Giselle Green: Pandora's Box

This is a brand-new book that was just published in May. I read about it in our local paper, as the author is from Kent, and so I bought the book. I am a fan of Jodi Picoult's books and "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" and as the book was said to be like those, I thought I would like it - and I did indeed...Although the story is sad, it is also a story of hope and love, and you can empathise with Shelley for wanting to have a choice about her death rather than death coming upon her unannounced after a long illness. Also, there are some twists in the story which ensure that the reader's perception and expectations are not met. A fantastic read, apart from the fact that some of the characters are too exaggerated to be realistic, which is a shame...

Rachel Wetherby's life has been on hold since the diagnosis of her daughter Shelley with a debilitating and fatal illness. So when Pandora, Rachel's mother, offloads a box of her old possessions, including a diary, Rachel feels compelled to escape into a past, which - on the surface - was carefree. But opening up the box unearths memories best left uncovered.Shelley, meanwhile, is juggling a secret romance with planning her own death. Convincing Rachel that she'd like to spend her 15th birthday in Cornwall where she spend so many idyllic childhood summers, she devises a dignified exit.But nothing is as it seems and heartache and surprises lie in store for both mother and daughter...