Tom is the manager of a small theatre and single father to Hannah. When she was five she was diagnosed with a heart condition that was destined to only get worse. For her birthday, along with the assorted characters who make up the theatre group they put on a special play for her. She grew up thinking of the Willow Theatre as a place of magic and wonder.

Now as she approaches sixteen she wonders if the magic is ending. Her heart is showing signs of failure, any attempts to gee up her dad's love life seem to be doomed.Tom has more problems than his ailing love life as the theatre that forms such an integral part of his life is under threat of closure- & there is the ever present worry about Hannah's health.

The story is told from the point of view of both Hannah & Tomand really captivates the reader. I loved the characters and really enjoyed being in their world. This is a wonderful life affirming story worth more than the five stars I can give it.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this lovely book.

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this sensitively written, beautiful book!

Tom is the perfect dad - funny, empathetic and supportive of Hannah. Let's face it, fifteen is a tricky age and Hannah has a bit of the rebellious teenager in her too, even if most of the time she just doesn't have the energy to play up too much.

I loved the references sprinkled liberally throughout this book: to plays, playwrights, movies and comics. I also enjoyed the relationships that Tom and Hannah had with each other as well as with their close circle of friends, just wonderful.

Hard to categorise this book, actually. I found myself cheering both Hannah and Tom on and being totally enchanted by both of them. I thought it might be a bit of a tear jerker of a book but it wasn't really, there was too much good stuff going on!

5 big stars for this book, would give it more if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I was such a huge fan of A Boy Made Of Blocks so you can imagine my delight when I was asked to be on the blog tour for his next book, Days Of Wonder. I did initially approach this book with a bit of trepidation as I didn’t think it would be able to be as good as A Boy Made Of Blocks. I was wrong!

This book is just so wonderfully magical and heart warming. Some of the descriptions of the things Hannah’s dad had done for her in her childhood were brilliant to read about and brought a lump to my throat. The wonderful descriptions just let me imagine the scenes from a child’s point of view which let me imagine the sheer awe Hannah must have felt on experiencing those things.

The father – daughter relationship that Tom and Hannah have is just incredible and so lovely to read about. It was great to read about the little silly games they played and how much they obviously cared for each other. They both just wanted the best for each other, even if they didn’t want it and the realisation of this brought tears to my eyes.

The story is told from both Hannah and Tom’s point of view which helps add to the emotional feel of the book as the reader is privy to both of the characters inner most thoughts and feelings. Both of the characters are really relatable and easy to love which makes the reader a lot more involved with the story as you find yourself really caring about what happens. I loved Tom’s goofyness, how he always tried to make everything fun and be everything that Hannah needed. My heart went out to him as I can only imagine how hard the situation must be for him and how difficult it must be to not let Hannah’s illness rule their lives. Hannah is brilliantly described as the moody, embarrassed teenager but it’s clearly obvious to the reader how much she does care and worry about her dad which was very poignant to read about.

This is such a wonderful, engrossing story that I so enjoyed reading and one that will definitely stay with me. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Huge thanks to Clara Diaz and Little Brown for inviting me onto the tour and for my copy of the book via Netgalley.

Days of Wonder is a bittersweet story of a close father-daughter relationship.

Hannah was diagnosed with a serious heart condition as a young child. Yet she tries to take it all in her stride - her hospital appointments, her symptoms and the knowledge that she has no need to plan for her future, as it's unlikely she'll reach adulthood. Tom, her father, is a single parent, living every day as if it's their first and their last, trying to keep the magic and wonder alive for his daughter, and his daughter alive with them.

I cried and laughed my way through Days of Wonder - and then cried again. Some people may find it a bit too sweet for their taste, but it was pure (and perfect) escapism for me as I became totally absorbed into the lives of Tom, Hannah and their actor friends.

This uplifting book is touching and moving and felt very real, with some quirky characters that will hard to forget. Keith Stuart has tackled emotional health issues with sensitivity but also some gentle humour to lighten the load.

Days of Wonder is about love, hope and second chances. It's a story of growing up, of parenthood and of creating powerful everlasting memories for the future. And that sometimes parents have to let go... and let their children grow up, despite wanting to cushion them forever.

Alright everyone, grab yourself a cup of tea and a slice of cake, have the tissues close by and be prepared to fall in love with the stunning new novel from Keith Stuart, who has a way with words that defies description.

It has been Tom and is little girl Hannah for as long as anyone can remember and when Hannah was diagnosed with a heart condition that will limit her life, Tom throws himself into making every day as magical as he can for his daughter. Managing the local theatre makes it a very important place for both Tom and Hannah as the magic and mayhem of plays, stories, and life come alive on the stage for them both, keeping the dark and harsh reality of Hannah's condition at bay. But now Hannah is fifteen and needs to stand a little more on her own two feet for whatever time she has left, and she doesn't want her Dad to be alone whenever the day will come that she will no longer be there so a little matchmaking is in order. Add in young love, deep friendships, a waterlogged stage, and a close community and who knows what miracles could happen ...

I laughed, I cried, and I felt every single word on every single page of DAYS OF WONDER by Keith Stuart. The characters are relatable, loveable, and completely realistic and I fell in love with them from the beginning. The writing in this novel really has its own unique quality which is difficult to describe so I will stick with this one word: magical.

DAYS OF WONDER is the stunning new story from the author who melted my heart with A Boy Made of Blocks, and I will be shocked if it does not become a bestseller immediately!!

Life-affirming, warm and moving father-daughter tale with a touch of magic and a lot of heart.

I loved Stuart's first and unhesitatingly knew I'd want to read this, his next. While the story is rather different, the author still takes us on a journey with a sympathetic family, with unspoken issues and deep-seated worries. Instead of centring round a child with autism, the heart of Hannah's family is just that - Hannah's heart. Since childhood, she and her father have known that her condition is going to potentially shorten her life, but theatre manager Tom has always tried to fill his daughter's world with magic, fantasy and wonder:
"I'd found this silly way to lighten the darkness, and it had worked" - Tom and Hannah take turns narrating and their dual perspective worked for me, I couldn't wait to see how each viewed the same scenes as the other had.

Now a teenager about to take exams and being forced to consider her 'future', Hannah is trying to face the likely reality of her situation ("He treats me like a precious little princess. But I am not Snow White any more. am the goddamn Snow Queen"), while Tom faces his own problems at his small theatre and doesn't take too kindly to Hannah trying to prepare him for a life without her...

It would be very hard not to fall for Hannah and Tom, such a loving father who has always gone the extra mile to make his daughter smile, and the literate Hannah with a witty and snide tongue who is facing fear head-on and not backing down.

And it's not just them - there are a whole series of stand-out minor characters with some fleshed-out backstories and who are just as memorable as the lead pair. An eccentric elderly actress, a date Tom meets, are just two that added secondary stories that I was just as invested in as Tom and Hannah's.

The story feels familiar in some of the turns, but doesn't conform to lazy writing. It's the sort of book you turn to for a lift, a a warm glow and to meet old friends. This is material ripe for filming, a short series or a film, the characters will transfer well to this medium and there are juicy lines for many of the roles. I laughed openly several times, joyfully.

The author feels like a professional at influencing the reader's emotions, I just wanted to hand over my keys and follow his road towards the end... knowing what could be ahead. The ending was as poignant as I had been expecting, very beautifully concluded.

Just wonderful, a delicately finished story full of joy, loyalty, heartache and love.

With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Having read, and loved, A Boy Made of Blocks, I was delighted to be asked by the publisher to read this latest offering from the author. I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it as much, but boy was I wrong.

The story is based, for the main part, around a theatre run by Tom. He is a single dad to Hannah who suffers from a heart condition. The book is actually two stories in one.
The first is the fight Tom has to keep his theatre open after a series of events lead the local council to consider shutting it down.
The second is the fight Hannah has to continue fighting against a condition which is a constant threat to her very existence.

These two stories when woven together by the author create something truly magical. With the way the ‘letters’ to Willow are added it adds an extra dimension.

The story is one which goes at a steady pace and allows the reader to enjoy reading about the various characters, theatre shows, and backgrounds of the characters. The introduction of Tom’s dating disasters adds a lovely humorous feel to the story, and the later meeting with someone from his past is one which brings a totally different element to the whole book.

Loved this so much and can’t recommend it highly enough. Huge thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing a copy. I can’t wait to read future stories from this author if he continues to produce work such as this.

A duel narrative that explores the relationship between a father and his chronically ill daughter - absolutely beautifully written with a real sense of empathy. Their lives are wrapped up in the local theatre which Tom manages, there is a wonderful cast of characters and a fabulous story arc. Hannah is one of the best female protagonists I've encountered.
Yet again this author manages to make the emotions fly off of the page and yes, I welled up on a number of occasions. Wonder-full.

I thought that this book was well written. The story flips back and forth between dad Tom’s and daughter Hannah’s narratives and each has a distinctive voice. The underlying illness is dealt with well and I became very involved in the whole story. A very enjoyable, fast paced read which I recommend.

What a wonderful book! I was a bit concerned that Days of Wonder might not live up to Keith Stuart's first novel, A Boy Made of Blocks (one of my favourite books) but it is equally good.

It's a story about Tom, a single father and manager of a small provincial theatre and Hannah his 15 year old daughter who was diagnosed with a serious heart condition at the age of 5. Tom and Hannah tell their story in alternating chapters supported by a wonderful cast of characters – mainly members of the local drama group who are like Tom and Hannah's extended family having always been there for Tom and his daughter. It's Tom and these friends who make the magic happen for Hannah.

Hannah knows her health is failing and her life could be cut short at any moment. Not only is Tom worrying about his daughter, his theatre is threatened with closure. While Tom is constantly worrying about Hannah she just wants to be like a normal teenager and do the things young people do. She also wants her dad to find a girlfriend so he will have someone when Hannah is no longer around. Her efforts to set her dad up with someone are very funny.

It didn't take long for me to become hooked. Keith Stuart has a great writing style, easy to read and yet there is so much in it. I felt as if I knew the characters and I would have loved to have been part of the group.

It's a story of fathers and daughters, friendship, love, family, community. The words that come to mind are: funny, tragic, joyous, glorious, triumphant, magical.... and more. It brings out lots of emotions.

You might think that given the nature of Hannah's medical condition and her prognosis it could all turn out rather depressing. It's anything but. It's wonderful. (And it's a book I will definitely read again!)

I was a fan of Keith Stuart because of his phenomenal first book, A Boy Made of Blocks, and I am happy to say that his latest work is no let down. Once again Stuart weaves a heartwarming tale around a tragic circumstance, and creates characters that the reader cannot help but care about.
Tom is a single Dad, who runs a local theatre, Hannah is is comic book obsessed teenage daughter, who is living with a serious heart condition that can deteriorate rapidly at any time. The close bond between father and daughter means that she has grown up at the theatre, learning to read her favourite fairy tales under the spotlights and with the local amateur dramatics group as a sort of surrogate family. When Hannah is taken ill on stage in her first official performance , and then the theatre is flooded and threatened with closure it seems like nothing can go right , but as their friends rally round to help, maybe there is a little magic left after all
This is a heartwarming read about family, both of blood and of choice, and the relationship between Tom and Hannah is at the heart of the book, so it was important that both these characters really come to life on the page, and I am happy to report that they do. Hannah in particular is incredibly easy to feel for, she understands the severity of her illness, and while it does cause her to wobble here and there, especially when thinking of the future she may never have, she is also kind, caring and funny,
Despite the serious subject matter, there is a lot of humour in the book, particularly in the description of Tom's often disastrous blind dates, and this really helps to lift the book as a whole.
It is clear the author has done quite a bit of research into the medical condition he is writing about, and I was impressed that he considered and elucidated the psychological issues that can often accompany chronic illness.
If the book has a weak point, its the subplot involving the theatre boiler, but really this is about about people, and the people of the book, I am sure will linger with me for some time to come,

For many reasons I absolutely loved A Boy Made Of Blocks by Keith Stuart so I was eagerly anticipating his next novel and when I was emailed about a review copy I was thrilled! However, I had overcommitted myself to a lot of books to read for April and May publishing dates so it had to wait patiently on my TBR shelf, but Days of Wonder was worth the wait!

I am going to be honest, to me it is written in quite a different vein to A Boy Made Of Blocks, the story more of a commercial fiction/romance/YA hybrid, of which there is absolutely nothing wrong, just a different feel to his first book. It just isn't quite as gritty (maybe because of the semibiographical element of the first book) and it took me a while to ease myself in to the story; the number of characters perhaps made it a bit complicated at times to remember who was who (however, I bloody loved Margaret who is just amazing!). It is still a wonderfully touching book, that explores some difficult subjects and leads with a strong sense of hope and community spirit.

The way the book alternates between Hannah's, and her Dad, Tom's perspectives of events was effective and yet easy to follow. I felt an emotional attachment to both main characters; both trying their best to navigate difficult waters as Hannah turns 16 and, alongside a growing need for independence and self expression, her health is failing. The way this book looks at a young woman's identity whilst navigating a chronic, life -threatening condition reminded me of Louise Beech's "How To Be Brave", and I think if you loved that book you will certainly enjoy Days of Wonder.

The story itself is set in 2005, which felt a bit retro at times (MSN messenger and Myspace feature, sad to think my kids would have no idea what these things even were!) I liked the cultural references and share Hannah's passion of comics (& the comic shop which sounded my kinda place!). I'm not much of a theatre luvvie but the way in which Hannah's childhood fairy tales and memories are embedded in the plays performed over the years and the importance of the building (& those in it) to the characters was formidable, and well written.

A poignant tale about a father-daughter bond that leads you through fear, sorrow, nostalgia and pain, to hope, and ultimately to what really matters in life.

I'm very grateful to Clara Diaz at Little Brown Book Group UK for granting me this advanced review copy on Netgalley.

I read this authors previous book A Boy Made Of Blocks and loved it. I’ve got to admit I was t sure the author could write another to the level of the previous book but he did well with this story.

This story is told through two points of view- Tom and his daughter Hannah. When Hannah is four years old they find out she has a serious heart condition. This affects both their lives as her health on a daily basis isn’t good. On each of her birthdays Tom puts on a show at the local theatre that he manages to celebrate. Unfortunately the council is threatening to close the theatre.

This is a brilliantly told heart felt story. Two great main characters with some superb secondary characters. I’m looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

What an absolutely emotional, riveting and engrossing read.
This shows us how to be thankful in life no matter what life throws at us.
There are brighter moments that shine through.

Toms wife walked out on him and they're daughter while she was very young thus leaving him to manage as a one parent family.

Hannah his daughter seems to be struggling one day so off he took her for tests, the worse comes to light, Hannah has a rare heart problem that will only get worse.

Raising his daughter is not easy and as she gets older and weaker we see the roles reverse where she is worried about him and his future and how he will manage.

Its not all doom and gloom so don't be put off, this is the sweetest story of a daughter who loves and adores her father and a father who dotes on his daughter.

He manages the local theatre and each year with the help of the part time cast of actors they put on a lovely show for Hannah.

The wonders of the theatre are all around them, Hannah is now a little older and can see and appreciate what her father arranged each year.

Then the Council want to shut it down.
Hannah comes to the rescue as does others in the cast.

There's a lovely lady named Margaret within these pages, she was one of my favourite characters along with Hannah's troubled boyfriend.

I loved how this went full circle, it ends with his wife and his daughters offspring.

Its a lovely satisfying book that brought some laughter, some home truths, lots of moments of thankfulness and counting our blessing and making the most of what we have, who we have and enjoying life.

My thank to Little, Brown Book Group UK and net galley for my copy

Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com

An emotional storyline, characters you really care about, an element of romance and some added drama to keep you turning the pages: Days of Wonder hooked me from the first page right through to the last.

I don't want to give too much away about what happens, but I will say that this is an emotional read and you should prepare yourself with tissues if you're anything like me (emotional and very quick to cry!).

As the synopsis reveals, single dad Tom's daughter, Hannah, is suffering from a serious heart condition, and he's struggling to cope with what they both know is coming - but he's truly doing his best to try and keep an element of magic in her life. Day of Wonder is not just about this awful situation, though - there's so much else going on. From the theatre in peril to Tom's romantic life (or lack thereof), we're there every step of the way with them, and I found by the end of the novel I really cared about what would happen - meaning every emotion felt even more intense! Their relationship is amazing, and Tom especially is such a great character, striking just the right balance between being lovably hopeless in some areas, and incredibly creative and capable in others.

There are humorous parts and really sad parts, but whatever was happening within its pages, I loved every second of it - it all felt real and convincing, and made me want to find out more about Hannah's condition.

I read A Boy Made of Blocks, also by Keith Stuart, and hugely enjoyed it, so I was excited to give his newest novel a go. I certainly wasn't disappointed, so I'd really recommend this to anyone looking for a heart-wrenching, wonderful read.

Many thanks to Sphere for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.

A Boy Made of Blocks was in my top five reads in 2016 so I couldn’t wait to read Days of Wonder whilst being a bit apprehensive in case it didn’t match up. The tale is told from two perspectives , Hannah a teenager who was born with a life limiting heart defect, and Tom, her dad who manages a little local theatre and has always filled his daughter’s life with magic but is over protective to say the least. As the story unfolds Tom is forced to realise his baby girl has grown up and must be allowed to live her own life. Hannah’s love for her dad comes across so strongly and her need for him to have things to keep him going should the worst happen is heartbreaking and so touching. I ugly sobbed a couple of times but it’s a hopeful ending and the book resonated with my own strong feelings about family and love. Another top five of the year for me, I will be recommending this to everyone.

Tom, a single father to Hannah, is the manager od a tiny local theatre. On the same day each year, he and his cast of part-time actors have staged a fantastical production just for his little girl.

Hannah was diagnosed with a serious heart condition just before her fifth birthday. After her diagnosis, Tom, Hannah's father, gets his amateur dramatic group to create a faerie cavalcade outside Hannah's bedroom window. Now they hold a fairytale every day on the same date at the Willow Tree Theatre. Hannah's mother walked out on them when she was just three years old and her father has brought her up single handed ever since. Now aged fifteen, Hannah wants to find her father someone to lov before her time runs out.

This story is told from Tom and Hannah's points of view. It's told mostly in the present but we do get some flashbacks to Hannah's past. The story does dip for a bit in the middle of this story. This is a very emotional read though there is humor in the crazy games and banter that Tom and Hannah share. I was pulled in from the begining and apart from the dip in the middle, I loved this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK, and the author Keith Stuart for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read and really enjoyed Keith Stewart's book 'A Boy Made of Blocks'
I was keen to read this book.

This is a strong contender for my 'book of the year' I loved it from start to finish.

The characters are so believable, they are superbly crafted and developed.

The West Country setting feels so real.

The author has managed to create two excellent characters in father and daughter Tom and Hannah. The skill of his writing from both of their viewpoints is what makes this novel so special.

I won't go into the plot for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice to say that the book is very amusing in places. It is also very moving in places too.

I expect to see this novel at the top of the best seller lists in the near future.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and The Little Brown Book Group for a copy in exchange for this review.

I approached this book with a mix of excitement and trepidation, the latter because I had loved Keith’s debut novel A Boy Made of Blocks. Happily, I soon realised there was nothing to fear and once again I was in safe hands. Described as magical and moving I most definitely concur, and the magic starts right from the beginning.

Hannah was diagnosed at four, with a life limiting heart condition and Tom is determined to make sure that however long that life is, it will be filled with love and happy memories. From the birthday when he ‘magically’ ensured that fairies appeared at the end of the garden, to later ones when each year the theatre would stage a special birthday production – these were Hannah’s ‘Days of Wonder’. Of course as Hannah grows up, some of the magic starts to wear off and real life takes over, but Tom is determined to try to maintain the tradition. As Hannah’s 16th birthday approaches the Council threaten to close the theatre, this would mean not just the closure of a valued local amenity, but then end of an era for Tom and Hannah and all that the theatre has represented. For Tom the theatre has been a life line, his security blanket in life,when he’s had to deal with Hannah’s health scares. It’s also been a screen to hide behind, as he avoids moving on from his estranged wife and challenges of real life.

Without sounding trite, given the subject matter, this is a book full of heart and I defy anyone not to fall in love with Tom and his relationship with Hannah. But the book has a wonderful cast of characters beyond the main protagonists. From Hannah’s feisty and supportive group of friends to the wonderful and unconventional Margaret, whose theatrical anecdotes keep everyone entertained, even if in disbelief. In addition, there are the regulars in the theatre that help to provide Tom and Hannah with the ‘extended family’ they lack in real life.

The book develops by means of alternating chapters from Tom and Hannah, so you are drawn into experiencing each others perspective, often on the same subject. As well as being a book about fathers and daughters, it’s about growing up, coming of age and learning to move on – for both Hannah and Tom. Because of the way both stories are revealed, it opens up the readership market. Through Hannah it’s suited to young adults dealing with teenage emotions, education choices and young love. While Tom’s story focusing on his parental and work worries and dipping his toe back in the dating field will resonate with more adult readers. The overlap provides an engaging insight for both age groups.

While the core of the book is about families and friendship, it’s also a story about the theatre and magic that we could all do to occasionally weave into our lives, to keep the mundane and ordinary realities at bay. I have no hesitation in recommending it, it’s a beautiful, heartwarming read.

For lovers of fairy stories and of real life stories, a gentle but heart-wrenching coming-of-age story which also addresses the difficulty parents have in making the transition when children fight for their independence.

Hannah and her father Tom are both caught up in the life of their local theatre and have a group of close friends of all ages who share this mutual interest. In this story the characters are varied but not stereotypical and every one of the people we meet gives the reader a way to like them. The author too seems to be caught up in their lives and only reluctantly lets them go at the end of the novel. This sense of affectionate involvement is quite intense and I found myself trying to 'wish' the plot to work out nicely for everyone.

This book will be enjoyed by all the readers who praised Keith Stuart's A Boy Made of Blocks. It is another, but very different, story of real people facing real problems and coping with, mostly, dignity. There is pain and darkness but there are plenty of comedic moments along the way, together with compassion and more than a smattering of joy and magic.