Before Everything by Victoria Redel

Before Everything by Victoria Redel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Anna, Molly, Ming, Caroline, Helen: the Old Friends.

Since adopting their official name aged eleven, they have seen each other through careers, children, illnesses, marriage, divorce, addiction, fame, fall outs.

But now, Anna - fiercely loved mother and friend, and the Old Friends' glue - is diagnosed with cancer again, and this time, tired of recoveries and relapses, pitying looks and exhausting regimes, she simply says: no more.

As her health declines, the politics of the still lived-in world merge with memories of the past while each Old Friend tries to accept the truth of what is happening: they are losing someone they cannot imagine life without.

Before Everything is a celebration of friendship and love between a group of wonderful women.

End of sixth grade they made it their official name. It was a joke one afternoon but they liked the way it sounded. Permanent. The Old Friends. This way, the five girls agree, it's just a fact. And ours forever.

Sorry not my type of read at all. Very maudlin tale about five firm friends since school who gather together to say their final goodbyes to their friend Anna who having to face recurring cancer has decided she will not seek further treatment and enters a hospice. It was told from each of the five friends' perspective going back and forth to reveal their enduring friendship. It was executed well but I like to have a book that gives me a little entertainment and this was not it. The subject matter was just too heavy for me. Because I wouldn't have chosen it to read and it was sent for an honest review I must say it was well written and sympathetically done and for that I would give it 3 stars but not one for me .

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.