THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST
By: Amy Neff
Published: July 30, 2024
Publisher: Park Row
Fiction
Note: This story discusses suicide.
Don’t let the cover give you the idea that this is a beach read. Yes, the setting is a quaint, beach-side inn on the coast of Connecticut. But, that’s where the beach read part ends. This story is a mix of family drama, historical fiction, and a heart-breaking love story wrapped into one. The blurb grabbed my interest but the characters and their story held my attention until the final page.
“I will never stop wishing for more time with you.”
Evelyn and Joseph were childhood friends. It began with Joseph and Tommy, Evelyn’s brother, and then slowly, Evelyn was brought into the friendship. Joseph was always enamored by her beauty. But, Evelyn had other plans. She wanted to play for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and went to live with her aunt in Boston during the school year. When finally it seems Joseph and Evelyn are getting close, Joseph and Tommy leave for the war, changing their lives forever.
The novel begins with the elderly Joseph and Evelyn telling their children that due to Evelyn’s tragic health diagnosis, they have decided to live one last year together and then, since they can’t bear to be apart, end their lives together in June 2002. Of course, their adult children are shocked and angry and react with disbelief. Who does this? As we learn Joseph and Evelyn’s stories, we also get a peek into the lives of their adult children. We see how they are processing this news, all in very different ways, and how this choice begins to affect their own marriages and relationships.
“…that there comes a point when the days behind us far exceed what lies ahead, when all there is left to chase is memories. It’s about enjoying every day we have left.”
The story flips between Joseph and Evelyn’s perspectives both in the present day and back to their childhoods and the early part of their marriage. We get glimpses of their lives over the years, including the happy times and the sad times. We see how their relationship has blossomed and understand a bit of why they would make this bold, tragic decision to end their lives together, on their terms.
“Which is worse to lose, the one you love, or your ability to recognize their face?”
Neff created a deeply realistic marriage. Joseph and Evelyn struggled with their business, with putting aside dreams, and the stress of enduring the choices made by their children. But, through the difficulties, they stuck it out and supported each other which is what made this final year so special. They both believed that they had lived a full life and didn’t want to spend one day apart from each other.
“No one in love gets out of this life unscathed.”
After recently watching my father decline and his constant complaints about his health, I can see where someone could make this decision. Don’t we all want to leave this world on our own terms? Neff delicately handles this difficult storyline with compelling and deeply moving writing. The characters are relatable and her descriptive writing puts the reader on the beach, at the family table, on the streets of Boston, or the front lines of the war. Readers who love family stories, historical fiction, or a lifelong romance will find Neff’s debut to be the perfect read to close out the summer. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Amy Neff wrote The Days I Loved You Most as a love letter to the seaside town where her family has spent summers since the early 1900s. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and their rescue dog. Connect with her on social media, or find her online at www.amyneff.com.
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Posted Under Amy Neff, Book Review, family, fiction, suicide