The Day We Met by Rowan Coleman

Posted 10 April, 2015 in Reviews / 0 Comments

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.

The Day We Met by Rowan Coleman
Published by Ballantine Books on March 31st, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Family Life, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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The name of your first-born. The face of your lover. Your age. Your address…

What would happen if your memory of these began to fade?

Is it possible to rebuild your life? Raise a family? Fall in love again?

When Claire starts to write her Memory Book, she already knows that this scrapbook of mementoes will soon be all her daughters and husband have of her. In her mid-40s, Claire is scared and increasingly confused by the world around her, struggling to hold onto her identity as thoughts of her mother, her daughters, and her husband grow fuzzier every day. Fearing what will happen if those memories fade altogether, her family’s gift of a red sketchpad is her most treasured possession. As they fill it with scenes from a joyous life lived together, Claire again experiences the ecstatic highs and terrible lows of a life well lived: full of heartbreak and love, tears and laughter.

It’s been years since I’ve read one of Rowan Coleman’s novels, The Accidental Mother and The Accidental Family being two favorites, but The Day We Met has been on my wish list since its U.K. release last year (as The Memory Book).

When I have been anticipating a book so much, it usually has a detrimental effect on my overall enjoyment but I’ll tell you now, The Day We Met did not disappoint! I knew I would need tissues but was pleasantly surprised that not too many were required. I think the main reason for the lack of tissues was that I found Claire a difficult character to like, and I didn’t get emotionally attached to her and her story. Her story, of course, being that she was a 40-something wife (to Greg) and mother of two (Kaitlin, 20, and Esther, 3) diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s.

The Day We Met is told through a series of entries in to a memory book which is gifted to Claire to help her remember, and also to pass onto Esther and Kaitlin. Interspersed with the memory book entries from each of the family members are the current point of views of Claire and Kaitlin.

Claire is struggling with the effects of Alzheimer’s, occasionally drifting away in to memories from years ago. The first person she “forgets” is her husband Greg. She knows she is married to him and that he is the father of her child, however she doesn’t remember how to love him or why she loves him. Claire’s running into a handsome stranger who she yearns to be near sets up a very intriguing plot line.

Claire also shares some wonderful moments with her youngest daughter, Esther, the two go on a multitude of adventures together.

Then we have Kaitlin, raised by her mom, she had been led to believe that her father hadn’t wanted to be involved in her life. Facing the inevitable, Claire insists that Kaitlin needs her father. Kaitlin is also coming to terms with history repeating itself, will she be a single mother.

The Day We Met had quite a lot going for a novel of just over 300 pages, but each character was necessary and each of their stories was integral to how Claire’s story was wrapped up at the end. Coleman wrapped everything up nicely at the end with a little surprise. I won’t say what it is but it was definitely an “awwww” moment and also a “ah-ha” moment that found me rereading some sections to see how I felt knowing what I knew by the end!

I’m trying to get better at making notes and jotting down quotes as I read, and this was a line that stood out to me in The Day We Met:

Being a mother is about protecting your children from every conceivable thing that might cause them hurt, but it’s also about trusting them to live the best way for them, the best way they can; and trusting that even when you are not there to hold their hand, that they can succeed.

And this one too: