Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

I am going to decline to review this book. I cannot get into it and think it's just not right for me. This means that I cannot rate the story or the writing style in a fair way.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Imagine being chronically ill, bed-bound, not going to school, or parties, or just outside. Imagine watching the world through cameras on other people’s chests. This is 16 yo Alice.



I was just a few pages in, and tears were leaping in my eyes. Not because of the cold I had, but because of what happened in the story. Alice’s story. And Wesley’s, Hana’s, Roy’s, and finally Rowan’s. Rowan who gives light to Alice’s bed-bound life.



Alice’s world is small, consisting of her parents and Cecelia, the only friend she’s left. But she lives in the outside world through other people’s eyes. People she doesn’t really know. Who wear a camera and stream their daily life. Until one of them dies, and it’s almost like Alice dies too. Because she saw what happened. Through the camera, through Wesley’s eyes. But then her mom asks one of Wesley’s students to stream, and Alice’s life changes. Because Rowan is different, He talks to her, and Alice talks back. And Rowan takes her on a journey Alice will never forget while Alice is learning about Rowan’s problems.



I have mixed feelings about this story. At first, I loved it because Sarah Ann Juckes’ writing is active, smooth, and descriptive. It draws readers into the story and doesn’t let go. Sometimes it’s so fast paced that I was figuratively out of breath. I liked the way she used Rowan’s POV, just as a part of Alice’s POV. But then I got a little bored and irritated. Because the sentences: ’And then we’re walking’ passed by a little too much. And I didn’t buy some things like Cecelia not knowing about Alice’s illnesses and Rowan’s problems, nobody noticed? And then suddenly, I had tears in my eyes again because I cared for Alice and Rowan.



So, while I was sure at the beginning that this was going to be a 4 or 5-star read, in the middle of the story, my rating had dropped to 3 stars. In the end, I settle for 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Because I can’t rate a book 3 stars, that made me cry multiple times.

Oh by goodness I am in absolute pieces after reading this wonderful,brilliant book.
So this was read that right from the beginning I knew I was going to love it was heartbreaking and sad and yet at the same same time filled with so much love, humour and hope and I read it in almost one sitting. I forgot everything around me whilst I was reading it was just me in Alice’s world and it had everything you would wish for in the most beautiful story I have read in a long time.Sarah Ann Juckes has excelled herself in both the writing and crafting of this impossible to describe book it really is an astonishing read.
In this scary time and world we are living in at the moment this book had the ability to take you away from all that and for that I have massive praise for Sarah and look forward to reading her next book.
Please do yourselves a favour pick this book up it really is one not to be missed its sensitivity is sublime and a joy to read, I loved it this damn book so much !!
My thanks to Sarah Ann Juckes, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.