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theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
4.0
Minus Me // by Mameve Medwed
Despite telling myself that I needed to control my ARC requesting, I just couldn't not request Minus Me. The premise, while heart-rending, sounded very intriguing and I needed something realistic rather than another fantasy because I have several big fantasy novels coming up soon. Just a few chapters into this book, I felt the heart-break coming on strong. While I found some of Annie's decisions a little irrational sometimes, I also have to admit that they weren't so different from some of my recent decisions. Sam is adorable, albeit sometimes exasperating, and I can still understand why she did what she did even though as an outside observer it is easy to know better.
While I had never heard of this author before, I do know that I want to read more of her books in the future. I really enjoyed her writing and how much she made me care about her characters, even Ursula who made me cringe so much in the beginning. This book really shows how not knowing just a few things about someone can hugely influence your opinion of them. While the ending would usually be a bit too tidy for my taste, this once it was actually perfect. After some of my own recent struggles, it was heart-warming to see this book end on such a positive note. It seems this book found me right when I really needed it.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Despite telling myself that I needed to control my ARC requesting, I just couldn't not request Minus Me. The premise, while heart-rending, sounded very intriguing and I needed something realistic rather than another fantasy because I have several big fantasy novels coming up soon. Just a few chapters into this book, I felt the heart-break coming on strong. While I found some of Annie's decisions a little irrational sometimes, I also have to admit that they weren't so different from some of my recent decisions. Sam is adorable, albeit sometimes exasperating, and I can still understand why she did what she did even though as an outside observer it is easy to know better.
While I had never heard of this author before, I do know that I want to read more of her books in the future. I really enjoyed her writing and how much she made me care about her characters, even Ursula who made me cringe so much in the beginning. This book really shows how not knowing just a few things about someone can hugely influence your opinion of them. While the ending would usually be a bit too tidy for my taste, this once it was actually perfect. After some of my own recent struggles, it was heart-warming to see this book end on such a positive note. It seems this book found me right when I really needed it.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
aprilalwayswithabook's review against another edition
3.0
It took me bloody forever to get through this. The writing was fine, the story was fine, but it was depressing while still not engaging. I never *wanted* to read it but also didn't dislike it so I didn't want to DNF? The end was jarringly neat while the rest wasn't.
thebookishkimmy's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It was sweet and simple and after the intensity of the last couple of books I’ve read, this one was so welcomed.
Annie receives some bad news. She’s going to die. What she worries about most, though, is her husband of 17 years, Sam. They were meant to find each other and grow old together, they both agree. Besides, Sam is hopeless at looking after himself - what will he do without her? Annie decides to write Sam a manual for how to live after she’s gone. It’s full of all the practical day to day things - how to dos, what to dos, where to dos, etc. and most importantly, to fall in love again.
It was so charming and full of love. I so enjoyed this book and am so thankful for the advanced copy to read and review. It was delightful and a pleasure to read! If you’re after an easy read that ties itself up nice and neatly at the end, I’d definitely recommend this one!
Annie receives some bad news. She’s going to die. What she worries about most, though, is her husband of 17 years, Sam. They were meant to find each other and grow old together, they both agree. Besides, Sam is hopeless at looking after himself - what will he do without her? Annie decides to write Sam a manual for how to live after she’s gone. It’s full of all the practical day to day things - how to dos, what to dos, where to dos, etc. and most importantly, to fall in love again.
It was so charming and full of love. I so enjoyed this book and am so thankful for the advanced copy to read and review. It was delightful and a pleasure to read! If you’re after an easy read that ties itself up nice and neatly at the end, I’d definitely recommend this one!
bexbooksandstuff's review against another edition
4.0
What a little gem of a book! I really enjoyed this one, it was a lovely simple book which I found really easy to read and left me with a wave of heart warming happiness at the end.
Minus Me is the tale of Annie. The story begins in a devastating way, she is given the life changing news that she has lung cancer and will not have long to live. She understandably is hit hard by the news and has to try to figure out what to do with this information. She decides against telling the love of her life, her soul mate and husband Sam as she doesn't want to destroy him too. Instead she decides to create a 'User guide to life without me' to help soften the blow. Her husband Sam is quite inept to say the least and so it makes sense that she would want to spare him from having to deal with this news straight away.
What follows is a heart warming story of love, secrets, loss and family ties. I thought this book was going to be a huge tear jerker from the get go but actually it was very uplifting and a lot of the plot lines and characters really made me laugh. They were relatable and humorous. I'll admit at times I just wanted to bang Annie and Sam's heads together, the secrecy began to get very frustrating and unrealistic but then the story would take another turn and I would feel placated a bit more. I particularly loved the side storyline of the mother-daughter relationship between Annie and Ursula. This character plot line highlighted the reasons why Annie chose to live her life the way she did.
Overall this character driven story was just lovely. I look forward to finding some more books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Minus Me is the tale of Annie. The story begins in a devastating way, she is given the life changing news that she has lung cancer and will not have long to live. She understandably is hit hard by the news and has to try to figure out what to do with this information. She decides against telling the love of her life, her soul mate and husband Sam as she doesn't want to destroy him too. Instead she decides to create a 'User guide to life without me' to help soften the blow. Her husband Sam is quite inept to say the least and so it makes sense that she would want to spare him from having to deal with this news straight away.
What follows is a heart warming story of love, secrets, loss and family ties. I thought this book was going to be a huge tear jerker from the get go but actually it was very uplifting and a lot of the plot lines and characters really made me laugh. They were relatable and humorous. I'll admit at times I just wanted to bang Annie and Sam's heads together, the secrecy began to get very frustrating and unrealistic but then the story would take another turn and I would feel placated a bit more. I particularly loved the side storyline of the mother-daughter relationship between Annie and Ursula. This character plot line highlighted the reasons why Annie chose to live her life the way she did.
Overall this character driven story was just lovely. I look forward to finding some more books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
crystal7's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great read, some really interesting ideas explored within.
It was unexpected in parts & not sad as I thought it might be.
I kind of wish there was a sequel to this as I'd love to know what happens next!
It was unexpected in parts & not sad as I thought it might be.
I kind of wish there was a sequel to this as I'd love to know what happens next!
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Minus Me by Mameve Medwed is a charming novel that is poignant and surprisingly uplifting.
Annie Stevens-Strauss receives a diagnosis that she tries but fails to tries to tell her husband of seventeen years Sam. Since he is pretty hopeless with household tasks, she writes a manual full of helpful hints that range from the everyday to finding love again. Meanwhile, Annie puts off further testing until her self-absorbed mother, Ursula, makes a rare appearance in their small town in Maine. When Annie is swept off to New York for a doctor's appointment by Ursula, will their unexpected time together be the best or worst thing for their fractured relationship? And what effect will her extended time away from Sam have on their marriage?
Annie and Sam own a very popular sandwich shop so they spend most of their time together. Despite their almost magically happy relationship, they have experienced heartbreaking losses. Annie has always brushed off her best friend Rachel and Ursula's observations that she spoils Sam too much. It is not until she receives her diagnosis that she realizes that Sam might not be equipped for the next stage in life. In addition to writing the manual, Annie decides to not worry him until she receives confirmation of her doctor's diagnosis.
Minus Me is a well-written novel with an engaging storyline and entertaining characters. Annie's unexpected health crisis proves to be a surprising journey of self-discovery and healing. Mameve Medwed concludes this winsome novel with a heartwarming a epilogue that is sure to delight readers.
Annie Stevens-Strauss receives a diagnosis that she tries but fails to tries to tell her husband of seventeen years Sam. Since he is pretty hopeless with household tasks, she writes a manual full of helpful hints that range from the everyday to finding love again. Meanwhile, Annie puts off further testing until her self-absorbed mother, Ursula, makes a rare appearance in their small town in Maine. When Annie is swept off to New York for a doctor's appointment by Ursula, will their unexpected time together be the best or worst thing for their fractured relationship? And what effect will her extended time away from Sam have on their marriage?
Annie and Sam own a very popular sandwich shop so they spend most of their time together. Despite their almost magically happy relationship, they have experienced heartbreaking losses. Annie has always brushed off her best friend Rachel and Ursula's observations that she spoils Sam too much. It is not until she receives her diagnosis that she realizes that Sam might not be equipped for the next stage in life. In addition to writing the manual, Annie decides to not worry him until she receives confirmation of her doctor's diagnosis.
Minus Me is a well-written novel with an engaging storyline and entertaining characters. Annie's unexpected health crisis proves to be a surprising journey of self-discovery and healing. Mameve Medwed concludes this winsome novel with a heartwarming a epilogue that is sure to delight readers.
easemily's review against another edition
3.0
I guess this book was okay, but it took me awhile to even want to write a review because I was just meh about it. I liked that it gives you a glimpse into the future and then you get to see what happens leading up to it. It was also cool because there were twists that kind of weren’t expected, but by the end it was pretty obvious what was going to happen. I had heard a fair amount of hype about this book but definitely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but it also wasn’t a good book.
hooksbookswanderlust's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Mameve Medwed for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
As a breast cancer survivor (5 years at the time of this post), diagnosed at age 32 when my youngest child wasn’t even a year old yet. To say I can relate to the feelings and emotions going through Annie’s head is an understatement. The feeling of the hangman’s noose around your neck and closing when you still have so much left to do, to give, to live…I get it. Imagining how your loved ones’ lives will be changed without you in them is unfathomable.
With equal parts grim resignation and wry humor, Annie begins this unimaginable task in an effort to help her hapless husband carry on when she is no longer there to help him. Her instruction manual starts out as quick thoughts on post-it notes carried in her pocket (examples of which begin each chapter and were one of my favorite things), but soon she begins a more formal format on her computer. The first entry in this manual that we get to read comes at the end of chapter 7, and I was teary-eyed and emotional after reading it.
Just when Annie thinks things can’t get any worse, she learns that her estranged, narcissistic, actress of a mother is coming into town, challenging things she thought she knew about herself, her deceased father, and her mother. And worse, she finds out Annie’s big secret.
Smart writing, relatable situations, and humor define this book about the different types of relationships we have: romantic, familial, fraternal, and the things that really matter in life. Medwed has achieved the perfect balance of depth and levity in her story with characters that aren’t always loveable but leave you cheering for them anyway. I could see this as the perfect beach read to escape from reality for a little while. Or as it just releases this month, it’s a perfect wish-you-were-on-the-beach read.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for fans of women’s fiction and book clubbers looking for a new discussion-worthy book.
Come hang out with me on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Blog | Email
Why is such a big deal always made about the first tooth, first step, first kiss, first love? From her perspective, it’s the last of everything that holds more meaning, more power, more poignancy.
As a breast cancer survivor (5 years at the time of this post), diagnosed at age 32 when my youngest child wasn’t even a year old yet. To say I can relate to the feelings and emotions going through Annie’s head is an understatement. The feeling of the hangman’s noose around your neck and closing when you still have so much left to do, to give, to live…I get it. Imagining how your loved ones’ lives will be changed without you in them is unfathomable.
With equal parts grim resignation and wry humor, Annie begins this unimaginable task in an effort to help her hapless husband carry on when she is no longer there to help him. Her instruction manual starts out as quick thoughts on post-it notes carried in her pocket (examples of which begin each chapter and were one of my favorite things), but soon she begins a more formal format on her computer. The first entry in this manual that we get to read comes at the end of chapter 7, and I was teary-eyed and emotional after reading it.
Just when Annie thinks things can’t get any worse, she learns that her estranged, narcissistic, actress of a mother is coming into town, challenging things she thought she knew about herself, her deceased father, and her mother. And worse, she finds out Annie’s big secret.
Smart writing, relatable situations, and humor define this book about the different types of relationships we have: romantic, familial, fraternal, and the things that really matter in life. Medwed has achieved the perfect balance of depth and levity in her story with characters that aren’t always loveable but leave you cheering for them anyway. I could see this as the perfect beach read to escape from reality for a little while. Or as it just releases this month, it’s a perfect wish-you-were-on-the-beach read.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for fans of women’s fiction and book clubbers looking for a new discussion-worthy book.
Come hang out with me on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Blog | Email
readyourworriesaway's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you @alcovepress for the advance copy. Minus Me comes out on 1/12!
Annie and her charming, but very incompetent high school sweetheart are owners of a gourmet sandwich shop in Maine. Annie is devastated when she receives a scary diagnosis. She decides to leave Sam a manual with step-by-step instructions on how to survive without her. Then comes Annie’s mom who brings some chaos into the mix.
I flew through this book in less than a day. I enjoyed that the author included some cute, funny moments along the way. I didn’t like that Sam was utterly helpless of being able to do things without Annie. However, their relationship works in its own, unique way. There were a couple minor things that irked me, but I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to spoil anything. Overall, Minus Me is an enjoyable read that touches on marriage, facing death, and an over-the-top parent.
Annie and her charming, but very incompetent high school sweetheart are owners of a gourmet sandwich shop in Maine. Annie is devastated when she receives a scary diagnosis. She decides to leave Sam a manual with step-by-step instructions on how to survive without her. Then comes Annie’s mom who brings some chaos into the mix.
I flew through this book in less than a day. I enjoyed that the author included some cute, funny moments along the way. I didn’t like that Sam was utterly helpless of being able to do things without Annie. However, their relationship works in its own, unique way. There were a couple minor things that irked me, but I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to spoil anything. Overall, Minus Me is an enjoyable read that touches on marriage, facing death, and an over-the-top parent.