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Early on we meet Lucy, twenty-four, who needs a heart transplant. She is a plucky girl trying to live a normal life greatly hampered by her sad ill health. For eighteen months she has been on the transplant list. Preparing to go on her first holiday ever with just her sister her family watch the television News and a report on a train crash which eventually turns into a motorway crash. Among the victims are three close women friends, all badly injured. We swing back four months and get to know these three, their reliance on each other and their reason for being in that crash. Interspersed with their lives is their post-accident hospital treatment where surely one will die for Lucy to get her heart. Which one is where the suspense is ratcheted up throughout the latter half of the book where huge revelations occur which threaten to destroy the women’s friendships. This is a tale exploring many strong issues; fertility, loyalty, betrayal, responsibility, young motherhood, divorce, independence, dementia and much more. Pretty powerful stuff and excellent for reading groups.
Three best friends. One tragic accident. One heart. Lucy Cunliffe is waiting for a heart. Just twenty-four, she's spent most of her life going in and out of hospital and after numerous operations, there's nothing more the doctors can do, other than wait for the right donor. The day she gets the call is a day of joy and sorrow. Because for Lucy to get a new heart, someone else doesn't need it any longer...Julia, Helen and Phoebe are bound by long-standing friendship and mutual support, but each faces her own demons and a tragic accident is about to impact on their lives in a way they couldn't have foreseen. As the bonds of friendship are tested, we know one thing: Lucy will get her heart. The question is, who will give the gift of life?
Closing date: 02/05/2019
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can click here to read the full reviews.
Elisabeth Thomas - 'I challenge anyone to read this book and not be moved by it. I know that this book will stay with me for a long time!'
Celia Cohen - 'A very readable book about the friendship between women.'
Helen Appleby - 'This was an enchanting novel and so hard to put down I read it in almost one sitting. It covers many emotions as it tells the story of three best friends, one tragic accident and one heart.'
Sarah Webb - 'One for your suitcase.'
'[A] touching sensitive story ... an extraordinary, moving tale'
The Bookseller
'Enchanting, moving and hard to put down'
Closer
'Life affirming'
Sunday Mirror
'A haunting and heartbreaking story that stayed with me long after I'd finished'
Fern Britton
'Unputdownable'
Katie Fforde
'An extraordinary debut novel'
Daily Express
ISBN: 9780008116521
Publication date: 11/08/2016
Publisher: Harper an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback
| ISBN: | 9780008116521 |
| Publication date: | 11th August 2016 |
| Author: | Amanda Brooke |
| Publisher: | Harper an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 432 pages |
| Genres: | Reader Reviewed Books, eBook Favourites, Reading Groups, Relationship Stories, |
| Categories: | Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), Classic fiction (pre c 1945), |
Amanda Brooke lives in Liverpool with her daughter, Jessica, two cats and a laptop within easy reach. Her debut novel, Yesterday’s Sun, was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. Author photo © Mark McNulty
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