Title

The title struck me as emotional and it made me think of parents trying to assure themselves that no harm will come to their child who has now left the safe haven of home. Honestly, I love the title, I can feel the emotions raging and I can already sense the themes of sadness and the grief of parting with your most beloved child. Though the title is a little long, the weight of the words counterbalance the length of the title and thus I highly commend you for coming up with such a brilliant title. I cannot wait to read this book and due to the title, I have high expectations.

Cover

So when you originally completed this book, the cover was different. It was much darker and the themes were much more gloomy compared to this new cover that you have just now. I'm going to say, I find the new cover to be very pretty, I like the pink colours and those border designs that you added on the four corners of the cover are brilliant. It's one adorable cover.

But as for the earlier cover, I fell in love with the dark themes as I found the darkness of the background rather emotional and it made for brilliant foreshadowing.

Covers can make or break a narrative as the cover sets the tone of the story and it gives the reader the slightest glimpse as to what they can expect from the story. Will it be dark and sadistic? Happy and cheerful? Funny and exhilarating? Or sad and miserable? For these reasons, it is very important to consider the covers that you use.

The thing with the two covers you have used with the book is that the new one depicts a more lighthearted and even humorous book thanks to the vibrancy of the pink. This in turns makes me think of fluffy romance and maybe even LGBTQ+ themes. However, as one continues to read the book, the themes begin to reflect the cover less and less. It becomes rather clear that this is neither fluffy romance nor anything LGBTQ related, rather, this is a book about inspiration and acceptance of the fact that everyone achieves success at their own pace.

The previous cover however foreshadowed the final confrontation between Uche and her parents, and it also better reflects the sombre nature of the setting: with the darkness of the background being the thoughts of Uche - clouded and dark, indecisive and worried. The rain is pressure; the pressure of both society and her parents are like the pouring rains. They cascade upon her and she is nothing more than an empty cup left outside to soak it all in.

Now with these two covers addressed along with their merits, I have to say, I doubt both of them truly capture the overall theme of the story - inspiration. Inspiration to rise above the world and its expectations, to rise above stress and pressure and becoming your own person.

Combined, the two covers are brilliant representations of this theme; with pink being light and inspiration whilst black represents depression and pressure. Left separate however, they both seem slightly incomplete and kind of patchy. If you can find a way to combine the of the elements of the two covers, I believe that you will end up with a cover that brilliantly reflects the story you have crafted.

But as for the current cover, I have a few suggestions as to how you may improve it. Firstly, I suggest you enlarge the author's name that you have at the bottom of the cover as it is rather hard to spot. In addition, the font you used for the title is a little too bright, thus I suggest that you darken it a bit.

Overall, your current cover is pretty. I like the pink colour, but I still do recommend the suggestions above.

Blurb

The blurb is short and I absolutely love it. This is a short story after all, hence there is no need for a lengthier blurb. You accurately described her situation in a way that neither spoils the story, nor is too vague for the reader to be unable formulate any ideas. At the same time, your blurb is catchy and hooks the reader's interest almost immediately. Before you applied for a review at TTT, I had found this book (still incomplete at the time), and I was astounded by the concise and informative blurb. It is very likely that this has to amongst the best blurbs I have ever read. Highest commendations.

The Chapters

This book is a short story and its length is appropriate for that of a short story. Generally, the length of the paragraphs are good, neither too short nor too long. Each chapter is rather captivating and I found myself rather entranced as a reader.

The first chapter introduced us to Uche, the main character who receives pressure from both her parents and from her society to become successful. Yet though she graduated with flying colours, Uche is still to find a real job at the age of 25, much less a boyfriend. The first chapter does a great job of introducing us to Uche and to her problem. It is concise and it doesn't get overly fancy, which makes the chapter work. It is commendable for a first chapter and it sets the stage for the next three chapters to come.

In the second chapter, you did a good job of introducing us to her parents. I like their interactions and I really do like the conversation that occurred between them afterwards. You did an admirable job with explaining the pressure of her parents and just how they affect Uche.

The third chapter depicts Uche coming back to her own home after spending a week at her parent's house. Here she wonders just why exactly she hasn't been successful in getting a job to the point where she scrutinises her looks. Though the third chapter did a great job of depicting her thoughts and her mentality, it unfortunately felt like a filler chapter as nothing of importance really happens within it.

Ending

The last and final chapter - the epilogue - was brilliantly executed and the ending lines said between Uche and her parents - the emotions, the fears, the concerns - were all very well pieced together. It is my belief that the first three chapters were meant to coalesce into this final chapter; the true epilogue, the moment of realisation. The ending is simpy amazing and I cannot possibly find enough words and praises for it. Easily amongst the best of epilogues I have read so far. Brilliant work!

Grammar

You have great grammar. Most of your spellings are on point, save for a few minor typos. You also have a good vocabulary and used a varied selection of words which kept things interesting. In addition, your explanations and descriptions were concise, yet lucid enough for the reader to understand.

However, I will have to note that there were several times that you either missed a period or put the period in the wrong place. I suggest that you look back over your work and then correct any typos and period blunders.

If you would rather, TTT offers editing, and would be happy to help you ensure your work reaches its full potential.

Dialogue

Unfortunately, the story lacked a bit when it came to dialogue as there was almost none at all save for that found in the second and fourth chapters. Most of the time you relied on descriptions and exposition.

Dialogue is essential for any story, as it allows the reader to glimpse the hidden depths of a character's mind. Though many underestimate the value of dialogue, it is critical to unveiling the deeper contexts and the themes brought by the different characters in the story. At the same time, a writer may sprinkle light amounts of exposition into the dialogue, thus hitting two birds with one stone. By that, I mean you are unveiling deeper details whilst at the same time providing enjoyable dialogue for your audience to read.

These are all just suggestions that you can either take or leave. In the end, your work is your own and no one has the authority to force you to change it at all.

Characters

The strength of the main character is plain to see and simply spellbinding. Unlike the media's verion of strong, independent women, Uche is neither an action girl nor a sarcastic one. Rather, she has strong opinions and she is willing to stand her ground. She speaks respectfully to her parents which reflects her dignity and honour. She loves her parents, and despite their failings, she isn't about to yell or scream at them for all of the mistakes they've made.

She opts to be a respectful daughter without compromising herself. She retains her cool and though she may grit her teeth, she shows that she is exceptionally mature. Uche's portrayal was realistic rather than cliched and her personality was very well-defined. She is a strong woman, emotionally and mentally. She has the dignity and courage to speak her thoughts, and she also knows when to keep silent.

These are positive traits that should serve as role models to people in real life. Learning when to speak and when to keep silent is a valuable asset. You have created a realistic and brilliant main character. I have no more to say on this, for I am dumbfounded by this brilliant craft.

As for the parents, once again they were depicted realistically and instead of being cookie-cutter parents, they were human with both strengths and flaws. They weren't extremes either, it is quite clear that they care for their daughter and they exemplify their love for her in varying degrees. Though they have unreasonable expectations, they only did what was best for their daughter and they cared only for her wellbeing and nothing else. I am glad that you depicted them this way. They're so realistic, I am beginning to wonder if this story is based on real life.

Overview

Overall, you did a brilliant job with this story. Though short, you created a brilliant work with high quality  characterisation and realism. The descriptions are on point and the vocabulary utilised was varied.

I absolutely adore Uche. You have created a very beautiful character and I only hope that in the future, you may write another impressive book with characters just as lucid and vibrant as her. You could do with a bit of editing, and perhaps you may change the title to something like 'Let Me Live' as the original title isn't very suited.

All in all, highest commendations. I wish you all the best and may you write more books in the near future for us to enjoy and perhaps review again. Best of luck!

Review By: Lyssa