Days of Wonder: From the Richard & Judy Book Club bestselling author of A Boy Made of Blocks

I wasn't too sure of this book at first, and whilst there was enough interest to keep me reading, the first half dragged a bit for me - but persevere, because it was probably just me, and the second half is so much better and I couldn't stop reading it then. It is written in alternating chapters by Tom and Hannah. Tom runs a local theatre, and Hannah is his daughter and has a life threatening heart disease. It is very clever and gives you both viewpoints all through the book, and a lot of the time Hannah seems like more the adult in the story, and Tom, whilst his heart is in the right place, is definitely more scatterbrained, although absolutely devoted to his daughter. We go through their lives from Hannah's diagnosis as a small child, and most of the book centres around her as a 15 year old and reaching a very critical time in her illness. There are so many great side characters, I absolutely loved 81 year old Margaret, who had such tall tales of the her time in showbusiness, even though no-one was entirely sure they were true... but the truth does come out eventually. There were humourous parts where Hannah was trying to set up her Dad on internet dating, and really sad parts with various illnesses, death and relationships issues. But the main story is firmly set around the theatre and the 'family' of regular actors. And when the council wants to close them down Hannah decides to rally the troops, even though she's really ill at the time, to try and stop them, all to help her Dad and without him knowing. Of course Hannah's illness also runs throughout the story and you are always hoping for the very best outcome for her. A really lovely, happy, sad, life affirming book that I definitely shed a few tears to, and in more than one place. I love that it didn't leave us wondering what happened to everyone either as there was an epilogue set in the future. One of those books that will linger for a long time and make you appreciate the life you have.