The First Day Without You by Melissa Hill – a Review

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Description:
Leonie has left behind everything and everyone she loves for a fresh start in California. Desperate to outrun the mess she’s come from, she hopes the change of scenery can mend her broken heart and bury her secrets forever. But when she discovers a bundle of unread love letters hidden in the back of a wardrobe in her new apartment, she is intrigued by the mystery behind them…and can’t help but notice the similarities between them and her own story. With the help of her new friend Alex, a news reporter toting around baggage of her own, Leonie embarks on a quest down the West Coast to find the ill-fated lovers from the letters and reunite them, whatever it takes. Even if it means confronting the hurt she’s buried deep within herself. Because if the couple behind the love letters can find a happy ending, then perhaps she just might too.

Review:

The First Day Without You by Melissa Hill is a sweet romantic standalone novel. The story revolves around Leonie, our heroine, who left her home in Dublin, Ireland, leaving due a broken heart and a fresh start in San Francisco, California. She finds a nice apartment, and gets a job at a flower shop.

Leoni meets her neighbor, Alex and the two become great friends.  Leonie discovers a bunch of unopened letters, addressing Helena from Nathan; Leonie becomes intrigued and enlists Alex’s help (she is a reporter) to search for the elusive Nathan, as well as Helena. At first Alex, did not think it was a good idea, but with Leonie’s determination to find them, and reunite the couple, and return the letters; Alex becomes completely involved in the search.

We get to see flashbacks with Leonie in Dublin, with her boyfriend, Adam, but we learn more about how her heart was broken nearer to the end. Will Leonie be able to exorcise her own demons?  I liked her best friend in Ireland, Grace who called her often to plead with her to return home.  Grace does visit Leonie for a long weekend, getting a view of San Francisco, as well as meet Alex. 

Alex also has her own romantic issues, which turns out that she is married, and has been trying to get divorce papers signed.  Seth, her husband, has not responded or signed papers for over a year, frustrating Alex. When Alex and Leonie follow up on a trip to investigate Nathan, Alex runs into Seth. Alex pressures Seth that she wants him to sign the divorce papers, as she is now seeing someone else. Though he has been gone so long, Seth wants to win Alex back, and is determined to meet her current boyfriend, and convince her to resume their marriage; which he claims he still loves her.

I really liked Alex and Leoni’s friendship, as they were so much fun, and both fully into finding Nathan and Helena.  This was the best part of the story, with so many clues that turned out to be intriguing and misleading, leading to a surprising revelation about Nathan and Helena.  Very nicely done.  Leonie and Adam’s storyline was mostly in flashbacks, which reveals why she ran away. Though Leonie is happy being in America, she misses Adam and after reading all about Nathan’s romantic letters to Helena, she begins to realize her mistake in walking away.  This too will have a wonderful ending.

The First Day Without You was a very nice storyline, with multiple romantic relationships.  There were a number of wonderful secondary characters, such as Grace, Seth, Marcy, Adam, Andrea, Suzanne, Jon, Nathan & Helena.  I loved both Leonie and Alex, as their friendship was great, always there for each other. The First Day Without You was well written by Melissa Hill.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher