Always Smile: Lessons from the Inspiring Life of Carley Allison

Alice Kuipers book Always Smile won’t have you smiling the whole way through, as it’s the story of real-life blogger, Carley Allison’s battle and loss to cancer at seventeen years of age. But from Carley’s own words and those who knew her, many will find inspiration in her courage and perseverance.

The book is made up of short passages that tell the story of Carley’s diagnosis through treatment and her death a year later. It includes interviews of people close to Carley, Carley’s own blog (including photos), and even text messages.

I didn’t know Carley or her story before reading this book, but it gave me a really full understanding of how it might feel to not be able to do the things you love and to be so close to death. Although the style of the book was unique with so many different perspectives, I didn’t feel as engrossed in her battle as I thought I would. I might have been more drawn into her story if it had been simple narration without the interruption of the interviews. I think this book will appeal to anyone who is, or knows someone who is, battling cancer and of particular interest to older teenage girls.