The Two Lives of Lydia Bird: A Novel (2020 original; edició 2020)

This book was hard to rate because I found most of it pretty slow, but I really liked the ending. I'm not sure the ending makes up for how much I didn't like the first 2/3rds of the book. ( )

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird was a highly anticipated book for me as I very much delighted in Josie Silver's 2018 novel One Day in December. Not only did I end up enjoying The Two Lives of Lydia Bird but I ended up connecting with it even more than my first book by Silver.

I can appreciate a good contemporary romance but I definitely am drawn to plotlines that are a bit more realistic and relatable so this was a great fit for me. Silver shines at sharing stories that are heartwarming while also feeling like they are rooted in reality.

This book was heavy at times and I appreciated the look at the process of grief, especially for a young woman who was still finding herself when she lost the love of her life. The plotline isn't seamless and I got a lot out of seeing the main character Lydia move through the different stages of loss.

While there was a romantic storyline, I appreciated that this new guy didn't just sweep Lydia off her feet and make her forget about her grief. The overwhelming and persistent feelings of loss felt real and the tumultuous road to her healing made this book feel heartbreaking and powerful at the same time. If you are looking for an engaging and emotional read, I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for the gifted advanced copy and galley.

Lydia's grief at losing Freddie was palpable. I almost didn't think I would keep reading, it packed such an emotionally draining punch. The experimental sleeping pills her mother and sister promote send her back to her life with Freddie when she sleeps. Lydia begins to crave them like an addict and sleeps time away trying to escape the loss in her real life and see how a parallel life would play out. It all seems so real. But in the present, time marches on and Lydia's job, friends and family need her too. I am glad I stuck with it to the more hopeful end. ( )

I enjoyed this book where the main character straddles two worlds—one in a dream state where she is with the man she loves and the second in real world of heartache. I loved when she was dreaming because I knew that’s where Lydia wanted to be, but I also understood there was no way she could stay there. It’s not until she begins to heal from her grief that real life becomes bearable and hopeful. ( )

**I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book through NetGalley from they publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Silver’s follow up to the delightful “One Day in December” takes grief and the process of healing to a whole new level. Lydia is struck a devastating blow when her fiancé is killed in an automobile accident. To cope, she finds herself escaping into a dream world, where Freddie, her fiancé, is still alive, and life is going on as normal. Except, she must move on sans Freddie in her real life. Complications and perception ensue in both worlds. What is real? What is fake? And, what does Lydia want in her new world?

I struggled a bit with this one. In the end, it was a three star read for me, as I was overall engaged with the story and had to find out about Lydia. The dual storyline – in the real world and the dream world – did not quite click with me. I found myself a bit frustrated by Lydia in her dream world, and I am definitely not a fan of Freddie. Silver’s focus on grief and the healing process demonstrates how everyone copes with grief differently. I appreciated this part, and it was interesting to see how each of the characters coped well, or did not cope well, with the sudden change in their lives, both in the real world and in the dream world.

I look forward to Silver’s next book. ( )