Review: I Am Your Friend by Billie Bacall

I Am Your Friend was kindly sent to me to review before Christmas and, after a super busy couple of months in my "other" job, I have finally had the chance to sit down and read it. And what a joyous little book it turned out to be!

This post features a PR sample and affiliate links.

Here's the blurb:

"I AM YOUR FRIEND is a collection of 100 original inspirational drawings.

Drawings to elevate your spirits and inspire you.

Are you feeling down and out?

Blue in your mood?

This book is now your new best friend.

Open the pages and let the images speak to you.

In the space of a breath it is possible to change the way you feel..."

Billie Bacall is an artist and designer who, within the space of a couple of years, lost her husband, underwent major surgery and went through chemotherapy. More pain than most of us would expect to experience in a lifetime. In her own words, she felt isolated and fearful, and so began to create little drawings to change her mindset and cheer herself up. And now, through her book, she is sharing this collection of words and images to inspire and lift the spirits of others. 

The book is simple: black and white doodles and scribbled thoughts, with bright splashes of yellow on almost every page. Simple, but so powerful. Knowing that Billie drew these during what must have been her darkest hours, imagining how overwhelming that must have been, yet knowing that these drawings helped her get through, is truly inspiring. One of the final drawings in the book features the words "let your spirit shine - and become the light for all those around you". With this book I think Billie has managed to do exactly that.

I Am Your Friend is available as a hardback (£15.99) containing all one hundred drawings, or a pocketbook (£6.99) containing thirty. 20% of the profits from the sales of the book will be donated to Future Dreams, a charity that provides support, awareness and research funding for breast cancer. The book would make a wonderful gift for anyone in need of a boost, a hug, or just a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day!

Quite Frankly She Said is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk