This magnificent book has been on my pile to read for a few months, I knew it would be brilliant but I confess I was a little worried about the emotional impact of it.
I have previously read and loved Dear Life and Breathtaking so I knew the book would ‘capture my heart’.
However, yesterday it was longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for non fiction so I picked it up immediately. No longer was I going to let it sit waiting on the coffee table.
I have sipped it slowly, reading parts out to my husband, phoning my parents to tell them things from the book and texting friends to get it ordered and read. I will of course continue to do this with everyone I meet.
This is what happens when I read a great book – I need the world to read it too.

This book is full of medical history which is fascinating and it reminds you that many of these fabulous operations, procedures and drugs are still so very new. It wasn’t that long ago that these things simply weren’t so viable and we can only hope that in the future the outlook in these situations is even more favourable for all.

The families involved in the book will drive you to tissues and admiration so many times as you read the book.
I certainly wondered how I would cope in the circumstances, I fear not as well as any of them did.

All the medical team of course were wonderful, we should remember not to take them for granted.

This book is the first I have read from this years longlist and it won’t be the last but if the impact on me is anything to go by then let’s just move this book straight through to the shortlist and I am calling it a worthy winner.

So the competition is on to see if any on this year’s list can better it in my eyes.

Think of how interesting and moving the winning speech would be!

ABSOLUTELY RECOMENDED!

Click HERE to view this book on Waterstones.