Another beautifully written book from this author, set against a New Hampshire seaside backdrop which she seems to love and indeed you want to be curled up on a veranda looking out to sea when reading this tale of a young woman torn between two brothers. Although not her best novel it certainly deserves a read and her characterisation and sense of mood are as strong as ever.

Synopsis

At the age of twenty-nine, Sydney has already been once divorced and once widowed. Trying to find her footing again, she has answered an advertisement to tutor the teenage daughter of a well-to-do couple as they spend a sultry summer in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage.

But when the Edwards’ two grown sons, Ben and Jeff, arrive at the beach house, Sydney finds herself caught up in a destructive web of old tensions and bitter divisions. As the brothers vie for her affections, the fragile existence Sydney has rebuilt is threatened.

With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into real emotion that has led her to be called ‘a supremely elegant anatomist of the human heart’ (The Times), Shreve weaves a story about risk, family, and the supreme courage that it takes to love.

Reviews

‘As usual, Shreve’s powerful storytelling pulls you in like a rip tide’ MARIE CLAIRE

Shreve’s novels, BODY SURFING examines not only the creation but the breakdown of numerous relationships in their different forms . . . This is undoubtedly one of Shreve’s finest works yet’ GLAMOUR

‘More heart-wrenching from the queen of the emotional rollercoaster’ DAILY MIRROR

About the Author

Anita Shreve is the author of fifteen best-selling novels which have spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller Lists. The Weight of Water was short listed for the Orange Prize and The Pilot’s Wife was selected by Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Book club’ series.  Shreve started her writing career as a journalist and her award-winning short stories and non-fiction have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Esquire.  Shreve is married to a man she met when she was 13.  She has two children and three stepchildren and lives in Massachusetts.   Anita Shreve was our Author of the Month in February 2012.   Author photo © Deborah Feingold More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation