The eloquent story of how a connection helps to heal two broken people. Brigitte has lost her son and is travelling through France in order to feel closer to him. Christian is 13 years younger than Brigitte and separated from his wife but still sees her everywhere he goes. A chance meeting between these two characters sets them on a hopeful journey towards healing, but can they build a relationship? And when the past resurfaces, will it derail the work they’ve done? This is a gently written story of hope, new beginnings and life. It has more nuance than a more traditional relationship story, we see their connection start to blossom but each character’s demons don’t magically vanish. Definitely more of a literary exploration of how different people deal with loss than a romance, and would suit readers of character driven literary fiction. A healing tale of friendship, hope and courage to move forward.
An eye-opening road trip through France and a fateful encounter. A mother without a child and a passionate bookshop owner. An antique mirror and a mysterious book. Brigitte Weichmann is on a quest. Ever since her son Michael died in a tragic accident on the Croatian coast a year before, she has been travelling through France, his favorite country. She has left her orderly German life and her orderly German marriage behind her. In Dijon, at a meeting of a self-help group, she encounters Christian, the 13-year younger bookseller, who only sells books he likes and is struggling with his own demons, fearfully seeing his divorced wife in every dark-haired woman. A love lost. They spend a day together. And then another one. And another one. One day, they go dancing. Two broken hearts. Two fugitives in a starless night. In their agony and despair, in spite of their differences and secrets, against all odds, they become close. Surprisingly close. As a thunderstorm approaches. Will this odd couple find the way to each other? Can they build a relationship when loss is the only thing holding them together? And what will Christian do when his ex-wife suddenly reappears? A story of letting go, forgetting, and forgiving. Of new beginnings, friendship, and passion. An ode to hope, courage, and faith.
