Read and reviewed thanks to a free copy from NetGalley. When it came to reading this, I wasn't sure what to expect, as I came to it not remembering at all what the description had been, however, I loved it. Peterson wrote authentic, complex, generally likeable characters and told the story well using two narrators, but also in the form of diary entries from the deceased character Beth. This was a moving story which posed a really interesting question and the effect of difficult situations on relationships with family and friends, highlighting the importance of that, which I appreciate as so often it seems like the emphasis is on romantic relationships; it didn't end how I expected, but I think that worked in its favour. I'd like to read more by this author.

Peggy Andrews lives with her husband and daughter. Hers is a very happy marriage and their daughter Beth is the icing on the cake. She is wonderful in every way: all they could have dreamed for. They live life to the full, making loads of happy memories. When her husband first becomes ill the symptoms are only mild. But inevitably it becomes more of a concern when his condition deteriorates. He has Huntington's disease, also known as Huntington's chorea, which is an inherited disorder that results in death of brain cells and ultimately the sufferer dies as well. Peggy is a dedicated and enthusiastic carer and their daughter Beth a great comfort. When he dies his wife and daughter are at his bedside.
When Beth grows up she has a daughter of her own who she names Florence. Flo means the world to her and Beth always means to tell Flo about her inherited Huntington's. Beth had undergone counselling herself when she was told about the cause of her father’s death because the chance of inheriting the disease is 50 /50. Peggy begged Beth not to take the test, fearing it would blight her life. She wanted Beth to have the very best life she could without fear.
Peggy doesn’t know how much more she can take when years later her beloved daughter Beth dies suddenly as she rushes into the road without looking. Peggy and Flo are totally devastated, their worlds rocked. But when Peg goes through her daughters belongings and discovers a hospital letter with the news that Beth had proved positive she can’t believe her eyes, because Beth had solemnly promised that she wouldn’t. Now the secret holder of Beth’s devastating news, Peg is in a dilemma as to whether she should she tell Flo or whether she should she keep the time bomb of a secret. She deliberates and deliberates until her decision is made. Yet to come in this heart breaking yet uplifting story is what happens next in Flo’s story. This is my favourite part of this rich and absorbing novel.
I adored this assured and compassionate novel told in three voices: Peggy’s, Flo’s and Beth’s voice, heard through Flo’s reading of her treasure trove of journals. The story is harrowing but also beautiful and rich in emotions. Alice Peterson’s story telling is vivid and magnificent; she oozes talent in examining the moral dilemmas. It is her special gift, her trademark. She always manages to delve inside a magic box and expose emotions hiding deeply within the heart and soul, richly adorning each of the three family member’s most private and intimate thoughts hidden beneath the surface. She reveals their secrets with integrity and empathy, taking into account their own points of view. Her characters are believable, relatable and brilliantly introduced and skilfully developed so that you really care about what happens and are desperate to find out the conclusion of their journeys. It enthralled me and kept me reading late into the night and then again early in the morning. I really loved every aspect of this novel and am happy to reveal my 5* review, so richly deserved.
I received a copy of this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Simon & Schuster UK, all in return for an honest review. Thank you most sincerely for my copy. I recommend it as an excellent story for readers to enjoy.

This is such a heat rending novel dealing with a serous subject and ultimately a moral dilemma. Well researched and written sensitively. I was really moved at times reading this.

OMG Alice Peterson has done it again!! What an amazing story about a chronic and life debilitating illness.
The characters are so believable. The story line is amazing. As the story line unfolds you feel you are being pulled into their lives. Every character feels so real.

At the start of 'If You Were Here', we are introduced to Peggy Andrews, who is struggling with a moral dilemma. Her husband died of Huntington's disease, a rare genetic disorder that has a 50/50 chance of being passed on to a child. Peggy was terrified at the thought that her daughter Beth may also have the condition, and so, when the opportunity for genetic testing was offered, she begged her not to have the rest, preferring to live in hope instead of fear.

Years later, Beth dies in a sudden accident, and after her death, Peggy finds a letter confirming her worst fear - Beth had secretly had the test, and been diagnosed with Huntington's. But she had told no one, least of all her own daughter Flo, who grew up blissfully unaware of her family's connection to Huntington's. In her mind, her grandpa died of 'some kind of Parkinson's', and her mother's death was a tragic accident, as Beth had hidden her own diagnosis and symptoms from her daughter.

Peggy is now faced with the awful reality of having to tell her granddaughter the truth about their family history, and even worse, the fact that she too may have inherited this disease, leaving Flo to face a heart-wrenching decision - should she follow in her mother's path, and also get tested for Huntington's?


I have to admit, 'If You Were Here' is exactly my kind of book. You know how everyone has that type of novel, where you can tell just from the tagline and a quick skim of the description that you'll love it? Yep, for me the description literally reads like an amalgamation of all of my favourite elements of a novel smushed into one. Family drama, moral conundrums, life altering decisions - what more could you want?

At the start of the novel, Peggy is debating whether to tell Flo about the potential for her to have the Huntington's gene, and while this section was interesting, I found the book really picked up once Peggy had told Flo, as the complexities of the choice facing Flo made for really heart-wrenching reading. If you'd have asked me before I'd read this book, I would have straight away said that of course I would take the test - surely being able to prepare is better? But in that sense this book was completely unbiased as to what the best option was, and Peterson put forward a really good case for both taking and not taking the test.

One of the real strengths of this book to me was the inclusion of multiples perspectives - chapters were written from the POV of Peggy, Flo, and later, diary entries written by Beth throughout her life. Beth's diary entries in particular were a great example of strong characterisation - her voice was so distinctive, and gave a real insight into the particular struggles of being raised by someone with a genetic condition which you fear you might also have. I also found it really interesting to read from the POV of a relative who did not have the condition and the heartbreak they experienced as a spectator (Peggy), and while some of her decisions/actions were difficult to understand, it did make my heart break for her to think how awful it must be, to have a condition tear such destruction throughout your entire family.

However, obviously the main character of the book in terms of plot is Flo, and the choice she has to face with regards to getting the test. I won't spoil whether she does or not, but I will say that her decision, and the path she takes to reach it, sparked a lot of conversation with family and friends, especially when a relative pointed out that a similar dilemma had also been faced by a family on Neighbours!

All in all, I was really impressed by 'If You Were Here' - it was a poignant, moving, and ultimately really life-affirming novel about the importance of living each day to the fullest and appreciating what you have while you have it. I'll end on one of my favourite quotes, that I feel really sums up the heart of this book:

'These days, people strive for perfection, not realising all they really need is health and happiness. A spotless kitchen isn't going to cut the mustard. A meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant won't either. It's the people sitting around your kitchen table who count.'