A very moving and life affirming book that has such endearing characters they become personal friends

Walking on Sunshine is a beautiful story of friendship in the face of adversity.

This book had me sobbing from the start, our trio Mike, Zaza, and Vicky are all dealing with the loss of Mike’s wife Pia to cancer. Mike is struggling with life without the love of his life. Zaza is about to get married to the love of her life but can she let herself take the next step or will bad habits creep back in. Vicky is a stay at mother of two who feels she has lost her identity, and her self confidence since having kids. I loved watching all these characters find themselves in the wild. in true Giovanna Fletcher style each story is told with such care and respect you can help but love all the characters (even when they are being ridiculous).

I loved all the little Easter eggs hidden in the story, keep your eyes peeled for a book about pooping dinosaurs! But you can also see how Gi has incorporated her own experience of trekking in this story.

Definitely gave me Bridget Jones meets Wild vibes.

This is my first read by Giovanna, having seen her on I'm a Celebrity I was keen to finally read one of her books and I wasn't disappointed. It is rather a sad read as they struggle to come to terms with the death of Pia but she had it planned with a series of instructions to help them. There are some funny moments and I could relate to the flawed characters as they each began to find themselves. I found it quite uplifting as I finished the book. A great, touching read and very enjoyable.

Loved, loved, loved this new book from Giovanna Fletcher.
An emotional story of three friends who are each coming to term with the death of a much loved wife and friend.
As they deal with their thoughts after an untimely death, it leaves them asking questions about their own lives and how to live life well.
I loved this book. It's a very honest story which causes the reader to stop and think about the meaning of life.
Highly recommended.

This book has made me tear up a few times. A story where both not a lot happens, and at the same time a whole lot happens. Very emotional, very hard to read in parts and dealing very well with some tough subject matters.

It took me a while to warm to Zaza, and her attitude towards Liam. All was explained in the end and so well written it all made sense and I just wanted to hug her. Also, I can understand and sympathise with Vicky and what she is going through.

The characters are well written and the pain they are going through and what they are dealing with is so clear and expressed so well. The ending is such a happy relief after all they’ve deal with.

A hard read but well worth it.

such a charming and cute read, full of hope and heartbreak. it was so well written and the characters were great. I loved reading it.

This novel follows the stories of three friends after loss. They go on a trek in Peru, not sure what they are in search of but finding a path of reflection, self discovery and better understanding each other.
I have read several of Giovanna’s novels and I can say her writing style has evolved and matured over time. Clearly inspired by her own treks for cancer charity Coppafeel, the topic and themes of this book are sensitively handled and feel well researched from hours of conversations with real people helping to inform her character’s emotions and responses.
I enjoyed this book and it had its moments of pulling on my heart strings, I was clearly invested in the characters and the story.
The book also tackled issues around relationships and motherhood, another hugely relatable topic for many and something I found I could identify with.
I sometimes felt the ‘deep and meaningful’ prose in this book was a little heavy handed and would have preferred to be allowed to come to my own conclusions from the text, but others may not agree. Also, the use of ‘har-de-har’ was a little jarring.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those looking for a feel good novel that will help wile away a few hours and delivers the warm and fuzzies we have come to expect from Gi.

It was a sad story of loss and finding yourself! However when the best friends passes away she has left instructions for her best friends and her husband to have a i adventure to try and come to terms with their grief. A well written books and it acknowledges emotions, relationships and friendships.

After Mike loses Pia, his partner of seventeen years, their best friends Vicky and Zaza try to help pick up the pieces. But though Pia's gone, she left a plan. A list of loving instructions to help Mike and her friends come to terms with their loss. And they're each going to need it. Just-engaged Zaza fears committing any further. Vicky has lost sight of herself, overwhelmed by the demands of marriage and motherhood. While Mike just feels all the colour has gone from his life. But when the list sends them trekking to Peru, where high mountains and sweltering rainforests push them to the brink, all they have to guide them is their faith in Pia and in themselves.

This book was a long-awaited return to fiction from Fletcher for me and I was so excited to get started and see what Fletcher has created. The concept is beautiful and Fletcher pulls it off with aplomb. However, I know they say to write what you know but this felt too close for me, this could have been a diary account of a CoppaFeel trek. I did really enjoy it and it is a great concept but I think it is lacking some originality. My other negative is this too such a long time to get going, there was so much content before the characters even got to Peru, their time in Peru actually felt quite rushed and for me, this book would have been better if more time had been given to their time in Peru.

Negatives aside, I did really enjoy this read, it is very entertaining, providing many comical moments, but it is also an emotional read and Fletcher brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Fletcher has detailed Peru and their trek really well and I could imagine myself there with the characters which was nice.

Speaking of the characters, I really liked our central three. They are all likeable and yet flawed, it was easy to get to know them and I liked that they were all going through their own struggles and going on their own journey. Reading this, I really got the sense that they had been friends for a long time which was really nice. They were just a fantastic cast of characters to read about.

'Walking on Sunshine' has a few negatives for me but the fact that Fletcher has returned to fiction is a joy for me and I did enjoy my time reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an advance copy.

I’ve read all of Giovannas books and really enjoy her writing style so I was excited when this book became available for read and reviewing

As expected it did not disappoint! The beginning of the boom starts with different perspectives on grief and builds the story on fire ding yourself after grief, looking at our own lives and living for the moment

The characters make you laugh, cry, get frustrated, angry but ultimately make you realise how fragile human life is and how we have to embrace it!

Please read this book! You will be able to relate to at least one character and each scenario will have an impact on you

As usual 10/10 Gi

This book was beautiful and unexpected. I was unable to put it down. The characters were so cleverly written, the storyline was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time and addressed so many issues people face day to day cleverly and with humour. As a mum of two I completely empathised with one of the characters and it definitely gave me some food for though. Thank you netgalley for early access to this fantastic book.

When Pia dies, her husband Mike and best friends Vicky and Zaza are struggling to cope with their grief. But Pia’s left instructions for them to have an adventure, so a trip to Peru is on the cards. As they help and support each other trek across the Peruvian mountains, can they finally come to terms with their loss?

A story of love, loss and friendship which was an emotional and uplifting read. I would recommend this book.

This was a beautiful book about grief, love and friendship which told the story of Mike, Zaza and Vicky as they rebuild their lives after the death of Pia. They go on a life changing expedition to Peru where each of them faces their demons and realises that life must go on. I loved the friendship which exists between this unlikely bunch and how their relationships with each other help them through the most difficult of times.
There’s humour amongst the sadness, as is usually the case between such close friends, and this makes the book an easier and more enjoyable read.
This is my first book by Giovanna Fletcher and it won’t be my last so thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to enjoy it.

3.5 stars

Walking On Sunshine is Giovanna Fletchers next novel, publishing in November. The story focuses on three friends - Zaza, Vicky and Mike. The trio are mourning the loss of the fourth member of their friend group, and Mike’s wife, Pia.

Each friend is at a different stage in their life. Vicky has a husband and 2 children who are driving her mad. She feels like she’s losing her identity as well as trying to deal with the grief of losing her friend. Zaza is facing lifelong commitment to her newly engaged fiancé. She’s having a semi existential crisis caused by the death of her friend and is questioning what she wants from life and her relationship. Finally there’s recently widowed Mike. He’s completely lost without Pia. Directionless and seemingly stuck in time.

The three friends have very strict no wallowing instructions from Pia and this novel explores the bonds of friendships and how everyone deals with grief differently. They set off on a trip to Peru, exactly like something Pia would do, to honour her memory. The depictions of Peru, the treks, the local people and the upset tummies were beautiful (and equally gross) and having listened to my sister recounting her trip to Peru it felt very real.

We haven’t read many of Giovanna’s books, if you could recommend one for us to read next, what one would it be?

I really enjoyed this bittersweet book - an emotional rollercoaster from dark emotions to hope. Pia has died devastating her partner, Mike and her friends, Vicky and Zara. She leaves a Plan for them to follow through - a list of instructions to hold them together. The list sends them to Peru for a trip which makes them question themselves and find a way to meet their respective futures.

A lovely read - one I will be recommending.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for a copy of Walking on Sunshine by Giovanna Fletcher.
This was such a beautiful story. Based around the accounts of three best friends Vicky, Zaza and Mike after sadly losing their fourth friend Pia who was married to Mike. Pia has instructed them to carry out rules for after she passed leading them to Peru to get back to basics and trek to Machu Picchu. With all three on their own journey of self discovery. This is a beautifully written story and you really feel like you bond with the characters. Reminding us that the banal ruts of every day life can effect us negatively and that sometimes stepping out of ordinary life can have the most wonderful effects mentally. It will make you want to book an adventure yourself! It just shows how the love and support of friends is so important. Another wonderful read from Giovanna. Thank you so much!!!

A gorgeous and heartwarming book, tinged with the pain of losing a loved friend, wife, and daughter. Mike, Zaza and Vicky head off on a Peruvian trek after their beloved Pia dies. The trip turns into a painful and soul searching adventure where each of them have the opportunity to rethink their lives and what is important to them. Peru and a difficult trek across mountainous terrain was vividly brought to life in this book - makes you want to set off on your own adventure and take time out of your life to just slow down and reassess. Beautiful, life affirming, joyful and thought provoking. Recommended.

What a wonderful read, beautiful, a lovely heartwarming story with some great charecters it was a pleasure to get to know, loved every page and now feel a little bereft that I've finished it

I have read and enjoyed all of Gi's book and equally loved this one just as much.

A sad story but totally uplifting about three friends on the loss of their friend Pia.

Written totally from the heart with Gi's knowledge of Treks as she is currently on one now as I write this review.

A tale of love, loss, Friendship, grief and moving on.

Highly recommended.

I was super excited to read Giovanna Fletcher’s new novel and I wasn’t disappointed.
This is a memorable and touching read. I could associate with all of the characters and I was quickly drawn into the story,
The ending is emotional and don’t be surprised if you shed a few tears.
I really enjoyed this one, it’s beautifully written and I’d definitely recommend.