In the quietly stirring novel "One Hundred and Fifty-Two Days," Giles Paley-Phillips encapsulates the poignant journey of a young boy suspended in the liminal space between grief and hope. As he navigates the isolation of recovery from pneumonia, barred from visiting his terminally ill mother, his world shrinks to the confines of his immediate surroundings. Yet, within this constraint, a rich tapestry of characters weaves into his life: his father, seeking solace at the bottom of a glass; Nana Q, with her gambling habit; and Freya, the physiotherapist, who becomes a beacon of light in his dimming world. Through these interactions, the novel delicately explores themes of loss, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. Paley-Phillips masterfully crafts a narrative that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, steering the reader through the emotional odyssey of its protagonist. As the days unfold, each one inching closer to the inevitable reunion with his mother, the boy's journey becomes a testament to the power of healing and the strength found in vulnerability. "One Hundred and Fifty-Two Days" is not just a story about confronting grief; it is a celebration of the small moments that compose our lives and the connections that help us to move beyond our pain, towards a horizon filled with possibility, hope, and love.