The 31 Days of May

Deep and Heartfelt



In the wake of a devastating family loss, 24-year-old May finds herself adrift, her belief in love and happiness shattered.

Determined to shield herself from further heartache, she concocts a radical scheme to safeguard against future abandonment.

That is until May meets Mr. Parsley, a charming retiree who becomes May's unexpected neighbour. 

Will May stick to her meticulously crafted schedule, or will the warmth and kindness of the Parsley family lead her down an unforeseen, life-altering path?

 


Join May on her poignant journey of resilience, love, and the transformative power of human connection in the face of life's most profound challenges.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: 

.

.

This story contains themes of death and suicide.


 My 5 Star Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Though the topic is deep and thought-provoking, the author, Helen Aitchison, lightens the prose with anecdotes of May’s quirky personality as we walk through her daily life with her.

May is weighed down with her heavy thoughts, while her friends try valiantly to rally around her. I became instantly invested in May’s story and followed her highs and lows with equal amounts of empathy and compassion.

Character-rich and filled with empathic understanding of human nature.


Why I would recommend this book:

The author has meticulously detailed the signs and symptoms of mental ill health, and she has rigorously outlined healthy options for overcoming poor mental wellbeing, all within the characteristics of our quirky, lovable character, May.

What I didn’t love about this book:

The only thing I would change is to have a more distinct trigger warning for death and suicide as it felt quite abrupt to the flow of reading for me.

Favourite Quotes:

My favourite quote that lightens the prose and highlights May’s sense of humour: 

‘Crap, I look like my hair has lost a fight with a toffee apple.’


A relationship quote that defines love in its entirety:

That’s what love is about, she thought, never giving up.

 

The author outlines the premise of the book in this single quote, in my opinion:

‘…if I don’t deal with the things that cause me pain, they’ll just resurface.’

 

About the Author: Helen Aitchison


Where to find the book:

The 31 Days of May by Helen Aitchison 

Release date: 12th April 2024

Universal Links: www.books2read.com/t31dom

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210540110-the-31-days-of-may

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/31-Days-May-Helen-Aitchison-ebook/dp/B0CW19DR7H

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-31-days-of-may/id6480327884

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-31-days-of-may/helen-aitchison/9781915307071


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My writing news:

My second short story submission was published on Fred’s Blog for consideration in his nonfiction anthology.

Have a read and I’d love if you shared your feedback with me:

Drowned Rat to Triathlete




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Elora is a relationship writer with tips that empower you to build greater relationship success.

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