I finished this book a few days ago and I still feel so on the fence about my rating. There were so many times where I wavered from really liking it to shaking my head at it. Let’s start with what I really liked about this book:
1. The premise. I love the idea of a young woman with terminal cancer wanting to experience a wedding day, with or without a groom! I think as an unwed (but not single) 30 year old I would also want that experience.
2. I appreciated Ava’s attitude about living your best life. No one, fictional or real, knows how many days left they have on the earth. So living authentically, following your heart, cherishing the moments and enjoying your passions are all great ways to live.
3. The supportive girl friends and family of Ava. They really put Ava’s wishes first, and did not dwell on their own hard feelings about her cancer, diagnosis, and ultimately the loss they would face.
4. Ava’s overall humbleness and grace.
What I didn’t like:
1. The entire romance. Way to insta-love for me. Ugh. Consider me a skeptic, but I don’t really believe in love at first sight. And just a lot of cheesy parts. And very predictable.
2. The cancer portrayal, in the way that it just didn’t leave me heartwrenching or make me feel much at all. And I’ve been the supportive family member at my mom’s bedside. So this just didn’t bring up any feelings or emotions for me as I read.
This book definitely has Me Before You vibes. I also felt similar A Walk to Remember vibes in the “don’t fall in love with me because I’m dying” aspect. Also, on a side note – I was trying to determine the setting of this book the entire time I was reading since that is an aspect I track. Thank goodness for the South Island, Aurora Australis clue near the end!

So a 3 star, middle of the road book is what Photos of You gets from me.