I once knew a couple who had three failed attempts at IVF. The emotional toll was heavy on both of them but the wife was physically exhausted as well. When Fling opens, Tara and Colin have just been told that their third attempt has failed and, rather than recognising Tara’s utter distress, Colin insists that they start again. I had no sympathy at all for him after that.
There then follows what could have been a sweet, cute, warm and funny story. I never give the plot line away but the middle section of the book involves people sending crude text messages to each other, when emotionally intuitive understanding is what should have worked.
There are lovely passages throughout the book and it would have worked better, for me, if they had predominated. Take out the unrealistic, insensitive bits and it is a nice story.
I think about three and a half for the clever, often funny dialogue and the occasional glimmers of empathy.
Published by Pan Macmillan
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