Thank you netgalley for the chance to review this book. I found this a bit of a rollercoaster ride of emotions. About a girl who had it all and then within a blink of an eye it was all change. I found myself fully engrossed in Vivi's character and was urged on to find the connection to Shelly. Very well written and highly emotional read.

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I was sent this book by Net Galley for review. I haven't read Susan Lewis before but I will definitely be looking her books up in future based on this one. Our story starts with Shelley and Jack, a bohemian couple who escape city life for a 'Good Life' living on a farm in the country. They have 3 children, a boy and 2 girls.

We then meet Vivienne (Vivi) who has been diagnosed with a heart disorder that will be terminal if she can't find a donor heart. Although they have no idea, the lives of Vivi and Shelley's families are inextricably linked by an event that happened many years ago.

Without wishing to give too much away I can't say too much more about the story. What I will say is that is was a slow grower but the further I got, the quicker I read, until I found myself at the end, sad and bereft, wanting to relive the story all over again. I loved the characters, particularly Vivi who was so brave and so real. When I finished the book, I found that a lot of the inspiration had come from a real life sufferer of the condition that Vivi has in the book, which explains how it was such a genuine story. Five stars from me!

I read this via The Pigeonhole app.

This was an engaging and thought provoking read as it looks at the question of organ donation, and how the wait can affect the patients and those around them, alongside a story of family drama and what happens when the truth comes out after years of feeling aggrieved at not knowing the full story.

Vivienne is a high flying lawyer with the whole world at her feet - until she collapses on her 27th birthday and her life then flips 180 and she is left to ponder what is really important to her, while trying to stay positive in the hope of receiving a heart transplant.

Alongside the story of Vivi, we also go back in time to the story of Jack and Shelley who lived on a farm and had the perfect family life - or so it seemed. Trouble with the neighbours sparks off a number of disputes and when tragedy strikes it rocks the family to their core.

The paths of the stories soon cross and it all becomes clearer as to why the stories are being told in the way that they are. I did feel at times it took a little too long to get to the point and often got too bogged down in trivial little things when there were bigger issues to be dealt with.

The last third of the book was where the point of the story got going and it is obvious how passionate the author feels about the importance of Organ Donor registration as this came through very clearly in the story and how it affected Vivi and her family. An enjoyable read

I have just finished this book and I feel a bit lost for words to be honest. This will be a hard review to write as such a massive part of the book is something I really can’t mention as it will spoil the story for potential readers. Instead I’ll try and focus this review on the characters and the amazingly emotive writing that the author delivers in this book.

The story focuses largely on two separate women, in two completely different time periods, and for around two thirds of the book I had absolutely no idea how these two characters could be connected.

Vivienne starts the story as one character and by the end is a completely different person to how she started out. Once you read the book you will completely understand where I’m coming from with that. What she experiences through this story is something that could move emotion in even the hardest of personalities.

Shelley and her family are the kind of characters that I would love to meet in real life and visit on their farm. They sound like such caring, kind people and above all have that strong family bond that I think everyone wants to feel.
The biggest thing for me with this book is that the author made me feel like I knew these characters personally, like they were friends of mine and I was totally invested with how their lives would turn out. The way the author drew me in like that is quite magical really. It was a hard read for me at times as some of the issues that the characters have to deal with are things I have experienced. However, the plot and the tactful way the author deals with certain aspects of the story are a credit to her writing style.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it most definitely will not not be the last!

Thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This is another top read from Susan Lewis. I read this book in one day, I just could not leave it. The title says it all, it just takes one minute for everything to change. Vivienne’s life changes dramatically on her 27th birthday, she has a city job, a modern apartment and a circle of glamorous friends who she is out celebrating her birthday with when she has a cardiac arrest.
Vivi has to learn to adapt to the many changes in her daily life, she moves back home to live with her mother, she is constantly tired, she can’t drive and she is on a cocktail of medications every day. She needs a heart transplant.
Along side the rollercoaster story of Vivi there is Shelley and her family, and then as the story unfolds dramatically we see how the two families are linked. It’s an emotional story especially when Vivi and Josh meet, you can feel their instant attraction and their love growing as they tentatively get to know one another. All the characters play important roles.
It’s a story of families, love, loss and heartache. A very thought provoking novel and one which I think will stay with the reader for some time.
Susan Lewis at her best.

Great novel. Starts off as two disparate stories and does take a while to join them together, but develops and grows throughout. Heartbreaking ending

This is the story of Vivi Shager, she’s young, beautiful, a lawyer and living life to the full.

But, on her twenty-seventh birthday, she collapses, her heart is failing and life just changes.....no more living alone, no more parties, and constant fear that her heart may just stop....

The totally despondent and weakened Vivi is forced to accept life has to adapt and she is moved back home to her mothers house and tries to continue to come to terms with this new life....such as it is....

Along with Vivi’s tale is the story of Shelley Raynor and her family who live in Deerwood farm. This is not just an aside, it’s integral to the overall story and gradually entwines into one, beautifully written, soul touching and emotional read....

The medical information lends a reality to the events and really brings home the need for a more robust organ donation system. This is not just a rollercoaster of suspense and emotions but a whole theme park, including a Waltzer.....

I don’t think I have ever been so emotionally invested in characters of a novel but these touched my heart and will stay with me for a long time....an absolute masterpiece by Susan Lewis.....a must read but be prepared for tears....over and over.....happy and sad.


I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

As usual, a well written and gripping story from Susan Lewis. Although a touch melodramatic in parts this is still a real page-turner, with empathetic characters, apart from the (obvious) baddies. Not sure that it will increase the numbers on the donor register though!

A beautiful read, and one which touched my soul.

Beginning with Vivi, a twenty something lawyer in London we get the feeling of what her life is like - and how much she loves it. Alternating chapters introduce us to Shelley and her life with her family in the country. As both stories merge, we find out much more about them, both happy and sad . . .

I did wonder when both these stories were going to merge and was convinced I had it worked out - but no, wrong again! But meet they do, and this morphs into an amazing read about friends, family, love and, oh, so much more. I have read many of Susan Lewis' previous novels and this one is completely different to what I expected. A compelling and flawless read, it is one which will stay with me for a long time to come.

I've always believed in organ donation and have made sure my family are all aware of my feelings. This has some bearing in this book, and I now understand more than I did previously and can imagine it will have the effect of increasing the number of people who sign up to participate. This isn't a 'preachy' read, rather it is part of the story, and makes it all the more riveting.

My thanks to publisher Harper Collins for my copy via NetGalley. As always, this is my honest, original and unbiased review.

With thanks to Netgalley, Pigeonhole and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is an incredible, uplifting and moving story and shows how important and the difference organ donation can make to peoples lives.
The mothers stories, Shelley and Gina are stories in their own right and then you add Vivi’s story and they make up a very special and moving book.
The book covers a whole multitude of different peoples stories from neighbours, family and people who are coming out of the care systems. It all comes together to make an engrossing, interesting and entertaining read.
Highly recommended.

Oh my goodness. This book has destroyed me. It has had me going through every emotion with the main character vivi. I have experienced every high and low. Tasted the disappointment. This book is truly inspirational and is an eye opener into organ donation here in the UK too. What a brilliant way to raise awareness and get people talking about it. Massive points to the author for being able to do that as well as write a brilliant heartfelt story!

I really enjoyed this story of family, secrets and how your life can change in an instant. The characters are very well written and likeable. The way the two seemingly separate story strands end up joined together was excellently done and kept me guessing as to how they were going to be linked. A tear jerking story that also brings to focus the very important subject of organ donation.

A good emotional read. Overall I enjoyed this book. I feel rung out emotionally. I feel that at times the story was predictable and that it was a bit too long. I still enjoyed it and would probably read something else by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Read and reviewed thanks to a free copy from NetGalley. I enjoyed this book. Lewis writes her characters well, and creates genuine affection for them and their story. I felt that her use of different narrators/perspectives in the story worked well, and the strands came together in a away I didn't expect. The book was easy to read, yet emotional and thought-provoking.

Great read. Engaging for the reader- always want to find out what happens next. Don’t try to second guess as it won’t work.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Collins uk for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

A really good read. Different to other books, I was gripped from the start and there were some great twists and turns throughout. That said, there is also a very important message that makes the reader think about life and it's value and how they can help others. Believeable characters and a great story. Thoroughly recommended.

This book is bittersweet. It shows how falling in love can just happen out of the blue. How one day your life is your idea of perfect but can turn 180 and you feel you have nothing to live for.

It is a beautiful tear jerking love story that bring about awareness of organ donating.

This is the tale of Vivienne Shager who’s 27 years old, has a high flying job as a solicitor, a group of glamorous friends and a life that revolves around working hard and enjoying the fruits of those labours. Unfortunately life has other plans for Vivi and whilst out celebrating her birthday with her girlfriends she is felled by two serious heart attacks nearly losing her life in the ambulence. Suddenly her world is turned upside down as she gets used to living with a major heart condition, a huge medicine regime and rehabilitation schedule and the prospect of waiting for a donor heart to be available. Along the way she re-evaluates her life and is determined to discover who her father was despite her mother refusing to share the knowledge.

Once again Susan Lewis has written an incredible novel that hooks you from the opening pages and keeps you enthraleed right till the final word. The story unfolds through Vivienne’s voice in the present and Shelley’s voice in the past , each chapter taking you closer to the moment their tales intertwine and become a sinlge voice. Donating organs is a controversial topic and the way it is portrayed in this novel clealy shows the true importance of being a donor. The author has captured the heartache that can take place waiting for an organ and then the high possibilty of the organ not being viable or possibly being withdrawn by a grieving family. A wonderful read that I would highly recommend.

Susan has done it again. Another good read.
On the day of Vivi’s 27th birthday her life changed forever. Up until then she had been a vibrant, hard working lawyer living and working in London. Forced to give everything up and return home to Kesterley ( a familiar setting for Susan’s books). We follow her and her family as she struggles to adapt to her new life and searches for answers to hers and her mother’s past.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title

I'm really glad I persevered past the first few pages. I thought it was going to be one kind of book but suddenly it became quite another and the other was wonderful, heartwarming, intriguing and satisfying.