Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

A fabulous debut novel. A lyrical, tender, painful yet beautiful evocation of a relationship begun as teenagers, its complicated nature shaping the adults that Will and Rosie become. Relatable and believable, with a plot that provoked a very strong emotional reader response and characters we were swiftly and utterly invested in. A deft, sharply observed yet warm and gentle depiction of the messiness and complexity of human relationships, difficult family dynamics, teenage angst and the awkwardness of growing up. An intelligent, complex story that pulls you in and sweeps you along without ever becoming sentimental. Our highest scoring book of the year so far, and the second highest scoring of the 65 books we have read together. 

Synopsis:

Will and Rosie meet as teenagers. They’re opposite in every way. She overthinks everything; he is her twin brother’s wild and unpredictable friend. But over secret walks home and late-night phone calls, they become closer – destined to be one another’s great love story. Until, one day, tragedy strikes, and their future together is shattered. But as the years roll on, Will and Rosie can’t help but find their way back to each other. Time and again, the come close to rekindling what might been. What do you do when the one person you should forget is the one you just can’t let go?

Did I mentioned that we loved it??

Overall score: 8.8

Range: 7.5 – 10