of poverty, bills that were unpaid and much much more.
My heart ached for Danielle as she grew up - she felt an outsider in her family and unloved by her step-father.
This book is emotionally engaging to read and really tugs at your heartstrings (be warned!).
When Live Sticks Around is a beautifully written memoir bravely written about the authors life experiences and how she has dealt with them and accepted not only her life but herself too.
This was such a brave book to write - we learn about the authors childhood, relationship with her fathers, jobs, secrets, struggles, memories, times of poverty, bills that were unpaid and much much more.
My heart ached for Danielle as she grew up - she felt an outsider in her family and unloved by her step-father.
This book is emotionally engaging to read and really tugs at your heartstrings (be warned!).
January 22, 2022
Memoir is my favourite non-fiction genre and I was really excited to read this book. It is written in the form of essays rather than as a single story where the author talks about her past experiences, especially about her family. It has both the happy and the unhappy parts of her life, things that are otherwise difficult to share, and how these have helped her in becoming who she is. At certain points, it became very tough for me to continue reading due to a waterfall of tears that I closed the book for days before picking it up again. It's emotional and relatable, and will remind you of how bittersweet life is for everyone. Don't forget to keep the tissues handy.
October 3, 2021
When love sticks around by Danielle Dayney is a memoir which contains the author's reminiscence of her past in the form of essays. She shares with us some tough times of her life like family problems, injuries, childhood memories, bad jobs, losing loved ones & so on.
🦋I've always thought writing kinda makes one vulnerable & I'm always amazed at how authors bear that. This book showed how brave the author was to accept herself and her life. Starting from her early life she tells us so many things; her relationship with her dads, poor living situation, unpaid bills, canned food, creaking wooden doors, low paid jobs. There are so many emotions in it.
🦋This book gives you insight on the life of a child feeling a stranger amidst her own family, on how hard it is for the child of a divorced couple to work her way through life. At so many points she felt she was never accepted or loved by her step father. But the best part is that the name of the book is the title of an essay based on her step father! I found it sweeet!!
🦋The book is really engaging. The author shares her secrets, her memories, her struggles, her life, a huge part of herself with the reader. She shares so much of her life with you that by the end you feel like you know her for a pretty long time.
🦋This whole book is covered in a shroud of melancholy. It envelops you in its bitter sweet being. It is kinda sad but somehow soothing.
🦋It wasn't dramatic or exaggerated. It felt really real. I loved how the author accepts herself & her situations. She didn't sugar coat anything. The reader feels her loss. It was overall a beautiful experience.
🦋I've always thought writing kinda makes one vulnerable & I'm always amazed at how authors bear that. This book showed how brave the author was to accept herself and her life. Starting from her early life she tells us so many things; her relationship with her dads, poor living situation, unpaid bills, canned food, creaking wooden doors, low paid jobs. There are so many emotions in it.
🦋This book gives you insight on the life of a child feeling a stranger amidst her own family, on how hard it is for the child of a divorced couple to work her way through life. At so many points she felt she was never accepted or loved by her step father. But the best part is that the name of the book is the title of an essay based on her step father! I found it sweeet!!
🦋The book is really engaging. The author shares her secrets, her memories, her struggles, her life, a huge part of herself with the reader. She shares so much of her life with you that by the end you feel like you know her for a pretty long time.
🦋This whole book is covered in a shroud of melancholy. It envelops you in its bitter sweet being. It is kinda sad but somehow soothing.
🦋It wasn't dramatic or exaggerated. It felt really real. I loved how the author accepts herself & her situations. She didn't sugar coat anything. The reader feels her loss. It was overall a beautiful experience.
June 3, 2022
"....... it's hard to see the shape of your life until you're looking back on it."
Memoirs are always very tricky to review. You will always entangle in the dilemma, thinking, have you done justice to the author's life story!? But I will give it a shot.
When I first read the blurb, I knew I was up for some emotional rollercoaster. Man, I was correct!
Each chapter struck me at a different level. The book possesses every essence of life. Joy, laughter, despair, gut-wrenching pain, revelation, and growing up amidst everything!
With great care, Danielle unravels her story from childhood to the day she lost her mom. Exquisite words made the episodes of her biological father, Don, her mom, step-dad Jim, her sister, Brittany, her husband Justin, and most importantly, her grandparents even more magical. The story of her grandmom has my heart. I relish every part of it.
The magnificence of the book is that your thoughts can associate with it. Like, that episode on bullying - so heartwrenching as well as relatable.
"Girls don't bully with fists as much as boys, but it can be worse. They steal your things, make up rumors, call you names, and play tricks on you."
Amidst sorrow, there are touches of sparks of happiness. As I was flipping through the books, I visualized the mischievous Danielle and giggled silently. When I reached the end of that chapter, with seashell, I was like, "Awww, that's so sweet."
The memoir is an honest portrayal of a woman's life who has gone through a lot in her life - right from her very childhood days. The suffering didn't end, it just kept on coming in waves, but still, you can witness so much hope. And I feel that makes it an amazing read!
Thanks, @thebookscenestours, for providing me a review copy of this book.
Memoirs are always very tricky to review. You will always entangle in the dilemma, thinking, have you done justice to the author's life story!? But I will give it a shot.
When I first read the blurb, I knew I was up for some emotional rollercoaster. Man, I was correct!
Each chapter struck me at a different level. The book possesses every essence of life. Joy, laughter, despair, gut-wrenching pain, revelation, and growing up amidst everything!
With great care, Danielle unravels her story from childhood to the day she lost her mom. Exquisite words made the episodes of her biological father, Don, her mom, step-dad Jim, her sister, Brittany, her husband Justin, and most importantly, her grandparents even more magical. The story of her grandmom has my heart. I relish every part of it.
The magnificence of the book is that your thoughts can associate with it. Like, that episode on bullying - so heartwrenching as well as relatable.
"Girls don't bully with fists as much as boys, but it can be worse. They steal your things, make up rumors, call you names, and play tricks on you."
Amidst sorrow, there are touches of sparks of happiness. As I was flipping through the books, I visualized the mischievous Danielle and giggled silently. When I reached the end of that chapter, with seashell, I was like, "Awww, that's so sweet."
The memoir is an honest portrayal of a woman's life who has gone through a lot in her life - right from her very childhood days. The suffering didn't end, it just kept on coming in waves, but still, you can witness so much hope. And I feel that makes it an amazing read!
Thanks, @thebookscenestours, for providing me a review copy of this book.
September 15, 2021
"...it's hard to see the shape of your life until you're looking back on it."
When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney is a beautiful memoir that is an ode to her past life and her beautiful family. This book is in the form of essays that will not only tell you about the author's life and her experiences but will also make you relieve your own past because her writing is very relatable.
I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book because When Love Sticks Around is one of those books that feel less like a story (stories in this case) and more like an experience that is whole in itself. The author's nostalgic reminiscence of her life, which was so filled with love and sometimes heartbreak, made me deeply connect to her on a level that is hard to explain. And these kinds of feelings can only be evoked in a reader when the book is written from the heart and with a lot of love - not to mention with exceptional writing skills.
I would like to congratulate the author on penning down such an emotional journey in such an elegant and relatable way. I would definitely recommend this beautiful memoir to every reader as I am sure this book will speak to each and every one of its readers on some level or another. This is not a book to be missed.
Read the original review on thereadingbud.com
When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney is a beautiful memoir that is an ode to her past life and her beautiful family. This book is in the form of essays that will not only tell you about the author's life and her experiences but will also make you relieve your own past because her writing is very relatable.
I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book because When Love Sticks Around is one of those books that feel less like a story (stories in this case) and more like an experience that is whole in itself. The author's nostalgic reminiscence of her life, which was so filled with love and sometimes heartbreak, made me deeply connect to her on a level that is hard to explain. And these kinds of feelings can only be evoked in a reader when the book is written from the heart and with a lot of love - not to mention with exceptional writing skills.
I would like to congratulate the author on penning down such an emotional journey in such an elegant and relatable way. I would definitely recommend this beautiful memoir to every reader as I am sure this book will speak to each and every one of its readers on some level or another. This is not a book to be missed.
Read the original review on thereadingbud.com
November 15, 2021
When Love Sticks Around follows Dayney from childhood to motherhood as she deals with everything from money troubles to daddy issues with a candid and accepting tone. She has a clear cut way of setting her scenes, establishing her characters, and keeping the reader engaged without overexplaining, relying on melodrama, or spelling out a moral or life lesson. They are stories that draw from her personal "best of" collection that also stick to her theme exploring family and relationships. This book is on par with the bestselling memoirs you'll find on the shelves of any bookstore. You can read my full review here: https://laurasbooksandblogs.com/when-...
December 30, 2021
Memories.
Beautiful, nostalgic and earthy memories have their ways to resurface, taking you far far away from where you have been standing for so long.
Reading Danielle Dayney's When Love Stick Arounds reminded me of how memories from the nooks and cranies of your hidden corners inside can come out randomly with their bittersweet taste.
Memories of laughter bringing in tears and memories of tears bringing in sad smiles.
Danielle Dayney's collection of short essays are not just a work of non-fiction, they are her sweet memories of growing up being so close to her mother, bitter memories of an absent dad, nostalgic memories of her adolescence, warm memories of her grandmother and grandfather and memories of alienation from her step dad. She writes about her family and its roots.
She writes her heart out in this book as she's comes to terms with the grief of losing her mother from Cancer, thus writing her way to cathersis.
All along the journey, my heart filled up with emotions of a child growing up to be an adult and her way of life. I especially felt bittersweet when she recalls how her grandma used to make Pig in blankets for her while they both enjoyed their little chitachats in the kitchen. After she loses her mother, she recalls how her mother has been an important figure in her life and the imprints she left behind which made me look at my mother and it made understand why Danielle felt her heart break to let her mother go because any child can never do it , to think and imagine to lose their mothers is dreadful indeed.
Her pain releases and her grief is understood through her writings.Her essays transcends from just being words on pages to something human, reverbrating with life.
Danielle Dayney has done a phenomenal job in writing her world on to the paper and my heart is glad that I have read it. Much love to Danielle Dayney.
Beautiful, nostalgic and earthy memories have their ways to resurface, taking you far far away from where you have been standing for so long.
Reading Danielle Dayney's When Love Stick Arounds reminded me of how memories from the nooks and cranies of your hidden corners inside can come out randomly with their bittersweet taste.
Memories of laughter bringing in tears and memories of tears bringing in sad smiles.
Danielle Dayney's collection of short essays are not just a work of non-fiction, they are her sweet memories of growing up being so close to her mother, bitter memories of an absent dad, nostalgic memories of her adolescence, warm memories of her grandmother and grandfather and memories of alienation from her step dad. She writes about her family and its roots.
She writes her heart out in this book as she's comes to terms with the grief of losing her mother from Cancer, thus writing her way to cathersis.
All along the journey, my heart filled up with emotions of a child growing up to be an adult and her way of life. I especially felt bittersweet when she recalls how her grandma used to make Pig in blankets for her while they both enjoyed their little chitachats in the kitchen. After she loses her mother, she recalls how her mother has been an important figure in her life and the imprints she left behind which made me look at my mother and it made understand why Danielle felt her heart break to let her mother go because any child can never do it , to think and imagine to lose their mothers is dreadful indeed.
Her pain releases and her grief is understood through her writings.Her essays transcends from just being words on pages to something human, reverbrating with life.
Danielle Dayney has done a phenomenal job in writing her world on to the paper and my heart is glad that I have read it. Much love to Danielle Dayney.
January 11, 2022
The stories touched me in a way I didn't always know was there, and they spoke to a part of me that I had hidden. Personal essays are the focus of this book. It gives us an insight into Dayney's formative years: random encounters with her father, disconnected moments with her stepfather, and the reality of a childhood spent loved but in poverty. The style of her writing is spare but uncompromising, without wallowing in sentimentality and without pulling punches in either sense. Women like her aren't apologizing for who they are or where they come from. Even with her different upbringing, she writes in a way that allows me to see what we have in common. Creating this world allowed me to relate to it on a very deep level. The character felt very real to me. It was as if she were a friend of mine. Her happiness was my rooting interest - to make sure that she had a happy life, to love her, and to live her dreams. Ultimately, I really enjoyed reading this book - I set it down often to let a particular essay float in my head and let it soak up my feelings. Throughout my life, I will read this book countless times.
March 26, 2023
I found this memoir to be well-written and it held my attention from start to finish. As someone who lives in the UK, it was very interesting to read a slice of life in USA. The memoir records the author's appreciation of the love that underpinned her family's story - despite all the difficulties encountered throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood. What's interesting is the contrast between Danielle's real father (who doesn't stick around) and her stepfather (who does). it was a nice tribute to her stepfather.
There is a lot of detail in the book including references to brand names of American foods etc, but I found this gave the book authenticity, and as a Brit found it interesting to read how these details touch all of our lives - no matter where we live - and evoke powerful memories. I also learnt a new word - a "wedgie" - had to google that as there's no word for that in the UK! An amusing moment.
This was an uplifting read, despite the sadness therein, and one which makes the reader reflect on their own family blessings.
There is a lot of detail in the book including references to brand names of American foods etc, but I found this gave the book authenticity, and as a Brit found it interesting to read how these details touch all of our lives - no matter where we live - and evoke powerful memories. I also learnt a new word - a "wedgie" - had to google that as there's no word for that in the UK! An amusing moment.
This was an uplifting read, despite the sadness therein, and one which makes the reader reflect on their own family blessings.
January 5, 2022
It is a memoir and revolves around the life of a girl. It's a very easy read. It's definitely a great read if you want to come out of a reading slump. It seemed like that kinda book to me. But it also talks about the reality (since it's a memoir). When I said it's an easy read I mean you'll relate to some parts to your own life. The book talks about her childhood, teenage, partying, part time jobs, marrying her love, partying some more, starting a family, the realities of work life and then her mother's battle with cancer. But I did love her relationship with her step father, even though they didn't talk much. My favourite part would be the bike ride they went on together to just sit around looking at the sky.
Overall it was a good read.
Overall it was a good read.
September 20, 2021
When Love Sticks Around is an instantly engaging memoir that deals with the highs and lows of coming-of-age and the realities and complexities of adulthood.
Dayney moves seamlessly through her life from birth, right up to the first moment of motherhood, before losing her own to cancer. Her vignettes of life’s journeys instantly transport readers into a world unique to her. It’s the complexities of the relationships within the pages of her debut novel that are both delightful and also heart-breaking.
From the very first page, she has written a book that is absolutely worth sticking around for.
Dayney moves seamlessly through her life from birth, right up to the first moment of motherhood, before losing her own to cancer. Her vignettes of life’s journeys instantly transport readers into a world unique to her. It’s the complexities of the relationships within the pages of her debut novel that are both delightful and also heart-breaking.
From the very first page, she has written a book that is absolutely worth sticking around for.
November 26, 2021
I’m not normally one to read books of short stories, but it was so great to relive my childhood and angsty teen years growing up in Toledo ❤️
September 13, 2021
It's been a while since I've cried while reading a book. I used to all the time, closing the book and wiping my eyes while staring at a distant wall while the story settled into my soul. Those were great stories, unexpected and tapping into a part of me that I didn't always know was there.
When Love Sticks Around made me cry.
This is a book of personal essays. Through it, we get a glimpse into formative moments in Dayney's life: random appearances from her father, disconnected moments with her stepfather, the reality of a childhood spent loved and in poverty. She writes in a spare yet uncompromising style that doesn't wallow in sentimentality, and also doesn't pull punches. This is a woman who knows who she is and where she comes from and isn't apologizing for it.
And yet, she's the best kind of writer, crafting stories that allowed me, with my different upbringing, to focus on what made us the same. In doing so, she created a world that I could connect with at a very real level. I felt like I knew her. I felt like she was my friend. And I rooted for her - rooted for her to live her life and to love and to be happy.
In the end, I cried because I felt her love and I felt her joy and I felt her loss. This is an incredible book - and I say that as someone who doesn't often go in for memoir. But I truly loved every bit of it, and would often set it down because I needed to let a particular essay swim around in my heart. It's the kind of book I'll revisit over and over for years to come.
When Love Sticks Around made me cry.
This is a book of personal essays. Through it, we get a glimpse into formative moments in Dayney's life: random appearances from her father, disconnected moments with her stepfather, the reality of a childhood spent loved and in poverty. She writes in a spare yet uncompromising style that doesn't wallow in sentimentality, and also doesn't pull punches. This is a woman who knows who she is and where she comes from and isn't apologizing for it.
And yet, she's the best kind of writer, crafting stories that allowed me, with my different upbringing, to focus on what made us the same. In doing so, she created a world that I could connect with at a very real level. I felt like I knew her. I felt like she was my friend. And I rooted for her - rooted for her to live her life and to love and to be happy.
In the end, I cried because I felt her love and I felt her joy and I felt her loss. This is an incredible book - and I say that as someone who doesn't often go in for memoir. But I truly loved every bit of it, and would often set it down because I needed to let a particular essay swim around in my heart. It's the kind of book I'll revisit over and over for years to come.
November 20, 2021
“I saw my real father less than ever. Not that I’d seen him much before that anyway; he was more like a shadow than a real person to me”
The memoir starts with a somber tone with the author talking about her dad, a man who took her mom for granted and drained all her savings.
“Bravery filled each line on her face in a way that I had never seen.”
In the beginning we see the world through the eyes of a child. The author fondly talks about her childhood. One that was surrounded by Barbie dolls and dancing with her mother who was a regular dance partner. There was one part which she despised where her home was filled with smoke and had an old tattered couch.
She reminisces her relationship with her step-father whom she felt could love her as much as he loved her step sister and her badass grandmother who wore pink nail paint until her last days. As the book progresses, we see a young adult who wants answers from her father, sneaks out to meet a boyfriend and plays pranks on neighbours with the help of her friends. From working shifts at a bakery as a teenager to a job as a paralegal, she found her belonging in the city of Detroit inspite of resistance from her mother. Detroit was alive during the night with its heart in the right place.
‘When Love Sticks Around’ is a collection of essays recounting the memories of love, hope and joy in dire times. The key takeaway of this book is to cherish each moment of life no matter how mundane it is and sometimes learn to let go or to quote Danielle’s late mother - “These are the most important moments”
“Butterflies have to spread their wings and fly. They will never be happy while trapped in a cage.”
The memoir starts with a somber tone with the author talking about her dad, a man who took her mom for granted and drained all her savings.
“Bravery filled each line on her face in a way that I had never seen.”
In the beginning we see the world through the eyes of a child. The author fondly talks about her childhood. One that was surrounded by Barbie dolls and dancing with her mother who was a regular dance partner. There was one part which she despised where her home was filled with smoke and had an old tattered couch.
She reminisces her relationship with her step-father whom she felt could love her as much as he loved her step sister and her badass grandmother who wore pink nail paint until her last days. As the book progresses, we see a young adult who wants answers from her father, sneaks out to meet a boyfriend and plays pranks on neighbours with the help of her friends. From working shifts at a bakery as a teenager to a job as a paralegal, she found her belonging in the city of Detroit inspite of resistance from her mother. Detroit was alive during the night with its heart in the right place.
‘When Love Sticks Around’ is a collection of essays recounting the memories of love, hope and joy in dire times. The key takeaway of this book is to cherish each moment of life no matter how mundane it is and sometimes learn to let go or to quote Danielle’s late mother - “These are the most important moments”
“Butterflies have to spread their wings and fly. They will never be happy while trapped in a cage.”
November 30, 2021
Thank you Thebookscenestours and Danielle Dayney for having me on the tour !
My Thoughts :
Woah first of kudos to the author, the amount of courage and strength that must have taken to put her story out to the whole world!
🦋 She takes you on an emotional ride with her memoir
🦋The book talks about her all phases of her life from childhood, to a teenager, to an adult and a mom.
🦋 As a child who felt left alone in her own home hits some chords in your heart and makes you ponder deeply.
🦋The mood of the book is melancholy yet somehow the book manages you make you feel soothe
🦋The most beautiful thing about this book is how raw the emotions are, nothing is sugar coated and after reading this i feel like i have know Danielle for so long!
🦋 Danielle has done a beautiful job by writing down this beautiful book, empower herself and us readers too, more power to you Danielle and thank you for this emotional ride, we are deeply honoured to be onboard with your story!
My Thoughts :
Woah first of kudos to the author, the amount of courage and strength that must have taken to put her story out to the whole world!
🦋 She takes you on an emotional ride with her memoir
🦋The book talks about her all phases of her life from childhood, to a teenager, to an adult and a mom.
🦋 As a child who felt left alone in her own home hits some chords in your heart and makes you ponder deeply.
🦋The mood of the book is melancholy yet somehow the book manages you make you feel soothe
🦋The most beautiful thing about this book is how raw the emotions are, nothing is sugar coated and after reading this i feel like i have know Danielle for so long!
🦋 Danielle has done a beautiful job by writing down this beautiful book, empower herself and us readers too, more power to you Danielle and thank you for this emotional ride, we are deeply honoured to be onboard with your story!
December 2, 2021
Gut wrecking, beautiful written and maybe the most true book I have even written.
"When love sticks around" is one of those books that haven't any plot. It's a bittersweet memoir.
Small chapters that tell us beautiful stories about the people in them.
In this book we are following Danielle, a poor girl that is making her own path in life. Through her experiences with family, friends and love, the book is teaching us that is ok to start low. It's ok to make mistakes. It's ok to not be prefect. Juat be there.
I absolutely loved it and a hug thank you to "The book scenes" that offered me an ebook for their book review tour.
"When love sticks around" is one of those books that haven't any plot. It's a bittersweet memoir.
Small chapters that tell us beautiful stories about the people in them.
In this book we are following Danielle, a poor girl that is making her own path in life. Through her experiences with family, friends and love, the book is teaching us that is ok to start low. It's ok to make mistakes. It's ok to not be prefect. Juat be there.
I absolutely loved it and a hug thank you to "The book scenes" that offered me an ebook for their book review tour.
September 21, 2021
I’m not a huge book reader, but this book I couldn’t put down. It is an memoir on the authors life, which has so many relatable stories in it. It journeys through her life as a child, a teenager, and into her life as a mother. There are stories that will make you smile and stories that will make you cry. I have read it twice now and both times I find something new to relate to. Growing up in Ohio has definitely had its ups and downs. It’s great to hear it from the authors point of view. It really paints a picture of her life and life in general here in the Midwest. It is a must read!
December 14, 2021
I received this free book from the publisher for honest review.
4 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐
This is the first time reading from this author.
What a beautiful wonderful amazing read.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for next book.
4 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐
This is the first time reading from this author.
What a beautiful wonderful amazing read.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for next book.
January 20, 2022
When love sticks around is a memoir – interconnected personal essays – that genuinely move you. You get to read and live the moments Dayney does but in a way that connects you to so much more. Dayney’s writing style and form of expression are felt with every word, and you understand how her personality shapes up into being the woman she is today.
It is imperative to accept who you are with all the past imperfections. Dayney explains love, loss and talks about family. The literature is in essays, and with every page, you bond with the author and what she goes through.
This is a very enjoyable memoir to read. I believe anyone who is looking to read a descriptive tell of moments expressed would enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from this author and appreciate the attention given to telling the story.
It is imperative to accept who you are with all the past imperfections. Dayney explains love, loss and talks about family. The literature is in essays, and with every page, you bond with the author and what she goes through.
This is a very enjoyable memoir to read. I believe anyone who is looking to read a descriptive tell of moments expressed would enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from this author and appreciate the attention given to telling the story.
November 26, 2021
This book holds a precious peek into a series of events that have left an imprint on Dayney’s heart. At the risk of sounding strange, I feel like Danielle and are friends now …
Maybe it’s that Dayney and I grew up in similar geographical locations and during the same time period. Maybe her mentions of monarch butterflies, Express workwear, advertising/marketing perception, pigs in a blanket and priceless grandparents hit a chord with me. Maybe all of that and more.
Nevertheless, I cried at the end of this memoir. I didn’t expect so much emotion from a fairly short book.
4.5 stars (I wish it was longer!)
Maybe it’s that Dayney and I grew up in similar geographical locations and during the same time period. Maybe her mentions of monarch butterflies, Express workwear, advertising/marketing perception, pigs in a blanket and priceless grandparents hit a chord with me. Maybe all of that and more.
Nevertheless, I cried at the end of this memoir. I didn’t expect so much emotion from a fairly short book.
4.5 stars (I wish it was longer!)
March 8, 2022
When Love Sticks Around contains first-person vignettes woven into a montage incorporating universal themes of family, love and belonging. It tracks Danielle Dayney’s childhood in Toledo to her married life in Detroit and New York.
As a child the author didn’t recognise her family’s poverty, stating that her mother – a stalwart support within her blended family – ‘couldn’t afford much fresh food, but … kept us fed’. The family travelled within their means, including a camping trip which ‘wasn’t the least bit safe’. With maturity, the author became increasingly aware of the legacy of poverty.
Dayney writes objectively. Matter-of-factly told, the writing sometimes leaves a sense of helplessness; the audience feels the writer’s tangible longing. Sporadic interactions with her biological father illustrate that even when blood relatives are not easily integrated into a person’s life, they nevertheless play an important role in establishing a sense of identity. As an adult, Dayney wonders, ‘Why didn’t he understand that after all those years, I still didn’t want his gifts? I wanted … his presence, not his presents.’
Five of the essays have been published previously. Each essay stands as an individual piece; as a collection, the transitions between them could be smoothed with additional orientation. This would minimise the often-abrupt endings which feel choppy and leave the reader wanting more resolution, while increasing the flow of the overall narrative.
Of particular note is Geauga Lake, describing a rare family holiday. The sensory descriptions are so vivid that the reader feels they are standing directly alongside the writer. Dayney describes how her ‘father’s Scottish skin instead of the Native American glow my [relatives] were blessed with … burned to a crisp without protection’. Terrified of the enormous water slide, she imagines it as her ‘coffin’ and worries about falling at the end, to be found ‘face-down with a wedgie’. It’s no spoiler to reveal that she did in fact survive this ordeal, and no wonder that she chose to write about this impactful event.
The last essays focus on Dayney’s relationship with her mother. These are particularly poignant as she reconciles past experiences, and audience empathy is inevitably extended. As she examines the role of her step-father she concludes with new-found insight that ‘in the chaos of my life turning upside down, it comforted me to know at least some things never change. I was grateful he’d stuck around.’
The appealing cover with its brightly-coloured peeling paint perhaps symbolises the broad brush of life exposed within its covers. When Love Sticks Around will appeal to a wide audience as everyone is affected by love, belonging and family, regardless of appearance.
As a child the author didn’t recognise her family’s poverty, stating that her mother – a stalwart support within her blended family – ‘couldn’t afford much fresh food, but … kept us fed’. The family travelled within their means, including a camping trip which ‘wasn’t the least bit safe’. With maturity, the author became increasingly aware of the legacy of poverty.
Dayney writes objectively. Matter-of-factly told, the writing sometimes leaves a sense of helplessness; the audience feels the writer’s tangible longing. Sporadic interactions with her biological father illustrate that even when blood relatives are not easily integrated into a person’s life, they nevertheless play an important role in establishing a sense of identity. As an adult, Dayney wonders, ‘Why didn’t he understand that after all those years, I still didn’t want his gifts? I wanted … his presence, not his presents.’
Five of the essays have been published previously. Each essay stands as an individual piece; as a collection, the transitions between them could be smoothed with additional orientation. This would minimise the often-abrupt endings which feel choppy and leave the reader wanting more resolution, while increasing the flow of the overall narrative.
Of particular note is Geauga Lake, describing a rare family holiday. The sensory descriptions are so vivid that the reader feels they are standing directly alongside the writer. Dayney describes how her ‘father’s Scottish skin instead of the Native American glow my [relatives] were blessed with … burned to a crisp without protection’. Terrified of the enormous water slide, she imagines it as her ‘coffin’ and worries about falling at the end, to be found ‘face-down with a wedgie’. It’s no spoiler to reveal that she did in fact survive this ordeal, and no wonder that she chose to write about this impactful event.
The last essays focus on Dayney’s relationship with her mother. These are particularly poignant as she reconciles past experiences, and audience empathy is inevitably extended. As she examines the role of her step-father she concludes with new-found insight that ‘in the chaos of my life turning upside down, it comforted me to know at least some things never change. I was grateful he’d stuck around.’
The appealing cover with its brightly-coloured peeling paint perhaps symbolises the broad brush of life exposed within its covers. When Love Sticks Around will appeal to a wide audience as everyone is affected by love, belonging and family, regardless of appearance.
December 7, 2021
Mom of 5 reads book in two days!
I loved it. I don’t have much time to read these days but I made time (read: lost sleep) in order to finish this lovely story. I was born in the 80s so the mentions of Care Bears and pigs in a blanket were nostalgic for me. If you enjoy “walking in someone else’s shoes” via memoirs, read this charming book.
I loved it. I don’t have much time to read these days but I made time (read: lost sleep) in order to finish this lovely story. I was born in the 80s so the mentions of Care Bears and pigs in a blanket were nostalgic for me. If you enjoy “walking in someone else’s shoes” via memoirs, read this charming book.
March 28, 2022
Beautiful vignettes of the life that shaped the author. What a wonderful tribute to her mother.
July 28, 2022
This book is marketed as a memoir but it feels more like a series of essays about Danielle’s life. That being said, I still found the book a good read. Danielle writes about growing up without a lot of money, a hard working mother who provided stability, a biological father who dipped in and out of her life, and step father she felt considered her more or an inconvenience. She writes about her husband and a bit about their early years of marriage. And finally her mother’s battle with cancer.
As Danielle copes with the death of her mother, she begins to see her step father in a different way. He too provided love and stability.
If you like essays, family stories, and memoirs, you will enjoy this book
Thank you to Voracious Readers for the free copy in exchange for the review.
As Danielle copes with the death of her mother, she begins to see her step father in a different way. He too provided love and stability.
If you like essays, family stories, and memoirs, you will enjoy this book
Thank you to Voracious Readers for the free copy in exchange for the review.
September 22, 2021
A moving memoir rich with sensory details, Dayney’s collection of carefully connected vignettes weave a vivid picture of a life enriched by love. Dayney’s experiences are her own, but they are nonetheless made real for readers through her writing; from the scent of cereal, to the thrill of a bike ride, to the tears of motherhood, Dayney brings the reader along for a journey from a tumultuous childhood to adulthood. Full of both humor and heartache, the memoir provides a consistent reminder of the power of love.
October 15, 2021
There's a unique struggle to every life. It's always there, it's personal and I believe that no one's struggle is lesser or greater than the other.
Danielle Dayney, the author of this wonderful memoir of short essays, recounts her younger days dealing with an absentee father in the most genuine, natural way. When you're reading her essays, you almost feel like you were a part of her memories, and that you lived it too. Her writing seems clichéd enough to be relatable, and unique enough to make you curious.
And then there are those essays that describe her life as she transitions into adulthood, find a footing in the competitive world and some losses to experience. And when the dreaded C word comes knocking her door. It's emotional, it's reflective and it's raw.
There's something about the whole book. It starts off as something normal, like a magazine you'd read before bedtime. But towards the middle it captures you, and you want more of it. But it ends too soon, but not without making you feel content.
I especially loved the fact that each essay is independent on its own and short enough to not make you feel overwhelmed. And despite that, each essay connects with the other as you keep reading. I particularly loved two chapters which were written in a non-chronological way, with two different memories connecting together to find something deeper.
It's an absolutely cherishable and lovable read I'd recommend to anyone who is in between two books and would love a rejuvenation.
Lastly, need to mention that I was contacted by the author themselves to read and review this book, but this is nevertheless an unbiased review!
Danielle Dayney, the author of this wonderful memoir of short essays, recounts her younger days dealing with an absentee father in the most genuine, natural way. When you're reading her essays, you almost feel like you were a part of her memories, and that you lived it too. Her writing seems clichéd enough to be relatable, and unique enough to make you curious.
And then there are those essays that describe her life as she transitions into adulthood, find a footing in the competitive world and some losses to experience. And when the dreaded C word comes knocking her door. It's emotional, it's reflective and it's raw.
There's something about the whole book. It starts off as something normal, like a magazine you'd read before bedtime. But towards the middle it captures you, and you want more of it. But it ends too soon, but not without making you feel content.
I especially loved the fact that each essay is independent on its own and short enough to not make you feel overwhelmed. And despite that, each essay connects with the other as you keep reading. I particularly loved two chapters which were written in a non-chronological way, with two different memories connecting together to find something deeper.
It's an absolutely cherishable and lovable read I'd recommend to anyone who is in between two books and would love a rejuvenation.
Lastly, need to mention that I was contacted by the author themselves to read and review this book, but this is nevertheless an unbiased review!
October 27, 2021
Dayney compiled essays together to allow readers a glimpse into her life. Estranged from her birth father, she had a close relationship with her mother. One of the stories that struck me the most was the sleepover and the cruelty of adolescent girls. It’s a touching recollection of the author’s life. Thanks to the author for the early copy.
November 29, 2021
Memoir Mondays
In times of your life you need love or to feel like you are loved.
A poignant collection of short essays that has formed a memoir.
When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney captures the times in Danielle's life where she needed love and realised when love was there or turned up when she least expected it.
I could resonate with alot of things in this book but I won't say what because I don't exactly want to talk about my personal life as some of them are a bit triggering for me.
But I will say this, it made me laugh, cry, I felt empathy and sympathy towards Danielle. My heart went out to her with some of the things life threw and took away from here.
I liked that it's set out that each chapter starts off with something new and the next stage of Danielle's life. Some essays are shortened but there is a reference on where you can read the whole essay. Which I think was a great idea to do, because if you wanted to read more about that story you could.
When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney comes out today 15th November 2021.
I want to say thank you to Danielle Dayney for asking if I wanted to read her memoir. I enjoyed reading the highs and lows of your life.
In times of your life you need love or to feel like you are loved.
A poignant collection of short essays that has formed a memoir.
When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney captures the times in Danielle's life where she needed love and realised when love was there or turned up when she least expected it.
I could resonate with alot of things in this book but I won't say what because I don't exactly want to talk about my personal life as some of them are a bit triggering for me.
But I will say this, it made me laugh, cry, I felt empathy and sympathy towards Danielle. My heart went out to her with some of the things life threw and took away from here.
I liked that it's set out that each chapter starts off with something new and the next stage of Danielle's life. Some essays are shortened but there is a reference on where you can read the whole essay. Which I think was a great idea to do, because if you wanted to read more about that story you could.
When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney comes out today 15th November 2021.
I want to say thank you to Danielle Dayney for asking if I wanted to read her memoir. I enjoyed reading the highs and lows of your life.
May 21, 2022
I laughed, I cried and reminisced. When Love Sticks around takes you on a journey though beautifully vivid memories. More than half of this book felt like I was taking a journey down memory lane with an old friend. From camping to the water park. To running down Woodward and dancing at the electronic music festival, while peeking into the authors life, I was able to re-live parts of mine.
This is a beautifully written memoir, that gives you sensory overload in the best way! I found myself consumed with the story telling, and learning about the moments of pain, doubt, uncertainty, sadness, happiness and joy that Danielle experienced. I want to share a part that really made me laugh out loud. “ I thought that would be how I died: in a pool with hundreds of over-weight, suburban, white families bobbing around in a germ-infested wave pool. They'd find me facedown with a wedgie.”
I highly recommend this book. If there is one book you should take the time to read this year it’s When Love Sticks Around.
Thank you @DanielleDayney and @thebookscenestours for allowing me to review this amazing book and to be apart of the book tour.
This is a beautifully written memoir, that gives you sensory overload in the best way! I found myself consumed with the story telling, and learning about the moments of pain, doubt, uncertainty, sadness, happiness and joy that Danielle experienced. I want to share a part that really made me laugh out loud. “ I thought that would be how I died: in a pool with hundreds of over-weight, suburban, white families bobbing around in a germ-infested wave pool. They'd find me facedown with a wedgie.”
I highly recommend this book. If there is one book you should take the time to read this year it’s When Love Sticks Around.
Thank you @DanielleDayney and @thebookscenestours for allowing me to review this amazing book and to be apart of the book tour.
October 27, 2021
Before I get started, I want to say a thank you to Danielle, the author, for somehow finding me, reaching out, and offering to send me a copy of her memoir in exchange for my honest review.
Review: Nowadays, with more attention being brought to the lack of voices from people of color, I tend to approach memoirs from us white folks a little more critically. I ask myself while reading: do we need to hear this story? Is it contributing something positive or new or relevant to the heartbeat of society today? Will others benefit from this? For this book, not everyone may feel that it answers yes to all of these questions, but it was definitely a story I needed to read, a positive contribution to the memoir genre, and I certainly benefitted from it. I also think there are other people in my life who would benefit from it as well.
While reading, I thought it was slightly overwritten at times - a little heavy on descriptive words - but it was filled with pure nostalgia. Dayney is an 80's and 90's child, somewhat like myself (born in '89), and I found myself being able to picture a lot of what she talked about just from my own experiences. Making Jello in a plastic container and checking the fridge impatiently for it to set. Stuffed cabbage and the way it smelled when it cooked, the way it tasted when it was eaten. Stealing chapstick from the store. A corner hutch filled with Avon perfumes at a grandparents' house. The smell of a freshly lit cigarette. I experienced it all in vivid detail. Dayney also touches on the relationships with her father and step-father throughout and I had to stop to ask if she knew me personally with how much I could relate to it.
The whole memoir really is an ode to the people in her life who showed her love and how that love ultimately shaped her into the woman she is now. It's a beautiful memoir that I think most people will relate to or find bits that reflect their own lives. I know I'll be purchasing this for my mother as I think it'll help her with the loss of her father. It was cathartic for me in many ways to read, and by the end, I was swept into Danielle's world. Her stories were heartfelt, and with the nature of the book being in short story format, it was easy to pick up and put down if you're a busy person or just like to read in small snippets.
This book surprised me in the good kind of way, and I'm so glad Danielle reached out to offer me an early peek at this memoir. I suggest pre-ordering it if you're a fan of touching memoirs like I am, or picking it up at your local bookstore when it's released on November 15!
Review: Nowadays, with more attention being brought to the lack of voices from people of color, I tend to approach memoirs from us white folks a little more critically. I ask myself while reading: do we need to hear this story? Is it contributing something positive or new or relevant to the heartbeat of society today? Will others benefit from this? For this book, not everyone may feel that it answers yes to all of these questions, but it was definitely a story I needed to read, a positive contribution to the memoir genre, and I certainly benefitted from it. I also think there are other people in my life who would benefit from it as well.
While reading, I thought it was slightly overwritten at times - a little heavy on descriptive words - but it was filled with pure nostalgia. Dayney is an 80's and 90's child, somewhat like myself (born in '89), and I found myself being able to picture a lot of what she talked about just from my own experiences. Making Jello in a plastic container and checking the fridge impatiently for it to set. Stuffed cabbage and the way it smelled when it cooked, the way it tasted when it was eaten. Stealing chapstick from the store. A corner hutch filled with Avon perfumes at a grandparents' house. The smell of a freshly lit cigarette. I experienced it all in vivid detail. Dayney also touches on the relationships with her father and step-father throughout and I had to stop to ask if she knew me personally with how much I could relate to it.
The whole memoir really is an ode to the people in her life who showed her love and how that love ultimately shaped her into the woman she is now. It's a beautiful memoir that I think most people will relate to or find bits that reflect their own lives. I know I'll be purchasing this for my mother as I think it'll help her with the loss of her father. It was cathartic for me in many ways to read, and by the end, I was swept into Danielle's world. Her stories were heartfelt, and with the nature of the book being in short story format, it was easy to pick up and put down if you're a busy person or just like to read in small snippets.
This book surprised me in the good kind of way, and I'm so glad Danielle reached out to offer me an early peek at this memoir. I suggest pre-ordering it if you're a fan of touching memoirs like I am, or picking it up at your local bookstore when it's released on November 15!
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