"Photos of You" by Tammy Robinson, Review

This review is going to be long, but nonetheless it is nowhere near enough to pay this book the justice it deserves.

In one sentence, this is a romance done right. I can only describe this book as an absolute delight to read. It is warm, charming and the writing-style is effortlessly inviting, lulling the reader into one beautifully relaxing treat of a story.

"Photos of You" tells the bitter-sweet story of Ava Green, a 28 year old woman with a positive , joyful and perseverant attitude toward life. After she is diagnosed with a terminal-illness, cancer, and discovers she has not much more than a year to live. A very interesting premise! Along the way, an absolutely precious, in every sense of the word, love story develops which you best believe I devoured and savoured every last drop of. The love that develops between Ava Green and James, the photographer accompanying her to shoot her photos for her magazine articles documenting her journey, is filled with so much light, happiness and purity that it will soothe every inch of your soul. Woah. That was a bit dramatic. But this book definitely did have that effect on my soul, at least.

Each character is carefully depicted with so much love and care, and absolute attention to detail, it's near impossible to avoid growing fond of each one of them. Even the supporting characters, are developed with utmost eloquence. I'm talking about characters like Kate, who is cautious, mature and level-minded, ever the care-taker. And Amanda, the energetic, free-spirited and dare-devilishly spontaneous indie singer. I felt like I personally got to know each character, they became more than simply ink on paper. As someone who is more into character-driven stories, this was perfect for me!

I particularly enjoyed reading the scenes illustrating Ava and James' retreat into their secret luxurious hotel hidden within the jungle. The descriptions of the bubbling hot-tub, the sleepy world slowly awakening to the colours of the gorgeous sunrise, the sounds of the early morning wind rustling through the wild leaves, made this section an indulgence for the senses. I also absolutely loved the restaurant scene. A luscious dining room in a breath-taking retreat, in the heart of the jungle, is such an intimate and romantic experience, I was basically giddy while reading all about it. This books is flooded with descriptions of nature. "Ava drew comfort from being alive, and nature is a good provider of that" (isn't this such a gorgeous quote?!) . I am sure it will help you fester a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Another scene which deserves a notable mention is Christmas Day - while this was slightly (no, very) morbid because Ava and all her family knew it would be her last Christmas, it was still fun reading about an Australian Christmas, and experiencing the tight bond between the family, and I also liked the part where they attended midnight mass at Church! The final few chapters are an absolute roller coaster ride. I thought I would be disappointed, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I do not want to spoil anything, because you must read this book and experience the 'wedding' scene in all its glory for yourself. But what I can tell you is that it is everything I hoped it would be.

"Ava's Notes" which were sprinkled across a few chapters, were also a clever touch. Here we get to read Ava's advice column in the magazine "Woman's Weekly". It is probably the closest thing I will ever read to a Self-Help book, because these articles, while innocently wholesome and endearing, are also potentially powerful enough to shift one's perspective and maybe challenge them to look at life with a slightly different angle. Some very meaningful quotations can be taken from these advice-columns, one of which I wrote down: "But you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you keep taking that next breath, and eventually you realize you got through a day without crying, then a week. A month. You begin to smile again"

I can understand how some might find it cringey or cliché, but nonetheless it meant something to me.

I have never read a book where the main character dies. I liked this new experience - I got to explore a different reality safely and tentatively through the protective pages of this book. It's sad that this book is so underrated. If any book should blow up on the internet, it should be this one. All in all, I'd say anyone should read it, you will be left feeling thankful for simply the air entering and exiting your lungs. If I could take one message from this book, it would simply be: Live life.