I Wanted You To Know by Laura Pearson is a magnificent story which will take your breath away… whilst breaking your heart at the same time.

The plot:

Jess never imagined she’d be navigating single motherhood, let alone while facing breast cancer. A life that should be just beginning is interrupted by worried looks, heavy conversations, and the possibility of leaving her daughter to grow up without her.

Propelled by a ticking clock, Jess knows what she has to do: tell her daughter everything. How to love, how to lose, how to forgive, and, most importantly, how to live when you never know how long you have.

I Wanted You To Know is a true love letter to life: to all its heartache and beauty, to the people we have and lose, to the memories and moments that define us.

I’ll be shouting about this, as it will stay with me

I Wanted You To Know is the third book by Pearson I’ve read and loved. I said in my first ever Pearson review, ‘keep your eyes peeled for this author… I’m expecting many more great things’; THEN, in my second Pearson review, I said ‘sign me up for more Pearson books please’ – THE AUTHOR/ PEARSON DELIVERED.

Out of the three, this is the toughest one I’ve found to read. I’ve flown through its predecessor, and whilst I still read this in two sittings (because I needed to know), I had to put it down multiple times to just stop and take it all in for a second.

Pearson is incredibly talented in taking a horrid and troubling topic and bringing it to the reader’s attention in such a remarkable way; she is increasingly becoming one of my favourite writers. If you strip away the content and had an incredibly mundane story – not happening here, but just imagine – you’d still love the book based on Pearson’s writing. It’s one-of-a-kind, offering deeper meanings to every page.

I Wanted You To Know is like an onion – with every page it unravels that little bit more and has many different layers and messages, and you sure as heck know it’s going to make you cry. I tell ya, I am all for this onion.

There’s a note from the author at the beginning, explaining why she wrote the book. I’ve been reading and following Pearson for a while, so I did already know the situation, which I think is why I was so anxious to pick it up. This did, for me, make it a very overwhelming read. It was tough and I sobbed, a lot, but I appreciated every word Laura had to say and I reward her for creating this.

The most well-done part for me is how Pearson focuses on the ripple effect. I’ve noticed this especially in Missing Pieces, but being in a slightly difference tense, it’s expertly done here. It also makes you want to call up your family or friends right this second and just hold them and tell them you love them. The protagonist handles things differently than you may have read/ seen in film, and I really appreciated this.

I Wanted You To Know is eye-opening, thoughtful and beautiful in its own right. It may break you like it did me, but I feel better for understanding.

Breathtaking, mesmerising and unforgettable.

I Wanted You To Know that I’ll be shouting about this book for years, as it will stay with me. I’ll kindly suggest that A) you do not read this in a public place and B) have tissues on hand. And this is coming from someone who seldom cries at books.

A note:

This review has been extremely difficult to write. A part of me hates the book because I wouldn’t wish the scenario on anyone, and it links back to an author who I have enjoyed and supported over the past year. The other part of me knows this needs to be read and is delicate.

I’ve cried a few times writing this review, and maybe this story just got to me that little too much, but I’d like to congratulate Laura.

This must not have been an easy story to write, but I can imagine it will impact many other readers in a positive way, like it has for me. A big thank you to Laura for being you and having the courage to write this.

I Wanted You To Know, Laura Pearson, RRP £9.99 (paperback); Book Depository 

Pages: 290

Publisher: Agora Books

Genre: Fiction