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The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes

by Anna McPartlin
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  • First Published:
  • Aug 4, 2015, 368 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Aug 2016, 384 pages
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There are currently 18 reader reviews for The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
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Kathleen W. (Appleton, WI)

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
I LOVED this book! It made me laugh and cry and everything in between, and I hated to see it end. Despite knowing the inevitable outcome, I wanted to know everything there was to know about Rabbit Hayes and her family and friends. The universal themes of death and dying and coming to grips with saying good bye to a loved one were grounded in the specific details of a specific person in modern day Ireland. I highly recommend this book.
Diane D. (Blairstown, NJ)

A Feel-Good Story...
...even though it was built upon the ending of Rabbit's life. It was heart-warming, in the way all of her family & friends came together for her and her daughter, Juliet.

I loved getting the background of all the characters (which is something you often don't get to know) and how they interact with each other. Even though the book seems to be an ending, I think it would be nice to know what happens to the other characters after Rabbit is gone...especially Juliet & Davey.

This book would probably be a good one for a book club discussion, and I would love my club to read it.
Pam L. (Melbourne Beach, FL)

The Best Things in Life
I put The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes down after reading the first two pages. Rabbit is on her way to a hospice to die. Fortunately for me I picked it back up and read further. What an absolute gift! It made me smile, cry, laugh out loud and long for a family like Rabbit's. Every character is selfless in their love for Rabbit and so very endearing. This novel is rich in life, love, hope and laughter. I did not want to let this family go, so I slowed my reading pace and kept putting The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes down. Thank you Anna McPartlin. This novel is an absolute must read.
Donna M. (Ashland, OR)

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a hearbreaking story told with wit and empathy. The characters are engaging and each one brings something to cherish as they say goodbye to Rabbit. There are no unspeakable people, just a circle of family and friends on an unchartered journey. There are lessons to be learned from this family's grace and humor. The book resonated with me as I lost a sister to cancer. It rang true for the upheaval in emotions and the need for family to circle their wagons.
Barbara B. (Holbrook, NY)

last days of rabbit hayes
as soon as I read the first page, I debated with myself for awhile whether to continue or not. I didn't know how I would fare with this type of book. but I made a commitment to read and review this novel, and I am so glad that I did. beautiful, heart-wrenching, funny, sentimental are only some of the words that I can use to describe this wonderful wonderful book. using such an ugly subject matter and making it into this, is short of miraculous. I laughed, cried, thought of my mom and sister and still came out the other end loving this book.
Power Reviewer
Diane S.

Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
The subject of this novel is without doubt a sad one. But, it is much, much more. Not many novels can have you crying on one page and laughing on the next. Also the characters in this novel are wonderful, funny, flawed, trying to figure out who will take Rabbit's twelve yr, old daughter Juliet.

When Rabbit gives in to her strong pain killers and falls asleep, she dreams of her past. Her brother David, the boy she has loved since she was twelve, Johnny and the band. So it is also a beautiful love story and believe me it is not a mushy love story.

So yes it is sad but amazing nonetheless. It is all the things a life is, lived well, surrounded by so much love. I could have kept reading, loved her dreams and already miss all the characters. Read it and see.
Martha D. (Hillsboro, OR)

Kleenex should come with this book.
Knowing the fate of our main character before beginning helped to let me dive right into the emotions of this book. I'm not always a big fan of books where to outcome is a foregone conclusion but it worked for me here. I think Americans have a much harder time talking about the realities of dying (though I think we're getting better) as people from other cultures. But don't think this is just one big cry-fest, there are laughs and genuine moments of heartwarming truths. Don't let the subject matter turn you away from this story you'll be very glad you spent Rabbit Hayes' last days with her and her family.
Ariel F. (Madison, WI)

Facing Death on Your Own Terms!
This book was written by a British author and some if the words were initially hard for me to understand.

A moving story of Rabbit and how she faces her own death. At times you laugh with her and her family. Other times you cry with them. I felt deep sympathy for her daughter.
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