No one writes about family like Lucy does. This is a masterpiece in how broken people negotiate and ultimately survive the worst that life can throw at them. It's an absolutely beautiful book * Milly Johnson * The holidays are here, and in Salcombe, Liz longs for the arrival of her god-daughters, Skye and Clare and Clare's daughter baby Ivy. After years on her own, she needs help to save the catering business she built with Clare's late mother, Jen. However, half-sisters Skye and Clare couldn't be more different, struggling with family secrets and hidden jealousies. As the women navigate this unexpected summer together, truths are revealed and their relationships are put to the test.

The family are really struggling to get over the death of Lena, some of them more than others. There definitely a lot of secrets and a lot of things come to light after her death.Alice, her sister and best friend, riddled with guilt over their silence following an earlier argument, tries to piece together the last days of Leni’s life, while baby brother Will is living fast and lose in Thailand trying to forget the part he played in their sister’s death. Meanwhile, mum Belinda falls into an unhealthy relationship with a clairvoyant as her ex, Tony, struggles with becoming a father again after a trio of failed marriages. The different family dynamics in the book were also really well captured. The patchwork family was interesting and I enjoyed following on their journey to accepting not only the fact that one of them is dead, but accepting themselves, just like they are. However, I had a feeling that the story, all the feelings and emotions are a bit over the top. It was a bit overdone and the characters' behaviour was too extreme, to over the top.

This is a story about a family who are heartbroken over the death of a daughter/sister who died tragically on a bike accident. The characters in the book were beautifully written, I loved getting to know their stories and how they all pulled together was heart warming. Grab your napkins and brace yourself for a very emotional, heartbreaking, bumpy road ahead! 'The best day of our lives' is a beautiful story about love (in so many ways), grief, strength and overcoming your pain to build something amazing out of it... Digital Reads A Curse For True Love : the thrilling final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series Belinda Lenis mum is having a hard time dealing with the death of her daughter. She is in touch with a clairvoyant who she believes she is convening with Leni through. She is also thinking of selling the family home and setting up a b&b with her new boyfriend.Lucy Diamond writes with such warmth and her compassionate characters really shine in this story - Gen was a particular favourite of mine. The Best Days of Our Lives is a beautiful and emotional read. It reminds us to make the most of every second and spend time with our loved ones even doing the most mundane things. I loved the idea of sharing memories with Leni’s friends and family - and although raw at the beginning they became a real source of comfort. Thirty-something sisters Leni and Alice became inseparable following the divorce of their parents, Belinda and Tony, with younger brother Will always trying to keep up. I love books by Lucy Diamond and this one was just as good as the others I’ve read, with lots of characters to keep you interested.

This is well-written but it will not appeal to everyone. There is a lot of focus on the grief suffered by Leni's family following her surprising death.

Reminding us how to fly

Flowers have always made Fearne smile. She treasures the memories of her beloved grandmother's floristry and helping her to arrange beautiful blooms that brought such joy to their recipients. But ever since a family tragedy a year ago, Fearne has been searching for her own contentment. When a chance discovery inspires her to start a happiness list, it seems that Fearne might just have found her answer. Alice is Lenis sister and one of her best friends. Alice is trying to navigate the world without her sister in it. She is also finding out lots more about her sister things she kept hidden from people and what happened to her in the last week of her life. Alice is also trying to find her own path in life now that her sister has died and is trying to find out the things that she wants out of life for herself. This book was very sad as ultimately it follows a family in the months after losing a daughter/sister, but it was uplifting and inspiring too. It did have sprinkles of humour (thanks Hamish!!) throughout, and ultimately it portrayed real life for many families. This was a beautiful story that contained so much heart and lightness amongst its tragedy, such is the skill and warmth of Diamond’s writing. Its characters were written with depth and real humanity and as such their grief was raw and palpable and yet this is a novel that still manages to leave you uplifted by the end. The premise of the story is captivating and remains that way until the very end. We are introduced to many different characters who, despite mistakes they may have made, I grew to love by the end. The family dynamic between the characters has the potential to be complicated, but the author completely pulls it off. It's this that many readers will relate to as there are so many families that are different from the 'Norm'.

A compelling and beautifully written tale of love, grief and family. This book touched my heart * Sarah Morgan * Human flaws and the burden of grief are not hidden away, as we see the impact of Leni passing on her siblings and parents - with every emotion shared. Books about grief seem to have their moment right now and it's ok, though I think I'd rather read about cupcakes and bookshop in Cornwall. Whatever. This one was written by Lucy Diamond, so I had to give it a go. Last few books by this author didn't gel with me so much, but "The Best Days of Our Lives" turned out to be a poignant yet funny, touching story about a family dealing with the worst - with grief.Lenis sudden tragic death has shook her whole family. Her sister Alice, mum Belinda, dad Tony and younger brother Will all experience their loss differently and they also deal with it in their own individual way. Margot Robbie stars as the eponymous fashion doll in this live-action adventure directed by Greta...