A Beautifully Constructed Love Story: Read Our Review of The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff

Every great love story deserves a great ending.

Joseph and Evelyn’s New England beach homes have been side by side for generations. And in the summer of 1941, on the shores where they were raised, these two childhood friends fell in love.

Now, more than sixty years later, Joseph and Evelyn gather their three grown children to share the staggering news: in one year’s time, they will end their lives on their own terms. She has received a diagnosis and he cannot – will not – live without her.

As the couple comes to grips with their fate, they reckon with the joys and regrets, the laughter and the sorrow that brought them to this moment. And they create new memories to cherish with each of their children before they’re gone.

But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of everything they have put in motion. Will they – can they – go through with their plan?

Amy Neff’s debut novel, The Days I Loved You Most, is a love letter to the seaside town where her family has spent summers since the early 1900s. The Days I Loved You Most is being published in the United States and Canada by Park Row, and in the UK by Bloomsbury; it also is being translated into 19 languages — and counting.

Words cannot do Neff justice on how beautiful the love between Joseph and Evelyn is. From the first chapter, Neff illustrates a tale that will warm your heart. But as the pages turn, a slow burn begins to unravel as we learn more about the couple and the impending medical implications that will end their story once and for all. It is a heartbreaking revelation, especially after seeing the two grow from children, to adults, to parents and so forth. The story kept me on edge, page after page.

Although the notion of death looms throughout the story, Neff does an immaculate job at livening our protagonists. Joseph and Evelyn have their own aspirations in life, and together, they support one another, making their love all the more stronger. This is then put to the test when their children are born, and makes for some tense moments as they must cherish their family before it’s too late. I didn’t want to put the book down.

Throughout the second half of the story, readers will join Joseph, Evelyn and their children as they confront the emotional blockades that deter them from facing an agonising truth: someone will die. This is one of the most unforgettable book endings I’ve read this year. If you loved The Notebook, I would strongly recommend this captivating love story. Grab some tissues and set aside your weekend to read The Days I Loved You Most.

Buy a copy of The Days I Loved You Most here.