Forever Ends on Friday by Justin A. Reynolds

SYNOPSIS

Jamal's best friend, Q, doesn't know he's about to die... again.

He also doesn't know that Jamal tried to save his life, rescuing him from drowning only to watch Q die later in the hospital. Even more complicated, Jamal and Q haven't been best friends in two years - not since Jamal's parents died in a car accident, leaving him and his sister to carry on without them. Grief swallowed Jamal whole, and he blamed Q for causing the accident.

But what if Jamal could have a second chance? An impossible chance that would grant him the opportunity to say goodbye to his best friend? A new health-care technology allows Q to be reanimated - brought back to life like the old Q again. But there's a catch: Q will only reanimate for a short time before he dies... forever.

Jamal is determined to make things right with Q, but grief is hard to shake. And he can't tell Q why he's suddenly trying to be friends with him again. Because Q has no idea that he died, and Q's mom is not about to let anyone ruin the miracle by telling him. How can Jamal fix his friendship with Q if he can't tell him the truth?

REVIEW

I have now spent a little time after reading this book trying to find the best way to highlight how much this story is quite simply a life-changer. Or how I like to describe it, a heart-breaking story with a lot of heart.

When we think of death in all its forms, we tend to think of our loved ones that have passed on. The conversations that we had with them, the times that we have spent together, but most of all, what we would say to them now that they are no longer with us. Our minds constantly hover over the concept of what ifs and how we would have made that possible. This is where this story comes into the picture.

I have read many a books throughout my life so far, but nothing compares to this powerful piece where the author is using a genre to highlight what it means to be human and how we are able to leave a piece of us that will always be remembered by those who know us most - that we are never forgotten no matter how hard we try to.

Yes, it is probably something that most of us probably don't want to hear about at the moment, but somehow I found this story strangely comforting. Death is not the end - it is simply a beginning in so many ways. I think this is something that modern society forgets, as we are constantly looking towards our own goals. So when we think about death, this becomes something fear-inducing as it is not something we planned, not something that we know of. But that is ok. That is why we have people around us to make it a little better, just like Q does with his family and friends.

If there is anything that this book is able to teach its readers is to grasp every moment, try and do the things that you really want to do, sooner than later, talk to people, whether making new friendships or reigniting old ones. We are all on the same journey, so be kind to one another.

I'm very glad that I stopped for one sitting to read this book - this is definitely a story which I will keep in my heart forever. So thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy.

RATING: **** (FOUR STARS)

WHERE TO BUY

Amazon: Forever Ends on Friday: Amazon.co.uk: Reynolds, Justin: 9781509881024: Books

Waterstones: Forever Ends on Friday by Justin Reynolds | Waterstones

Bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/3917/9781509881024

Disclosure: If you buy books linked to this site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Comments

The Snow Song by Sally Gardner

Synopsis : 'Women imprisoned by superstition, chained by guilt. Perched on a mountain in a land of ancient forests is a village, rife with secrets. Cut off from the outside world it is run by the elders, men to whom tradition is all. Edith lives alone with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher. But she is in love with a shepherd who promised to return to her. As the village becomes isolated in a sea of snow, Edith loses her power of speech. And it is this enchantment that will have far-reaching consequences, not only for Edith but for the whole village.'

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

For something new this year I have decided that it would be different to try out something new on the blog. Every week from now on I am going to find a word that I find to be interesting. So for this week the word is: denouement - the resolution of a mystery. Publisher: Corgi Books Pages: 593 Year it was Published: 2004 Places: Paris, London, England, Roslin Original Language: American English So do you remember when I showed you my TBR pile of Dan Brown books? I am sure that you are thinking where they have all got to! Well the reason because of this is I wanted a change for a little while and I have loads of other books to get through - as well as the obvious blog tour and interview! Unfortunately there won't be a relentless amount of Dan Brown reviews for the time being, after this one. I have only just started The Lost Symbol and there are plenty other reviews that are for other books. Plot Summary For the Robert Langdon series second instalm...

Frankie and the Gift of Fantasy by Ruthy Ballard

I have always been captivated by the thought that there could be something beyond this world, yet connected by our very own. 'Frankie and the Gift of Fantasy' is set in the age range of being a children's book which is meant to help children think, evaluate and learn, not only about what is beyond our own world, but what happens on Earth today. Frankie can be considered somewhat of a dreamer like any normal kid with some amount of creativity should be. The only problem is that when he needs to be practical according to his parents, his mind is instead, is up in the clouds. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, not when he is transported through a crack in the wall to a place called 'Urth'. The writing can be seen as very colloquial, to the point that it feels as though not only are they omniscient of Frankie and the events that will take place, but it feels like they are reeling the events to only the reader. Almost like they are talking about the story in the s...

Just the Two of Us (Book 1) by Ryu Hyang

SYNOPSIS 'Soohyuk: a paediatric emergency medicine specialist. A man who never eats something someone else gives him. Soohyuk, the tyrant who rules S University Hospital's paediatric emergency room. He only cares about treating sick children, whether or not that gets in the way of advancing his career. He, a grouch to everyone aside from the patients, suddenly starts noticing a woman: the woman who feeds him. Yuna: a chef who makes boxed lunches. A woman who panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past. Wanting to do what she likes rather than going off to college, Yuna opens up her own business that specialises in boxed lunches. A Tasty Meal. She gets scared when one day she sees the tall Soohyuk standing outside her restaurant, but she soon learns he is only drawn to the delicious smell. And, somehow, she comes to be in charge of his everyday meals. When Soohyuk meets Yuna, a confident, surefooted woman who gets startled and scared when he co...

An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth: Life Lessons From Space by Chris Hadfield

I usually hate non-fiction so very much. I tend to find it utterly boring as well as depressing. But with this book it is completely different. It stands on it's own two feet by being irregular and unique in my eyes. It's inspirational. He's a role model to anyone who has met him, read him or seen him on YouTube singing 'Space Oddity'. Here is the YouTube that he recorded on the ISS of Space Oddity if you haven't already seen it. But seriously who hasn't? Anyway if you have seen it, why not see it again? It is really good. Anyway, the book itself, is a very good example with motivating people to aspire to what they really want to do. Rather than just simply dreaming of their dream, he is saying to put those words into actions and finally into reality. But not only that, if you don't exactly get to the place as to which you really want to strive to be, that's ok. It doesn't mean that you are a failure. No one is a true failure, unless you ...