I really hate writing negative reviews, especially when I’ve enjoyed an authors other books but I just really disliked most of this book. I hated the characters, the story and the writing itself. Every time I read ‘ha-de-har’ I cringed! I wanted this to be a light fluffy read that would remind me of ‘eat, pray, love’ but it just wasn’t about anything. They all had a good whinge about how difficult their lives were and went to Peru. The end. 🙈😓

I absolutely loved this book!!!!!! Giovanna Fletcher never disappoints me, she creates such comforting and relatable narratives and characters

A wonderful easy read with love and friendship.
Pia left Mike and his friends a list of things for them to do and a trip to Peru is just what they need to find themselves and restart.

If you're a fan of Giovanna's books you will really enjoy this. Great characters, great story of friendship.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

I absolutely loved this book by Giovanna! The characters resonated with me in so many ways as a mother of two young children, I could feel the torture that Vicki felt in her everyday life!
Following the death of their best friend, Pia, Vicki and Zaza join Mike in a death wish trek in Peru. Whilst there the friends face up to their lives, their relationships and their families and make some tough decisions.
The book was beautifully written, I laughed, I cried and I smiled. The characters seemed like real people who I could see myself being friends with and the whole concept of the book was fantastic.
Thanks for allowing me to read!

As with all Giovanna's books, I enjoyed it, not quite as much as some of her other titles but still a good read. Her writing is lovely with great characters and friendships and after reading it, i wanted to book an adventure of my own.

Such a gorgeous read, I want to read more of her books now!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

A story about a group of adults who have been friends since university.
When one of their group tragically dies from breast cancer, the three remaining friends decide to take a trip along the Inca trail to find themselves again.
A lovely story of love and friendship.
This is the first novel by Giovanna that I have read and I'll definitely be reading more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I quickly discovered that she uses the same sort of language as many other contemporary authors which is not to my taste. There are a few spelling and grammatical errors and the book uses a slight twist on a plot which was used successfully in 'P.S. I love you': Mike's wife Pia died after suffering from cancer, but not before leaving a list of 'rules' to be followed, starting with when to sort out her clothes (including some which had been worn without washing but were sent to the charity shop!). Friends Zaza and Vicky help, seemingly to the detriment of their own relationships. The main focus of the book is the trek, and the development of the characters as they undergo the hardships and somewhat spiritual experience is well-written. Although there were some things I disliked about this book I found it interesting and my overall impression is that I enjoyed reading it.

Another lovely book by Giovanna Fletcher. A great story that was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but with great characters and plenty of fun. I loved the travel aspect and the way Pia was still looking out for her loved ones. Emotional but warmhearted read

It’s impossible not to feel seen by this book. I laughed, I cried, and I followed the characters every step of the way. ❤️

Absolutely gorgeous read, as always Giovanna Fletchers characters are so lovable, a little crazy, always warm and good hearted, really loved this one

This novel is told through the characters of Mike, Vicky and Zaza. All three have personal dramas happening in their lives, however, the one thing they have in common, is that their friend Pia died.

Before her passing, Pia created the 'Rules of Death,' which she asked her friends to follow when she was gone; for example to clear her wardrobe.

These rules weren't to forget her but to help her friends heal. So, when one rule suggests they all take a trip away, why not?!

This trip will lead each character on their own spiritual journey to find themselves as well as bring closure to their friend's passing.

This novel has a somber tone throughout, as it explores serious subjects such as grief and death from 3 different POV's

Mike was married to Pia so we see how he copes with now being a widower and Zaza and Vicky were her best friends, whom we see deal with their own grief while juggling their own lives.

I actually didn't like the character of Zaza very much, however, towards the end I understood her.

The character that I could relate to the most was Vicky, her personal thoughts and feelings towards her own home life, I felt were exactly like mine. To the extent, when her friends helped her put her two children to bed, I wept, not because it was a sad scene, but simply because I felt relieved for her! I could relate to every situation and feeling she felt and because of this I really connected with her.

I have read novels by Fletcher before and they are always well written with a meaning and characters which are humanised for the reader to relate to.

This is a novel I really enjoyed and I wouldn't hesitate to read it again.

Trigger warning: Cancer, Death

Mike has lost his partner of seventeen years Pia, and alongside their own grief and supporting Mike, Pia’s best friends Vicky and Zaza have issues of their own- Vicky has lost sight of herself as she has caught in the day-to-day of being a wife and a mum and Zaza, who is newly engaged, fears commitment.

Before her death Pia prepared a list for the trio to help them deal with their grief, and ever the adventurer and optimist this list sends Mike, Vicky and Zaza on a trek to Peru. Whilst they find it bizarre they allow their faith in Pia to guide them but will they learn for themselves that anything is possible when you’re walking on sunshine?

Walking on Sunshine, whilst sad, is above all a story of hope. The story follows the three main characters as they deal with their grief following Pia’s death, as well as how they support each other in their life after loss.
I haven’t read any of Giovanna Fletcher’s work before, but I really did enjoy this. I thought the book was well structured with chapters being told from the different characters so that we could really delve into each of their perspectives. I also thought the characters were extremely believable and their feelings relatable to everyday life.

Themes in the book include friendship, grief, life after loss, identity, and family life. You could tell that these themes were well researched- Giovanna has done a lot of work for the charity CoppaFeel and talks a lot about the highs and lows of family life and this came across authentically. I thought the subject of grief was dealt with in an honest way- touching upon some of the feelings which people don’t talk about as much. An example of this is when one of the characters who talks about guilt – ‘‘any time I’m not consumed by dark and tragic grief I feel guilty’’. As someone who has experienced a difficult bereavement just over a year ago, I really emphasised with a lot of what was said and felt by the characters in the book.

Overall, Walking on Sunshine is fully worthy of five stars. Please do not be put off by this book because of some of the sadder themes in the book, be encouraged for above all it is a story of hope- and with that I will leave you with the following quote which left me with chills down my spine…

‘‘Years ago I found myself wondering, ‘Is this it?, but now I realise that no one moment is ever it. The world keeps turning, life keeps going, deaths occur, babies are born, hearts are broken and mended again. Life happens and there’s nothing you can do to stop it rolling once it starts. In your whole lifetime it only stops once, when you reach the end. Until then you have to be prepared for the lows and highs, the struggle and joy, the hurt and love- whatever you land on, you will keep moving. You will keep going. Because that is the difference between life and death.’’

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This was my first Giovanni Fletcher novel and it was everything I could have wanted and more.

After the death of his wife, Pia, Mike and Pia's 2 best friends Zaza and Vicky are left a list of instructions to help them get on with their lives, together. From this description I really expected something similar to PS I Love You by Cecilia Ahern, and while this will appeal to fans of that book, this had a very different take on things.

Told from alternating points of view from the 3 main characters we first get to have a glimpse into their lives. Giovanni Fletchers portrayal of Vicky made me feel like less of a failure as a mother, it made me realise that even when you have the seemingly perfect marriage and children, motherhood is still really hard!

The bulk of this novel follows our 3 characters as they head off on a hike across Peru. I loved the descriptions, you could really feel like you were out there with them (I may have googled whether the charities still do the Trek X,Y,Z since Covid hit).

I also really enjoyed the final section, looking at how the experience had changed all 3 of them in their every day lives.

This is such an emotional book, having a mother who died from Cancer and having lost my dad, i felt every emotion going and undrestood the characters. Quite thought provoking, very relatable to life, it made me cry and it made me smile

Having never read Giovanna Fletcher before but i do follow her on social media and this book has made me like her even more she is a very talented author while also sendingan important message about friendship and grief at the same time.

You can tell her trekking is close to her heart and these felt like very real experiences. Zara, Vicky and Mike are clinging to each other through the worst time in their lives and realise something needs to change so they plan a trek to Peru to find themselves again. So well written with laughs as well as tears. I won’t hesitate to recommend this book . A lovely ray of Sunshine

An unfortunate DNF at 3% - I've been a big fan of Gi's earlier books but this one is not for me.

A trigger warning for cancer / breast cancer would have been ideal for this as I would not have requested it due to being diagnosed with breast cancer myself a few months ago.

Many thanks for approving my request.

I loved this so much , a very emotional read and so very heartbreaking at times, it is still an uplifting story. Beautifully written, I do Love Giovanna Fletcher so much, her books are always so good, stunning reading. This is a heart warming story, about friendship and how important it is, how friends can get you through the darkest of times and to appreciate what we have. Walking On Sunshine shows how life is both sunshine and stormclouds and how that’s ok, that we should celebrate both of these and everything else in life good or bad. Beautiful

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Told from the viewpoints of three friends, this is an emotional story about friendship, grief and learning to live after losing someone you love. It's a poignant read, especially if you can relate to what Mike, Vicky and Zaza are experiencing. Whilst there are many sad moments, the friendship bond between the three is a healing force.

The characters and their friendship dynamic is believable, and the story, written with vivid sensory imagery, immerses the reader into the characters' world. There is a realistic balance of humour and poignancy and the trip they take together adds depth.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley in return for an honest review.