This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kay Brooks
Rabbit Hayes is quickly losing the fight with cancer. Originating in her breast, it has now spread to her bones, leaving her completely incapacitated. Despite being trapped in a hospice, Rabbit is grateful for so much. She has a beautiful daughter, Juliet, wonderful siblings, strong parents, supportive friends and then there’s the love of her life, Johnny Faye. How will they come to terms with the death of their beloved Rabbit and, more importantly, how will she ever be able to say goodbye?
I expected for this to be a perpetual tear-jerker and I was right in a way. I immediately connected with Rabbit. Her strength and selflessness make her instantly lovable. No punches are held as the effects of fourth stage cancer ravage Rabbit’s body. Rabbit is at the end of her journey and the insights into her care, treatment and reactions are sometimes distressing. I had to keep pulling away from the storyline to remember that Rabbit is in fact just a character and put some distance between us. The contrast between how Rabbit is in the present and the descriptions of her hopes and dreams of the past make it even more upsetting as it shows just how much cancer steals from a person.
There are also lots of funny parts. The back-story is particularly strong and full of references that reminded me of my own teenage days. These flashbacks, which are often humorous, provide well-timed relief from the sadness. There are also extracts from a blog written by Rabbit as she celebrated her first remission and realised how full her life was when the cancer came back in her other breast. Her never-ending optimism is contagious and will make you appreciate all the little things in your life that sometimes get taken for granted.
The typical Irish dialogue is realistic and incredibly colourful, especially when Rabbit’s mother, Molly Hayes, is involved. At times, the imminent loss of Rabbit threatens to push her family apart but the reminder of how lucky they are to have each other to love pulls them back together providing many heart-warming scenes.This is not a light-hearted novel. It deals with the serious issue of cancer, losing a family member and knowing that you’re going to be leaving people behind who potentially still need you. Still, the pages flew as I became more and more attached to the various characters as they deal with the situation in their own unique ways.
These might be Rabbit’s last days but she’ll live on in the heart of the reader for a long time.
9/10