This Could Be Us
An extraordinarily moving story from a bestselling author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group
Published:1st Jun '23
Should be back in stock very soon
Over twenty years, This Could Be Us intricately weaves a tale of family, guilt, and the struggle for forgiveness amidst life's challenges.
In This Could Be Us, bestselling author Claire McGowan explores the complexities of family life over two decades. The narrative centers on Kate, who seemingly has it all until the birth of her profoundly disabled child shatters her perfect facade. Overwhelmed by guilt and unable to cope, she makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave her family behind and start anew in LA. Despite her success and new relationships, the weight of her past continues to haunt her, illustrating the emotional turmoil of her choice.
Meanwhile, Kate's husband Andrew is left to navigate the challenges of single parenthood, caring for their disabled daughter and their troubled son. In his struggle, he finds solace in Olivia, Kate's best friend, who sacrifices her own needs to support him. As time passes, Andrew channels his experiences into a memoir about his daughter’s journey to communicate, a project that unexpectedly draws Kate back into their lives when her new husband expresses interest in adapting it into a film.
This Could Be Us poignantly addresses themes of guilt, love, and the complexities of family dynamics. As Kate confronts her past and the choices she made, readers are invited to reflect on the nature of family bonds and forgiveness. McGowan’s personal connection to the subject adds depth to this beautifully crafted tale, making it a must-read for anyone grappling with similar issues of love and loss.
'So truthful and rewarding' * Ian Rankin *
'Such a complex and original take on the thorniest sides of families and relationships' * Justin Myers *
About half way through this beautiful, expertly-stitched novel, I thought to myself, 'Every woman needs to read this book'; by the end, I thought, 'every human'. Moving, thought-provoking and profound, it's one of my favourite reads of the last few years * Louise Candlish, author of Our House *
Brave, brilliantly structured, and beautifully written * Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us *
Kate and Andrew's family is torn asunder by the demands of a profoundly disabled child in this elegant, ambitious, beautiful novel. * Louise Candlish, Daily Express, Favourite Reads of the Year *
This poignant and moving story signals a heartfelt and thoughtful change of direction from thriller writer McGowan * The Bookseller, 'One to Watch' *
McGowan, an acclaimed writer of crime fiction, drew on her own family experience of caring for a disabled sibling to create a complex and ultimately forgiving story * Irish Times, The Gloss *
The author's own experience of having a disabled sibling makes it an emotive read * Good Housekeeping, Book of the Month *
Captivating . . . A beautifully structured novel with the complexities of family at the heart of it, This Could Be Us allows the reader's impressions of each character to shift throughout, as we are left to wonder what we might do in the same situation. As heart-warming as it is thought-provoking, the steady pace as the past slowly catches up to the present ensures you might be tempted to read just a few pages more, and more. * Irish Independent *
ISBN: 9781472157225
Dimensions: 218mm x 142mm x 34mm
Weight: 440g
336 pages