This is a wonderful story about
the close bond between a young girl, fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and her
inspirational uncle, the noted artist Finn Weiss. He’s the only person that
June feels she can share her secrets with, and reveal her true self to. When
Finn passes away, June finds herself adrift, wondering how her life can
possibly go on without Finn being a part of it. Then June meets Finn’s partner
Toby, who has never been mentioned to June before, and a new friendship is
slowly formed which will alter the way she views herself and her late uncle.
They are both lonely, struggling to cope with life without Finn, united in the
immense loss and grief they share.
It is also about siblings, and
the changing relationship between June and Greta as they grow up, having lost
the closeness they once shared, both wanting it back but seemingly unable to
rediscover it from under all the layers of jealousy and misunderstanding.
This is a lovely, sincere,
warm-hearted book, with a story rooted in the early days of AIDS awareness,
when misconceptions abounded and most people didn’t openly discuss the illness.
It is about our perceptions of people, the judgements we make, and how we can
discover so much about ourselves and those close to us through the most unlikely
friendships and in the most unexpected places.
I found this a profoundly moving
novel, and a highly accomplished and heartfelt debut.
Published by Macmillan on 7th June 2012.
Reviewed for lovereading.com - Thank you very much to them and the publisher for a proof copy of this novel.
5/5
5/5
