I wanted to continue with this book, but unfortunately the subject matter was too raw for me, so I gave up on it.
Not the book's fault, but I just feel I cannot honestly review it on NetGalley because of that.

Not the easiest of topics to read about, but the author doesn’t shy away from showing the effects of a friend’s suicide on the friendship group. Such is the fate dealt to a group of university friends when they learn about Jack’s suicide. Their different ways of coping with the news proves there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
This book packs a punch when it comes to the emotional effect of their friend’s death. Told from multiple viewpoints, the result is a multi-layered insight into what it means to be human, how we adopt different coping mechanisms when faced with the same set of circumstances. Well-written and paced to reflect the nuances of emotions of the main characters as well as that of Jack an the decision he took.

This debut novel from Sarah Marie Graye focuses on the effect suicide has on those who are left behind.

It examines the lives of four friends, all affected by the impact of Jack's suicide in different ways and told from each of their viewpoints.

The topic of suicide, along with mental health and depression is often taboo and the author provides plenty of food for thought as the reader explores each character's decisions, reactions and the subsequent impact on each of their lives alongside the idea that one action can trigger a butterfly effect.

This is quite a difficult read, but certainly a thought-provoking one.

This is the story of four friends; Faye, Abbie, Olivia and Beth. Four ladies from four different walks of life who meet up for drinks every Friday night.

Faye misses her first love Jack who left her in Manchester to move to London. Olivia is in an loveless relationship with a guy she met at work. Abbie is married to a man called Dominic but wants to leave him and Beth is suffering with mental health issues.

Everything changes once they learn that Jack has died but was it an accident or suicide?

I found this book to be quite confusing at times. The author would have chapters of narration mixed with the chapters about each female character. Sometimes the characters would be thinking about a past event but the tenses would be mixed up which made me feel like re-reading that paragraph to ensure I was following the story correctly.

It’s not a book I would rave on about but I did look forward to reading about the characters and seeing where they ended up.

The Second Cup by Sarah Marie Graye is a very emotional and engaging read.
The book is written from different viewpoints and it really allows to get to know characters by masterfully intertwining snippets of their past and present lives into the story.
It is a book that carries emotional depth, dealing with suicide, depression and failed relationships and is beautifully written.
I would definitely recommend this book.

This book was a difficult one to read, but also a very important one. After the hype of a recent TV series which was about the same topic - suicide, drugs, etc, I was drawn in by the description of this book. Though I am lucky enough to not have anyone die in this manner, I am unfortunately acquainted with people who contemplate this in their daily life, and the other sensitive topics are more common among everyone's circle than they realise.
It is a heart tearing and the lives of the four main characters are drawn in similar situations and life choices.

Sarah Graye has written a most important book, which I recommend everyone to pick up and read. She really delves into your mind and soul with the difficult subjects she touches. Highest praise for this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

I had a hard time getting into this book and just couldn't finish it. I'm sorry, I guess it just wasn't for me.

When I have read the synopsis of this story, I realize that the background of this story is suicide and depression. Two things that may be painful to read. But I strengthen my feelings and heart to explore the story that Sarah Marie Graye has made. Then the author also said that she has long struggled against depression. So I'm sure there is life in this story.
The five characters involved in this story are indeed exaggerated. This means the reader has to face a double POV that may be tricky. But it turns out Sarah Marie Graye made a very big move. Each character is told with very different properties. We will know when dialogue and discourse begin. So if you are still afraid of double characters, then do not be too much. You will not even be able to leave a single page.
Death and suicide are very frightening things, but it has already happened to Jack. What had Jack left since then? Faye, Abbie, and Olivia are trying to find strength and rise up. But it was very difficult. Each character will face fear and how depression passes through the heart. Every character has a wonderful friendship and story since was a child and it looks to be more clear. Then how is the life of every character to the University and continue to live their life up to the future? But what happens when one of them has to commit suicide?
I know what Faye felt like when she found Jack dead by suicide. When I get into the story, I finally feel that this novel is very difficult to accept. It's a very emotional story and even makes me feel desperate too. Stories are told very clearly and let all the beginning to end flow.
I think this is a very difficult story to write. But Sarah Marie Graye did her job very well. Especially when the authors also admit that has long resisted depression. So what is felt by the character may also be experienced by the author. In other words, the author really understands what kind of feelings of depression, hollow and despair.
The plot in this story will make us understand what true love really means. The power to appreciate feelings will not be defeated by anything. And the power to rise from depression is really to be found. The novels are binding, sensitive and completely emotionally draining.

Book based on authors life. A little dark for me. The writing was ok found the characters dark. I'm sure for some it will be an enjoyable book but I try to stay away from dark reads. Still I gave it a 4 for her writing and subject matter.

I was looking for an emotional read but I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and ended up putting this aside at 22%.

I just couldn’t get into this book. The points of view from the different characters felt choppy and disjointed. Just was not for me.

This is a beautifully written book. It is a very well told personal story about mental health. Each character has their own individual struggle. Every characters struggle was written about with empathy.

I thought I would like this book more than I did. The back and forth between tbe four characters was interesting, but for some reason this book just didn't hold my attention.

I did not connect with this book at all and I DNF at the 20% mark. This book was given to me free of charge by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a tough one to get through for me. The four characters' stories made for a choppy back and forth. A dark and sad story but a worthwhile read.

As warned by the author, the book has a slow pace. But once you got hooked to its beautiful writing, reading the ups and downs, the flaw and the strength of the character, you can’t put this book (or ebook) down.

At first it was confusing to read as the book open with the monologue of someone who wants to commit suicide. We also got confused as to which character die due to suicide. The plot become clear half way through the book, and get interesting toward the end.

The author has switched POV from many characters on this book seamlessly. The reader won’t be confused because the name of the character will be written, so we know which POV the author use. And because of the multiple POVs, we could get a deep read to one personality along with their past, problem and musing about what they experience.

It also capture the mental illness, and illness that in my country is looked with a side eye. The book remind us that mental illness is real, and even though the person seems okay, they maybe not.

Please give this book a try, don’t be put out on the beginning. It’s worth to read especially for those whose interested in slice-of-life kind of book and mental health.

Thank you netgalley and the dissociated voice for providing the arc in exchange of honest review.

I found this book through NetGalley so many thanks to the publisher for letting me read it. I found it extremely interesting that the main pretext was about suicide and depression - as I too have suffered with it as well so finding an author write so forward about it was interesting for me> I found all the characters engaging and interesting and I enjoyed finding about them - I liked the moment when in the pub Faye told them to seize the moment and from then on in the story as I was hooked and I felt the fast paced ness began and you could really relate to the characters in the story
I loved the character interviews at the end I wish more could do that.

This book is an impressively well written debut novel by Sarah Marie Graye about suicide and the effect it has on those left behind.

It is written from four points of view and examines the lives and the impact that Jack’s suicide has on them, their decisions and their actions. The characters are well developed, likeable and the story draws you into the feelings and issues surrounding them.

Suicide, depression and mental health are difficult, issues to address and Sarah does it really well. This story is incredibly thought provoking and emotional. It is not a light fluffy read- there is nothing light and fluffy about dealing with suicide and the feelings it evokes, but this book is worth the emotions that are stirred .

Mental health does not just affect the person with the mental illness, it’s like a ripple in water or as the cover suggests, a butterfly effect.



I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed reading the second cup. At the beginning I struggled to get into the book and sometimes it was a bit confusing getting to know the characters. Once I got to know the characters my reading was a whole lot smoother. This book is about the consequences of one guy's suicide on a group of friends. This book also deals with how these friends grew up and what is currently happening in their lives. This book deals with a range of issues. I loved the last part of the book a lot, I wish more authors would put something like this into their books.
A great piece of woman's fiction that I would recommend.

It took me a while to get into this book and no doubt due to not being fond of books that is told from several viewpoints. That being said, and once i had got used to the characters, I was soon turning the pages.

A well written book that I could relate to. My son committed suicide at 34 yrs and I was surprised at how much it affected his circle of friends. One friend in particular is still having trouble coping in life without his best buddy.

I am not going to write about the story as I cannot really add to what hasn't already been written. Although i didn't give this book full five stars, i do recommend.

With thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy of this book. This is my honest review.