Below the Big Blue Sky: A heartbreaking, heartwarming, laugh-out-loud novel for fans of Jojo Moyes

(Hardback)

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Description

From the bestselling author of The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes comes a huge-hearted novel about death, family and finding laughter in the most bloody mental places.

When forty-year-old Rabbit Hayes dies, she leaves behind a family broken by grief. Her mother Molly is distraught and in danger of losing her faith. Her father Jack spends hour upon hour in the family attic, poring over his old diaries, losing himself in the past.

Rabbit's brother Davey finds himself suddenly guardian to her twelve-year-old daughter Juliet. Juliet might be able to fill a hole in Davey's heart - but how can he help Juliet through her grief when he can barely cope with his own

Meanwhile, Rabbit's sister Grace is struggling with the knowledge that she carries the same gene that made her sister ill, and Rabbit's best friend Marjorie is lost, struggling to remain a part of a family she has always wished was her own now that her link to them is gone.

But even though the Hayes family are all fighting their own battles, they are drawn together by their love for Rabbit, and their love for each other. In the years that follow her death they find new ways to celebrate and remember her, to find humour and hope in the face of tragedy, and to live life to its fullest, as Rabbit would have wanted.

Below a Big Blue Sky will make you laugh, cry and shout with joy for the colourful, unruly Hayes family as they battle with the loss of their beloved Rabbit, the daughter, mother, sister and friend, who in her own crazy way taught each of them how to live, and goes on showing them how to love from beyond the grave.

Reviews

Well, that was a tearjerker! Anna McPartlin's Below the Big Blue Sky is a MORE than worthy follow-up to The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes * Marian Keyes *
I hadn't thought it possible to laugh and cry during one book as much as I had while reading The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes. But I turned the last page of Below The Big Blue Sky broken and elated all at once. Anna McPartlin's novel is brilliant, funny and immensely moving * Catherine Isaac, author of You, Me, Everything *
I loved Rabbit Hayes but Below the Big Blue Sky is even more beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, warm and wonderful. Anna, you NAILED it * Sinad Moriarty *
It's such a gorgeous examination of grief while also being honest, hilarious and totally relatable. I LOVED this book! * Fionnuala Kearney *
I read Below the Big Blue Sky in two days. My heart is full. I have laughed and cried and held my breath. This is a very worthy sequel to The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes, and the wonderful Anna Mcpartlin has proven once again what an incredible writer she is . . . An incredible story of grief, resilience and strength of character shot through with humour. Just brilliant * Claire Allan *
I'm in bits. In BITS. It's been a long time since I've read something that spoke to my soul like this - such a achingly beautiful description of what it is to love and grieve - and in time to learn to laugh at that grief and move on too. When I wasn't reaching for the Kleenex to wipe away a little tear, I was guffawing with laughter - Anna has the gift of being able to make you laugh and sob, and all on a single page. The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes was one of the most amazing books I have ever had the privilege of reading and now this is a worthy successor. Wow. Just wow. I know this will be one of the books of the year for me * Claudia Carroll *
Will leave you laughing, crying and shouting with joy. * Chat magazine *
I absolutely loved Below the Big Blue Sky. I started crying at page two and didn't stop until the end. Hilarious and relatable! * Lucy Porter *
A joyous read * Prima *
An inspiring read of a family torn apart learning to pull together. * Candis *
With salty, laugh-out-loud dialogue, colourful characters and a strong message about the enduring power of love, this beautifully evoked tale is a real spirit-lifter. * Sunday Mirror *
A moving, funny and ultimately uplifting read from a wonderful writer. * My Weekly *
An intensely moving story that doesn't shirk life-and-death issues, but deals with a sensitive subject with humour, pathos and panache. * National Federation of Occupational Pensioners Magazine *
Brace yourself for the onslaught of emotion it will spark in you * Irish Daily Mail *

Author Bio

Anna McPartlin is a novelist and scriptwriter from Dublin, who has written for TV serial dramas featured on BBC UK, RTE Ireland and A&E America. She has been writing adult fiction for over ten years, and also writes for children under the name Bannie McPartlin. She lives with her husband Donal and their four dogs.