Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry
A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother – studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing – and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn’t have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn’t know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn’t helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it’s time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she’s stepped back in time.

When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes – he’s unlike anyone she’s ever met before, the kind of man she didn’t even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don’t always need a plan – sometimes life steers you where you’re meant to be.

Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it’s time for her to help Nicholas the way he’s helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.

Even if you don’t classify yourself as a mood reader, at times we all have those days in which we need something specific. In the past few weeks, I’ve needed distracting. Preferably a happy little love story or something that is going to make me sob hysterically. I agreed to review Blue Sky Days before I hit that patch, but it came up on my reading schedule just in time.

I have to admit though, nothing really was holding my attention. I kept reading books on my schedule and my mind kind of faltered. I was a bit skeptical when I started reading Blue Sky Days. Then it hooked me from page one. Emma’s family life is heartbreaking, she works herself obsessedly to please someone who obviously cannot be pleased. Blue Sky Days starts at the point where Emma is finally living for herself. Despite her harsh upbringing, she never comes across as whiny. Bonus points, right there!

Daisy is such a carefree, yet much needed role model. She’s a bit out-there and artistic, but she’s such a fun character. I found myself wanting my own Nicholas. He is one of the most perfect book boys written. He’s charming in an old world sort of way without ever feeling fake.

Blue Sky Days reads much like one of Lurlene McDaniel’s books, for those who’ve ever explored her writing. While it isn’t the world’s greatest novel it is perfect for someone looking to cry or distract themselves a bit from their own issues. It’s plenty predictable, but in an enjoyable sort of way. If you are a big baby like I am, be sure to have tissues near by!

I received Blue Sky Days from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

 

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