Today I’m excited to share my review of the brilliant Days of Wonder, as part of the blog tour! Read on to find out more and see what I thought…

Title: Days of Wonder
Author: Keith Stuart
Publisher: Sphere

[Synopsis]

Tom, single father to Hannah, is the manager of a tiny local theatre. On the same day each year, he and its colourful cast of part-time actors have staged a fantastical production just for his little girl, a moment of magic to make her childhood unforgettable.

But there is another reason behind these annual shows: the very first production followed Hannah’s diagnosis with a heart condition that will end her life early. And now, with Hannah a funny, tough girl of fifteen, that time is coming.

Hannah’s heart is literally broken – and she can’t bear the idea of her dad’s breaking too. So she resolves to find a partner for Tom, someone else to love, to fill the space beside him.

While all the time Tom plans a final day of magic that might just save them both.

[My Review]

An emotional storyline, characters you really care about, an element of romance and some added drama to keep you turning the pages: Days of Wonder hooked me from the first page right through to the last.

I don’t want to give too much away about what happens, but I will say that this is an emotional read and you should prepare yourself with tissues if you’re anything like me (emotional and very quick to cry!).

As the synopsis reveals, single dad Tom’s daughter, Hannah, is suffering from a serious heart condition, and he’s struggling to cope with what they both know is coming – but he’s truly doing his best to try and keep an element of magic in her life. Day of Wonder is not just about this awful situation, though – there’s so much else going on. From the theatre in peril to Tom’s romantic life (or lack thereof), we’re there every step of the way with them, and I found by the end of the novel I really cared about what would happen – meaning every emotion felt even more intense! Their relationship is amazing, and Tom especially is such a great character, striking just the right balance between being lovably hopeless in some areas, and incredibly creative and capable in others.

There are humorous parts and really sad parts, but whatever was happening within its pages, I loved every second of it – it all felt real and convincing, and made me want to find out more about Hannah’s condition.

I read A Boy Made of Blocks, also by Keith Stuart, and hugely enjoyed it [see my review here] so was excited to give his newest novel a go. I certainly wasn’t disappointed, so I’d really recommend this to anyone looking for a heart-wrenching, wonderful read.

[Rating: 5/5]

Many thanks to Sphere for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review, and for inviting me onto the blog tour!

[About the Author]

Keith Stuart is an author and journalist. His heartwarming debut novel, A Boy Made of
Blocks, was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and a major bestseller, and was inspired by Keith’s real-life relationship with his autistic son. Keith has written for publications
including Empire, Red and Esquire magazine, and is the former games editor of the
Guardian. He lives with his wife and two sons in Frome, Somerset.

[Follow The Tour]