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The A-Z of Everything
P is for Paris where it all began. J is for Jealousy where it all came undone. But the most important letter is F. F is for Forgiveness, the hardest of all.
Sisters Poppy and Rose used to be as close as two sisters could be, but it’s been over a decade since they last spoke. Until they both receive a call that tells them their mother has gone – without ever having the chance to see her daughters reunited.
Andrea, though, wasn’t the kind of woman to let a little thing like death stand in the way of her plans. Knowing her daughters better than they know themselves, she has left behind one very special last gift – the A-Z of Everything.
Sisters Poppy and Rose used to be as close as two sisters could be, but it’s been over a decade since they last spoke. Until they both receive a call that tells them their mother has gone – without ever having the chance to see her daughters reunited.
Andrea, though, wasn’t the kind of woman to let a little thing like death stand in the way of her plans. Knowing her daughters better than they know themselves, she has left behind one very special last gift – the A-Z of Everything.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2017
75 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Johnson
31 books914 followersDebbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
April 19, 2017
A is for Andrea, who in her last few weeks on earth has created a A-Z of everything that she hopes will bring her two estranged daughters closer together, so that they can move on together as a family, and support each other in their grief.
L is for Lewis, who is Andrea's best friend and has helped put together the A to Z of everything for the girls. He doesn't appear much but from the small appearances he makes, it is clear he was a very kind man but also quite opinionated.
P is for Poppy the younger of the two sisters and whose actions ultimately caused the initial rift between the sisters.
R is for Rose is the older of the two sisters who has a 16 year old son, and just seems generally unhappy with her life from first appearances.
J is for Joe, Rose's son, and he appears in quite a few chapters, seems to have a good head on his shoulders and has never met his long lost aunt Poppy.
E is for Emotion - there is plenty of emotion in this book, as Andrea has set up this whole quest as such for her daughters and in doing so has left them videos and tapes to be read/listened to after she has died, and some of them almost had me reaching for the tissues.
G is for grief as the Poppy and Rose are grieving for the majority of the story, while undergoing all the various tasks. Grief is also touched on as Andrea recalls how she felt when her own mother died. At times you can just feel their distress radiating off the page.
F is for flashbacks, during part 1 of the book, we are treated to some flashbacks of how the sisters we towards each other, as children, and I loved seeing their loving and protective relationship until things went wrong.
S is for the storyline, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. It is the sort of story that will get under your skin and keep you thinking, possibly long after you finish reading.
B is for brilliance, which is just one of many adjective that I would love to use to describe this amazing book. The pacing of the story is just right and I loved learning what all of the various letters would be, and their significance.
D is for Debbie Johnson who has managed to craft such a superb story. It clearly took a lot of thought to put this together simply wonderful story. It made me laugh and will make those with hearts less frozen than mine cry too, and is a book that will keep having you turn the pages to see how the sisters are now getting on, and also to see what Andrea was going to reveal with her next task.
Well that is my own partial A to Z for the A to Z of Everything! I am so happy that I had a chance to read this book, and think it could easily be the authors best work by far (which is something I'm sure I've said about her past couple of books too!).
Thank you so much to Charlotte Ledger at Harper for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
L is for Lewis, who is Andrea's best friend and has helped put together the A to Z of everything for the girls. He doesn't appear much but from the small appearances he makes, it is clear he was a very kind man but also quite opinionated.
P is for Poppy the younger of the two sisters and whose actions ultimately caused the initial rift between the sisters.
R is for Rose is the older of the two sisters who has a 16 year old son, and just seems generally unhappy with her life from first appearances.
J is for Joe, Rose's son, and he appears in quite a few chapters, seems to have a good head on his shoulders and has never met his long lost aunt Poppy.
E is for Emotion - there is plenty of emotion in this book, as Andrea has set up this whole quest as such for her daughters and in doing so has left them videos and tapes to be read/listened to after she has died, and some of them almost had me reaching for the tissues.
G is for grief as the Poppy and Rose are grieving for the majority of the story, while undergoing all the various tasks. Grief is also touched on as Andrea recalls how she felt when her own mother died. At times you can just feel their distress radiating off the page.
F is for flashbacks, during part 1 of the book, we are treated to some flashbacks of how the sisters we towards each other, as children, and I loved seeing their loving and protective relationship until things went wrong.
S is for the storyline, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. It is the sort of story that will get under your skin and keep you thinking, possibly long after you finish reading.
B is for brilliance, which is just one of many adjective that I would love to use to describe this amazing book. The pacing of the story is just right and I loved learning what all of the various letters would be, and their significance.
D is for Debbie Johnson who has managed to craft such a superb story. It clearly took a lot of thought to put this together simply wonderful story. It made me laugh and will make those with hearts less frozen than mine cry too, and is a book that will keep having you turn the pages to see how the sisters are now getting on, and also to see what Andrea was going to reveal with her next task.
Well that is my own partial A to Z for the A to Z of Everything! I am so happy that I had a chance to read this book, and think it could easily be the authors best work by far (which is something I'm sure I've said about her past couple of books too!).
Thank you so much to Charlotte Ledger at Harper for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 1, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, Publishers and Debbie Johnson for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On goodreads.com/karenwhittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
This is Debbie Johnson at her best. A must buy must read for all.
This is a beautiful book. One that will stay with me for a long time. It really is one that I feel everyone will love.
Rosehip and popcorn used to be inseparable until something unthinkable happened. Now they are estranged siblings. That is until their mother's friend Lewis calls them to tell them that their mother has died from a battle with cancer. It is their mother's dying wish for them to be reunited once again. So she makes a a-z list of everything which will hopefully see them reunited once again.
This book had me laughing and crying, smiling and in the end feeling very happy. A stunning read. I loved it.
Let me know what you think.
Happy reading everyone
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On goodreads.com/karenwhittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
This is Debbie Johnson at her best. A must buy must read for all.
This is a beautiful book. One that will stay with me for a long time. It really is one that I feel everyone will love.
Rosehip and popcorn used to be inseparable until something unthinkable happened. Now they are estranged siblings. That is until their mother's friend Lewis calls them to tell them that their mother has died from a battle with cancer. It is their mother's dying wish for them to be reunited once again. So she makes a a-z list of everything which will hopefully see them reunited once again.
This book had me laughing and crying, smiling and in the end feeling very happy. A stunning read. I loved it.
Let me know what you think.
Happy reading everyone
July 21, 2021
It took me a while to get into but was so worth it. The three main themes grief, love and redemption. The redemption between sisters Poppy and Rose is the highlight to me. To set up an A-Z for your estranged daughters on a deathbed was a brave move from Andera one that pays off in more ways than one. I am pleased Rose comes out of the controlling relationship on the other side with son Joe. I am also pleased Poppy and her fiestness are being put to good use. I like how the book ends from Joe's point of view. 4.5 Stars
June 16, 2017
I liked the idea of the book, I liked the characters and the tasks they were given to try and rebuild their relationship.
However, I had a massive issue with a discussion on how and why the sisters fell out. To brush off the fact that a male was plying someone with drinks all evening til she was incredibly intoxicated and then to supply cocaine and then start making a move on that girl and not see it is some sort of assault (because who really could have given informed consent in that situation) bugged the hell out of me. To have a character brush that off by saying 'we've all been drunk' to me was totally missing the point and I never really felt completely comfortable reading the rest of the book.
Without that dismissal I would have given the book 4 stars.
However, I had a massive issue with a discussion on how and why the sisters fell out. To brush off the fact that a male was plying someone with drinks all evening til she was incredibly intoxicated and then to supply cocaine and then start making a move on that girl and not see it is some sort of assault (because who really could have given informed consent in that situation) bugged the hell out of me. To have a character brush that off by saying 'we've all been drunk' to me was totally missing the point and I never really felt completely comfortable reading the rest of the book.
Without that dismissal I would have given the book 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2019
Andrea bastelt am Sterbebett ein ABC ihres Lebens, dass sie ihren zwei erwachsenen Töchtern hinterlässt in der Hoffnung, dass es sie wieder zusammen führt. Denn Rose und Poppy haben seit 16 Jahren nicht mehr miteinander geredet geschweige denn gemeinsam ihre Mutter besucht. So erfahren sie von deren tödlicher Krankheit auch erst, als es schon zu spät ist. Widerwillig, aber auch von Schuldgefühlen und vor allem Trauer getrieben, machen sich die zwei Schwestern daran, den letzten Willen ihrer geliebten Mutter zu erfüllen.
Was folgt ist eine Reise in die Vergangenheit von allen drei Frauen, kleinere Anekdoten von glücklichen Momenten ihres Lebens. Aber auch der Anlass für das große Zerwürfnis kommt zur Sprache. Es rechtfertigt unbestritten Roses anschließende Reaktion gegenüber Poppy. Doch dass sie einer beteiligten Partei vergeben konnte und der anderen nicht fand ich von ihr wirklich scheiße. Und auch unverständlich angesichts ihrer doch sehr engen Geschwisterbeziehung, die sie zuvor hatten.
So schön ich die Idee mit dem ABC auch fand, so finde ich es noch viel trauriger, dass sich Andrea nicht persönlich von ihren Mädchen verabschiedet hat - und ihnen auch nicht die Möglichkeit gegeben hat, ihre Mutter noch ein letztes Mal zu sehen. Andrea sagt einmal, wie sehr sie ihre Töchter vermisst, wie gern sie sie noch ein letztes Mal umarmen würde. Auch wenn die Sache mit ihrer letzten Aufgabe dann vielleicht weniger dramatisch gewirkt hätte, ich hätte meine Töchter auf jeden Fall noch kontaktiert für ein letztes Lebewohl.
Einer meiner Lieblingssätze im Buch, weil so viel Wahrheit aber auch Tragik darin liegt, ist von Rose: "Meine Mum hat uns genauso geliebt, und es bringt mich fast um dass sie erst sterben musste damit ich es endlich zu schätzen lernte."
Insgesamt ein sehr schön zu lesender, etwas melancholisch machender (aber dann auch wieder versöhnlich stimmender) Roman über den Zusammenhalt in der Familie.
Was folgt ist eine Reise in die Vergangenheit von allen drei Frauen, kleinere Anekdoten von glücklichen Momenten ihres Lebens. Aber auch der Anlass für das große Zerwürfnis kommt zur Sprache. Es rechtfertigt unbestritten Roses anschließende Reaktion gegenüber Poppy. Doch dass sie einer beteiligten Partei vergeben konnte und der anderen nicht fand ich von ihr wirklich scheiße. Und auch unverständlich angesichts ihrer doch sehr engen Geschwisterbeziehung, die sie zuvor hatten.
So schön ich die Idee mit dem ABC auch fand, so finde ich es noch viel trauriger, dass sich Andrea nicht persönlich von ihren Mädchen verabschiedet hat - und ihnen auch nicht die Möglichkeit gegeben hat, ihre Mutter noch ein letztes Mal zu sehen. Andrea sagt einmal, wie sehr sie ihre Töchter vermisst, wie gern sie sie noch ein letztes Mal umarmen würde. Auch wenn die Sache mit ihrer letzten Aufgabe dann vielleicht weniger dramatisch gewirkt hätte, ich hätte meine Töchter auf jeden Fall noch kontaktiert für ein letztes Lebewohl.
Einer meiner Lieblingssätze im Buch, weil so viel Wahrheit aber auch Tragik darin liegt, ist von Rose: "Meine Mum hat uns genauso geliebt, und es bringt mich fast um dass sie erst sterben musste damit ich es endlich zu schätzen lernte."
Insgesamt ein sehr schön zu lesender, etwas melancholisch machender (aber dann auch wieder versöhnlich stimmender) Roman über den Zusammenhalt in der Familie.
April 19, 2017
This book is a big step away from Debbie Johnson's previous rom - coms. Already her "Comfort Food Cafe" series was a little different, more serious in tone but "The A - Z of Everything" is a totally different level. I admit, it took me some time to get used to the new Debbie Johnson, as I totally love her specific sense of dry humour and I missed it a little lately, but you know what, this book, it is just magnificent, and the way the author writes about feelings and emotions is just beautifully gorgeous. I freely admit, it was hard for me to get into this story as I was all the time looking for a situation that'll made me laugh out loud and I felt confused why they're not coming but guys, honestly, my initial disappointment was very quickly replaced with the feeling of feeling my heart in my throat and having problems with swallowing. Sure, this trademark Debbie Johnson's humour is still shining through the words and situations, and it is written in this typical author's way, but this book is different. Period. And as much as I felt head over heals with Debbie's "The Birthday That Changed Everything", this book follows it closely.
The story is following Rose (Rosehip) and Poppy (Popcorn - brilliant nicknames, don't you think?) and at the beginning, though I am really not sure why, I had great difficulties to say which one is Rose and which one is Poppy, each time I turned the page to a new chapter and there was the name of one of the sisters I needed to consider long if this is the younger or the older one. Really don't know why. But only at the beginning. So we know that they were inseparable as children but then something very unthinkable happened and they haven't seen or talked to each other for years. Heck, Poppy has never seen her nephew Joe and he's already 16 years old! It takes some time for the "unthinkable" to be explained and while my imagination run wild, I haven't come up with this possibility. So yes, estranged siblings - that is, till their mother's friend Lewis let them know that Andrea is dead and that there is a little list of things they should do together - because Andrea's greatest wish was to see her daughters re - united.
The two sisters couldn't be more different, and while one of them focused on binge and comfort eating, the other one focused on her career and staying fit. When one of them felt like a doormat, didn't have any confidence, was overweight and knew it and hated it but did nothing to change it, the second one was full of confidence, was a business - woman, had a great job and state - of - the - art apartment. They were full of flaws but guys - how much I loved them! From the very beginning. Yes, I wanted to shake them more than often, to bang their heads together but I so well could understand them, why they behaved this way, what has driven them to be like that - and it doesn't happen often that I can get the characters SO WELL.
You know, this book brought out all kind of emotions out of me. I felt furious with the sisters for being so stubborn, I felt sorry for Joe for missing so much of his Aunt, I felt like crying when reading about Lewis' missing Andrea so much, I felt proud of Andrea being so strong and brave. I could understand Andrea and her wish for her daughters not seeing her so ill and so weak, wanting them to remember her living and breathing and not thinking about her through the prism of seeing her on her deathbed. This story had me laughing and crying, feeling desperate and full of hope. It was so uplifting to see the two sisters finding each other and themselves afresh and heart - breaking to see how much it have cost them.
I loved to read about the tasks! Each of the letters was brilliant and believe me, guys, they were not like A is for apple or W is for watching films. They were thoroughly thought - over, they were complex and they had one thing in common - to bring the girls together. Some of the tasks were incredibly hard for Poppy and Rose, some of them were incredibly hilarious, but the most important thing was, I think, that they worked together on them - sometimes sober, more then often after a glass or two of wine, but together, slowly opening, reminiscing on their past and always having their mum in their memories.
A story that really makes you think twice. It will teach you not to take things for granted and to appreciate the smallest things in your life. And not only things, but people as well, because they won't be in your life for ever. Novel about coming out of your comfort zones, about forgiveness. The author has done the impossible here, namely she has written a book that is so incredibly emotional on the sad side but at the same time so very uplifting, and I loved this perfect mix. Debbie Johnson can so brilliantly capture all the rawness of emotions, the broken hearts without judging the characters, and I loved this fact - it let me be angry with Rose and Poppy myself. This is really Debbie Johnson at her best, guys. "The A - Z of Everything" is a MUST read this spring and I will be recommending it to all of my friends, and I can start right now, so really, whatever you do, make sure you have this book on pre - order - it's not a read to be missed and that is for sure going to stay with you for longer. It's poignant, it's full of sympathy, compassion and understanding and I can't stop admiring the fact how much the author has managed to get into the characters' heads and tell their stories in such a lovely way. Highly, highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 18, 2020
Fâchées depuis des années, Poppy et Rose acceptent de se retrouver dans le cottage de leur mère qui vient de décéder. Ancienne actrice, Andrea avait fini par mener une vie plus retirée dans les Midlands mais avait échoué à réconcilier ses filles. Gravement malade, elle a donc entrepris d'enregistrer une série de cassettes et rassembler un bric-à-brac de souvenirs selon un abécédaire très pointilleux. Son but : forcer le destin. Asseoir ses deux têtes de mule. Crever l'abcès. Ressouder cette union sacrée.
Les premiers pas sont timides, la tension est palpable. L'une et l'autre s'épient, s'évitent, se jaugent. Les retrouvailles ont donc lieu dans un silence glacial et perturbant. Néanmoins, la complicité d'hier va peu à peu renaître car les deux sœurs ont un humour dévastateur. Au fil de leur épluchage testamentaire, elles rendent les armes et vont se confier leurs blessures. Elles sont sans concession et se montrent d'une franchise redoutable, mais enfin le dialogue est renoué.
L'histoire s'écoule ainsi dans un étrange climat de larmes et de rires, dans un cocon douillet au cœur de la campagne anglaise, et plus loin encore (les sœurs doivent partir en pèlerinage et suivre des directives farfelues sans jamais rechigner). À vrai dire, c'est déconcertant comme on se sent à son aise, finalement. Il y a du peps et une rage de vivre dans ce livre - ne vous trompez pas - ça déborde de sarcasmes et de tendresse aussi. J'ai vite plongé les deux mains jointes et j'ai barboté comme une grenouille dans sa mare... c'était franchement TOP !
Les premiers pas sont timides, la tension est palpable. L'une et l'autre s'épient, s'évitent, se jaugent. Les retrouvailles ont donc lieu dans un silence glacial et perturbant. Néanmoins, la complicité d'hier va peu à peu renaître car les deux sœurs ont un humour dévastateur. Au fil de leur épluchage testamentaire, elles rendent les armes et vont se confier leurs blessures. Elles sont sans concession et se montrent d'une franchise redoutable, mais enfin le dialogue est renoué.
L'histoire s'écoule ainsi dans un étrange climat de larmes et de rires, dans un cocon douillet au cœur de la campagne anglaise, et plus loin encore (les sœurs doivent partir en pèlerinage et suivre des directives farfelues sans jamais rechigner). À vrai dire, c'est déconcertant comme on se sent à son aise, finalement. Il y a du peps et une rage de vivre dans ce livre - ne vous trompez pas - ça déborde de sarcasmes et de tendresse aussi. J'ai vite plongé les deux mains jointes et j'ai barboté comme une grenouille dans sa mare... c'était franchement TOP !
March 30, 2018
Andrea has two daughters, Rose and Poppy. They used to be best friends, but something awful happened and this heartbreaking event caused an irreparable rift between them. They haven't seen each other in years and don't even want to be in the same room for one minute. It breaks Andrea's heart that her daughters can't make amends. Andrea is an actress and now that she knows she's dying she uses her abilities for one last performance, she's going to bring her daughters back together. She leaves them the A-Z of Everything. Will Andrea be able to make her daughters see sense?
Rose and Poppy love their mother very much, but their fight has made it impossible for Andrea to spend time with her entire family. They used to have so much fun together and Andrea's last wish is for her daughters to have their closeness back, to be sisters again. With a little help she's trying to achieve something that seems almost impossible before she dies, so her daughters have a chance at happiness afterwards. She leaves them behind with a lot to think and talk about. Will Rose and Poppy make her last wish come true?
The A-Z of Everything is a beautiful emotional story. Andrea is a wonderful mother. She has a warm and loving personality and she is willing to do anything for her daughters. This special woman makes the story sparkle. Even while she's dying she's still vibrant and alluring, she shines until the very last moment, which is something I greatly admired about her. I loved how strong and gorgeous her character is. The same can't be said for her daughters, they let grief and jealousy ruin their lives. Rose is a kindhearted mother, but she's let herself go. She doesn't dream, she doesn't have any plans for the future and she doesn't care about her appearance. I felt sad because of everything she denies herself. Poppy leads an empty life filled with pretense. She's erased her personality and she might look sleek and put together, but she feels empty inside. Debbie Johnson describes their pain and their choices in a fantastic poignant and understanding way. Rose and Poppy are both amazing people, they've just lost sight of what's important. Because of Andrea's A-Z of Everything they are being put on the right track again, which is a fantastic topic for a story.
Debbie Johnson's heartwarming writing style made me love The A-Z of Everything from the start. I'm a big fan of stories about sisters and this is such a great one, she perfectly captures what makes family so important. Andrea and her daughters are hurt and damaged and it's time to heal, which is being done in an impressive and compelling way. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out if Andrea's plan would actually work and if Rose and Poppy would be able to forgive. Debbie Johnson writes about life, death and living with honesty and empathy. I had tears in my eyes, hope in my heart and a smile on my face while reading this book. The A-Z of Everything is a terrific moving story.
Rose and Poppy love their mother very much, but their fight has made it impossible for Andrea to spend time with her entire family. They used to have so much fun together and Andrea's last wish is for her daughters to have their closeness back, to be sisters again. With a little help she's trying to achieve something that seems almost impossible before she dies, so her daughters have a chance at happiness afterwards. She leaves them behind with a lot to think and talk about. Will Rose and Poppy make her last wish come true?
The A-Z of Everything is a beautiful emotional story. Andrea is a wonderful mother. She has a warm and loving personality and she is willing to do anything for her daughters. This special woman makes the story sparkle. Even while she's dying she's still vibrant and alluring, she shines until the very last moment, which is something I greatly admired about her. I loved how strong and gorgeous her character is. The same can't be said for her daughters, they let grief and jealousy ruin their lives. Rose is a kindhearted mother, but she's let herself go. She doesn't dream, she doesn't have any plans for the future and she doesn't care about her appearance. I felt sad because of everything she denies herself. Poppy leads an empty life filled with pretense. She's erased her personality and she might look sleek and put together, but she feels empty inside. Debbie Johnson describes their pain and their choices in a fantastic poignant and understanding way. Rose and Poppy are both amazing people, they've just lost sight of what's important. Because of Andrea's A-Z of Everything they are being put on the right track again, which is a fantastic topic for a story.
Debbie Johnson's heartwarming writing style made me love The A-Z of Everything from the start. I'm a big fan of stories about sisters and this is such a great one, she perfectly captures what makes family so important. Andrea and her daughters are hurt and damaged and it's time to heal, which is being done in an impressive and compelling way. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out if Andrea's plan would actually work and if Rose and Poppy would be able to forgive. Debbie Johnson writes about life, death and living with honesty and empathy. I had tears in my eyes, hope in my heart and a smile on my face while reading this book. The A-Z of Everything is a terrific moving story.
June 30, 2018
Really enjoyed this book, it was funny and emotional throughout, often had tears in my eyes!! A story of 2 daughters as they deal with the loss of their mother which I couldn’t put down. Loved it.
April 3, 2017
Well the minute this book started I felt myself welling up. The prologue starts with Andrea explaining that she only has a few weeks to live and how she plans on bringing her daughters Poppy and Rose who don't talk to each other any more, back together again. Makes you stop and think and appreciate every day because you never know what's around the next corner.
Andrea decides that even though she's not there any more she's going to get her girls back together again and sets them a series of tasks that she hopes they'll complete. She sets all the plans up with her very good friend Lewis, who is also her solicitor, and Rose & Poppy very reluctantly agree to carrying out their Mother's last wishes.
The story skips back and forth between when the girls were younger and the present day and the reason they haven't spoken in years is slowly revealed.
Some of the tasks are bigger than others, but they are all designed to bring the girls back together again and let go of the hurt from the past. Very clever idea, and eventually after lots of emotion, they manage to move past their issues and move forward, sorting out how they feel about their current lives in the process too. They both seem to have gone to extremes in their unhappiness over the years, Rose was a comfort/binge eater and had really piled on the pounds and let herself go, whereas Poppy had gone in the other direction and was far too skinny through non-eating, exercising and job stress.
Very emotional story, my eyes were leaking quite a lot throughout the whole book(!) - but ultimately very uplifting too. I think the main message is make sure you appreciate everyone you love because they won't be there forever, be kind and let hurt feelings go, life's too short. Lovely book.
Andrea decides that even though she's not there any more she's going to get her girls back together again and sets them a series of tasks that she hopes they'll complete. She sets all the plans up with her very good friend Lewis, who is also her solicitor, and Rose & Poppy very reluctantly agree to carrying out their Mother's last wishes.
The story skips back and forth between when the girls were younger and the present day and the reason they haven't spoken in years is slowly revealed.
Some of the tasks are bigger than others, but they are all designed to bring the girls back together again and let go of the hurt from the past. Very clever idea, and eventually after lots of emotion, they manage to move past their issues and move forward, sorting out how they feel about their current lives in the process too. They both seem to have gone to extremes in their unhappiness over the years, Rose was a comfort/binge eater and had really piled on the pounds and let herself go, whereas Poppy had gone in the other direction and was far too skinny through non-eating, exercising and job stress.
Very emotional story, my eyes were leaking quite a lot throughout the whole book(!) - but ultimately very uplifting too. I think the main message is make sure you appreciate everyone you love because they won't be there forever, be kind and let hurt feelings go, life's too short. Lovely book.
December 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The A to Z of Everything had a strong premise, and there were moments that genuinely resonated. The idea of a mother leaving an A–Z of tasks to help her estranged daughters reconnect after her death is thoughtful and moving, and I liked how much heart the story had.
It did feel a little uneven at times, especially in pacing, and I wished some of the heavier moments were explored more deeply rather than brushed past. That said, I was still invested in the sisters and curious to see how everything would play out.
Overall, a heartfelt read with a great concept that worked.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the arc!
The A to Z of Everything had a strong premise, and there were moments that genuinely resonated. The idea of a mother leaving an A–Z of tasks to help her estranged daughters reconnect after her death is thoughtful and moving, and I liked how much heart the story had.
It did feel a little uneven at times, especially in pacing, and I wished some of the heavier moments were explored more deeply rather than brushed past. That said, I was still invested in the sisters and curious to see how everything would play out.
Overall, a heartfelt read with a great concept that worked.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the arc!
June 3, 2017
A beautiful book with an original plot and very different to other Debbie Johnson novels I've read. The opening chapters drew me into the story straight away but, to be honest, I thought the first half was pretty average. However, once the challenges began I didn't want to put it down. Andrea's humour shone through despite her situation as did her love for her daughters. I found it very sad and thought-provoking.......but heart-warming too!
January 26, 2023
Terminé et qu'est-ce que c'était bien ! C'était beau, triste, touchant avec des messages importants. Cette relation entre cette maman et ses deux filles est belle et déchirante à la fois. Mais l'autrice prend son temps pour que les sœurs se retrouvent après ce qu'elles ont vécu. Et cette idée d'abécédaire pour recrée ce lien perdu était excellente. Bref j'ai passé un très bon moment et j'ai honte de l'avoir laissé traîner dans ma PAL 5 ans...
February 18, 2022
i’m kinda??? meh?? about it; two forlorn daughters drowning their sorrow in alcohol isn’t really very interesting to read about, though i did tear up once
May 30, 2023
Great read
July 6, 2018
http://www.my-bo0ks.com/2018/07/la-vi...
J'étais vraiment curieuse de découvrir ce que se cachait derrière La vie de A à Z de Debbie Jonhson. Il faut dire que le titre amène le lecteur ou futur lecteur à se poser tout un ytas de question. Et puis avec une couverture aussi douce, l'histoire promet d'être comme son nom l'indique, une lecture feel good.
Dans La vie de A à Z, nous suivons Rose et Poppy, deux sœurs que le destin a séparé il y a plusieurs années. Pourtant, au décès inattendu de leur mère, elles semblent prêtes à enterrer la hache de guerre pour soulager le coeur de leur mère qui n'avait qu'une envie, les voir de nouveau unies.
Vous l'aurez donc compris, La vie de A à Z, commence avec le décès d'une maman qui aimait profondément ses deux filles. Alors avant de rendre son dernier souffle, elle enregistre une dernière vidéo dans laquelle elle explique son dernier souhait, celui de voir ses filles se rapprocher de nouveau.
Lorsque j'ai commencé ma lecture, j'ai senti ce petit truc qui touche forcément un lecteur. Le thème joue clairement sur la corde sensible et pousse le lecteur dans ses retranchements. Car après tout, personne n'est jamais prêt à voir partir la personne qui lui a donné la vie.
Pourtant, La vie de A à Z, n'est pas du tout sombre ou triste (enfin, un peu au début). Non, l'auteure, Debbie Johnson, aborde ce décès comme une seconde chance. Le moyen pour ces deux sœurs de se revoir un jour, se reparler et renouer. A travers l'Abécédaire que leur mère leur transmet, elles vont revivre ses moments de leur passé, bons comme mauvais et s'ouvrir l'une à l'autre.
La vie de A à Z, est une ode à l'amour, à la famille et aux liens qui unissent deux soeurs. Une lecture qui fait réfléchir, prendre conscience et surtout prouve qu'on a tous droit à une seconde chance.
J'étais vraiment curieuse de découvrir ce que se cachait derrière La vie de A à Z de Debbie Jonhson. Il faut dire que le titre amène le lecteur ou futur lecteur à se poser tout un ytas de question. Et puis avec une couverture aussi douce, l'histoire promet d'être comme son nom l'indique, une lecture feel good.
Dans La vie de A à Z, nous suivons Rose et Poppy, deux sœurs que le destin a séparé il y a plusieurs années. Pourtant, au décès inattendu de leur mère, elles semblent prêtes à enterrer la hache de guerre pour soulager le coeur de leur mère qui n'avait qu'une envie, les voir de nouveau unies.
Vous l'aurez donc compris, La vie de A à Z, commence avec le décès d'une maman qui aimait profondément ses deux filles. Alors avant de rendre son dernier souffle, elle enregistre une dernière vidéo dans laquelle elle explique son dernier souhait, celui de voir ses filles se rapprocher de nouveau.
Lorsque j'ai commencé ma lecture, j'ai senti ce petit truc qui touche forcément un lecteur. Le thème joue clairement sur la corde sensible et pousse le lecteur dans ses retranchements. Car après tout, personne n'est jamais prêt à voir partir la personne qui lui a donné la vie.
Pourtant, La vie de A à Z, n'est pas du tout sombre ou triste (enfin, un peu au début). Non, l'auteure, Debbie Johnson, aborde ce décès comme une seconde chance. Le moyen pour ces deux sœurs de se revoir un jour, se reparler et renouer. A travers l'Abécédaire que leur mère leur transmet, elles vont revivre ses moments de leur passé, bons comme mauvais et s'ouvrir l'une à l'autre.
La vie de A à Z, est une ode à l'amour, à la famille et aux liens qui unissent deux soeurs. Une lecture qui fait réfléchir, prendre conscience et surtout prouve qu'on a tous droit à une seconde chance.
August 11, 2017
If my mother did this my sister and me, then I would conjure up her spirit to tell her what a fool she is. My sister and I would both find this process a complete waste of time, and one that would probably end with one or the other in jail. (Makes note not to buy this book for my mother)
I would however do this for my daughters if I felt they needed to reconnect and be there for each other after my death. Not that I would ever let things become so bad that I wasn’t speaking to my children on a regular basis.
Blood is thicker than water, however blood doesn’t mean you automatically have to be friends. In fact the reality is that many take a step back from family members because they are related but don’t like them.
Andrea has planned everything in fine detail. She wants Rose and Poppy to reunite and become the friends they once were. She wants them to support each other and get over the problems that keep them apart.
Poppy and Rose used to be as thick as thieves until something ripped them apart. Now they are like strangers, and Poppy doesn’t even know her nephew.
Rose is just as guilty as Poppy, as far as I am concerned. It takes two to tango and yet Rose places all the blame on Poppy. Of course it is more of a betrayal if it is your sister, but come on now blaming one person is ludicrous.
The idea itself is quite an interesting one. You don’t know what you’ve lost until it is gone forever. It is all about taking people for granted and letting relationships get to the point of no return. Both women have to learn to put the past behind them and to move forward with a clean slate. It is an emotional and honest read, possibly because it is a realistic scenario.
*I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.*
I would however do this for my daughters if I felt they needed to reconnect and be there for each other after my death. Not that I would ever let things become so bad that I wasn’t speaking to my children on a regular basis.
Blood is thicker than water, however blood doesn’t mean you automatically have to be friends. In fact the reality is that many take a step back from family members because they are related but don’t like them.
Andrea has planned everything in fine detail. She wants Rose and Poppy to reunite and become the friends they once were. She wants them to support each other and get over the problems that keep them apart.
Poppy and Rose used to be as thick as thieves until something ripped them apart. Now they are like strangers, and Poppy doesn’t even know her nephew.
Rose is just as guilty as Poppy, as far as I am concerned. It takes two to tango and yet Rose places all the blame on Poppy. Of course it is more of a betrayal if it is your sister, but come on now blaming one person is ludicrous.
The idea itself is quite an interesting one. You don’t know what you’ve lost until it is gone forever. It is all about taking people for granted and letting relationships get to the point of no return. Both women have to learn to put the past behind them and to move forward with a clean slate. It is an emotional and honest read, possibly because it is a realistic scenario.
*I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.*
July 6, 2017
When their mother dies, Poppy and Rose need to come together, not just to grieve the loss of the mother they both adored, but also to set aside differences which have seen the sisters estranged for the last ten or so years. Andrea has loved her daughters to the exclusion of everything else and this love is not lessened by her death, so in order to bring the sisters closer, Andrea, cleverly and rather poignantly, in the days before her death and with the help of her friend, Lewis, devised an A- Z of thought provoking tasks, which must be completed by Poppy and Rose in the days after the funeral,with, one hopes, enlightening consequences.
Losing a parent is never easy and the author's sensitive portrayal of all the different emotions expressed during such a sad time is done in a really thought provoking way. Each sister copes in their own inimitable style but it is when the two women finally come together where the story really starts to come alive.
I really enjoyed travelling through the alphabet with Poppy and Rose. The trials and tribulations they meet along the way really help to make this story such a joy to read. I enjoyed The A-Z of Everything written as it is with this author's remarkable skill for always getting right into the very heart of what makes people tick. There's a genuine warmth to the story but also a realistic warning that we must never take life for granted and in the overall scheme of things it's always better to settle differences rather than let them fester and niggle away for too many years.
The A-Z of Everything is Debbie Johnson writing at her absolute best and it's definitely one of my favourite stories this year.
Losing a parent is never easy and the author's sensitive portrayal of all the different emotions expressed during such a sad time is done in a really thought provoking way. Each sister copes in their own inimitable style but it is when the two women finally come together where the story really starts to come alive.
I really enjoyed travelling through the alphabet with Poppy and Rose. The trials and tribulations they meet along the way really help to make this story such a joy to read. I enjoyed The A-Z of Everything written as it is with this author's remarkable skill for always getting right into the very heart of what makes people tick. There's a genuine warmth to the story but also a realistic warning that we must never take life for granted and in the overall scheme of things it's always better to settle differences rather than let them fester and niggle away for too many years.
The A-Z of Everything is Debbie Johnson writing at her absolute best and it's definitely one of my favourite stories this year.
October 10, 2017
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
This is a good book to listen to on audiobook - it's easy to follow, has its sweet/ poignant moments, and some humorous parts too, to keep it from becoming too sombre.
Of course, the subject matter itself is quite emotional, but it's all written in a fairly light and entertaining way, though this doesn't mean that at times I didn't feel pretty sad reading it. It's mainly uplifting, though, and following the two quite different sisters as they try to come to terms with their mother's death, as well as their troubled pasts, makes for an interesting read.
In some ways the story is a little predictable and slightly corny at times but never overly so; the characters are like able and the story kept me interested. There were parts which seemed a bit unconvincing - such as the reason the two girls still don't talk; I felt like at some point the sister 'in the wrong' would have managed to get the other to listen to her even for a few minutes - and then her explanation surely would have excused her? I don't want to give any spoilers though, and there were other elements which kind of explained why Rose became so isolated. It does touch on very important issues, and I felt that this story was sensitively and interestingly crafted by Debbie Johnson.
Overall: an enjoyable read which worked well in audiobook format.
Rating: 3.5/5 bumped to 4/5
This is a good book to listen to on audiobook - it's easy to follow, has its sweet/ poignant moments, and some humorous parts too, to keep it from becoming too sombre.
Of course, the subject matter itself is quite emotional, but it's all written in a fairly light and entertaining way, though this doesn't mean that at times I didn't feel pretty sad reading it. It's mainly uplifting, though, and following the two quite different sisters as they try to come to terms with their mother's death, as well as their troubled pasts, makes for an interesting read.
In some ways the story is a little predictable and slightly corny at times but never overly so; the characters are like able and the story kept me interested. There were parts which seemed a bit unconvincing - such as the reason the two girls still don't talk; I felt like at some point the sister 'in the wrong' would have managed to get the other to listen to her even for a few minutes - and then her explanation surely would have excused her? I don't want to give any spoilers though, and there were other elements which kind of explained why Rose became so isolated. It does touch on very important issues, and I felt that this story was sensitively and interestingly crafted by Debbie Johnson.
Overall: an enjoyable read which worked well in audiobook format.
Rating: 3.5/5 bumped to 4/5
August 27, 2022
This book was so emotional but full of hope.. There were points where I cried but also where I laughed. The balance was perfect. Rose and poppy are very different sisters but against all odds that connection as siblings is so powerful.
May 11, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this undemanding but emotional book. About estranged sisters who are left an A to Z of tasks to follow by their deceased mother. The love,grief and emptiness they feel around her death is easily identifiable with many of the emotions I feel about the deaths of my parents. It’s not bleak or maudlin. Nicely read.
June 18, 2023
Прекрасна книга, яку неможливо читати без сліз. Книга, яка змушує вкотре повернутися до, здавалося б, відомих і одвічних тем, що досить клішовані, але які водночас завжди будуть нам близькі й болючі. Любов, горе, прощення. Скільки часу ми витрачаємо на власні образи, скільки емоцій ми витрачаємо на те, щоб нібито обрати власний шлях і здобути якусь перемогу. Але навіщо вона, якщо її немає з ким розділити. Історія Роузгіп і Попкорн точно нікого не залишить байдужим.
August 2, 2017
Firstly thank you to Harper Collins for the review copy of this title and for the opportunity to feature on the blog tour today! This is the third piece of work from Debbie that I've read and I can safely say that it is up to the usual standard - if not slightly over taking that high par!
The story is all about two sisters Poppy and Rose. The pair are estranged and in her death, their mother hopes that they will be able to overcome their differences and reunite. The story starts off with Andrea explaining what the A-Z of Everything is and the rest of the story unfolds from there. Without giving too much away, something has happened to cause this gigantic rift between the sisters. It's a rift that has affected them much more than either possibly dares to let on and it's not only affected them emotionally it's affected their lives, their mother and in Rose's case her son. The passing of their mother is only the beginning in the reunion of Poppy and Rose.
Poppy is a super organised marketing guru with a life in the city, chasing younger men and living life to the full. On the outside anyway. On the inside she's as empty as her coffee tin. Rose, on the other hand, has filled her life with her son and while the family she has forged for herself is somewhat different than she planned, and while her career aspirations have dwindled, she at least has the pretense of a fulfilled life. What neither sister recognises, or will willingly admit to themselves at least, is the gaping hole their rift has left in their life.
The A-Z of Everything is basically an adventure that Andrea has left for both sisters in an attempt to reunite them, to have them forgive each other and to forge a path for the future where they're both in each other's lives. The story starts out as sad, as you would expect from the storyline itself, however it takes you on an emotional journey of discovery, reflection and forgiveness.
I think, as always with Debbie's novels, there are many depths to this novel. Depending on your own state of mind you will take away something different from it. I was on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish and I'd reckon you will definitely need tissues however at times you will definitely be laughing.
While the story is largely focused on the relationship between Poppy and Rose there are some glimpses of romance in there too. If you enjoy Carmel Harrington & Paige Toon you will enjoy Debbie's novels.
Make sure to check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour too!
The story is all about two sisters Poppy and Rose. The pair are estranged and in her death, their mother hopes that they will be able to overcome their differences and reunite. The story starts off with Andrea explaining what the A-Z of Everything is and the rest of the story unfolds from there. Without giving too much away, something has happened to cause this gigantic rift between the sisters. It's a rift that has affected them much more than either possibly dares to let on and it's not only affected them emotionally it's affected their lives, their mother and in Rose's case her son. The passing of their mother is only the beginning in the reunion of Poppy and Rose.
Poppy is a super organised marketing guru with a life in the city, chasing younger men and living life to the full. On the outside anyway. On the inside she's as empty as her coffee tin. Rose, on the other hand, has filled her life with her son and while the family she has forged for herself is somewhat different than she planned, and while her career aspirations have dwindled, she at least has the pretense of a fulfilled life. What neither sister recognises, or will willingly admit to themselves at least, is the gaping hole their rift has left in their life.
The A-Z of Everything is basically an adventure that Andrea has left for both sisters in an attempt to reunite them, to have them forgive each other and to forge a path for the future where they're both in each other's lives. The story starts out as sad, as you would expect from the storyline itself, however it takes you on an emotional journey of discovery, reflection and forgiveness.
I think, as always with Debbie's novels, there are many depths to this novel. Depending on your own state of mind you will take away something different from it. I was on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish and I'd reckon you will definitely need tissues however at times you will definitely be laughing.
While the story is largely focused on the relationship between Poppy and Rose there are some glimpses of romance in there too. If you enjoy Carmel Harrington & Paige Toon you will enjoy Debbie's novels.
Make sure to check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour too!
April 14, 2017
It might sound more like a title for a factual book but “The A-Z of Everything” is fiction at its finest. Debbie Johnson has come up with a stunner of a book which had me laughing and crying and never wanting it to end.
This is all about two sisters, Rose and Poppy, who have become estranged after a falling out. Their mother decides to take action from her deathbed in order to try and bring these two together again.
It’s not hard to find families these days where sisters, brothers, parents and kids have fallen out long term. The fallout from having a couple of people not speaking to each other in a family unit can be immense. It doesn’t just affect the people involved but those around them too.
Debbie Johnson has captured all the rawness and heartache of a family that has been torn apart by feuding sisters. The entire story felt incredibly real and was something I could relate to.
Poppy and Rose are both flawed characters and I think easy for many people to relate to. Rose has let herself go and given up on herself - she lacks confidence, she’s overweight and miserable with it. Poppy has bags of confidence on the outside with a great job and apartment but no-one to share it with. I felt sorry for both sisters as both had wasted so many years cutting each other out.
Reading this book felt so meaningful. Some stories are frivolous and good for a quick pick me up but this was something a whole lot more. It tugged at the heart strings and packed a punch or two in the emotional stakes.
The main message I took away from this book is about forgiveness and being able to let go of grievances and past hurts. Holding on to anger and hate eats away at you more than it hurts anyone else. It has a great message and is a really fabulous read. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book and have given my honest opinion of it.
This is all about two sisters, Rose and Poppy, who have become estranged after a falling out. Their mother decides to take action from her deathbed in order to try and bring these two together again.
It’s not hard to find families these days where sisters, brothers, parents and kids have fallen out long term. The fallout from having a couple of people not speaking to each other in a family unit can be immense. It doesn’t just affect the people involved but those around them too.
Debbie Johnson has captured all the rawness and heartache of a family that has been torn apart by feuding sisters. The entire story felt incredibly real and was something I could relate to.
Poppy and Rose are both flawed characters and I think easy for many people to relate to. Rose has let herself go and given up on herself - she lacks confidence, she’s overweight and miserable with it. Poppy has bags of confidence on the outside with a great job and apartment but no-one to share it with. I felt sorry for both sisters as both had wasted so many years cutting each other out.
Reading this book felt so meaningful. Some stories are frivolous and good for a quick pick me up but this was something a whole lot more. It tugged at the heart strings and packed a punch or two in the emotional stakes.
The main message I took away from this book is about forgiveness and being able to let go of grievances and past hurts. Holding on to anger and hate eats away at you more than it hurts anyone else. It has a great message and is a really fabulous read. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book and have given my honest opinion of it.
August 10, 2021
This audiobook was so good, a wonderful family drama full of laughter and tears! This was one of those stories that felt so real, with the characters truly leaping of the page! It’s actually one of my favourite audiobooks this year!
I was hooked right from the beginning and listened as often as I could. I got so caught up in Rose and Poppy’s lives, as they grieved for their lovely Mum. I liked both of them, but being a Mum myself I identified more with Rose, especially with her love of chocolate. I also loved their mother, Andrea she was great fun and loved them so much!
I ached for them when they discovered that their Mum had passed away and then had to embark on this quest that she’d left for them. I have sisters and a brother so I know how easy it is fall out with your siblings and then how hard it can be to sort the problems out.
I loved the A-Z that their Mum had left for them, and the way each letter was presented. It took Rose and Poppy on both emotional and physical journeys, some of them were serious, but a lot were great fun that made me chuckle. There was lots of references to 1980s British TV, including Bergerac and Lovejoy, which really added to my enjoyment of the story.
The narration by Julie Maisey (a new-to-me narrator) was just perfect. Her voice talents were brilliant for all the different characters, amazing me when she switched seamlessly between them. She is definitely going on my favourite narrators list!
This is my second book by Debbie Johnson, but not my last as I’ve just bought her latest book, The Moment I Met You.
Highly recommended if you enjoy family dramas on audio.
I was hooked right from the beginning and listened as often as I could. I got so caught up in Rose and Poppy’s lives, as they grieved for their lovely Mum. I liked both of them, but being a Mum myself I identified more with Rose, especially with her love of chocolate. I also loved their mother, Andrea she was great fun and loved them so much!
I ached for them when they discovered that their Mum had passed away and then had to embark on this quest that she’d left for them. I have sisters and a brother so I know how easy it is fall out with your siblings and then how hard it can be to sort the problems out.
I loved the A-Z that their Mum had left for them, and the way each letter was presented. It took Rose and Poppy on both emotional and physical journeys, some of them were serious, but a lot were great fun that made me chuckle. There was lots of references to 1980s British TV, including Bergerac and Lovejoy, which really added to my enjoyment of the story.
The narration by Julie Maisey (a new-to-me narrator) was just perfect. Her voice talents were brilliant for all the different characters, amazing me when she switched seamlessly between them. She is definitely going on my favourite narrators list!
This is my second book by Debbie Johnson, but not my last as I’ve just bought her latest book, The Moment I Met You.
Highly recommended if you enjoy family dramas on audio.
September 20, 2017
I read this book because I liked the title and the cover. I have to admit I like judging a book by its cover. I know it’s shallow, but the book is anything but…
Andrea is dying. Her last wish is to bring her estranged daughters back into each other’s lives and she enlists the help of best pal Lewis to build A-Z of Everything to do exactly that. When she dies, she leaves letters, videos and all sorts for the women to work through.
It was definitely a different kind of book, at its centre the relationship between sisters Rose and Poppy, who have not seen each other for seventeen years. Each have their own demons to slay and both are bitter and disappointed in life.
The story is well crafted and I could sympathise with both Poppy and Rose. Both were very well-rounded characters. Sometimes I forgot whose chapter it was, but overall they were different enough to figure out who was who. It was refreshing to read a book (almost) without love interests. It simply was all about the sisterly relationship between Poppy and Rose.
The book is written in present tense, which I am not a fan of, and the way the sisters originally fell out bothered me a bit, but apart from that I enjoyed it. It made me smile, it made me cry. Most of all, it reiterated the fact that we are only on this earth for a short time and we need to make the most of it.
A beautiful book, and though I do not think it is a book I will read again, I am glad I chose to read it.
Andrea is dying. Her last wish is to bring her estranged daughters back into each other’s lives and she enlists the help of best pal Lewis to build A-Z of Everything to do exactly that. When she dies, she leaves letters, videos and all sorts for the women to work through.
It was definitely a different kind of book, at its centre the relationship between sisters Rose and Poppy, who have not seen each other for seventeen years. Each have their own demons to slay and both are bitter and disappointed in life.
The story is well crafted and I could sympathise with both Poppy and Rose. Both were very well-rounded characters. Sometimes I forgot whose chapter it was, but overall they were different enough to figure out who was who. It was refreshing to read a book (almost) without love interests. It simply was all about the sisterly relationship between Poppy and Rose.
The book is written in present tense, which I am not a fan of, and the way the sisters originally fell out bothered me a bit, but apart from that I enjoyed it. It made me smile, it made me cry. Most of all, it reiterated the fact that we are only on this earth for a short time and we need to make the most of it.
A beautiful book, and though I do not think it is a book I will read again, I am glad I chose to read it.
June 5, 2023
First of all, while this book has a nice idea, it is TOXIC and needs some serious trigger warnings!
It perpetuates horrifying stereotypes and uses fat phobia, body shaming and hints of eating disorders, as a way to “add personality” to the characters.
I hate that. So much!
It also, and this sickened me beyond words, casually mentions sexual abuse and places the blame with the victim.
News flash! If a woman is given drugs and alcohol until she hardly knows where she is, and you take advantage of that… that is rape and she most definitely should NOT be the one you blame. And yet, so many years later, her sister doesn’t even acknowledge that but still has to consider whether or not to forgive her.
What the ACTUAL hell?!
It DOES have some nice characters, sure, but my favourite one was dead, and my second favourite was her friend. The sisters not so much. Not only are they, as I mentioned, written in a way I find offensive, toxic and dangerous, but they also have no depth.
(Or brains.)
I won’t read any more books from this author and I definitely wouldn’t advise you to, but… you do you, of course. Just be careful not to internalise any of her victim blaming or body shaming.
It perpetuates horrifying stereotypes and uses fat phobia, body shaming and hints of eating disorders, as a way to “add personality” to the characters.
I hate that. So much!
It also, and this sickened me beyond words, casually mentions sexual abuse and places the blame with the victim.
News flash! If a woman is given drugs and alcohol until she hardly knows where she is, and you take advantage of that… that is rape and she most definitely should NOT be the one you blame. And yet, so many years later, her sister doesn’t even acknowledge that but still has to consider whether or not to forgive her.
What the ACTUAL hell?!
It DOES have some nice characters, sure, but my favourite one was dead, and my second favourite was her friend. The sisters not so much. Not only are they, as I mentioned, written in a way I find offensive, toxic and dangerous, but they also have no depth.
(Or brains.)
I won’t read any more books from this author and I definitely wouldn’t advise you to, but… you do you, of course. Just be careful not to internalise any of her victim blaming or body shaming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2017
Thank you to net gallery and Debbie Johnston for the opportunity to read this brilliant book. The book centres around Andrea who has only a few weeks to live and whose greatest desire is to see her two daughters Rose and Poppy reunited after years apart.. The bonds between mothers and daughters are beautifully explored in this book and I could personally relate with Andreas desire to see her daughters reunite and be there for each other after her death, This book was very thought provoking and explored a lot of issues associated with grief and losing someone who you love very much. It made me think of the importance of forgiveness and to appreciate every day and opportunity. I would recommend this book,and found myself thinking of Andrea Rose and Poppy as friends I was rooting for , A must read to make you appreciate every minute you have,
October 12, 2017
Gorgeously funny and emotional.. Made me laugh and cry at the same time.
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