Synopsis via Amazon:
A story about love, loss and finding hope – against all odds.
Rob Coates can’t believe his luck. There is Anna, his incredible wife, and most precious of all, Jack, their son, who makes every day an extraordinary adventure. Rob feels like he’s won the lottery of life. Or rather – he did. Until the day it all changes when Anna becomes convinced there is something wrong with Jack.
Now Rob sleepwalks through his days, unable to bridge the gulf that separates him from his wife, his son and the business of living. But he’s determined to come to terms with what’s happened-and find a way back to life, and forgiveness.
My reading experience:
Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for my free ARC.
Melancholy. As a reader, I felt this overwhelming sense of loss, regret and sadness. Rob narrates the story and begins by showing the reader all of his best memories of his son Jack with only a hint of Jack’s mother Anna and that Jack is no longer in his life. The way it is written in easy prose makes it effortless for the reader to cut to the reason why Rob feels so sad at speed.
The description of how London looks to a small child is particularly endearing and the reader is reminded of different perspectives and the wonder of a small child’s imagination.
The story moves from memories to the event. From here the book moves into a new section. In this way the reader can map out the sections of the story. Despair. Denial. Acceptance. This is an emotional story, quite hard to digest in places- so full of grief and hopelessness. In parts it is also hopeful. Reader beware.
Themes: child illness, parenting styles, stages of grief
Appletree Books 