The Last Wish List - Jacqueline Silvester

Life hasn't been the same for Nadia since her best friend, Lizzy, died and she can't even bring herself to tick off much of the wish list Lizzy left for her.  Nobody in her family seems to understand except her Auntie Larrisa. So when Nadia is suspended from school for fighting, Larrisa decides it's time to take action and books Nadia a flight to New York so she can tick off one item on the list (get her pyjamas signed by a godlike pop star).  But things don't quite go as planned, and what should have been a short weekend trip to New York becomes a much longer trip across America.  But maybe this is just what Nadia needs to help her find closure and learn to move on.

The Last Wish List really is just the most heart-warming book that will make you laugh and cry (oh how I cried! All I can say is thank goodness for sun glasses!).  It was a truly gorgeous read and one that will stay with me.

Nadia is having the most awful time: losing your best friend at any age is awful, but as a teenager is just heart-breaking; then factor in that your Russian parents think that the best way to help you is to ignore how you're feeling and carry on as normal... I honestly don't know how she kept going.  Her emotions are bundled up inside her so it's no wonder she gets into trouble at school - something always has to give.  This is what leads to her Auntie Larrisa finally listening to her and bundling her on a plane to New York so she can meet her pop idol and get her pyjamas signed.  But of course, that goes wrong. 

Although she doesn't think it, Nadia is brave. It takes guts to step out of your comfort zone and it takes guts to abandon your plans to travel across America ... guts or a loss of hope.  The trip is unlike anything she's ever done and you know that the consequences when she gets home will be severe (hence her ignoring the millions of messages on her phone).  But this is exactly what she needs to help her heal.  What ensues is a wonderful story of losing yourself in order to find yourself again and I adored everything minute of it.

The Last Wish List is a book a bout grief and learning to accept and live with grief; it's about being brave and taking a leap of faith when you least feel you can; it's about embracing emotions (all of them) and it's about opening up your heart.  Beautifully written, the book sensitively looks at grief as well as mental health issues and family relationships.  It's a wonderful read that will leave you sobbing and uplifted and I adored every page - it's undoubtedly going to be one of my favourite reads of the summer.