Review: this book was quite different to anything I've ever read. There was something about the voice and the storyline that was entirely unique which is such a gem to find considering the amount of books that I read in this genre! The storyline was really really lovely because it all surrounded raising money for breast cancer and breast cancer awareness and raising awareness and dealing with mental health, something which again, is not dealt with that often in other books. Although the book deals with these thought subjects, it still manages to be light hearted and a lovely read and yet the subjects are dealt with in a sensitive way and covered comprehensively! The other major storyline here is one of friendships and the two friends in question are easy characters I get to know and to relate to, the reason for this being that the each have flaws. Daisy is dealing with depression and has to suddenly move in with best friend Abbey. She comes across as a fairly selfish character and also someone who is unaware when they are hurting other people around her. However, watching her grow and get her life back on track in this novel was really really special. I really liked her by the end of the novel, even if I didn't agree with some of the choices she had made. Abbey made some choices that I wasn't so sure about either but as a best friend, she is truly awesome. She supports Daisy without question and gives her space and her time freely, something which is such an endearing quality! I loved he ending that both of these characters got, even though they might not be what you would expect from the beginning of the book! Ther IS a love story in this novel but it is such a slow burn and such sweet beginning that's you will literally find yourself squealing out loud when it finally surfaces. Of course other relationships are dealt with as you would expect from this genre but the little love story that runs underneath everything else is just delicious. The pace of this book is definitely slower than you might expect and that for me was really the only thing that stopped it from being a five star read. It didn't stop me from reading it in 2 days however which considering its substantial size, is pretty impressive. This is definitely something to read this summer and something which will definitely take a good look at your best friends with a renewed sense of appreciation!

Daisy spends her days curled up on the sofa, eating Jaffa Cakes and watching re-runs of Hugh Grant movies. Her house is a filthy mess, she's getting fatter, she doesn't answer the phone. Her only connection with the outside world are her constant Facebook updates; and those are flippant and don't tell the whole truth. Daisy didn't used to be like this but after losing her beloved mother to breast cancer and becoming estranged from the rest of her family, she really can't see any reason in getting washed, dressed ... any reason for anything really. Abby is Daisy's best friend. Abby is determined that Daisy will pull herself back from the brink of despair and decides that both of them will do the Moonwalk. A fundraising walk of 26 miles through London in the evening, and so begins Abby's quest to get Daisy back into the land of the living. Carry You is told entirely in Daisy's voice, and at times she is in turns incredibly irritating, selfish, self indulgent and a bit of a pain in the arse. She's also quick witted, funny and underneath the doom and gloom, quite likeable. She has not only lost her Mother, but she feels cast adrift from the rest of her extended family. Abby is her saviour, and although Daisy tries her very best to get out of training for the walk, and wants to immerse herself in her sorrow and grief, Abby never gives up. Beth Thomas has cleverly interwoven many themes into Carry You, but overall has managed to keep the story upbeat and positive. Grief and loss are issues that affect all of us during our lives, and each one of us will deal with them in our own different ways. Introducing Daisy to Felix; her 'walking buddy' shows another way of coping with bereavement. Neither of these ways are right or wrong, but both of them are ways that humans deal with loss. Carry You is written from the heart, that is clear from the depth of feeling portrayed by the main characters, and if Beth Thomas is lucky enough to have a friend like Abby, then I envy her. Abby is the triumph of the story, even though she is not the main character. She lifts Daisy up and continues to support her with determination and love that is indeed the actions of a true friend, and for me, the theme of friendship is the one that shines most brightly through this story. For me, the novel is just a tad too long, there were a couple of times during Daisy's training for the walk that my mind wandered, but on the whole this is a good debut. I look forward to reading Beth Thomas' next novel.