Dear Lily,
It’s me, Joy, your much wiser and (very slightly) older sister. I thought I’d start a new tradition of letter writing – now that we’re long distance.
On the plane over here, I began to cry in seat 21C. I think the magnitude of it finally hit me, after everything that happened…
I haven’t even unpacked yet – the only thing I’ve taken out of my suitcase is Harville, your beloved childhood teddy. Sorry for stealing him, but I need him more than you do. Every time I look at that little brown bear I think about our childhood. Remember that dance we made up to Annie’s ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’? (Remember the broom choreography?)
I’m also sorry for abandoning you – I’ve always been your agony aunt, and a buffer in your infamous shouting matches with Mum. But I had to leave, Lily, I had to.
Anyway, I’m here now. I’m here to start over, and to face up to the past. I want to learn to laugh again, and to find someone to love who will maybe even love me back. You always told me I was just getting by, not actually living, so I’m finally doing it. Wish me luck, little sister.
Love,
Joy x
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Review
Why do people leave everything behind and go and live abroad? There could be different reasons, of course. You could have found the love of your life and follow them to the other side of the world if needed. Or you could have received the job offer of a life time and you just cannot refuse it. Or you just have to get away from everything and need a fresh start in a new place.
The story was full of emotions, but it was quite funny at the same time too. It broke my heart and it made me smile.
I liked Joy, but sometimes I did not like her very much too. At times she was too immature, to whiney in my opinion. It felt like she did not want to be happy and tried to sabotage herself or she just let it be. She did not want to make to much effort to change the things she was not happy about.
I was very pleased to see that she gave herself a mental kick and started to take her future in her own hands. You can not be happy if you are not happy with yourself. You have to change that first and than the rest will follow too. I am glad she started to realise that and did something about it.
Even though she sometimes got on my nerves, it certainly was a beautiful story. 4 stars.
Thank you, Drew Davies and Bookouture
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About the author
Drew Davies was born in London and grew up in Whanganui, New Zealand. He attended the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland and won a Playmarket New Zealand Young Playwright of the Year award in 2000. After a brief stint on a kiwi soap, he has worked in Search for the past 15 years. Drew’s other claim to fame is that Stephen Fry once called him droll. Either that, or he got his name wrong. He now lives in Wanstead, London.
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Author Links
Twitter: @Drew_Davies
Instagram: @drewdavieswriter
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Book Link
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Lily-absolutely-charming-emotional-ebook/dp/B07NVP88GD/
B for Bookreview 