A raw and emotional journey told from the perspective of a woman caring for her best friend in the late stages of her cancer diagnosis.

The author captured the heart felt moments.and shared them in a way that transported me, the reader, into the story with her.

This novel will linger with me for a very long time.

Following Edi and Ash, lifelong best friends- facing Edis diagnosis and last days with cancer. This is a heartfelt romp through memories and friendship, with real, flawed characters. This had a touch of Firefly Lane for me. I loved it.

Edi is in the late stages of ovarian cancer leaving behind a husband and young son. It’s been decided that it’ll be best for everyone if she says her goodbyes while she still can and be cared for by her best friend Ash in a hospice.

This has been described as a marmite book and I can see why …

It took me a while to get used to the chaotic writing style but once I did I loved all the anecdotes and stories, but it also made me feel like an outsider looking in.
I loved the banter but the conversations felt unrealistic, surely no group of people can be that witty, especially during a time of heartbreak.
I loved how it made me confront death, something that I’ve always been very avoidant of, but the ending when it inevitably came felt too sweet?

As you can probably tell, I’ve got pretty mixed feelings about this book but the main criticism in other reviews that it seemed unbelievable for Edi to not want to spend her last days with her son, is not one that I agree with, as I could understand her desire to protect him, and herself, from the pain.

Gorgeous, funny, heartbreaking but comforting read about family, friendship and loss.

Ash and Edi have been best friends ever since early childhood. When Ash is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Edi devotes herself to spending time with and caring for her friend. We follow Edi through this process, exploring the relationships and love within the families.

Beautifully written with complex, believable and raw characters. Had me laughing and crying at the same time.

Laughed and sobbed for the 24 hours it took to me to read this. The characters are so unusual, so convincing, so real I feel like I will miss them forever. Beautiful depiction of friendship and maternal love

This book is the story of two long-standing best friends Edi and Ash.When Edi becomes ill with terminal cancer she moves to a hospice close to her best friend.Ash devotes her time to staying close to her friend during her last weeks on earth.
Beautifully written,insightful,heartbreaking and uplifting this really was a special book

An absolutely gorgeous read that will have you in tears. I look forward to more form this talented writer.

I would be rating this book higher if I personally liked the characters more. They are extremely real, and the book drips with honest, raw commentary about how families work and how people deal with tragedy and sorrow, but several of the individuals are not very likeable outside of the narrative. This is probably on purpose, given the complex situations everyone finds themselves in.
At the centre of the story is the friendship between two women. Edi and Ash have been friends forever. Theirs is a bond forged by the lives they have led. They may have lived further away from each other physically, but they have been ever-present in the other's day-to-day lives.
We enter their lives as Edi's time is running out. There is no other approach but to await the inevitable end. This extremely heart-rending scene fades into the mundane as it becomes a part of everyone's lives. This is the kind of character-driven narrative that relies entirely on the conversations that people have. I like books like that. By the time you set the book down, having read the last page, you have a complete image of everyone involved, both the good and the bad, based on the interactions between the various people one encounters.
I can imagine this being triggering for someone who has faced a similar situation or cathartic since the author writes from her own experience.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. A touching and sad book, dealing with grief that had me crying at times. This was well written and very compelling.

I finished this extraordinary book last night and it has jumped straight into my favourites of all time. Heartbreaking and hilarious, We All Want Impossible Things is nothing short of astonishing.

Well written story which wasn't quite what I thought it would be. At times incredibly sad, this book dealt with terminal illness, loss and friendships in a sensitive way. I did think the main character made some dubious decisions at times, but it showed life in all it's messy imperfection, and in that way the book was perfect. I cried.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Incredible, heartbreaking, life-affirming book from the wonderfully talented Catherine Newman. Be prepared to cry a great deal, but it's definitely worth it!

This book took me a nano second to get hooked. It’s a marvellous story about some not so marvellous topics; terminal illness, grief, loss but ultimately love. It’s about friendships, parental love, unrequited love and love you take for granted. Its raw and honest with characters that could be your best friends. If you love an emotional read you will devour this novel.
I have recommended this book to everyone. Hey we all need a good cry (and perspective) with the cost of living crisis.

I found this book hard to get in to and wasn't my 'go to, cup of tea', but the the book itself was well written and enjoyable.

It is a wonderful book about loss, grief, and ultimately love.
I finish this with tears down my face.
This is a powerful book and does pull on the heartstrings of those readers that have lost someone close.
This is such a beautiful portrayal of it though, for those left behind to find a way to move on and live with the memory of their loved ones.

tender and thoughtful and much more impactful than i thought it would be. wow. i'm so impressed with how it handles the grief and the love of the whole situation

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. A touching and sad read, it was well written and compelling.

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman. I don’t cry at books but this one nearly made me cry. Ash is watching her best friend Edi die of cancer and at one point she talks to her daughter about the fear of eternity and it’s quite a hard hitting book for one that’s also really funny. This is just so wonderfully written and I’ve never had to watch someone waste away from cancer but I feel like Catherine has. Ash’s life is obviously all over the place but she keeps all the plates spinning. I loved all the characters and I feel like I’ve watched my friend go. I think everyone should read it and feel apart of the group of people in this book. I just really hope there are as many dogs in hospice care as this book makes me think there is.

Really touching book about friendship. I really enjoyed it. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for a review.

A tough book to read.

When your best friend is in a hospice, dying, of course you will do anything to help her to achieve whatever she wants.
The subject matter is dealt with sensitivity and just the right about of humour and reality.

But, I didn't like either of the characters and when looking to escape in to a book, I need to at least understand someones point of view and I didn't get that with this book.

Sadly.