Amelia Henley’s debut novel is guaranteed to take you on an emotional roller-coaster with young widow Libby, on the journey through her grief after her partner Jack‘s sudden death to finally rebuilding her life.
Thank you Nettgalley and HQ for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved Amelia Henley's debut novel, so I couldn't wait to read this. It was every bit as good as I expected.

It's very rare I shed a tear reading a book, but I did with this one, many times.

The way the author develops her characters is wonderful. She has the knack of bringing them to life so you feel that you know them.

My heart broke at the loss suffered, but then I was uplifted again with the building of relationships between generations.

This book was a roller cost of emotions, and an enthralling read. I didn't want it to end. Bring on the next book Ms Henley.

A beautiful and heart breaking book. The characters were wonderful and the story was beautifully written with quite a few twists. A very emotional read.

I’d heard a few really good reviews for this book before reading and it didn’t disappoint. This book had me emotionally invested from the very start. So much so that my husband asked if I was alright and what was up when he saw me reading as I was getting a bit teary - this was just in the first few chapters.

The last few nights reading this have meant that Libby and Jack have been in my thoughts as I’ve been drifting off to sleep. This book broke me but then like Libby, it put me back together again. Until the very end where I almost crumbled again!

It’s been a while since a book has got to my emotions quite this much and I just know it’s one that’s going to fill my thoughts for a long while yet! Such a powerful book and story! And unfortunately all too realistic for the fact that these things could actually happen to anyone!

Libby and Jack had each other and so much to look forward to. When their life changes forever can they find that happiness again? Guaranteed to break your heart. You won't be able to put it down.

I enjoyed this novel - it was a relatively quick read, with lots of emotional ups and downs. It wasn't the usual boy meets girl story - in fact, it's about a relationship that's over, brought to an end too early, and how Libby can move forward without Jack, rebuild her life and relaise their dreams. The cast of characters is good - from a teenage teraway to the old boy who owned the house before Libby and Jack, all are well drawn.

What a beautiful book, a host of lovely charecters it was a delight to get to know, a story of hope at the most darkest of times, I loved every page

Absolutely loved this! A heart wrenching, heart warming, emotional rollercoaster of a read and beautifully written. It isn’t very often a book actually makes me cry but I cried sad tears and also happy tears whilst reading this. Read over 2 days as I struggled to put it down.

Libby and Jack are a loving couple embarking on a new adventure to turn an old house into an art centre. The house belonged to an elderly man, Sid, who is a truly wonderful character and a great addition to the main storyline. I loved his outlook on life. Everyone should have a “Sid” in their life!

Just as the story gets going, fate intervenes and characters have to deal with all kinds of emotions; love, grief, betrayal and always wondering, “what if”?

Seriously, I have not read a book with so much emotion in it for a long time. I can’t praise it enough. All I can say is read if for yourself, but prepare to have a box of tissues beside you!

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc. Really pleased to have the opportunity to read this early.

Publication date is 22nd July.

For emotional and sentimental hearts like mine this book is everything, and I adored it.
A brilliantly written tearjerker of a love story, I was ugly crying on more than one occasion as we learn about the true romance of Libby and Jack’s relationship. Libby and Jack are wonderful main characters- warm and compassionate with such love and kindness for eachother and those around them. I loved Sid’s attitude to life and agree with his beer and skittles analogy completely. Such a thought provoking romantic story.

Amelia Henley pulls it out of the bag again!! The Art Of Loving You is unlike any other book I've ever read! Libby & Jack are a true love story and you feel as if you are sharing it all with them. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a ride which leaves you breathless and wanting to read more. It will leave you wishing we all had a Sid in our life. Be prepared to cry and smile your way through this fabulous book. More please Amelia!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

“A beautiful and amazing book by Amelia”.

This is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read.

Reading this, my heart broke into a zillion pieces and ever so slowly, bit by bit it was put back together.

Every single person who enjoys reading should read this, the story of Libby and Jack, is gorgeous, beautiful and ethereal.

I won’t give anything away as I want readers to enjoy the book just like I’ve done.

One thing I didn’t expect was, for it to turn out the way it did. It took me completely by surprise.

I highly recommend this.

“Life ain’t all beer and skittles is it?”

In the follow up to her first love story The Life We Almost Had Amelia Henley packs an emotional punch, reducing you to a blubbering mess once again with this beautiful tearjerker of a novel. Unapologetically romantic and sentimental this is the story of Libby and Jack who are embarking on a new adventure as a couple and life couldn’t be more exciting. With the keys to a property they plan to turn into an art centre/ retreat for under privileged kids courtesy of their ‘surrogate grandfather’ Sid they have so much to look forward to together. However even the best laid plans can have a habit of going awry so when life throws a massive spanner in the works in the form of four life changing phone calls it’s going to take an awful lot of love, kindness, imagination and perseverance to reinvent the future.

Taking inspiration from a much loved film (thank you for that trip down memory lane!) this novel will have instant appeal for sentimental old, and young, fools alike. If you’re going to pick up a piece of fiction that deals with delicate and sensitive topics, embracing emotions that will be uniquely personal to every individual you want an author who will write direct from the heart, someone who can blend compassion and sorrow with love and romance, but who can also manage to make you smile and even laugh through the sadness, lifting you up beyond the clouds to find rays of warm sunshine. Amelia Henley does just that with the assistance of a cast of three dimensional characters who literally leap off the pages and burrow their way into your soul. Adding her own special stamp on the genre she slides a few miniature twists into the proceedings (a nod to her psychological thriller roots) to ensure there’s an element of surprise, however small, along the way.

So, as the storyline marches in time to the beat of certain refrains octogenarian Sid is so fond of saying, it’s the characters who bring this romantic tale alive and none more so than Sid himself. His philosophy on life is one worth listening to and I don’t think I’ll be the only person to say he’s my absolute favourite character. With his predilection for mints and tobacco and memories of his beloved wife Norma serving as inspiration for the likes of Libby I’d adopt Sid any day of the week. What a shame not everyone can be lucky enough to have a Sid or a Jack in their lives but we can all dream can’t we?? The character who provided me with the most laughs though has to be Libby’s mum who can be relied upon for an anecdote to suit every conceivable situation courtesy of her bakery customers. Libby and her sister Alice may find them irritating but they definitely got me giggling! As for Liam and Noah they are both responsible for some particularly heart rending, poignant moments ultimately proving that good things can come out of bad.

This is a storyline about the “butterfly effect”, acts of kindness and paying it forward. It’s about learning to take the rough with the smooth and opening your heart to new ways of living even if it isn’t the life you originally had planned. Life is an adventure full of both wonderful happy memories and the not so great ones but with family, blood related or not, and friends by your side the future doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect as some of these characters may initially believe. In a nutshell, we all need to “be more Jack”. My only criticism is that the storyline is far from original, perhaps it’s too reminiscent of that film whose name I can’t mention but thanks to the big hearted, warm and loving individuals who grace us with their presence it’s a novel to fall head over heels in love with.

I rarely read novels twice but The Art of Loving You is one I’d happily dive back into on the occasions when life is getting on top of me and I need to be reminded that somewhere, out there is a world brimming over with love and kindness. There’s a genuine warmth to this author’s writing which is hard to beat. I gobbled up the majority of this beautiful novel with my eyes brimming with tears. Happy tears and sad tears. Have tissues at the ready…you won’t get through to the end without them! This wins 5 heavenly ⭐️ from me but if I were possible I’d easily give this book 20!!

My thanks as always to the publisher HQ and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I slipped into Jack and Libby’s world straight away.

The story evokes all emotions and it feels like a rollercoaster at times.

I really enjoyed the style of writing as it flowed really well.

A definite recommendation from me.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Wellll.....phew this was quite a traumatic read in places..........
Sensitively written, a story of grief, how different people grieve and what can come out of it.
Libby and Jack are moving into a new home, a well loved house, can they make it what they plan to?
Good characters portrayed well, growing with you as you go.
Really interesting, caused me to smile and cry in places, but also had a couple of unbelievable bits which is forgivable as this is generally a great book..
Couldn't put this down, and read it within 24 hours.
Thought provoking and a very modern English take on the film Ghost, this is well worth a read.
Thank you for the opportunity for an early read NetGalley.

This book was so beautifully crafted that I read it more than I dare admit. I was blown away with so many emotions, I think I might have even cried for half of the book.

The Art of Loving You really is something so very impressive and touching, if you’re a fan of well written books packed with love and heartbreaking sadness then this is a good book for you!

If had to describe this book in one word, that word would be AMAZING! It is a beautiful story and it is beautifully written and has totally blown me away.

I cannot begin to tell you how moving this story is and to say I was taken on an emotional roller-coaster is an understatement. If wasn’t crying with sadness I was crying with joy. A story hasn’t touched me this much since I read The Notebook by John Sparks many years ago.

The author pours so much emotion and feelings into this story, it is absolutely breathtaking. Making you feel the characters emotions. Who all have there own little story. Each one bringing something different to the plot. I absolutely loved Sid who reminded me of my grandad.

The Art of Loving You tells the story of love, loss and hope. It’s a book that full on got me. This is story telling at its very best and is a 10 star read.

Thank you to Sian Baldwin for a copy

What a beautiful book! One that both warms and shatters the heart, I would recommend reading with tissues on hand! I love the way most chapters end on a cliff hanger leaving you guessing and wanting more. The only downside to this is the compelling urge to read on... way past my bedtime. The character cast was absolutely gorgeous, I had such a soft spot for Sid!
This is my first read by @msameliahenley but it certainly won't be my last! As an avid reader I am usually not far off with my predictions but I was so far off the mark a few times with this one!
With thanks to the author and @netgalley for the advance read. An absolute 5 star read for me!

Such an incredible read, so heartbreaking and yet I just couldn't put it down! Such a beautiful story which has been brilliantly written

Thank you so much @hqstories and @netgalley for approving me to read this absolutely beautiful and amazing book!!!

This is quite honestly one of the most life affirming books I’ve read in a very long time, and I am literally left feeling all the feels now.

My heart was ripped open, but piece by piece and square by square it was firmly put back together.

This story of Libby and Jack is beautiful and ethereal and I want every single person to read it.

I won’t go into detail because I want you to enjoy this book for yourself, but all I will say is that I did not expect it to turn out the way it did. The plot completely took me by surprise and I adored that.

Irrevocably timeless and beautiful…..a complete must read

#TheArtOfLovingYou #NetGalley

Well this is an emotionally charged glory of a story.

Libby and Jack are at the start of their journey to restore their new (old) home and turn it into an art school to help disadvantaged children. Their dear friend Sid - who met Jack at an art class and despite the 50+ year age gap, built a strong and loving relationship - sold them his marital home and with it his memories of his beloved wife.

Fate takes a horrible turn and what follows is a story of deep love, grief, betrayal and survival.

Libby faces many challenges and the writing of her emotions is very powerful.

In its bones, just a few things happen in this story but they are so huge and life-changing that they carry the reader through.

If I were to say one thing that I found lacking was the detail of how/when Libby’s mum and sister became close to Sid. I felt like I’d missed a part of the story there.

It’s a fabulous story though, not your everyday female-led fiction by any means but ultimately a story of love, support, resilience and survival.

Thanks NetGalley for the early read.