Live for the Moment is the Message from this powerfully emotive novel:
Vivi has her future mapped out as a highly successful lawyer in the City. It's her twenty-seventh birthday and she attends a reunion with other graduates of LSE law school. Her future is secure: so different from the life she grew up in. And then... Everything changes in a split second. A novel complete with a powerful message of living for today because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Without spoiling the storyline let me say that Vivi discovers happiness in a slightly different direction than that which she had planned. Complete with mystery and intrigue this is a novel not to be missed and one which stresses the importance of close family and friends: life and happiness might not always come the way you thought.

I almost gave up on this book as I found it very hard to get into. I stuck with it and in the whole admire the story even though the medical detail became tedious. It’s a serious subject matter I know but I was reading to be distracted on a journey so not what I was looking for really.

Not normally a book I would read, and I did find it slow to begin with and the main character Vivi was slightly annoying me BUT I persevered and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth a read.

A heartwarming story which tackles the contentious issue of organ donation. It is well researched and informative and the characters are totally believable. It is both happy and sad and not at all predictable .

Another amazing read from Susan Lewis , absolutely hooked me from the first chapter. Loved the past and present story line and trying to work out the connection between them . Highly recommended read ...just make sure you've got a hanky at hand.

Enjoyed this from the start. Kept me engaged and was extremely well written. First book from this author but it won't be my last. thank you for the opportunity to read and review

A hugely touching and emotional read that I enjoyed. I shed a few tears throughout, especially at the end.
It gives a strong message about organ donation and the importance of looking after your health.
I’ll definitely read more from this author again.

I enjoyed this book. It made me stop and think about health and how without it it can change your life in many many ways. A must-read book.

An emotional read with an important message around organ donation. Cleverly written.
Thank you for the advance copy of this book

Lovely! Wanted to savour every minute of this beautifully crafted book.
I gave it 4/5 on goodreads.

I was moved by this book. The author has given us a good story and woven it very cleverly, around a very emotive subject - that of organ donation. There’s a mysterious history to our characters, that keeps us wanting more, wanting to know how these families are linked and what their stories are. Then, the need of one for a heart transplant leads the reader to consider what it must be like to be that person, waiting for the ‘phone to ring.

This story deals very well, with problems surrounding organ donation; peoples fears and beliefs and not making wishes known. Running alongside the fictional story, it gave me something very real to think about.

Beautifully and so intricately and delicately written but with so much emotion and detail it’s sweeps you away into the world of ViVi. The beginning of the book and the two characters are so far apart you can’t see how the story can ever come together but then when it’s does it’s horrifying and beautiful all at the same time. This story is one of the most beautiful, powerful and emotional I’ve ever read and really moved me! I’ve blubbered my way through all of it, such is the intensity and emotion of the writing and yet the mystery and drama wrapped up in there too make it for an intriguing, suspenseful read! Finished it in two days but I feel it will stay with me for a long time after!

Such an admirable and emotive subject to write about. It took me a while to get into it and I found the beginning very slow. I left it and read 3 books in between returning to it. Halfway through the pace quickened, and I began to enjoy it more, especially with a mystery being revealed.

I would say this is a good book to take on holiday

What a heart wrenching book! I am a big fan of Susan Lewis and this doesn’t disappoint. She is an amazing writer who really brings her characters to life. The message in this book is so important! Be an organ donor! If it encourages even one person then this book has done amazing. I love that the cause in this book is real and the campaign is real. Fantastic.

I loved this book. In depth research and great writing - what a treat.

The early part of the book was split between two different characters and although I did wonder what the connection could be, it didn’t bother or irritate me sufficiently to annoy. Obviously it all came together - just as I believed it would.

No one warned me that I would need to be somewhere private to read the last parts. Embarrassingly for me I was in public and found myself with tears rolling down my face and at one point even sobbed out loud. However don’t think this is a criticism as I love a book that is so well written that it engenders strong feelings.

Can’t wait to read another from this very talented author.

Another masterpiece from a brilliant author. Completely compelling. Keeps you gripped with every page.

What an amazingly beautiful story! A captivating read that really tugs on the heartstrings but has an essence of humour running throughout in the lovely characters. Thought provoking from start to finish.

Brilliant book. Full of suspense and emotion. The main character Vivi has a heart attack on her birthday and has to learnt to live within her physical limitations while waiting for an organ donation. A bit preachy at times but it is a very emotive subject

A warm, rich and lovely story that was told so well. It's emotional but makes you evaluate so many things. Quite a thought provoking read.
Very enjoyable.

I have read several Susan Lewis novels and found this book very different. The story involves two families, neither in the first instance connected to each other, with alternating chapters outlining each back story. There is a difference in timelines of the two evolving series of events covering some thirty years. Early chapters lightly outline happy families, living life to the full and enjoying a fulfilling idyllic existence. Both families suffer a catastrophic event leading to the end of life as they knew it and commencement of a very different and unwanted lifestyle. At this point the reader is drawn into how the two families become known to each other but are kept in the dark regarding the fatal link of three decades previous that irrevocably destroyed their happiness. As a very enthusiastic reader up to this point I was keen to move forward and discover the purpose of all the secrets and lies. However the story then becomes much more involved in rules and inadequate system related to medical and political measures for donor transplants which although seemlessly added into storyline I found a distraction from the ongoing traumatic events.. Eventually, back on track, the events of three decades previous now in the open and with full knowledge available to explain the tragedy of both families, the ultimate conclusion comes from nowhere to reveal the most unexpected of endings. I have purposely avoided story spoilers as really important to be read in ignorance of the past allowing author to drip feed events slowly and finally divulging the secret, although my attempts at guessing did not deliver any correct answers. Many thanks to author and NetGalley for the copy of this book to review.