What a completely enchanting book.! Principally this book was about the special and unique relationship between a parent and child; it was about loving, giving, believing, letting people in and letting them go. It dealt with the raw nature of human emotion but also dealt with the magic of the theatre, the magic of storytelling and the magic of mankind at its best. The story was supported (and I was utterly enraptured) by the cast of wonderful characters that made up Tom and Hannah's friends and the local theatre drama group: they were quirky, eclectic, completely three dimensional and so very endearing that everything in me wanted to leap into the page and join them. I am loathe to say more as I would not want to spoil a single moment of this gorgeous novel. I enjoyed Keith Stuart's last book but this one went straight to my heart.

This book really did make me wonder – how can Keith Stuart possibly follow A Boy Made of Blocks? Believe me, he can and he has! A story about a young girl with a life-limiting heart condition, brought up by her single father who runs a provincial theatre that’s on its uppers, could have been so many things. It could have been depressing, or sentimental. It’s neither. Hannah is an edgy, intelligent girl who, though haunted by her probably lack of future, though often scared, takes life by the horns and twists them. She’s trying to fix her dad up with a woman ‘for afterwards,’ so he’s not alone.

It’s a story about the magic of stories. About not giving in, and believing in each other, and of course, about love. Both major characters are believable and funny. You feel their pain, you laugh with their joy. It’s brilliantly done and backed up with a cast of lovely characters, each with their own troubles. I adore this book.

Wow what a truly special book. A wonderful story of single dad Tom and his teenage daughter Hannah. It follows their life through the theatre, a theatre that has become their home and their family. Even though Hannah is extremely ill with a heart condition they make sure that life will go on as always. I so didn't want this book to end

I loved this book, it follows the story of Tom and Hannah (father and daughter) through there life as they deal with Hannah's heart condition. Hannah grew up around the theatre as Tom was a theatre manager. Hannah mum left when she was 3 and the local amateur dramatics group became Hannah's extended family. This book will make you laugh and cry in the same sentence. A must read.

I really enjoyed Keith Stuart's previous story about a Dad connecting with his son via the power of Minecraft in "A Boy Made of Blocks" and was eagerly looking forward to reading his next novel 'Days of Wonder'.

Relationships again form a core part of this book, particularly between a Father and Daughter and those of family and friends.

Tom is a single parent father to Hannah, who has a rare, life-threatening heart condition. They manage as best they can day to day and interact with a wide variety of characters who are mostly all members of the local drama society.

Tom manages the local theatre in their hometown, and together with the aid of his local drama group, they manage to make each birthday of Hannah's special via a specially produced play. To say more would give the plot away too much, but this is a lovely story of community, family, and the power of storytelling.

The relationship between Tom and Hannah is wonderfully detailed and told alternatively from Tom and Hannah's point of view throughout the plot. We see Tom worrying constantly about Hannah and her condition, and in return, Hannah worrying about her father's loneliness and whether he would be able to cope in future on her own.

The story mixed together a great blend of emotion, comedy, and amateur drama. A great read and a rarely given 5 star.

Many thanks to Clara from Little Brown Book Group Limited for providing this book for review in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved A Boy Made of Blocks and wasn’t sure if Keith Stuart could follow it up with an equally moving story. He most definitely has.

The story is split between Tom and his daughter Hannah, who has a serious heart condition, and I loved them instantly. Keith has captured their relationship beautifully. Hannah’s chapters are especially well done as she goes through everyday teenage issues, but with the added pressure of her condition looming over her.

The supporting cast of characters are fantastic too, especially the theatre group and their adventures. There is a lot of comedy throughout what is at times a very emotional story.

I highly recommend this wonderful, magical book to everyone!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I was lucky enough to be invited to read this book by the publisher and absolutely loved it. Thank you and I will definitely recommend it to others.

This is a well written, heartwarming story from Keith Stuart about living with a life limiting illness, in this case heart disease.
The characters are well developed, likeable and relatable. The story has a sense of community, people helping each other in times of need and true friendships. It is a lovely story and one I totally recommend.
5 *****

Wow what an incredible moving and compelling read and a fantastic follow up to A Boy Made Of Blocks. The author has the knack of making you think you are reading a true story. It is sad in parts but also uplifting, although Hannah has a life threatening heart condition she wants her life to be as normal as possible and to do the things other 15 year olds get the chance to do. She has an amazing relationship with her father who is always there for her. even though sometimes she feels stifled by his care and attention. He is a single parent and is terrified of losing her to the terrible condition that is gradually taking over their lives. Their other love is a small provincial theatre that her dad Tom has run for the past decade, when the future of the theatre is threatened Tom misses a vital meeting to challenge the closurer.. I loved reading their story and finding out the outcome, thank you for the ARC

Lovely story that made me laugh and cry. I really don’t want to anything about the plot that you won’t have already seen from the summary or it will just spoil an excellent read.

Days of Wonder is a story told in alternating chapters between Tom and his daughter Hannah. By doing this, the reader gets to see how both characters deal with Hannah's heart condition.

Being a parent I could very much get behind Tom with wanting to wrap his daughter up in cotton wool. After his wife left them both, Tom has very much had to be both mum and dad and deal with things on his own for numerous years. My heart really went out to him. It's obvious what a fantastic dad he is. He has dedicated his life to bringing up his daughter and the theatre is like a second home to them both.

Hannah to a point is a typical teen. She loves her dad with all her heart but wants some normality to her life. Due to her condition, which has gradually got worse over the years, she is struggling coming to terms with it all. I just wanted to reach out to her and take it all away.

There is a great cast of characters within the theatre group, especially Margaret, of which I loved how the theatre plays a big part in the book also. You get a real sense of community spirit and how something can really pull people together.

Days of Wonder is a beautiful tale of a father and daughter bond so strong that Hannah and Tom literally stole my heart. A heart warming and emotive read that grabs you by the heart, body and soul. Without a doubt this is going to be a lot of peoples top reads of 2018, I know it's one of mine! It's just one of those books you really have to read for yourself just to see how wonderful it is. No amount of words could do this stunning book justice.

I would like to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Days Of Wonder’ written by Keith Stuart in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Tom is the manager of the Willow Tree theatre and every year he produces a magical production for his daughter Hannah’s birthday. Hannah has always thought of the theatre as her second home and is very close to everyone working in the theatre. From the age of four Hannah develops a heart condition and when she’s fifteen it worsens. At the same time Tom also discovers that the Council don’t want to pay for the upkeep of the theatre and intend closing it. Tom and Hannah have more than one fight on their hands, Tom to make the council realise that the theatre is important to the community, and Hannah for her life.
This is an enchanting novel of love, hope and magic. It’s about a young girl growing up, finding her place in the world, the friends she makes in the theatre, and the special bond she has with her father. It’s funny, especially the hilarious descriptions of Tom’s attempts at online dating, but oh so sad. The epilogue which jumps to September 2025 brings the story of Tom and Hannah to a close and I admit I was in tears. This was such a lovely story. Thank you Keith Stuart for creating a poignant and beautiful story with such wonderful characters.

A little bit of a slow burn for me, with fabulous characters that took their time to weave their way into my heart.

At its core, this is a book about a girl with a life-limiting heart condition, and the way that she and her dad deal with it. But it’s so much more than that. From teenage friendships, to local theatre, to marriages, to dating, to everyone’s got a story; there’s so many layers to this book it’s hard to know where to start.

I loved A Boy Made of Blocks. But I loved this as much, if not more. I was moved to tears on several occasions - and totally unexpectedly on one occasion. What seems like a simple story is so much more.

Highly highly recommended- a 5* read I will keep with me. In my Top 10 for 2018 and we are only in March!!

Brilliant!!

I loved A Boy Made of Blocks but this one blew my mind. Its the best book I've read this year so far and in my top 3 all time favourites.

I instantly connected to the characters, in particular Tom and Hannah. The love they had as father and daughter was perfectly written in my opinion. Their crazy games and banter was so funny and I laughed a lot throughout but their love and respect for each other shone through.

Margaret was another favourite character for me, I would love to have a friend like her. Even at her age she was hilarious, caring and a very special lady.

I've only been to the theatre a handful of times but this story makes me want go. The theatre staff were a family, they had their good times and bad times but were always there for each other no matter what.

The author is an amazing writer, he draws you in from the first page, makes you laugh and cry, sometimes he made me laugh then cry in just one sentence. He described the characters perfectly (I have images in my head of every one of them). I felt I was with them throughout their journey, in the same room with them listening to their conversations. I was inside their world.

This book will stay with me forever.

I absolutely loved "A Boy Made of Blocks" when I read it a couple of years ago so I was beyond excited when I was invited to read this book. It's not out for a while and I usually read my review books close to their publication dates but I just had to start this one early as I was too excited and couldn't wait. I was also a little scared as I had very high expectations. Bear in mind that my main go to reads are crime fiction, the gorier the better so to say that this is not my usual cup of tea would be an understatement.
Well, what can I possibly say that can do this book justice? My words will never be enough to be able to get across the way this book affected me. Me, a bit of a hard nose cow, reduced to big sobbing tears at times by the powerful emotions I experience whilst read this book. Tears of pain, but also tears of joy, relief and, occasionally, tears of laughter. It's a magical tale that is beyond moving in content.
It's the story of a family; not all blood related I hasten to add. Tom is a single father to Hannah. A hard enough job I would imagine, having to pick up the pieces after Hannah's mother left them and bringing her up solo, but then Hannah starts to fall ill and is diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Determined to make her life as special as he can in the time they have left together, Tom recruits all his friends at the theatre where he works to help him make each and every birthday special for his little girl by staging a play for her based mostly on the fairytales she loves. She soon starts to join in with the production process and the theatre and its people become a big part of her life too. But she is rapidly growing up and starting to find her own way in the world and her thoughts start to settle on what happens when she's gone. What will happen to her father? He has dedicated his life to her to the detriment of his own. Or so it seems to her. She thinks he has looked after her long enough and now it's her turn to look out for him.
It's told from the POVs of both Tom and Hannah in the present with some flashbacks to Hannah's past. I found this to be a very effective way of portraying the story told within and it was easy to follow as both characters have their own distinctive voice.
Oh. My, days. I'm not usually a very emotional reader but I think I invested my whole soul into this book. If I could have jumped in and joined the cast I would have. I made friends in this book. Friends that I am really going to miss. People that have made my life richer for their inclusion. People that have both challenged and changed the way I look at certain things. People that I grew to love, admire, argue with, fall out with, make up with, the whole shebang. In fact, I said to someone when I was about 80% though that I really didn't want to finish the book. Despite wanting and needing to know what happens, I was very reluctant to carry on, knowing that it would soon be all over and I would have to leave my new friends behind and go on without them.
I am not going to speak about any of the characters individually here as I really think they are best off met and got to know as the author intends them to be. Suffice to say that they are are brilliantly drawn and real, so very real. This author definitely has a big talent with regard to characterisation and character development.
Boy did I have a big book hangover when I finished.
Normally when I finish a book I go straight on to the next one. It is very rare (so rare I can't remember the last time) for me to not want to pick up another book and crack on. But I finished this one at about tea time Friday and couldn't pick up another one until about the same time the next day. I was spent, exhausted, emotional, affected by what I had read. I do have to just mention that although the book is quite heavy emotional wise, it never gets too heavy. It is very well balanced all told.
It's a book I feel very privileged to have read. It's a story which will stay with me for a while yet. It might also deserve a re-read in the future; another thing I very rarely do. It has also catapulted itself into my top five reads of all time. And I've read a lot of books... Mr Stuart, how are you possibly going to follow this?
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Amazing story that tugs at the heart strings. Wonderful characters

This was a fabulous story. Lots of sadness but times of joy too. The story was very sensitively written and very realistic. The main message was how strong is the human spirit and what can be achieved if you stay strong and always believe. I found the story very moving and couldn't put it down.

I wanted to read this book as I loved the first novel by Keith, A Boy Made of Blocks. Yet again Keith has not disappointed with this his second novel. I needed to brush away the tears to write this review. I was a little worried about reading on public transport as I thought I might cry. Why wouldn't you with a description containing the words "Hannah's diagnosis with a heart condition that both of them know will end her life early". Fortunately I only gave way to tears at the end of the book in the safe confines of my home.

The book is divided into Tom and Hannah each telling their version of events, both in the past and when the story is set. If I have one tiny criticism it is not knowing when in time the book is set. There is flipping back in the story to when Hannah is a little girl, but I had assumed wrongly that the present day was where the story was set. Then cultural references popped up such as dial up, Sugababes, Pop Idol and I began to realise that this was not the case. Just a personal thing but it began to bug me, as I wanted to place it in a time slot. In the end I decided it was 2004 with the many references throughout the book.

I settled into the story and it was a joy to read despite having a sad undertone. So many lovely characters and each with their own back story, that it had a real community feel to it. What interesting lives too. Although they are all there to support Hannah, each of them also has their own private turmoil, which we get to know about as the book unfolds. There is also a lot of humour in the book which I loved. I think my favourite character was Margaret who at 81 is Hannah's closest friend and they have afternoon tea together.

I felt I knew each and every one of them by the end of the novel. There is something about the quality of Keith's writing that I can't describe, it's like no other author I have read. You feel like he's taken you by the hand and led you gently through other people's lives.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for an advance copy to review. Mark your diaries for the 7th June 2018 when it will be published.

Days of Wonder is astonishingly good. The settings and characters are so simply, yet beautifully written that you can hear and see them in your head when you read. The theatre is a memorable character in a tale that is bursting with them; I especially loved Margaret. The two narrators are perfectly pitched; sincere and authentic. For a story about a girl with heart disease, this book is uplifting and life affirming. I laughed out loud so many times when reading this that my husband was giving me funny looks! This story celebrates family, friendship, drama, storytelling and community. I absolutely loved it and will be recommending it to everyone. This is the best book I have read in a long time.

An absolutely beautiful story based around a very genuine, believable father-daughter relationship. Peopled with unique, imperfect and wonderfully likeable characters, Days of Wonder is funny, charming, very moving & a little heartbreaking but never false or sentimental. Highly recommended.

What a read, I opened this book and was hooked till I finished it in two days, this is the kind of book that has everything, strong witty characters, sadness and hope and an overall plot that kept me wanting more.
Tom is a single dad, his wife left ten years ago leaving him to look after their young daughter Hannah. Both Tom and Hannah have a love for the theatre. Each year on Hannah's birthday, Tom gets the theatre to put on a production, however this years it's a little different, Hannah is coming up for 16, she is growing up, finding boys, loving her comic's and wanting to be a normal teenage girl but she feel's so far away from that. Hannah has a heart condition, she has no idea what her future holds and she doesn't want her dad left alone and unhappy so she sets about finding him love.
Written from both Toms and Hannah's POV this is so well written, I felt like I was with them in this story, hoping and praying for a happy ending. I really enjoyed the author first stand alone book The boy made of blocks however I felt this book was outstanding and can only say this author just keeps getting better and better!

Thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group Uk for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Wow! What a beautiful, heartfelt, touching read. Warm real characters bring this book to life,
Hannah who is 16 has a serious heart condition, her dad Tom is a single parent, Hannah is his life, he functions to protect her, manages the local theatre, The Willow Tree, where he puts on a play each year for Hannah on her birthday, make believe stories. Margaret who has had a long and colourful life is Hannah’s friend and she plays a big part in Hannah’s life, always encouraging her to put her fears aside and live for the moment.
Callum, Hannah’s first boyfriend who has his own demons to battle with, they seem though to bring out the best in each other.
There’s is also a whole support team of friends at the theatre.
The story is about the relationships Hannah has with the many people who love and support her, it’s also about the theatre family and the local community fighting together to save the theatre from closure.
Many performances and stories have been told in The Willow Tree and each person watching sees the story differently just as we each take different things from the stories we read. For me this book is about living the special moments, never giving up and believing in yourself
A brilliant, cleverly written story.

I loved the Boy Made of Blocks due to the loving father and son relationship depicted so well. As soon as I saw this book on Netgalley I excitedly requested it and when approved it was instantly top of my tbr list. Well Keith Stuart has done it again with Days of Wonder by masterfully writing about a realistically touching father daughter relationship this time. Hannah's health problems could have over shadowed the whole story, however it is only part of it. The way Tom and Hannah look after each other is beautiful and I really didn't want the book to end. Also it made a refreshing change that the other members of the drama club were not just there to pad out the story they added their own richness and depth to an already emotional narrative. I particularly liked Calum as he was not the typical fictional teenage boy as is so often written about. As I did with Boy Made of Blocks I will recommend this book to everyone know!

A unique relationship between father and daughter, perfectly written. A magical book full of wonder and headache. Another fantastic inspirational novel

I didn’t think that Keith Stuart would be able to write a book any better than ‘A Boy Made of Blocks’ which I loved, but in ‘Days of Wonder’ he has managed to do so with ease. A story that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, literally making you laugh out loud one moment and then burst into tears the next. With characters you can’t help but fall in love with, you feel every emotion right along with them.

There isn’t anything I didn’t love about this book, and it is easily my favourite read of the year so far. I savoured every word and did not want this wondrous journey with Hannah, Tom and the Willow Tree Theatre to ever come to an end. An incredible read and one that will stay with me for some time to come. A very easy 5 stars..

I loved every second of this book and didn't want it to end. It wraps you up like a lovely warm hug. It's got everything, family drama, friendships, community, coming of age breakthroughs. Unlike so many of the books I've read recently it's a decent length and doesn't have a rushed unsatisfactory finish. Everyone's getting this book from me this summer. Is it to early for best book of 2018?

This book deserves a standing ovation.

When I read the blurb I thought this may be unbearably sad but in truth I found it uplifting. That’s not to say there were no tears. Ton and Hannah are very likeable characters and you definitely feel the love between them. All the characters felt real and most had their own everyday issues to contend with. Collectively the theatre group showed what can be achieved when you have a common purpose. I need to mention Margaret too, she’s definitely someone you would want to take afternoon tea with. There are some really funny almost slapstick moments and the entire book is just a joy to read. I loved it and highly recommend it and it’s a solid five star rating.

I loved A Boy Made of Blocks by the same author, but it didn't blow me away. Days of Wonder did.
This is the story of a single father who through stories and fairy tales, is desperately trying to shield and save his young daughter who has a life-limiting heart condition. The book is narrated alternately between Tom (the father) and Hannah (the daughter). It's a book that will have you laughing one minute and reaching for the tissues the next. It's also surprisingly uplifting. A wonderful book and one that I feel very privileged to read.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

This beautiful, funny and moving second novel by the author of A Boy Made of Blocks, a father and his daughter discover that stories can save lives.
Hannah is a teenager with a life threatening heart condition who knows that life is precious and time is short. Tom is her father, and is the Manager of a local theatre, who raises Hannah alone after her mother leaves the family to pursue her own dreams and ambitions. He uses the theatre as therapy for both himself and Hannah and is where she spends her childhood.
The story is told from both Tom & Hannah's perspective and is one of love and life and finding family in unusual places.
Days of Wonder is a beautifully written story. I recommend everyone pick up a copy!

I read Keith's first book which was one of my favourites. This story, whilst different, was excellent again. Whilst the subject matter could have been very sad, it was written with humour and I enjoyed the characters. Highly recommended

Charming, absorbing and moving read. I thoroughly enjoyed his first book and was expecting something along the same lines. Well, in one sense there are similarities - a great story arc, sweet and charming characters, moving relationships - but otherwise a quite different story. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy this, but found myself with tears in my eyes at the end (no spoilers). In fact, couldn't put it down.

‘Days of Wonder’ is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. keith Stuart’s first book, ‘A Boy Made of Blocks’ was amazing and set the bar high. This second book has pushed that bar even higher. It is utterly captivating and if I could award it more than five stars I would.

The characters have all been written with such realistic qualities, not just our dual narrators, Tom and Hannah either who I adored, but every one of the vast array of secondary characters too. It doesn’t feel like you are reading a fictional book, it feels like you are reading about real life events, written by real people, with such honesty.

The story is heartfelt and so poignant. It is funny and touching at the same time. It gets inside of you and becomes part of you. From the opening scene to the very last page, this book will play with your emotions. Now I’m not one to get teary-eyed, but the epilogue got me.

I can’t stress how amazing this book is. Long after I had read that final word, I sat there just thinking about it. It is spectacular, and I truly believe that 2018’s must-read novel has arrived.

This book is about a beautiful relationship between a father and daughter. Tom's daughter Hannah has a potentially fatal heart condition and this book follows them dealing with this and everything else life has to throw at them.

I was diagnosed with a heart murmur when I was a child and, although it wasn't life threatening, it was something that stayed with me as I was growing up. The book switches between Tom and Hannah's point of view and it was heart-warming (and sometimes heart-wrenching) hearing both perspectives.

I adored Keith Stuart's first book, A Boy Made of Blocks, and I love his new novel even more. I highly recommend it.

Days of Wonder is a wonderful heartwarming book full of love, soul and hope. For fans of A Fault in Your Stars and anything by Tony Parsons, you need to put this on your 'to read' list! I can't believe Richard and Judy didn't pick up this book. Buy a big box of tissues, a big block of chocolate and turn the phone off...

The novel is about a dad and his daughter, who has a heart defect. Their relationship is so believable, both funny and poignant in equal measures. I especially loved the kaleidoscope of folk who made up their 'village'. The story really wouldn't have been the same without them. I was hooked into the story from the get go... I cried twice and had to stop and tell mum why I was crying and then she cried too,(and I have not cried at a book for over a decade). I thought the author might struggle to follow his last book, but I feel this one is even better and he has just moved into 'my favourite author' list. Can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Let me start with what this book is not, it’s not gritty or gripping, it’s not depressing or morose even though it deals with the lives of a father and daughter growing up with a life limiting disease and it’s not an overly sentimental tear-fest as some books on this sort of subject are.
So, what is it? For me, it is just a delight. It is poignant and thought-provoking, gentle and a bit magical. The story is strong and throughout I did wonder what the outcome would be but I wondered in the nicest, gentlest way. It was funny and sad as well as endearing and uplifting, and the characters are wonderful. I have, as I think will be a common view, a real love for Margaret, some of her lines are brilliantly funny, as well as Tom and Hannah and in fact all of them!
I loved the author’s first book - A Boy Made of Blocks; it was one of my outstanding reads of the year so I was absolutely delighted to see this new one but also wondered whether it would live up to my expectations. It certainly did that and more.
This book is simply stunning. I am so pleased I read it and it will stay with me for a long time.

The first thought that came to my mind after finishing this book was, wow what a magical story this was. I am pretty sure I won't make this book justice with my review but I'm gonna try.

Days of Wonder is a stunning story. It's an ode to theater and fairytales. To the magic of stories and how they inspire people and change lives. It's tender, it's sweet, it's funny and it's heart-wrenching. I haven't felt such deep emotions with a story in so long.

I was completely enthralled with Hannah's story. She was such a strong character. I loved her dark humour, her strength and her determination. The story was narrated in alternated chapters by both Hannah and her father, Tom, so as a reader you got to know them both quite well. Tom was also a fantastic character. His love for her daughter and his theater shone through the pages of this book.

Supporting these amazing main characters, there was a whole cast of secondary characters. The amateur theater group was like a little family, they all supported each other and were always there to celebrate their joys but also to mourn their loses. And then, there were Hannah's friends from high-school and the comic book store. They all added their own touch to the story and I came to love them all too.

Days of Wonder stole a tiny piece of my heart that I don't think I'll ever get back. After I finished reading it, all I wanted to do was start all over again and go back to these characters. It's one of those rare books that make you feel privileged to have read it. I definitely recommend this story to everyone looking for a bit of magic.

The story evolves around Tom and Hannah. Tom is a single father and manager of a local theatre. Hannah has a life limiting heart condition, and the theatre is threatened with closure. The story is beautiful from beginning to end and I had tears in my eyes at the end. There are so many different aspects to the story that the reader can relate to me, for me as a father to two teenage daughters the transition to adulthold really touched me. Would be difficult to explain the story without spoiling it. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful stories I have read in a long time and would totally recommend it.

The tale of the relationship between Tom and his daughter Hannah is very cleverly written. Both think they know the other so well, but as so often happens, both are often wrong.
Tom is a single parent after his wife, Hannah's mother, walks away. Hannah is a teenager with all the usual teenage angst about future plans, exams and boys. But Hannah has an extra factor to complicate life - a limiting and deteriorating heart condition.
Told with emotion and humour, with some great one-liners, this has a lovely ending, without being mawkish or too much of a fairy tale to be believable.
And as an added bonus we have the side stories of the theatre group where Tom works, where friends become family and their social life line is threatened.
Lovely story, thoughtfully written.

Oh I haven't read a book that I've loved quite this much in a long time! I was a huge fan of Boy Made of Blocks and when a friend recommended me Days Of Wonder and told me I'd love it even more- I was slightly sceptical. Hannah has had a life threatening heart condition since she was young and unable to handle it, her mother left and Hannah was brought up by her father. Her father runs a local theatre and the sense of wonder is incredible. The stories that take place in the theatre and the people who surround the pair as a surrogate family- the whole thing is just beautiful. This is an incredibly well written and moving novel and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Tom, single father to Hannah, is the manager of a tiny local theatre. On the same day each year, he and its colourful cast of part-time actors have staged a fantastical production just for his little girl, a moment of magic to make her childhood unforgettable.
But there is another reason behind these annual shows: the very first production followed Hannah's diagnosis with a heart condition that both of them know will end her life early. And now, with Hannah a funny, tough girl of fifteen on the brink of adulthood, that time is coming.
With the theatre under threat of closure, Hannah and Tom have more than one fight on their hands to stop the stories ending. But maybe, just maybe, one final day of magic might just save them both.
A tale about growing up, the beauty of a special bond between father and daughter, and finding magic in everyday life,
I loved this book. I read it in one sitting. I was so involved with it, I could have been one of Tom and Hannah’s friends. It made me laugh and cry (especially cry!) I really didn’t want it to end! 5*

I loved this enchanting tale and was drawn in from the start. The characters are believable and one empathises with them. The story is written from two viewpoints, Tom and his daughter Hannah, with different styles. The Hannah sections are chatty and young whilst Tom's more serious and parental both looking out for the other. Two battles are going on, Hannah's illness and a fight to save a small local theatre. I grew up with the Andrew Lang fairy tales and still have 2 volumes in my bookcase and love the way these dark tales form a background to this book. This book has coincided with a particularly poignant time when a school friend of my daughter has been battling with a life limiting condition from childhood with many parallels. A sad emotional read but with admiration for the true grit shown by young Hannah which I saw with my daughter's friend. A thoroughly recommended read.

Delightfully wonderful!! This is one of those books that I was a little apprehensive in picking up, after loving The Boy Made of Blocks so much, as I always worry that the follow up won't be as fabulous. But within a few pages I was emotionally involved with the father and daughter who this story revolves around, and the tenderness and respect between these characters was just so charming that you cannot help but keep turning the pages as you are eager to find out what challenges they are set to face and hopefully conquer!

There's always been a strong bond between Tom and his daughter Hannah, as he has bought her up on his own and has had to be there for her as she fights her illness, a heart condition that has led to many restrictions on her life. But they've faced these things together and he's always looking for ways to make each day more magical for her, and each year on her birthday actors from the local theatre that he runs, put on a play for her. Within the group there are such a wide range of characters that add a nice mix to the story, and they all become like a little family as they're all so involved with each others' lives.

Hannah is always a realist though and is looking for her dad to find some happiness and so the story is also told from her point of view as she shares her own viewpoint on how challenging she finds her life and those that she meets along the way. She soon becomes close to Callum at her school, and he's not without his own problems, so she gets him involved in helping to find some romance for her dad.

I loved how the story went between the two characters, and the supporting cast were also fascinating to read about that there was always something going on and new to discover. It helps put the 'now' into perspective and to appreciate those little things that can make each day special in its' own little way! It was a touching, emotional and humorous book that was a delight to read!!

It's a lovely funny and heart warming story and the author has a wonderful way of bringing all the characters to life. 

The story of Hannah and Tom are wonderfully real and make you feel like you sharing the journey of some very special friends . 
Will definitely be recommending it
#daysofwonder

As a huge fan of Keith Stuart’s debut book ‘A Boy made of Blocks’ I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity by the publisher to read and review a pre-release copy of his latest novel. As always on such occasions when I eagerly look forward to a new publication, I hesitated for a fraction before plunging in to read … I just hoped the book would not disappoint. I need never have feared – it is truly a gem!

From the first couple of paragraphs into ‘Days of Wonder’ I knew I was in for a treat and settled back to enjoy, savouring the story, becoming engrossed with the characters and their lives. By the end my emotions had been on a rollercoaster ride, ending in tears, at times laughing out loud, all the time moved and touched to the core.

Keith Stuart’s first book was based on his own life experience as a father with an autistic son, ‘Days of Wonder’, his first fiction novel, also centers on the relationship between a father and his child; in this case a 15-year-old daughter, Hannah and her father Tom. Not only is Hannah seeking her natural independence, experiencing first-love, fretting about A-level options, she also has to contend with an uncertain future – and perhaps none at all. Since being diagnosed with a life-threatening heart-condition cardiomyopathy, her whole life has been under its shadow.

The disease has brought father and daughter wonderfully close together, their bond inseparable since her mother left whilst Hannah was still young. Tom has raised Hannah on his own, with the support of his eclectic theatre group which he manages. The members are close-knit and effectively a second, albeit quirky, surrogate family to Hannah, caring and understanding.

Since the initial diagnosis at the age of five, Tom has sought to bring magic into her life and a professionally produced birthday play at the theatre has been key to this … a tradition Tom is desperate to continue, one that Hannah feels less keen on in the cusp of adulthood… an adulthood that may never exist for her.

Starting the book my one fear was that the disease would dominate the book, that it could become mawkish and moribund. Not at all! The disease is a backdrop to so many stories within the book; the uncertain future of the theatre, how it has saved so many people. It’s about lives, relationships, friendships, love. Of living and dying. I became totally absorbed into not only Tom and Hannah’s lives but that of Ted, Angela, Margaret, Callum, Sally to name a few. Their fears, frustrations, courage and perseverance were uplifting and soulful.

Throughout feisty gutsy Hannah is insightful and wise beyond her years, whilst loving and worrying about her father as she desperately seeks to find him a date. Furthermore, she finds and becomes supportive of her first boyfriend; a young man equally crippled with a very different illness.

The book is effectively and skilfully told through the two-viewpoints of Tom and Hannah. With the latter, it is as if overhearing a private conversation, immediate, at times raw, at times swinging perfectly into modern jargon. As with Tom and the other characters, the sense of humour is impeccably narrated, the put-downs perfectly timed. Through Hannah’s words we learn about her best friends, including a very special 81-year-old lady, the dramas of school, relationships.

Tom’s narrative is personal, emotional, realistic … comically sardonic at times, other moments relating such humorous dating escapades I cried with laughter! As a reader, I couldn’t help but warm to him and feel for his predicament- caring and being over-protective and struggling to let go of his daughter. All the time, unaware his daughter is trying hard to protect her father from the future and for the future. His gentle, confessional tones mingled with the comic and drama persona whilst the ghost of his ex-wife lingered in the background, the possibility that they might yet be a family.

For both of them, there will never be a normal life … and as the novel develops they learn to embrace their predicament; their love and bond growing stronger as a result.

An interesting additional narrative format is the occasional letters in the book … deeply revealing about past events in Hannah’s life and written by her, it is only towards the end the reader becomes aware for whom they were written. This is yet one more poignant and emotional revelation in a novel which has heart-wrenching moments cascading throughout.

The descriptive detail by the author is superb, he is wonderfully visual in creating settings, presenting plays, and I became engrossed in them all and felt as if I’d been watching a film.

‘Days of Wonder’ is ultimately, and perhaps unexpectedly, a powerful, life-affirming and inspirational book. I was hooked from the very beginning and did not want to put it down for any breaks. It’s one of those books that I just had to read one more chapter until I sadly had to say goodbye to my new friends!

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

I was apprehensive about reading this book as I had loved “A Boy Made of Blocks” so much but it was an absolute delight.
The book follows the story of Tom and his daughter Hannah. Tom is the Manager of a small local theatre and every year he puts on a performance for his daughter’s birthday. Hannah has a life-limiting heart condition so these performances are especially poignant
I particularly loved the relationship between Hannah and Margaret, an 81 year old member of the theatre company. The theatre group serve as her family since her mother left when she was young and the relationships within the group are described exquisitely.
The book is told from both Tom and Hannah’s view which gives a deep perspective. The writing is style is simple and moving and I really felt that I cared about the characters.
A well-deserved 5 stars!
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

This is an amazing book! I adored the author's first book A Boy Made of Blocks and if anything, I would say this one is even better. It is funny, poignant, and sad and the relationship between Tom and his 15 year old daughter Hannah is just wonderful. I love the banter between them, the way Hannah is trying to spread her wings at the same time Tom is being overprotective of her is so accurately done and a true representation of father/daughter relationships. Hannah's serious heart disorder makes the story even more heartbreaking.
I loved the motley crew of characters who belonged to the theatre group that Tom ran and the friendship between Hannah and 81 year old Margaret was fabulous. All the characters were so well written which really helped bring the book to life and bring a sense of realism. This book really is magical, life affirming and a thoroughly enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone.

A single parent, a seriously ill child, and a theatre that is more than a job - it's a way of life for the narrator and his teenage daughter. Only now, it's a life that looks about to end. Like its predecessor, A Boy Made of Blocks, this is a touching, gently humorous story of families, relationships and love. Yes, in parts it is a little predictable, but it's no less enjoyable for that. Well crafted, delightful and utterly satisfying.

I loved a Boy Made Of Blocks, and was hoping this would be equally as good, and it was even better!

I have just finished the book with tears in my eyes, but feeling amazing. This will give me a ‘book hangover’ for a while!

This is the story of Tom, the Theatre Manager, who is bringing up his daughter Hannah after his wife left them - deciding she wasn’t cut out to be a wife or mother. Hannah has a faulty hear, which gets worse over time, so the father and daughter are as close as they can be. Every year on her birthday Tom makes magic happen for his daughter and her friends, by putting on a magical play for her in the theatre, supported by all the cast and crew.

When Hannah reaches 15, her heart is finally bad enough to reach the transplant list, her beloved Theatre is in danger of being closed, and Hannah decides to take matters into her own hands - to set up her father with a girlfriend so he won’t be alone if she dies, and to save his Theatre.

A wonderful and moving story you won’t want to put down.

Once again Keith Stuart has channelled the essence of his characters so empathically that the reader roots for them and falls in love with them totally. He paints beautiful images and tells moving truths. To use a theatrical metaphor (as this book has a theatrical theme), a great show has a song, a dance a smile and a tear. This book is the perfect show! Can't wait for the next novel.

I loved ‘A Boy Made of Blocks’ and was therefore ultra excited to be offered a copy of 'Days of Wonder' to read and review. Keith Stuart’s novel had so much to live up to. What a tremendous amount of pressure that must have put on his shoulders, but he was certainly up to the job and this novel more than exceeded my expectations. It is fantastical, magical and a gift of a story for a booklover.
Single devoted Dad Tom was truly devastated when his daughter Hannah was diagnosed with serious heart disease at the age of three. For years he has nurtured, encouraged and coaxed her through endless hospital visits and crises. She is his very reason for living and everything is centred on her. Is she spoilt and precocious? Not a bit of it: she is kind, caring and an all-round nice teenager now aged fifteen. For year after year he has organised magical birthday treats for her. He is the manager of a provincial theatre and its thespian group. They come together to perform a play just for Hannah’s birthday. She is involved in every way. Her ideas are used and she is delighted with every single performance. The theatre is a second home to her and the actors and actresses are like family. Everyone loves and cares for her and her for them.
Two terrible pieces of news totally throw Tom and Hannah from all their normality of their being. The fact is their life is about to descend into chaos; it’s two bitter pills to swallow in one gulp. The Willow Tree Theatre looks set for closure, making way for housing. At the same time Hannah’s condition considerably deteriorates and she is forced to make a game-changing decision. Can Tom spin some more magic and save both Hannah and their precious theatre? That would be just too much to hope for. What happens next is a magical treat for you to savour and marvel at. I’m devastated to have finished this excellent novel, beautifully told and with true mastery, but conversely I had to read on and on right to the last page just so that my inner consciousness was satisfied, and I knew how the story ended and what a truly wonderful finale it was, well deserving of thunderous applause.
I’ve already written about some of the issues enfolded into this novel, but there is so much more to it than that. There’s passion, devotion, a whole range of marvellous relationships, depression, bullying, romances, grief, love, hope, commitment and even more. I loved the eclectic mix of characters, but Tom and Hannah were my stand out favourites. They were absolute gems. They had such a loving symbiotic relationship it made my heart melt. The story was full of love and laughter, empathy and courage and of the enchanting power of stories and what they truly mean. I cried, I’ll admit it, but I was awed by the power of this novel. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Sphere through my membership of NetGalley. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. It’s an excellent read and an all-round 5* review from me.

Days of Wonder is the gem of a book that you pick up and it draws you in, it's based around Hannah who has a rare heart condition and her father who has been a single parent most of her life.

This book brings the theatre to life, it weaves stories within stories and brings the magic of fairytales to centre stage.

Hannah has struggled for a long time with her heart condition and alongside her Dad they have both found coping mechanisms and love within their theatre family.

A book that makes you want to tell your kids a story before bed and just squeeze them a little tighter when kissing them goodnight. A brilliant and emotional read that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure, it oozes with love and is a reminder to us all that time is precious

A book about a girl with deteriorating heart disease....I was understandably worried this book would break my heart. However, because it was written by Keith Stuart (the author of Boy Made of Blocks) I knew I couldn't miss out on reading it because, even if it left me shredded into an emotional pile of pieces, I was certain I would also learn something new and important. From the first chapter I realised how wrong, and how correct I was. I laughed out loud on a regular basis, to the point of tears at times, but these were tears of mirth and nothing else. This book is utterly joyful, the characters are HUGE, and I am convinced this story has an actual pulse. My absolute favourite best read of this decade.

What a truly beautiful story!

Tom works as a theatre manager in a small market town in Somerset, at the only place where live productions can be produced, the Willow Theatre. Hannah, his daughter, was diagnosed at the age of four with a serious heart condition. Hannah’s mother had chosen career over family and had left when Hannah was still very young. Along with Tom and Hannah, we meet the theatre group and Hannah’s friends from school and finally, Callum. Hannah met him through school and really, really likes him.

I’m deliberately writing the minimum I can about this story because I’d hate to spoil the fun you will have when you read it. What I will do is tell you that it’s a story about the love between a father and his daughter and using every minute of every day to make the most of life. It’s facing challenges such as whether the theatre can be saved from the threat of the local council bulldozing it and turning the space into houses? Can Tom find love? Can Hannah survive long enough until the all-important transplant that will keep her alive?

I didn’t want this book to end. I can’t remember when last I read a book that was both very sad but so full of love and life and laughter. Both Tom and Hannah have wicked senses of humour that keep the darkness from their spirits so that they can get on with the task of truly living life to the full. Even if, like in Hannah’s case, it means lying on her bed and sorting out life from a prone position.

Keith Stuart is a brilliant author. This book is filled with so much hope, love, and just living. It helped me recover my love for reading which seemed to have taken a serious knock.

I just hope that whoever reads it, tells his family and friends to go out and buy it, because I think this might just be the book we’re all going to be talking about in 2018!

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I have literally just turned the (virtual) last page of this wonderful book and wanted to share my praise of it straight away. It is a brilliant book that I can’t imagune anyone not loving! From the first chapter you fall in love with the fantastic characters brought to life with awesome descriptive writing. The story itself is not a hugely original one if I am truly honest but the wit, emotion and honesty of the writing makes it stand out. The book is modern and up to date with its references and characters. It makes you laugh out loud with its honest depiction of today’s society and challenges as well as lives up to some stereotypes. It will bring you to tears at the end so have tissues at the ready. Some real lessons to be learnt in the text which left me thinking. Truly wonderful and should be a made into a film (has it already?) highly recommend.

This book was an utter joy to read, filled with laughter, tears, love and hope. It takes you on a journey that even when ended leaves memories that will linger for a long time to come.Thank to Netgalley and the Publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this superbly written book.

I absolutely loved this book and did not want it to finish. I do love the theatre so the fact that this book was pretty much set around a theatre and the escapism a show offers was a positive to me. I also loved Hannah and her relationships with her dad and her friends.

The writing alternates between the viewpoint of Tom (Hannah's dad), and Hannah herself.

I wasn't sure how this author could follow "A Boy Made of Blocks" which I read last year and also loved. But this book is equally as good, with the sense that you've really got to know the characters by the end of it and the feeling as you're coming to the conclusion that you really don't want to let them go.

I'm already looking forward to the next book by this author.

Really enjoyed this book, a mixture of despair and hope and an inevitable ending. Well written which made you want to continue the book. Thank you for letting me read this moving story.

At first I thought the story was developing too slowly, though I enjoyed the unfolding of the ‘drama group’. However I found that as in his previous book, the author really understood the hidden nature of the protagonists afflictions/disabilities and let the reader learn about them gradually as would naturally happen The pace of the book then made sense and led inexorably to the climatic crisis faced by the two main youthful characters. The constancy of the father, who had his own problems due to the abandonment of the family by Helen’s mother, was a strong thread throughout the story. The reader by now was drawn into the highs and lows of life at the Willow theatre which was also suffering a crisis – faced with possible closure the theatre community put aside their own troubles to justify their existence to the local government officials – successfully as it happens.

The whole story evokes in the reader a roller coaster of emotions as the various characters reveal their own problems – the theatre being everyone’s ‘balm for the soul’ -a short respite from the realities of life .

As in his previous book Mr Stuart has obviously thoroughly researched the illnesses he ascribes to his characters , and how being part of a small, close-knit community brings great comfort and support when we need it most

It’s hard to even find words to describe this beautiful, moving and poignant book.

I loved Keith Stuart’s previous novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, and didn’t see how he could better it, but he has.

Everything about this book is just perfect, the characters, plot, settings, stories, it’s simply fabulous.

The narrative alternates between Tom and Hannah, and I loved the insights this gave into each of them.
The father-daughter relationship in the book is authentic and touching. They are so close and have a great bond.

The stories about the theatre group are both facinating and funny.

A word of warning, don’t read it in public as it will make you both laugh and cry. It’s poignant and moving, but also funny and life-affirming.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I’d recommend it to a anyone. Simply stunning.

This title is absolutely perfect for this gem of a book. It really is about days of wonder; about the importance of creating magic every day – and appreciating every single moment. It’s a beautifully written story that sparkles with wit and humour. Hannah has a life-threatening heart disease. Her mother left when she was small and her father, Tom, is determined to keep her cocooned in wonder, magic, stories and make-believe. Their relationship is incredibly special. He’s a theatre manager – and his little theatre is at the centre of their lives. But as Hannah’s condition worsens, Tom discovers he may lose the theatre as well. There’s a cast of other wonderful characters as well. My favourite was Hannah’s best friend, 80-something-year-old Margaret, who’s totally outrageous and just wonderful (that word again!). I loved the close, understanding relationship between the ill teenager and the elderly ex-actress. Hannah is desperate for Tom to find love, worried that if she dies, he will be totally alone. His first few attempts at dating, however, are disastrous. I found myself rooting for romance for him – after all, Hannah was right. He had devoted his whole life to her since she became ill. Author Keith Stuart weaves so much wisdom through the book: the importance of choosing your own course through life, letting people go, and the meaning of real love. It’s also about the importance of stories, and the magic of theatre. But although it’s magical and wondrous, this is also a very grounded story about living with the possibility of death – and how this makes every moment count. I know I haven’t done justice to this book in this review – you’ll just have to read it yourself to see how special it is. And then read his first, A Boy Made of Blocks, which I also absolutely loved.

I loved The Boy Made of Blocks and I was really looking forwarding to reading Days of Wonder and it certainly did not disappoint. I devoured it from start to finish and had tears rolling down my face at the end. I loved the reallness of the teenage language used by Hannah. Her relationship with her dad was simply stunning. She was such an inspiration and force of nature and I will be thinking about her for a long time to come.

I fell in love with Hannah, her dad, Callum, Vanessa, Jay, Sally and all the other people I met while reading this book. A must-read!

“There is such a thing as magic”. A great opening line. This is a book about magic. Not just the magic that you find in fairy tales and fantasy books, or even with comic book heroes – all of which get a mention. “I just mean the idea that incredible things are possible, and that they can be conjured into existence through will, effort and love.” This is the magic of stories, of people, of life and living.
The book alternates chapter between two narrators; Tom – devoted father, actor and theatre manager; and Hannah – daughter with serious heart condition. Hannah, like all seriously ill children, is a fully mature adult at age fifteen. The Days of Wonder begin with her fifth birthday, immediately following her diagnosis, when Tom gets his amateur dramatic group to create a faerie cavalcade outside Hannah’s window at night. Thereafter, every birthday comes with a newly produced (by Hannah and Tom) fairy tale acted out at the Willow Tree Theatre.
Hannah’s mother disappeared when she was three, but the theatre and its amateur dramatic group become her family. One of the strongest things about this book is its characters – not just Tom and Hannah – but all the theatre troupe get to play their parts. Everyone should have a Margaret in their lives. Someone with risqué anecdotes of their former life, that may or may not be true, but are always wonderful to hear, and who is always willing to listen, and to talk about any topic – including death – with a teenager (“It’s weird, but when we talk about life and more specifically its unavoidable conclusion, we do it as equals – we don’t bother to reassure each other. No one else in my life does that – they feel they have to protect me from any mention of death. Or more accurately, protect themselves.”). There is Ted, an accountant, who really wants to be a lion tamer. Actually, I made that bit up, but he does want to spice up his life by travelling around Europe in a classic motorcycle sidecar (with or without his wife). Natasha sees the theatre as her escape from the stifling demands of motherhood (“She told me that living in Somerset feels like being trapped in a cross between Groundhog Day and Deliverance. I looked up Deliverance on Google – I don’t think it was a compliment”). For Sally the theatre is somewhere she can finally get to use her organisational skills, and grow in confidence.
Outside of the theatre there is Callum, in whom Hannah has absolutely no interest at all. She might even believe that if she says it often enough. Like Hannah, Callum is seriously into comics. And like Hannah, he has his own health issues, as does her friend, Daisy (“Sometimes I forget she’s broken like me. While I’m hiding in the theatre or reading comics, she’s out drinking and shagging. She’s so much better at being chronically ill than I am”).
Hannah knows she “could drop dead at any second” and feels unable to plan for her own future. However, she does feel the need to plan for her father’s: “When you’re this sick, you learn really fast that you have to protect your parents”. With the connivance of Sally, Hannah starts to set up some blind dates for Tom – none of which go as planned.
I got so invested in the characters in this book, especially Hannah, and expected to lose her any time. I spent the first third of the book checking on how far through I was – 10% that means Hannah lives at least another 70%, 20% she has another 60% of the story to go … And then suddenly I switched, and watched her LIVE. Soon after, Tom also realised that she had grown up, and that he needed to loosen the apron strings – just a little.
The story, then, got very emotional. Never saccharine. Just honest-to-goodness emotional. I started blubbing – happens very rarely, but I just could not help it.
The ending is just magical – that is, the ending of the current story. The epilogue ties up some loose ends, but isn’t really needed.
This is a truly wonderful story, and I recommend it to anyone with a heart – broken or otherwise.
“This is what I’ve always understood about the theatre – it is a place of possibilities, of magic – it is not bound by the rules the rest of the world has to follow … life always seeks to limit you, but it can’t do that here. The world is as big as you want it to be and it lasts as long as memory”.
Warning: do not read this book in public, if you are in any way shape or form emotional!
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

First book I head read by this author - such an emotional but enjoyable read.

The story is told from the points of view of both Tom and his daugther Hannah. Great set of characters, in particular Margaret!

Hard to describe without giving away the story - so you just have to read it for yourself!

I absolutely loved this book! It's just as good, if not better than 'A boy made of blocks.' Tom is a single parent to 15 year old Hannah. He is the manager of a theatre in a small west country town. Hannah has been living with a heart condition for a number of years, and both she and Tom know it could be life limiting. This is their story - how the theatre and the local drama group enrich their lives, and how Hannah copes with her diagnosis. I laughed out loud and I cried at this book. It's a wonderful story, which I thoroughly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

A wonderful books that get in touch with both your brain and your emotions. A wonderful group of characters, a very gripping plot, and a great style of writing.
One of the best books this year.
Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for the ARC

I wasn't too sure of this book at first, and whilst there was enough interest to keep me reading, the first half dragged a bit for me - but persevere, because it was probably just me, and the second half is so much better and I couldn't stop reading it then.

It is written in alternating chapters by Tom and Hannah. Tom runs a local theatre, and Hannah is his daughter and has a life threatening heart disease. It is very clever and gives you both viewpoints all through the book, and a lot of the time Hannah seems like more the adult in the story, and Tom, whilst his heart is in the right place, is definitely more scatterbrained, although absolutely devoted to his daughter.

We go through their lives from Hannah's diagnosis as a small child, and most of the book centres around her as a 15 year old and reaching a very critical time in her illness. There are so many great side characters, I absolutely loved 81 year old Margaret, who had such tall tales of the her time in showbusiness, even though no-one was entirely sure they were true... but the truth does come out eventually. There were humourous parts where Hannah was trying to set up her Dad on internet dating, and really sad parts with various illnesses, death and relationships issues.

But the main story is firmly set around the theatre and the 'family' of regular actors. And when the council wants to close them down Hannah decides to rally the troops, even though she's really ill at the time, to try and stop them, all to help her Dad and without him knowing.

Of course Hannah's illness also runs throughout the story and you are always hoping for the very best outcome for her.

A really lovely, happy, sad, life affirming book that I definitely shed a few tears to, and in more than one place. I love that it didn't leave us wondering what happened to everyone either as there was an epilogue set in the future. One of those books that will linger for a long time and make you appreciate the life you have.

Not my usual type of book, but I like to read a different genre in between my usual thrillers and sci fi,and when I read a book as good as this one ,I think I should be adventurous more often.I loved this book, I loved the humour ,the fact that the characters were so well written they were totally believable,and I cared what happened to them.There was quite a lot going on as well lots of little sub plots and I was enthralled by the story.not giving anything away ,all I can say is read this book and cherish it, I did,it gets 5 stars from me, and I would love to read more by this writer.Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Little, Brown and Company UK (Clara Díaz in particular) for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
I read and reviewed Keith Stuart’s first novel A Boy Made of Blocks, a truly extraordinary book, a couple of years ago, and loved it. I could not resist when I was offered the opportunity to read the author’s second novel. And, again, it was love at first read.
Days of Wonder has some similarities to A Boy. It does center on the relationship between a father and his child (in this case, Hannah), and how their relationship is shaped by a specific condition affecting the child (Asperger’s in the first novel, a chronic cardiac illness that cannot be cured and will only get worse in this novel). All the characters are beautifully portrayed, not only the protagonists but, in this case, also an array of secondary characters that become an ersatz family unit.
Tom, the father, runs a small theatre and has close links to the amateur theatrical group. His wife, Elizabeth, left the family when their daughter was three and leads the life of a high-flier, with no real contact with her family. Hannah has grown-up in the theatre, surrounded by the players and by stories, both on stage and out.
The book, narrated in the first person by both Tom and Hanna (mostly in alternating chapters, although towards the end there are some that follow the same character’s point of view, due to the logic of the story). Hannah’s narration in the present is interspersed with what appear to be diary entries addressed to Willow, (the theatre is called The Willow Tree). She is a strong girl, who loves her father, the theatre and the players, her friends, and who has a can-do attitude, despite her serious illness, or perhaps because of it. She knows how valuable each moment is, and lives it to the fullest (within her limitations). She is worried about her father and how much he has focused his life on her and decides that he must find a woman and live a fuller life. She loves comics, fairy-tales, is funny (having a sense of humour does help in such a situation, without a doubt), witty, and wise beyond her years, whilst being a credible teenager who worries about boys and can sometimes have questionable judgement. I challenge anybody not to fall in love with Hannah, her enthusiasm, and her zest for life.
Tom is a father who tries his hardest in a very difficult situation, and who sometimes finds himself in above his head, unable to function or to decide, frozen by the enormity of the situation. He is one of the good guys, he’d do anything to help anybody, and some of his philosophical reflections are fairly accurate, although, like most of us, he’s better at reading others than at understanding himself. His date disasters provide some comic relief but he is somebody we’d all love to count as a friend. Or, indeed, a father.
One of my favourite characters is Margaret, an older woman who has become a substitute grandmother for Hannah, and who is absolutely fabulous, with her anecdotes, her straight speaking, her X-ray vision (she knows everything that goes on even before the people involved realise what is going on sometimes), and she is a bit like the fairy-godmother of the fairy tales Hannah loves so much. As for the rest, Callum, Hannah’s boyfriend, is a very touching character, with many problems (the depiction of his depression is accurate and another one of the strong points of a book full of them), and the rest of the theatre crew, although they appear to be recognisable types at first sight (the very busy mother who wants some space for herself, the very capable woman whose husband is abusive, a retired man whose relationship with his wife seems to be falling apart, a gay man who can’t confess his attraction for another member of the group…), later come across as genuine people, truly invested in the project, and happy to put everything on the line for the theatre.
The novel is set in the UK and it has many references that will delight the anglophiles and lovers of all-things-British, from language quirks to references to plays, movies, TV series and festivals. (Oh, and to local politics as well), but I’m sure that the lack of familiarity with them will not hinder the readers’ enjoyment. Although there are also quite a number of references to theatre plays and comics (and I don’t know much about comics, I confess), they never overwhelm the narration and are well integrated into the story, adding to its depth.
The book deals in serious subjects (family break-ups, abuse, chronic physical and mental illnesses [affecting young people, in particular], aging and death, growing-up, single-parent families) and whilst it makes important points about them, which many readers will relate to, they are seamlessly incorporated into the fabric of the novel, and it never feels preachy or as if it was beating you over the head with a particular opinion or take on the topic.
Reading the author’s comment above, I can vouch for his success. This is indeed a book about love, life, and magic. It is a declaration of love to the world of theatre and to the power of stories. The novel is beautifully written, flows well, and the readers end up becoming members of their troupe, living their adventures, laughing sometimes and crying (oh, yes, get the tissues ready) at other times. Overall, despite its sad moments, this is a hopeful feel-good book, heart-warming and one that will make readers feel at peace with themselves and the world. It has a great ending and although I wondered at first if the epilogue was necessary, on reflection, it is the cherry on top of the trifle. Perfect.
The book is endlessly quotable and I’ve highlighted a tonne of stuff, but I couldn’t leave you without sharing something.
Here is Hanna, talking about magic:
I don’t mean pulling rabbits out of hats or sawing people in half (and then putting them back together: otherwise it’s not magic, it’s technically murder). I just mean the idea that incredible things are possible, and that they can be conjured into existence through will, effort and love.
As I’m writing this review on Star Wars Day, I could not resist this quote, again from Hannah:
I feel as though it’s closing in around me, like the trash-compactor scene in Star Wars, except I have no robots to rescue me although I do have an annoying beeping box next to the bed doing a twenty-four-hours-a-day impression of R2-D2.
Oh, and another Star Wars reference:
It’s as though the spirit of Margaret is working through me, like a cross between Maggie Smith and Yoda.
And a particularly inspiring one:
Margaret told me that you must measure life in moments —because unlike hours or days or weeks or years, moments last forever. I want more of them. I am determined. I will steal as many as I can.
A beautiful book, a roller-coaster of emotions, and an ode to the power of stories, to their magic, and to family love, whichever way we choose to define family. I urge you to read it. You’ll feel better for it. And I look forward to reading more books by its author, who has become one of my favourites.

I absolutely adored A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart and I have recommended his work quite often, because it is a great read, but also for its emotional and educational value in regards to the topic of autism and a father seeking a connection to his son.

I was genuinely interested to see of he could bring the same kind of emotional inner turmoil and tug-of-war to the table with Days of Wonder.

The answer to that is yes, but in a completely different way. The focus in Days of Wonder is on the relationship between Tom and his daughter Hannah, however the difference is the connection between them is already there. Instead the author explores the difficulty between father and daughter as she comes of age, with the added tragic factor of a future she may never be part of.

The topic of a child with heart disease is one I found easy to relate to. Being told that your child has joined the inner sanctum and group of children suffering from or affected by a terribly frightening disease, especially when it comes out of the blue, is devastating and incredibly traumatic.

Luckily for my child, who was a guinea pig for a new procedure nearly 25 years ago, the medical world had a solution and she is now a healthy young woman. For Tom and Hannah the reality is a lot more dire. They both know that their time together is limited and on a timer.

Tom decided a long time ago to make every birthday Hannah manages to celebrate an event to remember, and there is no limit to his imagination. I loved the ideas he prepared for his child, especially the fairy parade. What a wonderful memory and experience to give to your child. This is the kind of parent Tom is, but he is also a typical father who has trouble letting his beautiful caged bird fly and experience the world for herself.

Days of Wonder is an ode to the relationships between fathers and daughters. The majority of stories focus on mother and daughter bonds or dysfunctional family relationships, which makes this a refreshing change of tempo and a smorgasbord of emotions.

Stuart manages to change a tragedy into a warm, heartfelt coming-of-age story. He portrays the father as a man willing to go to any length to ensure his daughter experiences each moment to the fullest, even when she decides it is time to cut the cord between them. Kudos to the author for giving Days of Wonder the ending it deserved, and not falling prey to the scenario some readers may want to see, as opposed to the brutal reality it needed.

Keith Stuart offers up his heart, mind and part of his soul, which is part of his style and it’s what makes his books so memorable. He invites the reader to sit down at the table with his characters and become part of the family. At the end of Days of Wonder you may just see the fairies dancing in your garden at night too, and that is the magic Stuart creates.

Oh my goodness, Hannah’s story told from both hers and her father Tom’s view made me sob several times. The story of Hannah’s ill ess and the intertwining story of thr Willow Tree Theatre and the campaign to save it - for so many personal reasons was just beautiful. The beginning of thr boom makes clear there will not be a happily ever after for Hannah, but what a wonderful story the journey was. Highly recommend - wear sunglasses to hide the tears!

What an absolutely fabulous book this was! You know when you can tell from the very first pages it’s going to be a great book? It was like that! So let me tell you more about what I loved about this fabulous book:
I loved both Tom and Hannah, although I definitely had more of a soft spot for Tom, maybe even a slight book crush. They felt so real and I felt like I was actually part of their lives, not just a fly on the wall.
I loved the way Hannah and Tom told their stories through alternating chapters, revealing their close father/daughter relationship.
I loved all the theatre, fairy tale, and comic book analogies, it made me want to read fairy tales again and try comic books. Any recommendations of where to start?
I loved everyone in the drama group, they made me want to join in, especially the trip to the drama festival with the cheap cider and acrobatic insect troupe!
I loved Tom’s dating adventures and really loved the sound of that adult music lesson. Where can I find one of those near me?
I loved the character development of both Hannah growing up, and Tom learning to let go.
I loved the comic book shop even though I’m not a comic book fan, but I wanted to hang out there with Hannah.
I loved how it made me smile, laugh out loud and nearly cry. It had such a sense of hope and wonder all the way through, making me think about my own life and how I might treasure and enjoy everything and everyone around me more.
I loved that I’ve found a new favourite author in Keith Stuart.
I could tell you about so many other moments that I loved, but that would ruin the story for you. It’s one of my favourite books this year and I will definitely be getting myself a paper copy so I can re-read it. I’m going to be recommending this to friends, family and, given the chance complete strangers!

My favourite book of the year so far. Tom and Hannah are wonderful, realistic characters and it’s incredibly touching to read about their relationship in such difficult circumstances. I was torn between crying and laughing throughout the book. There’s even a hint of romance in the story, and I had no idea which way it would go. This is definitely a book I would want to read over again - a quiet masterpiece.

I loved this book! Heartwarming, engaging and poignant are three words that come to mind. Hannah and her father Tom are great characters and easy to relate to. Some of Tom’s dating experiences made me laugh out loud. Hannah is living under the shadow of heart disease and Days of Wonder is all about making every day count. It’s beautifully written and funny and sad at the same time. I was slightly wary in case it was a bit depressing because of Hannah’s illness but it wasn’t at all. It’s a lovely, uplifting read about the power of magic and the theatre, how people come together and how to make every moment count. A wonderful book!

A story of love, tenacity, hope and expectations which I nearly gave up on! T the beginning I struggled to engage with the characters and the story did not seem to be going anywhere, but, as in the theatre suddenly the curtains opened and the play began.
Tom and Hannah - father and daughter- have a beautiful relationship made magical by theatre manager Tom's inventive birthday treats. But Hannah has a heart defect and does not know what the future holds for her.
This book made me laugh, at Tom's date in the restaurant and cry at some of the injustices of life. But overall it left me with a sense of optimism and a new zest for making the most out of this life we are given.

Abeautiful book,moving and poignant that cannot fail to move you,told in alternating chapters by father and daughter it is unlike any book I. have read for a long time,,enchanting and a book that stays with you after the final page.

Incredible. The story of life, relationship dynamics, betrayal, loss, despair and hope. It’s the stuff of real life, something you can get your teeth into, so full of depth and emotion. I felt so drawn into the story, at times I was crying and smiling. Sometimes you can pick up a story and dip in and out of it, it’s a bit of escapism. For me this felt like so much more, I can’t seem to put my thoughts and emotions in order! I believe it’s definitely going to be like marmite... you will either love it or hate...

This book is about a girl called Hannah who has a heart condition and the fact that she is being brought up solely by her Dad, Tom since her mother left when she was little. Each chapter is either told from Hannah or Tom's perspective. Tom is a manager of a local theatre in Somerset. I think this is an absolutely beautiful story. Well worth reading. Sad in places but also joyous.

Another fantastic, well written book covering heart touching father daughter relationship whilst handling a medical condition
I fully recommend this