Welcome to The Single Dad’s Handbook, your comprehensive guide to life without me when I pop my clogs! ‘I laughed, I cried, and I swooned a bit too (both over Evan and the beautiful Edinburgh setting). Gorgeous.’ Lia Louis It’s been two years since cancer stole Evan Harper’s wife, Claire, from their lives. Although Evan’s doing everything he can to be Super Dad for his five year old, Violet, he … five year old, Violet, he can’t seem to get anything right. So he turns to the one person who gives the best advice – Claire herself.
Before she died she wrote him a book of letters to see him through the ups and downs of raising their daughter and her words soon help him see that there is life after loss – and maybe even a second shot at love – when you find the courage to start living again…
It’s time to start living again, Evan. Your new forever starts right here. Love always, Claire
An emotional, uplifting story of life, loss and love perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern and S.D. Robertson.
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I struggled a bit with this book because I was expecting a lighthearted single dad romcom, and that’s not what I got. It’s a pretty weighty book, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it.
The letters that Claire left behind for Evan to read in raising their daughter Violet alone after her death made me equally sad and happy. I kept imagining myself in that position, so it was thought-provoking for me in that way. The letters are very bittersweet. But they really are a great tool in this book for displaying how Evan is trying to move forward after his wife’s death.
This was a wonderful story about navigating the unimaginable, daddies and little girls, finding love again after loss… and even finding yourself again when you are the one left behind. It was just missing that *punch* for me that makes a good book great.
I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.
Wow. Just wow. What a beautifully written story that takes you along on Evans journey. His beloved wife is gone and she has left behind book of letters telling him how to deal and move forward. I laughed, cried, sympathized, empathized and cheered for him and his adorable little girl Violet. Learning to navigate the world without the person you loved with every fiber of your being is unimaginable. Having to do it while trying to raise a little girl, run your business and figure out how to get out of bed while everyone else in your life is telling you it’s time to let go and start living again? This author captured his experience with such grace and humor. I enjoyed every moment of his book.
I received a copy of his book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Winning bittersweet tale of grief and the hard journey to healing
Lynsey James is a new author to me and I am so glad I found this story. It’s full of emotion, both crippling sadness and spots of pure joy as young Edinburgh widower Evan and his little daughter Violet cope with their life-changing loss. Two years after Claire’s painful death her little family is still attempting to cope and not all that well. Evan’s business is failing and his personal life — well, he doesn’t have much of one and feels he’s failing at fatherhood too. So he finally turns to a handbook of her thoughts and hopes Claire prepared for him when she knew her diagnosis was grim.
Evan’s grief and frustration are palpable and yet he’s got friends to help him refind his footing and Claire’s handbook for additional advice and inspiration. And thank goodness he has Violet his little wannabe astronaut by his side. They have their good days and bad, but the author allows the solid love to shine through. Ultimately, after a difficult journey, hope and a new chance for happiness turn up.
This novel is well-written, in fact I was surprised how quickly I devoured the pages, traumatic start to satisfying finish. Highly recommended, but keep the tissues handy.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This story revolves around a widower with a young daughter whose wife leaves behind a journal of letters before she passes from cancer. Set in Edinburgh, the majority of the book takes place two years following her death. Claire’s letters help guide Evan through depression, parenting crises, job issues and ultimately moving forward toward a new life and love.
I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately to be honest I found the letters to be the best part of the book. They’re wise, humorous and poignant and represented the most “real” and heartfelt part of the story, while the rest seemed superficial and filled with trite moments. I really did not connect with any of the characters and at times did not even like some of them very much. While the writing itself is fine, the story left me underwhelmed.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter for providing me the early ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Single Dads Handbook by Lyndsey James a five-star read that will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most of all it will make your heart grow. This is a touching and emotional read, but its also shows grief in a very real manner, it doesn’t shy away like some do when dealing with grief, its almost another character it’s so well done, all of the stages are shown and shown in a way that is real, not like a tick list but actual anger, denial, and loss to name a few. What I loved most was that we were seeing a dad’s view that added something extra as a dad dealing with a daughter is always mystifying, mums just seem to know but most dads wouldn’t know the difference between hairstyles and things little girls adore, that brought something special to the story for me a freshness that made this a compelling and real story.
This is a laugh out loud, tear jerking, lovely story on learning to live each and every moment and putting one foot in front of the other to keep on going in the face of life changes!
How does a young widower learn to push forward in life with his five year old daughter who is about to start kindergarten?
His beloved wife leaves specific instructions in a special handbook that truly outlines almost everything!
Will Evan follow Claire’s directions?
Can he find happiness and take care of his little girl?
“You got this Evan!” I was truly rooting for him and his little family and I am quite sure you will too!