Instructions for a Secondhand Heart
By Tamsyn Murray
Jonny knows better than anyone that life is full of cruel ironies. He’s spent every day in a hospital hooked up to machines to keep his heart ticking. Then when an organ donor is found for Jonny’s heart, that turns out to be the cruelest irony of all. Because for Jonny’s life to finally start, someone else’s had to end.
That someone turns out to be Neve’s twin brother, Leo. When Leo was alive, all Neve wanted was for him (and all his glorious, overshadowing perfection) to leave. Now that Leo’s actually gone forever, Neve has no idea how to move forward. Then Jonny walks into her life looking for answers, her brother’s heart beating in his chest, and everything starts to change.
Together, Neve and Jonny will have to face the future, no matter how frightening it is, while learning to heal their hearts, no matter how much it hurts.
(Features select graphic novel illustrations from Jonny’s sketchbook.)
About the Author
Tamsyn Murray spent her childhood moving around a lot throughout England. At eighteen she left home to go to university in London and now lives in Hertfordshire. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found singing and dancing with her local amateur dramatics society. She has one daughter and one son and several pets.
in the blog
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Point of (Re)view
"Instructions for a Secondhand Heart is a poignant and beautifully written story about loss, grieve, healing, and falling in love. It's emotional and heart-breaking but at the same time sweet and full of hope."
—Milan
"You will laugh, cry, and appreciate just how important life is. In an instant life can change, without warning. Whether you like it or not."
—Patti, Lovely Loveday
"What I loved most about this book is that it shows you that it’s OK to not be OK. Everyone struggles to discover who they are and where to go from there."
—Ellie, Pages of Ellie