Jill Mansell novel launches B24/7 book club

Today sees the release of Bristol-based Jill Mansell’s latest novel Three Amazing Things About You and the Bristol24/7 Book Club. 

Hallie has a secret. She’s in love. He’s perfect for her in every way, but he’s seriously out of bounds. And her friends aren’t going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie doesn’t have long to live. Time is running out…

Flo has a dilemma. She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won’t be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming friends – let alone anything more.

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Tasha has a problem. It’s not being nicknamed ‘Bin Girl’ because of an embarrassing incident with a credit card. It’s that her new boyfriend is the adventurous type. And she’s afraid one of his adventures will go badly wrong.

Three Amazing Things About You begins as Hallie goes on a journey. A donor has been found and she’s about to be given new lungs. But whose?

With the theme of relationships and living life to its fullest running through Mansell’s story about the three characters Hallie, Tessa and Flo, this month’s book club invites discussion on the role that we play in defining our own destinies.

Hallie has cystic fibrosis and is waiting for a lung transplant and yet even as she knows that each month or year could be her last because of her condition, she still doesn’t take control of her own life and desires. Her actions are primarily determined by others around her. 

Because of her condition, she is watched over by her mother who in one instance drags her home from a wonderful evening ahead. Even at 28 she is not allowed to choose her lifestyle on her own. She doesn’t share her feelings about the person she is in love with and even her social life is determined by people coming to her door and inviting her on their holidays.

You don’t have to be facing a chronic condition to find yourself not living the life you would choose. Our first discussion is about how our lifestyle is determined.

I’ll start off with three things that affect my actions, for good or bad:

1. Worry about hurting people’s feelings
2. Fear of rejection
3. Habit

What are some of your reasons? Let’s discuss what stops us from living our lives the way we want to, and of course, Three Amazing Things About You.

Three Amazing Things About You is released today. The book is available to borrow from any library in the Libraries West network, for purchase from the publisher or major book shops.