The Life We Dream Of

By: Jennifer Leigh Pezzano

Narrated by: Anna J Walner

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Diagnosed with an incurable cancer, Julia is forced to come to terms with a life largely unlived. Haunted by past trauma and regrets she cannot amend, she has built a wall around herself, insulating her from the world.

But when a chance meeting breaks down her barriers, Julia begins the process of letting life back in, taking her on a journey toward love, self-discovery, and a daughter she never knew. Will she be able to fully make peace with her tangled past and confront all the pain buried beneath the rubble?

The Life We Dream Of is a love story about second chances, overcoming fear, and the boldness one must summon to find healing within.

©2022 Jennifer Leigh Pezzano (P)2023 Jennifer Leigh Pezzano

Such an engaging story that illustrates life

This book held my interest from start to finish. Julia's journey is one we can empathize with, whether we are terminally ill or not. Her feelings, thoughts, and dilemma are common to us all, and Jennifer very poetically articulates the arc this character experienced. From coming to terms about how she led her life to going full circle, to making amends with her past and accepting her future, Julia's character is believable and identifiable. In the beginning, she may seem like an unreliable narrator, but once the reader realizes she was just hiding, the compassion for Julia comes through.

This is a hard subject to tackle. I've experienced a similar health issue though luckily not fatal. But I can corroborate all the emotions one feels going through such an arduous time. You shove your feelings into the ground, and the next day you feel you can conquer the world. And then you have this nagging doubt that you could have done something to prevent your situation. And the worst: Believing it's all just a dream and that you'll be fine. But without people, we can't come to terms with this grieving. Julia expresses all this.

I'm sorry another reader rated this book low because the subject hit home for her. For me, that's a reason to rate it a 5. Jennifer did an excellent job of writing about a difficult topic, based completely on a made-up character. And yet, it's so believable because she adeptly went into all the possible scenarios, in such a gripping tale. The story flows well, and the character development is second to none. Please read this book! You won't regret it.

Raw, Relatable & Beautiful in Audio Format

This story is absolutely breathtaking to listen to. I loved it in book form, and I just had to listen to the audiobook to relive the story. The smooth narration of the book only intensifies the beauty and craft in the writing; it's nearly lyrical. ...And the story?? Whew. Raw, relatable, touching and powerful in a way that can barely be described in words. This is a sad story, yes, but, moreso, a story of intense transition, healing, personal power and love---love that transcends everything. The emotions are tangible. This story broke my heart and put it back together again. I highly, highly recommend this absolute work of art.

Too sad

After reading all the great reviews, I decided to order the audible. I lost my husband to cancer. Listening to this book was far too painful for me. It might work for others, but it only caused me more grief and heartache. I literally sobbed.