Will You Stay Another Day by Samantha Tonge
💖💖💖💖💖/5
Will You Stay Another Day by Samantha Tonge is a heartbreaking story about overcoming grief and loss, how grief can affect us; not just grief from a death but also from loneliness. It is a story that teaches about finding joy in new beginnings, starting over is possible and letting go of the past is possible.
Lili lost her best Em in a boat accident. Em was not just her
best friend, but her ride and die, her travel companion, her sister from
another mister. Lili’s grief has devastated her, taking over her life; even as
the one year anniversary of her death approaches. Lili finds that listening to
texts from Em keeps her close. One day, Lili sends Em a text and when it is
answered, believes that maybe Em is still alive. After going through every possibility,
she decides to meet the person replying to the texts. It is not Em who she meets, but Dylan;
drinking alone while also missing someone. As it happens, Em’s mobile number was given
to Harry, Dylan’s brother, who is away travelling.
Once the two start chatting, a friendship forms, one of fun, good food and shared secrets.
Lili is secretly attracted to Dylan but keeps him at arm’s length as she is
scared of losing someone again.
Lili
is a kind soul and through her work at the local charity shop, she meets
several people with baggage they need to let go of. With Lili’s help and
support they learn that saying goodbye doesn’t mean all the doors to a new
future should close. The hope is that Lili will apply the same techniques for
herself as she does for others, to help her move forward and possibly open her
heart to more than just friendship.
As
the year progresses Lili has to choose to live again and with the help of her
friends and little Bobbin the robin she has to let go of her grief to move
forward. Hopefully, Dylan will be the one to help her, at least once he is able
to open up and unburden himself of his secret.
It’s
an incredibly tender, quietly powerful read. Samantha Tonge writes about grief
in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally understood. Her
storytelling doesn’t try to fix the pain of loss, but instead gently holds
space for it; while offering a flicker of hope for what still lies ahead. I loved
how the story reminds us that, although grief never leaves us, we can still
find joy, connection, and even new beginnings. It’s not a traditional love
story, but rather a story of human connection, understanding, and emotional
rebuilding.
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