Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of this re-released first book by Sarah Winman, author of Still Life and Tin Man, both of which I enjoyed. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
Elly's older brother, Joe, is her world. Always there when her parents are otherwise occupied, he is her person. But as she grows, other people come into her life - mainly her childhood friend, Jenny, but also her hand and friends of her parents - that also shape her. As they go out on their own, the connection with Joe is still there, and she becomes terrified when she thinks she has lost him.
I really like Winman's writing and the way her characters experience the world. This book is sometimes hilarious (the Nativity play!), and sometimes so poignant and heartbreaking it's hard to breathe. Spanning four decades, it's a coming-of-age book as experienced by these siblings as well as Elly's relationship with Jenny, with the secrets they hold dear even from each other. We see their relationships change through real-world events, yet they are always there for each other. Wonderful!
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