#Book #Review: You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac

You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac

Publication date 19th April 2018

Simon & Schuster
416 pages

Book Description:

You and me, we have history.
We have a child together.
We have kept secrets from each other for far too long.
This summer, in the beautiful hills of the Dordogne, it is time for everything to change.

You, Me, Everything is a heartfelt and unforgettable story about the lengths we are prepared to go to for those we love. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry, this is novel you will never forget. Rights have sold in over twenty-two countries internationally and a film is in progress with Lionsgate.

My thoughts:

My first observation of this book is that the author has a really easy writing style which made the story flow beautifully despite some tricky subject material.

The book is told from various time frames, from when Jess and Adam are very young and in a relationship with no responsibilities to various stages along the way right up to the present day.  The format works really well as we understand everyone's point of view along the way.

Adam is shocked to find out Jess is pregnant, and being quite immature in his outlook doesn't want to be a father. Jess however goes ahead with the pregnancy and in true Adam style he fails to turn up to the hospital until just after the birth.  Jess decides that he has let her down once too often and ends the relationship, going back to her parents with baby William.

The story moves along to when William is 10 years old and Adam has moved abroad, buying a run down holiday complex and rebuilding the business.  Jess decides that Adam deserves the chance to show that he has changed  his ways and it's time for him to prove this so takes William on an extended holiday in order to build up a bond with his dad.

The story moves back and forth in time but this is in no way distracting and we build up a really good idea of how life has treated each of them over the years with some devastating news for Jess and her family which they all have to come to terms with.

I strongly recommend that you read this book for yourself to experience how Jess and Adam rebuild their relationship in order that William can have quality time with both of his parents - despite Adam showing signs of still being the immature young man he always was and Jess having serious doubts about whether it was a good idea after all.

I loved this book with its laugh out loud moments and tear jerking emotional chapters balancing each other out beautifully.  I have to say I was extremely glad that I read the last part of this book in the privacy of my own home so that my ugly crying wasn't witnessed by anyone in public!

I thought I would struggle to read a better book than 'Three Things About Elsie' by Joanna Cannon this year but this is a serious contender and I really don't think I can decide which of these tops my chart of great books for 2018.  All I can say is go get yourself a copy, arm yourself with a box of Kleenex to mop up your tears and settle in for an excellent emotional read.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a competition - and I am delighted to provide a review of my thoughts in return.

About the Author:

Catherine Isaac was born in 1974 in Liverpool, England. She gained a degree in history at the University of Liverpool, then studied journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University.
She began her career as a trainee reporter at the Liverpool Echo and went on to became Editor of the Liverpool Daily Post. She wrote her first novel, Bridesmaids, while on maternity leave and under the pseudonym Jane Costello. She since wrote nine books, all Sunday Times best-sellers in the UK.
'You Me Everything' is her first novel writing as Catherine Isaac. Translation rights have been sold to 20 countries and a movie has been optioned by Lionsgate.
She lives in Liverpool with her husband Mark and three sons.