Amelia Henley’s debut novel was published in 2020 and was a five star read for me – completely beautiful from start to finish! Amelia writes contemporary fiction with fantastic style and the excellent structure and talent that we have come to see in her psychological thrillers published under her real name, Louise Jensen, are firmly present in her new genre.

The Art of Loving You is no exception – beautiful prose, interesting and compelling characters and carefully constructed storylines and twists are present throughout the book. Being heavily invested in the contemporary fiction genre however and having read extensively – quite a few of the twists and storylines revealed were things that have already been well covered before in existing fiction books/movies and therefore didn’t feel as revealing or unique. For someone new to the genre however, this book has elements of surprise that will be brilliant.

After reading Amelia’s debut novel I couldn’t wait to read this, her second novel.
Amelia has a lovely way of telling a story and manages to write it so beautifully, creating likeable characters and forming lovely relationships between them. I absolutely loved Sid’s character and would love to see more of him.
Sadly for me personally, although this book is really well written and contains such touching themes, it isn’t unique enough for me to get the wow factor. It reminded me too much of the film that it mentions in the book, and i think because I read a lot from this genre it’s quite possible that I could see where the story was heading, so nothing really took me by surprise.

I am therefore giving this book 3.5 stars

Wow! Amelia Henley really does love to shake up your emotions!

I’m not a crier when it comes to novels and can count the fingers
on one hand how many times I’ve cried at a fiction book. Well I can add twice just from this author! (I’m pretty sure you’re happy about that! 😂)

It was the theme that had me in tears and once you read this book and if you know me personally you’ll know why it meant so much to me.

The opening was, as always, fabulous. I love how the prologue always pulls you in with the frustrated wonder of what the big secret is. A hint to a big reveal but with no clue where it’s going or what it will be.

There is a familiarity about the authors books. Well formed characters and idyllic settings. She has a beautiful way with words which show your minds eye a vivid picturesque visual. Chapters that end on cliffhangers and even though it’s not a psychological thriller there are still those little twists that make you gasp.

Something I noticed about this book which I’m not sure I’ve experienced in her novels is the hints to what’s to come. Little snippets of future reveals. I loved this, it really brought the story alive for me.

From a readers point of view and a genre I rarely read, Amelia Henley’s writing is beautifully written and has everything it should and more!
I mean even the title is poetic! A magnificently executed novel with an ending your going to need tissues for!

This was a beautiful read that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The author has taken several real life topics and has dealt with them in a very sensitive and real way. Once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting on a rainy bank holiday. The characters were relatable particularly Sid and loved his way of thinking about things and his motto one square at a time really resonated with me. This book will stay with me for a long time to come. I highly recommend that you read this book it’s one of the best books I have read so far this year although be warned you might need to keep the tissues handy

Lovely book that shows just how quickly things can change. Was a five star read for me. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A very compelling read! Struggled to put this book down, even when I was falling asleep.
A very sad and poignant look at grief, which made it hard to read at times but in the best way.
One small niggle for me is I am not a fan of hooks at the end of the chapter for the next one, but that is a personal preference. Otherwise this book was absolutely fantastic, another wonderful book by this wonderful author.

I struggled with the start of this book but settled in after the first few chapters, it’s a real tearjerker as Libby has to say goodbye to Jack twice. The story has it’s share of heartbreaking moments intertwined by some parts that will make you smile and out of all the characters, Sid is my favourite as not only has become a father figure to Jack and Libby but to all the other characters too. It’s a lovely read that has lots of bittersweet moments that will have you reaching for the tissues and making you laugh in the next bit.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Do not read this book unless you have a box of tissues close by. I love her thrillers, but after two amazing love stories, this may be her best work. I powered through this book. It really makes you want to hug your love ones!!! The writing is fantastic! The story is fantastic is so many ways; sad in so many others. "One square at a time." This is going to be my new motto when things in life are not going the way I want. This book demonstrates love in more ways than one; in so many forms. The title is very clever!!!nHighly recommended!

The story is about Libby and Jack who are in a relationship and blissfully happy, they have moved into their new home together and everything is great until one day something happens and it turns both their worlds upside down. Then what happens when you had your whole life planned out and then suddenly it is changed for you in a way you had never planned. It was lovely to see how much Libby and Jack loved each other and seeing their love blooming, but it is a very emotional read that made me reach for the tissue's a number of times. You can't ever imagine these things happening to you and how you would deal with them if you were in the same situation. This story is a reminder that anything can change in an instant. Hug those that you are close too and tell them you love them as you never know what is around the corner.