Richard's life is unravelling: his beautiful wife, Valerie, is having an affair, his son Maxence may (or may not) be mentally disturbed, and the idyllic life he'd hoped for when they moved to Provence has become more nightmare than paradise. Suddenly, a routine trip to Africa to sell pharmaceuticals is more than he can handle and his life starts to implode as he realizes that the idea of a life full of that love he has cherished is a mere illusion.

For Richard and Valerie's neighbour Rachel, a trip to Africa also leads to feelings of confusion and doubt. Now Rachel, and her husband Jeff, as well as Richard and Valerie, are left groping for the things that once defined them. In this bold and tender story, both families find themselves desperately seeking the answer to one question: just what is the idea of love - and can it save them?

But for the children in the story, the awkward unsettling Maxence and angelic little Maud, the idea of love is much simpler...

About the Author
Louise Dean is the author of two previous novels: Becoming Strangers, which was awarded the Betty Trask Prize in 2004, and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Guardian First Book Award, and This Human Season. She lives in Kent and has three children.

Reviews
A wonderfully complex and original novel...the writing is so inventive and has such an alluring energetic zeal...utterly fresh and convincing...an enormous delight * Independent *
Engaging...it is hard to stop turning the pages...arresting...fizzes with talent * Sunday Times *
A fascinating story that examines the different ways in which people face the harsh realities of love gone wrong * Tatler *
An unforgettable study of the dark side of the mind * The Times *
Written with bite and edge * Eve *



Book Information
ISBN 9780141030593
Author Louise Dean
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 500g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 35mm