Kim and Harry have known each other for years but don’t get along at all. He’s a charming financial analyst who’s always hanging out with her hippie sister, Eva. But he can’t help but rub Kim – a research assistant at a charity - the wrong way. Fate tosses a few grenades into their lives and Kim is forced to put aside her antagonism for the sake of her family.
With a quick wink at Jane Austen’s pride and prejudice theme, the book covers nearly a decade, the story cleverly sandwiched between scenes in a hospital waiting room. It’s an emotional read that will keep you on your toes.
Tess and George are soul mates, according to her best friend Kirsty. There's just one problem, whilst there's been plenty of near-misses, they've never actually met, and before they find each other, they find other people. But fate gives them one last shot when they meet up several years later at Kirsty's 30th party. Now though they're no longer footloose, free and single. Is theirs a love that was never meant to be or one that was always destined?
Marianne Kavanagh has come up with a great new twist on the classic boy-meets-girl story - boy and girl keep missing each other - and it makes for a very exciting and interesting read. The idea of Tess and George being in the same place at the same time but not meeting or supposed to be at the same place at the same time but not being there for whatever reason is hugely gripping and there's a real sense of the very narrow margins between them finding each other and not that makes everything so captivating. Because so much import is placed on that first meeting however it does feel somewhat anticlimactic but nevertheless this is really only a turning point to the next journey in the novel. For even when they do meet, nothing's black or white and there's still plenty for them to overcome which ensures the second half of the novel is as gripping as the first. For such an epic love story at times I wished for more romance and George's circumstances somewhat take the shine off the finale. However, it's a compelling read that had me racing through it. Already looking forward to whatever else Marianne Kavanagh may have in store. (JC)
