I always love when I pick up a book randomly from my library apps, and it ends up being absolutely stellar. Bluebird Day was on of those picks! It was a bit serendipitous if I’m being honest, because Wylie’s story was the perfect one to take me out of the reading slump that I was in. We meet her at the peak of her mental stress. Filled with anxiety, and unsure what her next move should be, Wylie spoke to me so much. All I kept hoping was that she’d find her way out the other end, and I was willing to follow her through the madness.

First of all, can I please applaud the setting for this book? Being stuck in a small Swiss village at the base of the Matterhorn sounds like the most idyllic accident ever. For Wylie and her mom though, it’s too much closeness to bear. See, the two of them haven’t been on speaking terms for a few years. Both wanting to reach out, both wishing to bridge that gap, but neither wanting to really make the first move. What ensues is a sweet story of two people who love each other very much, attempting the awkward job of rebuilding a relationship.

That’s what I loved so much about this book honestly. It was so realistic, especially Wylie’s anxieties over feeling like she fit in her own life. There was a great conversation about the expectations that others set for us, and the immense pressure that comes form trying to fit into those boxes. I especially appreciated seeing things from Claudine’s point of view as well. This wasn’t just all about Wylie resenting her mother’s expectations, but equally about how Claudine was raised the same way. It showcased how hard it is to unlearn habits to build healthier ones, and bonus points for all the therapy talk too!

Add in a super sweet mini romance, the rediscovery of long lost friends and the making of even more new friends, and this book just stole my heart. I had a lot of fun following along as this mother/daughter duo relearned how to coexist. There were a few parts I thought ran a little long, and I’ll admit that more than once I got a little annoyed at Wylie. But you know… sometimes we are annoyed when we see things that we ourselves have battled and won. So I brushed that aside. All in all this was an excellent read. Would recommend.