If you read one book this year, make it this hilarious and emotional novel about love, loss and second chances. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Note and Jojo Moyes will be utterly charmed by this unique love story.
One day in London…
Daisy is rushing to work when a stranger on a bicycle almost knocks her over – and then asks for her number.
Dylan, a teenage boy, lives with an illness which means he can’t leave his bedroom – but which hasn’t stopped him from falling hopelessly in love.
JoJo, a wife in her sixties, is trying desperately to win her beloved husband back from his mistress.
Adam has recently lost his job and lies to his housemate about where he goes every day.
These four total strangers – whose paths cross in the charming city of London – have one thing in common. They are all lonely souls looking for love. But what are the chances of them actually finding it?
An absolutely unputdownable, uplifting and unforgettable book-club read for anyone who has ever made a mistake, been broken-hearted, or waited by their phone for it to ring.
One day in London…
Daisy is rushing to work when a stranger on a bicycle almost knocks her over – and then asks for her number.
Dylan, a teenage boy, lives with an illness which means he can’t leave his bedroom – but which hasn’t stopped him from falling hopelessly in love.
JoJo, a wife in her sixties, is trying desperately to win her beloved husband back from his mistress.
Adam has recently lost his job and lies to his housemate about where he goes every day.
These four total strangers – whose paths cross in the charming city of London – have one thing in common. They are all lonely souls looking for love. But what are the chances of them actually finding it?
An absolutely unputdownable, uplifting and unforgettable book-club read for anyone who has ever made a mistake, been broken-hearted, or waited by their phone for it to ring.
My review
When I set out to read this book I initially thought I was going to get your average chocolate box rom-com of boy meets girl that includes the happy ever after. This book is so far removed from that stereotypical set up and resembles a candid view of life and love in a realistic montage. For me it had a feeling of movies like Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve where seperate characters are introduced and their lives and journeys delicately interwoven in a clever and unexpected way.
I won't go into detail regarding the plot as I don't want to give away any hints or spoilers as I feel the blurb contains everything that you need to know to begin your journey into this wild and wonderful web of life and love in London city. Each character plays a part that has been carefully crafted to be thought provoking and at times poignant. Their stories are real and frankly observed which create moments that are hard to digest showcasing the brutal honesty of the writing style perfectly. I warmed the most to Daisy and felt her story was so open and sincere of young love desperately trying to succeed in a tough city that can be cruel and lonely. But each character has a story that has something important to say about the tough nature of survival in the rat race of life and I applaud Drew for taking a more direct approach to this book and creating something with heart and transparent honesty.
If you want a book that is frankly open to the difficult nature of life and love then look no further. The Shape of Us is a poignant piece that is thought provoking and will stay with you long after you finish that final page.
The Shape of Us by Drew Davies
Amazon: http://geni.us/
About the author:
Drew Davies was born in London and grew up in New Zealand. He attended the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland and won a Playmarket New Zealand Young Playwright of the Year award in 2000. After a brief stint on a kiwi soap, he has worked in Search for the past 15 years. Drew’s other claim to fame is that Stephen Fry once called him droll. Either that, or he got his name wrong. He now lives in Wanstead, London. The Shape of Us is his first romantic comedy.
Twitter @drew_davies.
Instagram @drewdavieswriter
