The Days I Loved You Most

On SALE NOW

A timeless tale of unwavering devotion, The Days I Loved You Most is a love story for the ages—an achingly beautiful novel that asks, What if you could choose how your own story ends?

Joseph and Evelyn’s New England beach homes have been side by side for generations. And in the summer of 1941, on the shores where they were raised, these two childhood friends fell in love. Now, more than sixty years later, with a lifetime between them, Joseph and Evelyn gather their three grown children to share the staggering news: she has received a tragic diagnosis, and he cannot live without her. So in one year’s time, they will end their love story on their own terms.

As the couple comes to grips with their fate, they retrace their past—the joys and regrets, the laughter and the sorrow—that brought them to this moment. They embark on a journey to create new memories to cherish, to live out their greatest dreams, and to comfort and connect with each of their children before they’re gone. But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of what they are about to do, and make peace with the legacy they will leave behind for their family.

An unforgettable and deeply romantic debut, The Days I Loved You Most is a moving tribute to the enduring power of love, a celebration of a lifetime spent together and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope and beauty to be found.

Order the Book

Signed and personalized copies are available for order from River Bend Bookshop here.

Praise, Reviews, and Accolades

A TODAY Show Pick
A Book of The Month July 2024 Add On Pick

“Perhaps the best love story of the year…easily one of the most life-affirming love stories you’ll ever read”
—Isaac Fitzgerald on The TODAY Show

“This bittersweet tale, both heartbreaking and heartfelt, will leave even the most stoic reader with tears in their eyes.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“Neff debuts with a moving story of love and mortality… Poignant revelations and dramatic turns ensue… Fans of The Notebook will gobble this up.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A candid romantic saga…With many recent novels focusing on the pandemic, Neff’s is a reminder of the historical events that stunned Americans and uprooted daily life prior to 2020. Recommended for women’s fiction discussion groups.”
—Library Journal

“Spanning decades and brimming with love, this book will move you and change you.”
—Reader’s Digest

“I’ve never read a story quite like this deeply moving, complex novel—the truths we owe ourselves and others; the difference between self and selfishness; the parts of love that make us want to leave…and the parts that make us desperate to stay.”
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist

“Spanning between the 1940s and early 2000s, The Days I Loved You Most is a heartwarming romance and intergenerational family saga. Fans of Nicholas Sparks’s The Notebook and Kristan Higgins’s Pack Up the Moon will devour this unforgettable story about loss, second chances and the lengths to which we are willing to go for love. Grab your tissues and call your book club because your next must-read has arrived!”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Sapphire

“Beautiful, tender, and filled with grace, The Days I Loved You Most is a testament to enduring love and its many wondrous ripple effects. With remarkable skill, Amy Neff weaves a tale filled with wisdom about aging, devotion, and the ways those we love the most mold us forever. A gorgeous and unforgettable debut.”
—Marjan Kamali, bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran

“An epic love story and a sweeping family saga, The Days I Loved You Most is beautifully constructed and so poignant. Perfect for lovers of Anne Tyler, Claire Lombardo and Emma Straub. The New England setting stole my heart.”
—Georgina Moore, international bestselling author of The Garnett Girls

“A heartbreaking debut that will make you feel deeply, Amy Neff’s The Days I Loved You Most captures the many ways family bonds are tested, unraveled, and, ultimately, tightened. Neff evokes a beautiful, vivid sense of place while crafting her characters with the utmost care.”
—Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

Bookseller Praise:

“Fans of The Notebook and Me Before You will want to race to pre-order their copy of The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff. A woman’s diagnosis causes her husband and her to make a pact to end their lives on the same day in one year. Readers are brought into this marriage and the lives of their children–of dreams unfulfilled and sacrifices made. Grab a box of tissues and your favorite comfort food, and then settle in for a beautiful ride that will leave your heart broken and filled at the same time.”
—Mary O’Malley, Skylark Bookshop

“Pick a day to fall in love with Joseph and Evelyn. Amy Neff paints a portrait of a lifelong marriage, its glorious heights, and the inevitable lows as the sun sets on the aging couple’s health. The Days I Loved You Most reminds readers of the reasons to fall in love, and the sacrifices that still make it all worthwhile. Gather your tissues and curl up with this unforgettable novel and its characters. Magnificent.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller

“An absolutely stunning tribute to the enduring power of love and life from the joyful bliss to all its messy complications. Both heart-wrenching and hopeful, this book will leave you breathless.”
—Maxwell Gregory, Madison Street Books

“Neff’s debut novel masterfully portrays how love has the ability to transcend time, effort, pain, ups and downs. It begins with Joseph and Evelyn sharing with their adult children the decision to end their lives…together…in one year’s time. What follows is a personal glimpse into their love story while time marches towards the fateful date. Have your tissues handy!”
—Lori Fazio, RJ Julia Booksellers

International Editions

Bloomsbury – UK

Publishing in:

Brazil – Record

Croatia – Znanje

Czech Republic – Dobrovsky

Denmark – Lindhardt & Ringhof

Finland – Tammi

France – Charleston/Leduc

Germany – Goldmann

Holland – HarperCollins

Hungary – General Press

Israel – Tchelet

Italy – Garzanti

Lithuania – Alma Littera

Macendonia – Sakam Knigi, Skopje

Poland – HarperCollins

Portugal – Porto Editora

Romania – Litera

Russia – Eksmo

Slovakia – Vydavatelstvo DOT

Spain – Urano

Sweden – Norstedts

UK – Bloomsbury

Discussion Guide

Download Discussion Guide

Here are some questions that you can use to guide your discussion of The Days I Loved You Most.
**May contain spoilers.**

The book opens with a controversial decision which is hard for all the characters to come to terms with. Were you able to understand why they would make this plan? Why or why not?
Jane, Thomas, and Violet all have different reactions to their parents’ decision. Who do you relate to most? Who do you relate to least? Do you think Joseph and Evelyn were right to tell their children about their plan?
Violets appear throughout the story as a symbol of Joseph and Evelyn’s love and devotion. In what ways was the symbol used? With those instances in mind, discuss the line, “The fragile flowers hid the strength of the roots beneath; they spread with the fervor of weeds, stifled anything in its path. They were beautiful, and yet, without malice or intention, they could strangle to survive.”
Often Joseph is afraid he loves Evelyn more than she loves him. However, Joseph is the one who ended up with the life he wanted. Do you think their love was balanced? Does love require sacrifice?
Discuss the role of Tommy, described as so full of life, and how he informs both Joseph and Evelyn’s individual identities, their relationship, and ideas around aging and death. What does it mean to live fully?
Evelyn struggles with her changing identity as she becomes a wife and mother, and clings to dreams of her past self while still enjoying the life she chose. In what ways do Aunt Maelynn, Evelyn’s mother, and Joseph’s parents color Evelyn’s own experience of motherhood and marriage?
Sam’s arrival in 1969 disrupts the family in ways that reverberate for years to come. Discuss Sam as a character and as a catalyst for both pain, shame, secrets and ultimately, healing.
Joseph and Evelyn’s lives were entwined from their childhood. What is the role of fate versus choice in the novel?
The setting is an important component of the story. What does it mean to belong to a place, and what are the benefits and limitations embedded in having such deep roots?
Discuss the significance of the title and the ways it comes into play throughout the novel and on the final page.

Media

A TODAY Show Pick

A Book of The Month July 2024 Add On Pick

Selected Interviews and Podcasts

Selected Writing and Articles

Selected Reviews

Booklist Online (Starred Review)
“This bittersweet tale, both heartbreaking and heartfelt, will leave even the most stoic reader with tears in their eyes.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY | Review
“Neff debuts with a moving story of love and mortality… Poignant revelations and dramatic turns ensue… Fans of The Notebook will gobble this up.”

Library Journal
“A candid romantic saga…With many recent novels focusing on the pandemic, Neff’s is a
reminder of the historical events that stunned Americans and uprooted daily life prior to 2020.
Recommended for women’s fiction discussion groups.”

Prima Magazine (UK)
“If you need a big ol’ love story in your life, make it this. Joseph and Evelyn are in their 70s, but
what they plan for the future rocks their grown-up children – and sparks a year spent exploring
and questioning their beliefs. Set in beautiful New England, I fell for this family.”

Woman and Home (UK)
“A heartbreaking and extraordinary debut, this story is a testament to the power of love.”

Candis (UK)
“With a wonderful backstory and beautifully drawn characters, readers will find themselves
immersed in an epic love story with an ending that will stay with them for a long time.”

Selected Roundups