Cover Image: How to Save a Life

How to Save a Life

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I started this book thinking that it would be a nice romantic read about a love triangle of three young people finding love and friendship, however it was and is so much more than that. How to save a life is a book that draws you in and tells a story of the three characters and starts from the night that one of them died and how the other two brought him back to life.
The book is told from the viewpoint of the three of them over the years as they fall in and out of love with each other and with others. It’s a story of love, loss, family, misunderstanding and ultimately that of friendship.
The characters are mainly likeable, especially Joel who really struggles with his heart condition and the story of how him, Tim and Kerry manoeuvre through their lives is well written and quite emotional. I felt that the topic of the heart trouble Joel suffers and the caring for Tim’s mother were both written with real respect and emotion. As a character I found Tim to be less likeable, however he was a vital part of the story and ultimately the ending was very fitting for the story.
I would recommend this book highly and am sure that it will be really well received.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

No one can ever tell how they may react in a crisis but this is exactly what teenage St John’s Cadets Kerry and Tim find out one New Years Eve in 1999. At a party the A level students, who have been close friends for years, watch as golden boy Joel, fit, heathy, gorgeous Joel, destined for the premier league, falls to the ground and has a cardiac arrest. Kerry rushes over and immediately uses her training and starts to perform CPR whilst onlookers call for an ambulance. Tim….freezes….for 18 whole minutes.

The story follows these 3 teenagers over the next 20 years as we see how their lives are affected by this and other elements and decisions they make about their futures.

I enjoyed reading this book. I found the characters likable and believable and the story was a heart warming, easy one to follow but which also touches on serious matters like mental health, drugs, expectations of others and caring for a sick parent. The author writes of how the two teenagers, who are both planning on studying medicine at university, deal with the events of that New Years Eve, and how the aftermath along with things already happening in their lives impacts on the decisions they then go on to make. We also read of the impact and mental and physical changes this has on Joel, which I thought was especially well done and researched.

The characters move in and out of each others lives over the course of the next 20 years as it mainly focuses on their love life, relationships, career and mental health.

I really liked the way the author combined this heart warming tale of young lives, with the subject matter of life after cardiac arrest. I felt the author had researched the topic well or had indeed personal experience of it and found the parts of the story which addressed recovery, physical, mental and emotional impact very interesting.

The chapters are written from the different perspectives of each of the main 3 characters and also headed with the year it is based in. There were some nice touches of dropping in key news events from the time and also the inclusion of A Guide to the Chain of Survival. I found the way life within a hospital was written very believable and enjoyed the parts showing the hierarchy within hospital’s for staff and trainees that exists. I particularly liked the character of Kerry and was eager to see her life turn out for the best for her. There are a number of smaller characters which add nicely to the story and found I it an enjoyable, interesting quick read.

Many thanks to the publishers for my advanced copy via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

I will start this review by saying I am an emotional person and I do cry easily, but this book honestly had me weeping at points, in a good way! It's a love story but has all the complexities of human relationships. It explores different types of relationships, and also the impact of trauma on these relationships. I got frustrated at times with this story but mainly because I wanted 2 people to be together and they were just...frustrating! But I really enjoyed the writing and all of the characters were believable and likeable. Would definitely read another book by this author and would recommend this book to others.

Was this review helpful?

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚
How To Save A Life By Eva Carter. Publication Date 27th May

Can I start by saying that I usually go for fast paced thrillers BUT something jumped out about this book and I’m so glad it did - I absolutely loved it!! Yes it’s a love story but there is so much more going on in this story.

Kerry, Joel & Tim are the main characters. It follows the aftermath of saving someone’s life. How this has had an impact on their lives, as well as the person they saved. The book goes on for a number of years through these characters points of view. Their ups and downs and the bond that they have. I loved these characters and willed so much for them to find happiness.

A love story with a bit of grit!! Loved it!!

#howtosavealife #evacarter #panmacmillan #mantlebooks #gritty #lovestory #bookstagramshaz

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

Was this review helpful?

This pulled me right in from the start and kept me reading and enjoying it until the end. There were times when the pace changed and got a little slow for me but overall I would recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

The events of the Millennium's Eve have a life changing effect on Joel, Tim and Kerry, haunting their choices and relationships throughout their lives.
One minute Joel is playing football with friends the next he is laying lifeless on the ground. Kerry reacts without thinking performing CPR and taking control of the situation. Tim is frozen to the spot unable to help, for eighteen long minutes, despite both him and Kerry being St.John's ambulance cadets. Their actions set them all on a course of events none of them had expected.
I really enjoyed following the next eighteen years of the lives of these three characters, life never runs smoothly and it really highlighted how small events and decisions can have big consequences. The novel deals really well with love, duty, the weight of expectations, mental health and addiction. The characters are relatable and well written, I devoured it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Was this review helpful?

The first book I have read by Eva Carter.

New Years Eve 1999 kerry and Tim are Alevel students with ambitions to become doctors. An old school friend collapses and Kerry runs to give CPR Tim freezes.
The book then follows the next eighteen years of their lives.
An interesting concept with short chapters that is easy to read.
Enjoyable

Was this review helpful?

Gave up 35% in - so sorry.
The staccato text, the mix of thoughts and story mixed with speech didn't work for me. No flow of text.
The premise of the story is great but the style of writing and the characters I can't relate to. Just not my cup of tea!
I won't be reviewing widely.
Thank you for the early opportunity to read.

Was this review helpful?

No matter how well trained you are, knowing something in theory and being able to apply it practically are very different things. Nobody can know for sure how they’ll cope in a crisis...and having read this, I’d have to pray never to be put in that situation because it leads to a lot of pain and misery (or at least that’s how it felt).
Tim and Kerry have been best friends for years. They are celebrating New Years Eve with friends as they reach the end of school. Kerry thinks Tim might be about to kiss her. But her eye is drawn to golden boy Joel, the town’s shining light/potential Premiership footballer. He has collapsed on the floor. With only her cadet training to rely on, Kerry attempts CPR. For eighteen minutes she works on Joel, determined to save the boy she’s always had a crush on. She expects Tim, who has also applied for medical school, to help. He doesn’t. He’s frozen, and doesn’t do what he needs to until the last minute...by which time everyone assumes he’s saved Joel. He doesn’t tell the truth.
And so begins eighteen years following these three around as they deal with the aftermath of that night.
The story takes us through the minutiae of their lives following Joel’s dramatic rescue. We watch them deal with life and all the things thrown at them, or not.
None of them are happy. Nobody seems to be getting what they want and they hover round each other, each blaming the others for how their lives turn out. People come and go from their lives and yet the focus is always on this bizarre triangle.
Unfortunately, all three characters make decisions that are infuriating. They are selfish and hurt those around them. We can sense how things might be different but just have to watch them orbiting each other, butting heads and getting frustrated by their inability to see a way out of their situation. Eventually, we assume things will be resolved but it felt like a long slog to reach that point. I’m sure there’ll be many readers who’ll find this life-affirming and heart-warming, who’ll fall in love with these three and their experiences and finish the book feeling they’ve been given the answers to how to save their own life. That wasn’t my experience.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in advance of publication.

Was this review helpful?

How to Save a Life is the first novel from an experienced journalist, written under a pseudonym, about three broken young people working out what they need from life. Set in Brighton, it’s like a cross between One Day, and Normal People, but with a strong medical focus, which is what attracted me, as I generally avoid love stories. I actually can’t believe the author is not a doctor herself as she got so many details about medical life just right. I thought this was heading for 3 stars, as for most of the book I didn’t like any of the characters, but they won me over in the end, so 4 it is.

Kerry and Tim, both 17, are best friends and are both planning to go to medical school. On Millenium Eve, they are hanging out at the beach with their schoolmates when they see Kerry’s secret crush Joel, who is wealthy, popular, and a gifted footballer, collapse. Rushing to his aid, Kerry starts CPR, saving his life, while Tim freezes. The consequences of this moment are life-changing for all three, as their lives intertwine over the next eighteen years, facing love, loss, friendship and heartbreak.

This was very well written in first person from all three characters - unfortunately all in present tense which did spoil it for me somewhat. I generally hate love triangles and didn’t want Kerry to end up with either selfish loser. I’ve read reviews from people saying they hated Tim, whereas I had a lot more sympathy for him even when he’s being a complete idiot. I related hugely to young Kerry, but then disagreed with most of her life choices - although it’s easy to do so when you’re no longer a young adult. There are some heavy themes - drug abuse, difficult parents, and meeting their expectations, suicide attempts and life-threatening illnesses, but it’s not depressing, and Carter navigates these with aplomb. I wouldn’t consider this specifically a young adult novel, it could appeal to readers of any age. There are moments of humour, and the plot builds to an exciting last quarter and satisfying ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review.
How to Save a Life is published on May 27th.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise and the storytelling of this book. The journey throughout the lives of Kerry, Tim and Joel is what kept me reading. However, as much as I liked the story I didn't particularly like the characters, especially Tim who thought it was OK to take the praise for something Kerry did.

I think if the characters had been more to my tastes then I would give it a higher rating.

Was this review helpful?

What a staggeringly good read this is! I loved everything about this book: the characters, the storytelling, the originality of the plot. Compelling, immersive and beautifully written, it snared from the first irresistible chapter, and held me at its mercy until the very last page.

How To Save A Life is the story of three teenagers whose lives become inextricably linked when they are all involved in a terrifying incident. Kerry and Tim are best mates with dreams of becoming doctors. Joel is on the verge of a brilliant career as a professional footballer. When Joel collapses with a cardiac arrest minutes before midnight on millennium eve, it’s Kerry who administers CPR, while Tim stands frozen with shock.

The narrative follows our three protagonists in the immediate aftermath of Joel’s dramatic resuscitation and through the following eighteen years, as they pursue lives that are forever changed by the events of that terrible night.

Carter handles the first person narrative with a touch that is simultaneously sure and delicate. Alternating between the three voices, she imbues each with a unique, identifiable timbre, inexorably drawing you into each character’s innermost thoughts and feelings. As a reader, you come to know them, to care for them, and to feel completely invested in their stories.

The relationship configurations — Kerry and Tim, Kerry and Joel, Joel and Tim — are intricately drawn, sliced open and exposed. They wax and wane, bloom and fade; attract and repel; the ties that bind them to each other like elastic that stretches and frays but never breaks.

Inevitably, the narrative explores a host of weighty topics: PTSD, chronic illness, depression and addiction, amongst others. But while these are all integral to the story, they never overwhelm it, thanks to Carter’s handling which is both knowledgeable and sensitive.

When it comes, the ending — that beautiful, perfect ending — couldn’t be more perfectly judged. It squeezed my heart like the biggest of bear hugs and filled me with a gentle swell of joy in the power of love. Never doubt that what is meant to be will be.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a beauty.

On New Year's Eve 1999, 17-year-olds Kerry and Tim are A-Level students hoping to become doctors. Whilst they are out celebrating, old school acquaintance and aspiring footballer Joel collapses. Kerry instantly runs to him, while Tim stands frozen, and performs CPR. He is essentially dead for 18 minutes but Kerry saved his life.

The book then follows their lives over the course of the next eighteen years. Following Joel's cardiac arrest, he has an ICD fitted and can no longer play football because of it. His mood has changed and he feels like he has nothing to live for anymore. His life goes into a downward spiral and it is heartbreaking to read.

We also follow Kerry and Tim's lives, all three of their relationships and how they link in together. There is massive depth to this story and while I didn't warm to any of the characters initially, I had a soft spot for Joel by the end. We see each of their struggles and how they manage to get out of them. There are a lot of crossed wires and near misses.

How To Save A Life is a stunner of a book and carries an important message about how important it is that we all know how to do CPR correctly. It also covers topics such as death, mental health issues, miscarriage and drug abuse.

Was this review helpful?

I just couldn’t get on board with this book. Everything felt unrealistic, silly and distant. The idea that it was such a big deal that Tim froze whilst Kerry gave CPR to Joel, just felt so ridiculous as it’s a completely understandable, human response - and they hadn’t even gotten IN to medical school yet, so why did they feel some weird pressure to be perfect doctors already? So having the whole book set on this premise just didn’t work for me. I didn’t feel connected to the characters as I think the writing was a lot of tell and not show, plus they were shallow, stereotypical and only had one personality trait - either wanting to be a doctor or being good at football. The whole Kerry being attractive but ‘uncool’ because she wanted to be a doctor and Joel never noticing her ‘as a girl’ is such a tired trope and, again, unrealistic. Also, the viewpoints all sounded very similar and indistinguishable.

What I did like: the writing style was easy to read, and the chapters were very short, which made it easy to keep reading through it.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the short chapters. I read the book in one sitting. It’s the story of how one emergency can change the course of the people involved. Great small chapters.

Was this review helpful?

I have just spent about four days with Kerry, Joel, and Tim. New years eve 1999, the turn of the millennium, aged seventeen Kerry did something heroic. Over eighteen years the consequences of her deed changed the course of their lives forever.It altered their histories, and shaped who they were to become in a way they never expected. It is ordinary people who make a difference'..
I well written, tale, all about how life can change in an instance. A beautifully well written book with likeable characters.

Was this review helpful?

After saving the life of a school friend on New Year's Eve, Kerry finds her life forever connected with Joel, who she watched collapse, and Tim, her best friend who froze and was unable to help.

The story follows these three characters from this fateful night for almost 20 years, chronicling the ups and downs of all that can life throw at you: love, grief, career problems, family, addiction. It feels so realistic, as these lives keep colliding and the characters find them unable to escape each other and the connection that was forged on that night.

I was hooked from the beginning and though I did not like all of these characters throughout the story, I could empathise with them and recognise scenarios from my own life and experiences of those around me. I would highly recommend that this be added to any TBR pile!!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

This story is about three people Joel,Tim and Kerry and what happens to these three young teenagers back on New Year's eve 1999 will change their lives forever.
When Joel suffers from a heart attack and his heart stops beating Kerry immediately steps in performing CRP and saves Joel's life.
Joel being a semi pro footballer now has to rethink his life. What happens in the months and years following that night will change the course of their lives forever.
This is a very emotional journey and Eva has written the characters beautifully.

Was this review helpful?

How To Save A Life follows the story of a wannabe-doctor and the person who's life she saves after a freak medical incident. You see the ups and downs of their friendship and all the other relationships in their lives. I empathised with the characters, often wanting to shake some sense into them when they made choices I didn't agree with.

Lovely writing, however I didn't always agree with the characters' decisions or motives.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable even when they weren't very nice. The cpr facts were interesting. All in all it was a nice story

Was this review helpful?