Missing You by Louise Douglas

Missing You by Louise Douglas
Buy Missing You by Louise Douglas at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Women's Fiction
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: The perfect follow up to her debut novel makes Louise Douglas an author to watch. A thought-provoking read that will leave the characters in you head long after you've finished reading. Highly recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 400	Date: February 2010
Publisher: Pan
ISBN: 978-0330454414
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Sean seemed to have the perfect life. He has a successful career, a beautiful wife to whom he is devoted, a daughter whom he adores and he lives in a dream home. But then one day it all falls apart when Belle announces that she has met someone else and wants Sean to move out.

Fen, on the other hand, doesn't have a perfect life. She works in a bookshop and is devoted to her young son, Connor who has cerebral palsy. That's not the least of her problems though as she hides a dreadful secret and fearful that it will be brought out into the open she lives a life drawn in on itself, far from her home and family and reluctant to become close to anyone.

It seems almost impossible that Sean and Fen should meet, but needing somewhere to live Sean becomes Fen's lodger. Slowly their gentle, unassuming friendship turns into something deeper. Can Fen let go of her guilt and tell Sean and the other people involved what she is hiding? Sean has his difficulties too. His daughter Amy is struggling to cope without him and Belle alone cannot give her the support which she needs. It looks as though Fen and Sean are destined to live their lives apart.

I first encountered Louise Douglas when I read her debut novel, The Love Of My Life. It was a complex novel, which began with the end and skilfully intercut one love affair with another and produced an utterly compelling story despite the fact that I really couldn't stand the heroine. You can see I was impressed and it was no hardship for me to grab Missing You when it came my way. My only worry was that Douglas might prove to be something of a one-trick pony, producing another book using the same formula. I needn't have worried.

Fen is a delight. She's gentle, unassuming and cares deeply for those around her. I so wanted everything to work out for her – for her and Sean – and I so admired the sacrifices that she was prepared to make for him and for his daughter. Sean's a great character too – a decent man who has been let down by a selfish and unstable wife who's trying to do his best by all. The plot is brilliant. At times I could have cried, but I didn't as I would have had to stop reading – and it's not the sort of book you want to put down. On this showing Louise Douglas is a name to watch in the future.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

Do read The Love Of My Life if you haven't already. We can also recommend Coming Home by Melanie Rose.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Missing You by Louise Douglas at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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