Contemporary fiction
The Days I Loved You Most
Debut
We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Amy Neff, on your first book!
by Amy Neff
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Quick take
Elegiac but ultimately life-affirming, a devoted couple near the end of their lives grapple with the past and legacy.
Good to know
Romance
Multiple viewpoints
Nonlinear timeline
Sad
Synopsis
Unforgettable and utterly romantic, The Days I Loved You Most is an emotional, life-affirming novel that asks, What if you could write the final chapter of your own love story?
In the summer of 1941, on the New England shores where they were raised, Evelyn and Joseph fell in love. Now, more than sixty years later, with a lifetime between them, they have gathered their three grown children to share the staggering news: she has received a heartbreaking diagnosis, and he can’t live without her. So in one year’s time they will end their love story on their own terms.
Over the next year, the couple retraces their past—all the joys and regrets that brought them to this moment. They embark on a journey to live out their greatest dreams and to connect with each of their children. But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of what’s to come, and make peace with the legacy they will leave behind for their family.
Spanning the twentieth century from World War II to 9/11 and beyond, The Days I Loved You Most is a timeless tale of unwavering devotion—a moving tribute to the enduring power of love and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope and beauty to be found.
Content warning
This book contains mentions of suicidal ideation.
Free sample
Get an early look from the first pages of The Days I Loved You Most.
Why I love it
Pam Jenoff
Author, The Woman with the Blue Star
Seldom have I been so moved by a book as I was by The Days I Loved You Most!
When Evelyn learns that she has a terminal illness, she and her husband of sixty years, Joseph, make a stunning decision: In one year, they will end their lives together. They inform their three adult children and begin to live out the plan despite their family’s suggestions.
The story that follows is both a chronicle of that year and of the sumptuous preceding decades of their lives, from the Second World War to the present. The Days I Loved You Most is equal parts touching romance and family saga, set against the backdrop of more than a half century. It is about the lives we build and the legacies we leave and learning to savor the most important moments. The book’s ending is as surprising as it is moving, and it left me asking hard questions even as I dried my eyes.
Fans of Nicholas Sparks and Jojo Moyes will devour, as I did, this unforgettable story about loss, second chances and the lengths to which we are willing to go for love. As a mother, child, and wife, I felt every moment of this story, and I laughed, cried with, and rooted for Evelyn and Joseph every step of the way. Grab your tissues and call your book club because your next must-read has arrived!