Don't Die, My Love

by Lurlene McDaniel

Julie Ellis and Luke Muldenhower have always been school sweethearts. Now both are in high school and deeply in love. Luke, a talented football player, is almost certain to receive an athletic scholarship to a top college. And no matter what her parents say, wherever Luke goes, Julie intends to follow. When Luke can't shake what he thinks is a virus, Julie persuades him to see a doctor. Luke's test results are alarming, but Julie believes their love is stronger than anything. Can love survive, now and forever?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit, Drama

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Lurlene McDaniel (born c. 1948) is an author who has written over 50 young adult books. She is well known for writing about characters struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and organ failure.


Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc

Reviews

[Ara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me by relatives as a random stocking stuffer when I was a pre-teen. I never expected to like it, but as soon as I started reading, it became my favorite book, and remained my favorite book for years afterward. I read this book cover to cover at least 15 times as a teen (I'm actually underexaggerating), and never once made it to the end without bawling my eyes out. It's still sitting on my shelf, over a decade later, falling apart at the seams from all the use it got in my younger years. I haven't read it since, but I just saw someone mention McDaniel on another review, and felt inclined to post a comment about it here. I'm grateful for the throwback.

I tried reading other Lurlene McDaniel books in younger years, but none of them got to me like this one. This book is AMAZING, and I'm so glad I was reminded of it today. It's a beautiful story of love, loss, and everything in between. I can only hope I find a love one day that's half as special as the love the protagonists in this story had for each other.

If I remember correctly, McDaniel apparently lost a child to a terminal illness (or something along those lines), so it doesn't surprise me that she knew how to bring the love and pain of this story forward in such a real and pure way. I can't wait to pass it along as a random stocking stuffer to my future daughter one day! A+++

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If it's possible to send a message from heaven, I'll get one to you.” -Luke

~Spoilers~

You want a book that rips out your heart and stomps all over it? You got it with this one!

This book is beautiful and the kind of love any woman wants from a man. Childhood friends and still deeply in love with one another. They reach high school and are still going strong, their love never dies. Then Juile finds out Luke has cancer and everything goes downhill. However her love for him never died in fact it grew stronger. She went with him to every doctor's appointments and was there for him when he wasn't strong. She prayed that he would stay alive but the tumor in his lungs grew worse and sadly, Luke died. However the ending his beautiful and Luke sends a message to Juile from heaven, flowers covering the football field.

I read this book in class and I cried my eyes out for an hour in front of my class. This book is easy to read and a very short read. So grab a copy and begin to read. But have tissues with you!

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Die My Love by Lurlene McDaniel is a beautiful love story that will pull at your heartstrings. I read it in one sitting and fell for the main characters right away. Luke and Julie's love for each other was truly genuine IMHO, and I was sad for Luke when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's. The events unfolded at a steady pace, but I was not prepared for the final outcome, or rather in denial I should say. As realistic as it was, I was still hoping against hope and eventually found myself reaching for the tissues, which is saying a lot as I usually don't get emotionally vested in fictional stories.

About the story… Luke has loved Julie since he was a little boy. When the story commences, they are high school sweethearts and Luke, who comes from poor means, has worked hard to become the star football player with good grades in the hopes of getting into college with a scholarship and making something of himself. He loves Julie with all his heart and she feels the same for him. Their lives are turned upside down when Luke is diagnosed with Hodgkin's, which is a form of cancer. He fights for his life and struggles to gain his stamina back after a bout of chemo and radiation. Luke is definitely the perfect model of a great guy. He is loving, thoughtful, strong and courageous. His comeback gives the reader hope, but hang on as the ride takes turns and twists your mind and your heart will struggle against.

This story really had me on an emotional roll-a-coaster. It was angsty, happy, sad, but most of all beautiful. I highly recommend it if you want to read about genuine love. Great story!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Whoa there, Nellie! Spoiler alert!*

But he does.

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Lurlene McDaniel, does an awesome job in her work. I wish I had more time to read her books. I love to read her writing. It is so vivid. I can actually put myself in the main characters place.

This book is an amazing love story. I love how the main character shows how devoted to her boyfriend. Yet, as many changes he faces she stills stands by his side even when he doesn’t want her love. Don’t Die, My Love takes you a journey of two young adults as there undivided attention to one another and the choices each person makes will send your mind on an expedition on what true love really is. And the struggles that come with it. My heart broke the some of the problems they faced. I even cried once or twice.

Lurlene adds turns and twists. I wasn’t able to put the book down. I like how the author always incorporates at least one person that has cancer. Her son had cancer so that is one thing that you can find in every one of her books. She does an awesome job on the way she writes her books. I have read many of her books and wish to read more.

[Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh. Seriously. I never cry. Never. All my friends call me heartles becuase of that reason. But I was literally crying a tthe end of this book. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry again. This is an amazing book and I think everyone should read it.

[Jay G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

2.5/5 Stars

Luke has always loved Julie since he was a child even though Julie originally hadn't felt the same way. Now, years later, Julie and Luke have been highschool sweethearts for 3 years. They plan on attending college together where Luke will play football and eventually marrying. When Luke receives a scary diagnosis, Julie decides to stand by him and show him how much she loves him.

The book is heart breakingly sad. It's an extremely fast read which I finished in 3 hours. It's an honest portrayal of a situation like the one told in this book. Luke is adorable and I wish I had a boy who cared that much about me. I loved the ending and the thing that Luke did for Julie (I won't say what because spoilers but OMG MY HEART). I didn't like Julie in particular and at times found her to be rather annoying. Julie's mother made me very angry and annoyed about how she was constantly on Julie's case about college, although I do understand her reasoning behind it. I also didn't care for a lot of the dialogue in the book. It seemed a bit slow at times but over all, it was a touching story.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Die, My Love is a book about growing up, love the same person you grew up hating, and have to go through knowing the person you love has only a short life to live. Julie Ellis is a young girl who is dating the perfect boy that every girl in the school would be lucky to date, but the only problem is that he doesn’t care much for her an only has his mind on making into the big times for football. Luke Mulden is her love, he has liked Julie since they were little but she was so mean to him. Luke was the quarter back for his high school football team, and his dreams mean more to him then anything. Luke was sick for very long, Julie had no idea what was wrong but Luke wanted to finish the football season. Once he finally decided to go to the doctors he finds out that he has cancer. He loses all his hair, he doesn’t eat, he gets sick all the time and through all of this Julie didn’t leave his side. Julie and him travel to California for the summer to visit with Luke’s uncle. When they come they come to find out that he has a tumor in his lung. Julie and him talk about getting married and Luke doesn’t know what to tell her. He ends up having to go through a big surgery he knows that this surgery could take his life but Julie has all confident that everything will be fixed. Julie, Luke’s mom and Julie’s family wait for the news of how Luke’s surgery goes.
This book has a very good begin, it’s sad, makes you want to fall in love and it will make you cry. I love the author made it so Julie’s story about her life seemed like it was a true story. This book made be think of what if this happened to me and my boyfriend which made me for sad. The story of the love in California made me really happy and be very thankful for what relationship I am in! This book is trying to get a point across that you should always live your life on the edge, and always remember that life is short. This story really brings out that when you really love someone that you need to stay by their side through anything.
I give this book 5 stars because I think any girl who loves a good love story they would like this book a lot. It’s definitely a romance book which isn’t for everyone so if your into those books like Dear John I wouldn’t read this book. If you really like heart warming stories and cute young relationships I would recommend this book for you.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Die my Love is the saddest love story i have ever read in my life. It talks about this guy who is a really good football player, but one day his girlfriend notices something wrong with him and suggest that he sees a doctor. He was afraid to go to the doctor because he's scared that if something was wrong with him that he won't be able to play football anymore, and football was basically his future. When he finally went to the doctors with the encouragement of his girlfriend, the doctor told him he had leukemia. That's when everything started to change. This book will leave you will and endless stream of tears falling down your eyes.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sad story, because this might probably one of the saddest stories you will ever read. It is such a touching book you have no idea what it can do to you. I would also recommend this book to people who want to see how deep you are because if you feel you won't cry over something sad, you definitely will after reading this story.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am absolutely devasted. After reading this book, I think my heart literaly broke into little tiny pieces. I can't even get myself together or stop the tears from falling...
Luke and Julie's love story is heartbreakingly beautiful. It, once more, showed that true love can go through anything even deadly diseases. Every single word of this book touched my heart. Every single paragraph made me crave for more and the end, oh well, the end made me end up sobbing and sobbing for very long minutes.

“And If I can’t wait for you at the end of an aisle on our wedding day, I’ll wait for you in heaven.”

“If it’s possible to send a message from heaven, I’ll get one to you.”

I can't make a better review because my heart is too broken. After this book, after feeling so heartbroken by its imense beauty, I don't think I will be able to see love the same way. It's so hard to explain my feelings right now, I feel like I could cry for days because of this.

Just hearbreakingly perfect...

[Char Dafoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally only read women loving women literature, but when I saw this pop up while searching for young adult books for my daughter, memories of this story came whooshing back and took my breath away. I remember reading this when I was 13 and how much I fell in love with this story. I read this so many times, my paperback was falling apart. 20 years later, I can still recall important moments in the book. I can see the words that were spoken to each character, I can still remember the images that conjured up in my mind as I read each scene, and I can still feel my heart breaking into a million, tiny pieces. McDaniel truly wove a beautiful, young love story that can only bring hope to other's to find what Julie and Luke had. Don't Die, My Love was the beginning of my journey to discover what I truly love to read and write about.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really touched me. It is the first book that I have read to ever make me get a knot in my throat, eyes fill-up with tears and my heart feel the pain that the character Julie feels. I have never read such a touching book. The only other books that comes close to making me feel like this are books by Nicholas Sparks but this book really got to me and I reccommend it to everyone of all ages...

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still crying. More of a review at a later date.

I am really thinking I read this at either the worst possible time, or the best possible time. I just discovered that some dear to me is dying of cancer. My emotions were all over the place with this book. I cried for a good twenty minutes at the end while everyone stared at me like I had lost my mind. I will link a more in depth review below.

http://apopofjess.blogspot.com/2015/0...

[Kendall M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars because it has a lot of emotion and details. I love the way it tolls with your emotions. This book makes you feel like you're right there with the characters. The author did a great job ending the story, she left you filled in with everything and she didn't leave you out in the end. Those are reasons why i love this book!!

[The Book Queen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Urrrrgghhh. My review of Breathless basically sums up all of my thoughts about this book. The heroine is selfish and vain, but the love interest is actually quite nice (even though he does have terrible taste in girlfriends.)

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember when I read it, but I do know that I enjoyed it very much. It is such a good book. It made me cry and I don't cry over books that often. The book was so sweet, and I reccommend it to anyone that like Realistic Fiction

[Meret Magdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!❤
OMG. WHY. OMG.
OMG. WHY. OMG.
OMG. WHY. OMG.
I dont think I'll ever get over what this book just did to me..❤
Eventhough someone spoiled this book for me and I knew what would happen, it still broke me :( ..

[Ella Waltman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom told me read this book I don't think I've ever read a book that made me cry Till today but what a great book it touches you heart in so many ways.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adult me is frustrated with Julie and finds it odd that the author felt the need to constantly use last names for the adult characters. I mean, I know Bud is Bud Ellis!

Teen me still loved these books because sometimes teenagers just need an excuse to cry. And THAT is 100% ok.

[Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Die, My Love
Lurlene McDaniel
250 pp. New York, NY.
Random House Children's Book. $5.50
ISBN: 0-553-56715-2

Everyone loves a good cry, and no one delivers heart wrenching stories better than Lurlene McDaniel. Don't Die, My Love by Lurlene McDaniel is a beautiful story of young heart breaking, tragic romance! This book was burning in past times when young love was the center of attention and still is! The story truly shows strong and passionate relationship between two teens and struggles on health, love, and even putting up with pushy parents. It makes you feel a relationship was match made in heaven. People who's looking for forbidden love presented a breathtaking couple, then this book is definitely the book for you!
Julie Ellis and Luke Muldenhower—a football star—have been "engaged" since sixth grade. This attractive high-school couple were perfect together and had everything set good for them: popularity, good grades, and love. Unfortunately Luke develops Hodgkin's Lymphoma...Julie is determined to help him through his chemotherapy and get through this ordeal so their lives can return to normal. But Luke ended pushing Julie away because he knows clearly that he is faced with a life-threatening illness, not a simple cold or flu. With the pressure of high school and Luke's health, they wonder if their love can make it through.
Don't Die, My Love has written many novels but this one is my favorite. Furthermore it's the first book that I couldn't put down until it was finish. See how powerful and inspirational her books are? While reading I feel so warm inside and I'll admit that I cried. You'll too because their love life is so heart warming and tragic. Nevertheless, it's so beautiful! But the question is, can love hold a couple together through their most difficult times? It's up to you to see the answer yourself. What are you still waiting for, hurry and get a copy. By the way, before you start reading, have the tissues by your side. If not you'll get you pillow wet...

[Jordyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading an actual romance novel--I've read books with love stories at their core, obviously, but I've never read one of these sappy romances. Don't Die, My Love actually wasn't that painful to read, though. I got pretty bored when Julie and Luke are on vacation in California, but I liked the rest of the book pretty well. I was trying to figure out why books like this would be important for teen readers, and I actually think that some teens could learn some things from them: firstly, I know that death is a daunting topic for everyone, regardless of age, so reading about illness and death happening to young people would help young readers know that they're not alone. Also, I thought that the whole Julie-only-wanting-to-follow-Luke-and-not-worry-about-her-independent-future thread was very important for teen girls because I know that so many girls don't think they have an identity outside of their boyfriends, and they blindly follow them to whatever college, but what do they do when that boyfriend is out of the picture for whatever reason? Basically, this book wasn't my favorite, but I can see why we would be assigned it for this class.

[Natasha Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soo Good! Well as you can see the two love birds on the front cover of the book is in love. Something that the boy didn't even thing it can happen makes him sick.:( how can that happen and he is healthy! hes a Football player for crying out loud! well when he ends up with the sickness he doesn't have much time left. Always going in aout of the Hopital. Knowing your girlfriend is finding you throwing up your guts. The kind of people that would love the book is people who love books that invovle love and sadness:( my opinion is that why can't it just stay happy? its too sad i was crying like a baby!

[Neils Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally Rereading the book that made me love reading!
This time I around and 24 years later (gasp! I guess when I read it when I was 3 had different vibes--lol ) But this book held strong throughout the years--It was actually written in 1994 so it was much sweeter and simpler than YA books that are published now. No iphones, no "agenda", respectful teens and a maturity that you don't see in todays books. But enough reminiscing, this is truly a sweet romance book....if you don't fall in love with Luke then you are not human!
I love a little sappy, I love some medical crisis and "good" characters.
Loved re reading this!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I just loved this book. A sweet innocent and CLEAN romance between to young people.(think the Notebook, but G rated) You will not read without shedding some tears. The only negative thing would be the way the main characters relationship with and the way she speaks to her mother- But that is the only disagreeable part in the whole book. I loved the strength these young people showed in the book, especially Luke. I enjoyed that the author was very REAL with the book. Very sweet, emotional, and healing.

[Meagster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the novel that started my love affair with reading. I first read it when I was 11 and I still remember how I felt reading each page. I have 4 copies of it Since I have read this book at least 20 + times and I have the entire first chapter memorized word for word. I can't say there is anything particularly special about it I just adore lurlene and her talent of relating to teenagers in tough to extreme circumstances.everyone I've ever recommended this to has loved it
I refer to it as my 'happy sappy love story' And I will keep on re reading it forever :)

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a heartwarming and sad book! I loved the plot and characters of the story. Once I got started I couldn't put it down. At the end of the book I was crying!

[Michelle (MichelleBookAddict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good tear jerker. Also was my one of my favorite YA writers at the time.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg...I don't even know where to start.Although this book constantly left me in tears it was still such a great read and one of my favorites in a long time.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bittersweet young adult fiction.