A beautifully written entertaining heart wrenching novel.A story of a wife dead from an awful disease a husband dealing with her death trying to raise their son.He discovers a packet of letters she left to help guide him.?Tissues are required .The characters come alive drew me right in.#netgalley #harpercollinsuj.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because the synopsis sounded really good to me. A man loses his wife to cancer and is left alone to raise his very young daughter. The wife, knowing she is going to die while everyone around her seems to stay positive, decides to write letters for her husband and daughter, addressing things that she believes with happen down the road...things that she will miss being around for. Two years after the loss, Evan believes he is ready to start reading them...everyone seems to believe he should move on and start dating again but he knows he is not ready for that. His best friend comes back home and while he is very angry at her for leaving when he needed her the most, he lets her back into their lives as she helps uplift them and a young girl does need some female advice and care as she gets older. The book is full of love, struggle, loss, laughter, and character development...all of which make for a great story.

The Single Dad’s Handbook
I was intrigued by the title of this book first. So much of what I read is from a woman’s perspective, so it is good to see the other side of the story.
This story is heartbreaking, but had moments of pure joy too. The handbook is a notebook created by a young woman who lost her battle with cancer leaving behind Evan, her husband and Violet her beautiful daughter who she will never see grow up.
Evan is lost. He is getting through each day. He is feeding and dressing Violet and sometimes getting her hair sort of right, but truthfully, he is existing not living. He needs help. And then he remembers the notebook that Claire left for him. Perhaps this Single Dad’s Handbook might have some answers.
This book is truly a beautiful journey. A series of letters to be read on certain occasions in Violet’s and Evan’s lives.
It is funny, and sad, and uplifting to watch Evan and Violet try to find a new way forward with the help of letters from Claire and a few other people on the way.
I loved the way author; Lynsey James wasn’t afraid to show the hard side of grief. There were times when I just wanted to reach into the book and give Evan a hug and then others where I wanted to shake him and show him how much life still had in store for him.
This book will touch your heart. I gave it four stars.

A bit of dark mixed with some light. It took me a bit to get into but overall it was a good story. The letters reminded me a little bit of P. S I Love You.

Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Plot: 
Welcome to The Single Dad’s Handbook, your comprehensive guide to life without me when I pop my clogs!
‘I laughed, I cried, and I swooned a bit too (both over Evan and the beautiful Edinburgh setting). Gorgeous.’ Lia Louis
It’s been two years since cancer stole Evan Harper’s wife, Claire, from their lives. Although Evan’s doing everything he can to be Super Dad for his five year old, Violet, he can’t seem to get anything right. So he turns to the one person who gives the best advice – Claire herself.
Before she died she wrote him a book of letters to see him through the ups and downs of raising their daughter and her words soon help him see that there is life after loss – and maybe even a second shot at love – when you find the courage to start living again…
It’s time to start living again, Evan. Your new forever starts right here. Love always, Claire
An emotional, uplifting story of life, loss and love perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern and S.D. Robertson.
My verdict: A lovely little new take on PS I Love you. A story about grief, cancer and reclaiming life and finding love again. James’ writing is heartwarming and at times a tearjerker whilst at the same time being uplifting. I loved Violet and Evan and I had found a kindred spirit in Claire in regards to her dry sense of humour and attitude towards her terminal illness. Whilst this book also deals with being a single parent it also touches on Depression, bullying, internet dating and pushing out of your comfort zone. The novel reminded me of Nicholas Sparks Two by Two and The last Song in regards to looking in depth at the father/ daughter relationship. But it is also testament that even though we all have a soulmate, we can indeed get a second chance at love. Overall, a very witty and uplifting read that I soaked up in three hours. 
I also give Lynsey James props for including and giving Evan a rather eccentric interest of ghosts walks and legends of Glasgow which I found to be subtle double entendre about death. I applaud Lynsey for her no nonsense approach surrounding the taboo of death and putting a spin on something so unfortunate. I also loved the element of epistolary to break up the narrative where we saw hypothetical situations from Claire’s point of view and how she would deal with them.
In regards to Claire‘s letters and eventually Evan’s it reinforces my belief that writing is definitely cathartic (I found Clares advice given to be very helpful and I will try and incorporate in my everyday life. Even though her character is not physically in the narrative we get a sense of her personality from her letters and from Evans flashbacks which led me to the conclusion that she is almost like a life coach from beyond the grave. But in all serious thank you to Lynsey for tackling a subject i’m not just showing the lows of grief and cancer treatment itself but the highs that come afterwards when Evan finally lets go and reclaim his lifei’m not just showing the lows of grief and cancer treatment itself but the highs that come afterwards when Evan finally lets go and reclaim his life.

Evan a young widower and single dad is still trying to figure things out 2 years after the death of his wife. After his daughter finds a pair of her mum's shoes he is prompted to look through her things finding a book of letters forming his single dad's handbook. The book then follows his journey through grief to the other side and helps him find his next path. This book may me both laugh and cry and I read it within 48 hours. Having lost someone I loved this year the poignancy of the letters in the book helped me face my own feelings of loss which I felt made it special. This book is really well written and you care about Evan and Violet his little girl and are really wanting things to work out for them. The lost art of letters gives his wife a voice and makes the reader feel like they knew her. If you loved P. S I love you then this is book for you!

Lynsey James has taken the difficult journey through grief and loss and given us a delightful chance to heal with her characters, the widower Evan and his daughter, Violet. Adding in Edinburgh for location and its own glorious back drop and essence, is a wonderful element. Two years into learning to be a single dad, and seemingly failing himself, Evan runs across a book of letters his wife, Claire, wrote during her struggle with cancer. A lifeline of understanding and emotions, Evan certainly needed to hear. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A heartbreaking, but uplifting work of art. A story of love, loss, grief and moving on. I fell in love with Evan and adored Violet and her cat names. This story made my eyes fill with tears but also made me laugh out loud. It's tge first book I've read by this author but I intend on reading everything she's written if it's as amazing as this one.

Wow this book is amazing, It made me howl with laughter but also made me sob, This is the 1st Book I have read by the author and I am defiantly going to read the rest of the books the author has done .

This Book tells the story of Evan and his daughter Violet and how they are coping after the death of Claire wife to Evan and Mummy to Violet who died of cancer 2 years ago and the amazing handbook Claire left for Evan.

I loved all characters in this book and the setting of Edinburgh I have never been to Edinburgh but its on my list visit, if you loved Ps I love you or I wanted you to know Books you love this book

I would recommend everyone to read this amazing book and I read it in an evening

With thanks to Netgalley & One More chapter for the arc of this book for this honest review.

Welcome to The Single Dad’s Handbook, your comprehensive guide to life without me when I pop my clogs!

This book is so sweet, his wife, who died of cancer, wrote him a book of letters to help him. She didn't want him to crumble without her. She writes to him, he writes back.

Beautifully written it explores the taboo subject of death, grief and life after loosing a loved one. I was so moved by this book.

Yes, it's quite sad and tearful but amongst the dark there is light. There is a lot of humour so it might sound depressing, talking about death, but its more uplifting than sad. It's making me think about writing letters for my own family for when I die. Absolutely loved this book

The Single Dad's Handbook was a hit and I just loved it. I knew from the description I would fly through this book and I did. Evan lost Claire 2 years ago and comes across a Handbook she left for him to get through life without her. The characters in this book were all amazing and I fell in love with all of the. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll swoon!!!!!

A heart-warming story filled with character development struggles and some laughter along the way. The father, Evan, has an unconventional job which adds to his personality. Rather than just being a dad with an office job where some novels seem to focus. Family is a core part of the book as it focuses on Evan and Violet’s relationship and how the grow as a pair with Claire, the mother, no longer with them.

It shows the progression of not just Evan and Violet but also the people around the family who too loved Claire. We get to hear their opinions of how Evan should be doing and the typical “It’s what Claire would have wanted”. Together Claire and Evan manage to tackle events such as the first day at school, making friends, and Evan even gets to question how to love again all thanks to the book Claire left.
Lynsey James has managed to write a feel-good book where you follow the characters and hope for them to succeed. There were a few moments where I laughed out loud thanks to careful moments revealed with a turn of a page. Any sarcasm was spot on and a true reflection of human nature.
I would have liked a slightly longer ending maybe including an “adventure” but I would certainly be recommending this to others.

Thank you #Netgallery for the opportunity to read this book.

I may have a little bit of a crush on Evan!

Evan lost his wife to cancer nearly two years earlier and he's still trying to pick of the pieces along with his daughter Violet who is 5. The poor guy is struggling and its obvious how much he loved his wife and how much he loves his daughter. Claire has left him a book full of advice and by reading it he's able to start healing.

This is such a beautifully written book about grieving and starting over. Its about going through the darkest times but still coming out in the sunshine. It's a sad topic, but the book is filled with so much love and hope. One of the best reads this year.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

The Single Dad's Handbook shows the progression of Evan and his daughter Vivian after his wife Claire passes away from cancer a few years back. Evan is doing his best to maintain the household all while Vivian goes to school for the first time. During this time of transition, Evan opens up a binder his wife had made with letters addressed to him with categories for scenarios. As situations arise, Evan begins reading the letters and gets motivated to take his life back. He even enters the online dating world, plans a halloween bash and reunites with old friends. Loved watching the progression of Evan and the bond with Vivian and his best friend Hannah.

I really enjoyed this book but I felt that the Hannah character was a little underdeveloped. I found it difficult to connect with her. Other than done. Thank you so much to netgalley for the ARC.

This book serves as a reminder to truly live life and embrace the magic it contains. Claire certainly epitomized that and it truly showed in her letters. What she and Evan had was a great love and true partnership. Evan certainly did miss her but it was in his choice to truly start living again that his relationship with Violet and in turn Hannah grew to the better. A wonderful and heartwarming read.

This was a beautiful yet heartbreaking novel describing the story of a loving husband that lost his wife to a horrible disease and now has to navigate through the turbulent waters of single fatherhood, with the help of letters from his late spouse. A real tear jerker!

A well told story telling the story of Evan. His wife, the mother of his daughter died of cancer 2 years before and although he is trying to hold things togeher, it hasn't been easy. His wife, Claire, wrote a series of letters before she died and Evan refers to these .
This book is full of emotions, grief, obviously given the storyline, but there are also funny moments, frustrating times and as a reader you also experience what Evan is going through, He has a good network of people to care for him and his daughter. I liked that this book felt so truthful , that in this situation you do not always get everything right and you regress and progress whilst grieving. Little things can set you off (loved the episode with the red high heels!) .
Thank you to Net galley for a great read in exchange for an honest review .

Evan and his 5 year old daughter, Violet, are at breaking point. Evan’s wife, Claire, does two years earlier from cancer and he is muddling along. He finds a book left by Claire with her guidelines and words of love and comfort for those moments when he can’t cope. Following her advice he begins to move on and repair his relationship with Violet and be the best Daddy he can.
This was such a fun yet emotional read and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Single Dad's Handbook by Lynsey James is a heartbreaking, yet ultimately uplifting, read from an author who is new to me, but one who has certainly been added to my radar.

Evan has lost his wife Claire to breast cancer, leaving him as the sole custodian of their five year old daughter, Violet. As Evan continues to struggle two years after her passing, he finds comfort in the letters that Claire has left behind, with advice not only on how to raise their growing daughter, but offering acceptance of Evan's need to move forward and find happiness again.

This is a beautiful story that will surely resonate with anyone who has ever lost the person they believed would be their forever.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC.