Book Review | Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Rating

5 stars – heartbreaking, uplifting, outstanding – my novel of the year

Before I Die is about…

Sixteen year old Tessa, a girl fighting terminal cancer who writes a list of ten thing she wants to do before she dies. A list that includes sex, drugs, fame, love; things that will make Tessa feel alive, that challenge herself and the people around her.

This is more than just a book about a dying girl with a list; it’s about what it’s like to have your life cut short, the effects it has on you and the people around you. The way that the world around you changes, the change in the way you perceive things, the memories you conjure up and what becomes important to you in your final days.

Downham wrote this book for Young Adults, but don’t let that put you off, this is a beautifully written novel that tugs at your heartstrings and that makes you think about your life and the way you choose to live it. At times humourous, but mostly heart wrenching, this is a story of love and life and I defy anyone not to be touched by it. As Tessa becomes too weak to worry about her list she writes a letter to her dad giving instructions for her funeral, at this point the tears began to well up and I spent the last twenty minutes with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Before I Die is hands-down the best book I have read this year and I implore you to buy yourself a copy, and a box of tissues, and let me know what you think about this extraordinary, life affirming novel.

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